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- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Music:
- Background
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- Yes
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- Yes
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Ambience:
- Romantic, Classy
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
150 reviews for L'express
Review Highlights
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"Delicious food (get the bone marrow." In 36 reviews -
"Steak Frites - Wonderful, classic dish." In 28 reviews -
"Dinner was the duck confit over a salade verte." In 18 reviews
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149 reviews in English
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Review from Stewart K.
3/18/2012
I'm utterly shocked I haven't reviewed this place yet, especially since it's one of my favorite eateries in North America (that's right, I get to say that because this is an international review here).
***Look carefully for this place, there's no sign out front***
I apologize I can't remember the French names for all the dishes, but if you grab the English menu, refer to my recommendations below.
Best Dish: Veal Kidneys in Mustard Sauce (not mustard!!!)
Most Overrated Dish: Bone marrow...with salt! Ooooo, fancy.
Dish most likely to give you diabetes: A giant glazed puff of meringue. It might be worth it though.
Best Dessert: Baba Rhum. As an added bonus, this dish might get you drunk.
Another feature of this place is it's lack of pretentiousness. It's almost like a 40's diner. So sit back, have gurcken (they bring a jar full of gurckens to the table by the way), and enjoy. -
Review from GirlintheCity A.
Montréal, QC
4/4/2012
Came in alone around 10pm looking to just relax with a good meal.
The food was good but I felt very rushed. I didn't even get to finish my bone marrow when they took away my plate (after they asked three times if I was done I just relented.. They wouldn't let me take the rest home either). I mean, the restaurant was prob only a third full so I don't know what the rush was.
The croque Monsieur was not good, don't get it. It was dry and look like someone just half heartedly slapped it together.
Disappointing. -
Review from Lydia B.
3/22/2012
Delicious, simple meal; attentive waitstaff; cool 1930s-esque ambiance.
I had the sauteed duck confit with salad, and my boyfriend had the homemade raviolis. The duck confit salad was fresh, delicious, and plenty for an entree. Greens, sauteed green beans, radishes, bits of crunchy ham or canadian bacon, mini croutons, and a light vinaigrette. I've been craving it ever since, and will probably attempt to recreate it soon, but I'm sure it won't live up to my memory. The ravioli were light and tasty, filled with a mixture of pork and beef, I think, and surrounded in what looked and tasted like a beef or pork broth of some sort. We finished up with the orange creme caramel. Everything was absolutely delicious.
Plus, they bring a pickle jar to your table after you order. Blissful! -
Review from Joomi K.
5/8/2012
the ambience is very French bistro (probably why it's called that!) with typical French food and excellent wine menu. They had a lot of wines by the glass and there were many reasonable options. We ordered:
- Foie gras - absolutely delicious. It was so fresh and creamy and light. The best foie gras I've ever had
- Bone marrow - I love bone marrow, but this was a bit disappointing. I don't know what it is.... It was healthy portion and it was prepared very simply, which I like, but something about it didn't blow me away.
- Quail with wild rice - Quail was perfectly cooked and crispy and the wild rice was really "wild" rice, not some fake version. Seasoning was perfect
- Pork and sausage ravioli with sherry sauce - reviews said their ravioli is really good because it's homemade, but I didn't really see anything special about it. Maybe I'm spoiled from all the NY Italian cooking, but I thought this ravioli was just good, not excellent. Nothing about it was bad. In fact, it was really quite delicious, but it just didn't blow me away. -
Review from Jamie G.
3/22/2012 1 photo
On our way home from Quebec City, we made a quick stop in Montreal for lunch, (boy do I live the life). Great location near fun shops and other eateries. Sat at the bar. Not the best service, I felt slightly ignored the entire time.
Ordered a beer- Griffintown Montréalaise- which was light but good. Got nice bread to start and a huge jar of gherkins- too bad I dont really like them! I had the sauteed duck confit with salad for lunch-- which was fresh, delicious and huge. Lots of delicious veggies, and TONS of perfectly cooked and seasoned duck. Best salad EVER (makes up for the poor service). My friend has the beer tartare.. which was also a HUGE portion, and she said it wasnt her fave, but definitely was good. It's pretty expensive here, and the place was full for a random Wednesday afternoon. Not sure I'd come back, but had a great, filling lunch! -
Review from Kathy D.
