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Categories: Delis, Sandwiches, Cheese Shops [Edit]
3895 Saint-Laurent Boul
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A wonderful, unassuming, simple place. The smell of smoked meat that hits you when you enter the shop/restaurant is otherworldly. I had the beef sandwich, medium (apparently the fatty one is too fatty, and the lean one is too dry). The quality of the meat is fantastic, and the bread is soft and doughy.
I actually wouldn't have minded a little more fat on my cut- I found it a little dry. It's probably a matter of taste, and it was delicious nonetheless, but if I return I will be sure to order the fat cut.
The line for the main restaurant was extremely long. Granted, the restaurant is picturesque and more of an experience- but if you just want a quick bite to eat, the take-out shop is just as good. They have tables in the back, and serve exactly the same items.
I was in Montreal Canada for a Tattoo Convention. One of my colleague GF went to college in montreal and recommended all these places to eat and Schwartz was one of them.
His GF kept telling us to eat at Schwartz and that we had to get Smoked Meat sandwich. Arriving to the hotel at 12am, we were both tired of Flying All Day and Starving and looking for something to eat.
We then went to a 24 Hour Cafe. They also had the smoked meat, the picture looked great. So we both decided to get the Smoked meat.
When we ate it, we thought it was good enough to check off our list of things to eat in Montreal. We were wrong, Wait till you get to Schwartz, it is well worth the wait. Also dont forget to get the Black Cherry Soda.
This place seems like a guys place because when they serve the food all they give you is a plate of MEAT, SLICED BREAD, PICKLES & MUSTARD. You know what, that is all you need.
What was funny was that my neighbor grew up in Montreal and when I came back he told me that i must go to Schwartz.. Sorry beat you too it.
Schwartz is f*$&%#g incredible. It is definitely the best Smoked Meat sandwich I have ever had. After consuming your first sandwich, your life will be different than it was prior to slamming it down. You will feel rather enlightened and your culinary adventure list will have extended to epic proportions.
The meat used is a beautiful red brisket which is cured for roughly a week or more, it is then smoked for several hours and then placed into a steam box with the rich and bold spices. It is so delicate it has to be cut by hand and is then stacked onto the tiniest pieces of Rye bread topped with mustard. Eating it without dropping a substantial amount of meat comes with practice, but there is no harm in intermittently slaying the fallout meat throughout or towards the end of the meal. Heck, I've even used fries like chop sticks to pick up the excess meat.
It's NO surprise that there is always a lineup outside this restaurant. They opened up a take-out only storefront directly to the left of the original establishment, but I highly suggest waiting in line to sit down at the OG venue. I definitely noticed a difference in the overall success of the sandwich between the take out and sit down. At the take-out counter I was also not asked if I wanted my meat lean, medium, or fatty and it was a little dry. It is crucial to me that the meat be "medium fatty" which gives the sandwich the perfect consistency of meat to fat for me, not too dry, not mad fatty. The sandwich takes roughly 5 minutes to get to your table after ordering, and it will take the average eater roughly 5 minutes to eat, although I have witnessed it disappear in mere seconds.
In addition to the sandwich Schwartz offers amazing French fries. I've eaten tons of fries and poutine in my lifetime and I can say with confidence their fries are near perfect. They are fully cooked through, petite, and crunchy. Pickles are available in both sour and dill and the sour pickle offers a beautiful bite of tartness which compliments the meat very well. Cott Black Cherry, not to be confused with cherry coke, is available as well and washes down the feast very well.
Hands down Schwartz gets a 5, any haters must be vegetarian.
Overrated. Not worth the wait. Not even sure what cut of meat the "smoked meat" comes from. They don't say. At least at Katz, you either order a pastrami or corned beef sandwich. Here, the sandwiches are just simply called "smoked meat" What is that? Isn't it either pastrami or corned beef? I don't get it.
Although the smoked meat is what makes this place famous, it's all about the cole slaw for me. Fries are soggy but great... the soggy texture absorbs salt perfectly. Always friendly counter people too.
