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.
At La Banquise, poutine lovers will find a legendary range of toppings, from classic to inventive, piled high on crispy fries with squeaky cheese curds and savory gravy. Generous portions and a lively, welcoming atmosphere make it a go to spot for sharing or a hearty solo bite, with options from traditional to bold specialty poutines and even late night hours. The line often moves quickly and the staff are friendly and efficient, keeping the energy high and the experience memorable in Montreal. A true Montreal staple, it delivers comforting, craveable food that hits the spot after a day of exploring.
Service is friendly & the atmosphere is very cozy. There was a line upon entering but it moved very fast & we were seated within 5-10 minutes. I ordered the classic poutine & it was just alright. The fries were good but the gravy was quite watery & unfavourable & there wasn't quite enough cheese curds for my liking. Not a terrible meal but any means & decently priced just expected a bit more from such a classic establishment.
La Banquise is the best poutine spot in all of North America. There's just nothing quite like it. There's a wide selection of different poutine's to try, but just the original classic poutine on its own is SO GOOD. It may even concert a poutine hater to a poutine lover. Now I know what you're thinking, "It's just fries with cheese & gravy on top. How good could it be?" Well it's pretty darn good because we have kept coming back time after time on our visits to Montreal & we're from Toronto. I've attached pictures & videos of our visit on two separate occasions, one year apart. Here's something you have to know: you will have to wait & it will be crowded. There are so many people that want to try this poutine & come back because it is quite literally world famous so there's always a line out front. Also, once you get inside, it is a pretty small restaurant, but there are many tables that are very closely placed together so you might feel a little bit cramped. However, the service is quick because they need to be to accommodate all the people constantly coming in & out, & they're pretty helpful at helping you choose what you might like. We recommend the classic poutine & La Royale. We also heard that a lot of locals prefer the poutine across the street at La Poule Mouillée but we realized they only serve one type of poutine there so we chose to try a well-known & widely popular restaurant instead, & we're glad that we did. It lives up to the hype & you have to try it the next time you're in Montreal.
Jan 4, 2025
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I'm not personally a poutine fan, but as I was visiting the city, I thought I should try this place thanks to the recommendations. The poutine was delicious & loaded with meat, fries & cheese curds. It was really busy the day when I went, so called in placed an order & went to collect it. There was a lineup to collect the food when my group went there & the place was filled to the brim. I'll surely recommend this place to anyone who visits Montreal & have any of their offerings. The quantity is generous.
One of our favourite spots for poutine in Montreal. Can't miss the Classique, the cheese curds were a perfect mix of squeaky & creamy & the gravy & frites are
Definitely worth the hype! Been wanting to come here for many years. When me & my husband planned our trip throughout eastern Canada we knew we had to come here when in Montréal! Staff is bilingual, had no problem speaking English. Very attentive, fun vibe/atmosphere. A bit cramped for space, but I feel that just added to it. I ordered La Festival, & I've gotta say that was one of the best meals I've ever had. Everything came together perfectly, even though when you see the item on the menu, you wonder how in the heck can that taste good - trust me, it does! Fries were not soggy or too salty. Ground beef wasn't too greasy & the gravy was perfect. The cheese curds were perfection. Merci, beaucoup amour! 🩷
La Banquise is a must-visit for anyone in Montreal who has a passion for poutine. Famous for its extensive variety of this beloved Quebecois dish, I had heard a lot about it, & my first visit certainly lived up to the hype. When we arrived, I was initially intimidated by the long line stretching outside the restaurant. It was a sunny day, & we had just finished a lengthy walk through the Montreal area, so the prospect of waiting wasn't exactly thrilling. However, to my pleasant surprise, we were seated much faster than I had anticipated. Despite the crowd, the staff worked efficiently, & we were settled into our seats in no time. We ordered the'La Taquise' & the'La Classique', two of their poutine offerings. The'La Taquise' brought a delicious twist with its addition of guacamole & sour cream, while the'La Classique' stayed true to the roots with its simple, yet incredibly satisfying combination of fries, gravy, & cheese curds. The gravy was rich & savory, the fries perfectly crispy, & the cheese curds squeaked just the right amount. It's no exaggeration to say that their poutine is to die for. Every bite was indulgent, comforting, & packed with flavor. The overall experience was fantastic, & for my first visit, I'm already looking forward to many more this year. La Banquise lives up to its reputation, offering a quintessential Montreal poutine experience in a casual, lively setting. Whether you're a local or a visitor, it's a spot you don't want to miss!
