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Resto La Banquise
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 12 am - 12 am
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Late Night, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Loud
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
217 reviews for Resto La Banquise
Review Highlights
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"The poutine will make you fall in love with the city." In 170 reviews -
"what exactly are cheese curds." In 47 reviews -
"I've tried everything from the vegi to the t-rex." In 17 reviews
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209 reviews in English
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Review from Vanessa P.
Edmonton, AB
5/8/2012
Best poutine I have ever had.
I ordered the large Dan Dan poutine. It was enough for my boyfriend and me to feel full for the rest of the evening. The Dan Dan poutine has pepperoni, onion, and bacon. The fries were crispy, yet soft. The gravy was perfectly seasoned, yet not too overpowering. The curds were really good too. I heard that real curds will squeak when you bite into them, but these ones didn't. I didn't mind so much though.
It was quite addicting. The whole experience was basically a happy dance in my mouth.
It was quite busy in the restaurant, basically elbow to elbow with the diners beside us. I guess that's how a lot of the busy restaurants in Montreal work.
Service was good. Waitress was busy, but still made time to check up on us. I heard it is open 24/7, quite handy when you need that Canadian fix. -
Review from Nancy W.
5/25/2012
We have two official languages here in Canada - English and French. Poutine is iconic as hockey is. When you are in Montreal, Quebec how could you not scavenge the city to find the best poutine available? It was part of our bucket list of the trip to taste a true French-Canadian dish of French fries, fresh cheese curds that are smothered with brown gravy and sauce. None of that New York Fries quickie from a food court. It has to be something I would feel dirty just thinking about. Something that could match a 10 piece Church's Chicken late night!
La Banquise Resto 24h is open 24/7 - yes, even at those ungodly hours when your drunk or crave a heart attack! In the heart of Plateau District, a little off from the Latin Quarter. This poutine joint is easily accessible by the Metro. Take the train to either Station Sherbrooke or Station Berri-UQAM.
La Banquise offers 25 different dangerously delicious poutines. Play it safe with Classic pork larded fries, fresh curds and sauce to the adventurous Superman limits with piles of ground beef, smoked sausages and meats, extra cheese and the works.
Poutine Trois Viandes
ground beef, pepperoni and bacon. Now this hits the spot. This was amazing. I really wanted to try the other variations such as Poutine Kamikaze - merguez sausages, hot peppers, and tabasco... but really I don't think we could have fitted anymore inside our satisfied tummies.
BLT - bacon lettuce tomatoes
Who was I kidding when I thought to order something "healthier". I wanted to balance the poutine with some veggies and a side salad. The Sammy was pretty delicious with the juicy fried pork smothered with mayo.
Banquise Burger
Ground beef patty, mushrooms, fried onions, Swiss cheese, tomatoes, lettuce, spicy sauce on a sesame seed bun. Dave meant business when he asked the waitress to suggest the best tasting burger in house. Not bad. Not bad. Juicy. Sumptuous. Dirty.
Better wash it down with some good old Canadian beer that we don't normally get in Vancouver. St Ambroise Apricot Beer - Ok I lied. I like this apricot wheat ale a lot in addition to the Belgium Fruli (Strawberry beer). Boreale beer - named after Aurora Borealis. The label features a polar bear above the word Boreale. I found it rather bitter. More so than Asahi Black.
The restaurant itself may not be the prettiest, but the staff are friendly. You can expect a fast turnover even though there may be a wait. I wish I tried a few more poutine places so I can compare. But we were pretty satisfied. There is no reason to discount this place just because it is busy. I rather see a busy place than an empty place. -
Review from Kyle C.
5/16/2012 1 Check-in Here
Considering the number of Americans posting reviews, I was surprised to see that La Banquise was a charming neighborhood spot full of hungry locals, not just food-crazy tourists. It's a smallish restaurant, and they're certainly economical about their use of space - no corner shall go unused. Be prepared for a little bit of a squeeze, but everyone's in such a good mood that it doesn't matter.