This place is small and historic. The smoked meat, the fries, the giant pickle, delicious. But the liver is not so great, it was a random pick by my boyfriend and it was very dry. The lineups are really long but some people are willing to wait even in the dreadful Montreal winter days.
Yelpers told us to go here. My brother told us to go here. So how could we refuse?
We had a large group, but we did not mind splitting up because yeah, smoked meat from Montreal is worth it.
Another fond childhood memory of my aunt bring us smoked meat once every few years. We HAD to have smoked meant and when in Rome (or Montreal), you want the best there is.
Schwartz's is GOOOOOOD. They are not stingy with the meat and they are spot on with the prices. I generally do not enjoy peppercorns, but they prepare the meat in such a way that they only add to the flavor.
I ordered my sammie with a black cherry coke, just as fellow Yelpers had advised. Normally, I'm a diet soda kinda gal... would rather save my calories for the main course. But today was a special day, and boy, that black cherry soda really topped off my sammie.
The only reason I didn't give this place 5 stars is because my Canadian companions were not as thrilled as those of us from the States who had smoked meat on a pedestal since long before we crossed the border.
At schwartzs, a huge pile of smoke dmeat is presented to me. Dry, like the fresh light rye bread that tries desperately yo hold the meat pile together, and deli mustard generally spread upon the bread.
The meat is littered with black peppercorns, but the peppercorns are not too strong as to distract from the meat that has been cooked for hours. The sandwich is filling. Noms.
Schwartz's has nothing to hide; simply pure good meat.
Pure ingredients, and pride of tradition that has been round since 1928.
And a black cherry soda with your meat rocks.
Noms. Oms. Oms.
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The best smoked meat world wide. Excellent french fries and very good pickles. A Montreal institution and a must stop. Possibly one of the 7 wonders of the food world...
So this is it? This is the home of the legendary smoked meat sandwich? Really?
My first attempt to check this place out on a previous trip to Montreal ended with merely poking my head in, as the counter was filthy, with no sign it would be cleaned up any time soon. On my recent weekend visit at least the level of cleanliness was encouraging enough to actually eat here.
So obviously I'm getting the smoked meat sandwich. Given how shittily I'll be eating all weekend, I decide to have something that resembles a vegetable, so I ordered the slaw as well. It was allright. A vinegared variety, no mayo. Whatever.
The sandwich comes out, it's stuffed with smoked meat generously enough. Looks fine. But then I take the first bite and it's.....OK. Just OK.
All that hype: "You have to go to Schwartz's." "You simply must go to Schwartz's!"
And the famous smoked meat sandwich? Is just OK.
Nothing special about the flavor. The meat was a bit dry.
Another solo traveller sitting at the other end of the counter quite similar to me, only dressed better and with less hair, appeared to have the same reaction. He ordered some pickles, some peppers, the fries. And when his smoked meat platter came, he dug in; and looked like the feast he was devouring was.....OK.
He certainly didn't look like someone chowing down on the sandwich of his life. Not by a long shot.
With all the acclaim and accolades I almost want to grant a single lousy star, but two stars it shall be. Because at least a Montreal deli sandwich is cheap, at just $5.50.
That's a reasonable price. Even for OK.
A similar NY deli sandwich costs three times as much. Literally, three times as much.
And then you're supposed to tip the fucking slicers? After tax you're looking at close to $20!
I've never been to Katz's and I'm never going to bother.
Fuck Katz's.
When people mentioned about the greatness of Montreal's smoked meat, they are really referring to Schwartz's. The others might attempt to imitate but they failed miserably.The place might be small, dirty, crowded, and you have to wait in line most of the time, but it's all worth it.
Order your smoked meat lean, medium or fatty and they are equally delicious. I always ask the server to order enough meat for our group and they'll know what to do. Take a few pieces of meat and put them in between the rye breads. Add a little mustard and voila - the best dinner in Montreal. It goes well with cherry coke too.
