La Boîte Gourmande

L’endroit est très joli, longs bancs d’église en guise de banquette, une porte de voûte, vestige d’une ancienne banque, agrémente l’entrée de la 2e salle à manger. Prix raisonnables, un grand café pour moins de 3 $, petit déjeuner du jour pour 4,95. Ici, on né se ruine pas! En contrepartie, le café est ordinaire, la nourriture est faite avec des ingrédients frais et de bonne qualité, mais manqué un peu de saveur (à mon goût). Mais pour le prix, on sourit car on n’a pas dépensé tout nos sous et que somme toute, la satisfaction est au rendez-​vous, même si on est pas tombée à la renverse de plaisirs gustatifs!

Yeah, I decided to come back and I won’t make that mistake again. That is how rude the service is. Actually rude enough to keep me from a good egg sandwich, which is a lot…
It’s bad enough that you have to «order at the counter» (which is a pretty vague instruction after all…) and that, of course, no one will actually bother to look up and take your order so you have to kind of awkwardly stand there clearing your throat and hoping that someone notices you look hungry. But then, when you get it wrong, and accidentally order at the cash instead (not wanting to bother the folks who are way too busy cooking), they rudely inform you that you messed up, and that if you’re hungry, because you’ve been sitting around waiting for a sandwich that will never arrive, you kind of deserve it.
No more — this place is ridiculous.

There has been a recent change in ownership at La Boîte Gourmande, but it’s still one of my favorite places in the area.
I found the weekend brunch menu to be a bit more conventional now (e.g. omelette with cheese and veggies; nothing ground breaking). I used to like the creativity of the brunch menu, so it’s a bit of a disappointment, but the food is still good.
I agree with the person who wrote that they should offer free coffee refills — at least for people who pay $ 18 for the full brunch menu! When you go there at a busy time, you have probably drunk most of your cup before getting your food, so it’s the least they could do…
However, now that I have a kid, I appreciate other aspects of this place I did not notice before: They have changing tables in both bathrooms and movable tables in the dining room that help accommodate strollers. It’s a nice place for breakfast, lunch or just for a snack or a coffee.

I came for breakfast/​brunch with a group. I knew this place as a fixture along Laurier, with steady traffic from the metro station and from the yoga studio upstairs.
We had heard that there had recently been a change in ownership here, and they appear to be working out some kinks. My sunny side-​up eggs were overcooked: while the yolks oozed a little, they didn’t run. Burned-​black toast seemed to be an issue. One of my friends’ breakfasts came with all four pieces of toast burned completely black on one side. This seems like pretty basic stuff for breakfast service. (Puzzlingly, burning was a problem for everyone who ordered multigrain toast but the baguette and bagel options came out just fine.)
The coffee is par for the course, or better, at a good diner or breakfast place. I drained my cup pretty fast, as I am wont to do at brunch, and went back for more; the staff somewhat sheepishly informed me that there were no free refills, and that I would have to pay. At least it was only $ 1.95 and there were only three people in line in front of me. I returned to my table to share the «no free refills» news with my friends, and just a few minutes later, a woman did the same the next table over in the same disappointed tone.
The atmosphere remains the same as I had seen it from the sidewalk for years before visiting: convivial and welcoming, even if not spilling out onto patio tables as it does in the summer months. I found the prices very reasonable and the food (above issues aside) to be satisfying and well-​portioned, if not enormous. I will definitely return but I may drink a coffee on the way first, and I will definitely hope for more edible toast.

Great for lunch too! Food was truly Excellent. Staff were friendly. It doesn’t look like much from outside but inside is large, bright, chilled atmosphere with local art on the walls. Menu is not extensive and changes daily but food is fresh, healthy and VERY tasty. Great vegetarian options too. Order at buffet cafeteria style and hot dishes are delivered to your table when ready which was pretty quick considering the place was 90% full during lunch hour. Recommended.

Incroyable Brunch à la boîte Gourmande, trop bon tout ce qu’on a pris et pas chère! L’ambiance était aussi sympa et le service parfait! Ça fait plaisir!

I came here to meet friends for brunch and was pleased with the price, the fact that you get fruit salad and a little smoothie to accompany your brunch and there is always seating, inside and outside. Lots of choices for vegetarians and the coffee was pretty tasty as well. That said, carrying a mug of coffee, your plate loaded with food stuff and your utensils? Screw it, I’d rather pay the money and be served rather than almost burn myself trying to get to my table (there is a reason why I was NEVER a waitress, people!)
My complaint about this place though is that is is SO confusing! I was in line with everyone else and when I got to the cash, he asked what I wanted, wrote it down and asked where I was going to be sitting. I waited and waited and no food came. Finally I trotted up to the counter and the cash dude shrugged at me even though I showed him my bill. The cook noticed what was going on and motioned for me to come over. I told him that everyone else in my group had food except for me and he shook his head and said «sorry, but you should have told me what you wanted, not the cashier»…ummm ok. There should be a sign or something cause how in the f&*k would anyone know to interrupt the line cooks and say «I want some French toast, yo».