Aside from 20+ varieties of poutine, they also have some diner favorites - burgers, omelettes, and salads. But if diners' tables are any indication, seems like 90% of the clientele orders the poutine. Had a tough time deciding between the Poutine Mart (hot dogs, bacon, and mushrooms) and the T-Rex (ground beef, pepperoni, bacon, and hot dogs)...but we were very happy to experience the Jaco (ground beef, onions, mushrooms, and peppercorn sauce) in all its gravy goodness.
See if you can snag a seat outdoors. They can't serve alcohol outdoors, and you might be seated next to a smoker, but it's worth dining al fresco. -
Review from Matthew S.
5/5/2012
Poutine! Wow this place is awesome. If you are out partying on the weekend and need your poutine fix, this is the place to go.
Be prepared to wait in line though.
Going there between 2-4am can be a mistake because the line can get huge.
My favourite poutine is the classic. -
Review from MandA R.
4/18/2012 1 Check-in Here
It will be months before we burn off all the calories we ate here. Don't be put off by the large line, it moves fast. We started waiting outside & it took us about 10 min to get a table. This is one of a few places that I wish I listened to my French CD's before coming ( The Menu was in French) but our server was great and we enjoyed our meal. 2 beers with Ham, Bacon, Pepperoni Poutine grand size $25 Canadian.
Cash only!Listed in: Montreal Fun
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Review from Rawan K.
4/20/2012 1 Check-in Here
La Banquise is always busy, especially in the whee hours of the night when everyone is looking for some good late night drunchies. It's definitely a Montreal staple and has had a few appearances on the Food Network because of its large selection and creativity with poutine.
Despite the massive line ups, don't be intimidated...they move at a pretty good pace and, in my experience, has always been worth the wait. Their Merguez poutine is delicious, get the Kamikaze if you'd like an extra kick of spice due to the added hot peppers and tabasco (it's on my 'to try' list). The T-Rex is quite popular, although I've never had it, which is loaded with a variety of meat. And for my next visit I'd definitely like to try the Taquise, it seems really interesting since it has guacamole, sour cream, and tomatoes. I've heard the combination works well, and I'm eager to find out! -
Review from Kyri K.
5/5/2012
Super long line late at night on a Friday, so not sure what they are like during the week. We ended up taking out. I got the one with mushrooms, onions and peppers and bf got the three amigos. The cheese curds were really not good. Very chewy and hard to swallow. The french fries and selection of toppings were great.
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Review from Clare L.
3/18/2012
I've been here many many many times, and this time, I actually tried something new. It's been a while since my last visit, and my friends from outta town wanted to have this for dinner. I was super surprised to see a Poutine called La Taquise, that had guacamole, sour cream, fresh tomatoes. Part of me was thinking there's no way that goes with gravy, or there must not be gravy... and sure enough there was gravy and cheese curds to go with all that.
I went with the thought that if it sucked, they wouldn't put it on the menu. I am super happy to try it because the guacamole for some reason actually made a poutine taste even awesome-r. -
Review from Jenna M.
3/8/2012
Seriously people, we all know that Montreal is known for three things: bagels, smoked meat and poutine. Maybe it's also known for its French culture, but that's besides the point. We are talking about food here! People used to tell me, "Look, you don't know what poutine tastes like until you try it in Montreal." My retort was, "Where's Montreal, and what the schnitzel is poutine?" I admit, this was many many moons ago. Since then, I have not only eaten poutine many times (I did go to university after all), but I've also had it in one of Montreal's most famous poutine eateries - La Banquise.
On to the bigger question. Does this place live up to its applause? Well, it does and it doesn't. Let's be honest here, ANYTHING tastes good at 2am when you've just had ten drinks. But, in all honesty, the poutine here is a good time. The line out the door, however, is another story.
