Monsieur Smoked Meat (Lerster's Deli or Mr Smoked Meat) is situated in the beautiful Outremont, on the north side of Mount Royal, in the heart of Montreal. Lesters Deli has maintained a reputation for serving some of the finest hot smoked meat sandwich in Montreal since 1951! Mr Smoked Meat also offers you delicious Montreal Smoked Meat, freshly cut, vacuum-sealed and ready to be heated whenever and wherever the craving arises.
Overall, Lester's Deli blends an old fashioned, nostalgic Montreal deli atmosphere with consistently tender smoked meat and generous sides like dill pickles, coleslaw, and fries, often accompanied by fast, friendly service and a warm, local vibe. Many reviews praise the meat as rich, juicy, and flavorful, with some calling it among the best in town and a standout option for those looking for an authentic Montreal smoke meat experience. The experience is described as approachable and affordable for the portion size, though a few readers note price increases and portions that feel smaller or meat that is leaner than before. Takeout and dine in both attract loyal fans, and the counter style with retro memorabilia adds to a sense of community and tradition. Some comments mention occasional service hiccups or long lines during peak times, while others highlight exceptionally friendly staff and hospitable gestures that feel like a visit to a friend. Sides such as house made pickles, coleslaw, and poutine are frequently praised for freshness, though fries or bread may be noted as too salty or some meat not as brisket like as expected. Overall the deli is considered a Montreal classic and a must visit for smoked meat lovers seeking a nostalgic, flavorful bite and a taste of local deli history.
Been here three times now the poutine was pretty bad burnt tasting & rubbery cheese but the hot dogs are great & smoked meat was comparable to Schwartz not my favourite either way
Tried this back to back after visiting Schwartz's & honestly loved it even more! The meat was smokier & to me had more flavour. The deli itself also had that historic diner feel. Highly recommend if you're visiting Montreal!
Mar 17, 2026
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Visiting Montreal from Thunder Bay with my wife for the second time. I was looking forward to trying the smoked meats around the city. I hunt & prepare my own meats, so I like to see what locals eat when it comes to meats. I made a point to stop by Lester's because I only managed to hit Schwartz last time & I heard the consensus is split between which is better.
As a meat lover, I found the smoked meat here to be slightly better than Schwartz (I even made a trip back to Schwartz to compare because I needed another taste after 2 years). The moisture of the meat is well balanced, flavorful & not overly chewy or stringy. It has that classic smoked flavor that you only get in the high-quality product.
Experience with the three staff members was memorable & more personal than Schwartz. It was clearly a close-knit family dynamic with the staff which made the atmosphere very welcoming.
The young American lady at the counter greeted us & answered my questions about the menu as well as some friendly small talk with my wife. She was knowledgeable about the shop's history & showed great positive attention to my wife who likes to talk a lot (fortunately the store was empty so she didnt keep anyone from their job). The American woman recommended a hotdogs for my wife, which she loved & ordered a second. The young lady recommended a carrot cake. I dont usually eat desserts for my health, but I tried a bite of my wife's & had to take a few more. The cake was excellent as was the hotdog according to my wife.
Meanwhile, I chatted with the gentleman who prepared the meat, Louie, who told me a bit about the process. I could see he is a master of the craft.
Overall, the atmosphere, service, & flavor exceeded Schwartz, & I believe it was largely due to the care & attention paid by the workers. As a small business owner, seeing these types of people who are knowledgeable & passionate show that the business isn't hiring just anybody to do the most important work, preparing the high-quality smoked meat which Lesters is known for.
Lester's is a Montreal classic & I recommend anyone to go. The friendliness, humour, & relaxed enthusiasm was a great start to our trip. I loved how they guided us through ordering & their interactions with us. This coupled with the vintage interior is an experience on its own. Amazing customer experience. Ask about their house mustard!
The unfortunate part of Lester's was the smoked meat sandwich, in comparison to Schwartz's it's bland, the bread is bland, & the meat lacks punch & bite. The poutine was quite good so it brings the overall a bit higher
2.3/5
en se qui me concerne le lester s deli la viande fumé 5 étoile encore mieux que celui que tout le monde adore schwartz sur st laurent lester s au resto ou a l épicerie toujours parfait the best
Wr were told their smoked meat & food was comparable if not better than Schwartz's. We wanted to do the test ourselves. It was delicious & the staff was specially the chef were kind, witty & interactive. We come from Florida & smoke meat is our treat as there is nowhere better than Mtl!
My girlfriend & I came here twice during our trip. One through a good tour & once more when we were walking through the neighborhood. I preferred this spot over Schwartz. Quieter, friendlier staff, retro interior. Must visit if you're in the area.
Aug 24, 2025
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Dropped by for a smoked meat sandwich. Had been years since I had actually sat in the restaurant. I usually pick up or get delivery. We were warmly greeted by the young lady behind the counter & told to grab any seat. Then Ashley & her team gave us excellent service. We were expertly guided through the menu to make sure we ordered correctly as there are several subtle differences in the menu options when it comes to sandwiches. I ordered the Super deluxe platter which included a drink, dill pickle, a frie & the large sandwich with 3/4's of a pound of meat. The sandwich was delicious except I ordered it fatty & I found it very lean as compared to a fatty at Schwartz's. The fries were not great as they were soggy & probably fried in oil that wasn't to temp. My wife's Cole slaw was delicious as was her meat platter. Loved the nostalgic feeling of eating in as it brings me back to a bygone era. All in all a yummy treat with a couple of easily'fixable' issues. Could easily be 5 stars. Recommended.
Food was delicious & the pickle 🥒 was crunchy & tasty. Loved the authentic feel of this Old school & very MTL deli. They had a bunch of quartered pickles & coleslaw portions on the counter just sitting there on a very hot day, not covered.( The restaurant was empty) That was a bit of a red flag for me but that's how they've been doing it for a long time so I guess it's fine right?. The smoked meat sandwich was great but still ranks 2nd Best behind Schwartz's Deli. It didn't feel like home made smoked meat but more like prefabricated meat from the package. I would not be back solely for this reason but it was still delicious & I ate it all.
Great stop on our visit to Montreal. I preferred Lester's smoked meat sandwich over Schwartz's, for what it's worth. The inside had a nice old-school vibe & the owners & employees were all very friendly & accommodating. We visited on a Monday around noon & there was no wait.
May 16, 2024
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The smoked meat sandwich was delicious. In my opinion, I think it was better than Schwartz's. However, it is kind of expensive for what you get, which is while I deducted a star. Would eat here again.
Another MUST when visiting Montreal! The Smoked Meat Sandwich, tremendous! Very simple but nothing quite like it. The tourists go to Schwartz's Deli but the locals know the deal, Lester's Deli is the ONE!
Excellent meat sandwich, delicious hand cut fries & a super fun service. The decor is delightfully retro. Highly recommended, great alternative & / or complement to Schwartz's!!
