Maggie Oakes

October 21, 2025

Truly enjoyed Maggie Oakes , so much so that we started our day with brunch and decided to go back for a pre-dinner round of cocktails and appetizers. Made reservations for their Sunday brunch long in advance as it does get busy . Service was good , slightly slow but normal for a crowded Sunday . We ordered mimosas and hearty brunch items from the menu . Quinoa with beets and feta crumble on top and a side of grilled salmon . Delicious . Classic two eggs with bacon and breakfast potatoes was solid and the smoked salmon with eggs Benedict with hollandaise in the side are great . We returned in the evening for a pre dinner round of cocktails and an appetizer. Drinks are strong and well prepared . Sangria is a stand out . Goat cheese nougat with crusted pistachios is a perfect spread with bread , plus it is gluten free . Ideal to start the evening off. Definitely a great place to enjoy drinks , brunch and time with friends

October 14, 2025

Really good food and the our server was really attentive. We enjoyed the bread starter and the steak was exquisite! We also enjoyed the Caesar salad which was deconstructed and different from any I’ve had before! We really enjoyed our meal, but at some points we did feel as if we were looked down on as a group of younger women in a posher place.

November 3, 2025

I was looking for a nice breakfast café, and this spot came up highly rated. It’s definitely more of a restaurant than a small café, but from the moment you walk in, the place smells amazing and is spotless. We ordered a cappuccino and a regular black coffee—both were excellent. I had the avocado toast and substituted a fried egg instead of poached. The feta and walnut emulsion on the brioche bread was something I’d never had before, and it was incredible. My husband got the salmon bagel, and it was like butter. The bagel had the perfect crisp, the cream cheese was light and evenly spread (no dry spots!), just the right amount of capers so it wasn’t overpowering, and the salmon itself was divine. Overall, it’s not your typical cozy café vibe, but the food was absolutely outstanding.

July 15, 2025

The food was excellent, but unfortunately the service left a lot to be desired. With so many great restaurants to choose from, I wouldn’t recommend this one based on our experience. The hostess outside was lovely and welcoming, but things changed once we were brought inside. Although the restaurant was nearly empty and we had a reservation, we were initially seated at a small table in the center. When we politely asked to move, the second hostess looked visibly annoyed and said nothing as she relocated us. Our server didn’t leave a great impression either. We asked to start with oysters and without a word he grabbed our menus and walked off. We weren’t even done yet! When we asked for them back, we were only handed one and were rushed. Throughout the meal, he was mostly absent—no drink refills, no check-ins, and when we tried to order more, it felt like we were bothering him. One member of the support staff who did stop by was very kind, and honestly, if he had been our server, I imagine this would’ve been a very different review. For context, we ordered oysters, lobster, lobster pasta, desserts, and drinks—this wasn’t a light or inexpensive meal. When it came time to pay, the server simply dropped the bill on the table without a word and later did the same with the payment machine. The contrast between the food and the service was unfortunate. With so many amazing options in Montreal I wouldn’t waste my money here or recommend.

June 12, 2025

My recent lunch at Maggie Oakes in Old Montreal, prompted by high ratings, unfortunately fell short of expectations, leaving my wife and I with a rather negative impression. We opted for outdoor seating to enjoy the charming atmosphere, but our initial interaction with the waitress set an uncomfortable tone. She seemed a bit short and sharp. We considered leaving, but we were tired from walking and really wanted something to eat, so we chose to ignore the vibe we were getting and proceeded to order. As we awaited our meals, several other diners came into the restaurant. My wife and I looked at each other and noted the difference in the approach and conversation of the waitress with these other diners. We listened as she explained the entire menu, without prompting, to at least two other groups. This explanation was necessary since the menu is broken into sections and has specific meals depending on the size of your group. This made it much easier for the other diners to choose their meals. They were also English-speaking visitors. We were seated at a small table, understandable since space was limited. As the stereotypical "tourists," we left our hotel well-prepared, with water bottles to stay hydrated, hats to shield from the sun, and a camera in tow. The section wasn't very busy and had quite a few empty tables. There was no one sitting next to us, so we used a chair to place our bags and hats. With zero explanation or conversation, our waitress came back to our table and grabbed our stuff from the chairs and began stuffing them into corners of the chairs we were sitting in. We were aghast. My hat was crushed, and she attempted to place my wife's bag on the back of the chair. However, the back is smooth and has no hook for the bag to latch onto securely. We knew this because we initially tried that before attempting to place it on the other chair. She couldn't put the bag on the back of the chair so she placed it on the small, already crowded table. At this point, we started to feel frustrated but decided not to let the interaction affect our mood since we wanted to continue exploring the surrounding area and maintain our high spirits. I don't make this comment lightly, but I do feel my wife and I were treated differently after we saw the interactions with the other diners. Since there were other English-speaking diners, I can only assume the different treatment was based on something else. We are left to ponder... What was the reason for this difference in treatment and level of service? Non resident of Montreal? Skin tone? Both? Either way, we would not be dining there again. This experience has also taught me a valuable lesson, no matter the stage of the process, if I don't feel comfortable or welcomed I will leave.