2/22/2012
My husband and I visited L'express on our first day in Montreal for lunch. Upon entering this bistro, which is nestled on a beautiful street between many restaurants and clothing and furniture boutiques, we were instantly immersed in quintessential french aromas. Smells of, herbs like thyme, butter, and slowly braising meats and vegetables. It's a bustling busy restaurant that has a very warm and cozy atmosphere with a very friendly wait staff.
We ordered:
House salad a blend of arugula and peppery greens topped with a simple light dressing a good starter. Delicious
Vegetable soup a tomato based soup with beef broth and lots of veggies, like quash, corn. Yum
Entrees:
Croque Monseiur fried buttery cheesy toast with ham. Delicious.
Beef stuffed Ravioli. Over the top Delicious, I used my bread to sop up all the broth from my plate because it was so delicious and flavorful.
Also the restaurant has had the same menu for 30 years most of their dishes have been perfected, so don't offend and ask for substitutions. Everything looks and probably tastes delicious. People sitting next to us ordered egg salad, salmon, stewed mushrooms and liver over fries, steak and every dish looked scrumptious. -
Review from Jonathan W.
1/4/2012
L'Express is probably one of the most known restaurants in Montreal and is generally booked solid. If you have the foresight to make a reservation, great, if not, try and get here right after it opens around 5 or 5:30. The restaurant was just getting together and we were able to snag a table as long as we were out within an hour (or rather before the person whose table we were sitting at showed up). I had a plane to catch so it wasn't a problem.
The main menu is in French but they have English versions. I cannot comment on all of the food but I'd highly recommend the duck confit salad. The fatty duck and the light salad made for a good pairing. The foie gras app was also good. The foie gras was served cold, which I've never seen before, and is meant to be smeared on the bread accompanying the dish. Prices aren't outrageous but they add up quickly.
If this place is booked try Au Pied de Cochon which is a few blocks away to the NE. Either of these two restaurants will make your night. -
Review from Rob T.
Every time I'm in town I make a bee-line for this place. L'Express is by far one of the best French bistros in Montreal and well worth paying them a visit if you have not already had the pleasure. Reservations are highly recommended as this place is almost always packed - and they close at 2am!
Tucked away on St. Denis, this place can be a little tricky to find (no sign) and locals probably like it this way. Like the name of the restaurant, the décor of L'Express has the feel of old French train car. A long copper bar, black and white checkered floor, and a few potted palm trees really adds to the ambiance of a Parisian bistro from days long gone. Tables are close together, so expect noise levels to be energetic, which in my opinion, adds to the bistro's joie de vivre environment.
I've been coming here for few years now and the menu pretty much seems to stay the same with the exception of some daily specials (For Anglophones, there is an English version upon request). Some of their staple dishes we ordered were the bone marrow appetizer, which was perfectly textured (think meat-flavored pudding), steak tartare, had just the right amount seasonings, sauté de canard confit, and my favorite, pot-au-feu - all really incredibly delicious! Lol, I really think though, it's all about the jar of cornichons period. Wine was beautifully paired, at the suggestion of our waiter, with a bottle of Pessac-Leognan 2008 Grand Vin de Bordeaux.
Service was unpretentious and exceptional as always. The waiters work along with assistant waiters and have their service down to science. I've never had any negative experiences here and will visit L'Express every time I come to Montreal. I highly, highly recommend paying them a visit.
Merci pour la nourriture delicieuse! -
Review from Adam H.
What a great place! My friends and I had dinner here New Years day, and I'm so happy we did! The service was very attentive as well as helpful. Our waiter made a few suggestions before we ordered and they were on point. I started with the bone marrow appetizer and i must say i didn't know what to expect having never had this before. The flavor was sweet, almost smokey. I loved it, but the texture took some getting used to. For my entree i ordered the steak tartar (another recommendation) and it was phenomenal! Extremely flavorful and an extremely generous portion. I would actually recommend ordering this as an appetizer for the table as i couldn't finish the dish myself.