Note that you might have to share tables because they don't have a lot of spaces. Apparently the owner refuses to move to a bigger place. If you are in Montreal, you must try Schwartz's!
Better than Katz, Carnegie, or 2nd Ave. Deli in NYC. I think about Schwartz's Deli at least once a week, and i'm looking forward to my trip next month. Best smoked meat i've ever had. I finished a plate of lean and non-lean all by my lonesome. The results? Meat-sweats. The good kind.
Holy Smoked Meat!
This place is a dump, but the smoked meat sandwich sure does make up for the lack of service Schwartz's provides. As I'm writing this review, my mouth is salivating for luscious fatty smoked meat with yellow mustard on soft rye bread. As a New Yorker, I've had Katz's and Carnegie and it pales in comparison to it's Canadian counterpart.
My BFF and I were so infatuated with the smoked meat that we even bought a lb each to smuggle across the border (12.95 lb CAD). Sadly enough, it's just not the same after you make numerous attempts to revive the moistness and tenderness of the meat. It sorta just fell flatline.
Beep, Beep, beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep......
If you make it into Montreal, Schwartz's is a must try.
If you're a fan of smoked meat (and if you aren't you damned well should be) then this is a must-visit location when you visit Montreal.
Our group always hits Schwartz's on the way out of town for a couple of sandwiches each so we can enjoy fatty, smokey goodness all the way to Vermont.
It's a wee bit out of the way, but the tremendously tasty meat makes it a must.
The best smoked meat in
town. There's often a line but
the service is swift.
All the smoked meats are made onsite. We waited in the rain to get a table in the middle of the week. It is always packed. The meat is delish but the other offerings I felt were a little so-so. Try a pickle with your meat. We had a fatty and a lean serving at our table. I would recommend the lean as fatty really is fatty. The brisket is yummy. You will get a LOT of food for the money. It's legendary so worth the wait and visit. Enjoy!
If it were up to my husband, he'd probably give Schwartz's 5 stars, because he has been talking about smoked meat days before we arrived in Montreal. But I am less of a carnivore than he is, so I am a bit more reserved with my stars.
Arriving at the door was exciting, because you can't see the inside, but there is always a line outside the door, looking like eager folks trying to get inside an exclusive club. However, the line moves quickly, and soon we find ourselves sitting at the counter ordering sandwiches as fast as we can because we only fed the parking meter for half an hour not knowing how this Schwartz's trip will turn out.
To be different and also being genuinely afraid of the amount of meat between those itsy-bitsy slices of rye bread (oh yeah, the minute you walk in, you see everyone holding that giant meaty thing in their hand), I ordered a turkey sandwich. Not to be outdone by the smoked meat sandwich, there were about 30 slices of turkey on two little slices of bread that barely could hold the meat.
I tried some of the smoked meat and it was really good! I can't even describe it, because it doesn't necessarily taste smokey, and the meat is not saucy like slow cooked beef, or dry and shreddy like pulled pork. It's tender and chewy at the same time, on the verge of falling apart but not mushy.
I guess you will just have to come and try it yourself. It was a really fun thing to do on our trip.
If you want to sit down and eat you better be prepared to a) wait in a line on the street and b) share a table with strangers. In any other setting either scenario may have surprised or irked me, but on this day I was so game for it and ended up thinking these two features added so much charm and warmth to the place.
The smoked turkey sandwich was moist, tender, and so yummy. Topped with mustard on white bread, heaven. The fries were crispy on the outside and soft in the middle. The dill pickle was massive and damn good. And the cole slaw was barely dressed and some of the best I've ever eaten.
Our server was excellent! He was funny, personable, and super fast. With such quick turn over I was expecting crap service and not planning to hold anything against it. But our guy could probably serve the whole place with his eyes closed and just rock it. I loved him.
Super cheap, quick food, awesome setting, great value. Must go. No wonder this place has the best reviews and is the highest rated. Awesome!
