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La Banquise Cover Image
La Banquise Montreal RestoMontreal.ca
La Banquise Montreal RestoMontreal.ca
La Banquise Montreal RestoMontreal.ca
La Banquise Montreal RestoMontreal.ca
La Banquise Montreal RestoMontreal.ca
La Banquise Montreal RestoMontreal.ca
Restaurant Top Pick

La Banquise

La Banquise is known throughout the world for its famous poutines.
Le Plateau-Mont-Royal
4.5$ & $$
OPENOpen 24Hrs
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
Casse-Croute (Snack Bar)PoutineBurgersRegionalBreakfastSaladsVegetarianVegan Options

About

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.

Details

Our Specialties

Poutine

Amenities, services & more

We accept:  Interac, ATM machine
We are located near Lafontaine Park. Gift Certificates available.
Paying parking across the street and free parking on the side street of restaurant.
30 seats.
5★
68%
4★
18%
3★
7%
2★
7%
1★
0%
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Reviews for La Banquise

Food
Service
on Google4.4 (20500+)
*as of 2026-07-21
5★
68%
4★
18%
3★
7%
2★
7%
1★
0%

Review Summary

La Banquise is widely recognized as a Montreal institution, celebrated for its extensive menu of creative poutine variations and generous portion sizes. While the restaurant is incredibly popular and frequently experiences long wait times and a lively, crowded atmosphere, many visitors find the high-quality food, fresh ingredients, and authentic taste worth the effort. The staff generally receives praise for being friendly and efficient, even during busy periods, though some guests note that the tight seating and occasional noise levels are part of the bustling experience. Whether stopping by for a classic version or trying a specialty, most patrons consider it a must-visit destination for those seeking a quintessential dining experience in the city.
Page 29 of 86 - 860 Reviews

The food is always good, but has never bern all that fast. Probably due to the constant line ups. Being open 24/7 is a plus but their service isnt much to brag about. There's usually always a line up. I hadn't had a banquis poutine in about a decade & really had a craving. After all this time, they still haven't graduated to providing better takeout containers to hold up to the heaviness of a poutine. It's a shame. Then again, we are living in a time where they think providing,'wooden forks' & paper straws are sufficient. Walk with your reusables guys. Trust me, you'll be happy you did. The smoked meat poutine was delicious though.

Sep 25, 2025
on Google

The food lived upto all the recommendations people made. Will come back next time I'm in town

Sep 25, 2025
on Google

I had the La Scooby (the smaller size) & it was delicious! It was loaded up & almost overflowing on the plate. There wasn't much of a wait when I arrived, but I could see there was a long line up for most of the time I was there eating. Service was quick. Only thing I would note is that it's very cramped in the building. It felt like my partner & I were forced to join the tables beside us. I understand that they're maximizing seating space so that they can have a better throughput, just felt a bit uncomfortable. However still an excellent choice for the first poutine stop in Montréal. Lots of options on the menu!

Sep 25, 2025
on Google

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.

Sep 20, 2025
on Google

Très cool & pas cher mais attention à la crise foie

Sep 20, 2025
on Google

A montreal staple, excellent for a greasy meal after a night out! It's best at around 2:30 am!

Sep 19, 2025
on Google

Incredible poutines! Local craft beer too.

Sep 19, 2025
on Google

Not really much to say just a good honest poutine at a reasonable price

Sep 19, 2025
on Google

Nous avons pris une poutine bacon & une poutine scouby, c'étaient excellent !!! Quantité généreuse. Cependant salle bruyante ...

Sep 17, 2025
on Google

La savoyarde est excellente !

Sep 17, 2025
on Google