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.
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.
I've eaten at Joe Beef twice in my life, & I've been incredibly happy with the experience both times.
The first time around several years ago (2016/17), I had a lamb steak with bone marrow mashed potatoes, which I still dream about, & tried foie gras for the first time. Still one of the best meals of my life.
Second time was in December 2025. We had lobster spaghetti, & rabbit + mashed potatoes, along with the croquettes for an app. I'd say the only thing that was mediocre were the mashed potatoes - everything else was A+. We were also treated to a free steak since another table didn't want it - & it was delicious as well.
Service has always been great. The restaurant itself is a classic. Joe Beef deserves the hype it gets, & I look forward to eating here on another special occasion down the line.
Yum. I am decidedly not a foodie but I absolutely adored Joe Beef on my first visit. I am a steak & potatoes man & have had that at restaurants across Montreal & in other cities, but I must say the 30 oz rib-steak I had here which I devoured was perhaps the best. Better than Gibbys or Moishes, I also loved the accoutrements, the huge piece of meat came with spinach, green salad, horse radish & fries, which were indeed enough for our 3 diners, the other two having split the lobster spaghetti. To top it off the service was perfect & the atmosphere was casual but fun. Now if only I could afford to go here more often, but once in a while does suffice. Again, yum.
30 nov. 2025
sur Google
🍽️
Sachez où manger à Montréal avant tout le monde.
Découvrez en primeur les ouvertures les plus branchées, des menus secrets et les coups de cœur de RestoMontreal.ca. Rejoignez plus de 50 000 foodies.
⭐?⭐?⭐?⭐?⭐? An Unforgettable Evening Worth Every Bite
We visited this gem of a restaurant to celebrate my husband's birthday, & from the moment we walked in, it felt like we had stepped into a perfectly orchestrated dream. The ambiance struck that rare balance between elegant & inviting - softly lit, warm, & full of quiet, happy energy.
Now, let's talk about the service - hands down, the best I've ever experienced. Every single member of the team seemed to move in perfect harmony, as if they shared one mind with the goal of making our night flawless. Whether it was someone gracefully refilling our water as they passed, or another gently clearing plates with a smile & a kind word, the teamwork was seamless & a joy to watch.
Our main server, Alex, was an absolute star. He took all the pressure off our decision-making & curated a stunning four-course meal that flowed beautifully from one dish to the next - cohesive, balanced, & beyond delicious. The other Alex (yes, two Alexes!) was equally wonderful - attentive, charming, & meticulous, ensuring our table was pristine between courses & our glasses of water never empty.
& the food… oh, the food! Every plate felt like a small celebration in itself. The croquettes were crisp & creamy perfection, the tuna tartare delicate & full of bright flavor, & the lobster spaghetti? A masterpiece - rich, tender, & the kind of dish that makes you close your eyes after the first bite. Every cocktail - including my mocktail - was crafted with care & creativity, each one divine in its own right.
It was the kind of dinner you don't just eat, but feel - wrapped in kindness, thoughtfulness, & genuine hospitality.
Highly, highly recommend this place. Five shining stars & a standing ovation to the entire team. We can't wait to go back & relive the magic.
As soon as I knew I would be visiting Montreal, i grabbed a spot on the wait list in case a reservation opened up. I was so happy when the day before our trip, a spot opened up. We really enjoyed the tuna appetizer. We also had the Escargot which were good, but not as good as some I have had. For entrees we tried the Lobster Spaghetti which is a dish they are known for, & the Hanger steak. The Hanger Steak was cooked perfectly, tender & the sauce was excellent. I am from a Seafood town & felt the lobster was only okay & the Spaghetti itself very basic, not our favorite dish. All in all it is definitley worth a try.
This was the one restaurant I really wanted to go to with my wife & honestly it was great. We got seated on the heated patio away from the noisy interior. We ordered escargot, fois gras, lobster spaghetti, & the on special rabbit. All the food was excellent with special kudos to the fois gras & spaghetti. Service was warm & attentive. Just be sure that you go in with realistic expectations on price. We had 3 cocktails on top & our bill was $300+, which we were completely knew about before booking. If you want a special night out, go for it.
Incredible dining experience- an absolute must! Very attentive staff , everything timed perfectly.