If you make it to Montreal, this is a must! -
Review from Sasha B.
1/28/2012 5 photos
Amazing meal. From the service, to the wine, to the food itself.
I highly recommend the foie gras and bone marrow to start.
All the entrees we ordered were impeccable - ravioli, steak frites, chicken and lamb. -
Review from XiaoHwa N.
1/11/2012
I was a New Yorker in Montreal for my birthday when I came across L'express in a tour book. It was highly recommended and, even though that's usually a sign for me to run the other way from the tourists, I decided to give it a chance.
I was immediately impressed by the clientele. Young, old, folks dressed up in furs, people casually wearing jeans, friends, business partners, couples. I felt that everyone was here because of one thing. Good food. We didn't have a reservation and the place was packed. But I prayed to the Birthday gods and we only had to wait about 10 mins before we had a table.
What we ate:
Cornichons and Bread (free for table)
Ham and Cheese Quiche with Salad
Hanger Steak with herb butter and fries
Quail with Wild Rice
Creme Caramel a l'orange
I wish I had ordered the Quiche as my main course, it was so good. The crust was flaky and on a cold Montreal night, it really hit the spot. The hanger steak was delicious and way too much I had to share it. The quail was tender. The only complaint from my husband was that the wild rice was "Just okay". By the end of the meal all that was left was a few stray fries. The creme caramel was velvety and the sauce sweet without being too orangey-bitter.
The service was polite and efficient. The atmosphere unpretentious bistro style. The price tag a little high but what the hell. Happy Birthday to me! -
Review from Bob R.
Etobicoke, ON
1/2/2012
This won in spades. Sophisticated bistro . Varied. Very intelligent wine/aperatif list. Stellar dine at the bar service Fine fish soup
with excellent alioli + croutons. Rognons a la moutard approximate my own moose version. Tartare highly satisfactory ( still, read Robichon ) frites sucked - but so do they in most Parisian bistros these days,41/2 stars. -
Review from Meggan C.
12/19/2011
The best meal I have ever had in my entire life! It was so delicious! My boyfriend and I both had steak frites (which it says Hanger Steak on the menu). Neither my boyfriend or I can speak French and the servers were very helpful/accommodating. They give you a jar of pickles and bread while you are waiting for your meal, which came out very quickly! The steak was very tender and flavorful - nothing like I've ever tasted! Give it a try you won't regret it!
You might want to make a reservation beforehand. We went in on a saturday night, and we had to sit at the bar. It wasn't the most comfortable, but it was worth the food! -
Review from Michael W.
11/23/2011
Atmosphere: Very lively, very busy, simple/classic French bistro decor, good lighting
Food: We had the Soupe au Poisson (Fish soup), Os a Moelle (Bone marrow), Steak tartare w/ Frites, and the Quail dish. The fish soup was savory and not overwhelmingly fishing (hit the spot on a cold night!) and the bone marrow was nothing short of exquisite. The tartare was very nicely spiced and you sure do get a very healthy portion of it. The quail was very flavorful, but slightly on the drier side.
Drink: One pinot grigio and one cabernet sauvignon recommended by the waiter. For about $9-$10 a glass, this was fantastic!
Staff: Can be quite French, but still very helpful. The busboy was much more helpful and always checked in on us.
Summary: Get a reservation! Delicious food (get the bone marrow!) at reasonable prices. Great wine list. -
Review from Valerie G.
Montréal, QC
3/1/2012
This is an institution in Montreal in the french brasserie category, in fact it is one of the oldest (-+ 30 years). The decor is great with it's high ceilings in a great french burgundy color, and a long bar, the front is all window, which let's in a lot of natural light and provides a view onto St Denis
.
The service here is top notch, very french so everything is quite smooth and attentive, it does have a touch of the old school snobyness at times, but generally speaking this is not a bad thing, they are not condencending just quite correct and maybe too formal.
