French Roast Cafe Downtown

Dependable, long-time neighborhood bistro. The menu has gotten simpler and the decor "upgraded" recently--neither of which are improvements to those of us who hate change, but the food is great: bistro staples, prepared well. If you are a party of one or two, sit at the bar.

The hot chocolate is very good! The steak frite is good too. The place has a nice French feel to it....so if you dig French check it out!

I have a love for this place that is biased. Have only been here late nights, or late late nights since they are open 24/7. Very cozy, super almost romantic place to eat and like the best place to have a one on one with someone you really enjoy talking to.

Extremely competent French bistro food, good bar, excellent coffee. The atmosphere is casual and relaxed and the staff are easygoing and fun.

My friend is all things Brunch. If brunch could be a daily meal he would be happy. This Sunday trek was to this eatery I’ve always passed by and we decided to give it a try.The French bistro looking interior with tile flooring and tin ceiling was bring and open. The hostess sat us by the window. As for as Brunch goes, they have the usual assortment of menu to satisfy this meal. My meal of scrambled eggs which came with a side of salad and potatoes was made as well as any scrambled eggs can be made. The side order of bacon was crispy and didn’t look microwave like some others.The casual relaxed atmosphere with friendly service gave way to a pleasant Sunday Brunch. Nothing really much more to say.

great atmosphere, decent food, always interesting crowd. Fun for possible literary or art celebrity spotting.

Great fan of their breakfast! The service is impeccable!

Good for after a night out or brunch. Go for a glass of wine or hot chocolate. Good french fries and nice waiters.

Absolutely MUST have breakfast here when in this part of town!

I stumbled on this place on a recent trip to the city, while staying at the Larchmont Hotel. This very-French café has a great atmosphere and good service.Their Italian-roasted espresso is the foundation of a perfect cappuccino, extremely similar to those served in Italy. The buttery croissant is wonderfully soft and flaky inside, but crisp and slightly brown outside - just as it should be. Having that breakfast at French Roast each morning for a week really made me feel, for that hour a day, like I was back in Europe. Lovely place.

Love this place. Great food and drink, surroundings, and employees. Everyone there is friendly and made friends their so easily. Best time to go...weeknights!!

They didn't let me play chess. Drip coffee was pretty good though.

Went for dinner and it was better than expected. The seating is nice, roomy and cosy at the same time with nice lighting. The staff is pleasant and diverse. The food is hit or miss. While the cauliflower and potato sides were good, the main course stuff was just about alright. The spare ribs were a bit chewy and cold when it came to the table. The mussels were average and the salmon was just okay. Consider that you pay a little higher price ($$-$$$) you would expect warmer food and better flavors. Nice place to catch up and distract yourself from the food though!

I am giving French Roast five stars purely for food quality and consistency. Service is always tough to really rate - as a former server myself, I know that sometimes there are off-nights (or off servers) which I have experienced here before when sitting out on the patio, but the food taste and quality makes up for it. I know, I know - a pretty rash statement.I've been here for dinner and brunch, and in my opinion brunch is the better meal. Get the Shakshuka (sp?) - it is incredible. It comes out in a cast iron skillet with the perfect runny egg consistency and a big warm baguette on the side. I get this every time.I've also heard that this spot is a great place for celebrity spotting. Keep your eyes peeled for stars!

Came here on a Saturday afternoon for brunch. Got the eggs benedict with ham and a hot chocolate - both exceeded expectations! Also ordered the disco poutine, which I could've done without. But the service was great, the ambiance was warm and inviting, and the food was delicious, especially for the price.