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.
Great experience. Staffs were nice & freindly- explained the menu very well.
We ordered hanger steak & lobster spaghetti. Considering it was sirloin, kitchen staff did an amzining job. The meat was cooked perfectly, even the tomato on the top was great. (Could be better if it was aged sirloin with that price).
However, the lobster spaghetti was more like 'meh'. The lobster meat may have been overcooked since it was chewy. Its sauce didn't really have much taste- just creamy, & that was it. Could've used garlic or saffron or just something. Some parts of the spaghetti noodles were stuck together.
It was a pleasant experience overall, but could be better with that price.
We were expecting more. It was OK but it did not blow us away. I got the lobster spaghetti which was good. My wife got the veal which arrived at different temperatures hinting that it was or had portions re-heated.
Sep 16, 2023
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.
Overpriced, Overrated, Overgrown & basically a tourist trap. Main courses at $80 plus,, hahaha, go travel around the world, Michelin Star establishments are 40% cheaper than this hole in the wall. Mediocre venue, tattooed staff that think they are Rockstars. That was my last visit. Oh, the private import wine list,,, hahahaha. Go get them tiger…
We had high expectations given the title of former #1 best restaurant in Canada but we were very disappointed. We even wondered how this could have ever been even in the top 100. Given the price point, we were expecting a certain quality of food & level of service & ambiance that just wasn’t there.
For apps, we had:
- smoked eggplant: it was a cold dish, which was unexpected with eggplant (i prefer them warm but ok fine), flavour was great but needed a touch more salt, bit of crunch from the crostini was perfect, the olive oil was great
- foie gras entremet: it’s like a foie gras cake, which was a cool concept except the dish was so sweet you couldn’t taste the foie gras. It was like a foie gras dish for ppl who don’t like foie gras (but then why would you get it lol)
Mains:
- lobster pasta: seems to be what they’re known for but was sorely disappointed in this poor spin on carbonara with coconut milk. I like food that is out there but the coconut milk just made absolutely no sense here. Without the lobster, you would have never known it was lobster pasta. The lobster was also overcooked & you only get half for a small portion. It just felt so overpriced for what you get, & the dish wasn’t even good. I was really sad.
- guinea fowl: this daily special saved the dinner for us, the meat was crispy on the outside, perfectly cooked inside, super juicy, gravy was not too heavy. However, the lack of carbs from the dish was really noticeable. It would have been great to mop up the sauce with some bread even.
Service: Normally I don’t rate on service, but I think it’s reasonable to expect a $$$$ restaurant to have at least decent service. We did not feel welcomed the minute we walked in. We stood at the host table for a solid 5 minutes before a host even acknowledged us standing in front of them. It took almost a full hour for apps to come out. Mains took equally as long despite half the restaurant being empty (it was near closing, we were the last time slot).
Ambiance: It was way too loud in there. Music was very loud so everyone had to talk louder to hear each other. We ended up having to almost yell to hear what the other person was saying across the table. The tables were really close together & they were unstable - I almost knocked our table over several times because I leaned on the corner a bit trying to shuffle in & out.
Overall, very disappointed in our experience here. It felt like a mediocre diner charging fine dining price points but failing miserably on delivery. I don’t recommend coming here at all, save your hard earned money for better food, especially at this price point.
Sep 2, 2023
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.
The place almost lived up to its hype. It’s obviously busy which means long wait times for food. Also so loud at the peak of its capacity that I couldn’t hear a person across the table. But what about food? Honestly, their best item was their “famous” French fries, might be the best fries I’ve ever had. Sweetbread & octopus were both delicious but skip the eggplant dish. Snails—quite good, traditional, nothing special. This is a solid spot! Would definitely come back to try other dishes.
My wife & I were able to snag a last minute reservation at Joe Beef & we’re absolutely blown away! The food was by far the best we’d had in years & the atmosphere was amazing.
Joe Beef, a culinary gem in Montreal, effortlessly captures the essence of hearty, flavorful dining. Walking in, one is greeted by an unmistakably rustic ambiance, with dim lighting & vintage decor that adds a layer of nostalgia, transporting diners to an old-world bistro. Their menu is a testament to decadent comfort food, with dishes like the famed lobster spaghetti & smoked meat taking center stage. Every bite radiates the warmth of well-prepared food, speaking to the skill & passion of the chefs behind the scenes.
However, there are certain aspects that stop Joe Beef from achieving absolute perfection. The portion sizes, for instance, can sometimes feel overwhelming. While some might appreciate the generosity, others might find it wasteful or too indulgent. Moreover, on busier nights, the noise level can rise considerably, potentially disrupting intimate conversations.
The staff, attentive & knowledgeable, certainly enhance the dining experience. They offer wine pairings that complement the dishes beautifully.
In summary, Joe Beef provides a near-impeccable dining experience, characterized by rich flavors & an authentic ambiance, with just a few minor areas to refine.
Good but expensive & forgettable (except for the big buffalo in the restroom!).
We had high expectations for the lobster spaghetti since there are so many great reviews. However, it was just ok, they could have presented with less spaghetti to make the dish finer. It ended up being too heavy & the lobster didn't have much flavor.
We were also overwhelmed by the waitress, don't get me wrong, she was very polite & friendly. But she talked waaay too much, trying to explain every single dish. At some point, I stopped listening because I had too much information.
Aug 28, 2023
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.
Food was hit or miss, we ordered 3 appetizers & 4 entrees that were shared. The service was great, it's just a shame that the food didn't live up to the hype. We would definitely not recommend, especially when you consider how expensive it is.
