Classiques de restaurants du Vieux-Montréal au coeur de la Petite Bourgogne. Un hommage à Charles "Joe-Beef" McKiernan, héros de la classe ouvrière du 19ième siècle. A deux pas mi-ivres du célèbre Marché Atwater. Steaks et fruits de mer.
Les avis convergent sur une expérience culinaire riche et généreuse, typique d'une institution montréalaise où l'ambition est au rendez-vous et l'ambiance est dense et chaleureuse. Des plats phares comme le foie gras double down, les spaghettis au homard, le canard et le bœuf dans différentes cuissons reviennent souvent, accompagnés de desserts tels que la marjolaine et la mousse au chocolat qui marquent les esprits. Le service est fréquemment salué pour son attention, sa connaissance du menu et sa convivialité, même lors des soirs chargés, mais certains estiment que le prix est élevé et que les portions peuvent sembler justes pour le coût. Des détails récurrents évoquent une cuisine audacieuse et festive, où les saveurs s'affirment avec intensité et une certaine opulence, tout en restant accessible par l'ambiance et l'accueil. Des critiques notent aussi que la constance peut varier selon les plats et les jours, mais l'expérience globale est décrite comme mémorable et digne d'un retour, particulièrement pour les amateurs de fruits de mer, de viande généreuse et de desserts généreux. Globalement Joe Beef demeure un repère du paysage culinaire montréalais, synonyme de plaisir gourmand, d'énergie conviviale et d'un goût pour le raffinement sans prétention, même si le rapport prix-qualité peut prêter à débat.
We were really excited to try Joe Beef & made our reservation a month in advance, so our expectations were high.
Unfortunately, the experience fell short. We were seated at an extremely small, crowded table where we had to physically move the table just to go between the tables to get to the seat. It made the entire meal feel uncomfortable from the start. On top of that it was so loud, we could hardly hear each other or the server.
What stood out most was the service dynamic around us. The tables on either side appeared to be regulars or known to staff, & the difference in treatment was very noticeable. Staff were highly attentive & social with those tables, even sharing drinks with them & bringing them special dishes, while we felt largely overlooked. It created an awkward atmosphere where we felt like second-class guests.
The hostess repeatedly bumped into my husband while engaging with the neighboring table, enthusiastically describing special dishes she planned to bring them, which added to the feeling that attention was being directed elsewhere.
As for the food, it didn't live up to the hype. The server strongly pushed starters, & while the drinks were good, the overall meal was underwhelming. Dessert was just okay.
By the end of the evening, we were ready to leave. Overall, it was a disappointing experience, not worth it, & we won't be returning.
One the best restaurant experience of my life, everything was perfect. Joe beef is a must! The oysters were excellent & the scallop was delicious. The lobster pasta was amazing & the sauce was perfect like a rich bisque sauce very creamy. Cod cheeks were also great & very flavourful. The dessert was an incredible end to the meal the Marjolaine was outstanding & the pistachio eclair was one the best desserts I have ever had if you love pistachio it's gonna blow your mind. Our waiter was very nice, very professional & knowledgeable. The restaurant is very homely & warm, beautiful decor very kitsch. I would recommend Joe beef to anyone who wants to experience dining at its finest & also they have amazing seafood options, don't let the name fool you
15 mars 2026
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Excellent food, my mom is a picky eater but surprisingly she loved everything we ate! Service was friendly & nice ! I wrote a note that it my mom's birthday but no bday plating or no bday comp.. tartare boeuf was so good, spicy clams was pretty okay, lobster spaghetti was good it reminds me of a lobster bisque, magret canard was excellent! The desserts was delicious marjolaine wasnt sweet at all ! Chesnut ice cream was delicious but towards the end it was very sweet after more bites
One of the best meals & experiences I've ever had.
