Highlights
Nestled in Old Montreal, this cozy pub offers hearty Québécois fare, famous poutine, and local brews in a chill setting with friendly vibes.
181 Rue Saint-Paul E, Montréal, QC H2Y 1G8, Canada Get directions
Open (Until 10:00 PM)
$$$$$$$$ · Menu
"Poutine in Montreal Poutine is the stuff of legends, much to the chagrin of many Canadians. It is the one food non-Canadians seem to know the most about, and a snack of this heavy dish is at the top of the list for most visitors to Montreal . Even though it can be found throughout Canada , poutine got its start in Quebec back in the 1950s and truly is a collage—some would say train wreck—of ingredients. The classic recipe is simple, really: french fries topped with brown gravy and curd cheese. But this simple explanation really doesn’t do it justice. Like many other comfort foods, poutine may not be the healthiest dish, but there is just something satisfying about the experience. I love sharing a big bowl amongst friends, each armed with a fork scouting out the best fries and melty cheese curds as the gravy drips drop by drop into the bowl below. There are a thousand varieties of poutine, including BBQ, lobster, and even foie gras, but there’s nothing like the simple original version."
24 Hours in Montreal
·
Mar 16, 2022
"Poutine in Montreal Poutine is the stuff of legends, much to the chagrin of many Canadians. It is the one food non-Canadians seem to know the most about, and a snack of this heavy dish is at the top of the list for most visitors to Montreal . Even though it can be found throughout Canada , poutine got its start in Quebec back in the 1950s and truly is a collage—some would say train wreck—of ingredients. The classic recipe is simple, really: french fries topped with brown gravy and curd cheese. But this simple explanation really doesn’t do it justice. Like many other comfort foods, poutine may not be the healthiest dish, but there is just something satisfying about the experience. I love sharing a big bowl amongst friends, each armed with a fork scouting out the best fries and melty cheese curds as the gravy drips drop by drop into the bowl below. There are a thousand varieties of poutine, including BBQ, lobster, and even foie gras, but there’s nothing like the simple original version."
The Best Poutine in Montreal
·
Mar 16, 2022
B N
Google
We stumbled upon this gem along our walk today in the old port. The portions are massive. We are a bit of poutine snobs and this poutine is top!! The fries are perfectly crispy and the cheese is fresh. Portions are massive and price is reasonable.
The smoked meat sandwich was also delish!
A great spot for a quick bite without breaking the bank.
Natalie E
Google
Wanted to try a poutine before we had to go back home and this looked like a great spot to try out. The staff was friendly and accommodating. We had a nice table by the window and watched people walking by. The hotdog was tiny but perfect for a little snack, enjoyed the poutine and the chicken tenders were nicely done.
Foodie Traveler
Google
First order of business when in Montreal. Because it’s pouring and there’s no line here, and it’s poutine. To our surprise, the food came out delicious and full of flavors (not sure why the rating is low). Service was quick and the servers were very helpful with their recommendations and friendly.
We ordered two: smoked meat sandwich which has the right amount of seasonings and saltiness and fried chicken poutine. They’re both yum and delicious!
Andrey Pugachev
Google
We visited this restaurant for the first time in 2018 and since then we come there every time we visit Montreal, meaning several times a year. I have never been disappointed with their poutine and cocktails. The atmosphere is very nice too. Especially, in summer, on the terrace.
They add seasonal options to the cocktail list every season.
N Bell
Google
Poutine options are great. Caesar salad was delicious. Cute little spot in old Montreal. Food was good, service was great and meals arrived quickly.
Bill Dean
Google
Yum yum yum. Service was great, the poutine options were great, bathrooms were clean and the drinks were cold. Was an excellent place to split some poutine and warm up from the cool outside. Just a few steps from the road to get an Uber.
Olivia O'Connor
Google
Ordered the poutine with fried onions (vegan option). Was delicious! Non vegan friends enjoyed theirs too. Very cozy place and friendly service.
Yasmine M.
Google
We’ve been trying different poutines across Montreal and Quebec City, so we opted to try this one, sitting in the heart of Old Montreal city. We chose to sit indoors instead of the patio as the sun was heavy and hot that day.
