Schwartz's

Went here on recommendation. The meat was good and had a very specific taste, but the bread was somewhat average for the price (12 CAD or 8.4 eur). Service was good. Didn't see any locals at lunchtime, only tourists. Good to try for once but not so special to come back.

I grew up on the pastrami from Nathan's Famous in Coney Island, Brooklyn. Schwartz's smoked meat is almost identical, maybe better, to me. If you like a solid sandwich that pulls no punches, this is your place in Montreal. Be prepared for crowds, tight spaces, and noise. I can see how hundreds of dates ended, and hundreds of romances likely started, here.

You can't go to Montreal and not visit Schwartz's Deli! This place is super popular so be prepared to wait a little bit. There isn't tons of seating and it's tight quarters but we loved the small town vibe and friendly staff. They are very quick with orders and the food is delicious!

A great tradition in Montreal! Even though we walked for 25 minutes in the cold plus waiting in the line, it was worth it. Recommended to eat there but if you don't want a formal seating, go in the "to go" door and in the back they have high seats and where to eat your sandwich. The fries are great too, natural and well served. The smoked meat sandwich is the king of the house but they also sell other meats such as turkey and sides. Expect lines, but it's worth it, definitely!

Truly a "must visit" to get the full Montreal experience! Awesome staff, incredible food. Worth lining up for, even in the cold. And you can get smoked duck here, I mean, c'mon!?! 👍👍So good! 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 Five stars for SURE!

Delicious, and amazing service! Waiters were fun and very friendly. Food was really good. Great staple place to go try out, and happy to know I was eating somewhere where Celine Dion also ate!

Try the fat smoked meat sandwich, which is truly more delicious than the medium or lean one. Pickle is also perfect. Don't forget the cherry soda.

I was there a few years ago, but this taste is unforgettable! A seemingly ordinary sandwich with meat and mustard, but it's great! Can't wait to visit Montreal again and go there... :)

Great tasting smoked meat, a traditional kosher deli, no milk products in the store. They even sell vacuum sealed packages of meat to take home along with a few other products. Only thing that makes this place a 4 not a 5 is the teenager's working when I went were not the kindest

First time visitor, stopped because of top 1 reviewing and common. Ordered to go, nice price and amazing taste! Even with take out. Haven’t try the sealed smoked meat and 3 seasoning yet... don’t know if it taste the same as take out. Very satisfied with the taste.

Solid sandwich, my bread was cut extremely badly though (not in half)...it was a little difficult to eat. One of our sandwiches was a lot more bland/lacked salt than the other, so consistency isn’t prefect. Fries had a complete lack of seasoning so it was entirely bland. Fries were also not crispy. Overall a great experience, when we revisited this time it was not very busy. A must visit if you’re ever in Montreal!

It is earthy and every plate is filling. The bread is stupendous. The smoked meat is excellent quality but the flavor could be more intense. Friendly service at the counter. Pickles and cole slaw are outstanding g. Take home a bottle of spice.

Totally worth the hype! Sat by a women who was the eldest of three generations in her family that are regulars. Celine Dion bought a controlling interest to ensure that they never change or go out of business. Whatever you do order the black cherry cola which is made in Canada and unlike any other cherry or black cherry cola you've ever had. It's a tiny space and you'll likely end up sharing a table with strangers. Service was incredibly friendly and helpful and quick! I wish I lived here so I could become a regular. I ordered medium fat with fries and a pickle. Ask for the burnt ends if you prefer the spicy seasoning.

I want to give it 5 stars because of all the history, but there was just something missing in my experience. I have also had better smoked meat, so next time I'll opt for a poutines. Definitely history in the deli and worth experiencing

Famous for their smoked meat. Usually quite busy. Great deli serving great food at a great price. I rate it a 10 for deli and a 2 for ambiance (see photos.)