The food is hit or miss for me, I will simply tell you what I really liked on my last visit
Os a Moelle, (it's a little pricey but if you have never tried this, do yourself a favor and start here), the fish soup is also very good and has a nice balance of flavors, on this last visit, (feb29,2012), I sample the octopus, which was boiled (as per waiter, which had me worried but I still ordered it), it was very tender to the taste and served over lentils, with onions and a vinegrette, a big winner. A goat cheese salad with endives followed and it was ok but nothing special, then a steak tartare, here we had a miss. For me the texture (seriously ground to a mash), was so unappealing, and the flavors were too mild, barely anything other than capers, at 24$ with a choice of fries or mashed, this was the big let down.
On the other hand the wines are great, they get all private imports which is ideal, we samples a gigondas 2008, costing 58$ that was very appreciated.
I have in the past been here for breakfast, which is rather limited but always good, it is not for those looking for bang for you buck or to fill up, but it is a very pleasant atmosphere.
They have really long hours and are often opened until 1-2am so if your looking for some quality noche, after hours this is a great alternative to crap food usually available at this time of night. -
Review from K S.
3/18/2012
Tasty, traditional French fare. Our main complaint was that we wanted more - the duck confit needed some carbs and the quail would have been even more appreciated sitting on a twice-as-high pile of wild rice.
The food was not exactly perfect, but satisfying enough, and the ambiance was great. -
Review from David T.
Scarborough, ON
10/21/2011
I was in Montreal recently and we were looking for a place that served great Steak Tartare, a lot of people online recommended L'Express, so off we went to L'Express on a Wednesday night.
Service: It was definitely above average, we unfortunately didn't make reservations but they created a table for us. The waiter wasn't really fluent in english but he did his best to explain everything to us.
Food: My partner had the steak tartare with fries and it was fantastic and the portions were generous. I had the roasted quail which was amazing, the meat just fell off the bones.
Ambience: It was a nice ambience and brightly lit, and I enjoyed the fact that it was very traditional based off my past experiences. -
Review from Jenny H.
9/3/2011
I do not understand how this restaurant receives such high ratings from Yelpers.
I was quite disappointed with this restaurant. The service was great but the food was just bland and bordering on bad. We got the bone marrow with coarse salt. It was a good appetizer, I got the steak and frites with garlic butter. We ordered the steak medium rare but it was really tough and not flavored very well, even with the garlic butter which didn't add much, tasted just like plain butter.
I ordered the grilled salmon on a bed of spinach- do NOT order this. It was just a piece of bland, not-high-quality piece of salmon, grilled, no seasoning whatsoever, just a pile of coarse salt on top which I presume you're supposed to spread on top, which I did and it was too salty. The salmon was half-cooked, completely raw in the middle, and when I asked the server whether it was supposed to be cooked like that, he said yes, it's really your preference. I never had such terrible tasting salmon at a restaurant. It was placed on top of spinach that tasted like it was blanched in hot water, then pulled out and placed in a circle on the plate.
I would give this place 2 stars for food, and 4 stars for service, but the food was SO underwhleming I have to settle for 2 stars. -
Review from Melissa W.
8/27/2011 1 photo
Boy oh boy, if a genie had given me the choice of "eat at a variety restaurants while in Montreal but not at L'Express or eat only at L'Express" I would have gladly accepted the sole L'Express experience, no DOUBT! :)
L'Express is in the St.Denis neighborhood which is the coolest part of Montreal, if you ask me (and I guess by reading this review, you kinda are). The restaurant is the shape of a train cart almost, with mostly small 2 person tables. The crowd is local and diverse: we sat near an old priss-and-proper couple sharing a romantic meal, napkins tucked into collar and all. we also bordered a pair of hip gay guys with asymetrical hair-dews and sexy auras. I'd recommend dressing up a bit, but if you aren't, it's not pretentious. Also, it is open until VERY late, which totally fits my style. We saw people mozy in at midnight, welcomed to a full menu! If you going to get wine, I recommend the half bottle, it's very 'Montreal' to do, and a bit cheaper.
As far as food recommendations, the ***bone marrow*** dish had me considering cannibalism for months afterward, every passing human reminded me of the fatty guk that I had dug out of those luscious bones! It comes with these really crunchy pieces of toast that combine perfectly with the marrow's texture. While the sea salt seemed like a good idea to sprinkle on at first, I soon realized that it overpowered the bone marrow which is perfectly fine on its own, so keep that in mind.