First the food - We had the raw scallop, escargot, lettuces, rabbit, lobster spaghetti & the Marjolaine for dessert. Flavors were complex yet clear, rich & dense without being overly heavy, beautifully crafted, cooked perfectly. We hesitated to order the lobster spaghetti wondering if it was just online hype but we were not disappointed in the slightest - perfect al dente cook on the pasta with a beautifully creamy & rich bisque-like sauce. The rabbit was so bold, rich & complex it was truly one of the most unique dishes I've ever had. But the raw scallop to start honestly stole the show. So fresh & vibrant - excellent way to start the meal. Don't sleep on the lettuce either it was a great refreshing compliment to a rich meal. You also just have to face palm yourself in amusement when you have such an incredible, unique & special dinner then make it to dessert & casually order the signature cake with a cappuccino & think'wait is THIS the best thing??'
The atmosphere - everything feels so intentional & meticulously chosen/placed yet completely unpretentious. The lighting is excellent & comfortable. Each room with slightly different character. The antiques, art, lamps, wall papers, etc. communicate the neighborhood's rich history as a former antique/furniture area.
The service - we sat at the bar & at first said that we wish we could have scored a table & now I never want to sit anywhere else. The entire bar team was absolutely excellent. Our server - Edouard I believe was is name - was absolutely fantastic guide through the menu & took our experience to the next level. Made suggestions, helped us pair drinks, coursed the meals out at a perfect pace, chatted with us & had us laughing & truly just took our entire experience to the next level. Ordering here is NOT easy, I wish I could have had everything & I always suffer from order envy - but Edouard helped us craft a perfectly balanced & complete meal. He also shared with us the history of the neighborhood &'Joe Beef' himself which was fascinating & special. The other server behind the bar - JJ - was equally kind & charismatic & after we told them we were celebrating our anniversary & what we enjoyed doing the entire bar team seamed to come together to write us a list of recommended bars, restaurants & places to see music.
Not only will be we back… this place has me wanting to move to Montreal.
We had an absolutely phenomenal experience tonight. Service, food & ambiance were all terrific. We had oysters & the zesty Italian beef tartare to start, & shared the lobster pasta & filet mignon in red wine sauce for mains. Had the ice cream for dessert. Everything we ate was impeccable, & the staff were all super friendly, attentive but still pleasantly casual & knowledgeable. Cocktails were maybe the weaker point, not bad at all but not exactly inspired either.
Had been looking forward to this reservation for weeks & it absolutely exceeded our expectations. A must for any foodie visiting Montreal!
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.
4 nov. 2025
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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!!
We came here for our one year wedding Anniversary & I really wanted to love this place, however it didn't live up to the hype.
The service I felt was very inconsistent, the main server was okay, very slow but better. We had a few other people that tended to us that barely answered when we said thank you.
Food took forever, almost 90 minutes from the time we ordered, our server checked on us once to tell us'its coming soon'.
We order the bread & pickles which was fine, the roman gnocchi which was good, the hanger steak which needed more seasoning & the $71 Lobster spaghetti which was not at all worth the price. I found most of the food lacked basic seasoning which should have not been the case given the price & time it took to cook.
Dessert was truly the highlight, we did the chocolate mousse which was amazing, I will say.
Otherwise, this was a disappointing visit, I will also say it was so hot in there, I hope they can take a look & refine some things because it seems there is a level of inconsistently in the food.
Mon avis: fortement apprécié par les touristes en tant qu'institution, moins par les locaux. (D'où les avis positif qui semblent exagérés)
Avis d'une locale: la quantité vs le prix est à revoir. Le bone in strip était excellent. Le service était exceptionnel. Digne d'une danse bien organisée malgré la lenteur pour sortir les plats.
Déception sur l'entrée de flan à la moelle ainsi que sur les pâtes au homard qui goûtaient principalement très salé. Je m'attendais à une sauce rosée avec un arrière goût de homard & d'agrume. Mais ça goûtait que le sel. Également en terme de portion, le prix est exagéré pour un demi homard sur des pâtes. Ce plat peut également se manger seul donc rien ne justifie 71$ pour ça. Idem pour les desserts, bon mais j'avais plus d'attente pour le prix. 300$ plus tard, nous sommes restés perplexes.
