ACCEPTABLE ... the interior is attractive and caught my eye in the past (this seems to be a common theme in my reviews). I had anticipated my experience here for quite a while having studied the menu while passing by on a couple of occasions. The menu offers a variety of "standards" as well as some smart variations of standards and interesting combinations. Somewhere between conception and execution of the plates something didn't work out. To elaborate, the meals were described accurately in terms of the actual ingredients and style of preparation, but somehow they read much more interestingly than they actually tasted, which was a little bland.
The overall quality of Griffintown Cafe would be comparable to dinning at a friend's house, a friend who cooks well but not quite at the caliber of a professional and lacking the soul of "home cooking". The restaurant almost plays into this a bit by mixing and matching plates and glasses and offering a back patio that feels very much more like a back porch (at a friend's house). The staff was very attentive and friendly. Based on the menu, they have creativity and potential and I think they'll improve their execution one day. For now I would recommend starting with a cocktail and small item to test the waters and decide for yourself.