What I love about this place is the subtlety of its facade. There is no sign directly on it but instead its name is on the ground in the black and white tiles right before you enter. (See the picture I posted) This is one of those reviews I write hoping secretly that no one will read it, since I do want this gem to remain a gem, but if you love that French bistro feel and you don't mind forking over the extra $ for the ride, then you really should hurry over and enjoy it! -
Review from Sheriah A.
9/27/2011
Came here by recommendation of the hotel, as well as, many outside reviews claiming it to be the best french bistro in Montreal. It a small restaurant that can easily be missed if youre not looking carefully for it. The decor is very simple but the lighting makes it a very intimate setting.
With a reservation, we were seated right away. Service was great and very helpful considering we couldnt speak/read french (they have an english menu available). There was bread, butter, and pickles to start.
Bone Marrow was to die for. Literally! I swear my eyes were oozing fatty goodness by the time we were done eating it. Three huge bones served with croutons and sea salt. It was a magnificent appetizer!
Duck Confit Salad - I think the duck was beautifully done. I was a bit disappointed in the salad itself however. It was DRENCHED in vinegar dressing. a bit overpowering for me, took away from the other flavors.
Steak Frites - perfectly cooked and topped with an herb butter. it was really delicious. served with crisp fries.
The experience/ambiance was a 4, but the food 3.5. Nothing too extraordinary, just classic, solid french food. -
Review from annie t.
9/11/2011
Walked in at around 11pm on our first night in Montreal and were seated right away. This classic french bistro seemed like the perfect place for some late night dining. The black and white checkered floor gave the place a nice retro feel. Also appreciated how the walls were covered with yearly black/white pictures of the employees. Nice touch. Very nice vibe. Good service. Great wine list.
We started with the bone marrow app. Did not fully enjoy it. It was bland without the addition of the salt on the table.
I must be the only yelper who ordered the kidney dish (I think it was beef). The sauce was good but the meat itself was too spongy for my liking. Still I was able to finish it but I should've went with the lobster risotto or quail. My fiance, however, raved about his steak tartare and fries, which I helped him finish.
Ambiance: 4 stars
Food: 3.5 stars. Good and solid, but not great -
Review from John M.
1/30/2012
Try the pork/veal ravioli, made with shallots. You will get a lot of bread.
-
Review from Skeptisys S.
8/31/2011
After eating at many Montreal restaurants, this became my favorite. The 'Maison du Ravioli' was spectacular, almost melting in the mouth. The ravioli are filled with 3 kinds of meats and served in a veal/mushroom reduction. The menu is the same for lunch and dinner.
As in many Montreal restaurants, most dress nicely for dinner, but they will allow people with t-shirts in.
If you are in Montreal, go here. If you are not in Montreal, get yourself to Montreal and eat here. -
Review from Amy G.
8/4/2011
The scene: Monday night toward the end of Just For Laughs. 1:00 AM. My dining companion and I had resigned ourselves to getting wasted on The Distillerie's massive drinks and drunkenly scarfing down whatever was still open, abandoning all hope on finding a nice place open late on a Monday in Montreal. And then there was L'Express.
Happy to seat us at 1:00 AM (hot tip: their kitchen is open until 2:00!) service was incredibly polite and attentive. Like most folks in this French bistro, we started our meal off with some wine (an incredibly reasonable and tasty Cotes du Rhone, no less!), fresh, chewy bread, and a big jar of homemade pickles. Not much a pickle-eater-- and not even drunk enough to have strange cravings!-- I devoured these delights with dabs of mustard.
After perusing the menu in wonder, we settled on a warm goat cheese salad and the ever-famous foie gras terrine to start things off. The cheve chaud was a dream, lightly dressed in a homemade vinaigrette with spring greens, endive, and crispy toast points, all topped with the most velvety, tangy goat cheese. Better yet was the foie gras terrine-- buttery, smooth, slightly salty, fatty... oh, goodness. Even the buttered toast points were perfection.
