Parma Café is the typical Italian diner with paninis, pizza al taglio, meatballs, arancini, the works. But if you pay attention to the menu, they always have a few daily specials up their sleeve, and that’s where their talent in the kitchen really shines.
We know it will be hard to not order the chicken cutlet panini (it’s drool-worthy and we crave it always), but there’s a delicious and somewhat healthier alternative to this dish that will make you squeal. Try ordering a chicken cutlet plate. We tried it on a bed of delicious asparagus and mushrooms. This is the way to truly make their chicken cutlet shine. The meat is moist, the breadcrumb topping is perfectly crisp, and the splash of lemon on top does wonders.
Another menu item you should keep an eye out for is their mussels. What – Parma does mussels?! Yup! And they’re exquisite. We tried a classic combination alongside cheesy garlic bread, and honestly we’d be hard pressed to choose between the cheesy garlic bread and french fries with mussels. We wished we had more bread to dip into the delicious sauce. We are not ashamed to say we had some by the spoonful once the tender mussels were finished.
An Italian restaurant isn’t a proper Italian restaurant if they can’t cook up a mean plate of pasta, and Parma pleasantly surprised us on that count. They’re not just a panini spot! We had an awesome pasta dish with pickled peppers and cherry tomatoes that we couldn’t get enough of. A super simple dish can go a long way with the right ingredients.
Finally, for dessert, you gotta go with an Italian classic: affogato. Affogato means “drowned” in Italian, and that’s the perfect description for this dish. Strong and steaming espresso is poured over cold and creamy gelato to literally drown the ice cream in coffee. As the ice cream melts, the coffee becomes a little sweeter, and it’s really just the perfect dessert. Parma goes the extra mile with their affogato and adds a touch of chocolate syrup and biscotto crumbles. The chocolate syrup slightly freezes with the ice cream and then melts all over again when it hits the espresso.
If you’re downtown and in the mood for a quick bite, don’t forget to check out Parma for awesome Italian eats. They don’t have just Italian diner fare! Fast casual eats don’t always have to be casual food too; don’t be shy to order something a little fancier.
1202 Rue Bishop, Montréal, QC H3G 2E3
(514) 879-0000
Photos by Dahlia Merlo (@dahllii).
