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.
L'Express is my favoruite resturant in the city. That's why it's super disappointing they hung up on me when I tried to snag a spot I could not find online by calling in. Most resturants hold tables from online for call ins. Can't beleive I was treated so rudely...
This iconic Montreal institution sets an impeccable table. The cuisine is outstanding, highlighted by a classic bone marrow & a legendary steak tartare, made even more authentic by the signature jars of cornichons & grainy mustard. Service is both crisp & convivial, ensuring the atmosphere remains refined yet approachable. To finish, an exquisite value-driven selection from the renowned cellar rounds out the evening perfectly.
Apr 15, 2026
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L'Express is often heralded as one of the most iconic institutions Montreal has to offer, which played a major part in shaping the city's iconic food landscape. As such, I chose to dine in this restaurant with my partner for her birthday, expecting to be completely blown away by its food & wanted to confirm if their food matches their hype.
It does not at all. The food is absolutely average. Starting with their in-house bread, which was extremely chewy & tough, like horribly tough… on the other hand, the mustard & pickles were very nice (probably the nicest thing we had).
We chose bone marrow, having had bone marrow at other institutions in the city, we were expecting something similar. But no, it was not; it was unpleasant, very unpleasant, & painful to eat. The bone marrow was not seasoned in any way.
Next, ravioli. This was quite good, I'll give this to them. The filling was rich, the gravy it came in was quite thick & wonderful. One thing I will unfortunately point out: have the ravioli quickly because the gravy will get congealed quickly.
Lastly, one of the dishes that you will frequently see people talk about the most is the Hanger Steak. I tried it, & honestly, just skip this dish altogether. The fries were regular fries (almost the exact same fries you get at Orange Julep), & the cut of steak is just sad with how much you are paying for it. The meat is not seasoned, extremely tough, & also, I do not think they baste their steak post-cooking either. Personally, I did not enjoy having a cold slab of butter on top. For a main highlight meat dish I didn't like that I had two contrasting competing temperatures in my mouth. I'd appreciate it in an entree but maybe not in a main dish.
Service is average, nothing fancy; you walk in, eat, walk out, no questions asked.
Personally, L'Express did not match its hype. I don't think I'll be coming back here again.
Ambiance was very nice, reminded me of Parisian restaurants.
Rude service staff, specifically the host who takes reservations. If you are anglophone, don't waste your money here - they will treat you differently & disrespect you.
Never heard of, but was suggested.
Small place serving big portions of delicious food. Had the bone marrow & the duck. They didn't miss with those dishes.
Amazing food… the duck was amazing, my husband & I have a thing about trying it out in every restaurant & so far this is one of the best ones. Risotto is a must have but wouldn't choose it as a main dish. Lemon tart is amazing!!
Apr 8, 2026
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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.
Highly recomended restaurant from my Belgian friends brother. Had bone marrow for the first time it was nice, but different & takes a bit of effort to maximise the contents. The confit duck was good but not spectacular. Well cooked but the sides i felt although cooked lacked flavour. Finally dessert which was the best of the lot nice ppecan flavour & pastry but i felt was misding a bit between pastry & pecans but nice never the less. Excellent service , great staff. A solid but not spectacular place.
It was one of the best experiences I've had. The restaurant staff were excellent & very professional. The steak was really good, & the best thing I had was the profiteroles for dessert-I definitely recommend trying it.
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.
