Saint JJH & Café — Restaurant in Montreal

Absolutely wonderful place and atmosphere! The layout of it is unique, cozy and tweaked with vibrant personality. The music is enjoyable and never repetitive which adds a great touch. As someone who normally studies with headphones, I find myself often removing them. Enjoying the music while continuing to engage myself in my work. I must add that the menu is fresh with personality and ingenuity. I don't normally order food at cafes, but they have an exceptionally irresistible menu. The other day I ordered a blueberry pie. It was sweet and exuded generosity.

It is very clear that a lot of love and soul continuously goes into this place. And its that heart and soul that really makes this place what it is. Not just with the food, music and decor, but especially in the customer service. The staff are clearly cared for and happy to be there and it shows. And that care extends to the customers. It shows that client satisfaction is very important to this place. From enjoying their food and drinks, to seating arrangements and overall experience.

And if you're lucky, which you will be if you come here. You might get a chance to meet the owner. Who is a very pleasant person. And without a doubt is extremely present in ensuring that her customers experience is of the highest quality. Even when closing time comes, she never lets anyone feel rushed to leave. Letting people finish things up on their own. For someone who studies a lot that was really nice.

And the quality of interactions that happen here are fantastic. Whether its between the staff, the owner or others. It is definitely a great vibe whether you just want to study alone or meet new people. Everyone seems to be so nice a respectful.

For these reasons this cafe becomes more than just a place to study. But kin to a loving home that opens its arms so warmly to everyone. I believe it is truly a gem and a staple within...

This was, without exaggeration, one of the most humiliating and disappointing customer experiences I’ve had in Montreal.

We stopped by to enjoy some drinks and take photos of our friend with a small birthday cake we brought for her — not to eat there, not to have a celebration, just to take pictures with our phones. That’s all.

A woman, who had been sitting like a regular customer, suddenly stood up and approached us with a very unfriendly tone, telling us outside food wasn’t allowed. We politely explained that we weren’t eating it, just taking pictures, and she said “okay.” But later, she came back — clearly angry — and scolded us for taking “too many photos” and using flash ( even though we were careful not to disturb anyone or the atmosphere).

It was incredibly awkward. We didn’t even know she was the owner or whatever. She sat like a customer, then suddenly switched into “boss mode” and made us feel like we were intruding. We weren’t trying to cheat anyone — we were just marking a personal moment, which in no way harmed her business. She never introduced herself or said a single “please.” Her attitude was unnecessarily rude and made us feel like we were doing something shameful

If this café sold birthday cakes, we would’ve gladly bought one. If she had politely asked us to limit the photos, we would’ve understood. But instead, we were treated like a nuisance. Ironically, we were going to post those pictures online — something that would’ve helped promote her business. What was supposed to be a joyful moment turned into a deeply uncomfortable and embarrassing situation. I left feeling awful, and honestly, that feeling stayed with me the entire day and beyond.

Montreal has plenty of stunning cafés with owners who treat their guests with kindness and warmth. This café might be pretty, but it left me feeling terrible. I won’t be returning, and I suggest others...

Disappointing Lack of Manners at Saint JJH & Cafe

Our visit to Saint JJH & Cafe was memorable, but unfortunately, for all the wrong reasons. The atmosphere had potential, but the behavior of the staff completely overshadowed any positives.

The most glaring issue was the complete absence of basic manners from every single staff member we interacted with. Not once did anyone acknowledge our group when we said, “thank you.” It’s shocking to experience such a lack of courtesy in what is supposed to be a hospitality-focused environment. It left us feeling ignored and undervalued as customers.

Service was not only inattentive but felt robotic and cold. None of the staff displayed any warmth or professionalism, and it was clear they weren’t trained on how to engage with customers properly. It’s one thing to have a bad day, but for the entire team to neglect something as simple as responding to a thank-you? That’s a cultural problem within the establishment.

While the food and drinks were passable, they couldn’t compensate for the poor service and lack of manners. Saint JJH & Cafe has potential, but until they prioritize training their staff on even the most basic of courtesies, I can’t recommend this place to anyone. Concept & decor were the only things that were noticed however would have felt more enjoyable with fun, professional, attentive service, or a simple “you’re welcome” as a response...