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Le Butterblume

21 Great Grocery Stores With Take-Out Food

Go for groceries, stay for lunch

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Flatbread with caramelized onion, butternut squash, feta, roast garlic, and parsley
| Le Butterblume

A city’s small grocery stores, niche markets and trendy food halls tell as much about a city’s food scene and traditions as its restaurants. They reflect a neighborhood’s cultural history, stocked with hard-to-find imports or house-made goods, and highlight local producers of gourmet cheeses, sausages, and sweets. And many also offer meals served on site or ready for takeaway.

Montreal is rife with these sort of grocers with added on fast-casual restaurants, sandwich counters, or a breakfast and brunch nooks. They’re convenient, casual and usually not too pricey. Here are some of the city’s best grocers and specialty markets for shopping when you want something to eat right now.

Looking for something to eat at one of the city’s two major public markets? There are separate guides for those: Atwater Market here, and Jean Talon Market over here.

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The Middle Eastern grocery store chain is beloved for its decently cheap groceries and extensive selection of takeaway items, like falafel, shish taouk and fattoush. Also a great place to stock up on baklava, cookies and cakes. (Note that there are another seven Adonis locations in Greater Montreal, including Brossard, Laval, and Pierrefonds.)

Boucherie Atlantique

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This friendly family-owned store in Côte-des-Neiges specializes in German and Austrian delicacies and plenty of meats, but the daily lunch special, served weekdays from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. includes more than just sausage or schnitzel.

Le Butterblume Comptoir

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Cheery Butterblume has firmly established itself as a go-to for weekday coffee and pastry, plus as a new favourite Mile End brunch spot that draws weekend lineups. The restaurant’s neighbouring boutique sells soups, sandwiches, and homemade ice creams.

Charcuterie Hongroise

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The schnitzel and spicy salami sandwiches come highly recommended at this small Hungarian deli and market on the Main.

Comptoir Sainte-Cécile

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Founded by chefs Ségué Lepage (Le Comptoir) and Adèle Prud'homme (of La Super Épicerie meal delivery business), their Villeray gourmet grocery combines both their strengths, with charcuterie plates and takeaway meals on the menu, plus the popular spaghetti bolognese sandwich. Also a very good option for weekend brunch.

Épicerie Umami

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Covering all bases, hybrid store Umami sells gourmet goods, take-home recipe kits and has an in-store chef who creates the menu of hot, healthy dishes. Sandwiches and soups are also available for take away.

Libreria Española (L’Española)

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Amid Spanish and South American imports and books, seek out a traditional ham or salchichón sandwich at one of the city’s oddest hybrid stores.

Euro-Deli Batory

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This extremely cozy and charming Mile End shop has a small seating area up front where one can feast on pierogies, a stacked sausage sandwich or cabbage rolls. Grab a jar of house-made sauerkraut and a Polish DVD for the road.

Fou d’Ici

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Cheese, produce and meats from Quebec are the highlights at this fairly expansive gourmet market. They also have a café with baked goods, and plenty of prepared lunches like decked-out salads, soups and sandwiches.

Fou d’Ici

La Maison des Pâtes Fraîches

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Pizza and pasta (fresh, of course) are served on the daily at this Plateau spot, best topped off with a cannoli and a cappuccino.

Mako Meat Market & Delicatessen

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The Parc Ex Polish deli, known for sausages (both cured and ready to cook) also does meat-stacked sandwiches like Polish ham and cheese, and Hungarian salami.

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Marché Méli Mélo

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Head to the back of this venerable Afro-Caribbean market for huge plates of Haitian specialties like pork griot and beef tasso, with plenty of beans and plantains on the side. Note: they also recently opened a new dedicated restaurant in Rosemont, Méli Mélo Le Néo Resto.

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L'Olivier

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Olive oils, harissa and cookware line the shelves of this Tunisian shop facing the Jean Talon Market. In the warmer months (from around April through fall), a counter serves merguez sandwiches and tagines. In the winter, you can still call ahead for orders of four or more, or pick up fresh baked goods on the weekend.

Marché Oriental St-Denis

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The large market on the corner of Saint-Denis and Jean-Talon is a go-to for its range of produce, noodles and imported pan-Asian goods. Up front, it also sells $2.99 deli sandwiches and hot mains like pork over rice.

Marché Soupson

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The recently expanded market on the edge of VIlleray is a one-stop shop for house-made hummus, salads, and sandwiches paired with a daily rotating vegetable-centric soup.

Miyamoto Épicerie Japonaise

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A go-to place for tricky-to-find Japanese ingredients and goods (green tea Kit-Kats, anybody?). It also sells sushi and sashimi lunches, and snacks like tuna and salmon onigiri.

Marché Italien Le Richmond

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Although probably known more as a bistro than a grocery store, Le Richmond does feature high-end Italian groceries alongside its sleek dining space featuring pasta, pizza and a chi-chi weekend brunch.

Sabor Latino

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Both locations (here in Petite-Patrie and another in the Plateau) of this Latin American market have attached restaurants serving plates of rice and beans, pupusas and mains including roast chicken, barbacoa beef, and pork ribs.

Tortilleria Maya

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The small Mexican goods store makes its own corn tortillas and chips, plus salsas and guacamole of varying spice. Owned by nearby El Rey del Taco, the hot food counter also serves the same satisfying menu.