We ordered one ($15.99) to share with two drinks. A peach juice and a blue raspberry slushie. ($35 taxes included)
The poutine was meh average, nothing special and not at all a show stopper to write home about. The gravy tasted the same as Harvey’s poutine. Yes, I’m not proud that I’m comparing to Harvey’s gravy but Yes, I’m dead serious!
The peach juice was nice and refreshing, but the slushie had a DEAD BEE crushed with the ice!! It was absolutely disgusting to find AFTER my guest finished her drink!!
All they did was remove the drink from the bill and apologized.
The wooden tables & chairs and dining space in the upstairs dinette was cozy and nice bright from the sun.
Leslie C.
Yelp
What a hidden gem! I'm so glad I walked by and noticed an incredible patio in the back. I loved this patio and ambiance so much that I came here twice, one during the day and once at night.
All outside. Surrounded by buildings, which make the 4 walls, this is a lovely outdoor space.
Very friendly and attentive service. Great drinks and food. It was one of the best Caesar salads I've ever had, and I loved that it came with bacon. Excellent dressing. I tried both their white sangria and their red sangria and I enjoyed both. Light and refreshing. Full bar and fun signage. Fabulous lighting and cool vibes.
I know "poutine" is in the name, but I thought my Poutine was just okay. The fries were a bit soggy and it was overall very heavy. The gravy was heavy. The cheese was good. Huge portions! If you're hungry, this is a great place to be.
I loved the lighting at night. Fun music playing all day and evening. Fun 80's and 90's hits. There was also a large figure of E.T hidden above as part of the decor.
Really fun place to eat, drink, and hang out.
Ashley N.
Yelp
Cute spot for lunch or a quick hang out. We stopped here before our Ferris wheel ride and got some lunch. We got a mix of mixed meat poutine, fried chicken poutine, and a chicken sandwich with fries & gravy. Everything was yummy. Hefty portions too. Ambience was cute too. The servers/staff were kind. Food came out quick too!
Kylee B.
Yelp
We needed some poutine for a late lunch while walking around the city and this was the perfect stop! Quick and friendly service and classic poutine (our first time trying). Loved the very chill vibe. Would eat there again.
Kelly M.
Yelp
A local favorite, we had to try poutine while visiting Montreal! We found this quaint restaurant and as we walked in, it lead us into a courtyard type area. It was easily one of the best outside dining locations I have ever been. It had to much character and beauty. Seeing as how everyone said to try it, I got the poutine. I was not a huge fan, but I am glad I tried something that is a very popular dish in Canada!
Tavin B.
Yelp
Visited this place while on a friends trip and I very mix feeling about this place.
1. The stairwell as soon as you came it was kind of small. I have a smaller if you had a party of eight like we did pretty concerned about the safety hazards of the people coming in and out.
2. Ambience of the place was OK. It was pretty impressed with the waitress. She actually remember eight orders. Verbatim repeat them back to us once she went to place the order. Please can't use a little bit more lighting though in the area we will seated in.
3. Food came out pretty fast and we are pretty impressed with that. Also, the flavor of everything was excellent.
4. So the reason why I'm giving the three stars is that if you're looking for a place to stop and really quickly to get something to eat and just chilling, relax with friends, that should be the place don't go expecting something extravagant.
Sabino L.
Yelp
This place is such a hidden gem kinda! It is in the middle of Old Montreal and you would think they'd be crowed and would have a huge line up, but we were pleasantly surprise we were able to walk right in at around 5pm.
The place had a really nice courtyard and a vibrant inviting atmosphere. You do feel in some sort of French patio with the stone walls and wooden railing, different from the standard bar establishments.
They take pride on Poutine. We shared the Montreal meat poutine and it was really good! Portions are a little on the large end, so we would suggest you split one between two people.
We also got a few rounds of their rose and white sangria pitchers which had a good ice to liquid ratio and were really tasty.
Service was friendly, but they did feel a little overwhelmed with how busy they were.
Overall a good place to hang and enjoy a break from all the walking. With tasty poutine and good pitchers to share amongst your party.
Pro-tip - when you are seated in the patio, look up right above the entrance and you will find a lil surprise.
Lori Z.
