Old Montreal restaurant classics in the heart of Little Burgundy. An homage to Charles "Joe-Beef" McKiernan, 19th century innkeeper and Montreal working class hero. A drunken crawl away from the Historic Atwater market. Steaks and seafood.
Across reviews, Joe Beef stands out for rich, decadent cooking and generous portions, with lobster spaghetti, hanger steak, beef tenderloin, and a strong seafood presence earning frequent praise. The service is consistently described as attentive, knowledgeable, and friendly, helping to elevate a lively, unpretentious atmosphere that many visitors call a Montreal institution. The lobster spaghetti and other iconic dishes are often highlighted, though some guests find the price high and a few dishes over or under seasoned, leaving mixed impressions about value. Reservations are tough to secure and the restaurant can be busy and loud, but the overall experience is celebrated as memorable and worth a special night out, with desserts like marjolaine cake and pistachio éclair drawing particular attention. In short, Joe Beef delivers bold flavors and theatre that many diners adore, while a few reviews wish for more consistency and better value.
My spouse & I had Joe Beef on our bucket list for quite some time, & we finally decided to make it the setting for our recent date night. From the moment we arrived, we were welcomed by friendly & attentive staff, immediately setting a positive tone for the evening. It was clear that attention to detail is a priority here; despite not mentioning any food allergies when booking our reservation online, the waiter took the time to confirm that we had no allergies or aversions before we ordered. This small gesture really showed the care they put into their service. We began our meal with the beef tartare, & I can confidently say it was one of the freshest preparations we've ever had. The quality of the ingredients was evident from the start. The beef had clearly been freshly ground, & our server delightfully mixed all the components right at the table, elevating the experience. For our mains, my spouse opted for the Cornish hen, while I went for the leg of lamb. Both dishes were absolutely fantastic, cooked to perfection with flavors that truly stood out. The Cornish hen was tender & juicy, while the leg of lamb melted in my mouth with its rich, savory notes. We also ordered a side of French fries, which were perfectly crisp & golden, & a side of sourdough bread, which was a must for soaking up all the sumptuous sauce from our main dishes. The ambiance was just as impressive as the food. Unlike many fine dining establishments, which can sometimes feel overly formal or cold, the atmosphere here was warm & inviting. The décor, lighting, & music created a cozy yet sophisticated setting that made our evening feel special. It's an ideal spot for a date night or for sharing a memorable meal with friends or clients. One thing to note is that the menu isn't available online, but there is a wide variety of options to choose from once you're there, ranging from seafood to poultry & steaks. There's truly something to suit everyone's tastes. Overall, we were thoroughly impressed with both the quality of the food & the exceptional service. Joe Beef exceeded our expectations & delivered a dining experience we won't soon forget. Highly recommended!
Joe Beef is a Montreal institution located in the Little Burgundy neighborhood near the Lachine Canal. Atmosphere is lively & packed & dishes are decadent & indulgent. Would highly recommend seafood & steak dishes including: oysters, lobster spaghetti, burgundy escargot, steak & ice cream profiteroles. Reservations are strongly recommended. Would budget approximately $250 for party of two.
Dec 11, 2024
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After seeing Joe Beef featured on one of our favorite shows, Parts Unknown, it became a bucket list restaurant for my husband & I. We were fortunate enough to get a reservation for our anniversary & we were so excited. We weren't sure how long it was going to take to Uber there from our Airbnb so we left plenty of time & arrived about 25 minutes early so the staff very kindly set up a couple of chairs & the heater in the little courtyard area outside while we enjoyed some champagne. When our table was ready (only about 5-10 minutes later), our server greeted us & gave an overview of the menu. We opted to pick two items from the menu ourselves, & ask our server to select to select two items she thought we should try. We selected the tuna tartare & the rabbit special they had that evening, which happened to be one of the dishes that Anthony Bourdain ate on the Parts Unknown episode we loved. Our server selected the pumpernickel smorgasbord & the halibut dish. The tuna tartare was prepared tableside & was absolutely delicious - the tuna was delicate & the egg yolk mixture they used to emulsify everything didn't overpower the tuna at all. The crostini & endive leaves it was served with were great, we thought the bitterness of the endive overpowered the tuna just a bit, but it was still delicious. The pumpernickel smorgasbord was truly that, there were so many varieties of delicious seafood on top of the bread. The rabbit was pulled & wrapped around truffles & foie gras. It had a wonderfully rich sauce & the creamiest mashed potatoes I've ever had. Overall, a fantastic dish. The halibut dish was a great contrast with the vegetal flavor of the cucumbers & the tanginess from the sauce. For dessert, we had the chocolate tart (which came with a side dessert of the most decadent chocolate mousse) & the layer cake, both were amazing. The service was attentive & friendly, I appreciated the humor they all had as well, it made for a really fun evening & the perfect way to celebrate our anniversary.
