The best French Toast in Montreal: Tastet’s picks

French toast has been, and hopefully always will be, one of the most classic and delicious brunch foods out there. Could there be a better way to repurpose stale bread than by soaking it in egg, milk and sugar before frying it in butter? The answer is “no”. 

Most commonly in France, this breakfast treat is known as “pain perdu”, which translates to “lost bread”. The name refers to the fact that this dish is usually prepared using the stale bread in our cupboards that would otherwise go to waste, and therefore was “lost” or “gone”. While this is the name given to the dish in France, its title can vary from region to region, but most of the names tend to be rather comical or clever. Alsatians, for example, call the dish “Pain Crotté”; in Quebec, as you probably already know, it is known as “Pain Doré”. In the United States and English Canada, “French Toast” is the name, and in Germany, it’s called “Armer Ritter” (poor knight), because the dish is notoriously cheap to make!

So, next time you want to use up some of your pantry staples and avoid wasting any leftovers, we suggest trying out your own take on French toast! In our books, there is no better way to start your day. 

We now know about how the appellation has evolved over time and across cultures, but you may still be wondering…”does each region prepare this dish the same way?” Again, the answer is “no”. Throughout Europe, this souped-up toast is served with a simple dusting of powdered sugar overtop. In North America, the dish is most commonly presented with a healthy dousing of maple syrup and often some fresh berries and cream. 

At Tastet, our ideal French toast is soft and moist on the inside and crispy on the outside, drizzled with maple syrup and a pad of melting butter. The addition of fruit always adds a kick of freshness (as well as a bit of #health). However, regardless of how you top it, it’s hard to go wrong with bread, sugar, butter and eggs – this dish is a globally beloved classic for a reason! 

In a gourmet city like Montreal, it should come as no surprise that many restaurants have tackled the feat of creating their version of the perfect French toast. To help you find your own ideal French toast, we have created this list of the best places in the city to enjoy this dish!

If French toast isn’t really your thing, you may want to have a look at our list of the best brunches in Montreal for a more diverse selection.