Montreal Takeout Options To Match Your Midterm Mood

Midterm season is here! Where has the time gone? To get you through the ups and downs, the good times and the crying-over-your-computer-screen bad, here’s a fabulous list of takeout options to match your midterm mood. With Montreal increasing its COVID-19 safety measures last week to the red level 4 alert, causing patios and indoor dining to close once more, restaurants across the city have sadly taken a big economic blow. But what better time than midterms to support local restaurants with takeout?  Skip the cooking this week – let someone else do it for you with these affordable, local options. Remember, good food makes a good brain! 

The Comfort Food to Drown Out Those Bad-Wi-Fi Blues 

When you’re done solving equations, when your brain can’t handle another flash-card, when you’ve worked on your essay for so long you’re no longer writing full sentences, Lloydies is the perfect cure. This comfort-food gem in the heart of the Mile End offers affordable plates of rice with any hearty Carribean protein of your choosing! And if rice and jerk chicken isn’t speaking to you, their $3 patties will do the trick to drown out the disappointment of that less than stellar grade. Lloydie’s is also one of the city’s many Black-owned restaurants. Supporting Black and Indigenous-owned businesses is a fantastic way to put your support for anti-racism initiatives into practice. For take-out, give them a call, or visit the restaurant, or order delivery through UberEats.

Check out their Instagram!

Hours: Everyday from 11:30am to 9pm

The Meal for When You’re Swamped With Assignments

Feeling hungry, but swamped with so much work you have no time to think about food? Have no fear, Mae Sri is here! One of the newer culinary additions to the Milton-Parc area, Mae Sri serves steaming bowls of Pad Thai and noodle soup with plenty of vegetarian and gluten-free options. Their website allows you to order ahead, so that all you have to worry about is the quick walk to get there for your scheduled pick-up time – a truly no fuss experience. They even let you pre-order before they open. 

Use their website for take-out or UberEats for delivery, and check out their Instagram to learn more.

Hours: Everyday from 11:30am to 2:30pm and 5pm to 11pm

The Cold Day Pick-Me-Up

If the cold weather is getting you down — brace yourselves, Montrealers, the breezy picnics and warm weather of September isn’t going to last forever — warm up for better studying with a bowl of Chinese noodle soup from none other than Nouilles Zhonghua. These hand-pulled noodles are the perfect remedy for freezing Montreal weather. They’re also a great deal for a massive bowl of brothy, flavourful goodness. After your three hour scheduled stint at the McLennan Library StudyHub, head across the street on Sherbrooke to pick up, or find them on UberEats for delivery!

Check out their website to learn more.

Hours: Tuesday to Sunday from 11am to 8pm

The Quick Bite For When You’re Rushing Between Zooms 

Food doesn’t have to be unhealthy to be convenient! Bocadillo is a family-owned Plateau staple serving quick, easy Venezulean cuisine. Order a hearty Arepa, filled with anything — from beans, to chicken, to avocado, to queso — right to your door in just 20 minutes through UberEats or DoorDash (they’re gluten free and delicious!). If Arepas aren’t your thing, they offer plenty of other sandwich options, empanadas, and delectable sides like fried plantains. This is the perfect option for when you want something quick and convenient! 

Check out their Instagram!

Hours: Sunday to Thursday from 10am-10pm and Friday to Saturday 10am-10pm

The Caffeine Cravings For When You’re Missing Those Bygone Café Days

Montreal could be referred to as the cafe capital of Canada. Lucky for us, when those caffeine cravings hit during studying, there are so many incredible options to choose from. Cafe Resonance is a black-owned local business whose selection of coffee and tea will satisfy any craving. They’re located in Mile End and are a great option for takeout! While they don’t deliver their drinks, they do have an online service which allows you to pre-order their vegan meals and desserts to pick up, or have them delivered if you’re in the area. If you’re looking to recreate the experience of studying in a cafe at home, Cafe Aunja, located just a few blocks west of campus is a great place that delivers tea and coffee. The Persian cafe offers speciality drinks like their “Persian fog” (black tea and steamed milk with Saffron syrup and pistachio) to give you that boost during your essay, or a classic espresso or macchiato to wake you up for your Zoom midterm. 

Check out Cafe Aunja and Cafe Resonance on Instagram!

The Sweet Treat for Post-Midterm Relief

You finished the exam! You handed in your essay! Your assignment is done! To accompany that midterm excitement, treat yourself to something sweet at one of Montreal’s ice cream shops. Ca Lem, Kem Coba, and Unicone are three great ice cream stores located in the Plateau/Mile End areas serving new flavours of soft serve each week. These shops are seasonal, so now is the perfect time to support them before they close. What better way to treat yourself than a fresh swirl of aesthetically pleasing ice cream! 

Check out their Instagrams for updates on their weekly special flavours: Ca Lem, Kem Coba, Unicone.

You Made It. Now Get Some Drinks to Celebrate!

Finally, for some celebratory drinks, check out Le Dispensaire de Bière. This Milton-Parc brewery will gladly help you celebrate your midterm season finale and all your hard work with take-out bottles of their wide selection of house-brewed beers. Each brew has a creative back-story, uses local ingredients and is packaged in a funky design by a local designer. From IPAs to pale ales, they offer over fifteen kinds of beer, with a range of tastes from citrusy to nutty. Have a beer to celebrate, then realize you have two more assignments due next week!

Check out their Instagram to learn more.

Hours: Monday to Saturday 11am to 11pm. 

Hope you find something here to make your midterm season a little bit tastier!