The menu is loooong and all the types of poutine have names like T-Rex, Elvis, and Frank. I usually get the classic poutine (boring, I know) and leave the bacon, green peppers and beef to other meals that I eat. La Banquise also offers up breakfast, but I'm not sure if anyone ever orders it unless it's to ask for eggs benny on a poutine.
So, will I return to this famous Montreal house of poutine? Probably. I just need to get a buzz on and eventually convince them to name a poutine after me. -
Review from GirlintheCity A.
Montréal, QC
4/4/2012
I don't know why so many people like this place. In my opinion it's not worth waiting in line for. The t-Rex is good but overrated.
You definitely get way more poutine when you eat in instead of taking it to go, the regular size container is small. -
Review from Andrew B.
4/30/2012
Great poutine! They got you covered when it comes to toppings! But you cant go wrong with the classic. What i think makes la banquise standout is the quality of the fries, great taste and texture. Open 24 hours too! Thats a plus if you are out late/early and want some food to cure that hangover
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Review from Billy F.
Kitchener, ON
5/4/2012
Nothing beats walking about montreal during the night and eating poutine. Always worth a visit, although I prefer to stick with the original offerings and never really venture to try out other ones. Great crispy fries with delicious gravy.
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Review from Mister O.
Montréal, QC
1/29/2012
Had wanted to try this place for quite a while, so when a rush trip to the Ulysse travel bookstore found me at the corner of Rachel and St-Denis at suppertime yesterday with all my chores done, I decided that supper was going to be poutine.
Showing up at 1730 hrs on a Saturday, I was thinking that Montrealers don't eat this early and I'd have no problem getting a seat. Well, I was wrong. There was already a short line inside the door, and the place was heaving- with children. Seems that parents of pre-schoolers *do* eat this early, and they bring their spawn in great number. Managed to be seated immediately, though, by dint of only needing a table for one. Got the second last seat in the house, as it turned out, in a dark corner. Water glass (already filled) and menu hit the table as I was seated, a nice touch.
Despite my being in a wretchedly difficult place to reach, the waitress was quick to worm her way to me and take my order. Asked for a regular-sized classic poutine, a Banquise burger with Dijon instead of the usual orange sauce, and a St-Ambroise. Did not have to wait long for it all to arrive; just long enough to notice the extremely repetitive dance-techno music being played just a little too loud over the already considerable din in the room. It was pounding out a deeply tribal message, and that message was "please chew quickly and get out, so we can sell some more of this stuff". Just a little too obvious a musical psy-op, for what's basically a hip diner. Dinged them a star while I waited for my oats.
The food and beer all arrived at once, exactly as ordered. Poutine portion was definitely generous; my plate was heaped, and almost overflowing. Burger was a proper size for the price, and well-garnished. Both tasted fine, while neither being spectacular. Both, unfortunately, were only warm, and not hot. Given how quickly they arrived, this was disappointing. Fries fresh from the fryer and sauce kept on a proper simmer, especially, should have been screaming hot, at least at the very core of the mound. But the wait at the kitchen push-through and the trip to my table somehow managed to suck the bulk of the heat out of my supper. My cheese curds were barely melted. Another star lost, right there.
Restrooms (I tried two) both had trash on the floor, and both had the slipperiest, soapiest floors I've ever put boots on. The cracks in one bowl's rim must be from someone's teeth.
With all that said, this place isn't without definite merit. Both the placière and my waitress were alert, memorably courteous and pleasant in the middle of an obvious rush, and good at their jobs. And the food is taken seriously, ingredient-wise. It tasted fine, after all. The people-watching was excellent, too, at least while I was there; it seemed like I was surrounded by groups of good-looking twenty- and thirty-something brunettes, all animatedly catching up on old times and planning new adventures while gleefully pounding pure cholesterol into their smiling faces. The table of sleekly black-haired girls next to me was speaking entirely in an oddly-tinted Spanish. My idle moments between mouthfuls weren't exactly devoid of wallpaper.
