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.
Wonderful food & service. Had the lobster spaghetti & a duck dish along with steak tartare & bone marrow as well as scallops & shrimp scampi. Staff was so gracious & the food was delicious. 10/10 would recommend it.
I always love going to Joe's Beef when I visit Montreal. The food can be heavy, so don't order too much at once, although it's great food! I love getting the oysters 🦪 & lobster 🦞 spaghetti. The steak is great as well!
I have been looking to dine at Joe Beef for years. I could only get a reservation at Liverpool House the last time I visited Montreal in August of 2022, & based on how high that experience was, wanted to ensure I got in this round.
We got a reservation at 9:15 at the bar. Which really did not make a difference. We showed up a few minutes early but it was five minutes of servers & staff alike walking by us, obviously busy, without a smile or we'll be right with you. I work in hospitality & regardless of what you have in your hands or how busy you are, you greet, say hello, flash a smile & let the guest know we'll be right with you. But all members of the staff were more concerned with resetting tables than addressing that we were standing at the door for 5+ minutes. When the host finally greeted us she said they were setting it up. Another 15 minutes go by. When we finally get at the bar they were apologetic. The host with the long nails brought us an INCH of Prosecco each, but we appreciated the gesture anyways. The chairs seemed like one seat where they shoved two stools into, but we were determined to enjoy the night that we had been looking forward to regardless. She offered us martinis (which were not comped), & streamlined them making sure we got them right away that we appreciated.
It was a few minutes before we got offered water. They were obviously busy so we did not mind since we had a little bit of Prosecco in front of us. The chef on the oyster bar went into great depth about the specials.. he was kind but maybe a little flustered? Normally I love in-depth menus but it was almost overkill, & he was almost yelling at us? Unsure if they were drinking on but.. We got the shrimp cocktail which was good, tartare & snails were just okay. They were able to move us to a table but the service was inconsistent.
All members of staff seemed more occupied with taking shots with VIP table in the window than actually effectively running a renowned restaurant. The only members who seemed to care about their jobs was the brunette host without nails, the brunette male server they transferred us to (he had the section across from the bar), & the blonde male bartender with circle glasses.
Lobster pasta was one dimensional. Steak was super mid. We skipped dessert because the blaring disco music was so loud that we could not hear one another. Overall, a 1/5 is being generous. We left in disbelief of the experience, one of our nights in MTL & $400 completely wasted.
Food was great. We had the smoked salmon & croquettes to start, the croquettes especially were delicious. For mains we got the lobster spaghetti & filet de boeuf. The spaghetti was the best thing I ate my entire stay in montreal, delicious! Steak was pretty good too, not the best I've ever had but pretty good for not being a dedicated steak restaurant. We did get the layered cake for dessert, I was not a huge fan (very sweet & a bit dry) but my companion quite enjoyed it.
Service on the other hand was not impressive, he was quite condescending & not at all attentive, but maybe he was just having a bad day. Our food did come out quickly & they brought the bill right away.
This restaurant has been on my bucket list for a long time, & I'm truly happy that I finally got to experience it for the first time. The hype & expectations were incredibly high going in, but somehow it still managed to exceed them.
From the moment we arrived, the service was absolutely top-notch. Our server was professional, attentive, & extremely knowledgeable-not only about the menu, but also about the wine pairings, which really elevated the whole dining experience.
We started with the beef tendon salad, & it was unbelievably good. It was the perfect appetizer to begin the meal-flavorful, well-balanced, & something quite memorable.
For the mains, we had the duck with foie gras, skirt steak, dry-aged rib eye steak, fries, & skate fish. Honestly, everything we ordered was outstanding. Each dish was cooked beautifully & packed with flavor, making it clear why this place has such a strong reputation.
I was initially a little intimidated by the price, but in the end it came to just a little over $100 per person for four of us, & the amount of food was more than enough. Considering the quality, portions, & overall experience, it felt absolutely worth it.
Without a doubt, this is a place I would return to.
i'm visiting mtl on my own this weekend & decided to take myself out to joe beef 🤗 all the staff were super friendly, the atmosphere was lovely, & the food was amazing. eddie talked me through the entire menu & gave all his recommendations-i took them all & he was spot on with everything 🤗 absolutely loved it. i had oysters, steak tartare, & rabbit a la royale
Jan 31, 2026
on Google
🍽️
Know where to eat in Montreal before everyone else.
Get the first look at the hottest openings, secret menus, and RestoMontreal.ca's weekly top picks. Join 50,000+ foodies.
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.
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.
My first time here & it was a marvellous experience.
The restaurant is very cozy, we were lucky to be seated across the fireplace. Lights are dim & the ambiance is great.
We ordered the tartare for starter with bread & butter. I really liked how cute the butter was in their tiny packs. Bread was fresh & tartare was just amazing.