Yelp
We used to come to Montreal every year, back in the before times. We hadn't been in a couple of years and wanted to satisfy the poutine fix. We've tried several places around the city, and this is on the "acceptable" list, and close to our hotel. The menu is not exceptional but they do have a smoked meat platter with a side of poutine for an up charge. The biggest issue is the service. It's not the worst ever, but it's sub par. The most ridiculous part is that they refuse to provide any free water and every drink is $3.50+. The soda, for that cost, is in a can. The cost is a bit high but also, it's an expensive location. The water issue really annoyed me, since it's extremely atypical and the cost for purchasing a drink is also high. As other reviewers have noted, the food is good, the place isn't dirty, and that's about it.
Hrudaya S.
Yelp
Walked in on a Friday evening for some late night snacking. We did not have a wait and were seated immediately.
It is very a small and quaint place.
We got the poutine and a beer. The staff was very helpful in helping to select our food.
The poutine was really good- the fries were done very well, and the gravy was delicious (plus it is vegetarian)
John S.
Yelp
Cool decor/ambiance, good service, poutine itself was delicious. Only knock is only having bottled water (for extra $$) rather than free in a glass/cup.
John M.
Yelp
We had our first go at poutine at this upstairs gem. The architecture is stunning in the building and it has a great courtyard which would be ideal except when it is 10 degrees Fahrenheit! The poutine was an awesome culinary experience but the slow, inattentive service was a buzz kill.
Pat B.
Yelp
Our son "guilted" us into trying poutine before we leave Montreal. Well thanks Jeff (son) because it was like a plate full of French fry nachos! We decided on the Italian meat sauce with cheese curds poutine.....every bite was delicious. We shared a white beer and the added bonus was the outside courtyard.
Mariann M.
Yelp
Found this adorable place while walking. So happy we did. Poutine was perfect along w the drinks. It hit the spot. Highly recommend.
Cynthia Q.
Yelp
Our waitress, Emanuelle, was attentive and kind. The poutine choices were diverse and delicious. The also had a good drink selection. Would definitely visit again!
Jen L.
Yelp
This place is a great location near the water and in Old Montreal. Great atmosphere with low lighting and music. I had their classic poutine and poutine with smoked meat, which are great.
Karen I.
Yelp
My boyfriend who is from Montreal we always come here to get poutine! They have a nice selection and seating upstairs where you can see the streets where people walk around to shop. We stopped by for a light poutine snack to share while we were in the area. It tasted great :)
Donna W.
Yelp
Friendly staff and pretty environment. Comfortable even in the heat. Recommend the smoked meat poutine.
C G.
Yelp
The cheese curd were cold, fries and the sauce could have been warmer. I definitely had much better tasting poutine from the side of the road vendors. The Long Island ice tea that was purchased at this same location tasted more like a coke and the ice tea that was ordered and paid for. Service was quick and friendly the tables were very near other tables making for less privacy while talking to your partner. Overall I will not be returning to Montreal Poutine
Carol L.
Yelp
Had to try poutine while in Montreal, it was okay, I've had better. Tastes like gravy from a jar or can, yuck! Service was okay. Asked for Grey Goose Vodka, got Ketel One instead. Ambiance was an indoor patio area, nothing special.
Janet Y.
Yelp
WARNING - This place does not seat parties of 4 or more on the patio, even if you ask for different tables that are not next to each other. And the hostess or waitress (she wouldn't give her name, she only repeated the house rules) is extremely rude and argumentative, not helpful at all. This is not stated anywhere on their website or restaurant.
Esther O.
Yelp
I figured if I'm in Montreal, I might as well try their poutine! Fortunately, I wasn't disappointed. I had the spicy Italian sausage poutine and it was DELICIOUS!
The atmosphere is a.o.k. The servers were nice and friendly, but the only time I got to see my server is when I was served and when it was time to pay the bill *tsk tsk tsk*
I tried their lemonade drink and it was very refreshing! I would have taken seconds...
Would I come back? Sure!
It's close to the Old Port Montreal, great scenery around the area. Love it :-D
Tia C.
Yelp
Ok would be just how I would explain this experience. We saw a lady standing outside the door during our walk and we thought, we could try a poutine. So we followed her upstairs and into this old crickety dine spot where everyone around was enjoying multiple different poutines. We ordered one to share, the spicy italian sausage poutine is what we decided on.
It was alright. The sausage definitely had some smokey taste to it and my husband who loves poutine seemed to enjoy it quite a bit. I'm not the biggest poutine fan (I know don't kill the messenger!) so I just ate around the cheese curds to be honest. It was alright and my husband said it was an alright poutine but nothing special.
