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 as a Montreal institution that conjures a classic Parisian bistro with damier tiled floors, dark wood, mirrors and a lively, intimate atmosphere. The menu sticks to timeless French brasserie fare with touches of Quebec, delivering crowd pleasers such as bone marrow, celery remoulade, beef tartare, duck confit, octopus and ravioli alongside a dependable steak frites, all complemented by a strong wine list and the simple abundance of house pickles and bread at the table. Service is frequently praised as attentive and friendly, with guests noting warm welcomes and guidance in ordering, though some visits describe occasional lapses or a dining room that can become very noisy when busy. Desserts like creme brulee, profiteroles, baba au rhum and other classics are often highlighted as memorable finshers, while a few diners report dishes that were only good rather than outstanding or prices that feel high for the value. Taken together, the sentiment is that L'Express offers authentic French comfort with a nostalgic vibe, solid quality, and a reliable, if sometimes imperfect, experience that keeps guests returning and reservations advised.
Rude service staff, specifically the host who takes reservations. If you are anglophone, don't waste your money here - they will treat you differently & disrespect you.
Never heard of, but was suggested.
Small place serving big portions of delicious food. Had the bone marrow & the duck. They didn't miss with those dishes.
I will be back to try the rest.
Apr 8, 2026
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Amazing food… the duck was amazing, my husband & I have a thing about trying it out in every restaurant & so far this is one of the best ones. Risotto is a must have but wouldn't choose it as a main dish. Lemon tart is amazing!!
Classic French brasseries serving hearty dishes. We got the bone marrow for the starter which was okay but too oily & very filling. Personally, I would not recommend this as an appetizer as it was quite oily & essentially another version or bread with butter. But if you like bone marrow you will enjoy it. For main course we got the Boudin Noir (blood pudding) with apples & the hangar steak. Both were quite good & filling but the blood pudding was my favourite. The blood pudding was rich with a creamy texture while the mashed potatoes it comes with were very buttery. The fries with the steak were extra crispy (maybe a little over cooked) as well. Both the steak & the blood pudding felt like they were deep fried. We also got the maple profiteroles for dessert which was alright. The maple flavour is quite strong but it is essentially just profiteroles with maple ice cream in them. Overall not bad but you can get better food at a similar price at Monarque, which is much better.
Highly recomended restaurant from my Belgian friends brother. Had bone marrow for the first time it was nice, but different & takes a bit of effort to maximise the contents. The confit duck was good but not spectacular. Well cooked but the sides i felt although cooked lacked flavour. Finally dessert which was the best of the lot nice ppecan flavour & pastry but i felt was misding a bit between pastry & pecans but nice never the less. Excellent service , great staff. A solid but not spectacular place.
It was one of the best experiences I've had. The restaurant staff were excellent & very professional. The steak was really good, & the best thing I had was the profiteroles for dessert-I definitely recommend trying it.
Un véritable bistrot français comme on les aime, en plein coeur de Montréal. Dès l'entrée, on retrouve cette atmosphère chaleureuse & authentique qui rappelle les petites adresses parisiennes.
La cuisine est tout simplement remarquable : des plats classiques parfaitement exécutés, des produits de qualité & une attention aux détails qui fait toute la différence. Que ce soit pour un tartare, un confit ou un bon verre de vin, tout est maîtrisé.
Le service est professionnel tout en restant convivial, sans prétention. On se sent rapidement à l'aise, comme un habitué.
Une adresse incontournable pour ceux qui cherchent une vraie expérience française, sans compromis.
A true French bistro in the heart of Montreal. Warm, authentic atmosphere reminiscent of classic Parisian spots. The food is outstanding - perfectly executed classics, high-quality ingredients, & great attention to detail.
Service is professional yet friendly, making you feel at home right away.
A must-visit for anyone looking for a genuine French dining experience.
Small but mighty! L'express was a happening place on the Monday night in March when we visited from New York. Ordered the beet salad (red & yellow beets, goat cheese, arulgula, candied almonds, raspberries, with an apple cider vinaigrette), the duck confit, & the steak frites. Salad was delicious, duck was lovely & the steak was the best I've ever had. So tender. & can't forget the complimentary bread, butter, cornichons, & mustard!
The waitstaff was friendly & made an excellent recommendation for a wine pairing with our meal. At times we waited for water refills, but it was so lovely to be there we didn't mind. Food was rich & delicious, probably would have a heart attack if you came here regularly, but this is a great spot to celebrate a special occasion or just enjoy the company of someone you love. Small, bustling restaurant with a lovely neighborhood vibe. Would absolutely come back next time we find ourselves in Montreal. 10/10 would recommend to a friend!
One of the rare restaurants that hit the holy triangle: great taste, huge portion, reasonable price. One brunch here at 9AM literally sustained me for the whole day, didn't even need dinner.
What you'll notice immediately about L'Express is its authenticity. The room looks like it was plucked straight out of Paris. There is a long bar with a partition separating it from the dining room. The tables are well spaced, but the room has energy, so bring your own. Reservations are highly recommended. I arrived as a solo diner on a Monday at 7:45 & had to return an hour later just to sit at the bar-it was worth waiting.
After choosing my meal, the waiter set a massive container of cronichon on the table with bread, butter, & mustard. Don't skip tasting them-the cronichon are pure perfection, & the mustard is spicy & tart, a classic dijon. The real challenge is not finishing it all (though with the huge jar of pickles, it's impossible; but beware: bread is the enemy).
My order needed to be classic but not pedestrian, so I chose the cured salmon, served over a bed of thinly sliced cabbage, dressed with cream, lemon, & dill, & garnished with radish & micro-greens. Wow, this was such a surprise. I was blown away. Great fish, paired with a salad I would have never considered, a true win.
For my main, I ordered the hanger steak (Aka Steak Frites) along with a wine of the server's choosing after letting him know what I usually enjoy. The steak was great, served with hotel butter, cooked to perfection. On the side were the fries, hot & crisp, with a fluffy interior & a generous serving of mayo.
I ate everything & required a coffee just to make it to my hotel. I will be back, with reservations & a larger group next time, so I can try more of the menu, but my first impression... O la la!
Déçue dans l'ensemble. Les plats sont corrects, mais les desserts déçoivent. Le service est convenable, sans plus. L'ambiance est beaucoup trop bruyante, au point de ne pas pouvoir discuter. Clairement un endroit qui plaira plus aux touristes qu'aux amateurs de vraie brasserie française.
Ma conjointe & moi même recommandons ce restaurant. Les prix sont légèrement hauts mais la qualité des produits & des services est de haut niveau. Le canard est excellent.
I had a hard time finding something I wanted on the menu. Herring was just ok, tripes were boring & the raviolis just weren't very good, especially for $30. The younger guy behind the bar was friendly & attentive, our older server not so much. Inside was way too hot, I couldn't wait to get out of there. Place was packed so what do I know🤷🏼?♂?