The food is thoughtfully prepared & served. The spaghetti with lobster is not to be missed. The croquettes were good but not memorable. The peas with goat cheese & mint delightful the bone marrow flan is incredible. The poultry boulebaisse was a hit but very marjoram heavy. It was truly a dining event!
27 sept. 2025
sur Google
🍽️
Sachez où manger à Montréal avant tout le monde.
Découvrez en primeur les ouvertures les plus branchées, des menus secrets et les coups de cœur de RestoMontreal.ca. Rejoignez plus de 50 000 foodies.
Julien provided truly warm & thoughtful service, adding a lovely personal touch to the evening. The ambience is charming-perfect for a special occasion. While I found most of the dishes to be fairly average, the spaghetti with lobster was a standout & the one dish I'd return for. The steak, however, didn't quite hit the mark for me. Overall, it's a trendy spot in a lively, sought-after location-definitely worth experiencing at least once.
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.
Let's get straight to the point: the famous lobster spaghetti here is above average & definitely not worth the wait. At an eye-watering price tag of $71++, it's asking to be judged against the best pastas in the world & that's what I'm judging it by.
First, you only get half a lobster. That's not a lot meat but they do somewhat make it up with the generous amount of spaghetti. The noodles themselves are good, but they are let down by the sauce, which is too salty. The lobster is supposed to be the star of the show but you don't taste any of it in the sauce. Half a lobster is also not proportionate to the amount of spaghetti so it doesn't feel like a satisfying meal.
Drinks here are good creative though, so I would recommend them. I got a peach mock tail & it's rare to find mocktails that have more complexity than juice.
This is a Montreal institution & it's worth going just to check out the place, but manage your expectations if you get the lobster spaghetti.
26 juil. 2025
sur Google
🍽️
Sachez où manger à Montréal avant tout le monde.
Découvrez en primeur les ouvertures les plus branchées, des menus secrets et les coups de cœur de RestoMontreal.ca. Rejoignez plus de 50 000 foodies.
It's 12/10. Fantastic all the way around. Sometimes these spots can be so overhyped it's hard to meet expectations yet they exceeded them. Vibey, great food & service.
All the staff was top notch from hostess who put us at the perfect for our baby & her stroller, to the busboy, & the waiter.
The duck was insanely delicious, could drink the sauce & the lobster spaghetti is a must. Feels like you can't go wrong with anything you're feeling.
Don't let the name fool you, it's known for their seafood even though it's named after Charles McKiernan'Joe Beef.'
We came to the Canadian Grand Prix & was recommended Joe Beef for dinner & it did not disappoint. We had to reserve about a month in advance for a party of two but it lived up to the hype. The food was incredible, service was top notch & we had a great time. Pictured is the lobster spaghetti which was 100% worth the price, glazed carrots, & filet mignon. I forget the name of the dessert but it was delicious. Will definitely come again!
We had the Andalouse sausage made with veal, fois gras & sweet bread as a starter. Was especially good. But it was two large sausages. It was very delicate & flavorful. We also had the bread & pickle. Was very tasty. The server suggested this.
Oh!
We also had the Roman gnocchi- which was polenta with Gruyère sauce- absolutely delish!
For the mains I had the lobster spaghetti. It was like a twist on Italian carbonara with lobster. I asked- the lobster is fresh!! 🦞( not frozen). This dish was very very tasty & large!
My husband had the Guinea Hen. It was fine. But not the best. He ate it, enjoyed it for what it was but wouldn't order it again. He didn't really know he's eating'guinea hen'- was more like regular poultry in sauce with vegetables.
We had a 5pm seating & what we didn't like is they kind of rushed you to order. ( in a polite way) but they made everyone order all their courses right away. They brought everything out pretty quickly, one right after the other. Was kind of strange. So you couldn't get a feel for sizes or what else you want after already eating an appetizer. It was all ordered from the top & then served.
The restaurant is super cute & nice. Very pretty atmosphere. Cozy yet elegant. Tastefully decorated.
We ordered a few appetisers + sides + mains. For main, we got the lobster spaghetti & off-the-menu beef dish. The beef was truly disappointing. Very dry & tough. We couldn't finish half of it. The appey+side were good. Overall, not sure if it's worth the price. We're glad we tried it once, but it's not a place we would come back when we visit Montreal again. The only thing that was good was the wine selection.
The atmosphere of the restaurant was okay. We were sat near the windows & the seats were so snug, it felt a bit too tight for two people.
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.
