I came to Café Parvis before writing the last final of my semester. It was one of those weird times where you don’t know if you’re eating lunch or dinner. But since dinner is always my favourite meal, I thought 5 PM would be a good time to dodge the crowd that Café Parvis is usually host to at lunch time. There were only a few people there – some still eating and others enjoying coffee while studying. Even though Café Parvis is Furco’s right hand, they welcome students and professionals alike, and the vibe is much more laidback. Adding to this feeling is the rustic décor and the big windows overlooking St. James United Church, offering the great feeling of inhabiting a big, wide open space.
After looking around in awe at the design of the post-industrial venue, I started off by ordering the juice of the day. It was a mix between orange, squash and apple. I never tasted squash in a juice, but the combination was very refreshing, light and summery. Deciding on my meal was a bit harder as I was torn between the creative takes of their salads, as well as the great combination of ingredients their pizzas had to offer. I went for both.
Beet salad with quinoa, goat cheese and walnuts.
The beet salad was beautifully served on a wooden platter adding to the natural aesthetics of the food (pictured at the top). The beets rested on three individual fried cheese squares that delightfully melted once cut into. Not only did I love how the dish was presented, but the mix of ingredients was also innovative. The other salad that was really hearty yet a good choice is the beet salad with quinoa, goat cheese and walnuts.
Pear, prosciutto, blue cheese, caramelized onions and roquette pizza.
Because Café Parvis is also known for their great pizza, I decided to finish off with one of them. I chose the pear, prosciutto, blue cheese and caramelized onion meshed with roquette. This too, came served on a beautiful wooden platter and it wasn’t just a slice of pizza but a whole one! What a great surprise for my stomach! The pear added the perfect touch to the pizza and made the blue cheese a little less strong than usual.
What I really enjoyed about Café Parvis was that it is secretly located on Mayor St., a street that one doesn’t really venture down unless going to Furco. Surprise your friends by bringing them to Café Parvis! Not only will they enjoy the food and the vibe, but venturing downtown in a tucked away street adds to the adventurous feeling of finding a different and non-commercial place to eat in downtown Montreal. And if you have the patience to wait for summer, you can enjoy the outdoor patio seating!
Café Parvis
433 Rue Mayor
Montreal, QC H3A 2K7
(514) 764 – 3589
Monday: 7:00 am – 4:00 pm
Tuesday-Friday: 7:00 am – 11:00 pm
Saturday: 5:30 pm – 11:00 pm