For mains we got Steak & Duck Breast. Steak comes with gem potatoes, temperature was perfect & the steak was tender. But my favourite was the duck breast. It comes with foie gras & it was just a spreadable perfection. Duck breast was blessed with red wine jus.
& last but not least we got the chocolate mousse, it was 10/10! I loved the sauce on the side of the dessert so much I wanted to clean the plate with a piece bread.
Overall one of the best meals I've ever had in Canada.
We were 2 midweek for an early dinner. Reservations still recommended. Trio of oysters starter were good but PEI Oysters were larger & tastier. My main was hanger steak. A little chewy but wonderful flavour & red wine reduction sauce. Other main was filet mignon - very tender with umami-infused sauce. Excellent. Mushroom side dish a great addition. Main server was friendly & knowledgeable-'sous' servers all attentive too. Wine order was a little slow coming but good choices. Cheese course with whole walnuts in the shell was an amusing DIY finale. Highly recommended.
Nov 5, 2025
on Google
🍽️
Know where to eat in Montreal before everyone else.
Get the first look at the hottest openings, secret menus, and RestoMontreal.ca's weekly top picks. Join 50,000+ foodies.
I have seen this restaurant in various food network shows over the years. It was a fantastic night. The service was incredible & will sit in my memory as one of my top eating experiences for a long time. The two of us had the croquettes, duck, hanger steak, side vegetables, & 24 layer cake for dessert. Unforgettable from beginning to end.
Amazing service - we made a mistake when making our reservation & placed a reservation for the wrong day, totally our fault however they still managed to squeeze us in at the bar.
The service was exceptional, very friendly & attentive. Excellent work translating lions mane mushrooms from french as well, very impressive. We had the hanger steak for 2 which was delicious.
I would highly recommend this restaurant if you're in Montreal.
A favourite spot that we always visit when we go to Montreal. The food is always creative & succulent . The lobster pasta is a little overhyped but go for the specials & you can never go wrong with the steak, duck or escargots. Service was super friendly & seamless.
WOW I loved Joe Beef so much we had an amazing experience with our server Alex who was so knowledgeable about everything & SO kind to us as we were celebrating our anniversary.
The hanger steak for two was literally the perfect amount of food, the sauces accompanying the meat were to die for, mashed potatoes perfect, I really enjoyed the creamed spinach as well.
The chocolate mousse was to die for, it was a slightly firm mousse dome with I think a chocolate ganache drizzle on top & they served it with this delicious reduction that was garnished with a tiny bit of olive oil & wow - just amazing.
Highly recommend!
Oct 10, 2025
on Google
🍽️
Know where to eat in Montreal before everyone else.
Get the first look at the hottest openings, secret menus, and RestoMontreal.ca's weekly top picks. Join 50,000+ foodies.
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.
My number one recommendation for Joe Beef is to come hungry!!! They don't skimp on the portion sizes & you will want to try as much as you can! We enjoyed the escargot, croquettes, foie gras, hanger steak, cod, & market vegetables. It was the perfect end to a great trip. Can't wait to come back!
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.
Look, if there were a sixth star to give, I would definitely give it to Joe's Beef. I had the tuna steak & the pork belly, & both were absolutely amazing. The flavor was incredible. Service was great & very helpful.
Do yourself a favor & go eat some delicious food here, you won't regret it.
On Friday August 29 my wife & I had a 7:00pm reservation at Joe Beef for a late celebration of our wedding anniversary. I had long heard about how great Joe Beef is & finally had the chance to dine there.
We were greeted by the Maître d'hotel Isabelle Savard with a complimentary glass each of delicious bubbly wine & taken to a cozy little table for two next to a front window. Laura was our waitress & her service & treatment was second to none. She assisted us with a selection of delicious appetizers & a wine selection for our tastes. Every single person that attended to our needs were kind & most attentive. We felt spoiled!!
We choose two different tuna entrees that just melted in your mouth. A flavour explosion with a delicious crunch & freshness. Another appetizer we had, something I would not have typically ordered (beef tendons - yes you read this correctly) was surprisingly delicious in the manner it was served. We ordered some bread which had a nice chewy crust & soft flavourful middle. Smothered in butter it was evilly delicious.
Laura had recommended a hanger steak, however I had my heart set on a rib steak & ordered that (it was a large steak intended for two persons). We asked for it to be cooked medium rare & it arrived perfectly cooked. We had some rich sauces with the steak, but the steak just in its own juices was phenomenal. We couldn't even finish it as it was very large along with the appetizers we had. The steak was tender & juicy from end to end!!
Regretfully, we had no space left for dessert - which I am sure would have been equally amazing. Finally, we had a complementary shot & left the restaurant full & grateful to the efforts & treatment by Isabelle Savard & her great team & Laura, our waitress. We look forward to going back & trying that hanger steak one day.
I give the food, ambiance & wait staff 5 stars for providing such a wonderful experience!!