Made of mothercuffing win. As I am a NY jew, I am always dubious that anything can possibly be better than jewish delicacies in NY. Well, this just might be. The smoked meat is not salty and not too smoky... a little fatty, but isn't that the point? The texture is like... butter. The best comparable I can think of is Texas BBQ. I don't know how they do it, but it is unreal and totally worth the wait in line and the crowds and the gruff service. OMFG. Oh yeah, and a huge sandwich is $5.50. Whaaat?
So glad I found this place on Yelp during my weekend in Montreal. I do love me some Jewish deli... so when I found it, I was excited. I've never had "smoked" meat, so to me, it was like a kid eating a mystery meat sandwich. Because of all the warnings of "long lines" and what not.... with the quickness, I hopped on the subway and bus with my bf from our hotel, 20 mins away. Turns out there was the street fair madness on Laurent, so our bus took a detour, and we got off a couple stops too late (damn you google maps!). Anyways, after getting off the bus stop, I literally ran like the wind to try to beat the so-called crowd. Many blocks later I saw the light at the end of the tunnel.... it was SCHWARTZ'S... bright orange. I ran some more (with my trailing bf). I ran to.... no line.
Haha.... well, that was before I knew there was two Schwartz's next to each other. So I suppose the sit down place might have a wait, but there was also a tent of outdoor seating, which looked pretty full but no one was in line waiting. So we went inside to order 1 lb of smoked meat, cole slaw, and a turkey sandwich. There was actually plenty of seating in the back.
The anticipation... opened up the package to a mound of smoked meat. Poor cows. Toppled tons of pepper and mustard on it and voila... yummy. Meat overkill for sure, but couldn't waste the pound, each of us consuming half a pound of hefty meat. Thank god for no bread, or we wouldn't have been able to finish it! Mixed the coleslaw (vinegary) with the meat and made mini sandwiches sans bread. Saved the turkey sandwich for watching Phelps swim at the Olympic stadium.
Overall great meat. You can't get that stuff in NYC, so it did me good. Thank you Schwartz!
Schwartz's is good but not great.
They are famous for being condescending but I feel this is mostly an act to keep up Schwartz's reputation.
Schwartz's, you are the stuff that smoked meat dreams are made of.
I've been coming here my entire life. As in before I learned to crawl!
Some detractors may speak negatively about your long lines and your lack of customer service. "P'shaw" I saw to these detractors.
I love the karnatzel - ask them to throw it on the grill for a few minutes. All the better. And - sacrilege as it may be - I like my smoked meat old fashioned and LEAN. I don't feel that ordering it lean at Schwartz's dries it out. It's perfect.
Top if off with a black cherry soda, and welcome yourself to the cool crowd.
I can't wait to be in Montreal in September... my taste buds are already excited.
Midway through my first smoked meat sandwich, I ordered a second. It was there in three minutes.
They have a heck of a system. Go there and see it. Buy a shirt if you can.
After reading the reviews here on Yelp, I felt prepared for my pilgrimage to Schwartz's. I turned up around 11:30 and was amazed there wasn't a line. Inside was plenty busy, but there were a few tables still open and seating at the counter. I squeezed into a seat here, between two gentlemen, and stared in amazement at the mountains of smoked meat waiting to be sliced for sandwiches--we're talking kilos and kilos of beef encrusted in Schwartz's special spices.
"Parlez-vous Anglais?" I asked the gentleman on my left. "Yes," was the reply in a suspiciously American accent. I then asked if the counter guy would come back to take my order, or if there was some arcane process that wasn't obvious. He said the guy would be back to take my order and we struck up a conversation. It turns out Tim was originally from Dallas, but had been living in Montreal for about 17 years. He was already halfway through his lunch of a medium-fat smoked meat sandwich and fries. He recommended I also order the medium-fat, as the lean is too dry and some don't like the full-fat version. I followed Tim's suggestion and ordered a med-fat.
