Le Salon Cardinal is a beautiful and enchanting place. Put your cellphones on airplane mode, leave your laptops at home and climb the stairs to a time when things were simpler and more elegant. A world of wooden chairs and bookshelves with real books and a grand piano that promises (in the near future) a piano player to fill the room with acoustic music. The chandelier sparkles in the center of the room while you are whisked to your table. It gets very busy being open only 11-7pm three days a week but is well worth the wait.
Some may find the prices for simple fare (scones, sandwiches, quiche etc.) on the expensive side (for average Montrealers at least) but considering all things are made from scratch daily (with real butter and mostly local produce) by local pastry chef and baker Kathy Dahler and considering you'll want to cozy up for at least an hour if not two, it is a very reasonable afternoon out.
The tea menu, although small, is carefully selected by owner Murad Meshgini. I found the Rooibos to be exquisite and my lady friends enjoyed their peppermint and Earl Grey Lavender choices. We collectively enjoyed the lemon loaf (moist and delicious), blueberry scone (these scones could easily be for 2 people! but order extra butter...), and a few buttery cookies (elephant ear and shortbread). On another occasion a friend & I sampled the savory selections - herbed scone with lardons, puff pastry sausage rolls and the ploughman's plate. A few extra slices of the fresh bread would have rounded out the plate nicely.