Open seven days a week, maman offers a selection of delicious baked goods, coffee, fresh breakfast and lunch options, and seated lunch, brunch, and a full bar at selected locations.
Reviewers describe Maman in Griffintown as a charming, cozy cafe with a warm, French countryside bakery vibe blended with a modern urban energy, a reliable weekday brunch and lunch spot that stays busy but inviting. The pastry program is a frequent standout, with almond and pistachio croissants, pain au chocolat and other beautiful, fresh treats that many guests praise. Breakfast and lunch items like pancakes, French toast, a generous breakfast sandwich, ratatouille toast, and a varied sandwich lineup receive praise for flavor and generosity, though a few notes point to certain dishes being a touch sweet or not as memorable. Coffee and drinks often earn compliments, including distinctive options such as tahini honey latte, lavender latte, and a solid cappuccino, while some visits report inconsistency or longer waits during peak times. Service is described as friendly and efficient on many visits, with the owner and staff warmly welcoming guests, yet other experiences mention overwhelmed staff, slow service, and a crowded, noisy room with close tables. Prices run a bit high for a casual cafe, but several reviewers feel the quality justifies the cost, and reservations are advised on weekends due to popularity. Overall the space, decor and vibe are repeatedly praised, making Maman a go to spot for a comforting brunch and a place to linger over pastry and coffee, even if some visits fall short on timing or balance.
The cafe is cozy & beautiful, but it's very small & not suitable for groups larger than 3-4 people. We celebrated my birthday here yesterday. We were initially 6, & when another friend joined, the owner started arguing with us about space & upcoming reservations. Although we understood the concern, the way it was handled ruined the mood. Even after we squeezed together, she continued making uncomfortable & somewhat disrespectful comments. In the end, the other reserved tables arrived around the same time we were leaving, & none of the space issues she mentioned actually happened.
Additionally, the food portions were quite small for the price & not worth it compared to other places. Overall, it's a nice spot for a couple or a small date, but I wouldn't recommend it for groups.
Maman in Griffintown is a charming & essential spot for breakfast, brunch, or lunch. It fills a valuable niche as the go-to cafe in the neighborhood that's reliably open throughout the week, not just on weekends.
Atmosphere:
The cafe has the warm, inviting feel of a French countryside bakery blended with a modern urban vibe. It's the perfect setting for a casual meal, a coffee meeting, or grabbing a treat to go. The space is bright, cozy, & consistently bustling with a pleasant energy.
Service:
Service is efficient & friendly, geared towards both dine-in patrons & those grabbing items quickly. The staff are helpful, & the ordering process at the counter is straightforward, even when busy.
Food:
The food is where Maman truly excels. The sandwich we had was excellent-fresh, well-balanced, & flavorful. The true stars, however, might be the pastries. They are not only beautiful to look at but live up to their promise: incredibly tasty & fresh. Taking an assortment to go is highly recommended & ensures the delightful experience continues after you leave.
Value:
It should be noted that Maman sits a bit on the pricier side for a casual cafe. However, the quality of ingredients, the care in preparation, & the overall experience generally justify the cost for a special treat or a reliable weekday meal.
Verdict:
Maman is a definite recommendation for anyone in Griffintown. It provides consistently high-quality food in a lovely setting & serves the crucial role of being a weekday brunch & lunch haven. It's the kind of reliable, delicious neighborhood spot you wish was on every corner.
---
French Review: Maman - Griffintown, Montréal
Évaluation Globale: 4.5/5
Maman à Griffintown est un endroit charmant & essentiel pour le petit-déjeuner, le brunch ou le déjeuner. Il comble une niche précieuse en étant le café incontournable du quartier ouvert de façon fiable toute la semaine, & pas seulement le week-end.
Ambiance:
Le café a l'atmosphère chaleureuse & accueillante d'une boulangerie de campagne française mélangée à une ambiance urbaine moderne. C'est le cadre parfait pour un repas décontracté, un café-rencontre ou pour emporter une gourmandise. L'espace est clair, confortable & animé d'une énergie agréable.
