Breakfast at Dusty's
This 50's style diner serves excellent food at reasonable prices and has become a breakfast institution for Montreal's Plateau Mont Royal residents since it opened its doors in 1949.
Unlike many diners, Dusty's lacks a flashy sign or billboard to draw in customers. It can take a while to notice it even if you walk pass it every day. Apparently, the manager simply hasn't gotten around to putting one up! It is in a very handy location, but to notice it out from its unassuming outside requires either previous knowledge or careful attention. I discovered it through both: friends of mine were swearing by it for months, though I could not find it, until one day I was out looking for something else and stopped into an innocuous diner to grab a quick bite. I have been returning ever since.
There is plenty of room for everyone at Dusty's. It is deceptively spacious on the inside, with rows of booths along one side, stools along the counter and an open area with tables. The interior has a very homely atmosphere, without the pretension of being more than a good spot for a quick meal. The wall above the counter is adorned by the placemat sketches of various customers, ranging from the most abstract interpretations of houses by six year olds, to the earliest works of the city's next great artist. Funky music is piped through the sound system to add to the comfortable mood. During the warmer months, there is a nice outdoor patio that catches the morning sun full on.
The menu covers all the standards, from eggs to sausage to pancakes to bacon to beans to omelets. A particular favorite of mine are the pancakes, and in an attempt to pretend I am a healthy eater, I will sometimes go all out with the buckwheat pancakes. Like most diners of this genre, Dusty's waitresses arrive swiftly with a pot of coffee ready to pour into your bottomless mug. I will on occasion pass that up as their repertoire also extends to rather tasty café au lait as well. And while many know Dusty's for its breakfast spread, don't be fooled by this, the menu offers plenty for lunch and supper.
So why do people like to eat at Dusty's? “I don't know" said my waitress, “the price, the speed, the freshly squeezed orange juice…?" I would have to agree with all those points, and add that in a city of high cuisine and ethnic delicacies, there is something comforting about its simplicity.
Dusty's
4510 Avenue du Parc
Montreal, QC H2V 4E3
Phone: (514) 276-852
