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11 Great ‘Parent-Friendly’ Restaurants in Montreal

Free of loud music and bar stools with no backs

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Choosing a restaurant that parents will love — or perhaps in laws — can be tough. And we’re talking parents of adult children (in their middle age and beyond), not parents with young children.

It’s important to keep food and budget in mind, sure, there’s more to take into account to ensure the meal is a success. A nice atmosphere, free of booming music, is key. Also factored in were questions of comfort, and given that a sure-fire way to make mom and dad sad is to make them wait in line at a no-reservations restaurant, so those places were automatically out of the running here, too.

With that in mind, here are some excellent suggestions that parents, grandparents, and their offspring will love, whether they’re in the mood for decadent brunch or hearty steak-frites.

This is a non-exhaustive list, so if you have any suggestions for places parents love, drop them in the comments.

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H4C Place St-Henri is ideal for both brunch and dinner with the folks. While the atmosphere is bustling during peak hours, its unique decor (located in a renovated 19th century post office) and unpretentious, decadent French-inspired dishes make H4C a top contender for impressing parents and in-laws.

For the more open-minded eater, there’s LOV. This botanical vegetarian and vegan restaurant offers some of the best plant-based food in the city from veggie burgers and fries to more sophisticated options like quinoa fritters and buffalo Brussel sprouts. And while some parents prefer a meat-and-veg dinner (looking at those dads out there), this is the kind of vegetarian spot that could convert them. Both McGill Street and de la Montagne Street locations offer light-filled, comfortable dining space, but the de la Montagne location really shines when its downtown terrasse opens up for the summer.

Maison Boulud

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For special occasions, look no further than Maison Boulud. Any parent would love to boast that their kid brought them to The Ritz to share a meal — and the team at chef Daniel Boulud’s one Montreal restaurant do not disappoint on the fine French food front (there’s also brunch and lunch, and a sizeable dining room means getting a reservation isn’t too cumbersome).

Nestled into a reclaimed barn in Old Montreal, Gibbys offers a unique and very comfortable atmosphere, along with some of the best cuts of steak in the city. The menu is also well-rounded enough to cater to those who aren’t in the mood for red meat, and even vegetarians are accommodated.

Les Enfants Terribles PVM

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Located on the 44th floor of Au Sommet Place Ville Marie, any hard-to-please relative would be more than happy with the panoramic views and fresh-pressed mimosas at Les Enfant Terrible’s downtown location, with a similar comforting Québécois menu to the Outremont original. This location stumbled hard in its initial reviews after opening in 2016, but has since got its shop in order.

Il Focolaio

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Focolaio’s menu offers over 77 different variations of pizza (including gluten free and lactose free options), meaning it’s Sure to please parents, siblings and any pickier eaters. This centrally-located downtown establishment is great for everything from graduation celebrations to simply catching up over a good pie. Tip: their seasonal terrasse, nestled right off St-Catherine street, offers free entertainment in terms of people watching.

L'Express

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For parents looking for a refined dining experience, renowned French bistro L’Express is sure to please. This old school Parisian-inspired restaurant boasts the city’s best steak-frites and you would be hard pressed to find a dining room more charming than this one. It’s best to arrive with a reservation, though.

L’Express
Randall Brodeur

Bistro Tôt ou Tard

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Nestled into the ground floor of a Plateau apartment building, this unassuming Plateau mainstay is easy to miss. However, once inside, the trifecta of friendly waitstaff, comfortable indoor and outdoor seating and delicious brunch options make it one of the best options on the list. It walks the line between diner and fancier restaurant brunch, but is mercifully free of the thing that plagues many brunch spots around town: lines. The potato and fruit options fare well — think fresh grapefruit and dragon fruit — and the eggs benedict leaves little to be desired.

A post shared by Mélissa Tavares (@tavaresmel) on

Leméac

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With over a decade and a half of service under its belt, Leméac is one of the city’s great French eateries — a classic menu covering the bases from pot-au-feu to tartare, mussels, and duck confit has options that are sure to please.

This Outremont Syrian restaurant is one of the city’s best tables, period, all rounded out with plush, glistening decor. Enjoy smoky mezzes and succulent char-grilled meats — the tasting menu is highly recommended, too. It’s usually best to try for a reservation a few days in advance.

