I grew up near this place. The food was never great but we went in because there was a pile of comics on the end of the counter for kids to read because the NDG Paperback was next store. From what I remember 30Yrs ago was that they made their living fronting all the residents of halfway houses (  A big N.D.G. industry ) meals until their welfare checks arrived. At some point in the 80's some of my  'Rich'  friends from Hampstead & Cote-St-Luc decided it was a cool place to slum it on Sundays for Brunch and the place has been going like gangbusters ever since. WTF!?!