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 divine experience from start to finish. Michelin starred as of 2025, but don't expect pretentious prices & small portions! L'Express delivers on all fronts. It was charming, reasonably priced, generous portions, & the staff were lovely. We shared a bottle of wine, the burrata salad, ravioli, rainbow trout, & duck confit. Everything was mouth wateringly delicious. Highly recommend for a fine dining experience of French food in Montreal!
May 12, 2026
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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)
L'Express is truly one of the best places in Montréal to experience a classic French dining atmosphere. The service is fast, professional, & very experienced. Even though it's busy, everything runs smoothly. You can really feel the Parisian vibe the black-&-white flooring, bar seating, & energetic atmosphere are all spot on. If you want to experience a true French dining experience in Montréal, this place is absolutely a must.
Classic French brasseries serving hearty dishes. We got the bone marrow for the starter which was okay but too oily & very filling. Personally, I would not recommend this as an appetizer as it was quite oily & essentially another version or bread with butter. But if you like bone marrow you will enjoy it. For main course we got the Boudin Noir (blood pudding) with apples & the hangar steak. Both were quite good & filling but the blood pudding was my favourite. The blood pudding was rich with a creamy texture while the mashed potatoes it comes with were very buttery. The fries with the steak were extra crispy (maybe a little over cooked) as well. Both the steak & the blood pudding felt like they were deep fried. We also got the maple profiteroles for dessert which was alright. The maple flavour is quite strong but it is essentially just profiteroles with maple ice cream in them. Overall not bad but you can get better food at a similar price at Monarque, which is much better.
Apr 7, 2026
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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.
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.
Steak frites, cod fritters, amazing wine choices, & the can't miss maple syrup profiteroles!!! These are truly life changing & absolutely a fantastic Canadian twist on a French classic. Probably one of my favorite desserts I've ever had.
I had a really lovely experience at L'Express in Montreal. The food was very good - classic, comforting French dishes that feel heartwarming & done with care. The soup was especially amazing, rich & full of flavor.
Our waiter was incredibly friendly & took the time to explain everything in English, which made the whole experience even better. The service was warm & attentive.
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.
