The Commensal: Fat-free feastingThis downtown restaurant is airy and uncluttered, with wall-length windows looking out onto some of Montreal’s best known buildings. Depending on where you sit, you may get a view of Victorian arches or chic shops. In any case, you will get a meal that meets the modern criteria for healthy living.The buffet style vegetarian restaurant proves that vegans can enjoy variety. A choice of two soups, such as Dahl or cream of carrot, is always available near the entrance. Next comes a selection of crunchy, creative salads, such as beet and apple, smooth chick pea and mint or protein-rich five-bean-salad. Top off your salad with a drizzle of home-made garlic, tamari, or raspberry dressing.Main courses range from the vegetarian equivalents of fast food—pizzas and burritos—to more exotic dishes like Tofu Curry Madras, concocted from potatoes, zucchini, raisins and coconut. If you crave comfort food, scoop some sweet potato purée or basmati rice onto your plate.At the Commensal, you don’t have to deprive yourself of your just "desserts" to forego the fat. The star burst of color at this counter shouts "antioxidants", not "artificial color." Besides fresh fruit, like strawberries and melon, there’s lemon poppy seed cake, walnut and coconut squares and my personal favorite, a tangy pineapple and tapioca mousse that I top off with berry sauce. You can also get glasses or half-liter bottles of red or white wine, as well as juice, tea or coffee.The price is calculated by weight, so you pay a lot less if you pile rice and sprouts on your plate than if you load up on heavy chunks of raw vegetables. I usually pay the equivalent of about $7.00 for a scoop of rice, a dollop of ratatouille (eggplant stew), a spoonful of beans, a few slices of cucumber and a dessert.The Commensal is within walking distance of major shopping centres like The Bay, Simons and the Eaton Centre. It’s also across the street from Indigo bookstore and one floor above the Aveda organic cosmetics shop. Indoor parking is available for $2.00. Just drive around the corner to the right and use the intercom to tell the attendant you’re going to the restaurant. You can eat and then go shop for a while without trying to find the extremely elusive downtown parking space.(If you don't have a car, get off at McGill metro and cut through the Eaton Center.)