I had the La Veggie Reggie poutine, & it was fantastic. The fries were crispy, the gravy was tasty, & the cheese curds were perfect. This poutine is definitely worth trying. It's one of the best I've ever had!
The line you see outside this place is for dine-in. Order takeout for a shorter wait. There are nearby picnic tables outside, or you can eat in the park. Dozens of poutine options. We ordered the one with mac & cheese bites on top.
I heard this place has a reputation for poutines & people all over come for their food. For once, I decided to come. Meh ! That's it... It's , ok -ish... The potatoes were not good, the toppings where (cheese & gravy was excellent) but most of the food is the potatoes. It tastes like burned oil. I personally wasn't impressed but if you have NOTHING else to eat & you are in the area, why not. The waitresses were the nicest part, they were very sweet, but they came twice, once for the food & the other to collect. So not a huge fuss there either. Maybe it was a one off, MAYBE? But I wouldn't go back to try & find parking in that mess of an area (with all the closed streets & construction) & pay 3 times the price of a poutine just to "TRY".
Per the guide the best place to get poutine. When you get to the restaurant there are two lines. On the left is takeout. On the right is for guests that want to be seated. The wait was not long. We were seated fairly quickly. The poutine was yummy but definitely had to share. It's a huge plate of fries drenched in gravy & curd cheese. Add whatever variety of toppings you need.. you can't come to Montreal & not try a poutine.
Jul 5, 2024
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An iconic spot in Montreal for poutine enthusiasts. Offers a wide variety of poutines, from the classic version with fresh-cut fries, rich gravy, & squeaky cheese curds to inventive variations with toppings like smoked meat, guacamole, & pulled pork. The atmosphere is casual & vibrant, making it perfect for any time of day. service is quick, & the portions are generous (def good for sharing!!) ensuring a satisfying experience for both locals & tourists. For an authentic taste of Montreal's beloved dish, La Banquise is a must-visit!
The fries were good. They have vegan cheese option, which is amazing. But the gravy wasn't enough or hot enough. It didn't even melt the cheese! The smoked meat & sausage toppings were really good. But the breaded chicken tasted like stale frozen chicken tenders.
Your poutine restaurant exceeded my expectations! The fries were perfectly crisp, the cheese curds were delightfully gooey, & the gravy had an incredible depth of flavor. The portion size was generous, & the attention to detail in each element of the dish made it a truly satisfying experience. The cozy ambiance & friendly staff added to the overall enjoyment. I'll definitely be recommending your restaurant to friends & returning for another delicious poutine fix!
I spent an hour getting there via public transport It was a great place with a greater waitress All of them were polite The taste of the putine was good It was my first time First, i can tell you that the base of putine for all of them is french fries with cheese & barbecue sauce, & the topping is what is changing in the menu I'm originally from iran, so usually we have more spices & the taste of our food is stronger like Indian's & Pakistanis & ... But the taste of the putine if you try to taste the material separately for me the taste of cheese was like just something with no taste The sausage on the top was a little bit salty But the combination was good Also, that place is one of the most popular in montreal So if you want to give it, try This is the best place I ordered a regular dish, & i think that's enough even if you are a gluttonous person 😜 I will definitely try it again with another item so i can fill the difference The price is a little high, which makes me think that it is a pain for its size.
Mar 5, 2024
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Amazing poutine. I highly recommend La Boogalou. I was feeling a little unsure about the coleslaw in my dish but it turned out to be a really nice touch, adding a vibrant sour taste to my poutine. My friend got the La mart with vegan cheese & he was very satisfied.
The best Poutine ever!!! There is no doubt that La Banquise provides the best Poutine I have had. Before I came to Canada, I haven't thought I would love wet French fries. To me, fries must be crispy or it will be a disaster. So it was a culture shock when I knew Canada has wet fries ,that is Poutine. Actually, it is French fries & cheese curds topping with brown gravy. It was not bad but I still prefer dry one. But I had different thought after trying the one from La Banquise. It was amazing. That day I ordered La Royale flavor(apple, bacon, & pulled pork). I had never thought poutines can be cooked like this. The pulled pork made the poutine not too boring-chewy, & it was delicious & without boar taint. Apple played a refreshing role. Really love this combination. Just a reminder for ordering: the serving is a lot. The photo is already Regular size! By the way, before having La Banquise's, Costco had the best poutine to me🤣
Royale poutine was fantastic with feta cheese added. 10/10. Take out but all staff were super pleasant & catering to a mon-French speaking Winnipeger. Thanks Montreal,