But the not-hot burger and poutine, the roomful of rather loud children, and the 1980s behavioral science music selection... Yes, I'd eat here again, but not without a deliberate motive.
Oh... When I left, the line was out the door. Be forewarned.
Anyhow. Banquise: Been there, done that. -
Review from Daniel T.
1/10/2012 1 photo
I can see how La Banquise would be touristy. It never closes, serves what you want after you stumble out of a bar, and it has been televised on certain travel shows in the US. But after going several times at 3am, I'm not so sure if it is. Every time I was in line, I had gotten into conversations with native Montrealers, even sat and ate with, most of whom were surprised to learn that three dudes from Philly made it to this poutine eatery. I did not meet anyone that wasn't from Montreal while in queue. It's also kinda out of the way and even a nice local stripper recommended that I should go here. I forgot her name, but she stripped with reading glasses on so I'd assume she was probably wise.
Fries, cheese curds, gravy, and a myriad of meat combinations to put you on your ass for the night. I recommend the T-Rex, topped with hot dogs, bacon, pepperoni and ground beef. I'd also recommend visiting St. Luc's hospital as well. -
Review from Bill E.
1/13/2012
This was a must stop on my trip to Montreal. I had heard of this restaurant from the travel shows on Food Network and from some friends that had traveled to Montreal.
When we went the restaurant was packed, but eventually after fifteen minutes or so we got a table and ordered. My friend ordered the T-REX and I had the poutine bacon. This was a great stop for us as we filled up on great poutine and then headed off to do more sightseeing.
A must stop for anyone in Montreal. -
Review from Gregory S.
Montréal, QC
1/20/2012
Poutine is another famous Montreal dish, especially after a heavy night of drinking. La Banquise is open 24 hours and a perfect way to end a night with friends in the Plateau. There is usually a ton of people waiting at any given time, but especially later in the night.
There are two lines, one for take out and one for sitting in the restaurant. I usually just get in the to go line. The wait can be awhile even after you order since the restaurant is so busy. They have a ton of variations on the poutine and most of the ones I have had are good. The best I had was one with all the different meats on it, forget the name.
But if you find yourself partying in the Plateau stop by La Banquise for your post boozing meal! -
Review from Sarah L.
1/25/2012
Oh my god- heart attack on a plate 24 hours a day! So a friend told me how I must try poutine when I went to Montreal and I thought it sounded a little crazy at first, but I was up for trying something new as long as it wasn't frog legs or pâté!
We ordered two plates and shared- Poutine Duleton and Poutine Classique. Poutine combines three of my favorite things-potatoes, cheese, and gravy! We liked the Poutine Duleton a little better, but both of them were awesome. Not exactly a healthy meal, but a delicious over-indulgence. I had never had cheese curds. Yum! If you are in Montreal and have never had Poutine, this is a must try. There are also vegetarian options so it is friendly for all.
It was busy as other reviewers say. We were there at lunchtime on a weekend so we had to wait a while for a table, but I don't remember how long.Listed in: Montreal Eats
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Review from Ehsan F.
Richmond Hill, ON
2/29/2012
Might be a bit overrated. Their menu is extensive but I'd stick to their poutines.
Since it's a very renowned establishment among locals and tourists alike, there's almost always a lineup outside, and depending of the time of day, it will take a long time to be seated. Then, you'll have to wait until your order is taken, and food is served, which is also a lengthy process.
The positives: very cheap food, good atmosphere, and you can tell people you went to La Banquise.
The down side: it takes a long time to get your food, the food is just meh. -
Review from Tracey R.
Montréal, QC
2/27/2012
COMPLETELY OVERRATED
The only reason why this spot gets such a good following is because of the 24hour open sign.
Poutine should never cost that much, no matter what one puts on it. It's a good place if you feel adventurous, but when you have tasted amazing poutine before, it kinda falls flat.