Dans le milieu du restaurant ilya une marche ou j'ai tombée & j'ai accidentée mon genou... Personne ne m'a pas attentionnée & depuis une semaine j'ai de la misère à marcher. Les pommes de terre frites à 11$ la portion ils ont été trop cuites,amarrés & trop salées. Pour deux personnes nous avons payé 550$ plus 15% ,le pourcentage de pourboire... Les couteax à steak achetées chez Dolarama... Très movaise expérience !!!
Répution surfaite. On s'assoie sur nos lauriers.
Ma blonde à eu le malheur de mentionner "poliment" que son plat était trop salée & que le ravioli était trop dur. Cela arrive, j'imagine, dans les meilleurs restos, & c'est la première fois que j'entends mon amoureuse émettre un commentaire de la sorte à un membre du personnel de resto.
"Ça fait 3 fois que vous le dites répond la serveuse".
J'ai failli m'étouffer avec mon morceau de doré, qui était délicieux, en passant.
Manque de professionnalisme au niveau du service. Notre serveuse s'est permis un commentaire complètement déplacé. Cette mademoiselle s'assoie sur la réputation du resto. Rien à voir avec les grands restos de Montréal tels que Europea, Bouillon Bilk, Montréal Plaza, Toqué, Maison Bouloud pour ne nommer que ceux-là.
Joe Beef, désolé, très décevant, pour le prix.
Je déconseille fortement.
Apr 3, 2019
🍽️
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.
Quelle déception.
Première visite pour nous, on s'attendait à quelque chose de bien.....
Cadre & atmosphère agréable, certains plats meilleurs que d'autres. Notting to write home about. Le steak vraiment décevant, le spaghetti au homard, correct sans plus.
Ce qui m'a déçue le plus c'est d'avoir de la terre dans notre salade, oui pas croyable, a quelques reprises, on sent & goûte la terre dans la bouche, on a meme laissé une feuille avec de la terre dans l'assiette. Alors je montre au serveur qui me dit "ha, c'est minéral ça" avec petit sourire en coin. Sans excuse on m'a facturé la salade comme si de rien n'était.
Rendu à la maison je décide d'écrire au restaurant pour mentionner ceci & je me dit que ça n'a pas du se rendre à la cuisine vu la réaction pas très sérieuse de notre serveur. & bien, aucune nouvelle depuis! Ça, ça s'appelle vivre de sa réputation surfaite & se foutre de sa clientèle.
Il y a quantité de resto à Montréal qui ne demande pas 3 mois de reservation & qui lave la salade convenablement en plus d'offrir des plats goûteux pour prix similaire ou mieux.
A ce prix non merci Joebeef, plus jamais!
J’avais de très grandes attentes pour ce restaurant, surtout que quelque semaine avant, il avait reçu la 3e place des meilleurs restaurants canadiens. Niveau service & ambiance, j’ai beaucoup aimé. L’atmosphère est festive & c’est parfait pour l’ambiance de groupe que je recherchais. Pour la nourriture, c’est très bon, mais je m’attendais à avoir plus de « wow ». Le seul plat qui m’a vraiment épaté est l’assiette de clam & rib d’agneau. Le tatin de betterave, la truite fumée, le tartare de veau & la côte de boeuf, tous très bon, frais & très bien présenté, mais sans le petit quelque chose qui me fait fermer les yeux lors de mes bouchés. Bref, un excellent restaurant, mais qui n’a pas réussi à se placer dans mon top 3 au Québec.
Repas: saucisse & légumes, extrêmement salé.
Service: la serveuse s'est moqué des gens de la tables d'à-côté, car ils étaient bruyants. Elle nous a dit, en palant d'eux "assholes" en levant les yeux. Inapproprié envers d'autres clients.
Après m'être plaint (ce que je fais rarement) de mon repas à peine touché, je dois admettre que le service a été adéquat: repas gratuit & dessert gratuit.
Après avoir pu réserver une table à une heure raisonnable & avoir attendu presque 3 mois, j’ai finalement l’occasion d’essayer ce restaurant dont j’entends beaucoup parler depuis quelques années. Un couple d’amis nous accompagne pour cette soirée. Mes attentes sont élevées mais je ne serai vraiment pas déçu. À notre arrivée à 18h00 pour notre réservation de 18h15, l’accueil est chaleureux & on a l’impression d’arriver chez des amis. On s’occupe de nos manteaux & nous nous assoyons sur une banquette près de la cuisine.
Andy (ou Andrée-Anne pour les intimes), qui sera notre hôte pour ce souper, nous apporte nos consommations & nous explique patiemment & en détails le menu affiché sur l’ardoise avec certaines recommandations personnelles & accords entre les entrées & plats principaux proposés. Suite à notre commande, un cuisinier prend la peine de venir nous consulter afin de suggérer une alternative à une entrée choisie par rapport à l’accord au plat principal. Il reviendra aussi plus tard afin de s’assurer que la substitution proposée est appréciée. La nourriture servie est savoureuse & l’accord des goûts est remarquable. Le choix des plats est varié & les prix aussi. Le seul bémol, le choix de bières est un peu restreint, mais les sortes offertes (Brasserie Le Castor) sont très bonnes.
Rendus au dessert, la gourmandise prend le dessus & on partage une assiette de petits beignets à l’érable accompagnés d’un bon café. L’addition est raisonnable, tenant compte de la qualité & de la quantité de la nourriture servie. En quittant, repus, on se promet d’y retourner sans faute !
