The Holly Trinity of Eatery Reviews: Atmosphere, Service, Food
Atmosphere: Anton & James (AJ) is a beautiful place to sit down or grab a bite on the go. Situated on Stanley St (between De Maisonneuve and St. Catherine streets) - it does a great job of being in the mix of it all, but yet retain a type of clean urban look. The place can get a little crowded at lunch time and dinner, and it does not have abundant seating - but despite this, the decor is such that it allows all patrons to seamlessly intertwine without getting (too much) in each other's way. There is a long Granite table on the top floor that's perfect for evening gatherings with friends. Love the set up.
Service: The people at AJ's are very very professional. Through my dinning experience in Montreal, I've come to learn that AJ's is owned / run by the same people that own Ruben's Deli(s) on St. Catherine's Street, and one of the hallmarks of Ruben's is professional service - this has certainly been translated to AJs. Pay for your food, and they will give you a number (on a stand), and a waiter, waitresses, or sometimes even the manager will bring the food to you - upstairs, downstairs, or even outside (in the summer time).
Food: If end up liking AJ's atmosphere and service - you'll come back for the food! The menu is limited (but expanding slowly) and mainly consists of several types of grilled panini sandwiches - You absolutely MUST try the chicken chipotle - MUST. Everything is made fresh, and if you order a pizza (good for 1 & 1/2 people), it's made from absolute scratch. There are usually 2-3 soups of the day ready and hot, and AJ's provides a wide selection of beverages and packaged salads if you're on the go. They have an absolutely divine deserts counter - that will certainly become a guilty pleasure. Carrot Cake Muffin, all the way. Prices are reasonable if a little on the "not cheap" side - but you certainly get you're money's worth - and that's what counts.
Big fan ~ urban chic.