We opted to share the roasted chicken breast in mustard sauce. Served with salty haricot verts, potatoes, and cherry tomatoes, the chicken breast itself was juicy, tender, and perfectly seasoned to complement the tangy dijon.
Both drunk on wine and foodie-joy, we lost all self control and ordered the chocolate tart. Buttery crust, rich chocolate ganache, bitter cocoa-- kind of the perfect end to an evening.
During the taxi ride home, my dining companion and I were almost completely silent save for murmurs of, "Whoa" and "That is easily up there in top ten meals of, uh, ever."
Service, as mentioned prior, was outstanding. Although we were the last seated, both the bartender and waitress were incredibly accommodating, friendly, eager to make recommendations, and even endured our pitiful French pronunciations. Highlight of our trip, for sure. -
Review from Ayesha A.
9/7/2011
This is, by far, my favourite restaurant in Montreal.
GO FOR BRUNCH.
The brunch menu is cheap and you are still in the classy gorgeous restaurant and its just...amazing.
Dinner is good too, but quite a lot more pricey, and generally pretty average French...meaning the menu is very meat based and such, but the brunch is what makes this place so great for me.
The compote is literally one of the best things that I have ever put in my mouth. I asked to take a bin of it as take-out so I could bring it home to Toronto...they said no :-( and its only available at brunch...another reason to go for brunch. -
Review from Eric W.
9/6/2011
Having never been to exposed to Montreal French dining, I wasn't sure what to expect. The place looks like a small diner with linoleum floors and for all we knew, our waiter might have been proctoring a algebra quiz while taking our order. My girlfriend doesn't normally enjoy salad but she sure enjoyed the warm duck salad, so much so she would not stop raving about it. I don't really crave foie gras but it was tasty and served like a thin slice of butter with toasted sliced baguettes.
Without realizing it, I had ordered the foie gras appetizer as a main and had to order another main course, or I would have been eating bread and liver for dinner. Quail over wild rice was my last dish and it was served with a sweet red wine reduction. For me, it was a learning experience in French food.
The food wasn't amazing, it was good. Of note, the bone marrow was ordered by two people at the table next to us and neither person seemed to really enjoy it. One guy actually voiced his displeasure to the waiter when the check came around saying, "this was not what I expected", so take that for what its worth. -
Review from Krista S.
9/27/2011
A good spot if you're looking for a Paris bistro type place...
Food: lunch fare was quite good, my boeuf roti was flavorful and served at the appropriate temp (not cold but not room temp), croque-monsieur was one of the best I've had, frites were typical frites, bread was decent, pre-meal pickles were yummy, wine list was varied
Ambiance: went for lunch on a weekday, typical loud and busy bistro, clean, nice cherry wood bar and walls, black and white pics and tile floor gave it a retro feel
Service: server didn't rush us, but wasn't overly polite either (though in my travels I have noticed that true French waitstaff seem to be a but less "warm and fuzzy" than those in the States... that's okay, perhaps its just a cultural thing or maybe just my own experience)
I'd say definitely try it out, but there are so many great restaurants in Montreal, I'd only go once -
Review from Jen C.
7/2/2011 3 photos
L'Express is an institution in Montreal, and in the words of our hotel concierge, they serve "very very traditional French" which I guess makes sense considering this is on St. Denis, which is apparently the more "French" side of the city. Decor is a traditional French bistro with the ornate bar and the black and white checkered floor. The food and service here are outstanding, and its no wonder this place is busy all the time. Like many other places in Montreal (with the exception of L'Assommoire), this place did not have a cocktail list but I went with the Sidecar which was excellent, and served in one of those old tiny martini glasses that I love. Again, like Club Chasse, would have ordered another if I only had the time.
To start:
Arugula with gruyere
Duck rillettes (duck liver pate)
Entrees:
Wine: Pomerol Bordeux, 2005, Chateau Du Grande Chambellan (merlot/cab blend)
Special - Duck with figs -- duck was succulent, juicy, rich, expertly prepared. Why am I not surprised?