Service is marginal and food taste ok at best.
If you're looking for somewhere to eat after a night of clubbing, this might be it...if you're looking for the best poutine ever made, go somewhere else. -
Review from Daniel H.
5/9/2012
Wandering the streets of Montreal close to midnight looking for this place was an adventure. The sign is really small. In our search, we stumbled on a bar run by an artists' collective. Had some stiff drinks. So, getting lost was cool. I like greasy food, so I liked the poutine. I had the sausage, bacon, onion poutine. It was pretty good and hit my gut like a rock. Along with beer, it was a great combo. Pretty happening at all hours.
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Review from Rob W.
2/13/2012
Went to Montreal for the day and wanted to seek out the two best things Quebec has to offer (other than beer and hockey) smoked meat sandwiches and poutine.
Narrowed down my selections to Schwartz's for a sangy and La Banquise for poutine.
After downing the most delectible smoked meat sandwich ever at schwartzs, we headed over the La Banquise to pile some gravy and cheese curds on top of it!
Although poutine isn't very complex, I wasn't all that impressed with La Banquise. They have a huge menu, with all kinds of adaptations on traditional poutine, we stuck to the traditional. It was average, but I was a little disappointed after all the reviews I had read. Although I think anything would have been sub par after Schwartz's.
Be sure to bring cash if you do have a Canadian credit card (not even my TD Bank (Toronto Dominion) card would work). -
Review from Ra C.
12/6/2011
My husband and I went to Montreal to celebrate our one year wedding anniversary. We are lovers of food and really wanted to go somewhere that had a distinct food culture. We found a food mecca in Montreal. One of the items on our list of must-eats was poutine, a native dish to Quebec. To us, it just sounded like something we needed to get our hands on!
We tried poutine for the first time at this little diner for a late dinner. We were less than impressed. After doing our due diligence and scouring the web, we came across La Banquise. So on a gorgeous day, we took the metro out to a quaint little neighborhood and walked a few blocks to La Banquise. This was definitely your typical dive, metal tables, benches and random art work and mismatched pieces as décor. The place was packed on a late afternoon, but we were seated relatively quickly. I can see how this place is such a draw, especially for a late night crowd, and with the bonus of it being open 24 hours.
We ordered a large poutine to share, and had it topped with hot dog, bacon and mushrooms. Yes, you can add additional toppings to your poutine. What came out was a gigantic plate filled to the brim and loaded with fries, gravy, hot dog slices, bacon, mushrooms and cheese curds! It may not look like the most appetizing plate, but it was divine! The cheese curds were melting and provided an even more decadent touch to the dish. The fries soaked up the gravy and the bacon and hot dogs gave each bite the needed amount of sodium; it was very savory. It was real treat, and worth my cholesterol shooting up a few points! -
Review from Max L.
1/22/2012
With so many rave reviews, you would think this place would be great outside of the 11pm-4am hammered crowd timeframe, but not so much.
Although getting a seat is much easier, this place is not really recommended for just a regular dinner. Maybe it's because I'm not the biggest "squeaky curds" fan, but no one at the table seemed to be blown away by the various assemblies of fries, gravy and cheese.
I have had other poutines that would knock your socks off drunk, sober, or anytime of the day, but this would not be worth it unless you're drunk enough to wait forever in a line to inhale something that will make your hangover a little less painful. -
Review from Julia B.
11/30/2011
YUM. Oh man, this was delicious! I rather regret now that I did not have the poutine, but seeing as I was still slightly scared of poutine (we'd only been in Montreal for a few days), I had one of the regular breakfasts. Bonus - they had English menus! For the French-speaking impaired such as myself, this was awesome.
The breakfast was huge. Unbelievable for the price! In DC, a breakfast that size would have been wayyyyyyyyy more expensive. The eggs, ham, bacon, and beans were all excellent.