Si vous vivez à Montréal & que vous avez une envie de steak, foncez. Pour le reste, vous prendrez une chance.
This spot truly lived up to its expectations! We mostly ordered items from their newer offerings, & each dish impressed us in its own way. The standout for me was the tuna plate-fresh, flavorful, & beautifully presented. It was hands-down my favorite of the evening. Another highlight was the asparagus with foie gras. I wasn't sure what to expect from that combination, but it worked really well. The textures & flavors balanced nicely, making it a memorable bite.
The Dessert was another level. I'm still thinking about the chocolate mousse-it was unbelievably smooth, rich without being too heavy, & absolutely delicious. Definitely one of the best I've had in a while.
Beyond the food, what really made the experience great was the service. Everyone we interacted with was genuinely kind, warm, & attentive. It didn't feel forced or overly formal-just friendly & welcoming in a way that instantly puts you at ease. Honestly, that kind of service makes all the difference.
Overall, it was a fantastic dining experience from start to finish. Great food, lovely staff, & a cozy vibe that makes you want to return. Can't wait to go back & try even more from the menu!
8 juin 2025
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We celebrated my husband's birthday here & had an amazing experience.
The service was outstanding - our waiter was incredibly attentive, explaining the menu & daily specials in detail, & helping us choose the perfect wine.
We started with the croquettes, then had the rib eye with carrots as our main dish - everything was delicious. We found it funny that, for my husband's birthday, they placed a candle on a potato instead of a dessert 🤭 - such a quirky & memorable touch!
For dessert, we ordereded - apparently their house specialty. It was worth it.
Total including tip & 4 glass of wine was close to $400.
All in all, one of the best dinners we've ever had in Montreal. Highly recommended!
Disappointed at Joe Beef - Expected Greatness, Got Mediocrity
We recently dined at Joe Beef with high expectations & an appetite to match. Our meal included several appetizers - Boston scallops (served raw), a dozen oysters, escargots, & croquettes - followed by mains of lobster pasta, guinea hen, a 26 oz ribeye steak, & two orders of fries. We shared a bottle of German Riesling & skipped dessert. The total bill came to just over $700 CAD, including an 18% tip.
Unfortunately, the experience didn't live up to the restaurant's reputation.
Appetizers:
The scallops were delicate & fresh - easily the highlight of the evening. However, the oysters were surprisingly dry & underwhelming. The snails were enjoyable but nothing memorable, & the croquettes, while decent, felt like an afterthought on the plate.
Mains:
The ribeye was generously sized but excessively fatty, which diminished the enjoyment. Both sauces - a red wine reduction & a peppercorn - were well-executed & helped elevate the dish slightly. The guinea hen was overly rich & lacked balance, leaving a heavy impression rather than a satisfying one.
As for the much-anticipated lobster pasta, it was, at best, average. For $71, we expected something outstanding - especially from a restaurant of this calibre. Instead, it was comparable to a dish from a far more casual eatery. The lobster itself was small & likely frozen, which detracted from both the texture & the flavour.
Service & Wine:
Service was professional & kind & the Riesling paired well with the seafood, but even great service couldn't compensate for the overall mediocrity of the food.
In the end, Joe Beef simply didn't deliver the calibre of cuisine or experience its price point & reputation suggest. While not a terrible meal, it was an unmemorable one - & certainly not worth the cost. I wish we took more photos, attached are what we have.
Perhaps an off night, maybe we ordered the wrong dishes, but this was our experience.
J'ai dîné dans ce restaurant hier lors d'un rendez-vous. Globalement, l'expérience a été mitigée. La nourriture était décevante : les pâtes au homard & le tartare de thon manquaient cruellement de goût, fades!!! De plus, le pain & le beurre n'ont pas été servis automatiquement avant les plats, ce qui est pourtant habituel dans des restaurants comme ça. Nous avons dû les demander, & ils ont été facturés en supplément, ce qui est assez regrettable & surprenant vu les prix pratiqués.
