6 Toronto Star suggestions

The Toronto Star published a list of 6 suggestions for the Old Montreal

http://www.thestar.com/article/470066

Generally, safe choices, but I was a little put off by their description of Le Cartet:

LE CARTET, 106 Rue McGill; 514-871-8887. On the western edge of Old Montreal, this is about as cool as a place can get. A superb boutique for gourmet foods also turns out wondrous breakfasts, lunches and dinners. Salmon seems to be a near-obsession here, from their elegant Saumon Tartare to their amazing Salmon Brunch, where you get a bagel with lox, scrambled eggs with salmon, salmon cakes, fruit and a Mimosa...all for $19.95.

Here's my take on this. I agree their brunch is decent, as in "okay food in a rather design- and attitude-heavy environment". However, be prepared for:

a) Long wait and a line of hipster wannabes reading reviews like the one published by the Star.

b) "Fresh" Orange juice directly from a can.

c) All in all, one of the worst cost-to-quality ratios in Montreal. A brunch like that should not cost more than $10, but it costs double that.

Also, to the best of my knowledge the "wondrous" lunches are still made with a heavy use of a microwave (may be something changed after the renovations, but I doubt it). You pick your refrigerated dish (in a plastic box) and the helpful waiter will stick it in a microwave for you. Since when is this wondrous?