Shuang W.
Yelp
We were starved when we walked in that poutine store, and the girl sat us down. Right after we sat down we already knew whatever to order, and we were tryin so hard to get their attention so we could order. That same girl was flirting with the other male servers literally for the entire time we were there and she did not have time for us. Srsly we were starved and thirsty, and 3 of your servers were flirting all the time and there was one who actually went around and took orders from so many tables, how does this make sense?
Poutine was amazing!!! The gravy is so hearty, the fries is so crispy and the cheese curd is literally melting on the top, we finished the entire plate in 10 minutes! We asked them for water and they only had bottle water, it's 2018 now and there are just still restaurants who don't care about protecting the earth, this is little bit disappointing.
I heard this place opens up at the terrace during the summer, honestly I would only come back as long as I don't have to deal with slow and bad services anymore.
Darren J.
Yelp
First time here and located in beautiful Old Montreal.
The dining area is literally surround by 4 buildings with an open air concept.
Love it. Great and relaxing atmosphere and staff are super friendly and pricing is good and portions I got from my poutine with fried chicken was excellent.
Overall be coming back soon and if you want to try eat great fresh poutine in Old Montreal this is it!!
Lee L.
Yelp
Equivalent to a McDonald's burger for poutine. So not bad but not great. At least the location in the old portZ
Ok to go to when in a pinch but definitely better places to go. In fairness, the poutine had lots of cheese but did not have take out ketchup (they were out apparently) and was soggy due to takeout.
Best to have poutine on location.
Sheila D.
Yelp
Went here on a Saturday night. Not crowded at all and we had quick, friendly service. We ordered the smoked meat poutine and fried chicken poutine. Both were excellent!!! Definitely recommend going here to get the poutine.
Veronica K.
Yelp
I'm surprised by the lack of love for this place. Yeah, it's in a touristy area, but despite that I feel like this is overall a really nice little restaurant. I did not suffer the bad service other reviewers have complained of, so perhaps that is influencing my opinion.
If you sit near the window you'll get a nice view of the street below, great for people watching and relaxing. The poutine itself is delicious and on point; the gravy is ample, the curds are squeaky, and in my case the smoked meat was cooked just right. They also have a good selection of beer on tap, most from local craft breweries in Quebec, so you're sure to find something interesting to imbibe. Since it's a bit touristy the food here is perhaps a bit expensive for what it is, but who am I to judge, since the exchange rate was in my favor anyway. My meal here was tasty and I would come back again one day. I would say it's worth a shot.
Neha G.
Yelp
I was visiting Canada and heard poutine is a staple canadain dish and an absolute try so we stopped here.
They have nice outdoor seating if the weather is nice. They have limited vegetarian options, infact they just have onions poutine in vegetarian. We ordered that and a garden salad. Taste was okay. It tasted like fries with gravy you get on a game night in the US. Overall it was okay. Service was little off. They brought 3 machine to swipe my credit card but none of them were working.
Tag B.
Yelp
Awful service. I went there with a group of 9 (two tables) of the 9 people in my party, 2 out of us got the correct food. We didn't know what our food would look like, as it was our first time attending Montreal poutine. We assumed the food was ours and ate away. Then, we saw our real orders being delivered to the other table of our party. We had already starting eating the food that we were given and told was ours. Then, the waitress said in a bit of a rude manner that we were eating the other tables food. Our party was shocked at this revelation, dumbfounded even. This created a divide in the party, the other table took the side of the waitress, and we thought it was the waitress fault. The manager was brought out... he explained to the other table that it was our fault! It was clearly a mistake by the waitress. We did not know that it was their food!! We were never told... beware of what you get here...
Debbie J.
Yelp
This place was so dang good! We didn't have to wait long for a table , it's a small spot but the vibe was amazing. The staff was friendly the poutine was so good I wanted seconds. It was seasoned so well I didn't want to finish it but I did within 15 minutes . I definitely recommend this place for everyone!
John R.
Yelp
Located in the heart of Old Montreal, this spot is certainly a cool place to pick up lunch. While in Montreal, you must try Poutine and this spot is worth a visit. We are in the courtyard and I must say it was a great spot to have lunch......
Lindsey M.
