Huge portions, but unfortunately we didn’t love the food. There was a long wait, and while we really wanted to love this place, it fell a bit short of our expectations. We ordered the braised beef Benny and the ham croissant. The croissant itself was very good. The hostess was lovely, but our server seemed irritated. Overall, in our opinion, it didn’t live up to the hype.
Reviews / Ratings for Janine Café-Brunch
Went with my friend to celebrate her bday. Such a lovely little place with a picture-worthy vibe and decor. And the service is attentive and personable. Note: they don't take reservations, and the wait time varies depending on the day/ time.
Honestly, it’s worth the hype! Now I get the long lines I always see in front of this restaurant. Since I went at 9am, I got to sit right away. The food is amazing, generous portions, the service is 10/10 and the place is cute. I’m coming back for sure.
Amazing brunch experience at Janine Café. The atmosphere was warm and stylish, the dishes were fresh, generous, and full of flavor, and the service was great. We also loved the thoughtful touch for kids at arrival, a little cookie they can decorate themselves, which made the experience even more special for families. Children are truly welcome here! Definitely one of the best brunch spots in Montreal, totally worth the visit!
Went here last weekend! If you’re planning to go for brunch, expect a 20–40 min wait, but it’s totally worth it. They welcomed us with a small juice sample(so good!!!). We ordered the Champi (mushrooms on toast) and it was AMAZING, highly recommend. For dessert, we shared a carrot cake and loved it. The staff was super nice. Definitely recommend!
Overall Impression: Sometimes the best spots are the ones you don’t plan. I found myself in Verdun needing a place to grab lunch and fill out some paperwork before an appointment. Not knowing the area all that well, I stumbled upon Janine. From the outside, it looked busy, which I’ve learned is usually a good sign… so I decided to give it a go. Walking in, I immediately realized this was a bit more upscale than I had expected… in a good way. What I Liked: Service was warm and efficient from the start. I was greeted right away and asked to wait briefly while they prepared a table. The wait was short, and in that time I got a glimpse of what was coming out of the kitchen, everything looked great. A nice unexpected touch: when I received the menu, I was also given a small sample of their juice of the day. I’ll admit, seeing a green juice had me bracing for a kale and cucumber situation… but it turned out to be more on the fruity side and actually quite good. Still went with an americano, but appreciated the gesture. I kept things simple: - Americano - Grilled cheese with a side salad The food came quickly and delivered. The grilled cheese was excellent… rich, well done, and paired with an olive-based dip that I only discovered halfway through (unfortunately for me). The salad was fresh, balanced, and the coffee was solid. Simple meal, done really well. Atmosphere & Vibe: Janine has that polished, trendy French café feel. Black and white checkered floors, a beautiful espresso bar, and a space that feels curated without being pretentious. It’s clearly a place people want to be. Despite being a Tuesday afternoon, it was busy, surprisingly so. The crowd was a mix of friends reconnecting, people working, and multi generational families. It had a lively energy, but not so loud that you couldn’t think or have a conversation. Even the bathrooms were very clean and a little more upscale than you’d typically expect, which quietly reinforces the overall attention to quality. Closing: Janine turned out to be exactly what I needed and more than I expected. It’s the kind of place that works just as well for a solo lunch as it likely does for a relaxed brunch with someone you want to spend time with. I’ll definitely be back next time with my wife, with a bit more time to enjoy it properly and maybe explore Verdun after.
One of my favourite brunch places. The food is delicious, and the waiter who took care of us was really nice and friendly. It is always packed for a good reason!
Most incredible brunch I’ve ever had. And the service was impeccable. You feel like you’re in a super high end restaurant in Paris. Loved the experience
Lovely experience at Janine Café. Got there a little before 10 on a Saturday and there was a line. We had to wait around 30 minutes for a table of 5. They offered us ice tea while we were waiting. Our waiter Alan was super nice. I got the zucchini bread and it was delicious. The other plates also looked really good. The portion was pretty big. I saw a lot of people walking out with boxes of leftovers.
