Located in the heart of downtown Montreal, this restaurant takes the classic diner and gives it a hip makeover. A modern stainless steel decor provides the perfect setting for a casual lunch or night out. From pizza to pasta, from traditional omelettes to upscale veal dishes, and from simply brochettes to an intimidating array of triple decker sandwiches, Universel Déjeuners et Grillades has something to suit any taste. An extensive wine list cements this resto's reputation as an up and coming nightspot, but the list of beers on tap reveals an establishment that takes pride in what Quebec has to offer. Despite its obvious appeal to the young adult crowd, Universel Déjeuners et Grillades also has a children's menu available for both its breakfast/lunch and dinner sets. Add in some impressive breakfast platters and the house specialty "Déjeuner Universel", and it's clear that this diner juggles its dual personality as a family friendly establishment and a chic eatery with ease.
Universel Déjeuners et Grillades comes across as a go to breakfast and brunch spot with generous portions, a wide and appealing menu from eggs and waffles to crepes and sandwiches, and consistently reasonable prices. The service is praised for being attentive and friendly across visits, with the staff described as welcoming and helpful, and the atmosphere described as modern and cozy with a lively vibe. It is seen as a great choice for families and groups with indoor and covered outdoor seating. While most reviews celebrate quality and value, a few mention occasional delays or a noisy dining room and some concerns about tipping practices or coffee quality. Overall, Universel Déjeuners et Grillades is a highly recommended option for breakfast and brunch in Montreal.
J'ai absolument adoré ce restaurant. Étant un grand amateur de déjeuner/brunch, une place qui offre ce genre de nourriture toute la journée est parfait pour moi. Le café était très bon, le menu varié & original, & les papilles ont aimé tous ce qu'elles ont touché. Mon seul bémol était le bruit de la machine a smoothie qui était vraiment fort.
Je vais y retourner pour sûr.
Great place & Mr Porag was awesome in accomadating the food. He is really nice & made us feel so very welcome. Definetly will visit again. Look for Porag when visiting Universal 🤗
I was there with my family for brunch on Saturday & nothing seemed to go right.
Service: First there was the over cafienated waiter who was in your face & loud. He was unattentive to us & the status of our food.
Food: My wife ordered the French Toast & they were flavourless & there was no syrup offered. I order The Quebeker & the ham & bacon were cold, the sausages were OK. I ordered Eggs hard over & they were soft. The bread showed up 10 minutes after my food. The waiter offered more coffee when he brought the meal but never returned with coffee. Instead he came back at the end of our meal & asked again if we wanted more coffee which he did return with just as our dishes were being removed.
Atmosphere: The restaurant was maybe at 75% capacity when we arrived & 50% when we left, but eating outside, where they suggested we sit, was uncomfortable & was probably the reason our food was slow & cold when it got to us.
Overall this was a bad experience but I can say that $200 for 6 people was not that unreasonable.
I will never return there for more reasons then I listed here & to anyone reading this, if you are in the area & looking for place, I would just walk around the corner to Pigeon Cafe & have a better experience.
Coming in, the place had great reviews, I believed it would hold up to those standards, but the service lacked etiquette, a server yelled at us over sitting where we were supposed to, aside from the constant side eyeing, the service remained sub-minimal. The food itself was not entirely flavor-full, the waffles came (missing a piece) & tasted worse than eggoes; like the waffles were frozen then thrown in a toaster. I would highly discourage attending this restaurant.
When traveling, there is something special about discovering a place that feels authentically welcoming. Even better when the positive vibe & delicious food is consistent trip after trip, no matter the season. Universel, on Peel near Sherbrooke, has undergone a spring refresh! Never fear! Universel's professional & fabulous crew remain to cook & serve up their tasty, fresh fare. Whether serving a large table of co-workers, or an intimate booth for 2, young or old, tourist or a regular, they deliver great vibes with every meal! Enjoy! &....thank you Universel!
I've been a regular at Universel for many years. Its downtown location has always been very convenient, especially when going shopping. About two months ago, I had a great experience, & we were told they would be closing for renovations-so I was actually looking forward to coming back.
Today, we decided to return to see the changes & give it another try. Honestly, the place looked pretty much the same. Even the washroom still had the same broken handle-but that wasn't a big deal.
The biggest change was the menu. Prices have increased drastically, which I wouldn't mind if the quality matched. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case.
When our food arrived, it was very disappointing. The dishes were bland, & portions were noticeably smaller. My friend received about one & a half slices of bread, & the blueberry pancake previously enjoyed (which used to be full of blueberries) was now just a plain pancake with a few old, unappetizing blueberries thrown on top.
Then came the bill: $5.90 for two cups of watered-down coffee, & an extra $6 just to add a handful of blueberries to a pancake. That plate ended up costing $24.95 + $6 for maybe 10 blueberries that weren't even edible.
I'm more than willing to pay higher prices for good food, but this felt disrespectful. Sadly, I won't be returning.
