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.
Un bistro français Bib Gourmand Michelin à Montréal qui vaut vraiment le détour. Le service était professionnel, accueillant & efficace du début à la fin. L'endroit est chaleureux & rempli d'histoire, notamment grâce aux cadres photos des équipes affichés des années 1980 jusqu'à aujourd'hui.
Nous avons commandé l'onglet beurre à l'échalote avec frites, la cuisse de canard confite, puis en dessert le fameux « Île flottante » que mon cousin me recommandait depuis longtemps.
Les plats principaux étaient parfaitement assaisonnés, & la viande était tellement tendre qu'elle fondait littéralement dans la bouche.
Le dessert mérite vraiment sa réputation. Je recommande de le partager à quatre plutôt qu'à deux, car il est assez généreux. C'était un superbe mélange de textures : la légèreté de la meringue, le goût sucré du caramel, ainsi que la sauce qui venait parfaitement compléter l'ensemble.
Petit conseil: ils préparent un nombre limité d'Îles flottantes par jour, donc ça vaut la peine d'arriver tôt pour ne pas la manquer.
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!
My partner has being coming to this busy French-bistro style restaurant for around 40 years, & I have visited several times - it never lets us down. Great menu of French classics & specials, efficient, friendly service & great wines. It was difficult to choose, but I went for:
- ??Smoked herring from lles-de-la-Madeleine
- ??Veal kidneys in mustard sauce
- ??Ile flottante with caramel
The smoked herring was served warm on thinly sliced potatoes. Excellent.
The veal kidneys were cooked pink, in a rich, mustard sauce. So good.
The lle Flottante was huge (a bit too big), really good & beautifully presented with large pieces of perfect peanut brittle.
A really good meal, in really good surroundings, nice atmosphere & friendly, efficient service. We left very satisfied & very full!
(Also posted to my food blog on Instagram @AbbeyKing16)
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.
We decided to try L'Express after hearing many positive reviews, & the dining experience was great.
The interior gave me a classic Parisian bistro feel, just like stepping into an old French film set. Staffs were friendly. The large jar of house pickles brought to your table was such a fun & memorable touch that adds to the classic French bistro atmosphere.
Food was great, we really enjoyed everything. Celery remoulade was refreshing. I also highly recommend the Boudin noix aux pommes, it was rich & flavorful. My boyfriend even stepped out of his comfort zone to try this blood sausage dish, & he ended up enjoying it as well.
Definitely will come back to explore more of the menu next time in Montreal.
Good bistro food & great wine list. Duck was OK, soup was fantastic. My companion liked his boudin.
Service is both friendly & professional.
It got very loud as the place filled up: noise bounces on the mirrored walls, it is difficult to have a conversation at a normal volume. & the lights are very bright. I don't remember these issues being a problem for my many visits over the years - maybe I get less tolerant with time.
Feb 10, 2026
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An excellent traditional French bistro. Atmosphere was buzzing, even late at night. I started with the bone marrow, which was good but not great (wish they offered the steak tartare as a starter). The main, though, was incredible. Best duck confit I have ever had; it was cooked perfectly, including the beans it was served on. Crème brûlée was also excellent. A must visit when in Montreal.
It had been years since I had been here & heard that they had redecorated. Our kids had actually made a reservation the following night unbeknownst to us. Went back with our friends & we arrived a bit late due to parking troubles. It didn't help that the resto was difficult to find as the signage isn't in view. We sat & chatted a bit & were not impressed at the way our waiter greeted us. Nonetheless, we proceeded to order our food & the attitude continued when my wife was asking questions about the menu. I had the smoked herring which was the best thing I had that evening. It was well prepared & delicious. My wife ordered the salmon which she enjoyed as a main & I had the steak tartare. My tartare wasn't great. Mid at best. The meat was fresh but lacking flavour although they did get the spice level correct. Was tempted by the maple profiteroles but at over $17, I passed. Not sure why dessert prices have gone through the roof especially for a bistro. Sadly, my kids had an even worse experience with service the following evening. Suffice it to say, I won't be back as there are better bistro experience like Lemeac, Chez Lévesque or Brasserie Bernard in Montreal to name a few all with better service & food.
It's a Parisian bistro but in Montreal, so the service is way better than over there ahah. The food was good & I recommend the boudin noir with apples it was great. Service was excellent & the ambiance is spot on !
(Tiny minor point please change the ringtones of the phone at the entrance it looks great being retro & all but when it rings every 2 mins it's just too much).
Great bistro environment. Good by the glass wine options. Food was hit & miss. My quiche had a soggy crust which is shameful. As if it was microwaved. & another diner had skin on their sauce like it had sat a lifetime under the heat lamps. Last person enjoyed their meal.
Dec 1, 2025
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Tile floors, a long bar, mirrored walls, dim lighting - diners say it feels like stepping into a real neighborhood bistro in Paris. The ambiance is cozy, lively, & timeless. We walked in with no resy, got seated at 10:30 PM. Still it was very vibey. There's a large wine list with options at various price points. Food was authentic, comforting & very french. We tried appetizers & dessert (profiteroles) - best profiteroles of my life.
Parce qu'on y sert une excellente cuisine de bistro & que l'atmosphère est décontractée sans l'être trop. Par contre, après avoir fréquenté très régulièrement cet établissement pendant des années avec mon père, le personnel que je connaissais m'a complètement ignorée lorsque j'y suis retournée après le décès de ce dernier. J'ai trouvé ça assez'ordinaire'.
Went here for lunch while on vacation in Montreal. I had many excellent meals, but L'Express was possibly the best. Food was fantastic, but the atmosphere is what I enjoyed the most. It feels very much like a classic French bistro. Charming, excellent service. What a delight.
Great classic bistro. There's usually 2 or 3 vegetarian options but expect things to be more classic French. Recommended are the raviolis des maison & the boudin noir.
