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.
The large (grand) size was way too big. I got 3 meals out of it. However, a great place to get a high value for your money. Very friendly atmosphere. Photographed: The Elvis & Bacon Poutine
This place is fantastic the poutine is the best I ever had , I've tried about 5 different flavours, types of poutine & they were all soooo good really yummy 😋. The staff is super friendly & attentive to the costumers I tried a burger the last time I was there & it was yummy 🍔. I always go there when I visit Montreal 🚗
My friend came to me & told me that I can't come to Montreal & not try Poutine. She brought me to this place, it was great, we went around 8pm & it was crazy crowded, there was a queue even outside, & when we finished around 10pm it was still crowded & there was a bigger queue outside.
I had the opportunity to visit this restaurant several times during the 90's & 00's. It must be the best poutine in the world. I've been living abroad for almost 20 years but I will never forget this place.
Apr 26, 2024
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The social media hype about this place is way too much. Everyone claims to make La Banquise a must visit place for world class poutine in Montreal, but tbh for us it did not live up to all that hype & expectation. May be because i'm not a huge fan of oily food & fries galore, but to be fair, the portion size was huge for a'regular', service & ambience exemplary. Be prepared for a line up outside the restaurant to get inside, as there's no reservation system (online or offline)
Amazing tasty food! Unbelievable!! I tried regular their classic poutine & vegetables poutine. Really enjoyed the food & very happy. Came all the way from Toronto, & it was a great experience. Customer service was very friendly & helpful.
Excellent, avec un grand choix de poutine vous ne serez pas déçu que ce soit pour la qualité ou même quantité. Je recommande grandement. Petit point négatif, le prix des bières est assez élevé, mais rien de trop grave 😜
Apr 18, 2024
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One for the best comfort food to have in town & to visit if you are both a local or a tourist, open 24h. Different types of poutine, any kind of imaginable flavour.
Meilleure place à poutine à Montréal! Savoureux, bon service, ambiance agréable, terrasse l'été un peu serré tant elle est populaire. Possible de faire un trio burger poutine & boisson. La poutine Royale est excellente avec du porc effiloché, bacon & pommes. La poutine Savoyarde est tout aussi délicieuse. Le burger banquise est un classique assuré. Le burger Montréal a une très bonne viande fumée & cornichon. Vous ne pouvez pas être déçu! Mise à jour, j'ai constaté plus de possibilités pour les végans & sans lactose. Par contre, la propreté & surtout l'odeur des toilettes laissait à désirer....
Loved it! First time in Montreal, first time having poutine. Visiting from the US, we didn't speak French, didn't know what to order. The staff was wonderful!! The food was delicious!