When it arrived, the sandwich was a little smaller than I'd anticipated. But then I had to remind myself I wasn't in the good ol' mega-sized U.S. of A. anymore--and it was too big for me to finish anyway. The smoked meat was piled thick between two slices of a white-type bread (not sourdough, and not rye) and garnished with a bit of plain yellow mustard. The meat tasted like corned beef but not as salty, and there was just a hint of smoke to it. Tim said that he's not really sure why it's called smoked meat, because it's primarily steamed. Regardless, it was good, but I think I would have preferred the full-fat cuts. I noticed that by the time I was nearing the end of my meal, the meat had cooled and had definitely become a bit dry.
So, I'm glad I made it to this shrine to smoked meats, but I think once was enough to satisfy my curiosity. And my arteries thank me.
While I'm not sure that "Yay! I'm a fan" encapsulates my feelings about Schwartz's, that's where we'll leave it. "Famous" places like this are usually vastly disappointing. But a sandwich of pretty high quality can be had for $5.50 CDN. The pickles are pretty decent. The fries aren't great. And you'll probably be treated to a progression of baffling American tourists.
On my visit, I sat next to a well-proportioned girl who was dining with a an ultra-heavy man for whom sandwich cramming apeared an exertive, aerobic activity. Not satisifed with the (generous) dimensions of his sandwich, he also found time to consume half a loaf of rye bread, three 1/2 sour pickles, his lady friend's french fries and two 7 Ups. While his friend/lover paid, he fanned himself for several seconds before working up the wherewithal to descend from his stool.
If I had just two sandwiches to eat as a last meal, they would both be here.
Holy stars, hundreds of little smoked briskets being coaxed to perfection for our enjoyment.? This place is ridiculous.
It's time for a St. Viateur bagel for dessert.
If you're hoping to get a table at Schwartz, you might have to plan your day around it. The line-ups can be that long.
I'm one of the crazy fanatics who will wait over an hour in -20 degree (Celsius) weather in a snow storm just to get my smoked meat sandwich. I average about 4 visits a year to this greasy joint and in between I sometimes have authentic Schwartz smoked meat brought back to Ontario for me.
Let's start with the food:
Tastiest meat ever. I almost always go for the smoked meat sandwich - medium-fat. It's definitely on the greasy side, but the fat adds the juiciness. We once shared a table with a local regular who was disappointed we didn't order full fat. Her sandwich looked super juicy, but I'm not sure my heart could take it. When my health-conscious friend ordered extra lean, I could see it was significantly drier.
Schwartz's french fries are my absolute favourite. They're a thicker cut, they're super greasy and they're cooked just enough to be crispy on the outside but still have the softer middles.
Steak, liver and pickles are also fantastic, but I have regretted not sticking to the sandwich. The smoked meat is just that good.
Beverage:
Secret recipe - 1/3 regular Coke, 2/3 Cott's Black Cherry. You have to order by the can, so you do the math. The glasses they provide are tiny, but sufficient. I don't think I've tried anything other than this cherry Coke concoction but the stacks of pop in the backroom suggest they offer a good variety of other beverages.
Atmosphere:
The reason there's usually a line-up outside Schwartz is because the restaurant is tiny. It's very narrow and there's not much room for a line-up inside. On a cold day we're allowed to squeeze between the bustling waiters, the take-out customers and the customers eating at the counter.
The entire restaurant smells of meat. Everything is covered in a film of grease. This is all part of Schwartz being Schwartz. There's a certain authenticity to the place that I just love. The wall is covered with newspaper clippings of their success.
The restaurant is very cozy. You're pretty much sitting shoulder-to-shoulder, knee-to-knee at the small tables. If your party is less than 6 you'll probably have to share a table with a friendly stranger or two. The seats at the counter don't offer much room either, so if you prefer a bit more personal space, try to get there at an off-peak time.
If possible, use the washroom before you arrive. The washrooms at Schwartz are pretty scary.
