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.
Joe Beef is described as a Montreal institution with a bold, indulgent kitchen and a warm, unpretentious vibe that draws crowds and keeps the energy lively. The service is repeatedly praised as attentive, knowledgeable and friendly, with many noting it as a standout part of the experience, though a few visits mention occasional slow pacing or inconsistency during busy nights. The menu is celebrated for rich, butter-forward dishes and crowd-pleasers like foie gras double down, lobster spaghetti, hanger steak, duck and croquettes, with sides and oysters earning praise as well; desserts such as marjolaine and chocolate mousse often shine, while some fish and seafood dishes are described as either extraordinary or a touch salty or under seasoned. The lobster pasta remains a lightning rod for opinion, highly regarded by many but not universally, and price levels are noted as steep, prompting critiques of value on some visits. Overall, it’s viewed as a memorable, sometimes polarizing but quintessential Montreal dining experience, best enjoyed with appetite, an open mind, and a willingness to embrace the theatre and hospitality that define the place.
Went for dinner last night & had the best ever table outside in back & beautiful weather. Our server was so attentive & fun! He was so knowledgeable in everything we asked as well as gave us some seriously amazing suggestions! He was a pleasure to be around :) We had the prime steak which was for 3 of us. It was unreal & perfectly cooked. We were super happy with the portion size & definitely were not left hungry. The 2 sauces that accompanied the steak were so savory & went perfectly with the meat. We also had the lamb which was so tender & flavorful & would highly recommend. As for the wine. Worth every penny. Our server made some suggestions which were spot on. He suggested a wine in between our courses so as not to waste the decadent red that we would have with our mains & it was perfect. Oh & if they have the savory éclair for an appetizer...do it! As well as the ham & cheese starter !! The beef tartare is prepared at the table & hands down best I've had & I have had many! There was a slight hiccup in our wine service for the mains, which did not bother us at all, as we are patient people & they gave us the most delicious assortment of desserts to make up for it which was so kind. I've heard people comment on the price of a dinner here but I can guarantee you that if you want high quality food cooked to perfection with the most flavorful combinations then you won't regret it. You pay for what you receive & that is superior service, unbeatable food quality taste & wine.
Aug 24, 2024
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Did not live up to the hype. The food was a disappointment. This is the first time I've had a tuna app that I did not enjoy. The joe app was also a disappointment. The quality of the beef does not reflect the price point. Overall underwhelming..
Excellent resto, faut accepter de mettre un peu le prix (50$ assiette, 100$ total avec entrée, boisson..) mais ça vaut vraiment le coup, la cuisine est excellente, félicitations au chef, & les serveurs se démènent pour un service impeccable, je recommande !
Phenomenal a la carte plates featuring plenty of classic French technique & flavors. Everything we had was outstanding. Not hyper seasonal but they do rotate the menu. Undoubtedly one of the best a la carte meals I've had
We walked into Joe Beef, sat down & I just didn't like the vibe. I felt like I was just a part of the bucket list crowd checking off their boxes so we immediately left & went next door to Liverpool House & sat at the bar. For me that was much better, a more intimate experience. The food was great, drinks were spot on & to top it off Michael was there to manage it all. Juliano kept our water glasses full & our eating area in order. Every interaction with Michael & Juliano was fun & had a great spirit which influenced our eating experience positively.
Aug 14, 2024
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10 out of 10. Everything was delicious! I went with a couple foodie friends & both agreed it was the best meal they've had in a long while. Everything was done to perfection & our waiter was fantastic! Cornish Hen was the best ever & the Canadian Steak couldn't have been better!
Muy agradable pero muy ruidoso Servicio bueno. No recomiendo la "Saucisse de homard". No he encontrado el sabor del homard pero si del cerdo y de la carne de vaca. Precio muy muy elevado. 90€ por persona para 2 platos principales y 2 vasos de vino.
All around an excellent experience. The mains & desserts are incredible especially the lobster bisque spaghetti & steak, but some of the appetizers could be better. Specifically the raw tuna tarte was a little underwhelming, the french omelette with lobster was incredible!
Aug 1, 2024
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Lovely restaurant. As you walk in, you are immediately welcomed by the smiling staff. We were seated on the outdoor "terrasse". It was a bit windy but they turned on the heaters for us. The outdoor "terrasse" is really lovely. I tried the raw tuna & foie gras as appetizers. The raw tuna was just ok. The foie gras was really good with the raisin bread. My friend had the filet mignon which was the daily special. He asked for rare & got a medium rare. For 98$, I don't think this is acceptable. I had the Sweetbreads (Ris de veau). The sauce was so salty that I couldn't finish it. For dessert, we tried the marjolaine & the sorbet "sgroppino" which were excellent. The BaBeigne au Rhum was disappointing because the doughnut was just too dry.
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.
Best dinner in all of Montreal!!!! The service & server were amazing & then there was the food! Highly recommend coming here! We ordered the Foie Gras, Hanger Steak, & Lobster Spaghetti. Such a great experience!!!
The food was good but very overpriced & not worth it. At this price point ($50-70 per main course), the meals should include a vegetable side dish, rather than charging an extra $17 for 6 pieces of zucchini. The food was mediocre (other than the halibut), & I have no idea why they are in the top 100 restaurants list. Maybe they used to be good? Spending so much money, they then had the nerve to charge an extra $1 for 2 more slices of bread to go along with the fois gras appetizer (which cost $40 to begin with). I am disappointed.
