L’Emporte-pièce: you can have the French bistro for here or to go

L’Emporte-pièce is a total charmer. It’s tucked away next to Laurier Metro in a tiny storefront, but they make the most of it, with a sidewalk terrace that beckons on summer days and a clever concept: classic dishes made with quality ingredients expressly intended for take-out.

The menu is updated daily, with a few constants – croissants, coffees and gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches (Mamirolle cheese, pipérade and sunflower bread!) The majority of items are made fresh according to seasonal availability and weather (chilled melon soup and cucumber salads during the dog days of summer). A gravlax and fennel salad with citrus was perfectly seasoned and almost too generous with the salmon. An apricot-tinged chocolate mousse was decadently chocolatey and topped with crumbled cookie.

For a place whose focus is on takeaway, L’Emporte-pièce is surprisingly eco-conscious. The plastic utensils are compostable, the coffee is both delicious and directly traded, and the to-go packages feature beautiful hand-stamped recycled paper bags. If you decide to eat in, you’ll find the staff friendly and helpful and the ambiance warm. Repurposed vintage furniture fills the sunny space, with salvaged wood, upcycled STM chairs and shining countertops. To top it off, there’s live music on Friday nights!

L’Emporte-pièce might be filling a niche need, but it’s far from a niche thing. Whether you’re eating in, taking it home, or planning the ultimate picnic, L’Emporte-pièce is guaranteed to leave you satisfied.

L’Emporte-pièce
418, Gilford | Laurier
lemportepiece.com