Pizza Perfect
eateryMontreal
(May.31.07)
The Atwater Market is booming. A haven for well-heeled yuppies with dogs and strollers, it’s a different scene from when we had the chance to buy a condo there ten years ago (ah, hindsight). It’s pretty and safe now—as long as you don’t stray too far from Atwater Street. Head west along Notre Dame, however, and the urban landscape starts to slide. 
That’s why we were pleasantly surprised to stumble upon the new Caffè Mariani, a chic eatery that’s improving the area west of the Atwater Market. The young chef, Valerie Pelletier, learned the true art of making pizza dough from her Italian mother-in-law (who also let the family secrets slip for her biscotti).
Featuring homemade paninis and personal-sized pizzas ($6.00), we added a salad and the bill was only eight dollars! You can do the same with the soup, which is based on authentic organic chicken stock. All the produce is from the Jean Talon Market and the menu changes according to what’s available each week.
There’s no deep fryer in the Mariani’s kitchen and additives like MSG and margarine are forbidden, proving that healthy eating is the house philosophy. (Even the homemade doggy treats are more nutritious than the average afternoon snack.)
Diving into our green bean salad, we sat on the sundeck and considered moving nearby. We have a feeling St. Henri could be the new Monkland. And this could be our new regular lunch spot.
Caffè Mariani
4450 Notre Dame St. West
514-504-7458