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.
We came here for brunch. It really has a classic Parisian bistro vibe. Service was excellent even though the restaurant was very busy. We ordered foie gras & risotto. Both tasted amazing. This is definitely one of the best restaurants in Montreal. Hope to visit here again soon.
Oct 1, 2024
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Still one of the top bistros in Montreal. Seasonal specials are always worth considering - but there are some classics on the menu. Love the cornichons - I bought a big jar to take home with me.
L'Express is one of the best in Montreal - a classic French restaurant with a Parisian bistro style room, excellent food, & incredible service. Everything was done very well.
I'm not sure this place needs another positive review-nevertheless, a stand-out restaurant in a city full of wonderful food. Classic French bistro atmosphere, perfect service, & cornichons & mustard are provided gratis. Duck confit & celery remoulade were perfection. The waitress suggested a wonderful cab to go with them. My wife very much enjoyed her risotto. Would very much like to sit at the bar next time. All in all, a worthy 20th anniversary dinner.
Classic French Bistro that covers all the bases. Make sure to get something off the specials menu & enjoy the ambiance. Been with kids & on date night, service is impeccable.
Jul 30, 2024
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Consistently serving well prepared French Bistro classics. The only place you can get a truly reliable steak tartare in Montreal, served with perfect crisp fries. 7-24 update... The same charming & efficient service. The food is on par. Thank god for consistency.
Very nice, classic French restaurant. The dishes we got definitely hit the spot. Everything was prepared perfectly, not too heavy & the waiter gives great, detailed recommendations for drinks & food. For what we ordered, I find the pricing of the food was fair, not overly expensive. You would definitely see me back at L'express.
Cool, classic restaurant in terms of decor & set up. Lights were pretty bright. No music, which is oddly nice. Restaurant was packed (even after 11:30pm on a Friday). Service was good, waiter was attentive & friendly. He brought us a great glass of wine. The food though... I left seriously questioning all the people who recommended this to me. We got the chicken liver, the bone marrow & the ravioli. The chicken liver came in a small bowl, densely packed. No way the two of us could finish it. It came with nothing. The bone marrow was also a lot for 2 people. Very oily & greasy, & just came with salt & crispy baguette slices which were very thin. The first two slices were nice, but then it was boring. We really tried to finish it, but it was so oily. We took showers when we got home lol. & the ravioli🥲we were hoping it would turn our experience around, but unfortunately it did not. It was definitely left out too long & developed a film that even my fork lightly grazing over couldn't puncture. The whole dish lacked depth, the flavor was flat & it was uninteresting. At least the baguette, cornichons, & mustard were good. But you can get the same stuff at Trader Joe's. Wouldn't recommend to my foodie friends.
If you miss Paris, come here. Friendly staff, great food, classic bistro ambiance, extensive wine list. Packed with locals & tourists. Highly recommended.
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.
At first, I thought L'Express was a tourist trap, but was I wrong. Packed at 2:00 on a blistering hot Tuesday in the middle of June, L'Express would feel comfortable in any arrondissement in Paris. We settled in at the expansive bar, ordered wine & a cocktail, & didn't miss Paris at all. Romanik took great care of us, & his graciousness was welcome after the often self entitled servers in the United States. Maybe Canada's universal health care has something to do with that. The menu covers every classic French dish, & we ordered calves liver with frites & Duck Confit for nostalgia's sake. Ooh La La. They were both fantastic. Our late lunch was long & so relaxing. Regrettably, we left the AC of L'Express to take a stroll in 93 degree heat. Mistake. We should have stayed at L'Express & ordered dessert.
Jun 18, 2024
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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.
Local favorite, not surprise. Food: outstanding Service: great Ambiance, great Drink list can be overwhelming but asking servers for recommendation didn't disappoint me. Classic French.
