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La Banquise Cover Image
La Banquise Montreal RestoMontreal.ca
La Banquise Montreal RestoMontreal.ca
La Banquise Montreal RestoMontreal.ca
La Banquise Montreal RestoMontreal.ca
La Banquise Montreal RestoMontreal.ca
La Banquise Montreal RestoMontreal.ca
Restaurant Top Pick

La Banquise

La Banquise is known throughout the world for its famous poutines.
Le Plateau-Mont-Royal
4.5$ & $$
OPENOpen 24Hrs
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
Casse-Croute (Snack Bar)PoutineBurgersRegionalBreakfastSaladsVegetarianVegan Options

About

La Banquise, originally a small ice-cream shop, first opened its doors in May 1968. In fall of the same year, its founder, local fireman Pierre Barsalou, decided to transform the enterprise into a 24-hour snack bar. At the time it specialized in exceptionally good hot-dogs and great fries. Poutine first appeared on the menu at the start of the 80s and originally just two varieties were offered, classic and Italian. However, in response to repeated requests from very satisfied customers, the restaurant’s poutine varieties quickly multiplied. Today we offer no less than 25 different types of poutine. Today, La Banquise remains a family business. Mr. Barsalou’s youngest daughter Annie took over in the 1990s along with her partner Marc Latendresse. Together, they maintain both the tradition of quality and the excellent reputation of the La Banquise Restaurant. In summer 2006, La Banquise underwent major renovations and a much larger dining area was made available. 40 years on, La Banquise is now much more than a simple snack bar or poutine joint. Today it is also a warm, friendly venue where customers can enjoy micro-brewery beers, a complete menu du jour and excellent breakfasts. So here’s to you, our loyal customers, the night owls, the groups of friends, the workers, students, families and more, because all of you have contributed to shaping and enriching the success story that is La Banquise today. Many, many thanks.

Details

Our Specialties

Poutine

Amenities, services & more

We accept:  Interac, ATM machine
We are located near Lafontaine Park. Gift Certificates available.
Paying parking across the street and free parking on the side street of restaurant.
30 seats.
5★
68%
4★
18%
3★
7%
2★
7%
1★
0%
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Reviews for La Banquise

Food
Service
on Google4.4 (20400+)
*as of 2026-07-16
5★
68%
4★
18%
3★
7%
2★
7%
1★
0%

Review Summary

La Banquise is widely recognized as a Montreal institution, celebrated for its extensive menu of creative poutine variations and generous portion sizes. While the restaurant is incredibly popular and frequently experiences long wait times and a lively, crowded atmosphere, many visitors find the high-quality food, fresh ingredients, and authentic taste worth the effort. The staff generally receives praise for being friendly and efficient, even during busy periods, though some guests note that the tight seating and occasional noise levels are part of the bustling experience. Whether stopping by for a classic version or trying a specialty, most patrons consider it a must-visit destination for those seeking a quintessential dining experience in the city.
Page 1 of 86 - 853 Reviews
5.0

So good! A must visit, touristy or not it's delicious!

Jul 14, 2026
on Google

Poutine is tasty & quantity is huge. So many options available. I went for second time nd the place did not disappoint me.
Bit noisy but good vibe

Jul 13, 2026
on Google

Best poutine tried their shootout & fred callou best in the town no doubt if you are doing pickup call them 40 minutes advance so busy always packed friendly service.

Jul 12, 2026
on Google

This is my favourite poutine in Montreal, the portions are huge, they open till late, & the atmosphere is great! I believe I had the La Sud Ouest? It was delightful, could've used a little more guacamole but we were too afraid to ask😖

Jul 12, 2026
on Google

La MEILLEURE poutine au Québec

EDIT: ...Jusqu'à 2021 environs. Victimes de leur succès, c'est toujours archi plein avec une longue ligne à 20 min d'attente au takeout. Malheureusement, ils ont choisi le volume plutôt que la qualité. Ma poutine êtait mièvre: la sauce & le fromage tièdes semblaient à peine sortis du frigo.

Jul 8, 2026
on Google

Classic Montreal poutine

Jul 8, 2026
on Google

Un staple de Montreal qui, malheureusement, souffre de son succès. Les poutines sont excellentes, rien à redire là dessus. Par contre, l'attente, les tables serrées les unes sur les autres avec les clients & serveurs qui t'accrochent durant tout le temps de ton repas, les gens qui parlent & crient pour pouvoir s'entendre ainsi que le sentiment de rush constant font de La Banquise un restaurant que je préfère fréquenter le moins souvent possible. Des poutines excellentes il y en a à chaque coin de rue à Montreal, je préfère laisser La Banquise aux touristes

Jul 7, 2026
on Google

Lived up to the hype. Floors were slippery & places were dirty. But I'd go back no problem.

Jul 7, 2026
on Google

The place wasn't busy when we went there. We easily found a place to sit.
The food was okay. But staffs were not friendly. The menu is in french & we couldn't comunicate well as I couldnt speak & understand French.
I was very disappointed when I ordered a burger for my child & they brought out a chicken sandwich instead, without letting us know they didn't have burgers available.

Jul 1, 2026
on Google

Une des places les plus surcotés de Montréal. Si vous avez du temps & de l'argent à perdre alors n'hésitez pas.

Jul 1, 2026
on Google