I took these snapshots in the Fall of 2010 while wandering around the streets of Montreal in a jet lagged stupor looking for a midnight snack. After hitting up Schwartz’s Deli for a quick Montreal Smoked Meat Sandwich I stumbled on this interesting bunch. Creepy!
Smoked meat lovers rejoice! Schwartz’s Deli on Boulevard St. Laurent in Montreal is a local institution. The dingy diner style deli achingly in need of a makeover is the real deal. The sandwiches are delicious, and the whole experience is a throwback to another time. The fact that this place thrives on a street that has been transformed from once humble roots, to a street of boutiques, swanky restaurants, and big brand names is a testament to the idea that content is king. Authenticity trumps all else. A good product always wins.
Schwartz’s has been around for over 80 years and is a must on the Montreal eating circuit. Tourists and foodies alike will find appreciation in the simplicity of the great Montreal Smoked Meat. C’est tres bon!
This is probably a boutique hotel in the truest sense. The Lovely Celebrities Hotel on St. Denis in the Latin Quarter of Montreal is an old four story building that has been brought somewhat up to date with new decor.
Overall I enjoyed my stay here. The staff were reasonably friendly and the hotel was kind of cool.
The Latin Quarter is a fun place to be and is within walking distance of the Plateau, Boulevard St. Laurent, and St. Catharines Street. The area has enough to do on its own though, and is populated mostly by students and a younger crowd. There is also a BIXI bike stand nearby for quick bicycle jaunts to another neighbourhood.
As far as my room goes it wasn’t the greatest but it was decent for what I paid ($89 per night) and at least there was some energy put into the decor. The bed was a little spongy, and the room smelled like it had once been home to a man with a smoking jacket, but overall it was not too bad. The walls here are quite thin and the building itself is creaky, but that’s to be expected in an older building.
This hotel is a little charmer and a good spot to crash if you’re on a budget. If you don’t like stairs you may want to request a room on the second floor as there is no elevator and the stairs are long and steep.
I would stay here again for the neighbourhood and for the price. It’s a neat budget traveller spot with some personal charm in a fun up and coming neighbourhood.
Cafe Rico is one of my favourite coffee shops in Montreal. I’ve been here on several different occasions and have always had a warm welcome, great service, great coffee, and great food.
Rico serves up ethically sourced beans and a variety of healthy foods. Food can be ordered up to 3pm, but coffee goes all day! Some nights they are open until 9pm, and the location on Rue Rachel in the Plateau area of Montreal is a little off the beaten path near the Parc Fontaine. La Banquise is located conveniently across the street if you’re looking for some poutine.
There are also several BIXI stands nearby, so getting a bike is easy.
If you’ve got some extra time stop in and say bonjour to the folks at Cafe Rico. This is an awesome place!
Poutine Hot Dog from La Banquise
La Banquise seems to be the de facto poutine standard from most people I talk to in Montreal. Equal parts tourist attraction and local poutine haunt, this is the place to go with over 25 different types of poutine on their menu. They also serve a good selection of local beer to complement your poutine experience.
In the summer months there’s a nice terrace out back to enjoy the eating.
Open 24 hours, this place is usually fairly busy, so you may want to avoid peak dining hours like 6pm. At odd times it’s easy to get a seat, but at peak times the line can be out the door.
If you’re looking for the best poutine in Montreal definitely check out La Banquise and also read The Great Montreal Poutine Diary which chronicles my adventures in poutinism.
In the Spring of 2008 I went to the highly recommended poutine establishment La Banquise in Montréal — supposedly the best poutine in Montréal. A delicious first round left me daydreaming of a place where I could eat poutine to my heart’s content without any cares to the potential health issues. What ensued was a personal challenge to eat/mange my way through the 25 different types of poutine, one at a time, on every subsequent trip to Montréal. Surely these trips would be well spaced enough to allow my poor body time to recuperate. The following is an account of my artery clogging journey.
Poutine #1 - Classic Poutine - Spring 2008
Poutine #2 - Hot Dog Poutine - Fall 2008
Poutine #3 - Poutine Rachel/Veggie Poutine (take-out) - Later Fall 2008
Update: September 13, 2010
So in between my last trip and now La Banquise has actually added 3 new kinds of poutine bringing the grand total to 28. I need to come here more often. This kind of negative progress is disenchanting! On another note, I’ve also decided not to follow a completely linear order, but instead skip around the menu a bit. You know…keep life interesting.
Poutine #4 - Poutine Bacon - September 2010
Poutine #5 - Poutine Matty - September 2010
Poutine #6 - Poutine T-Rex - September 2010
The La Banquise Poutine Menu / My Poutine Checklist as of September 13, 2010
