La Banquise, une petite crémerie à ses débuts, a vu le jour en mai 1968. Son fondateur, Pierre Barsalou, un pompier du quartier, transforma celle-ci en casse-croûte ouvert 24H dès l’automne 1968. On pouvait alors y déguster d’excellents hot-dogs et des frites succulentes. La poutine fit son apparition au début des années 80, avec la poutine classique et l’italienne. Devant le succès populaire, et à la demande répétée de plusieurs clients, les choix de poutines se multiplient. On compte maintenant pas moins de 25 poutines différentes. La Banquise est encore aujourd’hui une entreprise familiale. La fille cadette de M. Barsalou, Annie, a pris la relève dans les années 90, en compagnie de Marc Latendresse, son conjoint. Ils continuent ensemble de perpétuer la tradition de qualité et la renommée du Restaurant La Banquise. À l’été 2006, La Banquise fait d’importantes rénovations et agrandi considérablement sa salle à manger. Une quarantaine d’années plus tard, La Banquise est devenu bien plus qu’un simple casse-croûte ou une «place à poutine». Il s’agit également d’un endroit convivial et chaleureux où l’on peut déguster des bières de micro-brasserie, un menu du jour complet ainsi que d’excellents déjeuners. Merci beaucoup à notre fidèle clientèle, les oiseaux de nuit, les groupes d’amis, en passant par les travailleurs, les étudiants, les petites familles, etc... d’avoir façonné à votre image, l’histoire de La Banquise et d’en avoir fait le succès actuel.
La Banquise est largement reconnue comme une destination incontournable à Montréal pour quiconque souhaite découvrir une poutine authentique et variée. Le restaurant est célèbre pour ses portions généreuses, sa grande sélection de garnitures créatives, ainsi que pour sa sauce savoureuse et ses fromages en grains frais. Bien que l'établissement soit fréquemment achalandé, entraînant des attentes inévitables et une ambiance animée, voire bruyante, la rapidité du service et le statut emblématique de ses plats en font une halte appréciée tant par les résidents que par les touristes. Qu'il s'agisse de déguster une recette classique ou d'explorer des variations originales, de nombreux clients considèrent l'expérience globale comme un passage obligé et satisfaisant lors d'un séjour en ville.
La Banquise is an absolute must-visit if you're in Montreal. The poutine is incredible crispy fries, rich gravy, & perfectly melted cheese curds all come together in the best way. The portions are generous, the atmosphere is fun & lively, & there's a huge variety of poutines to choose from.
Everything feels authentic, comforting, & satisfying. Whether it's your first poutine or you're already a fan, La Banquise delivers. Easily one of the best spots in Montreal for a late-night bite or a classic Quebec experience. 10/10 I'd absolutely come back!
amazing poutine ! was told i was probably not gonna like my first bill as its a particular taste but let me tell you that was amazing ! started with the classic & then tried the savoyarde which is also so so good !!!
6 mai 2026
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La Banquise is a must-visit spot if you're in Montreal & want to try authentic & delicious poutine. The variety on the menu is impressive, with so many creative toppings & combinations that there's something for everyone.
The food is rich, flavorful, & very satisfying-perfect comfort food, especially after exploring the city. The portions are generous, & the experience feels very classic Montreal.
The food is affordable & definitely worth the price. It's not expensive at all considering the portion sizes & quality you get. You really feel like you're getting good value for your money.
What really stood out was the staff & overall vibe-everyone was friendly, energetic, & clearly enjoying the atmosphere. Even though the place is often busy, the staff keep things moving smoothly & still manage to stay welcoming & upbeat, which adds a lot to the experience.
Overall, La Banquise is a fun, iconic, & delicious stop in Montreal with great food & an amazing vibe. Definitely worth visiting at least once when you're in the city.
While La Banquise is a Montreal'classic', I don't think it's the best poutine in the city or anything. It's worth it if you want to eat an outrageous poutine with pretty amazing meat combinations but the fries & gravy themselves are pretty average.
Basically, I would recommend going there for the novelty but if you are just looking for good poutine, it's widely available across the city. Plus, the place tends to be very busy & is cramped so it's hard to sit down & just enjoy yourself.
Lives up to the hype! OMG from the classic to the most elaborate variations, this place is heavy on earth for poutine lovers. They also serve sandwiches & burgers in case you're not in the mood for fries. I'd recommend to go with enough time since lines might be long depending on the time of the day. They also have 24 hour delivery 🔥
Highly recommend the Elvis which comes with a generous portion of meat.
On a slightly negative note, my girlfriend got the classic poutine which was mostly just fries. For some reason there was only a small amount of gravy & cheese curds in the very middle.
Place was very busy so I'm going to assume this was simply a rare mistake.
Still enjoyed the food, it's a classic poutine spot, but it's by no means the best you can find.
La Banquise delivered exactly what we came for: legendary poutine & a fun, lively vibe. I went for the smoked meat poutine - L'Obélix - & it was outstanding. Perfect fries, rich gravy, plenty of cheese curds, & that smoky, tender meat on top took it over the edge.
My brother ordered La Elvis, which was loaded, indulgent, & exactly the kind of over?the?top poutine you hope it will be. Our niece kept it classic with La Classique, & even the simplest version was spot?on. When a place nails the basics, you know the rest is going to be great.
They also have a surprisingly good craft beer selection, which paired perfectly with the food & the atmosphere.
If you're in Montreal & craving poutine - whether you want traditional or something wild - La Banquise absolutely lives up to the hype. I'd go back in a heartbeat.
Loved our food! The classic poutine was a must as this was my first experience. However,'La Shoot Out' was an excellent alternative to try. The smoked meats on top were to DIE for, & my highlight of the experience. Everyone was accomodating & friendly, which made up greatly for the tight seating. Great spot.