Service:
Every time I've been to Schwartz, our waiter has been friendly, efficient, fully bilingual and can do math in his head pretty quickly. I'm impressed with their speed and accuracy even at the busiest of times.
The staff can be a little rude to the hungry customers in line, but they seem to do their best to accommodate everyone.
It's well worth the wait!
I'm not much of a meat person, but had to try a smoked meat sandwich in Montreal and I was told this was the place to do so.
Crammed in this little hole in the wall on St Laurent is Schwartz's. Do not be taken aback when you have to share a table with strangers. Order yourself a smoked meat sandwich, apparently medium is the way to go - not lean. Having thrown the idea of a healthy lunch out the window I throuoghly enjoyed this sandwich to an almost disturbing level.
Aside from the food, service was fantastic, and my sandwich and drink total was $8 which is actually cheaper than subway.
I went here early on Tuesday morning around 10 and they were just 1 other party in the joint. My boyfriend and I headed to the stool seats in front and began this mission of smoked meat goodness! The prices are cheap and the sandwich was amazing. It was a perfect sandwich and a black cherry soda for me that day. I can't wait to go back!
P.S. If you come early, like I did - there won't be any fries on the menu.
This was our 1st destination in Montreal, and we were able to find street parking really close by. However, I think Schwart's was way too hyped up for me, and I wasn't prepared to stand outside in the snow for 20 minutes to eat the smoked meat sandwich.
We were seated at a crowded table close to others, which made it fun and the full hole in the wall experience. The menu is limited, but there are some other choices beyond just the smoked meat sandwich. When the sandwich comes, there's a massive stack of meat (go for medium). I was disappointed in the bread, though. Mustard is pungent and strong in a good way. Pickles are also crunchy and cool to counter the heaviness of the sandwich.
Service was surprisingly patient and nice, even though we were probably slowing them down with our indecisiveness and lack of familiarity with the menu.
Poor costumer service and the quality is going down hill pretty fast. Some of the employees treat customers as if it were a soup kitchen....and it is not, we are paying for our food and deserve decent customer service.
As a self employed, single, childless dude I have very few responsibilities. However, going to Montreal at least once a year exclusively to eat at Schwartz's and pick up a dozen dozen bagels is something I take very seriously.
There are really only two things you'd want to get here and that isn't because the rest of the menu is poor, I'm sure it not, it's merely for the fact that the smoked meat is just that good.
If you're a sandwich lover (and if you're not, we're just not going to get along, don't bother contacting me in any way) order the medium fat smoked meat sandwich with fries and a pickle. If that doesn't sound like enough food for you it is, but if you don't trust me go ahead and order the coleslaw as well. It's average. But don't worry, you won't need to eat more than a forkful of it anyway.
The smoked meat sandwich however, is anything but average. We're talking about a mountain of thick cut, beautifully marbled brisket piled between rye bread and some appropriately plain yellow mustard. There's usually enough meat on each sandwich that you'll want to take a bit off and eat it with a fork and knife but even if you think you can open your mouth wide enough keep the fork as some of the meat is guaranteed to fall out. One bite and you'll realise what the 80 year old hype is all about. This is meat like no other. MUST be tasted.
The fries are a nice compliment and the pickle is enormous and juicy as a mofo. Not crunchy like you'd expect but definitely one of the better pickles I've eaten (though I hear good things about the Moshies pickle just up the street).
If you're on the Atkin's diet, I'd suggest the smoked meat plate which is literally a plate of the smoked meat. That's too decadent even for me. It's common for people to order a loaf of rye bread with this and just build there own sandwiches, in fact, the last time I was there I saw a dude polish off 3-4 handmade sandwiches in less time than it took me to get through my sandwich. Fat ass.
One thing you can definitely expect is a wait. Located on St Laurent in the Plateau, you can expect a 10-40 minute wait. The lineup is certainly part of the Schwartz's experience and even though I hate waiting, I love the fact that they haven't caved and moved locations - there's something special about that spot. Once you get inside, expect to be rushed to a table, where you're likely to sit with strangers if you're a twosome. But don't worry about making awkward conversation, it's understandable that no one could talk with that much meat in their mouth.