Summary: Legendary Montréal institution serving the iconic smoked meat sandwich. The smoked meat is superb and has the perfect ratio of meat and fat. The quality of the rye bread is often missed in the spotlight but still serves as the perfect soft and chewy vehicle for the smoked meat. The sandwich is unrivaled in Canada and may be better than counterparts in NYC. Lines are always going to be long at this world famous deli but the experience is absolutely worth the wait.Must Try: Smoked meat sandwich.Also recommended: Pickle.Avoid: N/A⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Outstanding, worth a special excursion

I remembered my first time dining there, the fats mixed with the meats, there is this fragrance that I am still missing. It seems like they turned to a healthier seasoning choice, not that salty anymore, but it indeed reduces the flavours. I am all for healthy diets, but when you go for a smoked meats, why don't go for the sinnest plate?

Often listed as a must try in Montreal, the smoke meat comes as delicious as advertised. It is best to order it fatty, but I did enjoy lean too. That said, I do find it to be quite pricey to pay over $10 for a sandwich, so it may be better to come with a group. That way, a plate of smoked meat may be shared.

Make sure you know the lunch time break in Paris to avoid reaching when the restaurant is closed.Better to call and reserve via phone during lunch time.Food that can take you to New York while still in Le Marais. Unforgettable burger and pastrami sandwich you will ever try.Can’t miss this experience while in Paris.

This Montreal smoked meat sandwich melted in my mouth. the service was absolutely excellent even with a very fluent English-speaking server. they loved having a family in the restaurant bringing our small child. I would definitely go back to Schwartz's again if I'm in the Montreal area

The iconic Schwartz, was it worth the hype ?! YESSSSS!!! Absolutely tender and juicy meat. Being American tourists, we came to see what the hype was about. We weren’t sure what to order but the waiter made suggestions and we trusted it. Every bite of the meat was delicious and the Poutine was great too. Just remember it’s cash only, so you’ll have to have cash ready. If you only have American dollars, they accept that too. It’s definitely a must try and if there’s a like, it’s worth the wait !

Classic place from the city i was born in. Great waiters and staff. My kids loved it, and the works is what you order. A time capsule and the line up is really a part of the experience. You get to meet people from all over the world too. The guy sitting next to me was from Australia with his wife. Also came back the same week to have the express side, and delicious as well.

I am amazed by the tenderness and smokiness of the meat. Some while ago, I first came across to this place on TV, it was a travel TV series about Montreal, and the narrator was eating at Schwartz's. I took the name of it back then, and visited at the first chance. Never regretted by doing so, and will definitely go again when I'm back in MTL. Three things I'd like you to be aware: One is about the payment, they don't accept plastic, so bring some cash with you. The other one is, this place is so very popular, it tends to have long queues of people waiting to be seated in the front, so if its the cold season you're visiting, be prepared to wait prolonged periods of time outside. The last thing is if you like to have your meal on the go, you can find Schwartz's sandwiches in the supermarkets throughout Montreal, ready to be enjoyed after a short microwave session (I agree, it won't be the same like eating at the place itself, but still).

What can I say. Schwartz's Deli is a temple of meat and juiciness, the smoke meat at it's best. It looks as if copied and pasted from a 50's movie and if you really want to feel like you're back in time get there early, as close to the opening hours as possible. When it comes to the smoked meat sandwich always go for the medium not the lean. Heaven. Pickle or no pickle is irrelevant at this point. Enjoy.

Small place but world famous for their smoked meat. Service is super fast because it's what everyone is ordering. You won't get a better sandwich so if you're in Montreal you must go. Probably would be hard for large parties at the restaurant but they have a catering service. Would absolutely go again!

Hands down the best roast beef sandwich in the region. It may be over 10 dollars for a sandwich but you get an exponential amount of satisfaction from it. This is how roast beef sandwiches should be made. The beef is tender yet juicy and it is paired perfectly with mustard and ketchup. The bread absorbs the juices from the meat really well.The location may be slightly dirty but hey, you are not going there to sleep. This is a must try when you are in Montreal. Don't sleep on it.

There is just one word to describe it: delicious. The smoked meat sandwich is very good just with mustard and drink it with a black cherry coke. Perfection.

