Did you know that Montreal has the highest number of restaurants per capita in Canada and the second in North America after New York? This foodie capital has many great choices from small local eateries to international chef celebrities like Martin Picard’s Au Pied de Cochon. However, there are dishes that define Montreal’s identity. Here are the top places that define Montreal food scene to add to your Montreal itinerary.

Bagels at the Fairmount Bagel or Bagel St-Viateur

There is no food that says Montreal more than Bagels. Sorry NYC, we have better bagels than you! As most of the food in Montreal, a lot of them were brought by immigrants and Bagels and Smoked Meat are no different, they were brought by Jewish Eastern Europeans. 

There are two major bakeries that rival each other for the best bagel, the Fairmount Bagel and Bagel St-Viateur. Both bagels are hand-rolled and blanched and baked in a wood-burning oven. The only difference is that St-Viateur’s bagels are blanched in honey water. 

You can savour this dish by either eating it alone or with cream cheese and smoked salmon.

Smoked Meat at Schwartz’s Deli

The second must-eat plate in Montreal is Smoked Meat. The particularly of this meat is that it is  a salting and curing beef brisket with spices. The brisket is let to rest for over a week to absorb the flavours, then is hot smoked and steamed to completion.

The city is full of eateries serving the juicy meat, however the most renowned spot to get the meat is Schwartz’s Deli. This iconic place has been playing a key role in the city’s history by being the subject of numerous documentaries, musicals and books. The downside of this place is that there is always a huge waiting line and the service and the cleanness is not their forte. Another good places to enjoy the Smoked Meat is Ruben’s (located downtown), or right in front of Schwartz’s Deli you will see The Main’s which is often overlooked by many.

Schwartz’s Deli

3895 St Laurent Blvd, Montreal, QC H2W 1X9
www.schwartzsdeli.com
+1 (514) 842-4813

Poutine at La Banquise

Ok, I admit, Poutine is not a dish that is originally from Montreal but it is the source of pride of the Quebec province. The national dish consists of French Fries, Gravy and Cheese Curds. Originally from the Quebec’s center area, the dish emerged in the 1950’s.

This deliciousness can be found in many restaurants. However, La Banquise is the most popular place and stays open 24/7, perfect for those midnight snacks or to help you with that extra drink 😉  

La Banquise

994 Rue Rachel E, Montréal, QC H2J 2J3
labanquise.com
+1 (514) 525-2415

Beef Sandwich at Wilensky’s

The legendary Wilensky’s has been open since 1932. The Jewish deli has the signature sandwich which is an egg bread with all-beef salami with all-beef baloney grilled with a hint of mustard. This great taste comes with some rules, the first is that you cannot ask the sandwich without mustard and you cannot ask it to be sliced in half.

Wilensky’s

34 Avenue Fairmount O, Montréal, QC H2T 2M1
www.wilenskys.com
+1 (514) 271-0247

Maple Syrup and Pecan Pie at Rustique’s Bakery

Maple is ubiquitous in all Canada; in fact the maple leaf is proudly displayed in the Canadian flag. The tree is not only beautiful in the fall season with all the colours but it is also the source of the delicious maple syrup. The syrup was appropriated from the Indigenous peoples in Canada and the sugaring season became an essential part of Quebec’s culture. Basically, everything with maple syrup tastes even better but maple pecan pie are a must have! You can find it in several places but Rustique’s bakery does fresh pies all day with fresh products.

Rustique’s Bakery

4615 Notre-Dame St W, Montreal, QC H4C 1S3
www.rustiquepiekitchen.com
+1 (514) 439-5970

Check out BRB Travel Blog for more interesting content!

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