This place is an absolute gem! It's very understated - located in a residential area just off Laurier. In fact, the place does not even display its name on the outside (as far as I could tell), so you'd really have to know it's there.
Inside, it's not a particularly large restaurant. There are only four tables and the max. seating capacity is probably around 15. We got lucky as some people were leaving just as we arrived. This was on a Sunday afternoon in mid-January, so I'd assume that it will be much more crowded in the summer.
One of the really nice and unique things about Le Sain Bol is that the kitchen is open and you can watch the food being prepared. From scratch. Because they're a small restaurant, the way the chef cooks feels very homely. We saw him whisking eggs for an omelette in a small bowl, just like you'd do at home. Even the kitchen itself looks like something you'd have in your apartment, with a stove, oven, cabinet etc.
As I gather, there's no set menu, it changes regularly depending on the season. The menu while I was there had six options - Gravlax (fresh salmon marinated for 48 hours in something - I don't remember what exactly!), Yoghurt with granola, Omelette, French Toast, a salad and a "surprise", which is essentially a taster menu incorporating a bit of all the available options.
Le Sain Bol is very vegetarian-friendly, with most options always being vegetarian - the exception being their salmon, according to the server.
Service was remarkably quick (or perhaps time flies by faster when you're watching it being made), and the food was great. Both myself and my companion ordered the taster menu. It should be noted that they are remarkably flexible with dietary requirements and have no problems switching out parts of the dish for something else, regardless of whether you eat vegetarian, gluten-free or something else. Everything I tried there tasted really fresh and wholesome - particularly the omelette which was so good that I really wanted to ask the chef how he made it!
Overall, a great place for people seeking a different brunch experience in Montreal. I highly recommend! read more