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.
Excellent food. Got the hanger steak, lobster spaghetti, oysters & some other things. All worth it. For the quality, not very expensive, would definitely recommend. The restaurant can be a tad crowded & you're just a smidge too close to neighbors, but it is what it is! For the food, it's worth it. Ps: ask for the bacon on the side or no bacon in lobster sphaghetti, salty enough as is & best to have it added on to your own liking.
I have to agree with the other reviews. It's unfortunately overhyped. Yes, the staff is impeccable. Super attentive, friendly, quick & the water glass is always full. The food was good but WAY too overpriced. You pay for high end fine dining & get family restaurant. It's very loud & buzzy in there.
Cute atmosphere, spectacular food presentation, great taste + flavour, friendly knowledgeable service. What more could you ask for 🫶 Highlights: halibut, beef gravy, jambon appetizer, & the nut cake!! will definitely be back 🤞
May 24, 2024
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One of the best restaurant experiences I've had to date! The food was truly amazing, worth every penny & truly lives up to the hype. Service was great, super personable & kind. Atmosphere was amazing & I will recommend this place to anyone looking for a special meal in Montreal .
Totally forgot to take picture of my beef. The portion was for 2 people. But three of us didn't finish it (we eat little in general) Medium rare was perfect.
I've been here multiple times but the last trip was one of the best restaurant experiences my wife & I have had in Montreal. Our waiter was absolutely marvelous, & took extra care to ensure our meal was perfect & suitable for our dietary restrictions. My wife is a picky vegetarian & typically hates fine dining as they typically offer a plate of vegetables or salads. Our waiter worked with the chef to create a cheese plate, & sides including morel mushrooms which she was enamored with. I have an allergy to alcohol & eating french food tends to be difficult due to just about everyone having alcohol in it. Our waiter worked with the chef to adjust sauces to allow me to try some of the most amazingly delightful & delicious French food I've had. The sweetbreads were delicious, the pork was perfect, & the morels were out of this world.
Julien was an awesome guide to everything Joe Beef! I don't eat meat (yes yes, wrong restaurant) but I went for the company & experiece. He recommended a mushroom steak frites that isn't on the menu, & that did not disappoint! Also the Boston salad.... damn, what an amazing salad!
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!
May 18, 2024
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The name of the place sounds like a steak house but it's definitely not. The food was okay. The much reviewed lobster spaghetti was overwhelmingly salty. When the staff came around to ask if things were ok, we gave the feedback. We didn't expect anything since we already ate a portion of the dish. But the staff took charge, took the plate, & returned with a new one, this time with bacon bits separated which made the dish more edible. Impressive service!
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!
Wowwwww joe beef did not disappoint. Heard great things before arriving into town. We were able to secure a same day reservation & arrived hungry. We shared the bread (which was insanely good, so good we ordered 3 orders for 5 people, & ate it all, & then talked about it on the walk home) Steak for two, was wonderfully prepared. The lobster spaghetti, also incredible. Oysters & veggie platter. Everything was amazing. I will return next trip to Montreal. Honorable mention, great NA beer for me & they had frozen olives in the martinis for my drinking friends. Highly recommend joe beef
Best meal of my life!!! My husband & I got married in 2019, & then the world fell apart, so my husband & I have been looking forward to this - a meal 5 years in the making!! It's 5 star dining 🍽 ✨️ 😍 but without the pretentiousness. It feels like you're sitting in Grandma's kitchen. ❤️ What a beautiful memory. I was overwhelmed; & it was like that scene in Ratatouille where the food critic tastes the food & is transported in his memory to his childhood. You will not regret it. Make reservations *at least* a month prior, two is better.
