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 décrite comme une institution de la poutine à Montréal, avec un éventail impressionnant de variantes allant de la poutine classique à des assemblages originaux comme smoked meat, guacamole ou onion rings, tous généreusement chargés. Les portions sont généreuses et la fritte est croustillante, le fromage fondant et la sauce riche font rêver les amateurs, et les convives apprécient aussi les options végétariennes et les déclinaisons plus audacieuses. Le cadre est animé et chaleureux, le service est rapide et efficace même en période d’affluence, et le personnel est globalement sympathique. L’endroit attire autant les touristes que les habitants et, malgré la file d’attente notamment le soir, l’expérience vaut le détour. Le choix est si vaste que chacun peut trouver une poutine qui lui ressemble, avec des combinaisons allant du classique au plus extravagant, et même des plats à partager avec amplement de quoi rassasier. En somme, une expérience montréalaise incontournable pour les amateurs de poutine, où la saveur et l’abondance restent au rendez-vous même lorsque la salle est pleine et animée.
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.
7 mars 2026
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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.
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.
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.
I tried their Classic Poutine. It was my first time at Montreal but I loved it & had great time. I went there solo but had a good time & amazing friendly people.
30 nov. 2025
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La Banquise is where most poutine journeys begin, & for good reason. It's Montreal's most famous spot, an institution known for its dizzying array of takes on the classic Quebecois dish. While the menu spans everything from'Elvis' to'La Obélix,' there's an undeniable pleasure in sticking to the original: perfectly crisp, golden fries, squeaky fresh cheese curds, & a rich, savory brown gravy.
Admittedly, for a seasoned poutine connoisseur, La Banquise might feel a little like a tourist rite of passage-there are indeed hidden gems across the city offering arguably'better' versions. However, this vibrant, 24-hour spot is the perfect, delicious introduction for the poutine novice. It sets the standard & provides the ideal starting point before you level up to the more refined competition. Go for the classic, savor the experience, & let the curd life begin!
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.
To be honest, this wasn't my favorite poutine experience. The wait was very long, & I tried two different options but didn't really enjoy either. I do wonder if the classic poutine might have been a better choice.
27 mai 2025
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La Banquise is a must-visit spot in Montreal, especially for poutine lovers like me. During my trip, it was the first place on my list, & it definitely lived up to the hype. The place was packed, but we were lucky to grab the last available table. However, others had to wait quite a while for a seat.
We tried three different poutines: breaded chicken, smoked meat, & La Savoyarde. The smoked meat poutine was by far the standout - it was absolutely mouthwatering & a must-try! The breaded chicken poutine was also really good, with tender, juicy chicken. While La Savoyarde was an interesting twist on poutine, it wasn't our favorite, as it was a bit different from the classic. Overall, I highly recommend La Banquise for an authentic poutine experience.
The classic poutine wi the Montreal smoke meat was the best I've had! We also tried a Mexican approach with guacamole which was surprisingly delicious as well. If you're not a fan of gravy on fries, definitely try the one with guacamole (forgot the name). Can't wait to go back!
Service is friendly & the atmosphere is very cozy. There was a line upon entering but it moved very fast & we were seated within 5-10 minutes. I ordered the classic poutine & it was just alright. The fries were good but the gravy was quite watery & unfavourable & there wasn't quite enough cheese curds for my liking. Not a terrible meal but any means & decently priced just expected a bit more from such a classic establishment.
La Banquise is the best poutine spot in all of North America. There's just nothing quite like it. There's a wide selection of different poutine's to try, but just the original classic poutine on its own is SO GOOD. It may even concert a poutine hater to a poutine lover. Now I know what you're thinking, "It's just fries with cheese & gravy on top. How good could it be?" Well it's pretty darn good because we have kept coming back time after time on our visits to Montreal & we're from Toronto. I've attached pictures & videos of our visit on two separate occasions, one year apart. Here's something you have to know: you will have to wait & it will be crowded. There are so many people that want to try this poutine & come back because it is quite literally world famous so there's always a line out front. Also, once you get inside, it is a pretty small restaurant, but there are many tables that are very closely placed together so you might feel a little bit cramped. However, the service is quick because they need to be to accommodate all the people constantly coming in & out, & they're pretty helpful at helping you choose what you might like. We recommend the classic poutine & La Royale. We also heard that a lot of locals prefer the poutine across the street at La Poule Mouillée but we realized they only serve one type of poutine there so we chose to try a well-known & widely popular restaurant instead, & we're glad that we did. It lives up to the hype & you have to try it the next time you're in Montreal.
4 janv. 2025
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This is an absolute must visit. The classic poutine is top notch. The additional poutine options are fun & also very tasty. The Scooby was basically a burger on top of the classic. So good! The regular portion is more than enough per person. This place gets very busy but don't be scared as they are very efficient. The staff is focused on getting people seated & food ordered promptly. You will not be disappointed!
Old & classic poutinery with diverse menu. Very cozy place & the line in front of it moves relatively fast. If you want to experience Quebec classic poutine & you are a visitor to Montreal, this is the best place for that. It is also fun to go to a place after midnight that is not exactly a bar! Good place for the night owl cravings!
Just had an AMAZING dinner at La Banquise located in Montreal Canada & I can't stop raving about it! 🥳The poutine was out of this world - so many delicious varieties to choose from! 🍟🧀 From classic to creative topping combinations, each bite was better than the last. If you haven't been, you HAVE to try it. Perfect place for foodies & poutine lovers alike! ❤️ #FoodieAdventures #LaBanquise #PoutinePerfection #DeliciousEats