Hanger steak with frites
Dessert:
The dessert was, quite simply, out of this world and like no other dessert I've ever had. Leave it to the French! It was the Ill flotette au caramel and was like a crispy carmelized dome with merengue filling and in a creamy sauce with crispy waffle pieces on the side. Absolutely amazing! You must not miss this. Have to order.
Cafe Latte -- best latte of my life! I knew it would be incredible here, that's why I ordered it and it did not disappoint. Wish I could eat here more often, I would love to try sooo many more things on the menu.
Writer's note: I have a confession...I did not discover this amazing life changing dessert on my own. I saw it in a YouTube video where some girl ordered it and knew I had to have it. Here's the link if you're interested...
http://www.youtube.com... -
Review from Sohini R.
6/1/2011
Classic French food at its best - unstuffy, yummy food with unstuffy, kind service. We arrive here at 10:30 following the Opera to find a bustling restaurant with happy looking patrons fishing cornichons out of jars as they talked animatedly.
I was feeling a little self-conscious reading the French menu, but the waitstaff were nice and walked us through the specials. *Make sure* to ask about these, as we ended up exclusively ordering from them and it was totally the way to go.
To start I had oeufs mayonnaise, and would have licked the plate if it weren't improper to do so. Instead I mopped up every bit of mayonnaise with the delicious bread, and ate more than my share of cornichons.
My husband had the fiddleheads in mushroom sauce with pancetta and almonds. I had never had fiddleheads before and might never eat them again unless prepared in this manner. The dish was creamy without being heavy and the fiddleheads weren't overwhelmed by the other ingredients.
We both ordered the same special for our main dish, and went with a blended red recommended by our waiter (it paired very well, just bitter enough without feeling like an astringent). It was pork sausage with mashed potatoes and a veal ragout. I loved the unpretentious nature of L'Express, underscored when they served this dish with dijon mustard for the sausage. I feel the same dish in New York would have been accompanied by some ridiculous foam of some sort (or have I been watching too much Top Chef?). The potatoes brought me back to childhood Thanksgivings, and the sausage was rustic and homemade. I left L'Express feeling like I had eaten an intimate supper at a rural French grandmother's table. -
Review from patrick t.
7/24/2011
By far the best service during my visit in Montreal. The food was also very good
To start we had the mushroom truffle dish which basically has the same sauce as the mushroom ravioli, so pick one or the other. otherwise, it gets old pretty quick :/
we also had the duck salad thing which was quite tasty. would have preferred slightly more greens, but there was plenty of meat which was well seasoned.
we also had the vegetable garden soup which was just ok. probably wouldnt order again
the bread kept coming and the service was a solid 5*
would definitely come back to try other dishes. ie the risotto, which looked quite yum -
Review from Melanie B.
Oh my God, I LOVE this place!!! I called up my friend in Montreal for a great restaurant. He gave me 3-4 to choose from and kept saying try L'Express. We wanted to splurge on a nice dinner and NICE dinner we got! I met up with my friends from Montreal to cap off the night with some drinks. I'm so glad they were able to come out and catch up!
We couldn't get a table due to how popular this place is, so we opted to sit at the bar. Our waiter was so nice! My friend told the waiter to order anything that he thought best. I actually chimed in and said I wanted to order my own. So, my friend's dishes were all surprises while my dish surprised me on the WOW factor!
We started off with a glass of wine. Then, they brought out some fresh bread, pickles, and mustard. I ordered the foie gras which was very decadent! My friend got the morel mushrooms on a crostini with arugula. Damn, this dish was so tasty! I loved how earthy the taste were and we both really enjoyed this appetizer!
For my main entree, I got the beef tartare. It was very fresh and the portion size was big. It also came with pomme frites which were fried perfectly. My friend got a medium rare steak that was very juicy and buttery.
We ended the meal with biscotti with Vin Santo et Cantucci and an Irish coffee. It was a perfect ending to our Montreal trip! I would give this restaurant 6 stars if there was that option. Totally would recommend this place to anyone visiting Montreal! -
Review from linda c.
6/12/2011
A fabulous bistro with perfect French fare, great wines by the glass menu, and the best cafe creme this side of Paris. We sat at the bar and enjoyed our waiter's attentiveness.
