Lesters Deli s'impose comme une institution incontournable du smoked meat montréalais, proposant un bœuf fumé et mariné avec précision, coupé à la main pour garantir une tendreté optimale. Chaque sandwich présente de généreuses portions de poitrine épicée, empilées sur du pain de seigle et rehaussées de moutarde jaune traditionnelle. Le menu se concentre sur les classiques de la charcuterie, offrant des frites croustillantes et des cornichons acidulés pour compléter la profondeur savoureuse de la viande. Les clients découvrent un environnement dynamique caractérisé par un décor fonctionnel et une efficacité marquée, reflétant l'atmosphère authentique des charcuteries historiques. Cet établissement priorise la qualité de son processus de fumage, assurant un profil gustatif constant qui maintient sa renommée locale. Chaque sélection témoigne d'une maîtrise des techniques de préparation qui définissent cette spécialité culinaire emblématique depuis plusieurs générations.
Lester's Deli est largement reconnu comme une destination emblématique de Montréal, offrant une atmosphère de restaurant classique et nostalgique sans les attentes interminables souvent observées ailleurs. De nombreux clients louent la viande fumée pour sa tendreté, sa jutosité et son assaisonnement équilibré, la classant fréquemment parmi les meilleures de la ville avec des portions généreuses. En plus des sandwichs signatures, la poutine, les hot-dogs et les accompagnements faits maison, comme la salade de chou et les cornichons, sont salués pour leur qualité. Le service est constamment décrit comme chaleureux, accueillant et efficace, favorisant une hospitalité authentique qui permet aux visiteurs de se sentir comme des habitués. Bien que certains suggèrent que l'établissement bénéficierait de petites rénovations pour préserver son charme historique, le consensus général souligne un joyau local apprécié qui propose une expérience culinaire authentique et mémorable.
I came here for the smoke meat sandwich & was not disappointed!!! That's all I had but the menu had a lot of additional options. The workers here were very friendly & talked with us about the restaurant & the neighborhood.
The smoked meat is ok. I still prefer Shwartz's downtown (despite the complaints they've been receiving). This place is just way too expensive these days. If one sandwich has to cost you a bag of groceries for the week, something is very wrong.
La quête du meilleur smoked meat de Montréal se poursuit!
4e arrêt : Lester's.
Le smoked meat de chez Lester's grimpe directement à la 2e place de mon palmarès, juste derrière Schwartz's. Une belle surprise!
Petit bémol : il n'est pas possible de commander une assiette, seulement des items à la carte. Je n'ai donc pas pu goûter au fameux pickle. J'ai plutôt opté pour les frites, qui étaient tout simplement excellentes.
Le sandwich est généreux, bien garni & préparé avec des ingrédients de qualité. Une adresse que je recommande sans hésitation pour les amateurs de smoked meat.
My New Favorite Smoked Meat Spot in Montreal!I visited Lester's Deli for the first time last weekend during a trip to Montreal, & it was an incredible experience from start to finish. If you want a classic, old-school diner vibe without dealing with the massive, exhausting lines at some of the other famous tourist spots in the city, this is absolutely the place to go.The highlight of the meal was, without a doubt, the iconic Montreal smoked meat sandwich. I was thoroughly impressed by the quality of the beef. The meat was stacked impressively high between the rye bread, & it was incredibly tender & juicy. Every single bite practically melted in my mouth, which is exactly what you hope for in a top-tier deli. What really stood out to me, though, was the seasoning profile. A lot of places tend to over-salt their briskets, which can quickly overpower the flavor & leave you constantly reaching for a glass of water. Lester's gets the balance perfectly right. It was savory & deeply spiced, but not that salty at all. It hit the absolute perfect sweet spot for my personal taste. It lets the natural flavor of the high-quality beef & their 72-hour homemade brine shine through.On top of the fantastic food, the service was fast, warm, & highly welcoming, & the retro decor gives the whole restaurant a wonderful charm. It is a true local gem. I will absolutely be coming back the next time I am in town!
We decided we needed to try a smoked meat sandwich during our visit to Montreal in mid-May 2026 & wound up visiting Lester's Deli in the Outremont area. As a side note, if you're trying to get here & are looking at street numbers on Bernard Ave, the numbers skip from 300s to 1000s due to the old numbering system they used (we thought we were 7 blocks away but then saw the signs for Lester's & were confused).
We ordered the Smoked Meat Sandwich ($16), All Dressed Hot Dog ($4.5), Regular Poutine ($10.5) & added a dill pickle for good measure.
The shop wasn't very busy at the time, which is a definite plus... didn't want to wait in a huge line like some other places.
The sandwich itself was pretty good. It was piled high with meat & the meat was tender & not dry. The hot dog was better than expected too with a thin bun, mustard, sweet relish, & crisp onions. The poutine had lots of gravy & cheese & was well balanced. We wound up taking some of the smoked meat from our sandwich & mixing it with the poutine & that kicked it up a notch. If we weren't already so full, we would have eaten more.
Tried Lesters? Schwartz & Snowden in last 2 days n I might just be imagining it (cause I asked for 1/2smoked meat each time, but when I made my sandwich it felt Lesters gave me MORE then both other places.
Tastes of all 3 are comparable n prob based more on when you go/where the butcher cuts your parts from.
All times I had medium as the fattyness level.
This place is only 1 of 3 that's has an justice seating area which is nice.
Staff were nice at all 3 places.
We went to Lester's Deli, a historic Montreal restaurant located in Outremont that has been serving traditional smoked meat sandwiches since 1951, & they are celebrating their 75th anniversary this year. It is considered one of the top smoked meat spots in the city. We ordered the Smoked Meat Special & Smoked Meat Sandwich. The signature classic Montreal-style smoked meats were served with bread, yellow mustard, accompanied by a side of fries & whole dill pickles. It was a casual deli experience but the food tasted delicious & appetizing!
Am 35year client. Always have same..Brisket sandwich. This time overly salty,tried to get attention of my server but was busy chatting up 2 tourists.Left half my meal & went to pay. After explaining my experience to cashier,all I received was a glassed over look ,zero response & my bill..... How's that for customer service