La Vieille Europe

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The Saint-Laurent mainstay has a spread of cheeses, meats, and wines, plus coffee roasted on-site. The café counter offers an equally tempting display of Portuguese and Italian sandwiches.

Supermarché Akhavan

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NDG’s plus-sized Persian store is first and foremost for groceries, but has a fantastic restaurant with kebabs (in sandwich and rice-plate form), alongside dips and pastries in the main section. (Note that there’s a second Akhavan in Pierrefonds.)

Adonis

The Middle Eastern grocery store chain is beloved for its decently cheap groceries and extensive selection of takeaway items, like falafel, shish taouk and fattoush. Also a great place to stock up on baklava, cookies and cakes. (Note that there are another seven Adonis locations in Greater Montreal, including Brossard, Laval, and Pierrefonds.)

Boucherie Atlantique

This friendly family-owned store in Côte-des-Neiges specializes in German and Austrian delicacies and plenty of meats, but the daily lunch special, served weekdays from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. includes more than just sausage or schnitzel.

Le Butterblume Comptoir

Cheery Butterblume has firmly established itself as a go-to for weekday coffee and pastry, plus as a new favourite Mile End brunch spot that draws weekend lineups. The restaurant’s neighbouring boutique sells soups, sandwiches, and homemade ice creams.

Charcuterie Hongroise

The schnitzel and spicy salami sandwiches come highly recommended at this small Hungarian deli and market on the Main.

Comptoir Sainte-Cécile

Founded by chefs Ségué Lepage (Le Comptoir) and Adèle Prud'homme (of La Super Épicerie meal delivery business), their Villeray gourmet grocery combines both their strengths, with charcuterie plates and takeaway meals on the menu, plus the popular spaghetti bolognese sandwich. Also a very good option for weekend brunch.

Épicerie Umami

Covering all bases, hybrid store Umami sells gourmet goods, take-home recipe kits and has an in-store chef who creates the menu of hot, healthy dishes. Sandwiches and soups are also available for take away.

Libreria Española (L’Española)

Amid Spanish and South American imports and books, seek out a traditional ham or salchichón sandwich at one of the city’s oddest hybrid stores.

Euro-Deli Batory

This extremely cozy and charming Mile End shop has a small seating area up front where one can feast on pierogies, a stacked sausage sandwich or cabbage rolls. Grab a jar of house-made sauerkraut and a Polish DVD for the road.

Fou d’Ici

Cheese, produce and meats from Quebec are the highlights at this fairly expansive gourmet market. They also have a café with baked goods, and plenty of prepared lunches like decked-out salads, soups and sandwiches.

Fou d’Ici

La Maison des Pâtes Fraîches

Pizza and pasta (fresh, of course) are served on the daily at this Plateau spot, best topped off with a cannoli and a cappuccino.

Mako Meat Market & Delicatessen

The Parc Ex Polish deli, known for sausages (both cured and ready to cook) also does meat-stacked sandwiches like Polish ham and cheese, and Hungarian salami.

Google Maps

Marché Méli Mélo

Head to the back of this venerable Afro-Caribbean market for huge plates of Haitian specialties like pork griot and beef tasso, with plenty of beans and plantains on the side. Note: they also recently opened a new dedicated restaurant in Rosemont, Méli Mélo Le Néo Resto.

A post shared by nick laberge (@magicbergy) on

L'Olivier

Olive oils, harissa and cookware line the shelves of this Tunisian shop facing the Jean Talon Market. In the warmer months (from around April through fall), a counter serves merguez sandwiches and tagines. In the winter, you can still call ahead for orders of four or more, or pick up fresh baked goods on the weekend.

Marché Oriental St-Denis

The large market on the corner of Saint-Denis and Jean-Talon is a go-to for its range of produce, noodles and imported pan-Asian goods. Up front, it also sells $2.99 deli sandwiches and hot mains like pork over rice.

Marché Soupson

The recently expanded market on the edge of VIlleray is a one-stop shop for house-made hummus, salads, and sandwiches paired with a daily rotating vegetable-centric soup.

Miyamoto Épicerie Japonaise

A go-to place for tricky-to-find Japanese ingredients and goods (green tea Kit-Kats, anybody?). It also sells sushi and sashimi lunches, and snacks like tuna and salmon onigiri.

Marché Italien Le Richmond

Although probably known more as a bistro than a grocery store, Le Richmond does feature high-end Italian groceries alongside its sleek dining space featuring pasta, pizza and a chi-chi weekend brunch.

Sabor Latino

Both locations (here in Petite-Patrie and another in the Plateau) of this Latin American market have attached restaurants serving plates of rice and beans, pupusas and mains including roast chicken, barbacoa beef, and pork ribs.

Tortilleria Maya

The small Mexican goods store makes its own corn tortillas and chips, plus salsas and guacamole of varying spice. Owned by nearby El Rey del Taco, the hot food counter also serves the same satisfying menu.

La Vieille Europe

The Saint-Laurent mainstay has a spread of cheeses, meats, and wines, plus coffee roasted on-site. The café counter offers an equally tempting display of Portuguese and Italian sandwiches.

Supermarché Akhavan

NDG’s plus-sized Persian store is first and foremost for groceries, but has a fantastic restaurant with kebabs (in sandwich and rice-plate form), alongside dips and pastries in the main section. (Note that there’s a second Akhavan in Pierrefonds.)