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.
A wonderful night. The duck confit is tender enough & not too salty, a little bit greasy but very tasty. The bone marrow tastes like some kind of high quality butter, just delicious. I have nothing to complain.
Really nice place for a French meal! The liver pate was amazing. They also provide complimentary bread & pickles to eat it with. The pickles were some of the best I've ever had. The duck confit was also amazing & I'd order it again if I came back. The beef tartare was a bit of a miss though.
Nov 29, 2024
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This restaurant offers an authentic French dining experience that truly transports you to the heart of France. From the moment you walk in, the ambiance sets a warm, inviting tone with classic French decor that adds a touch of charm & elegance to the space. The menu is filled with traditional French dishes that are well-crafted & full of flavor. Each dish we tried was prepared with great attention to detail, from the appetizers to the desserts. The prices here are very reasonable, especially considering the quality & authenticity of the food. It's rare to find a place that offers such high-quality French cuisine at such accessible prices. The main courses, such as the coq au vin & duck confit, were cooked to perfection, with flavors that were rich & satisfying without being overly heavy. The desserts, particularly the crème brûlée, were equally impressive, providing a sweet & memorable finish to the meal. The service was also excellent, with attentive staff who were knowledgeable about the menu & made thoughtful recommendations. They were quick to attend to our needs without being intrusive, which made for a comfortable & enjoyable dining experience. Overall, this restaurant is a gem for those looking to enjoy traditional French flavors in a relaxed, welcoming environment.
Amazing food & an excellent wine list. I had the duck confit which had crispy skin & the meat was so tender it just fell off the bone. Profiteroles were excellent. Try the wine!
I totally agree with the other reviewers who say that this restaurant is worth the hype. It totally is. We made a reservation, which I suppose was a good idea, although I couldn't tell if it was totally necessary on the night we went. Also, we initially walked right past the restaurant because it's a bit nondescript & doesn't have a ton of signage. We both ordered drinks, which were well made & pretty strong, & very much enjoyed the pickles with mustard & bread/butter. Really, the only downside was that the waiter took the pickles away before dessert, so we couldn't have dessert pickles. For our appetizer, we shared the celery remoulade, which was a perfect little pile of, basically, celery coleslaw; it was very good, especially with the pickles & mustard. Our mains were the duck confit & the shrimp/chorizo risotto, which were also delicious (& also paired well with the pickles/mustard). Dessert was the profiteroles (which were maple-y & delicious) & the chocolate gateau (which was also delicious & pleasantly not sweet at all); they honestly would've paired well with the pickles/mustard if we'd still had them at the table.
We walked right in for an early lunch & it was delicious. We had the duck & the quail plates, a long with a pate appetizer & they were all excellent. The appetizer came with a large jar of cornichons & mustard
I had a late dinner at L'Express, the well-known French bistro, & it was a great experience overall. The Hanger steak, cooked medium rare, was really good, & the shallot butter & fries made a great combo. The real highlight for me was the maple profiteroles-absolutely delicious. My partner had the duck confit & said it was the best ever. The cozy vibe was nice, but the service was mixed. Our main server was friendly & attentive, but another staff member was a bit pushy. Still, everything was quick & efficient, making it a solid spot for a casual French meal.
Oct 13, 2024
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The place amazing, i like the bread , pickles & butter 😍burrata salad & their French fries 👌 the steak was ok but not flavorful , duck delicious but salty
L'express truly lives up to its hype & praise. Pleasantly greeted at the door & with reservation i was seated in minutes. I had never eaten duck meat before & Gabriel assured me it would melt in my mouth & it did! I'm glad I took the recommendation. The Confit duck with its crispy skin & the potatoes was *chef's kiss! Finished the meal off with a Crème brûlée which was perfect. The service was great. The ambience is 💯. Made my last night in Montreal memorable :)
Perhaps my expectations were too high, but I felt ultimately disappointed with L'Express. No complaints regarding the service, which was pleasant & efficient, but there were several misses with the food itself. The sorrel soup was great, & seemed like a promising sign of the meal ahead. However, the green salad arrived completely-not lightly, but completely-undressed. The mains were decent, but underwhelming. My steak was rather tough. The duck confit itself was fairly nice but had some areas which were poorly rendered, & the accompaniments were under-seasoned & bland. I enjoyed the atmosphere, though my partner found it overly loud. Overall, this was the restaurant I most anticipated visiting, & which disappointed me the most.
Sep 2, 2024
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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.
Phenomenal meal here, I see why this place is so popular. I'd definitely recommend a reservation, as it's very busy. We got four things to split: the chicken liver paté, the duck rillettes, the quail, & the ravioli. Absolutely everything was wonderful. Even the jar of cornichons were delicious. I'd strongly recommend this place!
Grilled octopus 4/5 The octopus was soft & the grilled peppers were nice. Beef tartare - Tartare de boeuf 3.5/5 Average, with options for spicy or no spicy. Duck confit - Cuisse de canard confite 5/5 The duck skin was perfectly crispy & absolutely delicious. Roasted quail with wild rice - Cailles rôties & riz sauvage 3/5 The quail was tasty, but the wild rice was too hard. Shrimp & chorizo risotto - Risotto aux crevettes & chorizo 5/5 My favorite! The heavy cheese flavor paired wonderfully with the cornichons. Maple Profiteroles - Profiteroles à l'érable 5/5 A delightful surprise! Freshly baked & crispy profiteroles filled with maple ice cream, absolutely the best I've ever had! Chocolate tart - Tarte au chocolat 4/5 Rich chocolate flavor, but too bitter for me. It definitely needs extra ice cream on the side. Strawberry tart 5/5 I couldn't find its name on the menu, but it was very fruity & delicious. The most delicious restaurant I had in this trip to Montreal, from main course to dessert, all delicious!
10/10. where do i even start?! book in advance! Must have french bistro cuisine experience when you are in town. wine selection is exceptional. just wow. service is perfect, they were awfully nice & helpful, super attentive. bone marrow was out of this world. duck confit was one of the best & well made meat ive had. cooked & seasoned to perfection ile flottante au caramel is what you need to order for share.
Jul 23, 2024
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Three of us came to dine for an early dinner on Friday night. I was not a fan that they sat the 3 of us at a two person table with one of us sitting at the "aisle". It wasn't particularly busy at this time so I think we could have been better accommodated. Other than that, the food is delicious, well seasoned & perfectly cooked. Portion sizing is quite large too! We had the duck confit, hanger steak & fries & the chicken. They also provide fresh bread & a large jar of pickles - a very nice touch. We also had the espresso creme brulee to share at the end which we would highly recommend. All in all, very well done & would recommend to anyone who is looking for great french food!
Excellent experience. The service was impeccable with great wine suggestions. The strawberry & peppers ceviche was fresh & exciting. The beef carpacchio had a lovely texture. The duck confit was fantastic. Crispy skin, perfectly cooked meat & the greens & potatoes & sundried tomatoes it came with were all delightful. The floating island dessert was a true treat. Paired well with some apple brandy. I'll be coming back every time I'm in Montreal.
This place has a character. A hidden gem in Montreal. Very unique food choices. They make the tricky items as duck or quail so deliciously to perfection. Very bright service, always!
Generally good. The duck was a bit too salty & every table was offered pickles expect us. Don't know why. To help us consume a bit less salt? lol. Merci alors.