Looking to see if Joe Beef is'worth it', we'll stop. Ambiance, old fashion design, vibe, happy bus team members, proud & happy servers, besides regular menu items they have multiple specials - we had quail , filet mignon w paired veggies & omg sauces. We had more fun watching everyone else's dishes arrive & there reactions. A wonderful night left full & happy (& oh. I don't like cooked carrots but omg you have to get them!!!)
When Antony Bourdain visited Montreal, Joe Beef was his favorite restaurant. But then again, Tony loved meat. We don't eat meat & poultry or lobster, & our dinner experience was good, but not great; I'm sure that the meat dishes here are great. We tried the oysters, 3 different kinds, they were very good (4/5). The Raw Tuna, Tomato Tart "Basquaise" was good (3/5), but too many flavors overpowered the taste of the tuna. The Egg in a Jar, Trout Roe, Celery & Dulse Butter Brioche was ok, but weird, & not too flavorful (2/5). The fries were good, but a bit bitter (3/5). The best dish was the Halibut, Colbert Vinaigrette, very well cooked & very flavorful (4/5). Finally, the Boston & Gems salad with Mimolette was good, the plating was not (3/5). Service was very good (4/5). Overall, 3/5.
Way too expensive for the taste & quality of food. Just because you're paying a lot, does not mean that it's good. We ordered: The raw scallops (I enjoyed this dish) Dry Sausage (4 little slices, with some pickled dishes strewn about, with very little flavor) Lobster Spaghetti (Best dish of the night & would recommend - but for $71 CAD...getting three little pieces of lobster makes it hard to really justify & say that it's a great deal) USDA Filet Mignon (peppercorn sauce wasn't really all that flavorful, & the bleu cheese crumbles were served on I believe a celery stalk) - $90 CAD Sauteed Mushrooms (dry & somewhat tasteless...was really expecting something more especially after the water talked these up significantly) The food is fine, I guess, just not at the price point offered. I was expecting to be blown away by the food here but it was just kind of...mediocre. I spend nearly $400 CAD for a dinner for 2 that left us both not really that impressed. There are better places in Montreal that have a lot more flavor & are unexpectedly great more than Joe Beef's is. The waiter is also oddly pushy about ordering dishes to the point of near discomfort, & reading other reviews here saying the same it's a bit concerning & seems like they're more interested in pushing out food rather than good food.
We came here really wanting to love this place. The service & vibe were great, but we were disappointed with some of the food. Some great dishes, some unforgivable. & I just can't justify the price for what we got, especially compared to some other restaurants that execute cooking flawlessly. Starters: Steak tartare- wonderful. Best dish of our night Artichoke special- let down. A bit like under pickled antipasto, that could have come out of a jar. Mains: Sweetbread- delicious dish with a great sauce. Not enough sweetbread Suckling pork confit- pork not confited right. Pork rind was inedible (sticky & chewy, rather than crispy). For the prices of these dishes, every component of the dish should be well executed. Good flavours around the dish, but the cookery was disappointing. Dessert: Chantilly cream with strawberries- strawberries are in season, making this dessert very sweet & fresh. It was nice.
Jul 9, 2024
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Joe Beef is an exceptional dining experience! The atmosphere is cozy & inviting, with a rustic charm that makes you feel right at home. The food is outstanding, with a menu that showcases local ingredients & inventive dishes. The service is attentive & friendly, ensuring a memorable meal. Highly recommend!
