Old Montreal: Restaurants with a Grocery Corner

Last updated: November 2nd, 2020

Many business owners are not lacking for ideas when it comes to adapting to the pandemic crisis. This is the case for several restaurant owners who have also opened up a grocery section in their stores. This is a great way to keep the lights on and offer our Gens du Vieux a well-thought, close-to-home service. While you’re out picking up your carryout order, let yourself be tempted by what else they have to offer!

UN PO DI PIU. You can bring the taste of Italy home, in more ways than one! We love their take-out menu – without thinking, the burrata and the tiramisu are clear winners from this exquisite menu – which you can pick up while also picking out a few supplies from the great products from Cucina Fine Food (pasta, olive oils, balsamic vinegars), which go great with their selection of Italian wines. Ciao! We’ll see you at the table! You can call them at 514-861-8686, send them an email, or come to the store to place your order and pick up your purchases. (Tues.-Sat., 3 p.m. – 9 p.m.)

CAFÉ MÈRE-GRAND, allows you the opportunity to bring home snacks to the comfort of your own home via their boutique. Their Snickers snack spread is pretty much the cure to almost everything, their marbled hazelnut coffee cake will definitely bring back some good memories, and their orange flower madeleines are sure to put you in a good mood. While they last (they will go fast), their cooked dishes are a blessing. Make sure not to miss out on their grocery section when you drop by to grab a coffee and pastry. You can call them at 438-387-8767 to place a carry out or delivery order, which will be delivered by bike to the immediate area. (Mon.-Fri. 7:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. and Sat. 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.)

LE PETIT DEP and its two recognizable turquoise storefronts are a visual representation of the joy to be found in the historic neighbourhood’s streets. We usually go there for a to go coffee, but always stop by their depanneur aisle and deli selection. Bags of chips and glass jars of all kinds, sauces and candies, dishes and greeting cards – we love their great selection of local products. You can also now subscribe to their newsletter so that you can stay up to date on all their promotions, new items, and special items. Also good to know, they offer free delivery on orders over $95, as well as carryout options from their St-Sulpice location for online orders.

SLICE AND SODA, which we already love for their ultra-fresh gourmet pizza slices (the bocconcini basilic is our favourite) and house sodas (vanilla or yuzu, the choice is too hard), also has a section of their wall dedicated to cookies, pannetone, olive oil, and jarred goods from Italy. Mamma mia, it’s so good to have a bit of Italia in our basket! You can also get it delivered through Uber Eats, Foodora, or Doordash, as well as for pickup. (Open every day starting at 11:30 a.m.)

FOU D’ICI, a newcomer to Old Montreal, situated close to the Notre-Dame Basilica, Fou d’ici is a gourmet market specializing in products local to Quebec. Haute cuisine, pantry supplies, fresh produce, and homemade meals – all under one roof! Visit their website to see their huge selection of products and ready-to-eat food. Good to know, delivery is free for orders over $50, and you can also create an order for in-store pick-up. (Mon. to Fri. 8 a.m. – 6 p.m., and Sat. 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.)

DISPENSA ÉPICERIE ITALIENNE, as you might be able to guess by the name, at Dispensa, you will be able to find Italian products, like Dolce crema di pistachi and Modena aged balsamic vinaigrettes to get you cooking like a real chef! But, you can also find readymade products made for you to enjoy at home with none of the effort, like Parmigiana chicken, calzones, and cannellonis. (Mon. to Fri. 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.)

MARINELLI BROTHERS, this Italian café-boutique is adding a new facet to its business: Épicerie Marinelli, located at 759 de la Commune Street West. Open since October 30th, here you can find a wide selection of italian pastas, sauces, oils and even the delicious (and local!) Italian beer Fanelli, brewed in Sorel-Tracy. (open every day from 10 a.m. - 7 p.m.)

GIBBYS doesn’t have a grocery section as you might think of it, but we wanted to add it to this list due to their “ready-to-cook” baskets, a practical alternative to repeated trips to the grocery, and to have everything in one place necessary to prepare a meal worthy of a master chef! We love this well-developed idea, created to guarantee freshness and quality! (Sun.-Thurs., 5 p.m. – 10 p.m. and Fri-Sat., 5 p.m. – 11 p.m.)

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NB: We are regularly updating our list. If your business is not yet mentioned here, and fits the subject of this article, write us so we can include it! info@sdcvieuxmontreal.com

© Photos Credit 1-3: Geneviève Giguère
© Photos Credit 4: Fou d'Ici