Restaurant L'Express, located in Le Plateau Mont-Royal, Montreal is one of Montreal's best-known French bistros. The menu rotates somewhat, and there are always daily specials, but l'Express specializes in: pâté, foie gras and bouillabaisse appetizers; steak tartare, steak-frites and veal kidney main courses; and cheeses, crème caramel or chocolate mousse desserts.
L'Express comes across in reviews as a beloved Montreal staple that evokes a Parisian bistro vibe with a lively yet cozy dining room, a long bar, and mirrors that create a bustling, intimate atmosphere. The menu features generous portions of classic dishes like bone marrow, confit duck, steak frites, and beef tartare, complemented by crowd-pleasing desserts such as maple profiteroles and crème brûlée, and sharing-friendly touches like a large jar of house pickles, cornichons, bread, and Dijon mustard. Service is repeatedly praised for being warm, professional, and attentive, though a few visits note occasional delays or missteps and some dishes feeling a bit salty or pricey; reservations are advised and the overall experience is described as authentic, comforting, and quintessentially French, making L'Express a top choice for both locals and visitors.
Went for lunch expecting more from such an established institution. I ordered the rognons, which were unfortunately disappointing. Out of all the pieces, 2 or 3 were poorly cleaned, giving the entire plate a strong, unpleasant taste. This wasn't my first time having kidneys - I simply wished they had been better prepared.
The service was also mediocre. We had to flag down our server multiple times to get our bottle of wine, as they were storing it somewhere other than near our table.
Would I give it another chance? Perhaps in a couple of years. For context, lunch for two - including one starter, two main dishes, & a $65 bottle of wine - came to $210.
The Sorrel soup was… well as good as Sorrel soup can get I guess… was ok
The duck confit was (probably) good, if it wasn't swimming in some kind of a red beans stew that completely overwhelmed the taste & texture of the duck :(
The baba a rum was superb.
Apr 26, 2026
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Such a classic french bistro! Learned that the same titles restaurant on park ave in manhattan is not connected. & as someone who went to both now, can't stand up to the real French Montréal version!
L'Express is truly one of the best places in Montréal to experience a classic French dining atmosphere. The service is fast, professional, & very experienced. Even though it's busy, everything runs smoothly. You can really feel the Parisian vibe the black-&-white flooring, bar seating, & energetic atmosphere are all spot on. If you want to experience a true French dining experience in Montréal, this place is absolutely a must.
Très bonne & jolie brasserie française plutôt parisienne exactement comme la bas avec quelques produits d'ici , le velouté de cepes est le meilleur que j'ai goûté de ma vie , la viande & les frites aussi, les rillettes etaient fades mais ca ne gache rien, la carte des vins & aperitifs digestifs exhaustive & Excellente, nous reviendrons pour cafe dessert sûrement. Des années après toujours aussi bons & accueillants
Las veces que hemos ido esta delicioso !!
Recomiendo que hagan reservacion por que todo el tiempo por la tarde esta lleno !!
El vino , la Comida 100%
Servicio : amables , rapidos !
El Salomon con lentejas ( lentejas un poco duras )
Pulpo perfecto
Super adresse sur Saint-Denis à Montréal ! Cette brasserie française propose une cuisine authentique avec un excellent rapport qualité-prix.
Côté assiette, tout était au rendez-vous : le carpaccio de boeuf était tout simplement délicieux, tout comme les rillettes, riches & savoureuses. En plat, les cailles au riz noir étaient parfaitement maîtrisées : une viande tendre, goûteuse. Tout le repas est aussi accompagnée d'un grand pot de cornichons & d'une moutarde bien relevée qui apportent une vraie touche de caractère.
La carte des vins est également un gros point fort : large choix & prix très raisonnables, parfait pour accompagner le repas sans se ruiner.
Seul petit bémol : l'ambiance est très (très) bruyante. Il peut parfois être difficile de s'entendre ou même de bien comprendre le serveur. Cela participe sans doute à l'esprit brasserie, mais ça peut déranger selon les moments.
Je vous conseille de réserver avant aussi !
Une excellente adresse malgré tout, que je recommande sans hésiter !
Great place for a date night. The service was fantastic, more European than American style. The food was delicious, fries were well salted, steak well cooked (as you like it), & the shallot-butter was so good I want to try making it at home. The place is nicely laid out with good lighting. Just remember to book a reservation.
Apr 18, 2026
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L'Express is my favoruite resturant in the city. That's why it's super disappointing they hung up on me when I tried to snag a spot I could not find online by calling in. Most resturants hold tables from online for call ins. Can't beleive I was treated so rudely...
This iconic Montreal institution sets an impeccable table. The cuisine is outstanding, highlighted by a classic bone marrow & a legendary steak tartare, made even more authentic by the signature jars of cornichons & grainy mustard. Service is both crisp & convivial, ensuring the atmosphere remains refined yet approachable. To finish, an exquisite value-driven selection from the renowned cellar rounds out the evening perfectly.
L'Express is often heralded as one of the most iconic institutions Montreal has to offer, which played a major part in shaping the city's iconic food landscape. As such, I chose to dine in this restaurant with my partner for her birthday, expecting to be completely blown away by its food & wanted to confirm if their food matches their hype.
It does not at all. The food is absolutely average. Starting with their in-house bread, which was extremely chewy & tough, like horribly tough… on the other hand, the mustard & pickles were very nice (probably the nicest thing we had).
We chose bone marrow, having had bone marrow at other institutions in the city, we were expecting something similar. But no, it was not; it was unpleasant, very unpleasant, & painful to eat. The bone marrow was not seasoned in any way.
Next, ravioli. This was quite good, I'll give this to them. The filling was rich, the gravy it came in was quite thick & wonderful. One thing I will unfortunately point out: have the ravioli quickly because the gravy will get congealed quickly.
Lastly, one of the dishes that you will frequently see people talk about the most is the Hanger Steak. I tried it, & honestly, just skip this dish altogether. The fries were regular fries (almost the exact same fries you get at Orange Julep), & the cut of steak is just sad with how much you are paying for it. The meat is not seasoned, extremely tough, & also, I do not think they baste their steak post-cooking either. Personally, I did not enjoy having a cold slab of butter on top. For a main highlight meat dish I didn't like that I had two contrasting competing temperatures in my mouth. I'd appreciate it in an entree but maybe not in a main dish.
Service is average, nothing fancy; you walk in, eat, walk out, no questions asked.
Personally, L'Express did not match its hype. I don't think I'll be coming back here again.
Ambiance was very nice, reminded me of Parisian restaurants.
