Weekend or Spring Break! What better opportunity to get to Space for Life than when the kids are on holidays and have them discover the Biodome, the Botanical Garden, the Insectarium and the Planetarium? You could even finish the day with a cheeky film at Starcité. But at some point the sprogs are going to get hungry. Thankfully, there are more restaurants around the Olympic Stadium than you’d think. [Image: iStock]
Located in the heart of Hochelaga, Hoche Café offers a menu consisting of light meals such as sandwiches, paninis, salads and their famous grilled-cheese sandwiches with green apples, caramelized onions and the much talked about Île-aux-Grues cheddar cheese. The restaurant is warm and the atmosphere is more than enjoyable.
The work cooperative Touski is a casual neighbourhood restaurant with a healthy menu and a family atmosphere. Homemade dishes are cooked daily, and include stews, quesadillas, grilled-cheese sandwiches and pancakes. A children's menu is also available for toddlers.
At Œuf & Bœuf, located on the Promenade Masson, you can enjoy brunch all day! In the evening, a table d'hôte and a selection of salads, burgers and grilled items are available. And if your children aren’t tired out from the day’s activities, there’s a small children's playground on the second floor so they can burn off even more energy.
Open since 2012, the restaurant Les Affamés is a bistro with a relaxed, friendly atmosphere. Among the dishes that may interest your children are the pulled pork burger and the tacos of the day. A restaurant that could please both parents and children!
Located just steps from the metro station Pie-IX, Station In Vivo is a neighbourhood restaurant that promotes food products from the area. On the menu: dishes made with quality ingredients at reasonable prices, like sandwiches, salads, soups, stews and more. There’s plenty of choice and it’s all pretty healthy.
For an entertaining meal, visit the Japanese restaurant Beni Hana located on Sherbrooke Street. The atmosphere is lively and warm as a chef prepares your meal in front of you! You’ll find teriyaki dishes, sautés and sushi on the menu.
For a quick bite to eat, head to the Biodome food court, which houses the Sol Project. Resto Sol, a social enterprise, offers a menu of hot and light buffet-style meals. You can also fall back on soups, salads and sandwiches. Then there’s the Sol Bistro, which offers sandwiches, salads, paninis, pastries and coffee. And a similar offering at the Planetarium’s Café Sol just next door.
It’s not the least expensive restaurant on the list, but why not start your day here with its elegant lunch menu, which includes eggs, fritatas, pancakes with butter, several fruit salads and baguettes (Creton, Emmenthal, ham & cheese, brie, etc.).
Nearby, inexpensive and uncomplicated. Everything you’d expect from a place named Hochelaga Pizza: pizza in large quantities, subs, pasta, pita souvlakis, burgers, poutines, wraps, club sandwiches, three-meal deals... Score!
It’s a holiday, so celebrate! This establishment offers more than 15 poutines, including three lunch poutines (sausage & egg, bacon & egg, or egg, bacon & sausage) sandwiches, corn dogs and a children’s menu with a mini-poutine or breaded chicken fillets with fries.
A good old family restaurant that serves up good old, straightforward “Canadian cuisine,” with a good old menu that you’ll already be familiar with. Smoked meats, pizzas, subs, clubs, the children’s favourite “various” section... It’s not about the decor here, but it’s sure to silence those hungry and irritable souls for a while at least. Although how long that will last is anyone’s guess.