Olive et Gourmando comes across as a beloved, busy café in Old Montreal with a reputation for fresh pastries, coffee, and comforting sandwiches. Reviews highlight standout items like the Cuban and the chicken melt, the grilled cheese, and the mac and cheese, while many note a lively atmosphere and friendly service when not overwhelmed. The place is popular and operates on a first-come basis, with lines that can be long, and some value perceptions are mixed with prices described as high for certain dishes. Despite occasional glitches and crowded moments, the overall quality, creative twists on classics, and welcoming vibe keep people returning for brunch or lunch.
Cute & cozy restaurant with A+ food. We ordered two raspberry lemonades for the kids, the french toast, grilled cheese, asian salad & the Egg on Your Face sandwich - all were delicious but the standout was the homemade ketchup that came with the grilled cheese. Outstanding!
Un superbe endroit !! À peine arrivés à Montréal, on est tombés sous le charme de ce café. Le personnel est adorable, aux petits soins. & le petit dej??? Un bonheur.! Trop trop bons, les produits sont frais, gourmands & copieux.
Good food but overpriced. $26 plus tax & tip for a simple sandwich with no side (not even a pickle or handful of greens or potato chips) is excessive, even if it is tasty. Cozy interior, not the best place to bring a large group or big stroller.
Coffee/espresso was excellent. However staff were rude from the outset. Had some sort of egg sandwich that was disgusting & greasy. Given the price I'd expect much better.
A bit disappointed. Grill cheese used to be an experience. Now the filling is still very good but the bread is ordinary. More like a panini bread barely grilled. For 25$, I expect better.
Apr 12, 2026
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Phil Rosenthal (Somebody Feed Phil) visted here, so it was on our'must visit' list for our trip to Old Montreal.
Food quality & taste were beyond our expectations. Service was excellent. It was very busy when we arrived, but we were told it would only be a 10 minute wait. We sat outside on a bench, & waited to be called.
I admired the ambiance as we were shown to our table. It was full, & noisy, but so much that we couldn't talk to each other. Bonus points for whoever designed the sound system that played 80s music during our visit. Enough speakers to fill the room with sound, & the system didn't need to played loud to be enjoyed.
Coffee was superb. Just the right strength, with lovely notes of chocolate. I had the chicken melt, which was incredible. Real chicken pieces, sauce with a touch of heat, & toppings with just the right amount of savoury. Her panini was equally good. The star of the meal was the french roast. Heated all the way through, with the right balance of fruit, cheese, & syrop.
Fantastic service & delicious sandwiches! Ordered their Cuban sandwich & Chicken Melt & for once, my partner & I didn't swap sandwiches because we each loved ours so much. Store manager was especially kind & understanding when there was a minor hiccup with my order, I really appreciate it. Will definitely be back to try more of their breakfast/lunch menu & pastries!
Recommended to all my friends, some of whom ordered sandwiches for lunch too. Happy bellies all around :)
Final day in Montreal had us come across this lovely cafe. Wonderful staff & delicious food. The coffee was the best we had in our short stay in Montreal. Picked up some granola & Muesli as well as the delicious pastries on the way out
Mar 30, 2026
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We had just landed in Montreal & were looking for a place to eat downtown - & this spot completely made our experience. It was super busy, but the team handled everything perfectly & found us a great table. The food was amazing, the service was excellent, & the atmosphere was fantastic. We will definitely be back!
Quaint & charming atmosphere.
We had the chicken melt sandwiches, way overpriced for a simple sandwich on a brioche with no side.
We paid $67 plus tip for two chicken sandwiches & a drink. Not worth it at all.
Bathroom right next to dining tables is quite unpleasant.
Overall probably best for a coffee & pastry to enjoy the charming atmosphere.
This place had been recommended by several people, so naturally it became one of the top spots on a visitor's must-visit list. After finally trying it, I can definitely see why it's so popular.
The atmosphere is warm, busy, & full of energy, which makes it a fun place to start the day. The staff were friendly, welcoming, & attentive without being overbearing. Everything felt well organized even though the restaurant was quite lively. As for the food, it was genuinely delicious. Tex-Mex ( Texan+mexican inspired) breakfast option, & it turned out to be a fantastic choice. You can also have vegetarian option for it.
The flavors were great, the portions were satisfying, & it was exactly the kind of hearty breakfast I was hoping for. Would add extra slides of bread.
One thing to know before going is that they don't take reservations-it's strictly first come, first served. We visited on a Saturday morning with a group of four & ended up waiting around 15 minutes for a table, which honestly wasn't too bad considering how busy it was. There's also a really cute little shop next door, so you can wander around there while waiting & the time passed quickly.
Overall, it's easy to understand why this place is so popular with visitors. If you're in Montreal & looking for a lively breakfast spot, it's definitely worth checking out. Service was quick & efficient, though nothing particularly extraordinary. Still, the great food, friendly staff, & enjoyable atmosphere made the experience very worthwhile.
