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.
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!
Mar 23, 2026
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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🤷🏼?♂?
A restaurant that will always make you proud to be from Montreal. What's more this place has not changed in 30 years, the atmosphere is exactly the same, the food is too, & this is highly appreciated as the atmosphere & food are of the highest quality.
Sat at the bar with my daughter last night. Service was amazing by bartender. She recommended great wine & dinner. We had the bourgot app. My daughter had trout & I had traditional steak frites. Dessert was creme brulee & raspberry glacee. We had made reservations.
😍🍽? Food heaven alert! Everything was just incredible! From the perfectly cooked duck 🦆🔥 to the decadent desserts 🍰🍮🍫, every bite was a flavor explosion 😋💥.
The vibe of the place is cozy & inviting 🌿🪑🎶, perfect for chilling with friends or treating yourself 🌸✨. Staff were friendly, service smooth, & honestly… I just want to come back tomorrow 😍🚀.
If you love amazing food + a cute atmosphere + total comfort, this place is a must-visit 🍤🥗☕. Can't wait for my next foodie adventure here! 🍴💖
Très bon restaurant avec une belle ambiance. Le personnel est professionnel & accueillant. Tout ce qu'on a commandé était excellent & bien présenté. Je recommande la place sans hésiter.
Dans le menu du jour, j'ai choisi les poireaux & moules en escabèche @ 16 $ (3 étoiles / 5) & les tripes bourguignonnes @ 29 $ (5 étoiles / 5), accompagnés de deux verres de vin, dont le Château Bréhat 2016 @ 10,75 $ le verre (6 étoiles / 5).
Mon expérience avec la carte des vins de L'Express a toujours été exceptionnelle : un choix remarquable & des prix parmi les plus raisonnables que je connaisse. Pour moi, déguster un verre de Bordeaux vieux de dix ans à environ 11 $ tient presque de l'exploit - & mérite d'être souligné.
Les poireaux & moules en escabèche n'étaient toutefois pas à mon goût : l'assaisonnement était trop vinaigré & l'acidité trop vive.
Les tripes bourguignonnes, en revanche, étaient très réussies pour un plat que l'on retrouve rarement dans la restauration. On y trouvait de nombreux oignons confits, relativement peu de tripes, le tout dans une sauce bien bourguignonne qui manquait légèrement de sel - un détail que l'on peut facilement ajuster soi-même à table.
Je n'ai pas été tenté par les desserts, mais la générosité des portions observée aux autres tables suggère qu'ils se prêtent bien au partage entre convives.
Excellent onglet de boeuf accompagné d'un succulent beurre aux herbes, mais tout le reste laissait à désirer. Les frites étaient un peu trop salées ce jour-là. En entrée, la quenelle au saumon à l'américaine manquait d'acidité ou d'épices, & la sauce était si épaisse qu'on pouvait la manger à la fourchette. Le tout venait avec de bons cornichons, mais le pain était sec & le beurre était froid (donc très difficile à tartiner).
Quant au service, c'était bien, mais j'ai dû attendre un peu trop longtemps après la fin de mon repas (10-15 min) pour recevoir l'addition.
Ravi d'avoir pu faire découvrir cette institution à ma conjointe. L'accueil est plutôt sec pour être honnête. Par la suite, nous avons débuté avec l'entrée de carpaccio de boeuf qui est bonne. Ma conjointe a bien aimé son plat de boudin. De mon côté, mon onglet a déjà été plus gros & moins tireilleux. Pour terminer comme dessert les profiteroles à l'érable sont tout simplement décadentes. Décor & ambiance classique.