Impasto

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Michele Forgione and Stefano Faita’s Little Italy restaurant is one of the high points for Italian food in the city — familiar enough to please those who don’t want to go far out of their comfort zones, yet there’s great creativity and flair here that prevents the pastas and hearty meat concoctions from treading tired old trattoria tropes.

H4C

H4C Place St-Henri is ideal for both brunch and dinner with the folks. While the atmosphere is bustling during peak hours, its unique decor (located in a renovated 19th century post office) and unpretentious, decadent French-inspired dishes make H4C a top contender for impressing parents and in-laws.

LOV

For the more open-minded eater, there’s LOV. This botanical vegetarian and vegan restaurant offers some of the best plant-based food in the city from veggie burgers and fries to more sophisticated options like quinoa fritters and buffalo Brussel sprouts. And while some parents prefer a meat-and-veg dinner (looking at those dads out there), this is the kind of vegetarian spot that could convert them. Both McGill Street and de la Montagne Street locations offer light-filled, comfortable dining space, but the de la Montagne location really shines when its downtown terrasse opens up for the summer.

Maison Boulud

For special occasions, look no further than Maison Boulud. Any parent would love to boast that their kid brought them to The Ritz to share a meal — and the team at chef Daniel Boulud’s one Montreal restaurant do not disappoint on the fine French food front (there’s also brunch and lunch, and a sizeable dining room means getting a reservation isn’t too cumbersome).

Gibbys

Nestled into a reclaimed barn in Old Montreal, Gibbys offers a unique and very comfortable atmosphere, along with some of the best cuts of steak in the city. The menu is also well-rounded enough to cater to those who aren’t in the mood for red meat, and even vegetarians are accommodated.

Les Enfants Terribles PVM

Located on the 44th floor of Au Sommet Place Ville Marie, any hard-to-please relative would be more than happy with the panoramic views and fresh-pressed mimosas at Les Enfant Terrible’s downtown location, with a similar comforting Québécois menu to the Outremont original. This location stumbled hard in its initial reviews after opening in 2016, but has since got its shop in order.

Il Focolaio

Focolaio’s menu offers over 77 different variations of pizza (including gluten free and lactose free options), meaning it’s Sure to please parents, siblings and any pickier eaters. This centrally-located downtown establishment is great for everything from graduation celebrations to simply catching up over a good pie. Tip: their seasonal terrasse, nestled right off St-Catherine street, offers free entertainment in terms of people watching.

L'Express

For parents looking for a refined dining experience, renowned French bistro L’Express is sure to please. This old school Parisian-inspired restaurant boasts the city’s best steak-frites and you would be hard pressed to find a dining room more charming than this one. It’s best to arrive with a reservation, though.

L’Express
Randall Brodeur

Bistro Tôt ou Tard

Nestled into the ground floor of a Plateau apartment building, this unassuming Plateau mainstay is easy to miss. However, once inside, the trifecta of friendly waitstaff, comfortable indoor and outdoor seating and delicious brunch options make it one of the best options on the list. It walks the line between diner and fancier restaurant brunch, but is mercifully free of the thing that plagues many brunch spots around town: lines. The potato and fruit options fare well — think fresh grapefruit and dragon fruit — and the eggs benedict leaves little to be desired.

A post shared by Mélissa Tavares (@tavaresmel) on

Leméac

With over a decade and a half of service under its belt, Leméac is one of the city’s great French eateries — a classic menu covering the bases from pot-au-feu to tartare, mussels, and duck confit has options that are sure to please.

Damas

This Outremont Syrian restaurant is one of the city’s best tables, period, all rounded out with plush, glistening decor. Enjoy smoky mezzes and succulent char-grilled meats — the tasting menu is highly recommended, too. It’s usually best to try for a reservation a few days in advance.

Impasto

Michele Forgione and Stefano Faita’s Little Italy restaurant is one of the high points for Italian food in the city — familiar enough to please those who don’t want to go far out of their comfort zones, yet there’s great creativity and flair here that prevents the pastas and hearty meat concoctions from treading tired old trattoria tropes.