Cafe Parvis Montreal

Cafe Parvis is the newest addition to the Furco – Buvette Chez Simone family. In the same way its’ siblings have brought a nonchalant cool and trended towards a casually fashionable following, Parvis exudes the same vibe, promising equal parts good food and good company.

The name “Parvis” refers to the communal space in which worshippers come together after a church service, a sincere nod to the St. James church across the street. Both spaces now inhabited by Parvis and Furco have interesting pieces of Montreal history behind them – Furco (short for fur company) was once the showroom in which furs were kept while Parvis was the storefront in which they were proudly displayed. The decoration maintains a retro 70s energy with lots of hanging green plants and carved barstools – a refreshing change from the office space. On a sunny day, the big windows looking out onto Mayor street lets loads of natural light stream in. Nab a spot there if you can!

Rose Hip and Hibiscus Kombucha, Coffee

Open early in the mornings, Parvis serves the downtown office crowds with delicious homebaked pastries and premium coffee. When lunchtime rolls around, a variety of salads and pizzas are served – the salads come in three different sizes suggested as side dishes, individual meals or for sharing. The pizzas are served as single square slices, in effort to make the eating process a little quicker, getting the average diner in and out within 45 minutes. If you’re around for dinner, Parvis is ready to taken you in with full size pizzas and a drink menu that’s nothing to sneeze at. Once the weather gets warmer, word on the street says the patio will be out in full swing where diners can enjoy both the food and the weather at the same time.

Beet Salad, Quinao, Goat’s Cheese, Walnuts

Spinach, Edamame Salad

Roasted Vegetable Salad with Couscous

Roasted Eggplant Salad with Israeli Couscous and Feta

Broccoli Salad with Bacon

Cheese Fondue

We’ve tried pretty much all the salads there are at Parvis at the moment – the chunky beet salad with walnuts and goat’s cheese is both hearty and healthy, whereas the spinach salad is lighter and fresher. Our advice is to skip the eggplant salad – ours was a bit on the blander side.

Pizza Assortment

Moroccan Pizza

Chorizo, Shrimp, Arugula, Mascarpone and Parm Pizza + Wild Mushroom Pizza with Bacon, Truffle Oil, Cheddar

Moroccan Pizza with Lamb, Spices, Tzatziki, Cranberries and Chicken Pizza with Peppers, Sundried Tomatoes, Feta, Pesto

Our favourite pizzas thus far are the Moroccan pizzas – the failproof combination of lamb, mint and tzatziki makes for a winning slice. The chorizo shrimp one is another satisfying way to go, with thick pieces of Spanish meat providing punches of flavor difficult not to like.

A word of advice for lunchtime patrons – try to arrive a little bit before noon to avoid lineups. Once the clock strikes twelve, the place fills up immediately, and any chance of eating at Parvis within the hour disappears. Parvis is a beautiful spot that has made lunchtime downtown something to look forward to.