I'm a bit sad I didn't get to try their pancakes or waffles. If I'm ever in Montreal again, I know where I'm heading first! -
Review from Maheen M.
11/28/2011 2 photos
La Banquise is regarded as having one of the best poutine's in Montreal. My SO and I made the pilgrimage this past weekend on a weekend getaway to Montreal. At 3pm on a Saturday, this place was packed! It is nice to know that they are open 24 hours for future Montreal trips.
I ordered the smoked meat poutine regular which could have been shared by 2 people. It was huge but delicious! The cheese was fresh and chewy, good signs that it is in fact Quebec cheese curds! My SO ordered the vegetarian poutine and he really enjoyed it.
Service was quick and prices were reasonable. I will definitely be back when I am in Montreal again.Listed in: Montreal
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Review from Angela N.
3/23/2012 3 photos
I'll start off by saying I'm definitely not an expert when it comes to the "best Poutine in town," I'm just visiting so what do I know. With that said, it doesn't mean I haven't had my taste of frites, gravy and cheese curds - separately and together as one dish. All in all, my rating for La Banquise is solely based on to the two dishes my companion and I ordered (Poutine Matty & Kamikaze). Sure the frites were hot and crispy, the gravy warmed through and the ingredients by itself ok but the cheese curds were less than satisfying and the merguez (unlike any lamb sausage I've ever had and not in a good way). I was not impressed. What happened to the squeaky cheese curds I've read about in my reviews? The ones I had were chunky, dry, hard and not warmed through by the hot gravy or fries. Sad. Thank goodness for the down-to-earth envi, local crowd, music and bearable prices.
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Review from Sabahat N.
Calgary, AB
11/30/2011
If you've ever lived in Montreal for a reasonable amount of time, you have been to La Banquise. This establishment is the king of Montreal poutine culture, the emperor of the poutine empire, the gladiator that leaves everyone else in the dust!
Why, you ask.. Why should such grandiose compliments be bestowed upon this institution? Well:
- Poutine has never seen so much variety! Mushrooms, peas, pepperoni, guacamole, you name it, they've got it as an option to put on their poutine. They have the largest and most delicious menu ever, that would get any poutine-lover riled up!
- It is open 24 hours!! YES, that means after those great nights out with friends, you can come and feed yourself some poutine!
- Their portions are so big they are meant to be shared! Eat yourself silly, guys!! You probably need it after all the partying you were doing prior to stumbling in here.
- They serve beer! Beer with poutine!! Thank god someone understands us!
La Banquise should not be missed at any costs, its a CLASSIC. If you havent been to La Banquise, please hang your head in shame! And then make plans to go there THIS WEEKEND!
30/30!! YA!!!!Listed in: I left my heart in Montreal
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Review from Mabel W.
11/1/2011
After a day long bike ride, my friend and I figured we should treat ourselves to some poutine.
There were so many choices, I really couldn't choose..they all looked VERY good. I finally decided on the hamburger poutine(hefty fries, cheese curds, ground beef, gravy, and caramelized onions) and my friend had the classique which is fries, gravy and cheese curds.
OMG! This was the best artery clogging food ever. They give a huge portion that can feed two but I finished it all. La banquise has another fan.
Montreal, je t'aime. -
Review from Twenties H.
Toronto, ON
11/4/2011
Let me start off by saying that as a Quebec child (and therefore, a connoisseur of poutine), La Banquise is by far the most delicious Montreal poutine place I've ever eaten at, and if eating and thinking about eating poutine there all day long is wrong, then I don't want to be right.
This place is open real late, so if you're looking for a place to clog up your arteries after bars close, then this is the perfect place to go.They only take cash, but no worries, there's an ATM Machine if you don't have any. If you don't have debit though, well, you're pretty screwed. The service is fast, the place is big and clean, and I've never met an unfriendly waitress there. My favorite is the Poutine Frank, which is a poutine with Merguez sausages, but the Poutine Dan Dan (pepperoni, onions, bacon) and the Poutine T-Rex (bacon, pepperoni, ground beef, sausages) are also awesome.
