Joe Beef
RestaurantTop Pick
Joe Beef
Relaxed restaurant & bar serving steaks & seafood in a compact, old-school setting.
5 pm - 10:30 pm
| Monday | |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | |
| Wednesday | |
| Thursday | |
| Friday | |
| Saturday | |
| Sunday |
Owner? Claim the listing
SuggestionsView All
Information Error?
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.
Amenities, services & more
Latest Updates
Joe Beef - recent news.
Restaurants NearbyView All
Suggested Articles
Best Little Burgundy Restaurants
SHAY
1414 Rue Notre-Dame O
Geppetto Pizzeria
2504 Rue Notre-Dame O.
El Gordo
2518 Rue Notre-Dame O
Burgundy Lion
2496 Rue Notre Dame O.
Joe Beef
2491 Rue Notre-Dame O
Events Nearby
Related Links
Reviews for Joe Beef
| Food | |
| Service |
on Google (3000+)
Reviews often mention
Display Alllobster(107) steak(96) spaghetti(83) recommend(71) sauce(67) wine(65) dessert(49) attentive(39) dishes(38) oyster(35) appetizer(35) tuna(35)Page 1 of 4 - 70 Reviews
Jake
I've eaten at Joe Beef twice in my life, & I've been incredibly happy with the experience both times.
The first time around several years ago (2016/17), I had a lamb steak with bone marrow mashed potatoes, which I still dream about, & tried foie gras for the first time. Still one of the best meals of my life.
Second time was in December 2025. We had lobster spaghetti, & rabbit + mashed potatoes, along with the croquettes for an app. I'd say the only thing that was mediocre were the mashed potatoes - everything else was A+. We were also treated to a free steak since another table didn't want it - & it was delicious as well.
Service has always been great. The restaurant itself is a classic. Joe Beef deserves the hype it gets, & I look forward to eating here on another special occasion down the line.
Jonathan
Yum. I am decidedly not a foodie but I absolutely adored Joe Beef on my first visit. I am a steak & potatoes man & have had that at restaurants across Montreal & in other cities, but I must say the 30 oz rib-steak I had here which I devoured was perhaps the best. Better than Gibbys or Moishes, I also loved the accoutrements, the huge piece of meat came with spinach, green salad, horse radish & fries, which were indeed enough for our 3 diners, the other two having split the lobster spaghetti. To top it off the service was perfect & the atmosphere was casual but fun. Now if only I could afford to go here more often, but once in a while does suffice. Again, yum.
Melanie
⭐?⭐?⭐?⭐?⭐? An Unforgettable Evening Worth Every Bite
We visited this gem of a restaurant to celebrate my husband's birthday, & from the moment we walked in, it felt like we had stepped into a perfectly orchestrated dream. The ambiance struck that rare balance between elegant & inviting - softly lit, warm, & full of quiet, happy energy.
Now, let's talk about the service - hands down, the best I've ever experienced. Every single member of the team seemed to move in perfect harmony, as if they shared one mind with the goal of making our night flawless. Whether it was someone gracefully refilling our water as they passed, or another gently clearing plates with a smile & a kind word, the teamwork was seamless & a joy to watch.
Our main server, Alex, was an absolute star. He took all the pressure off our decision-making & curated a stunning four-course meal that flowed beautifully from one dish to the next - cohesive, balanced, & beyond delicious. The other Alex (yes, two Alexes!) was equally wonderful - attentive, charming, & meticulous, ensuring our table was pristine between courses & our glasses of water never empty.
& the food… oh, the food! Every plate felt like a small celebration in itself. The croquettes were crisp & creamy perfection, the tuna tartare delicate & full of bright flavor, & the lobster spaghetti? A masterpiece - rich, tender, & the kind of dish that makes you close your eyes after the first bite. Every cocktail - including my mocktail - was crafted with care & creativity, each one divine in its own right.
It was the kind of dinner you don't just eat, but feel - wrapped in kindness, thoughtfulness, & genuine hospitality.
Highly, highly recommend this place. Five shining stars & a standing ovation to the entire team. We can't wait to go back & relive the magic.
✨ Standouts: Croquettes, Tuna Tartare, Lobster Spaghetti, & the entire staff's incredible energy.
Kimberly
As soon as I knew I would be visiting Montreal, i grabbed a spot on the wait list in case a reservation opened up. I was so happy when the day before our trip, a spot opened up. We really enjoyed the tuna appetizer. We also had the Escargot which were good, but not as good as some I have had. For entrees we tried the Lobster Spaghetti which is a dish they are known for, & the Hanger steak. The Hanger Steak was cooked perfectly, tender & the sauce was excellent. I am from a Seafood town & felt the lobster was only okay & the Spaghetti itself very basic, not our favorite dish. All in all it is definitley worth a try.