This restaurant is my number one place. Of all restaurants I know I like it most. I always suggests to my friends to go to visit this place. when I I need a fair meal, this restaurant comes first to my head. Great and all sorts of food and a large menu.great team, and nice ambience. In addition to that, the pay is affordable. I sent my friends to this restaurant with pleasure.

My husband is very hard to please. He is very picky about his food and is not much of a meat person. When we got off the closest metro and realized it was still a 15 minute walk, he wanted to give up and turn around. I convinced him to walk in the bitter cold and...It was worth it! We both loved the smoked meat sandwich, definitely worth the hype. The bread has a nice flavor, the meat is perfectly seasoned and tender, and the mustard pulls it all together. We cleaned our plates, we couldn't bear to leave the meat crumbs, it was that good! The pickle was nothing special, just a giant, normal tasting pickle that I couldn't finish. The black cherry soda tasted like cough syrup. BUT the smoked meat sandwich is amazing. We went on a Sunday night, immediately got a table and food was brought out quick. VERY PLEASED.

Still able to get a seat quite quickly! Went for the usual sandwich (medium fat), a pickle and black cherry, and it was pretty good. Not sure if Schwartz's has changed since my first visit in 2007, but it's still been a staple during my visits to the city. Staff are great, and seem to be friendlier than in years gone by :)

We didn't make it to Schwartz's on our last trip two years ago so it was on the top of our list this time. After a great hike on Mont Royale, we went for lunch. We waited in line, on the sidewalk, for about 10 minutes (not bad for a Wednesday at noon). This is a very popular spot but small. Sal seated us with two other guys at a table and we placed our orders for two sandwiches on rye, fries and a pickle plate. The meat was out of this world and so tender that I couldn't pick up a small piece that had dropped onto my plate. It's that good. The fries were wonderful and the pickle plate is ... a giant pickle of a plate but delicious and big enough to share if you cut it up.I'm so glad we made it to this very popular spot. After 92 years in business, they are experts at what they do. A popular, unpretentious and just plain amazing spot. A must-visit if you're in Montreal.

Schwartz's is a Montreal institution - when you hear of Montreal Smoked Meat they are referring to this place - not one of the dozens of cheaper knock-offs. First the ambiance is amazing the owners have gone to lengths to keep the place in its original decor. You'll sit with whoever happens to have seats at their table be prepared for a communal experience! As for the food itself - it is hands down the best sandwich I have had in my life. The beef is tender, juicy and enjoyed best with a kosher dill pickle on rye with mustard. Schwartz's is one of the few places you'll legitimately crave and find yourself going back for over and over again.

Best smoked meat ever. You should try the smoked meat sandwich, which is the most popular item on the menu. A very generous amount of meat. I really like the taste of pickles too.

I had seen this restaurant on the website and it’s one of the most famous restaurants in montreal. Many people have been here and strongly recommended it. So I came here. All employees were very kind. I’m an indecisive person, so before ordering something in restaurants I always spend a long time choosing dishes. The employees kindly explained all the dishes in English because I can’t speak French at all. I ordered a smoked meet sandwich and fries. One thing that I felt disappointed about was taste. Fries were normal but sandwich was bland for me. It just had bread and smoked meet, nothing special.Maybe I chose the wrong dish. I will try another one if I have a chance to come here next time.

We stopped by Schwartz's on a visit partly due to its name and partly because it was a nearby joint for lunch.We ordered the poutine a la Schwartz and the smoked meat sandwich. Adding the provided mustard/vinegar to both dishes definitely give them a nice counterbalancing sharpness and tang. The smoked meats were well-executed, but not the best I've ever had (I grew up and live in barbecue territory). That being said, they definitely hit the spot.Our meal ultimately didn't live up to the hype, but with the amount that Schwartz's has generated over the years, it would be a difficult task. It is, however, a humble unassuming joint where you can get a classic, solid, and satisfying meal with casual and friendly service.If you're in the neighborhood, drop on by, but I wouldn't recommend going out of the way specifically.