I can't wait to eat here again (and again). -
Review from Steve S.
6/1/2011
Now granted, I called day of for my reservation, but you know it has too be good when it gets 4.5 Yelp stars and they tell you that the earliest reservation they have available is 10p.
So we hit up a few places beforehand on the way to a good french meal. To start with, let's talk about the great French bread that they serve. It tastes just like the bread in France. None of that fake French bread that we often see in America, First course consisted of duck foie gras. The flavors were moist, rich, delicious.
Entree consisted of shrimp risotto for the gf. She was a bit disappointed. Rice was a bit overdone and the shrimp were a bit tough. I had steak tartar. A rare treat that is normally not done that well in the states, so I took full advantage of the opportunity here. We also had a nice bottle of cote de Rhone wine.
A mix of different tarts were given for dessert. Then to complete the meal, some digestifs consisting of a raspberry flavored "eau de vie" (water of life) and a $19 dollar glass of J. Walker Blue. For those of you who drink scotch, this is a great deal.
The servers were very friendly here. Probably the most incredible part of the experience was that as we were leaving after midnight, this place was still serving people for dinner. The place was still full and new tables were still arriving. Incredible! -
Review from Pete J.
5/31/2011
The only reservations that were available on Saturday night were at 10pm and we were lucky to get them. When we left 2+ hours later, people were still being seated for dinner!
A very affordable bistro that is really easy to miss if you are not paying attention as it is not very well signposted.
The foix gras was incredible, the steak frites probably one of the best I've ever had and the creme caramel a l'orange was exquisite.
Service was friendly and efficient and I even learned that rare is saignant in French. -
Review from Derek N.
12/29/2011
Worth the five hour drive. I come here every time I am in Montreal. Fantastic classic French cuisine with great service.
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Review from Carlos E.
Montréal, QC
10/9/2011
I had a shrimp risotto and my partner had a 'canard sauté' with salad. It was all excellent
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Review from PJ H.
10/23/2011
This place comes highly rated but I must say I was a little disappointed. French resto's in Chicago have much better food. The staff are friendly and helpful but I think the chef needs to do a better job. Better quality ingredients are in order. The décor is also a little run down so rehabbing the place would be a good idea...
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Review from Rebecca P.
York, ON
5/24/2011
I almost hate to review this place, because so many people have given it a 5-star rating, and my experience was definitely less than par.
I'll keep it short: people clearly pay for the ambience (i.e., wonderfully traditional French bistro, where you can linger for hours, drinking wine and/or coffee, and enjoy some good food.) The meal was okay (steak frites), but I've had better for less.
If you're in town for a few days and want to give it a go, shoot for mid-to-late afternoon in between the lunch & dinner rush, and you may be able to get in without a reservation. If you're aiming for a dinner seating, book ahead a few days (at least). -
Review from Marc D.
Vancouver, BC
Updated - 8/9/2010
* Still a favourite *
It has been many years since I visited L'express, and I went with a bit of nervousness as I have such great memories there. Thankfully they lived up to my memories once again!
I had a very simple lunch of pot au feu, which was perfect in every way. The beef was incredibly tender, the carrots were the perfect consistency, the cabbage was not overdone, the chicken was tender and flavourful, and they even included a bone with marrow. I love marrow - it is the ultimate comfort food for me, and was a lovely addition! It came very simply presented with the usual baguette with a nice butter, a side of mustard and a big pot of cornichon. Simple. Delicious. Perfect!
I followed with my favourite dessert from many years ago, the iles flottantes. Still just as good! A huge fresh perfectly fluffy meringue had a beautiful caramelized crunchy coating which had a few almond slices to enhance the flavour. This was served on a perfect creme anglaise which had just the right amount of vanilla flavour. This lived up to my memories!
I love this spot, and am so happy to know it is still just as good!Listed in: Bon Vivant Montreal Edition
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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12/5/2008
I have always loved this spot. They provide excellent quality at reasonable prices and are open… Read more »
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Review from Baby E.
1/9/2012 2 Check-ins Here
The bone marrow was unique bit really filling for one person. Nice French atmosphere
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