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.
Hooo mais quel bonne adresse pour manger une poutine, lieu avec une belle histoire à ça création. Nous y avons mangé 2 fois & avons eu 2 équipes différentes & bien la qualité de service & d'ambiance était parfaite.
Belle terrasse, les prix sont pas trop pire honnêtement. J'y suis allé récemment & heureux de vour que la qualité a resté après toutes ses années. Si un touriste me demande ou aller gouter une poutine je l'envoie là... on peut discuter toute la journée qui fait la meilleure mais je crois que pour l'expérience globale c'est les best. Aussi, ouvert 24h! Belle façon de finir une soirée
Aug 12, 2025
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A must visit if you're in Montreal. The service is crazy fast & efficient & the poutine is authentic & crave able! Sometimes I think I need some at 4am... There will probably come a day 😂
Tight quarters in the restaurant, but they are moving people pretty fast & the staff knows what they are doing. Must try! I'll be back again soon.
When I used to visit Montreal pre pandemic, there was no huge line like it is now. We came to grab a takeout at 930pm on a Sunday night. It was about 20-30 wait. Good for local business being so popular! We ordered poutine with smoked meat, bacon, spicy sausages, & pepperoni on it. You can't go wrong with any of their poutine. My wife & I devoured the entire grande serving box!
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.
Jul 27, 2025
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J'ai testé pour la première fois la poutine. Eh bien c'était le lieu idéal ! C'était bon ! Au sujet de la fréquentation le lieu est victime de son succès, beaucoup de monde au heures de pointe. Mais malgré cela une bonne gestion du flux.
If your willing to wait then you have to eat at LA Banquise!! The line was down the block!! The crazy part was no one minded. It was as if they knew it was going to be worth it. They are famous for thier poutines & they take it seriously. There are enough choices of poutines to satisfy everyone. I am glad I waited. I will never come back to Montreal without stopping by. All foodies...report to LA Banquise!! Your stomach will thank you!
Tuvimos suerte y esperamos poco tiempo en fila, había muchísima gente dentro, en el menú había unos 50 tipos de Poutine, buen servicio, super recomendado.
Like everything else is this city when it comes to F&B this place changed & not for the better.
Food:
Taste - the main & only ingredient being used is salt. There was no flavors in this poutine like it used to be, it's just salty
Portion - not in the bowls they used to have that were truly big & well plated with lots of cheese. Also for 26$ plus tax perhaps put the toppings on your full plate not just half of it as per the picture
Service:
Unfortunately we got stuck with potentially the worst waitress in the restaurant. Miss'self love' tattoo should have a little more'respect for others'. Horrible attitude from taking the order to giving the bill when I was denied a copy of my receipt because she assumed I didn't want & never asked & printed her copy. Working in this industry is not for everyone. I feel bad for the other hard working staff members that were picking up her slack & serving us after. It sucks to pool tips with someone like that who doesn't deserve it.
Atmosphere:
Lively, fast, buzzing with people & energetic vibe. From tourists to locals side by side & loud conversations with laughter & anecdotes. Thank God one thing remains the same...
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.