We dined here yesterday after having reserved a few weeks to a month in advance &... wow. The hype is real. The tuna tartare was a nice fresh start. We then transitioned into the lamb shoulder & lobster spaghetti which we shared. The lamb was cooked to perfection. The sauce & elements on the plate all blended in so well together. It had a faint but pleasant horseradish / dijon taste to it which was very nice & the lobster spaghetti was creamy & delicious. Lobster often gets lost / overpowered in pasta dishes with ingredients like tomatoes but this was not the case here. The lobster was the star of the dish on a bed of creamy spaghetti that included pancetta & chives. It was simply exquisite. Kudos to the kitchen & staff as they didn't miss a pulse all night. It was a great & memorable meal. I would highly recommend.
Excellent dining experience. From flawless service to great execution on seemingly simple dishes, everything was high quality. Steak tartare was prepared at the table & was one of the best I have ever had. Lobster spaghetti is also highly recommended. Mussels & oysters were the highlight of the small cold platter.
Wow! We've been dreaming of eating at Joe Beef since watching an old episode of Anthony Bourdain. The staff was very careful with our friend's food allergy & advised what each menus item consisted of & asked the kitchen to be mindful during preparation. We shared the large seafood platter, beef tartare plus a round of cocktails. Then for the mains the 4 of us shared the Lobster Spaghetti & Suckling Pig. I love a restaurant that knows their food is for sharing!! Exceptional guidance by our server, he suggested so many great options. We also loved how attentive the entire staff was with refilling water glasses & bringing out extra dishes for shells or whatnot. Oh the desserts were wonderful! We all loved the lemon sorbet & 24 Layer Cake. Divine!
Jun 7, 2024
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A real gem. Food was amazing. Service was outstanding. Vibe was immaculate. Portions are really generous so I advise you to order slowly in order to really enjoy all the dishes. We took the Beef Tartare, Tuna Entree & the Lobster Spaghetti. I'll definitely come back for those!
Intimate yet lively spot for an incredible meal. The perfect place to get a little dressed up, enjoy a few drinks, & splurge on some very high quality dishes. Hangar steak was tender, juicy, & flavorful all on its own. A true beef: what other beefs aspire to taste like. The optional mushroom sauce added a complex flavor profile, but I felt the steak could certainly stand on its own too. Veggie platter was large, filling, & tasted fresh off the farm. Not the mention, the generous helping of shrimp, fish, & cuttlefish. The raw tuna was aesthetically unorthodox, but paired with the tomato & caper sauce, was bright, tart, & surprising. I definitely recommend Joe Beef for a special dinner in a darling neighborhood!
One of the best meals I've had in a long time, definitely living up to its reputation. Cozy interior with wonderful staff, I would highly recommend taking them up on the offer to guide you through the menu as there were a number of dishes we would have not normally chosen that hit the spot. We'll be back, I can see why this place is such a staple.
Lets get the obvious fact out of the way, this place IS expensive. If you aren't prepared to part with $100+/person, you're just going to be nervous about the bill the whole time. Still worth it! tldr; execution from the staff was spot on & the food was amazing! This place has a calm, organized & posh feel to it. Wife & I visited this place for an early dinner as a last minute whim to dine there. We ordered the Lobster spaghetti & Hanger steak with blood pudding, with oysters & both their Lager & IPA to wash it all down. The Lobster Spaghetti is their most ordered dish, & I'm not surprised why, absolutely delicious. Hanger steak was cooked to perfection & it was my first time having blood pudding & that delicious as well. The fresh oysters were also great, pleasant experience. The beers were alright, both of the lager & IPA tasted identical, fruity & hoppy, the lager just had a stronger carbonation. Overall, we went with safe orders as it was our first time visiting. Next time, if budget allows, we'll definitely venture for more of their'exotic' offerings & try to get a more suitably dinner reservation. I don't believe this place is the best bang for your buck, but i do believe that I'd be comfortable ordering dishes from Joe Beef that I wouldn't normally consider like Horse Tenderloin.
