Alissa Fingold

Old Montreal is famous for its history and French vibe, and, unfortunately, its overpriced food. Tourists abound in this part of the city, and restauranteurs have taken note, feeling free to charge as much as $5 for an ice cream cone. Olive et Gourmando is one of the few café-bistros left that doesn’t cater to tourists or charge outrageous prices.

Soups, salads, and sandwiches dominate O+G’s menu. The vegan sandwiches with tofu, homemade hummus, arugula, and pickles would please even a carnivore. Their Cuban Panini with ham, homemade spicy mayonnaise, and gruyere is a lovely French take on the classic deli sandwich. Other must-eats include a chicken, mango, and guacamole sandwich and a nutty, oriental Herbivore Salad.

The tomato platter is like a caprese salad on steroids: fresh heirloom tomatoes, buffalo mozzarella, and croutons neatly stacked like a game of Jenga, all drenched in sun-dried tomato dressing. At $15 per platter and a dozen tomatoes per serving, it’s best shared by two.

The soups change daily, and are served with paninis and salad on wooden cutting boards.

For a quick breakfast before a walk in Old Montreal, O+G serves up excellent coffee and local pastries. Customers line up by the dozen to sample tarts with seasonal fruit, brownies with Valrhona chocolate, and sweet and salty “Everything Cookies.” Their famous brioche is filling enough for breakfast and lunch combined, and the perfect complement to their freshly brewed coffee.  

What really sets Olive et Gourmando apart from typical lunch spots is the atmosphere. It’s a lively, truly Quebecois lunch spot full of young Francophone professionals on their lunch breaks. Homemade jams and sauces, crispy granola by the bag, and nut mixes line the walls for those wanting the O+G experience at home. French music blares over speakers, and signs displaying “eat” or “yum” send a subliminal message to diners. O+G seems busy even when it’s not, and is not a place to read the morning paper (you can do that on a bench in the Old Port), but rather to make friends and rave about the food.

Olive et Gourmando’s ordering process is a cross between the traditional and take-out service, and is designed to maximize efficiency and customer satisfaction. The coffee and pastry bar is at the front, and the sandwiches, soups, and salads are at the back. Order in person at either of the bars, and the food is delivered to your table. Although this design is a little awkward, it allows O+G to have a manageable load in the kitchen. With fewer waitresses scurrying around taking orders, more tables can be added to the floor. Diners can decide how long they want to eat and enjoy the ambiance.

Despite its location and French vibe, feel free to speak English. The restaurant is so bustling that the staff knows English-speakers can’t understand rapid-fire French. The staff also knows that O+G is not short on customers, so expect curt service. They’re not open past 6 p.m., and like many restaurants in Montreal, they’re closed on Sundays and Mondays. O+G seems to like to keep people waiting.