La Banquise, originally a small ice-cream shop, first opened its doors in May 1968. In fall of the same year, its founder, local fireman Pierre Barsalou, decided to transform the enterprise into a 24-hour snack bar. At the time it specialized in exceptionally good hot-dogs and great fries. Poutine first appeared on the menu at the start of the 80s and originally just two varieties were offered, classic and Italian. However, in response to repeated requests from very satisfied customers, the restaurant’s poutine varieties quickly multiplied. Today we offer no less than 25 different types of poutine. Today, La Banquise remains a family business. Mr. Barsalou’s youngest daughter Annie took over in the 1990s along with her partner Marc Latendresse. Together, they maintain both the tradition of quality and the excellent reputation of the La Banquise Restaurant. In summer 2006, La Banquise underwent major renovations and a much larger dining area was made available. 40 years on, La Banquise is now much more than a simple snack bar or poutine joint. Today it is also a warm, friendly venue where customers can enjoy micro-brewery beers, a complete menu du jour and excellent breakfasts. So here’s to you, our loyal customers, the night owls, the groups of friends, the workers, students, families and more, because all of you have contributed to shaping and enriching the success story that is La Banquise today. Many, many thanks.
At La Banquise, poutine lovers will find a legendary range of toppings, from classic to inventive, piled high on crispy fries with squeaky cheese curds and savory gravy. Generous portions and a lively, welcoming atmosphere make it a go to spot for sharing or a hearty solo bite, with options from traditional to bold specialty poutines and even late night hours. The line often moves quickly and the staff are friendly and efficient, keeping the energy high and the experience memorable in Montreal. A true Montreal staple, it delivers comforting, craveable food that hits the spot after a day of exploring.
Delicious food. Very busy popular spot, but the waiters ran it very well for its size. Great atmosphere, decent sized seating but takeout option cuts down on wait times well. Very busy, wait times were a little too long but food was incredible. Best poutine I've had in Montreal!
La Banquise is a must-visit spot if you're in Montreal & want to try authentic & delicious poutine. The variety on the menu is impressive, with so many creative toppings & combinations that there's something for everyone.
The food is rich, flavorful, & very satisfying-perfect comfort food, especially after exploring the city. The portions are generous, & the experience feels very classic Montreal.
The food is affordable & definitely worth the price. It's not expensive at all considering the portion sizes & quality you get. You really feel like you're getting good value for your money.
What really stood out was the staff & overall vibe-everyone was friendly, energetic, & clearly enjoying the atmosphere. Even though the place is often busy, the staff keep things moving smoothly & still manage to stay welcoming & upbeat, which adds a lot to the experience.
Overall, La Banquise is a fun, iconic, & delicious stop in Montreal with great food & an amazing vibe. Definitely worth visiting at least once when you're in the city.
Visited Mar 6'26 after our lunch at Schwartz's deli!!! Ordered La T-Rex. Although ordered the regular portion ordered, it was massive & loaded with meat when it came. Ordered the onion ring (rondelles) as well. It was so so.
Place was quite busy as it was lunch hour. Service was quick. Not suitable for long chit chat though.
Seating was tight, very near to other customers, perhaps due to small area of the restaurant.
C'est bon, le prix aussi mais je trouve vraiment que la sauce poutine est trop salé. Ça reste très bon, l'ambiance est bien aussi, mais c'est rapidement très bruyant
Une institution à faire au moins une fois pour les amateurs ou curieux de la poutine !
La carte est très variée (en matière de poutine, on s'entend !). Les portions sont copieuses & le service est bon.
Il y a souvent une file d'attente donc n'y allez pas trop tard ;)
Apr 18, 2026
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Mostly to cross off the list. I'd get the original version next time. Don't think the toppings added enough flavor to be worth it. Left wondering weather or not poutine is my cup of tea or if it was just this spot. I'm glad I tried it though & would still recommend others do so!
While La Banquise is a Montreal'classic', I don't think it's the best poutine in the city or anything. It's worth it if you want to eat an outrageous poutine with pretty amazing meat combinations but the fries & gravy themselves are pretty average.
Basically, I would recommend going there for the novelty but if you are just looking for good poutine, it's widely available across the city. Plus, the place tends to be very busy & is cramped so it's hard to sit down & just enjoy yourself.
