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.
La Banquise is a legendary Montreal poutine spot known for enormous bowls piled high with crispy fries, squeaky cheese curds, and rich gravy, with a wide variety of toppings from classic to bold. The atmosphere is lively and friendly, service is fast, and staff work hard to accommodate guests even when the place is busy, with vegetarian, vegan, and meat options widely praised. Although crowds and noise are common and the space can feel tight, the generous portions and flavorful poutines make the wait worthwhile, and takeout or enjoying a meal in the park add to the appeal, solidifying La Banquise as a go to for poutine lovers.
La Banquise delivered exactly what we came for: legendary poutine & a fun, lively vibe. I went for the smoked meat poutine - L'Obélix - & it was outstanding. Perfect fries, rich gravy, plenty of cheese curds, & that smoky, tender meat on top took it over the edge.
My brother ordered La Elvis, which was loaded, indulgent, & exactly the kind of over?the?top poutine you hope it will be. Our niece kept it classic with La Classique, & even the simplest version was spot?on. When a place nails the basics, you know the rest is going to be great.
They also have a surprisingly good craft beer selection, which paired perfectly with the food & the atmosphere.
If you're in Montreal & craving poutine - whether you want traditional or something wild - La Banquise absolutely lives up to the hype. I'd go back in a heartbeat.
En visite à Montréal, on nous a conseillé cet endroit & vraiment on a pas était déçu. Cela va devenir un classique lors de nos prochaines visites. La version grande est vraiment à réserver aux grandes faims
Dec 10, 2025
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If you get the restaurant & there is no queue, you're lucky! I was in this case. Super friendly & efficient service, no complaints whatsoever... Regarding the large Classique Poutine? Decent portion but it was served slightly warm & not enough sauce. Also the flavour wasn't anything to brag about as I've had hundreds of poutines btw so I know what a good poutine is.
Worth it, sure, but not worth a trip across town.
Ce lieu est censé représenter l'endroit où on mange la meilleure poutine à Montréal.
Je pense que c'est surtout l'endroit le plus bruyant pour manger la poutine.
Une carte vous ai proposé avec plusieurs déclinaisons de la poutine, pour la plupart des saveurs improbables, & pas du tout bon d'ailleurs.
Je vous conseille de rester sur la poutine classique qui est très bonne.
Le serveur a été très sympa.
Les toilettes sales comme beaucoup de restaurant à Montréal
We arrived around 5pm & waited about less than ten minutes to be seated. We ordered la classique & l'obelix poutines, which were delicious! Alex, our server, provided excellent service & had a great attitude. Definitely recommend & will be back again!
Super expérience ! On nous avait grandement conseillé de tester la poutine à La Banquise & je suis conquis ! Nous avons été superbement bien accueillis par Clara. Étant un bon mangeur, je suis quand même parti sur la regular & j'ai bien fait, les quantités sont énormes. Je vous conseille également de vous y rendre, nous avons pris la classique & la Elvis.
Super pour découvrir la poutine à Montréal ! Prix abordables : 9,9 $ la classique régular, portions très généreuses & service de qualité! On recommande!
One of the most popular poutine spots in Montreal. We tried the classique poutine, but found the gravy a bit too salty & the overall dish wasn't anything special-it felt a bit overrated. We went on Christmas Eve morning, & the atmosphere was warm & cozy. The restaurant is on a charming street, & the service was great-everyone was friendly. I wouldn't recommend coming just for the poutine (the menu is quite diverse, so it's worth trying other dishes & enjoying the small-town vibe.
24/7 poutine. We had la classique & la Elvis & I loved the latter more because of the beef & mushrooms. The service was okay. They were very busy at this cozy & lively restaurant.
Dec 17, 2024
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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
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!
Nous voulions goûté une poutine classique & ce restaurant nous a été recommandé, nous avons pris à emporter, il n'y avait pas trop de monde donc ça été rapide , l'accueil sympathique. Le prix m'a semblé un peu élevé pour la portion choisie mais c'était bon
35 sortes de poutines & en plus même la plus classique est délicieuse. Quantité xxl alors commencez par une regular & si vous êtes avec des enfants une pour deux c'est bien ,sinon possibilité de boîte pour la rapporter a la maison ! Expérience à faire pour la poutine & l'ambiance de ce resto🤘😎🇨🇦
