It has been nine years now since major restaurant franchisor Foodtastic opened its first Tommy Café + Apéro on Notre Dame Street in Old Montreal. There are now 10 locations and more on the way. My friend Tony and I got to experience the newest one at Royalmount, with a first-class backgrounder session and lunch in the company of Daniel Harvey, the company’s senior vice-president of full service restaurants.

egg items at Tommy Café

There is a nice selection of egg items at Tommy Café

Tommy Café is one of the few Montreal restaurants where you can get a refreshing array of breakfast and brunch items all day. While the Royalmount location is a stand-alone spot beside the skating rink and not physically within the mall premises, it does stay open until 9 pm each weekday and 5 pm on weekends. There is a terrific retro look to this place, which can seat 72 people and 20 more on a planned seasonal patio.

Avocado toast is the Tommy trademark and it comes in different incarnations. From the main menu we selected the BAE (two eggs scrambled with bacon and multigrain bread, served with salad and potatoes), La Totale (French toast, scrambled eggs, maple syrup and beacon or sausage) and  the gobble (ciabatta, sliced turkey, honey Dijon, mixed greens, bacon and tomato), adding the keylime pie and chocolate cheesecake for dessert. Info: https://tommycafe.ca/en/menu-royalmount/

Le Fou Fou: Have you experienced Le Fou Fou yet?  I have now visited this innovative food hall at the new Royalmount development a few times. It redefines Montreal’s culinary scene with two à la carte restaurants, 10 unique culinary concepts, and three individually themed bars from celebrated chefs and renowned restaurateurs.

Innovative technology enables customers to place orders from multiple vendors simultaneously, merging their selections into a single ticket and delivery. A friend and I decided to dine the old fashioned way, going from kiosk to kiosk and using the gift card provided to us for our choices. First choices goes to PRIME Bar à Boeuf by Lenny Lighter of the original Moishes Steakhouse, offering  irresistible burgers and steak frites crafted from top-notch cuts of meat, infused with decades of steakhouse know-how. I recommend the smash burger. My friend went for a classic Neapolitan pizza at Tiramisu.

There is also À la Table Vins et Fromage, offering uniquely Fou Fou wine flights perfectly paired with premium charcuterie from À la table by Hanna; Tori Ramen by Hanhak Kim, delivers  the finest ramen in Montreal; Bar Sucré, delightfully offers post-dinner cocktails and decadent desserts by the slice; Eva’s all-day café by Shah Kash offering a mouth-watering all day menu from classic brunch staples to Mediterranean inspired plates and juicy fried chicken; Exchange Marché du Café offers local roasts, specialty lattes, and a selection of  pastries by the renowned Hof Kelsten bakery; Hogar Taqueria by the Torres brothers serves up authentic chef-crafted Mexican classics such as tacos, enchiladas, and tostadas made with steakhouse-quality ingredients; Il Miglio by legendary restaurateur Claude Pelletier, offers his signature, made from scratch pastas; Le Lucky Belly, comptoir asiatique serves  up poke, boba and regional Asian specialties; Spirulina health bar has something for everyone, serving up mouth-watering toasts, salads, and smoothies, by Jessica Power and Olivia Farruggia; Le Taj has bold and flavorful Indian cuisine ;and finally Le Fou Fou’s cocktail bar. Info; www.lefoufou.com

Anthy serves up the pasta at Lulu’s

Anthy serves up the pasta at Lulu’s

Lulu’s opens second locale: Last spring I told readers about a new trendy restaurant in Griffintown called Lulu’s Pasta Bar. This is the brainchild of the husband and wife team of Jimmy Petropoulos and Anthy Siounis. It is a truly unique concept. Customers approach the pasta bar and place their order. There is a wide choice of pastas and sauces, including classic, special creations, vegan and vegetarian options. The turnaround is very quick. You can grab a drink from the fridge and either select a dessert or wait until you have finished your meal. Each dish comes in a large crafted cup and you can take a cover to easily take home the leftovers. A new one has opened in the Latin Quarter at the corner of Ontario Street and St. Denis where foot traffic is heavy. Check it out  https://luluspastabar.com.

For a more thorough look at these places and more, please go to www.MtlRestoRap.com