Service:
Le service est efficace & amical, adapté à la fois aux clients sur place & à ceux qui prennent des articles rapidement. Le personnel est serviable & le processus de commande au comptoir est simple, même lorsqu'il y a du monde.
Nourriture:
La nourriture est là où Maman excelle véritablement. Le sandwich que nous avons pris était excellent-frais, bien équilibré & savoureux. Les vraies stars, cependant, sont peut-être les pâtisseries. Elles sont non seulement magnifiques à regarder, mais tiennent leurs promesses : incroyablement savoureuses & fraîches. Emporter un assortiment est fortement recommandé & permet de prolonger l'expérience délicieuse après votre départ.
Rapport Qualité-Prix:
Il faut noter que Maman se situe un peu du côté plus cher pour un café décontracté. Cependant, la qualité des ingrédients, le soin apporté à la préparation & l'expérience globale justifient généralement le coût pour un petit plaisir ou un repas de semaine fiable.
Verdict:
Maman est une recommandation certaine pour toute personne à Griffintown. Il offre une nourriture de qualité constante dans un cadre charmant & joue le rôle crucial d'un havre de brunch & de déjeuner en semaine. C'est le genre d'endroit de quartier fiable & délicieux que l'on souhaiterait avoir à tous les coins de rue.
Feb 5, 2026
on Google
🍽️
Know where to eat in Montreal before everyone else.
Get the first look at the hottest openings, secret menus, and RestoMontreal.ca's weekly top picks. Join 50,000+ foodies.
Their pistachio croissant is different than any other one you find in most places, not to mention the quality of anything you pick, & their coffee. Beautiful cozy vintage style decoration, like a hidden gem in a quiet part of city.
The ratatouille & sandwiches were amazing - super tasty & fresh. Pastries are unique. Definitely recommend if you're looking for a cozy spot with great food!
I need to edit a review. The last time I visited, there were flies & the table was sticky.
I visited Maman today for brunch with a couple of friends. The place is absolutely charming. It's adorable, very champêtre, & it instantly reminded me of the South of France. The space is airy & cozy, & it feels thoughtfully decorated.
When you walk in, you're welcomed by who I believe is the owner. She gives off a real mom vibe. She's warm, sweet, & incredibly kind. In all fairness, she's doing way too much. She welcomes people, seats them, takes orders, cleans tables, & manages the staff. It's actually exhausting to watch. She's clearly passionate & hardworking, & you can feel she wants guests to feel at home.
That was the highlight. Unfortunately, everything else fell flat.
The food was very average. The presentation was nice & the portions were generous, but the flavors were off. My salad came with potatoes & salmon, which were decent, but the sauce was overly sweet & lacked balance. My friend ordered the French toast, & all three of us agreed it was far too sweet. It wasn't just a matter of taste. It genuinely lacked contrast.
Pricing felt a bit much for what you get. The food itself is priced decently, but the extras are where it gets frustrating. Charging almost a $1 for an extra piece of toast or an additional espresso shot for 1.5$ feels high & a little cheeky.
What really disappointed me was the staff. Aside from the owner, the rest of the team seemed completely disinterested. We waited 20 minutes just to get a menu, & then another 30 for the food to arrive. During that time, the staff were chatting, laughing, & taking photos of each other. Meanwhile, the owner was running around trying to do everything herself. It was frustrating to watch & didn't make us feel cared for as guests.
Would I go back? Maybe, but only if the service improves. The owner is the only reason I'd consider giving it another shot. She truly brings heart to the place, but she deserves a team that matches her energy & commitment.
For now, I'm giving it two stars. One for the beautiful setting, & one for the incredible effort of the owne
Jun 22, 2025
on Google
🍽️
Know where to eat in Montreal before everyone else.
Get the first look at the hottest openings, secret menus, and RestoMontreal.ca's weekly top picks. Join 50,000+ foodies.
Every time I travel to Montreal, I make it a point to visit Maman , it truly feels like a home away from home. The service is always so kind & welcoming, like being greeted by family. The food is absolutely delicious, & everything comes out so quickly! It's a cozy, heartfelt experience every time. I couldn't recommend it more!