Yelp
Just had lunch there, don't bother going if you are more than 4 people. They do not make ANY accommodations for seating. They will literally ARGUE with you in front of other patrons! We had a terrible experience, the food was sub-par. Over priced as everyone mentioned. We then got the bill and we had issues with the bill. I asked for clarification on a receipt item. I had asked about a menu option PRIOR to ordering. The waitress confirmed what I asked. Got the bill, was over charged for the item I questioned. Even though I went out of my way to clarify the price, I was given wrong info and they wouldn't just honour it. The manager who was extremely stuck up, RUDE and arguementatice, literally ARGUED in front of everyone over a disagreement on a bill. Also had the audacity to say that I was causing a stink because I could t get the seating I wanted... he was SO RUDE!! He didn't even say sorry or anything. They don't care about their customers at all. They would just rather fight with their patrons. Don't bother going, spend your money elsewhere with restaurants that actually like having customers. Gross. Do better & take a customer service course. If a manager is argue with customers over $10 he definitely shouldn't be in hospitality...
L E.
Yelp
As my first time in Montréal, Canada, in the cold winter December, Yelp prompted us to check-out this place in the touristy area of Montreal. Based solely on what we ate, we were satisfied. For a party of 3, we shared the Smoked Meat Poutine with fried onions, cheeseburger, dark beer & Coke. Having added the fried onions to the poutine (as suggested by our server), made the dish more palatable and to our liking. The restaurant was more than half-filled with tourists during the Christmas season.
Food - 3 stars
Ambiance - 2.5 (I don't understand why they're playing reggae music. Some feel-good Christmas music would've been more appropriate to tie in with the season)
Price- 2.5 (a bit expensive)
Lily F.
Yelp
Like many folks, we decided to stop in for a chance to warm up and eating some hearty poutine and grab a cocktail. We ended up splitting an order of the smoked meat poutine and a couple of hotdogs. We also made the horrible mistake of ordering a Long Island ice tea. What?! Don't judge me. They said they couldn't make an Old Fashioned because they were out of one of the ingredients. Poutine was average. The gravy and cheese were okay but the smoked meat was strange. It was just all mushy and slapped on and kind of tasted like bologna. The Long Island was a joke. It's was just all soda/pop/Coke. I've never seen a long island drink that was pretty much all black. Bleh. Surprisingly enough though, the hot dogs were pretty good. Very simple and ball park-like. Skip the smoked meat poutine and try another variety.
Josephine M.
Yelp
A hip, casual eatery. We stopped by for some poutine during our day trip to Montreal. It was yummy and they have vegan and vegetarian friendly options which is amazing! Recommended for a chill spot to enjoy a local staple!i
Michelle S.
Yelp
This was my first time visiting Montreal so I wanted 2 things for dinner: Montreal Smoked Meat and Poutine! Because of my hotel's location I decided to try this place out for poutine, and hoped that they might have some smoked meat too. No luck on the meat, but there was a lot of poutine on the menu (as the restaurant name suggests).
However, dinner was ultimately a disappointment. I've had poutine many times before, and this one was just not very good. First of all, the gravy was watery and didn't have much depth to it. I ordered the poutine with fried chicken on it, and the chicken tasted freezer burnt to me - really dry and stringy. The curds and fries were decent, but poutine really shouldn't be difficult to make so this was really disappointing. It was really expensive for what it was too -- $10 for a beer (is this a normal price in Montreal? Seems expensive) and $13.50 for the poutine...I could have gone to KFC for a poutine at half price that would taste miles better.
Finally, I guess because of the time of year there wasn't much going on in Old Montreal. There was only 1 other table when I arrived, and they left before me so it was a bit awkward to be the only person eating in the restaurant. Not really the restaurant's fault so I take no stars away for that, but still worth it to note. I probably wouldn't have gone in at all if I could have seen what the situation was like from outside, but as it is, the restaurant is located upstairs so by the time I saw that it was a ghost town it was too awkward to leave.
Charlotte Z.
Yelp
Great food, service was average, the environment was average - i assume it would be better if we were seated at the groundfloor rather than upstairs.
Jeff R.
Yelp
Terrible service - three tables served ahead of us that arrived after we did. Food was so-so.
Poor explanation of reason.
Cassie M.
