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 dined here on our first night in Montreal & had a wonderful experience! It was very busy but the Maître d still found us a table for two - the staff were exceptional, so friendly & welcoming & very attentive. The food came out at the perfect time & it was delicious - my steak was cooked to perfection. We would 100% come back here & recommend to friends & family visiting Montreal. Thank you!
May 27, 2024
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I enjoyed my overall experience here at l'Express! We went on a Saturday night & I found the staff friendly & efficient. The decor & ambiance wasn't my favorite (a bit plain & outdated, no music) but it was my first time eating at a brasserie. The food however, was delicious. We had the rillettes, goat cheese, duck confit & steak. Our cocktails were decent & we finished with a light dessert.
Soirée passée au bar même si nous avions réservé une table. Bonne ambiance mais serveur le semblait blasé. Plats corrects mais le rapport qualité/prix n'y était pas. Les rillettes semblaient avoir été faites très longtemps d'avance avec une énorme couche de gras sur le dessus & la bavette était minuscule. Ce fut une expérience moyenne.
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.
May 18, 2024
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Awesome dining experience here. My friend & I both got the steak frites, which were delicious. The steak was cooked perfectly & topped with a great herb butter while the fries were hot & crisp. My friend got a salad that tasted fresh & was a good opener. We also split some of their profiteroles for dessert, & those were extremely tasty. Would recommend.
Nous sommes venus pour la première pour fêter notre anniversaire. Le service était excellent, les serveurs très gentils & au petit soin. Mon mari a pris le canard confit & j'ai choisit les moules/frites. L'expérience était très bonne mais nous avons été déçu par le plat du canard confit qui était certes excellent mais en très petite quantité - notamment sur l'accompagnement où trois patates se battaient en duel sur 3 feuilles de salade ... Pourtant nous avions regardé le menu au préalable avec les photos des commentaires précédents...
C'était ma première fois à L'Express & c'était formidable. Normalement je n'aurais pas pris le foie de volaille & les rognons, mais mon serveur Stephane a sut comment me convaincre & j'ai bien aimé. Merci beaucoup pour ce service legendaire 🙏