Victor
This was the one restaurant I really wanted to go to with my wife & honestly it was great. We got seated on the heated patio away from the noisy interior. We ordered escargot, fois gras, lobster spaghetti, & the on special rabbit. All the food was excellent with special kudos to the fois gras & spaghetti. Service was warm & attentive. Just be sure that you go in with realistic expectations on price. We had 3 cocktails on top & our bill was $300+, which we were completely knew about before booking. If you want a special night out, go for it.
Helen
Incredible dining experience- an absolute must! Very attentive staff , everything timed perfectly.
The food is thoughtfully prepared & served. The spaghetti with lobster is not to be missed. The croquettes were good but not memorable. The peas with goat cheese & mint delightful the bone marrow flan is incredible. The poultry boulebaisse was a hit but very marjoram heavy. It was truly a dining event!
Alice
Julien provided truly warm & thoughtful service, adding a lovely personal touch to the evening. The ambience is charming-perfect for a special occasion. While I found most of the dishes to be fairly average, the spaghetti with lobster was a standout & the one dish I'd return for. The steak, however, didn't quite hit the mark for me. Overall, it's a trendy spot in a lively, sought-after location-definitely worth experiencing at least once.
Robyn
Chaque plat était absolument incroyable 😋 les spaghettis au homard sont vraiment exceptionnels!
Aliya
We came here for our one year wedding Anniversary & I really wanted to love this place, however it didn't live up to the hype.
The service I felt was very inconsistent, the main server was okay, very slow but better. We had a few other people that tended to us that barely answered when we said thank you.
Food took forever, almost 90 minutes from the time we ordered, our server checked on us once to tell us'its coming soon'.
We order the bread & pickles which was fine, the roman gnocchi which was good, the hanger steak which needed more seasoning & the $71 Lobster spaghetti which was not at all worth the price. I found most of the food lacked basic seasoning which should have not been the case given the price & time it took to cook.
Dessert was truly the highlight, we did the chocolate mousse which was amazing, I will say.
Otherwise, this was a disappointing visit, I will also say it was so hot in there, I hope they can take a look & refine some things because it seems there is a level of inconsistently in the food.
Claire
Let's get straight to the point: the famous lobster spaghetti here is above average & definitely not worth the wait. At an eye-watering price tag of $71++, it's asking to be judged against the best pastas in the world & that's what I'm judging it by.
First, you only get half a lobster. That's not a lot meat but they do somewhat make it up with the generous amount of spaghetti. The noodles themselves are good, but they are let down by the sauce, which is too salty. The lobster is supposed to be the star of the show but you don't taste any of it in the sauce. Half a lobster is also not proportionate to the amount of spaghetti so it doesn't feel like a satisfying meal.
Drinks here are good creative though, so I would recommend them. I got a peach mock tail & it's rare to find mocktails that have more complexity than juice.
This is a Montreal institution & it's worth going just to check out the place, but manage your expectations if you get the lobster spaghetti.
Mitch
It's 12/10. Fantastic all the way around. Sometimes these spots can be so overhyped it's hard to meet expectations yet they exceeded them. Vibey, great food & service.
All the staff was top notch from hostess who put us at the perfect for our baby & her stroller, to the busboy, & the waiter.
The duck was insanely delicious, could drink the sauce & the lobster spaghetti is a must. Feels like you can't go wrong with anything you're feeling.
Don't let the name fool you, it's known for their seafood even though it's named after Charles McKiernan'Joe Beef.'
Vincent
We came to the Canadian Grand Prix & was recommended Joe Beef for dinner & it did not disappoint. We had to reserve about a month in advance for a party of two but it lived up to the hype. The food was incredible, service was top notch & we had a great time. Pictured is the lobster spaghetti which was 100% worth the price, glazed carrots, & filet mignon. I forget the name of the dessert but it was delicious. Will definitely come again!
Magda
So we liked this place. But a few notes.
We had the Andalouse sausage made with veal, fois gras & sweet bread as a starter. Was especially good. But it was two large sausages. It was very delicate & flavorful. We also had the bread & pickle. Was very tasty. The server suggested this.
Oh!
We also had the Roman gnocchi- which was polenta with Gruyère sauce- absolutely delish!
For the mains I had the lobster spaghetti. It was like a twist on Italian carbonara with lobster. I asked- the lobster is fresh!! 🦞( not frozen). This dish was very very tasty & large!
My husband had the Guinea Hen. It was fine. But not the best. He ate it, enjoyed it for what it was but wouldn't order it again. He didn't really know he's eating'guinea hen'- was more like regular poultry in sauce with vegetables.
