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.
A premium restaurant with classic French bistro flair, dressed-up & very attentive waitresses & waiters serving very good French food. Expect to pay 60-70$ for a starter, main dish, & dessert together.
This is my first french bistro experience. The staff gets very busy, so make sure you book in advance. There's no lunch menu or late night menu that are offered elsewhere. I ordered a snow crab soup which is a local dish & beef tartare which is a classic. The soup has phenomenal flavor & all the ingredients are well-balanced. The tartare is also decent, although my palette would like more seasoning. Every place has their own version of the tartare, so this is likely just my personal preference. Overall this is an amazing experience in Montreal & worth the little dent they put on your wallet.
Reminds me of my favorite bistro in Paris - Chez Georges - but the food may be better & more imaginative ! We had a wonderful quail meal with a special Japanese cole slaw !
People rightly love this place for the authentic & relaxed French bistro atmosphere & energy. The food is ok, wait staff excellent, & very good value for money. Highly recommend.
Tous les plats que nous avons commandés étaient excellents! De la vraie cuisine de bistrot parisien. Ça fait plaisir de manger des mets aussi bons à Montréal 🙂 Nous avons prit: poireaux vinaigrette, céleris remoulade, confits de canard & purée (le rêve), le poulet sauce citron & sauge aux légumes, l'onglet au beurre d'échalote. En dessert: la tarte au citron ganache chocolat blanc (une tuerie), la créme brulée (excellente), le baba au rhum (un pur délice, la truffe miam miam & le macaron citrouille épicée la folie 🤤 Les desserts sont juste PARFAITS 🤩 J'aurais juste aimé que les plats soient plus chauds mais à part ça c'est pour moi un sans faute.
First impression….. there is no sign out front. I guess you have to be in the know.
Beautiful inside like a proper French Bistro. Menu with all the classics.
Everything delicious.
The waiter was snooty.
Probably French ;- )
Oct 17, 2023
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Best French bistro around. Great selection of traditional French bistro fare. Great wine selection. Impeccable service. Highly recommended.
Upd-20231005: Been back a couple times post-pandemic, food quality has been consistent, but like most places, they're being challenged staff-wise, but overall a great place to enjoy an excellent meal.
After being away from Canada for 2 years, it felt great to visit this French bistro again. Not much has changed. The classics are still there. The soupe de poissons tasted amazing. L’os à moelle just has I remembered. Living in India you can image that I’m craving beef a lot. So the tartare was just the fix I needed. Could have used a little kick for a guy who’s been eating spicy Indian food for a while but the server never asked how I wanted it. The fries were great & crispy. The croque-monsieur left us wandering. Very hard & dry. Frankly have something else. Over all it felt good to be back. The atmosphere was vibrant even on this late afternoon during the week.
Sep 1, 2023
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Nous avions décidé de manger en ville & sans réservation. Je connais l'Express depuis près de 30 ans & j'y suis allé à intervalles plus ou moins réguliers. L'accueil fut très cordial & le maître D nous indique que nous pouvons avoir une table mais que nous devrons quitter à 19h30 en raison de réservations ultérieures. Comme il est à peine 18h nous avons le temps. Nous retrouvons donc le décor un peu intemporel de ce bistro français. Une carte simple avec des plats classiques de la gastronomie française goûteux & bien présentés, une carte de vins variée avec des prix allant du raisonnable au plus cher. Le service est attentif & professionnel. Très content de notre visite. Oui le resto est bruyant mais c'est souvent le cas dans ce type de bistro très éclairé & malgré la proximité des tables on peut s'y faire notre propre "intimité". On y retourne ? Certainement.
