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.
I'm a vegetarian & was happy to learn their baseline plain poutine is vegetarian! (They use vegetarian gravy!) But what makes this place is all the varieties of poutine you can get. Several vegetarian options too! I LOVED this Mexican style poutine, with sour cream & guacamole & tomatoes.. it was like poutine nachos. Worth the wait outside (the line moves pretty fast!)
This is my first time here after 3 years & it's just as good as the last time. I had the La Scooby & it's super filling. I only ordered the regular size & only finished half. We went at 2pm on a Tuesday, so there was no wait & easy parking.
I don't know why this place is so good, but it is! We decided to go on a whim, & ended up waiting outside in -12 degrees for an hour & I don't regret a minute.
I generally don't enjoy poutine. I don't hate it, but it can be a bit soggy & gross. Their poutine made me a believer! The staff was friendly (& it was busy) & the food was just simply delicious.
For the record, they are taking credit card - so we didn't have to pay with debit or get cash out of an ATM. Although we were prepared to pay with debit.
Pedimos o Poutine clássico e um com carne e ambos estavam muito bons e muito bem servidos, além da cerveja muito boa também. a parte ruim fois a fila de quase uma hora no inverno.
Good food, great service. Wanted to try Montreal poutine. The only reason it's a 4 star & not 5 is because the line up was very long & we were standing in the cold😭
Must go place. Amazing service..lovely vibe.. delicious food.
We ordered a meat poutine. It was next level yum... We could barely find the fries. Full-on meat. (5/5)
Maple cake (4/5) must try.
They are so kind. I overheard them guiding a guest how to use the parking metre in the street even in that busy time.
Dec 26, 2025
on Google
🍽️
Know where to eat in Montreal before everyone else.
Get the first look at the hottest openings, secret menus, and RestoMontreal.ca's weekly top picks. Join 50,000+ foodies.
Classic, great diner atmosphere. Fun to go with friends, delicious poutine & fries. The peppercorn sauce is surprisingly amazing! Portions are huge. Parking was a pain. They only seat your group if everyone is present, but the turnover is steady so we didn't have to wait too long while we waited for one friend parking the car.
Even on a snowy day the line to get in the store is large. But the routine is still worth the wait. The Onion rings is too good too. Even recommend that!!!
There was a long line when we arrived, but it was 100% worth the wait. The poutine was loaded, crispy, & packed with flavor. Everything came out hot & fresh. I'd happily wait again!
Good food but it is very busy & very cramped. You will have to squeeze between tables to get through & unfortunately some people don't care to realize that it's not that hard to move your chair a bit so others can get by. The washrooms are a disgusting mess & should be cleaned more often, you will lose your appetite if you go in one of them. Other than that, the place is ok for a quick, tasty poutine.
Sadly, this place is overrated. I get it, it's a good late night snack poutine after a night out, especially knowing they are open late. But the taste is not the best. If it's your first poutine, & you want the best of the best experiment, I do not recommend. The staff & everything else is cool/good, but not worth for a poutine if you have other options.
Poutine. You either love it or you don't .
Regardless, you should have one at La Banquise. The best poutine I ate in Montreal. There are about 30 different combinations. Each has thoughtfully selected ingredients that blend in a gourmand way. The French fries are delicious, good size & well prepared. Extra ingredients & different sauces allow you to personalize the chosen poutine to your full satisfaction. Feel free to take inspiration from the main menu. The sizes, small & large, are very generous. Large poutine might be a challenge to finish. So if you are not sure take two small instead. You will enjoy it even more. The place is not too big but warm & cozy. Uniquely decorated, it gives you an impression of being outside in a nice sunny backyard under a tree around a beautiful table. It can get pretty busy in there but it's definitely worth the wait.
The best poutine ever. I used to come here regularly when I lived in Montreal. After four years away, I was back in the city for a visit & went straight to La Banquise. I ordered the La Reggae, & it was just as delicious as I remembered the same incredible taste I've known since I was a teenager. It was around 3 a.m., & honestly, Montrealers are truly blessed to have this place. Simply the best poutine
