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.
Service was excellent 👌 Place is rustic style, however music was way too loud. Overall, It was fun enough but it was not that fun fun. It was kind of mix ambience that I'm not so sure how to describe. Food Maindish : - Filet Mignon was 95$ my boyfriend said he had better & less pricey than that. I found it was very moist & good. - Tuna steak was 70$ it was interesting, the pepper sauce was a bit killing the taste of tuna. It was good but not great. Entrée : - Pétoncle I.D.M was 17$ it was interesting to try .. it was intense taste. - Jambon blanc cuit au foin was really really good 21$. I highly recommend to try the entree ones My boyfriend had a glass of red wine which was very good with the steak. Well ! At least we try.
Service: 10/10. Everyone in the restaurant was friendly & outgoing. Our server was fantastic, with an amazing knowledge of the menu & the wine list. The "bar back" aka the woman assisting all of the servers was an absolute delight. Food: the seafood was so fresh & perfectly seasoned/accompanied. The beef tartare was classic & done to perfection. The steak special was unique & delicious. The lobster spaghetti needs to remain on the menu forever. The dessert was dense but light & oh so flavorful. Not too sweet. Almond flour based with layers of jam. Pro tip from one of the bartenders - spread the Chantilly cream on the cake like a frosting. Cocktails: the "John Bill" & ode to the late seafood master was a rum based cocktail. Crushable & delicious. The dirty martini named "Perfect Martini" was exactly that. With olives frozen in vermouth. Mock tail for the pregnant wife was a spin on the cosmopolitan. Delicious & balanced.
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!!!)
Mount Rushmore of great meals, worthy. Inch perfect execution from the kitchen & the whole team. I will be back to Montreal sooner than later, in large part so I can come back to Joe Beef. Superb.
First of all. The service was great, friendly welcoming, & great energy. Secondly... the food was amazing, we had 4 people ordered food, shared it & everything was awesome. 10/10 would eat again...
Sep 17, 2024
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Gabriel was an absolute joy as a server. As always the food here is amazing, with the raw seafood appetizer offering & lobster spaghetti as must orders. The Tuna Bagnat was boooomb!
Wow I can see why everyone raves about this place! It's a beautiful restaurant with both indoor & outdoor seating. Definitely make a reso ahead of time! We were sat in the outdoor back section & it was very romantic & cute, with patio lights hanging above our heads. The service here was impeccable & we felt very well taken care of. Our server regularly checked on us & gave us helpful suggestions. The bone marrow custard was soooooo good. So good that I wish I didn't have to share it with my mom & cousin. It was my first time eating escargot. I wasn't a big fan of the dish here because it tasted a little bland to me. It did come with two very big pieces of bread though, & the presentation was very cool. The beef tartare tasted fresh & comes with both crackers & lettuce. You can eat it as is or they can add Tabasco spice. The hanger steak was tender & juicy. I loved the sauce that it came with & I recommend ordering a side of fries to have with it. The fries here were really good! Overall this place has great food, service, & atmosphere. It's no surprise it is always talked about & a must try when visiting Montreal!
Cramped but lively place. Service was attentive & welcoming. However, the food fell flat...the taste was not there to justify the high prices. I was disappointed & would not recommend.
Sep 12, 2024
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Had the beef steak & bone marrow dish. Not impressed by the quality of meat (especially for it being on the pricey side). It does not taste beefy & was bit salty. It's very loud inside & difficult to talk over the noise & music. Servers r friendly. Service was good.
Solid 2 stars. Had the Canadian prime strip steak with bone marrow & the halibut dish. Cant say it's great. The steak was too salty, lacking beef flavour. Texture like a confit which is nice but lacking flavour. Bone marrow was big & filling but also lacking flavour. The halibut was a good size but also lacking flavour. Place is overhyped & very loud. It's busy & the music was blasting. Very lively but not a place to have conversations with friends. $80-90 per person on food. Cant say it's worth it. Definitely NOT worth the wait. We made reservations so that didn't bother us.
This place feels like you're eating at your grandma's house but she was a chef at 3 Michelin star restaurant for 15 years. I just love this place one of the best food I ever had.
Sep 11, 2024
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Food was great. Ham & hanger steak fantastic. The raw tuna app was very disappointing. Montreal staple, & they had one ply toilette paper in the bathroom, unacceptable
The service was excellent, staff were very friendly, but that's not what I went for. The prices are very expensive for what you get. The wine was the worst white Sav Blanc I have ever had. It was from New Zealand, which are known for their Sav Blanc but this wine was terrible for $95 a bottle. I wouldn't go back.
A fine dine, with a great service. The food, including appetizer, main & dessert were exquisite. Everything was made to the perfection even the sourdough bread. Overall a fantastic, well also keep in mind, expensive experience.
Wow, what a gem! The cozy atmosphere immediately makes you feel at home. The staff are incredibly polite & welcoming, making sure you have an exceptional dining experience. & the meat? Absolutely divine! The quality & flavor are top-notch, & trust me, it's well worth the price. If you're looking for a great meal in a warm & inviting setting, look no further!
Joe Beef is an exquisite & divine establishment. I was thoroughly impressed by the service, it was tremendous in the completion of my meal. The quality of the food was spectacular & the portions were adequate to much surprise. I highly recommend Joe Beef, that is, if you can get the reservation. It is a little crammed in there & loud but worth it for the meal. Cheers Joe mon ami merci beaucoup.