I visited this charming rustic café & had a wonderful experience. The cozy, vintage-inspired ambiance made for a relaxing atmosphere. I enjoyed a freshly brewed coffee that was rich & flavorful, paired with a delicious brunch that was both well-prepared & satisfying. The warm hospitality of the staff added to the overall experience. It's a great spot for a peaceful meal, & I'd definitely visit again!
Tried this restaurant for the first time over the winter holidays & I enjoyed my experience. The space was aesthetically cute & cozy. The staff members were very friendly & really helpful with explaining the menu. I had the vegan avocado toast which came with a salad. Oat milk lattes are my comfort drink & theirs was delicious.
I visited Maman for brunch, & it was an absolute delight. The aesthetics are unique & soothing, making you feel like you've stepped into a peaceful garden-a perfect escape from the city's hustle. The food was delicious, with unique flavors & recipes that stand out from the usual brunch fare. Don't expect your typical American breakfast here; the menu leans more towards a European vibe, offering a fresh & flavorful twist. Their coffees are just as impressive, especially the lattes, which are smooth, rich, & beautifully crafted. If you're looking for a cozy & charming spot with great food & coffee, this café is a must-visit!
The café had a wonderful ambiance, with cozy seating & a welcoming atmosphere. The staff were friendly & knowledgeable about their coffee offerings & cakes. If you're a coffee lover visiting Montreal, this café is a must-visit for an exceptional coffee experience. I highly recommend it
One of the best brunch experiences in Montreal. The place is so cute & cozy (Rustic style) Loved the style of the dishes😍😍 Food was amazing Service was good You can also grab some pastries to go with a cup of coffee Highly recommend it !!
Very cozy place. More of a brunch/breakfast vibe. Some people go to work/study. Food is amazing however it does take a little time, be patient people! Recommended!
Mar 6, 2024
on Google
🍽️
Know where to eat in Montreal before everyone else.
Get the first look at the hottest openings, secret menus, and RestoMontreal.ca's weekly top picks. Join 50,000+ foodies.
Maman came up as one of the top brunch spots in the area in my Google search so I decided to try it out on a Sunday. I'm happy I reserved a table a day before because when I showed up there was a line of 10-12 people waiting outside. Even with a reservation, I still had to wait 15 minutes to get seated which is why I'm removing a star. Nevertheless, the hostess was extremely friendly & helpful, she was clearly busy sorting things out so props to her for handling everything in such a friendly manner. The servers were quick to take our order & bring our food. The food is pricey, for a breakfast bowl in the picture & a drink my bill came up to $40. Even though I have no complaints about food (it was warm, tasty, & came on time), it's hard to justify paying those prices, especially when the atmosphere is quite disappointing when you expect a cozy brunch spot. The interior of the cafe is ok. They're going for a rustic look which they've achieved nicely but in the process forgot to make it practical. The chairs were quite uncomfortable, the seat on mine was falling apart. I saw some people sitting on scraped metal folding chairs like the ones you might find at a high school concert. The place is very crammed like others said, if you're the unfortunate person sitting with your back/side to a walking path you'll for sure get brushed against every time someone passes by. Overall, worth checking out once to check-mark off your list. However, not a place I would keep going back to regularly, it didn't live up to the hype for me.
This place was amazing. The service was a 10, super friendly & welcoming. The decor made it cozy. I ordered the pancakes, & they were the fluffiest & honestly best pancakes I have ever had. No lie. I also had the lavender hot chocolate, & it was not too sweet, perfect .
We can go on & on about this place - Food: we had the French toast & the smoked salmon along with Mamans dish. The first two were our favourites - Drinks: we had flat white & black coffee & the coffee was great - Atmosphere: Interior is so cozy with lots of natural plants & classic decorations - Staff: amazing welcoming staff. Our flight was an hour delayed & we missed our reservation by an hour & they checked by calling & honoured our request to put it on hold though they had a long queue waiting outside