Un beau petit café/​cafétéria juste en dessous de mon studio de yoga. C’est situé parfaitement pour que j’en profite pour prendre un thé quand j’arrive vraiment trop tôt pour mon cours de yoga. J’y ai aussi mangé quelques fois et c’est toujours pas mal bon. L’avantage des repas du jour est que la plupart du temps, on vous donne l’option d’une portion pleine ou bien d’une demi-​portion! Parfait pour les petites faims qui n’aiment pas gaspiller! Le wifi gratuit est disponible grâce à Île Sans Fil! Avec de petites et très grandes tables disponibles, c’est parfait pour travailler ou étudier, autant seul qu’avec un petit groupe. C’est aussi juste à côté du métro Laurier, alors si vous avez à vous y rendre pour un rendez-​vous, vous n’aurez pas à vous inquiéter pour trouver ce beau petit café, ou bien si une urgence à l’autre bout de la ville vous attends, vous serez vite en chemin!

J’y étais vers 9h30 un lundi matin avec le journal.
L’endroit est très aéré, avec de grandes tables permettant ainsi de né pas se sentir tassé comme dans certains autres resto/​cafés.
Ayant commandé un latte, l’employée me demanda avec combien d’unité d’expresso je le désirais, ce que j’ai vraiment apprécié. Son service fut «correcte» mais son latte très bon!
Je vais très possiblement y retourner pendant la session scolaire pour y étudier.

Une cafeteria nouveau genre. Parfait pour bruncher!

I can’t get enough of this café. I am sure they will start knowing me by name soon enough — I visit several times per week.
First, the décor is so welcoming and charming. A whole wall constructed from old doors, big airy spaces and a cute room in the back fashioned from what must have been an old bank vault. The walls in this room are made of chalkboards perfect for philosophizing
Brunch, lunch, coffee tea and desserts are delicious. The soup changes daily and is ALWAYS good. I love the staff, they all seem to really enjoy being at work and they contribute to the neighborhood feel that I get from this place.
It‘s a perfect place to meet a bunch of friends, a colleague for coffee or to grab a spot by the window to people watch on a rainy day. Best spot in the area hands down

Je me comprend pas bien pourquoi c’est souvent plein. La situation peut-​être?
L’assiette brunch est franchement pauvre comparée à la concurrence et le prix est par contre bien supérieur. À part la porte de chambre forte qui décore les lieux de façon inhabituelle — le restaurant est installé dans les anciens locaux d’une banque — je né vois rien qui justifie des prix aussi élevés.
Café et service médiocres. Sourires rarissimes.

It keeps me coming back.
It’s got a cafeteria feel to it. But the food is way better than what your would expect from a cafeteria. I’ve only come for lunch but I’ve never been disappointed. It’s very laid back. I really like the feel of the high ceilings and touch of the good old days. Small menu, but is appears to change daily. It’s also a café where you can just hang out with a coffee, read a paper or surf the web.

Voici un resto surprenant. Surprenant parce que de l’extérieur franchement, ça a vraiment l’air de rien… Et même à l’intérieur d’ailleurs! Bön ok y’a une ambiance ancien atelier, avec de hauts plafonds et des matériaux type métal un peu partout mais ce qu’on retient surtout du premier regard qu’on pose ici, c’est l’ambiance de cafétéria. Alors forcément, on pense qu’on va avoir un bouffe de type cafétéria, le genre bourratif, sans trop de gout mais pas trop cher. Et effectivement, c’est bien vu sur les prix qui sont vraiment bons. Sauf que voilà, la bouffe aussi est bonne! Et je dirai même étonnamment fine! Et aussi très bien présentée. Moi j’avais pris une sorte de salade au poulet, et bien jamais une salade né m’avait paru aussi souriante auparavant!
Il y a aussi des choix de soupes, sandwiches, dessert, plats du jour et aussi des breuvages chauds ou froids et du pain qui est excellent. (Et c’est une Française qui vous le dit!)
Enfin, dernier point positif, le service était très bon et les gens souriants.

Endroit spacieux et sympa pour un brunch avec des amis qui ont aussi de très jeunes enfants. J’ai bien aimé le jus et l’entrée ainsi que les crêpes au sarrasin farcies de jambon, de fromage et d’épinards. Mais je regrette le montant de la facture. Trop salée à mon goût. Surtout pour un brunch sans rôties et sans réchauds de café. Je suis resté sur ma faim.