The servers are attentive but somewhat impatient. I feel as though part of that comes from the fact that if you're from out of town you should really just be ordering the smoked meat and if you're a local you already know to get the smoked meat. The other part? They're French. Ehyo!
If you are from out of town do yourself a favour and spend the $50 on a brisket to go. It won't be the same, but it'll still be the best thing you eat that week. Wish I had some in my freezer right now. I guess it's time to go back.
So it's true, the smoke meat here is as good as it gets...although I will not wait in line for 30 minutes to get a sandwich! If the line is big, go across the street to Main!
Also, I recommend getting the sandwich medium with a blackcherry soda.
I know I don't have to say it but no word of a lie it is the best deli sandwich you will ever eat amen.
Also, bring a cooler and road trip back a slab of the smoked meat and share the smokey goodness you will be loved forever and ever.
amen.
3.5 stars...
Like Christopher M., we also made the pilgrimage to Schwartz's after the numerous guidebook references and raves about the place as an institution and *the* best deli in Montreal to get smoked meat.
We waited in line for around 20-30 minutes on a fine May morning. We finally got in and were waved to 2 seats in the back of a flourescent-lit no frills very smokey-cloudy room packed nose-to-elbow with long, narrow tables. You are in essence, sharing a table of 6 with other parties, if you arrive and wish to be seated as a pair. Be prepared to leave smelling of smokey meat.
We timidly ordered a smoked meat sandwich each, along with a side of pickled cabbage salad. The smoked meat was tasty -- tender and juicy with just the right amount of fat... We looked in awe at our table companions, who appeared to have ordered the Schwartz Combo: an artery-clogging platter of entrecote steak, a hunk of smoked meat and sausage, accompanied by fries and cabbage salad. They washed it down with cans of Schweppes club soda. And yes, they did not share -- each of them had 1 Schwartz Combo ($16.95).
Perhaps we'll be more adventerous next time and will opt for such a platter... to share, of course.
My boyfriend would not shut up about the smoked meat in Montreal, no matter how much I pleaded with him to..
... then I finally went to Schwartz's. Yeah, it's just corned beef, basically. But it is amazing. And the mustard. I think I loved the fries, too. And the staff.
Score counter seats and scope out the action. And buy mustard to take home!
Perhaps my expectations were set a little too high before going to Schwartz's. After 38 raving Yelp reviews, guide book articles and recommendations from locals, I was expecting to be blown away.
Unfortunately, I wasn't.
Yes, the smoked meat at Schwartz's is pretty good. Damn good, actually. The rest of my experience was subpar at best.
Every time we drove by, the restaurant was full and there was a line out the door at least three parties deep. That's always a good sign, but given that it was about 7 degrees outside, we opted to pass by each time. But on our final day we spotted a second door next to the restaurant: "Schwartz's To Go." So we parked and headed inside.
Inside was a takeout counter with some tables and chairs in back. We took a number, waited in line, and placed our order. Unfortunately, they were out of nearly everything on the menu, which was pretty limited to begin with (it was about 5:00 in the afternoon on a Saturday). All they had was beef and turkey, so we got a beef sandwich, a turkey sandwich and fries. Then we waited in another line to hand our receipt to the guys making sandwiches. Then we waited in a third line to pick up the sandwiches.
Ravenously hungry, we dug into the fries as soon as we got in the car, but they were terrible; cold (it'd been less than 5 minutes since they were put in the bag), soggy and limp. Very disappointing.
When we got back to the hotel and unwrapped the sandwiches, I was surprised at what I saw - two thin, soggy pieced of white bread surrounding about three inches of meat. That was it. So we dispensed of the soggy bread and dug right into the meat.
THAT'S where the reward was - tender, juicy, BURSTING with flavor. It was pretty awesome.