We had a 5pm seating & what we didn't like is they kind of rushed you to order. ( in a polite way) but they made everyone order all their courses right away. They brought everything out pretty quickly, one right after the other. Was kind of strange. So you couldn't get a feel for sizes or what else you want after already eating an appetizer. It was all ordered from the top & then served.
The restaurant is super cute & nice. Very pretty atmosphere. Cozy yet elegant. Tastefully decorated.
SY
We ordered a few appetisers + sides + mains. For main, we got the lobster spaghetti & off-the-menu beef dish. The beef was truly disappointing. Very dry & tough. We couldn't finish half of it. The appey+side were good. Overall, not sure if it's worth the price. We're glad we tried it once, but it's not a place we would come back when we visit Montreal again. The only thing that was good was the wine selection.
The atmosphere of the restaurant was okay. We were sat near the windows & the seats were so snug, it felt a bit too tight for two people.
Andrew
The food at Joe Beef was awesome especially the desserts :)
The Tuna Carpaccio was good. The presentation looked odd with the tuna on top & assortment of oranges & spices underneath. Overall, it had a good balance of saltiness & sweetness. The orange pieces in this dish were really sweet & delicious.
The Croquette was good. It was crispy on the outside & filled with meaty savouriness on the inside. The sliced pickle was good too.
The Spaghetti Homard-Lobster was good. The spaghetti was cooked perfectly al dente. The lobster was tender & sweet. Wish there was more of the lobster. The bacon bits were delicious. The sauce was unique. It was a rich, creamy brandy cream sauce. It was a flavour that grows with you the more you eat it.
The Filet Mignon & Veal tongue was good. The 30-day dry aged Filet Mignon was perfectly cooked medium rare. It was a tender, juicy & savoury Filet Mignon. Would definitely recommend the Filet Mignon. The Veal tongue was okay. Texture wise it was more rubbery in the front & middle area. The base of the tongue was more tender & soft. The sauce in this dish was okay.
The Marjolaine which is their 24 layer cake was awesome. Would definitely recommend if you craving a good multi-layered chocolate, hazelnut, vanilla & caramel cake :)
The Paris-Brest à l'érable which is their Choux pastry with Maple Cream was awesome. The Choux pastry was light & fluffy. The Maple Cream was heavenly with an amazing maple syrup flavour that was not too sweet.
The Vanilla Ice Cream was awesome. It went well the 24 layer cake.
Neil
Had an an amazing experience at Joe Beef, food was great, atmosphere was great & service was phenomenal. Believe the hype! I had an assortment of food with my friend, including the lobster spaghetti & porterhouse steak.
Vi
Ham appetizer really good. Steak with bine marrow is excellent. Lobster spaghetti was a little too salty. Profiteroles chefs kiss.
Junni
It was my first dining experience at Jue Beef in Montreal, & I couldn't have asked for a better introduction. The moment I walked in, I was struck by the vibrant atmosphere & the welcoming vibe of the place. I decided to sit at the bar, which turned out to be a fantastic choice.
started off with the tuna tartare, which was nothing short of exquisite. The freshness of the tuna combined with the delicate seasoning made each bite a delight. It was beautifully presented, & I couldn't help but admire the artistry of the dish.
For my drink, I ordered a cocktail that perfectly complemented my meal. It was refreshing & balanced, making it a great pairing with the flavors of the tuna.
Then came the pièce de résistance: the lobster spaghetti. Wow! The pasta was cooked to perfection, & the generous chunks of lobster added a luxurious touch. The sauce was rich & flavorful, enveloping each strand of spaghetti in a way that made it hard to resist.
I felt incredibly lucky to snag a seat at the bar since I hadn't made a reservation. Usually, you need to book ahead to get a table, but I guess fortune was on my side that day. The service was impeccable; the staff was attentive & friendly, always ready with recommendations & ensuring my experience was top-notch.
Overall, my first meal at Jue Beef was amazing. I left with a full belly & a big smile, already planning my next visit!
Pascal
Il est difficile de ne pas avoir de grandes attentes lorsqu'on visite cette institution & je dois avouer que c'est mission accomplie!!! Le service etait numéro 1 qui a grandement contribué à nous faire passer un bon moment. Nous avons commandés, onglet , lapin & spaghetti aux homards. Chacun des plats etaient délicieux mais mon préféré fut le lapin qui etait un classique français. Belle experience. Je reviendrai sans aucun doutes.
Mike
This is a great restaurant that focuses on quality! I ordered some oysters, lobster spaghetti, & a steak with roasted potatoes & bone marrow, which was really good.