Mar 20, 2024
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We had a lovely experience at Joe Beef for a party of 4. We were recommended to order 4 appetizers, 4 mains & 1-2 side dishes, which might have been a bit overkill, but we enjoyed every bit. One less main would have been the perfect amount. We had the snails, paté en croute, Époisses tart & the daily special (their twist on ham & cheese sandwich). The snails & paté en croute were delicious. The daily special was on the smaller side & the cheese overpowered most of the dish. For mains, we had the daily fish, which was good but not at the same level as other dishes. The chicken, sweetbreads & lobster pasta were all amazing - I understand why the lobster spaghetti has been on their menu for the past 19 years! The wine was great too!
I have been wanting to attend for years, it was worth the wait. Certainly a very special place to visit, the service was absolutely incredible I felt like a VIP. The vibe was amazing, he food was incredible. We got a number of raw bar dishes & a bunch of the specials, everything was the best thing ever. The bread service is not to be missed, & the oysters were maybe the best I have ever had. I look forward to going again for another extremely special meal.
Hands down, one of my top restaurant experiences ever. Cozy, lively, warm atmosphere & funky decor. Service was attentive, yet laid back & fun - our server was very knowledgeable & made expert recommendations. We were there for dinner on a Friday night, & the restaurant was completely full. Everyone around seemed so happy, & I knew it was going to be great when the diners at the next table had their eyes rolling back into their heads after receiving their first course. Started off with a flight of oysters & the stone crab - incredibly fresh & the oyster from Maine was HUGE. Loved everything. From the entree section, we ordered the escargot & bone marrow dishes - the bone marrow was a standout & was served with a heavenly tomato cream sauce & perfectly grilled, buttery baguette. For the mains we ordered the lobster spaghetti & sweetbreads (the latter the suggestion of our server over the steak). Lobster spaghetti was one of the top 3 pasta dishes of my life & the sweetbreads were served with a slight char. Amazing. I didn't think I could do dessert, but somehow I found room. Ordered the banana crepe dish at our server's suggestion. Absolutely insanely good with perfect butterscotch sauce drowning a crepe wrapped around banana ice cream. Perfectly balanced - the flavor of banana was not too overpowering & whole dish not too sweet. Our server recommended a great port to pair with it. We had cocktails throughout which were all fantastic & expertly made - we tried the Kamakaze, the Manhattan, the Caballero & one lighter one made with cider & pear. Also if you're interested in the merch, you can get some at the restaurant (if the items are in stock on their website, they can get it for you). I got this sweatshirt! 100 percent will return & the experience was completely worth it !!
The place almost lived up to its hype. It’s obviously busy which means long wait times for food. Also so loud at the peak of its capacity that I couldn’t hear a person across the table. But what about food? Honestly, their best item was their “famous” French fries, might be the best fries I’ve ever had. Sweetbread & octopus were both delicious but skip the eggplant dish. Snails—quite good, traditional, nothing special. This is a solid spot! Would definitely come back to try other dishes.
Joe Beef, a culinary gem in Montreal, effortlessly captures the essence of hearty, flavorful dining. Walking in, one is greeted by an unmistakably rustic ambiance, with dim lighting & vintage decor that adds a layer of nostalgia, transporting diners to an old-world bistro. Their menu is a testament to decadent comfort food, with dishes like the famed lobster spaghetti & smoked meat taking center stage. Every bite radiates the warmth of well-prepared food, speaking to the skill & passion of the chefs behind the scenes.
However, there are certain aspects that stop Joe Beef from achieving absolute perfection. The portion sizes, for instance, can sometimes feel overwhelming. While some might appreciate the generosity, others might find it wasteful or too indulgent. Moreover, on busier nights, the noise level can rise considerably, potentially disrupting intimate conversations.
The staff, attentive & knowledgeable, certainly enhance the dining experience. They offer wine pairings that complement the dishes beautifully.
In summary, Joe Beef provides a near-impeccable dining experience, characterized by rich flavors & an authentic ambiance, with just a few minor areas to refine.
