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.
I tried their Classic Poutine. It was my first time at Montreal but I loved it & had great time. I went there solo but had a good time & amazing friendly people.
First time in Canada & was staying nearby. Stumbled upon this accidentally but knew I had to try poutine. This was amazing. I would 100% come back here if I come back to Montreal again. The servers were friendly. We got to take the leftovers away in a takeaway box. The whole experience was very enjoyable.
Nov 29, 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.
Honestly disappointed. First trip back to Montreal in a decade, & I may as well have eaten at Smokes in Toronto. Fries - mid. Sauce - good. Cheese - ZERO SQUEAK.
I found myself so disappointed that I went to Belle Province later & (sadly) had a better poutine.
I was not surprised to hear that ownership changed. Someone is missing the core of what made La Banquise special. An exceptional core poutine with fun toppings after that. Now it might as well have been shredded cheese.
Portions are good. Service is fast. Quality is FINE, but not worth putting effort into seeking out.
Side note: 4.75 for a small glass of chocolate milk is criminal.
La Banquise is where most poutine journeys begin, & for good reason. It's Montreal's most famous spot, an institution known for its dizzying array of takes on the classic Quebecois dish. While the menu spans everything from'Elvis' to'La Obélix,' there's an undeniable pleasure in sticking to the original: perfectly crisp, golden fries, squeaky fresh cheese curds, & a rich, savory brown gravy.
Admittedly, for a seasoned poutine connoisseur, La Banquise might feel a little like a tourist rite of passage-there are indeed hidden gems across the city offering arguably'better' versions. However, this vibrant, 24-hour spot is the perfect, delicious introduction for the poutine novice. It sets the standard & provides the ideal starting point before you level up to the more refined competition. Go for the classic, savor the experience, & let the curd life begin!
It's not worth waiting in the cold for this. There are other similar places. The smoked meat topping tasted good, but the fries, cheese, & gravy were just average. You can't even wait inside for takeout - they have a bad attitude & ask people to wait out on the street. The server at the door had such an arrogant attitude, like they're doing you a favor just by serving you. Very ridiculous.
Remember to ask for utensils. They don't provide for takeouts
Oct 12, 2025
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Tried out La Banquise after hearing all the hype about it being a Montréal must-visit spot for poutine. I went in with high expectations but honestly, the meal was just… okay. I ordered the'La Frites Rex' & their classic poutine-both were edible, but neither really wowed me. The fries were fine, the gravy was salty without much depth, & the cheese curds didn't have that squeaky freshness I was looking for.
It wasn't terrible, just very average-something I'd rate around a 7/10 or 3 stars. For the amount of hype this place gets, I couldn't help but feel it was overrated. Maybe it's more about the late-night atmosphere or the sheer number of topping options than the actual quality of the food.
Would I go back? Probably not anytime soon. There's better poutine to be found in Montréal if you're chasing flavour over novelty.
What a fun restaurant with friendly service & fantastic poutine! It was hard to choose which one I wanted, but I settled on La Matty which had bacon, mushrooms, & onions. I ordered the regular size & am glad I did. The large is a double order of the regular & there's no way I would've finished that.!
Pretty good! I got the smoked meat poutine & it was very tasty. There was a large portion of meat & even though the plate itself seemed small, I could only finish half because it was so filling. You could definitely share one between two people depending on how hungry you are. We were a large group right at dinner & they worked quick to get us seated as soon as possible. Service was good, relatively quick, & friendly.
La Banquise has been serving up poutine magic since 1968, & with 35 different poutines on the menu, it's hard not to find something you'll love.
As part of a collab for my summer picnic series, I stopped by to pick up takeout with my friend Hady. I went for the Royale (pulled pork, bacon, & apples), & she chose the Reggae (ground beef, guacamole, tomatoes, hot peppers, & Swiss). Both were generous, loaded, & full of flavor. Sweet & smoky vs. spicy & bold … we had the best of both worlds.
The pickup process was smooth, the staff was super sweet, & the fun, retro-style decor added to the charm. We grabbed two cold drinks (a lemonade & a lemoncocco) & walked across the street to Parc Lafontaine to eat, chat, & people-watch in the sun.
Open 24/7, La Banquise is the kind of spot that works whether you're craving a midnight snack or planning a sunny park lunch. It's a Plateau institution for a reason.
Foxy Tip: Pick your poutine, grab a drink, & head to the park across the street. It's the perfect setup for an easy picnic date or chill afternoon with a friend.
Video coming soon. ✨ I spotlight my favorite local gems on TikTok @foxy.appetite & IG @foxyappetite - come hang out!
This meal was comped as part of a collaboration - sharing my honest thoughts above.
We ordered the guacamole poutine & the spicy meat poutine. Both were delicious & very filling, so be sure to order your portions right. The cheese & gravy was definitely something different, & the poutine itself was delicious. This place really shows how poutine is done properly-like an actual meal. It's surprising they're open 24/7, but I definitely recommend the food. The atmosphere was unique too, with beautiful art styles on each table & a very tourist-friendly vibe.
Tried La Banquise last night & it definitely lived up to the hype! The poutine was unlike any we've had before-rich, flavorful, & absolutely delicious. It's a busy spot with a lineup, but the staff are super friendly & efficient. A must-visit for poutine lovers in Montreal!
Jun 13, 2025
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If you're going to go to Banquise, eat in. I had take out & was thoroughly disappointed. Long wait & soggy fries. I've had much better poutine at other places in town.
We had the shoot out poutine & spicy sausage hot dog. The fries weren't anything special, the sauce was oddly thick & extremely salty & it didn't have a lot of cheese curds. There was a lot of meat on the poutine, all of it extremely salty. The spicy sausage hot dog was supposed to have a creamy coleslaw & you can see from the photo that there was hardly anything there. Would not recommend.
Huge portions, but I'd like more fries in my poutine to be honest. Didn't eat inside because it was too crowded but enjoyed it nevertheless. Has a very colorful menu & different flavors, so I'll be definitely going back to try more :)
Do yourself a favor & order a poutine of your choice. Do it, your taste buds will thank you & you'll end up licking the plate, like I did. Friendliest smiles all around too, I shall return to knock one poutine after another, menu is my muse now
