Schwartz's Deli

"There’s a lot of smoked, marinated, and steamed beef brisket in Montreal, but the sandwich from Schwartz’s will always be our favorite. It comes on rye with yellow mustard, and the meat is studded with black peppercorns and a secret mix of pickling salt and spices. The “medium fat” option strikes a good balance, and it goes well with a cherry coke, fries, and a half-sour pickle. Schwartz’s is one of the last remnants of the Eastern European Jewish influence on St-Laurent Boulevard, otherwise known as “The Main.” But their smoked meat is one sandwich that pretty much everyone (including Celine Dion, who’s now part owner of this classic hangout) can agree on. Just know that it’s all meat here, so if you can’t live without a cheese blintz, you’ll have to head across town to Snowdon Deli." - Ivy Lerner-Frank

"Famous for its smoked-meat sandwiches, this iconic deli offers a quintessential Montreal dining experience."

"Schwartz's is a famous deli in Montreal, comparable to Katz’s Deli in New York, known for its smoked meat sandwiches made with tender and salty meat served between slices of rye bread. It attracts long lines of customers." - Morgan Goldberg

"There’s a lot of smoked, marinated, and steamed beef brisket in Montreal, but the sandwich from Schwartz’s is a standout. It comes on rye with yellow mustard, and the meat is coated with black pepper and a secret mix of pickling salt and spices. We like the “medium fat” option best, washed down with a cherry coke and a half-sour pickle, just for nostalgia’s sake.  Schwartz’s (now owned by a consortium that includes Celine Dion) is one of the last remnants of the Eastern European Jewish influence on St-Laurent Boulevard, otherwise known as “The Main.” This street divides the city from east to west and used to notionally separate the French and English parts of town. But Schwartz’s smoked meat is one sandwich that pretty much everyone, including Celine, agrees on. " - ivy lerner frank, team infatuation

"The quintessential Montreal sandwich. Period. For those unfamiliar, it’s thick slabs of Montreal smoked meat (cured and smoked beef brisket) on rye with yellow mustard. Sounds simple, but the ‘round the block lines assure, it’s anything but." - Erinn Blicher, Eater Staff