If you're visiting Montreal, make sure you check this place out; and if you live there and haven't experienced this place yet- well then, maybe you ought to consider not calling yourself a Montrealer anymore. -
Review from Rayn L.
Toronto, ON
2/14/2012 1 Check-in Here
Another gem of Montreal, but rather this gem is caked with mud. A small restaurant that is steamy, tight, and not so pleasing to the eye. We had a big group in and had a horrible time communicating or even getting up. Washrooms weren't so great and the place was a very loud, humid, and steamy air to it. But in spite of an aesthetic failure, why were people still lining up in the fridge winter air? The poutine here is UNBELIEVABLE!!!! The one of the best foods I have every had and no doubt the best poutine on this planet! Cheap, heavy, filling, and of course tasty. The T-Rex satisfied me in more ways then one. Definitely a landmark in poutine and Montreal eatery. A must if your in Montreal!!!!
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Review from Jennifer M.
Toronto, ON
10/7/2011 1 Check-in Here
24 Poutine. It had to be done.
I had original poutine, I think thats why I am not blown away. My DCs all had fancier poutines, including one doused in avocado and fresh chopped tomato. Amazing.
My classic was ok, but not really salty enough. Or cheesy. But it was good. We went on a Sunday for lunch to meet some friends who already had a table. Thank goodness, the lineup was massive.
It was packed. Service was extremely unremarkable. We were squished into a corner. I expected more. It was cheap however.
I'd go again, but get something more fun.Listed in: Montreal
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Review from Anne S.
3/12/2012
Can't say I'm a fan. Overpriced for mediocre fries. The cheese wasn't the awesome. We ordered the Original, three amigos, and kamikaze. The Kamikaze was probably the best b/c of the banana peppers. I'm thinking this is all a personal preference b/c the cheese curds were rubbery and kind of gross.
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Review from Johnson C.
Vancouver, BC
1/21/2012 3 photos
24 hr poutinery. I'm not qualified to say if this is 'the best' poutine in Montreal - but I liked my T-Rex poutine - burger, pepperoni, bacon and hot dog. Seriously, hot dogs are underrated as a condiment. I like this place.
Listed in: Un garçon de Vancouver à…
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Review from Sara R.
9/28/2011
Had to have poutine if in Canada. My plans got a little messy, so I ended making the trip down to this area after a hockey game at Bell Centre - a day before leaving town.
Great type of food to grab after catching a game in the city and country where hockey is equivalent to oxygen. From Bell Centre, it's about a 10 minute metro to the Mont Royal station, and then a 15 minute or so walk down St. Denis and through Rue Rachel. There are a few pubs and bars lining St. Denis, and so it's not so vacant or unsafe. Rue Rachel itself is a bit sparse and has a few alleyways weaved in, but I saw many girls riding their bikes or taking a jog - so I figure, the natives know it's safe enough to do so. Just try to avoid walking down the side streets. Stick to St. Denis - because google maps preferred I take a side street. Google maps does not know that a side-street at 11pm is not ideal for a girl who is a wimp.
Ok, back to the poutine! I got in, and they seated me right away, although it was quite busy throughout the restaurant. I believe they advertise it as cash only, but the table next to mine paid by credit or debit card. Either way, have cash. The menu is extensive with toppings you can get, and I went with the one where it's like the original but with ground beef and grilled onions added (hey, I wanted some added protein). When they take your order, you also pay at the table. Then they will place your order. I think mine was around $8? For the small, and although I'm a big eater and was hungry at the time, I was barely able to put a dent into that monstrosity.