Heureusement, le service était irréprochable : les serveurs étaient très professionnels & attentionnés. Le dessert, quant à lui, était correct sans être exceptionnel.
En revanche, l'ambiance laissait à désirer : la musique était beaucoup trop forte, ce qui rendait la conversation difficile. Au final, l'addition était bien trop salée pour la qualité des plats proposés. Je ne pense pas y retourner.
Started with PEI oysters & crab legs. Delicious. Then had an appetizer which was an'eclair' stuffed with anchovies, olives, & carmelized onions. Awesome.
We had gin martinis with the appetizers, perfect.
For main course I had a beef tenderloin with mushrooms & gravy. Cooked to perfection. My wife had halibut. She thought the sauce was a bit overpowering but still enjoyed it.
The waiter recommended two wonderful wines, a white with the fish & a red with the beef. We enjoyed both.
We had desserts: a layer cake & a'bagel' with yummy filling. Marvelous. We topped them off with cordials.
Overall a wonderful experience. Quite expensive but not more than we expected & definitely worth it.
30 avr. 2025
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The food at Joe Beef was awesome especially the desserts :)
The Tuna Carpaccio was good. The presentation looked odd with the tuna on top & assortment of oranges & spices underneath. Overall, it had a good balance of saltiness & sweetness. The orange pieces in this dish were really sweet & delicious.
The Croquette was good. It was crispy on the outside & filled with meaty savouriness on the inside. The sliced pickle was good too.
The Spaghetti Homard-Lobster was good. The spaghetti was cooked perfectly al dente. The lobster was tender & sweet. Wish there was more of the lobster. The bacon bits were delicious. The sauce was unique. It was a rich, creamy brandy cream sauce. It was a flavour that grows with you the more you eat it.
The Filet Mignon & Veal tongue was good. The 30-day dry aged Filet Mignon was perfectly cooked medium rare. It was a tender, juicy & savoury Filet Mignon. Would definitely recommend the Filet Mignon. The Veal tongue was okay. Texture wise it was more rubbery in the front & middle area. The base of the tongue was more tender & soft. The sauce in this dish was okay.
The Marjolaine which is their 24 layer cake was awesome. Would definitely recommend if you craving a good multi-layered chocolate, hazelnut, vanilla & caramel cake :)
The Paris-Brest à l'érable which is their Choux pastry with Maple Cream was awesome. The Choux pastry was light & fluffy. The Maple Cream was heavenly with an amazing maple syrup flavour that was not too sweet.
The Vanilla Ice Cream was awesome. It went well the 24 layer cake.
Joe Beef was truly amazing & well worth the money! The quality & portion sizes were spot on! For three people, we got 3 drinks, 2 apps, 3 mains, & 2 desserts. The final bill before tip was just over $100/person. Extremely justifiable for the quality & taste.
Beautiful restaurant with a very nice interior design, atmosphere, & overall layout. The food was good, some dishes like the butternut squash soup & salted caramel dessert were fantastic while others like the steak & mushrooms pictured below were just okay. Overall a very nice restaurant, for the price I would hoped for a bit more; however this style of food isn't my favourite so take that into consideration.
Dining at this highly acclaimed establishment was exceptional. The unpretentious decor & the smell of cooking triggered a nostalgic feeling, reminding me of my grandma's kitchen. The waitstaff exhibited flawless hôtelier etiquette & were knowledgeable about the menu & wine list. The waitress suggested a few dishes to share, thoughtfully separated into three courses. The dishes were straightforwardly presented without any fancy-pancy plating style, this simplicity allowed the quality & flavors of the dishes to shine through. The waitress also suggested a bottle of red with soft tannins & a smooth finish, not overpowering the delicate flavors of the food. For my wife's special occasion, she was treated to two complimentary desserts & a large fresh potato. Thanks to Maurane, we had a wonderful evening.
