Jean Talon market is a magical, almost romantic, place; on sunny days strolling from stall to stall getting some fresh fruits and vegetables, checking out various stalls for all your culinary needs. It’s one of my favourite places to bring people who come in from out of town. As you stroll around, you might want to add something else that is magical and ever so representative of Montreal… and that would be brunch. .

Stellina in Italian means star and, much like a lone star in the night, it is a rare treat to find a restaurant that serves brunch in the actual Jean Talon market. Situated on the South west side this tiny little spot welcomes you with its terreace overlooking all the passersby as they get their groceries. It’s great for people watching and enjoying a nice dish under the sun.

Food The menu is a small booklet with items on average in the $8 price range. Coffee is not included nor does it come with free refills so do factor that into the price. The menu has a focus on not-so-classic dishes and some breakfasty sandwiches. Fruit drinks are also a nice treat to see on Stellina’s menu.

We started with a freshly squeezed orange juice ($3.99) and a fruit cocktail ($4.25). These drinks are a nice way to start the day off and relatively well priced with a generous portion.

The small dish of fruit salad with yogourt ($3.99) had a nice presentation. We got good sized chunks of fruit. I would have like a little more yogourt but my friend reminded me that it is fruit with yogourt not the other way around. To be fair, the price is quite good for this dish considering other places will charge you more.

The bagel with double smoked salmon ($8.25) is an ideal bagel, cream cheese and smoked salmon. The taste never disappoints and the bagels offer that fillingness needed to curb a morning appetite. There is a certain poetic nature in having a truly Montreal dish like a bagel and cream cheese while basking in one of Montreal’s best open air markets..

The Stellina bagel ($5.99) is a bagel and cream cheese with a salad, olives and a vinaigrette. This dish is actually a really good bargain with loads of stuff. Even though I tend to avoid salads, since I find they needlessly fill up the plate, this one is different. It’s tasty! The vinaigrette is just right with the bagels and cream cheese and they will fill you up. The salad won’t put you over the edge and make you feel like you ate too much – you actually feel good after this dish.

Service Service is good. They checked up on us often, were great with menu suggestions and we didn’t feel rushed at all.

Vegetarian

Most of the menu is vegetarian friendly so you should not have any issues finding something to eat and if you are ok with fish you get a few more options as well.

Wrap up Stellina is a nice spot. The prices are fair, the terrace is incredible on a nice day and the dishes are tasty. The menu does not have any eggs Benedict or waffles/pancakes so keep that in mind if you are a breakfast purist, but do try to take the opportunity to enjoy a brunch day at the market.

View Stellina in a larger map

Price	$$-$$$	$10-$15
Overall		3.5/5
Wheelchair Access	NO	0/3
Parking	Parking Meter & Street	Difficult
BUS	92, 93, 55, 363, 372	Get Directions
Metro	De Castelnau	7 minutes