They're pretty quick to bring the food. The fries are dark and crispy, and medium-thickness, and probably not my favorite type of french fry. The gravy was not anything special.. and was sort of goopy in a jelly-like way. The cheese curds were very good, but I'm a newbie with cheese curds. They had a generous portion of large and small chunks. The ground beef was very tasty and not salty at all. I picked the cheese curds and the ground beef/onions, and ate some of the fries with ketchup because the gravy was not too flavorful or appealing.
Nice service.. nothing wow and nothing horrible. I would probably choose a different place to try poutine next time, if only to compare. It's a must try though, wherever you decide to get it! -
Review from jocelyn l.
10/31/2011
Best poutine in Montreal, opened 24 hours and reasonable prices
We were looking for an authentic, non-fancy place for poutine in Montreal and this was awesome! We ordered the regular Poutine BOM (Bacon, Onions, Mersquez Sausages) with Black Pepper sauce, which was perfect for 3 people to share (we had other side dishes too but just could not stomach a whole poutine by ourselves). I'm not sure how other people have 1 poutine to themselves...it's way too salty, rich and 1 dimensional to finish one individually. *shudder*
The black pepper sauce was the way to go; not too peppery...just right. The fries were crunchy and crispy- perfect fries.
We were there at Noon on Sunday and it was pretty much empty. We left around 1p and still...no craziness.
Not sure when ppl go to brunch in Montreal...but in SF, it'd have been an hour ++ long wait at that time.
Lucky us -
Review from Brian T.
9/6/2011
I really don't get it. I absolutely love poutine, and given this place's reputation, I was expecting to find the best poutine of my life. But, no.
I was sorely disappointed. Or maybe all the poutine I've ever had (much of it in Canada) was wrong, and I don't actually like the real thing. But this was just inferior in many ways.
Let's deconstruct the "Classique." The fries, the foundation for any plate of poutine, were HORRIBLE: soggy and tasting of undercooked potato. The gravy: just awful, lacking any beefy taste at all. The cheese curds: the only redeeming ingredient, with a nice bouncy texture, but not as "cheesy" as I would have liked.
The Italienne, with a tomato-meat sauce instead of gravy, is better, although the fries were still soggy.
Overall, I think Banquise is one of "those:" a place whose reputation has eclipsed its own product. There are much better examples of poutine out there.
Or maybe, I came at an "off" moment. But a place with this reputation shouldn't really have moments as "off" as this. -
Review from annie t.
9/29/2011
Had our poutine initiation here. Looked like your typical eatery in the US. Didn't like how we could see many food debris on the floor. Anywhoo....
We ordered the original. Just as expected it was a big slob of fries with curds of cheese
so much excitement..so much disappointment.
Fries were too dark for my liking, soft, not crispy. The cheese was not a good compliment
Maybe I'm just being a food snob. I like the concept of the dish, but would rather the elements be of better quality. For this place, we should added a meat to the dish to make it acceptable. -
Review from Thomas Z.
8/28/2011
Poutine BOH. Crack. Absolutely the best drunk food I've ever had; fries, spicy Arab Sausage, caramelized onions, cheese curds, gravy and BACON. YES BACON.
Montreals an amazing city to get wasted in. There is no drinking age and the cops are more of a friendly professional party patrol than a gang of armed thugs like in the states. Just try to speak French and people will help you. You will not understand Jouale. Do not try. Just go with the flow, hein? -
Review from Colleen R.
10/15/2011
The poutine at La Banquise made our whole trip to Montreal worth it.
Down to the last bite, the frites maintained a satisfying crunch despite being coated with an unparalleled blend of gravy and cheese curds. (Yes, we're boring, we only tried the original style instead of one of the dozens of other varieties. We're not complaining.)
Tip: You can't order booze on the patio. -
Review from M R.
8/16/2011
Do yourself a favor and get one of the crazier poutines. I got the classic poutine, thinking that a classic poutine had meat on it. I was wrong.
And do yourself a favor -- do not order the large poutine. No one needs that much food.
This was a good place. I enjoyed my poutine, the service was good, and the price was totally reasonable.
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