I have a few comments about the food, but I Would firstly like to comment on the EXCEPTIONAL service and atmosphere. We went early on a Sunday, around 10am, so we fortunately didn’t have to wait to be seated! I really appreciated that they had ample staff to accommodate the high volume of clientele. Once we were seated we were given a shot glass of the juice of the day (Basil, mango orange juice) which was delicious. Our server Janique was cheery and helpful, she was attentive and we never had to waive her down. It was an absolute pleasure to be served by her, and the manager (a young man), was very present on the floor lending additional support to his servers, and had also cleared our table at one a point, and was very kind. The food came moments after we ordered which was great. We ordered the Boeuf et Oeuf, which said on the menu that it came with smashed potatoes and an English muffin (it was an eggs Benedict dish). I suppose there was maybe an issue with translation from French to English on the menu regarding potatoes, but smashed potatoes are different than mashed potatoes, and the dish came with MASHED potatoes. The English muffin was served ON TOP of the mashed potatoes, topped with the poached egg and pulled beef. I found it strange, that instead of the English muffin being sliced, it was two whole English muffin buns 🤔 I don’t know if it was ever toasted, but it was soggy, and being on top of mashed potatoes, I found it a really interesting combination, of mushy textures and nothing to break it up. I expected crispy SMASHED potatoes. The other item we ordered was the fried chicken sandwich, it was ok, the chicken was a little over cooked, and I had a hard time detecting the harissa in the mayo. The restaurant itself is decorated beautifully, has a great ambiance and feels very well maintained and clean. I was very impressed by the service and the restaurant itself, less by the food. Maybe it was just an off day in the kitchen!
Best brunch we've had in forever! Everything was so delicious and the staff were so friendly and attentive. Very kid friendly, they brought out cookies the kids could decorate with icing and sprinkles, crayons and they gave the kids a little toy surprise out of a treasure chest at the end of the meal. So magical and fun! We will be back!
If you’re a fan of savory brunch, this spot is a must-try. We ordered a mix of dishes and everything hit. The eggs were perfectly cooked with that ideal yolk, adding richness to every bite. The fried chicken sandwich was a standout — crispy, flavorful, and finished with the perfect spice kick. The pulled pork dish really surprised us with its balance of sweet and salty, making it both comforting and unique. And the scotch eggs were cooked perfectly, with a crisp exterior and a soft, jammy center. Everything felt thoughtfully made and well executed. A great spot for a satisfying, elevated brunch experience.
Got the Champi with scotch egg which was good. The scotch egg is covered in chorizo which gives it more flavour than normal scotch eggs. The Champi was good as well but it is essentially just cheese toast with some sautéed mushrooms and pepper sauce. They also had a Cabane a sucre dish on the menu for the season which was good but not amazing. Overall, a Pretty good breakfast but it is still just a breakfast place. The juice shots were also quite good. I would get a juice next time.
Amazing food and great service! We went on a Thursday morning and made a reservation beforehand just in case as it gets very busy during the weekend and everything went smoothly. I'm definitely going back! The sucre à la cream with my Sucré Salé dish was DELICIOUS!
We had a slow morning today… after a party night. We reached to that point of hunger where you know you need something good. This restaurant covered that just fine. The line was long but the amount of tables and the fast service make it move fast. We checked instagram to order and it was a great choice. I’m leaving some pictures of what we ordered. Great choice. Thanks for this amazing comfort food. 🥘
Enjoyed brunch but the service was slow.
We had a really lovely brunch at Cafe Janine with the family. The seating area was comfortable and the atmosphere felt warm and relaxed, which made it easy to enjoy our time together. The food was delicious and clearly well prepared, and the staff were kind and attentive throughout our visit. Overall, it was a great experience and we’d definitely recommend it.
Had Champi, eggs, mushrooms on a bread with cheese, mashed potatoes, yummy, with pear blueberry mimosa 😋🤠 great service, liked the decor🤩 Another great brunch, avocado toast and salmon, delicious 😋 Tried the fried chicken with hot mayo sauce, it's delicious 😋
not that great
I tried the CHAMPI… 🍄🥪, and it was delicious! 😋 The mushrooms 🍄, toast 🍞, and sauce 🥣 were amazing 😍. I’m not usually a fan of the eggs 🥚, but I tried them and they tasted good 👍. The mashed potatoes 🥔 were good, but they would’ve been perfect 😋 with a bit of butter 🧈, pepper 🌶️, and a little more milk 🥛. They were a bit dry 😅—would be so much tastier! The cappuccino ☕ was okay, the grapefruit juice 🍊 was fine, but the service 👩🍳 and the ambiance 🎶 were really great. Overall, 10/10 💯, definitely worth five stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️!
😋😋😋😋loving it
A nice place to have a brunch start up your day, the scotch eggs are amazing, served nicely, little bit waiting but worth it
This is a must visit "secret" brunch location in Montreal. A hidden gem in Verdun. Verdun is a joyful little section of Montreal packed with locals.
Great food, great service from Hamza, great decor.
It was cold out and the staff brought us hot tea while we waited. The atmosphere was very friendly and cozy, and the food was excellent. Highly recommend
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Opening hours
- Sunday 09:00 - 15:00
- Monday 09:00 - 15:00
- Tuesday 09:00 - 15:00
- Wednesday 09:00 - 15:00
- Thursday 09:00 - 15:00
- Friday 09:00 - 15:00
- Saturday 09:00 - 15:00
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