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 widely recognized as a must visit destination in Montreal for anyone seeking an authentic and diverse poutine experience. The restaurant is celebrated for its generous portions, wide variety of creative toppings, and consistently flavorful gravy and fresh cheese curds. While the venue is frequently busy, leading to inevitable wait times and a lively, sometimes noisy atmosphere, the quick service and iconic status of the food make it a rewarding stop for locals and tourists alike. Whether visiting for a classic meal or trying unique variations, many guests find the overall experience to be a satisfying and essential part of their time in the city.
Went for a late breakfast. Place was empty, quick service, outdoor seating around the corner by the street. Everybody & their mere was telling me'You gotta try the Montreal poutine!!' & it wasn't all that impressive. It's just fries, gravy & cheese, why are y'all getting your stomach in a knot over this stuff? Granted I wasn't drunk or hungover when I had my serving so maybe that's a prerequisite for overenjoying fried potatoes doused in gravy.
We are visiting from NY & saw the reviews & had to try it out. The service was friendly & the atmosphere was great & crowded which was a great sign of good food. The Poutine was delicious & worth the visit, even the kids who are picky really loved the bacon poutine 😁🇨🇦 Well done & would come again 🍟 🧀
Bonne ambiance, poutines au top. Attention ce n'est pas un resto guindé... Mais pour passer un moment sympa & manger une bonne poutine avec une bonne bière, c'est top.
Had one of the best poutines I've ever had here! The poutine was absolutely delicious & definitely the highlight for me. The overall vibe was really nice, & the service & hospitality were great as well. Since this place is quite popular & known for its food, there can be a little bit of a wait, but it's definitely worth it. Highly recommend trying the poutine!
Excellent restaurant avec énormément de choix au menu! Le service était impeccable & notre poutine est arrivé en seulement environ 11 minutes après la commande, ce qui est vraiment rapide. Tout était très bon. Le seul petit hic : on nous a seulement donné un verre d'eau sans nous en proposer d'autre. Sinon, rien à redire, je recommande!