After a third, yes third attempt this deli has been consistently long to wait for receipts, serving dry smoked meats & will rush you out as soon as you are finished taking your last bite of food. To claim you are the best smoked meat in the world or city, one would expect that the food is always delicious but this has not been the case During these visits.

Best smoked meat sandwich I have ever had. Meat are juicy, tender and a little crispy on the outside. Paired with a pickle. Perfect lunch! We had to wait 20 minutes to get in but it is so worth it. Love the small restaurant feel. Will definitely go back.

A must visit when in Montreal. The smoked meat sandwich is bucket list worthy! The service was fast and food arrived quickly. Asked for 50% fat for the meat and it was perfect! The texture and taste was perfect. The coleslaw was the cherry on top! Highly recommended!

Hands down the best smoked meat in Montreal! I always try to come here when I’m in the city. Not particularly busy on a cold Wednesday evening. Quick and friendly service. They also offer vacuumed sealed smoked meat to take home. For all those meat lovers - this is your go to spot.

Schwartz Deli is a Montreal landmark it's smoked meat is, beef cured to perfection the spice and flavour is unrivaled, a simple sandwich of bread mustard and smoked meat leaves a memory that has you craving for more. When opportunity arises if anyone i know well is in Montreal would not only recommend this deli but request them to bring some smoked meat back for me!. This is how smoked beef sandwiches should taste the portion for me was large and more than filling, the bread they use complements the beef and mustard just right.The ambiance is as it was years ago some may find it primitive but you come to Schwartz then it is for an experience of eating this delightful sandwich and not to sit in a park or polished environment

It was our first time trying a smoked meat sandwich so we knew we had to go all out and go to Schwartz's! Went for a late lunch after arriving in Montreal around 3pm and we were lucky to be seated right away. Got it with no additional toppings and it was big enough to share. The place was a bit too cramped though and we were seated right by the kitchen door with no place to put our bags. Would probably do takeout next time but the food was so good that I'll definitely be back.

Delicious, really tender meat! Kind and chill servers. Really cozy place that takes you back in time. Beware of lineups though! Prices are great too. We always order a smoked meat platter which comes with bread on the side, pickles, banana peppers and fries - so we make our own sandwiches with the amount of meat we each like. The fries are sometimes too greasy and on the soggy side though. So maybe 3 stars for those but 5 stars for everything else. Very enjoyable!

iconic and yes it’s the best smoke meat in Montreal. some may disagree, but it’s a damn good smoke meat. the only thing i don’t like is the place. tiny squeezed tables to eat in. again, i suggest to take your order out during summer time find a spot and dig in.

Great deli sandwich but the restaurant is ****. Its small, cramp and moderately clean. Take it on the go. The dinning experience is really low.

Had dinner somewhere else, met friends at Schwartz"s late in the evening, I was already totally full, but a sandwich and a pickle showed up. Not sure what happened next, but I devoured the smoked meat. This place is an institution for a reason, absolutely delicious and a must visit. The service was excellent, you can tell that they really enjoy their job.

While I’m only giving four stars, I will visit Schwartz’s every single time I visit Montreal. This place is an institution and it’s rightfully earned that title. Is it the best smoked meat/brisket you will have? Probably not. Is it delicious and an excessively amazing amount of meat? Oh hell ya.

Finally got to visit this place. It was very crowded when we were there. But worth the wait. Smoke meat sandwich tasted really good. The server was very professional and friendly. Told us the history of this place. Which makes the whole dinning experience even more memorable. When food and service is this good, it's understandable why this restaurant is open for the past 90 years.

I really liked the sandwich with smoked meat. Simple dish with lots of flavour. The poutine was good as well. You can only pay cash here but there is an ATM in the back. It charges you C$1.50 though.

Classic of montreal. Service is really good and staff is super friendly. Recommend highly. My best: the meat plate so you can make your own sandwich, ask for medium fat meat ( fattier is too much and less is too dry for my taste buds). Gotta take the bottle coke to feel in the 80 and order a pickle on the side.

Great experience. Get there early or plan to wait. It will be worth it. Food is excellent and the staff are friendly. This is world famous food with an authentic diner experience. You should definitely eat here.