In hindsight, I should have dispensed with the extras at Schwartz's and just bought the smoked meat by the pound. Them I needed to visit Marche Atwater for some fresh bread and produce, and make myself a real sandwich. THAT will be the plan next time.
Smoked meat galore - you walk to the front window and there's tons of smoked meat just sitting there - right there in the window staring back at you tempting you to come in and try - and try I did.
Think "Katz's Delicatessen" if you've been to New York. The interesting thing is listening to the Jewish workers speak french. We went on a Sunday morning at 10:30am. No wait, not crowded - so what's the hype? My best friend and I ordered one smoked meat sandwich to share. I'm disappointed that you have to pay $1.50 for a pickle (from a jar!!!!) and $1.95 for some coleslaw. The sandwich costs $5.95 CAD or $5.36 USD and that's basically all you get. Two slices of bread and maybe a quarter pound of meat with some Heinz yellow mustard.
The breakdown of each - the meat (Corned beef or pastrami I think) is really good. Tender with plenty of fat on the edges and you can see the cracked peppercorns. (Dieters be wary). The bread was pretty moist, not stale. We shared it and it was plenty enough for a share. The service is nothing to rave about at all, but seriously, you can tell right away as people just walk in and they're pretty much on their own. We ordered some meat to take home and the counter is pretty much no order, just get up there and cut people and order your meat at about $12.95 CAD / pound. That amount is worth it if you're not going to eat tons of it in one sitting. I took the cold cuts home and I'm eating about four slices a day and still have plenty left over. If I were to go back again, I'd pick up more meat at their take out counter but I'd avoid the sit down service. I did nab a bottle of Montreal steak spice for $4. Pricey, but hey, located on "the Main" everything will be pricey. You'll be amazed at how much Eastern European foodstuff you'll see on that street - Saint Laurent. My best suggestion, buy the meat - heat it up and pile it on Fairmont's "all dressed" bagel with a dash of dijon and deli mustard. That will do you good. The meat will not come out the same - fluffy and moist, but still it has good flavor although a bit flat and dried at the ends upon reheat.
As I finish this review, I will be stuffing my mouth with more smoked meat.
Good for carnivores - bad for you vegetarians.
The Montreal smoked meat here is no doubt excellent. A prime example of excellent price/quality ratio ($5.50 for a sandwich). Get the small plate (2-3 sandwiches) or large plate (4-5 sandwiches) for sharing (note there are sharing costs). Sides are extra. Place is a dive but those are the ones with the best food!
The place is definitely small, crowded, probably somewhat dirty but you just have to get over that. There is usually a line but even during lunch time on Saturday, it moves at a decent pace (nobody wants to linger, people really just eat their awesome sandwiches and leave).
We got the lean meat... kinda wished I ordered the medium. Ah well, next time!
Tables are shared and the service was as expected (not condescending or rude in any way).
So it was our last night in Montreal. We'd done the fancy dinner thing. We'd been to a few clubs. We had some crepes. It was down to our last dinner in town so we asked the concierge, "If there was one place you'd say we HAD to try before heading back to the States, where would it be?"
With little to no hesitation, he said:
SCHWARTZ.
And then he proceeded to warn it was not a "classy place." He explained the whole 'smoked meat' phenomenon, which sparked an entire cab ride of lewd jokes revolving around meat smoking. Ha - and the concierge was worried about classy.
It was refreshing to see this family owned and operated, bare bones shop serving solid platefuls of meat, classic french fries and giant deli pickles. There was absolutely no way I could finish my sandwich (I swear there must have been a pound of meat on there) and I left with a big, full-belied grin on my face.
Sitting at the counter is the only way to go, as the owner (manager?) chatted us up about our trip, explained the ordering process to us and was just genuinely glad to have us at his establishment. For the experience and the service, I can't even say I minded the cash-only thing!
Montreal, QC
Category: French
Montreal, QC
Category: Diners
Montréal, QC
Category: French
Montreal, QC
Category: French
Montreal, QC
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