Mackay Street just got even more vegetarian thanks to the addition of Cafe Verdure. The sort-of-Indian, all-healthy sandwich and burger cafe doesn’t think setting up shop next to big guns including La Panthere Verte and Crudessence will be bad for business. And maybe the friendly, spice-tastic owner is right, because the foot traffic (vegans don’t drive, right?) means lots of her restaurant’s demographic will see the new restaurant located pretty next to Saj Sandwiches and directly above the Green Panther and vegetarian monolith, Crudessence.
But what will set this new vegan eatery apart? Meals don’t top $10, so right away it’s got something on Crudessence. But if you want a good sandwich you can grab a giant falafel pita at La Panthere Verte or a cheap samosa or spiced Ethiopian injera wrap across the street at the Concordia co-op, Le Frigo Verte. Not to mention, the warm, comforting bowls of Levantine bread topped with chickpeas, yogurt, and chickpea “stock” (hummus?) all mushed up into vegetarian (though not vegan) deliciousness at À la Saj.
But Cafe Verdure has gluten-free bread! Finally, a whole menu of sandwiches for the wheat-free! The sorghum-based hamburger buns and rice and flax slices aren’t dense and have a great chewy texture with a little nuttiness and natural sweetness. They’re also soy-free, often with a lentil base. There’s no sugar in anything at the restaurant, so no spikes in blood sugar as long as you don’t overload on too much tapioca or salt-kissed caramel chocolate (gluten-free, dairy-free) donuts.
When I went for dinner the place was empty. The owner was the only worker, so she took orders and cooked the food. Honestly it took awhile, but I had good company, and the food was worth it. In the morning the place does a good grab-and-go business on muffins, homemade granola and coconut yogurt with berries, and muffins.
There’s a daily special, too, which is easier to put together on a plate than assembling two entire burgers.
From the menu: the grilled portobello burger. A vegetarian sandwich with tomatoes, lettuce and basil pesto. But I think the real appeal of the restaurant is the integration of toasted Indian spices. Besides coconut eggplant and cauliflower curries on brown rice or quinoa with chutney as a lunchtime special, chef’s slips cumin, cardamom, and coriander into one of her burger patties made with lentils. she didn’t have it the day I went, but my burger with a sweet and spicy was a good stand-in:
And in other strange combinations of identity, daily specials include a penne arrabiata with faux-mage, teriyaki-sesame vegetables, Thai red curry, ratatouille, grilled vegetable stack with hummus, dinner rolls, and vege-butter, paté chinois, and Moroccan vegetable stew. Then there’s the occasional South Indian or Madras curry, two dishes far enough geographically but at least sharing the same Prime Minister.
And the brunch menu features pancakes and waffles next to Indian paratha bread. I’m not saying all this mixing and matching of cuisines is bad, just that on any given day, this restaurant will feel French or African or Asian depending on the chef’s whim. Those burgers and sanwiches and generous sprout salads, however, will be the mainstays.
And you can’t forget the frosted cupcakes, dipped and stuffed donuts, cookies, and scones. Because those are gorgeous. Where else can you find vegan, gluten-free donuts in Montreal? Grab a rooibos tea to give with it and you’re set.
This is the kind of place you really want to support and see succeed. Come and relax over a slow lunch. Try the Indian food and the Indian fusion burgers. Or stick with healthy, more traditional vegetarian fare made with a ton of love.
Cafe Verdure
2159 rue Mackay (between Sherbrooke and Maisonneuve)
Hours: Mon-Fri 11am-9pm, Sat 10-7 (brunch starting at 10)
Facebook
Leave a Reply