Dandy operates as a sophisticated bistro that emphasizes the intersection of artisanal culinary techniques and market-driven ingredients. The interior design reflects an industrial aesthetic characterized by high ceilings and expansive windows that illuminate the open dining area. Menu offerings focus on elevated classic dishes, featuring thick-cut sourdough toasts topped with seasonal produce and house-made ricotta. The kitchen consistently utilizes fresh, locally sourced components to construct balanced plates that favor structural simplicity over complex plating. Patrons experience a lively atmosphere where the focus remains strictly on the quality of the prepared food and the functionality of the workspace. This establishment balances the casual nature of a market-inspired café with the technical precision of a focused bistro kitchen. Every element, from the beverage selection to the curated seasonal vegetables, demonstrates a commitment to ingredient-led preparation methods.
Dandy is a popular brunch destination in Old Montreal known for its vibrant atmosphere and signature ricotta pancakes, which many patrons consider a highlight of their visit. While the restaurant frequently draws long lines, guests often find the wait worthwhile due to the fresh, flavorful menu items like the fried chicken sandwich and the summer breakfast. The service is widely described as friendly, efficient, and attentive, though some diners note that the restaurant can be loud and the seating somewhat cramped. While a few visitors feel the pricing is high for the portions or experience, the overall consensus points to a memorable, high-quality meal that keeps people returning for future trips to the city.
First - there will be a wait. Trust the rest of the reviews. Even on a rainy Monday. 60 minutes from getting into line to placing our order.
Service & food were fantastic. Once you sit down, they are prompt about getting you served (so they can flip the seat). It does take a little bit for the food to come out - but everything we had was amazing. The ricotta pancakes were excellent, as was the avocado toast. The bloody mary had an odd taste. Would avoid that.
I would visit & eat here again, but only if I lucked into a 15-20 minute wait.
There was a line around the block before the spot opened at 10 am. It moved quickly. Nicholas took care of us outside. My latte was yummy but the ricotta pancakes were ahhhhhhmazing. The maple syrup was like praline buttery goodness.
We enjoyed the breakfast here 1000%, we had Ricotta pancakes, buttermilk fried chicken & the endless summer breakfast all was 1000%, oh, don't forget the side order potatoes. P.S. the servers are very hot😀
Hands down the best brunch & all of Montreal. It's a small menu but everything tastes delicious. I come here from Toronto a couple times a year & this is always the first place I want to eat at. I dream about their ricotta pancakes & I love how they have a seasonal topping to it so it keeps it exciting & fresh every time I visit. But the potatoes are just perfect!
I wish we lived in Montreal... We were on vacation & lucky to find this place. The food was *outstanding*! We were lucky & got in line about 10 minutes before they opened & got seated pretty quickly. The line quickly wrapped around the corner, though, so definitely get there before doors open.
The Ricotta Pancakes are the best pancakes we've ever had. I tend to veer away from'fancy' pancakes because they're often too sweet, but these were perfectly balanced, light, & fluffy. (Sorry, Cafe September...but these pancakes win! 🙈) The Endless Summer Breakfast was also incredibly tasty & unique. We were so glad to have good vegetarian options! I can't recommend this place enough. The inside is, of course, also adorable. Great food & great atmosphere--would highly recommend it!
I can't say enough good things about this place. Friendly Service, interesting lemonade & the best chicken sandwich!!!!! Nicolas & others are outstanding. Keep up the great work.
The Food was not worth the hype & to make matters worse, the customer service or lack thereof made it worse. For some reason, our server treated our table differently from the table next to us.
So we came to dandy's because of the hype.
The line was incredibly long, so we had to wait for a long time. It looked quite interesting from outside, & everyone seemed pretty eager to get inside. We were a family of 4, but I will only speak of me & my sister's experience.
We specifically wanted my little sister to get her order first, because she was extremely hungry after waiting in line for 1 hour (I don't blame the line length, because they seemed understaffed, & full). But regardless of our specific request, I got my order first. Luckily, I had the same thing as my sister, so I gave mine to her.
Secondly, the staff didn't really pay attention to our table (I'm not trying to sound entitled, but there were no « is everything alright? » or « do you need anything else? » or « do you need a refill? ») for instance, we waited a very long time to get a water refill, & since the wait was so long, we got really thirsty. & my sister ordered iced water, so just extra ice, & it never came. Then, my sister raised her hand to call someone, & I raised my hand, & they saw us (like with eye contact) but they ignored us. But the good thing is that we did get our extra crispy pancakes, & I did get my cappuccino.
& finally, the actual food was, quote « delicious pancakes but they needed more sweetness ». Some of them had tiny burns, but they were negligible. The bacons were very good & the rolled sausage as well.
The only thing that reduced this places rating was mostly the customer service. But this place has immense potential. Thank you for reading this. But the food, considering the wait, it was way too expensive.
We went early in the morning before the restaurant was open & we went inside in five minutes & we sat down & waited for 12 minutes for the person to come & take order when all other table orders were taken before us, my kids were really hungry & we waited for 40 minutes for the food to arrive when the people next to us got the food & left also then we asked what's up with the order & they said it will take minimum 30 minutes to get the order infact the tables next to us had like 10 people & they got the order & they finished & left before we got our order. After that we got the order we ate & left. We had four people & small order of 4 items. If you are planning to wait for 40 minutes then go there. Food was good though
