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.
This was our first time in Montréal & we had a fabulous time. This was the best meal of our trip by far & probably one of if not the best meal we have ever had. The food was incredible, the côte de boeuf was to die for & our waiter was so kind & has the best wine pairing suggestions. The atmosphere was so lovely & we enjoyed ourselves thoroughly. Thank you Joe beef! We will definitely be going back.
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!
My first time here & it was a marvellous experience.
The restaurant is very cozy, we were lucky to be seated across the fireplace. Lights are dim & the ambiance is great.
We ordered the tartare for starter with bread & butter. I really liked how cute the butter was in their tiny packs. Bread was fresh & tartare was just amazing.
For mains we got Steak & Duck Breast. Steak comes with gem potatoes, temperature was perfect & the steak was tender. But my favourite was the duck breast. It comes with foie gras & it was just a spreadable perfection. Duck breast was blessed with red wine jus.
& last but not least we got the chocolate mousse, it was 10/10! I loved the sauce on the side of the dessert so much I wanted to clean the plate with a piece bread.
Overall one of the best meals I've ever had in Canada.
We were 2 midweek for an early dinner. Reservations still recommended. Trio of oysters starter were good but PEI Oysters were larger & tastier. My main was hanger steak. A little chewy but wonderful flavour & red wine reduction sauce. Other main was filet mignon - very tender with umami-infused sauce. Excellent. Mushroom side dish a great addition. Main server was friendly & knowledgeable-'sous' servers all attentive too. Wine order was a little slow coming but good choices. Cheese course with whole walnuts in the shell was an amusing DIY finale. Highly recommended.
Great food! Their specials are always so delicious & original, we had a cabage dish absolutely amazing. The oysters are really good & big. Nice selection of wine & a cozy ambiance.
This place helped me realise what the hype about French cuisine is all about! The staff were helpful, knowledgeable, & kind with everything from explaining the menu to helping with wine pairings. Incredible experience.
23 oct. 2025
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My wife & I recently had the pleasure of dining here &, having lived in Montreal for a few years now, only wish we made our way over much, much sooner.
The food, the wine list, & the service were exceptional, the atmosphere loose & friendly. Their storied reputation is well deserved. &, the prices are more than reasonable given the quality, sourcing & overall attention to detail.
A special thank you & note to Flo, who made the evening fun & so enjoyable.
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!!
Service was awesome & great wine selections! Great beef but all the other apps were kind of mediocre & not quite hit the spot. Charming organic atmosphere & the space is cozy but can feel a bit cramped & you can hear all the noise from other tables. If I return again & i will only have the mains & wine! Other wise it's a bit overhyped & priced.
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.
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.
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.
Truly one of the most memorable meals I've had, with incredible hospitality that is core to the DNA of Montreal & can't be found anywhere else. Seafood platter was insanely good. Wine was fantastic. The cooked dishes were good but really outshined by the seafood platter. It's worth trying to get the reservation.
Dining at Joe Beef was an unforgettable experience from start to finish. The moment we walked in, we were greeted by a warm, lively atmosphere that set the tone for the evening. The service was exceptional-attentive, knowledgeable, & friendly, making us feel right at home despite it being a busy night.
The menu is a perfect blend of creativity & classic comfort, with every dish bursting with bold flavors. We started with a selection of appetizers, & each one was a standout. The foie gras was melt-in-your-mouth delicious, & the oysters were fresh & briny-an excellent start to what would be an amazing meal.
For the main course, I had the steak frites, which was cooked to perfection-tender, juicy, & full of flavor. The sides were equally impressive, with the roasted vegetables being a particular highlight. Everything was beautifully presented, & the portions were generous, making each bite more enjoyable than the last.
The wine list is extensive, & the sommelier's recommendation perfectly paired with our meal, elevating the whole experience.
Joe Beef is more than just a meal; it's an experience. The vibrant atmosphere, exceptional service, & unforgettable dishes make it a must-visit for anyone in Montreal. It's clear that the chefs & staff take immense pride in what they do, & that care translates into every dish served. Highly recommend!
I've been wanting to go to Joe Beef for 15+ years, since I first saw it on the travel channel or food network. That's the only reason I've given it a 4/5... because it couldn't possibly live up to the anticipation.
But it was great, & I definitely recommend checking it out. It's a true Montreal legend. The atmosphere & staff were superb. The food was good. Not the out of this world extravaganza I was expecting but absolutely delicious. We had the tuna tartare & the strip with potatoes & bone marrow. At $130 for the steak alone... it's a pricey meal. & worth it. The wine was excellent & the service was fantastic.