Yelp
Having flashbacks to Europe but they charge you 3.50 for water and refuse to give you tap water? Poutine was okay - not sure I would take someone here for their first experience. They have a nice outside area with interesting decorations (random ET lurking in the corner) but it's HOT so sit outside only on a cool day
Dibya P.
Yelp
Easy to get a seat at this place. I ordered fried chicken poutine and peach juice. It was a generous portion. We had to wait almost 20 mins to get the bill. There was some kind of miscommunication. Otherwise it could have been a better experience.
Todd C.
Yelp
The best thing I can say about the smoked meat poutine was the portion size was large. The fries were pedestrian, the gravy was coagulated and frankly reminded me of something out of a jar. I sat upstairs and even though there was only one other table the service was terrible. Disappointing...I won't go back and certainly can't recommend this place.
LS C.
Yelp
My daughter wanted to try poutine so after much investigation we tried Montréal poutine after spending a day at a spa. Ironic but perfect. We ordered the traditional Montréal poutine and drinks. We sat in the garden in the back. The service was quick without being pushy. The atmosphere was festive. Both the drinks and the Montréal poutine were amazing: a perfect happy hour stop.
Maria B.
Yelp
While walking on the streets of old Montréal we came across this place. Of course when in Montreal ... try poutine! Maybe because we were tourist but this place totally screamed poutine. This was our first time trying this dish and it was totally awesome. Very simple yet full of flavor, and the red sangria was so refreshing and fruity!
Sian D.
Yelp
Yelp calls 3-stars "A-OK" and that's exactly what my experience was at Montreal Poutine. It was good...but not amazing.
We picked up our poutine to go, and the wait was LONG!!!
In terms of the food, we tried the smoked meat poutine and the regular poutine. The smoked meat poutine was delicious, however La Belle Pro's version is so much better... The regular poutine was, again, "A-OK".
Nothing special about this place, but its a nice spot if you are craving poutine, and want a fulfilling meal to-go. Just don't expect quick service or anything special about what you order.
Nayara L.
Yelp
My friends and I had an awesome time here! There were 4 of us and between the 4 of us we got the spicy Italian sausage poutine, regular poutine, fried chicken poutine, and smoked meat poutine, plus a pitcher of red sangria. All were DELICIOUS and the service was amazing. The sangria tasted watered down but it still tasted good. Everything was affordable and we loved the ambiance. It was small and not too loud but still comfortable and friendly. Our server Maxime was extremely kind and very charismatic and attentive. We loved our experience here!
Karlee B.
Yelp
Service was good and food was decent but nothing to ecstatically write home about. We were running out of time and needed to try some poutine so this is where we ended up. The atmosphere was cool and the beer selection was good so happy with that. I think the poutine was ok. Nothing to compare it to but we both ate most of our plates.
Jean-Baptiste B.
Yelp
This place is in a nice pedestrian area where the terrace competition is tough :) a nice place.
Beer choice is ok but the food is awful. Smoked meat should be renamed dry meat ;)
Only have drink here.
They don't serve tap water saying it's not good and you have to buy a bottle... well...
Ansel W.
Yelp
Being in the middle of the old Montréal section of town, amongst kitschy and souvenir shops I was hesitant to go in for fear of walking into a tourist trap; but I really wanted to try poutin since apparently it's the traditional local dish.
The ambiance was mellow; not very busy midweek; and the "entertainment" was an old boom box on a shelf in the corner.
Poutin is not for me, but I have nothing to compare it to and now I can say I've had fries with gravy and cheese curds at a place that's famous for it.
Regina B.
Yelp
The best smoked meat poutine I've ever tasted! The servers were very friendly and efficient.
I only gave three stars because I think that the restaurant is definitely in need of some renovation especially the stairs, bathrooms, and the drapes need some washing. However we're definitely coming back for more if we ever visit Montreal in the future.
Ronak P.
Yelp
I would definitely say that this place was worth it beyond words. We could not stop with just one order each of any of their Poutines. Great ambience as well with their outdoor seating in the back
Robert L.
Yelp
2 stars because of the ambiance and service as everything else was 0 stars.
I ordered a ceasars salad and it was one of the worst I've had. So tasteless, bland. My daughter had the chicken burger which I had half and that too was horrid. Poutine was OK. Maybe I should have given a 3 star. It was also expensive for what we got. i guess the ambiance has to somehow get paid.