Olive et Gourmando: a second location at Royalmount

Good news for Olive et Gourmando fans in the northern part of the city: the iconic café-bakery-restaurant of Dyan Solomon now has a new location at Royalmount!

This new branch, located on the green “Piazza” of the shopping center, somewhat apart from Fou Fou, has its own dining room with about fifty seats. It was designed by Atelier Zébulon Perron, with the care and refinement they are known for. Modern and elegant, the décor is simply stunning, especially when the sun shines through the large bay windows. In the summer, a patio with around sixty seats will be added outside. It offers an atmosphere quite different from the Old Montreal location, but just as warm and welcoming.

“We can’t replicate the old Olive. We’ve been in Old Montreal for 25 years,” explains Dyan Solomon, executive chef and co-owner of Olive et Gourmando. “This is a whole new space. We wanted to make it intimate and inviting, to give the feeling of being in a restaurant, not a shopping mall.”

For this new chapter, the restaurateur continues to count on her longtime partner, Éric Girard, but also on the help of Catherine Wart, who becomes a partner. Present since the café’s early days, she was, among other things, the one who led the opening of Olive et Gourmando’s former counter at Time Out Market a few years ago. She has also worked in several well-known establishments, including Le Serpent, Grumman, and Buvette chez Simone.

The classics are still here

Although the menu is slightly shorter than at the first location, don’t worry, the classics are still available. Fans of the Chicken Melt, O+G Grilled Cheese, and Cuban sandwich won’t be disappointed, nor will those who love the beloved bowls and salads. On that note, we thoroughly enjoyed the whipped salted ricotta with fresh herbs, with its lively tomato and corn salad. The potato salad, more modest in appearance, is also worth the try: “It’s bananas!” Dyan exclaims.

The main difference here: the bread and pastries are not prepared on-site but come from Automne bakery, as does the sublime quiche. Needless to say, they’re a delight. The house blend in the coffee grinders comes from Canal Café, another trusted name.

Open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. every day (as of now, at least), the new location will also offer a slightly different menu in the evening. The daily pasta dish, already on the menu and which we had the chance to taste, promises very good things to come.

A return to roots

After selling her shares in the restaurant Foxy to sommelier Véronique Dalle, Dyan Solomon recently announced the closure of the café Un Po Di Piu in Old Montreal. She is now fully dedicating herself to Olive et Gourmando. Nearing her sixties, the restaurateur is not quite thinking about retirement yet, but she did want to slow down the pace and give more love to her first “baby.” And maybe write a second cookbook—who knows?

“I couldn’t see myself continuing for another 10 years with three completely different restaurants,” she admits. “Our profession is very demanding!”

However, the opening of this new branch at Royalmount may mark the beginning of an entirely new adventure. Don’t be surprised to see more little Olive et Gourmandos pop up around Montreal or even across the country! We’ll, of course, be the first to keep you informed. 😉

Written by Jean-Philippe Tastet
Photography by Alison Slattery

Last update: October 21, 2024

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