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Restaurant Top Pick

L'Express

Montréal’s definitive classic bistro destination remains the gold standard for authentic French culinary tradition.

Le Plateau-Mont-Royal
4.6$$$
OPEN11:30 am - 1 am
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
Photo of L'Express, Le Plateau-Mont-Royal - Montreal
BistroFrenchTartareGreat selection of wines
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About

L'Express functions as a definitive pillar of classic bistro culture, showcasing a commitment to traditional French techniques through a focused and meticulously prepared menu. The kitchen specializes in seasoned raw meat preparations, including signature tartare variations that serve as the hallmark of the culinary program. Guests encounter an atmosphere defined by iconic tiled floors, bentwood chairs, and a long zinc bar that anchors the bustling room. Staff execute table service with precision and efficiency, maintaining a steady tempo throughout the facility. The menu prioritizes authentic preparations such as bone marrow, confit de canard, and artisanal cheeses, highlighting a devotion to timeless culinary standards. This establishment operates with a singular focus on consistent quality, ensuring that every dish reflects the core identity of the bistro format through technical rigor and dependable execution.
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5★
77%
4★
13%
3★
4%
2★
5%
1★
1%

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Reviews for L'Express

Food
Service
on Google4.6 (4000+)
*as of 2026-08-15
5★
77%
4★
13%
3★
4%
2★
5%
1★
1%

Review Summary

L'Express is widely celebrated as an iconic Montreal institution that offers an authentic and timeless Parisian bistro experience. Guests frequently praise the consistently delicious classic French cuisine, highlighting standout dishes such as the duck confit, steak frites, bone marrow, and the signature Ile Flottante dessert. The welcoming atmosphere is often described as vibrant, cozy, and elegant, perfectly complemented by a professional and attentive service team. Many diners appreciate the unique touches, such as the complimentary jar of gherkins and mustard served at every table, as well as the extensive and well curated wine list. While the popular, bustling dining room can become quite loud and tables are closely spaced, most visitors find that the high quality of the food and the charming, energetic vibe make it a must visit destination that provides excellent value for a memorable dining experience.
Page 1 of 4 - 33 Reviews

A small place that we almost missed even though we used Google maps to find it. But well worth tracking down. This place is a tiny bistro with a beautiful decor amazing staff & the food is out of this world. We tried the sorrel soup & then they also had a gazpacho that was seasonal that was amazing. The chicken pate was to die for. & then we shared a duck confit. That was some of the best duck I've ever had in my entire life. Hidden gem in St. Denis that you must try.

Aug 4, 2026
on Google

Two friends & I had our favorite lunch ever here! The service was exceptional & atmosphere really enjoyable definitely recommend the duck confit, the bone marrow, the sorrel soup, & especially their signature dessert, Ile Flottante!

Aug 3, 2026
on Google

This was our favourite meal of our trip to Montreal. Great value for quality here. We arrived at 10pm on a Sunday, it was PACKED. Waited about 10 mins for a table but heard others outside saying the wait was 1.5 hours for a table of 5. Reservations for big groups highly recommended! We had the bone marrow (yum!), hanger steak, & the green soup (sorrel?). Loved every dish. The only downside we have is we were sat at the table closest to the washroom & there was a lot of traffic moving that night. Sometimes a line up beside us while eating. & Including people who came out with wet hands flinging it with our table & food adjacent. Other than that we would return again!

Jul 29, 2026
on Google

The most overhyped restaurant in Montreal? Maybe. Not sure what the Michelin guide sees in this place. Service felt pretentious, rushed & impersonal. Bread tasted cheap. Starters were mediocre (we took the hareng & fish soup). Main dishes were both served cold. Steak frites had potential, but was freezing cold. My girlfriend & I did not like the raviolis either. I really wanted to like this place but unfortunately fell short in all aspects.

Jul 18, 2026
on Google

We were forced (in a good way) to be here by our uber driver & we're so glad he did that!

Montréal version of French food they say. They have an amazing menu but we were looking for something light so went with the Fish soup which was a banger!

Duck confit & tartare is very much recommended here.

Waiting to be back soon to try more🤌🏻

Jul 13, 2026
on Google

The service, atmosphere, & cocktails were great. The food was a miss, except for the octopus (a permanent fixture on the menu for good reason) & the trout amandine (a special). This feels like a restaurant that is cruising on its reputation while allowing the quality to drop. There was no attention to detail from the kitchen & some of the food was frankly baffling.

I have some questions for the kitchen:
Why are the fries soggy?! Why is your steak cut unevenly so some of it is tremendously overcooked? Why are there strawberry chunks floating awkwardly in the asperagus soup? Why are you calling this scallop dish ceviche when it has no relationship to ceviche whatsoever & what is that thing in there that's super over-salted? Why does it look like you guys prepped these ingredients while blindfolded?

& a comment:
The crème brûlée was slightly over-torched & had an unpleasant burnt flavour but at least the custard was good. The cookie was sugary & a little dry, not a great addition.

Here's what was good:
The octopus. Extremely tasty.
The asperagus soup if you didn't have confusing things bobbing around in there.
The trout Amandine, what a nice take on that dish actually! The foamy & light sauce was great & the cook on everything was perfect.
The chou was actually delicious, nicely done.

Jul 8, 2026
on Google

Sadly this place has gone downhill. Ambiance & service is still okay but the food is sub par now. The steak in the steak frites was undercooked & tasteless, tough/fatty/stringy. The frites were still amazing though. The poached salmon was undercooked & also tasteless. The sorrel soup was bland, the celery root remoulade tasted like grandma's recipe from 40 years ago that no one has the heart to tell her is bad. They need a major menu shake-up before we will go again.

Jul 7, 2026
on Google

Nous avons bien mangé , le serveur était vraiment bon mais le bruit trop élevé dans le resto fait qu'on apprécie moins son souper.

Jun 17, 2026
on Google

Excellent choix pour le dîner ou un bon soupe

Jun 17, 2026
on Google

The Sorrel soup was… well as good as Sorrel soup can get I guess… was ok
The duck confit was (probably) good, if it wasn't swimming in some kind of a red beans stew that completely overwhelmed the taste & texture of the duck :(
The baba a rum was superb.

Apr 26, 2026
on Google