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.
Pur moment ! On a passé un vrai bon moment dans ce décor de bistrot chic & décontracté. La cuisine est raffinée, un super accueil & service, comme je le disais un pur moment entre amis. À découvrir ou redécouvri
Aug 28, 2024
on Google
🍽️
Know where to eat in Montreal before everyone else.
Get the first look at the hottest openings, secret menus, and RestoMontreal.ca's weekly top picks. Join 50,000+ foodies.
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.
I went on a Sunday without reservation. Seat at the bar right away. I've ordered a grilled octopus & then the ravioli, both delicious. For the quality it's worth the price.
Great French bistro in a trendy area of Montreal. Cooking was exquisite! Service was friendly & helpful. Price is fair for the quality & portion size. The gazpacho my cousin & I had was perhaps the best I've ever had. The mushrom ravioli was delicate & extremely flavorful. & the creme brulee was also excellent. Definitely returning next time I am in the city.
Aug 21, 2024
on Google
🍽️
Know where to eat in Montreal before everyone else.
Get the first look at the hottest openings, secret menus, and RestoMontreal.ca's weekly top picks. Join 50,000+ foodies.
The employee was very nice & attentive & even though I made a mistake in my order, he gave me a new burger for free which was the one I intended to order. The burgers were really good & fries were delicious & crunchy.
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!
Aug 19, 2024
on Google
🍽️
Know where to eat in Montreal before everyone else.
Get the first look at the hottest openings, secret menus, and RestoMontreal.ca's weekly top picks. Join 50,000+ foodies.
It you want a perfect restaurant, where the food is delicious & the vibe can vary from romantic to family or friends gathering, here's your place. The execution of the food is just perfect & authentic as if you're truly transported in Paris. I go often as it's in my neighborhood & my favorite is the "cailles au riz sauvage". The bone marrow appetizer is delicious too. The free cornichons & mustard to snack on are incredible. We always try to take the daily specials & they never disappoint. FOR DESSERT TAKE THE PROFITEROLES & THANK ME LATER.
If you're a fan of delicious wine at great prices, a constantly replenished bread basket, & an endless supply of pickles, this restaurant is a dream come true! My friends & I have officially declared it our top spot in Montreal. The ravioli & steak are absolute must-tries, & the service? It's off the charts-11/10!
J'ai beaucoup entendu parle de ce restaurant & j'avais hâte de découvrir la nourriture La réservation & la gestion était impeccable Par contre la jeune dame qui nous a servit était froide & pas courtoise. On a demsnde si le pain pouvait être chauffe on a eu droit un Non sec Quand les repas sont arrivés je n'ai pas touché ma soupe. Ça ne l'a pas intéressée de savoir pourquoi J'étais bien déçu La nourriture était pas mal dans l'ensemble Je pense que je vais essayer une fois encore avant de me prononcer définitivement
Food was excellent, but the bartender was incredibly rude. First, my partner complimented the bartender & he ignored her. Then, my friend asked if the restaurant had a malbec. The bartender scoffed & said "we don't serve Pina coladas here." After paying, & tipping, I confronted the bartender & said, "hey, I feel like your response to the miscommunication was kind of rude & it made us feel unwelcome." The bartender nodded & then walked away. I wasn't expecting anything beyond "sorry, I didn't mean to be offensive," but he just ignored our group again. TOURISTS SHOULD AVOID THIS SPOT. YOU CAN GET GOOD FRENCH FOOD ELSEWHERE, & OTHER PLACES WONT TALK DOWN TO YOU FOR BEING AN OUTSIDER.
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!
