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.
Been meaning to visit this amazing restaurant for sometime now. Finally got the opportunity last night. The quality of their food & service was amazing. The place was packed at 8:30 in the evening, this is a testament of how great this place is. We ordered the bone Marrow & vegetable soup with appetizers. My wife got the ravioli, & I got the duck confit. & both were delicious. My duck was fall off the bone & was really juicy & tender. They probably have over 100 options of wine. We went with the 2020 Pinot noir Au Bon Climat from California. The wine was fruity & really light. It paired well with both the ravioli & the duck confit.
The service was remarkable, we went with our toddler, daughter & they made sure that we were comfortable. You need to reserve a table before you show up. I would recommend this restaurant.
Food was amazing! We started with bone marrow & smoked herring which were both good. For our main dishes we had steak tartare & duck confit both were excellent. The service & atmosphere were spot on
Sep 30, 2025
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.
Great classic bistro. There's usually 2 or 3 vegetarian options but expect things to be more classic French. Recommended are the raviolis des maison & the boudin noir.
Depuis des années, mon restaurant préféré de Montréal. Que vous ayez envie de dépenser $40 pour un repas sympa ou quelques centaines de dollars parce vous vous payez un grand cru, l'Express est l'endroit parfait.
Honestly, everything just tasted very average & I don't know why this restaurant is so highly rated. Steak tartare is not bad, but nothing special, the veal kidney I personally feel has too much kidney smell, & duck confit was alright.
I guess the enormous pickles were good, & people seem to rave about this the most online.
Pourquoi?!? Pourquoi, quand c'est si bon d'habitude, avons-nous été si déçu hier soir!
22:00 au bar: Une rillette... Palote, fade & sans texture, & un os a moelle sous-cuit, qui n'avait pas été fini au'broil'. Ces 2 petits plats forment la base de la base la plus basique de la carte. Manquait-il un sous-chef ce dimanche, je sais pas. Chose certaine nous sommes repartis avec un doute horrible. L'express qui rate des rillettes....
Jul 6, 2025
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.
C'est un restaurant incroyable. Nous sommes arrivés sans réservation un vendredi soir, le personnel nous a fait une place pour commander un verre en attendant qu'une table se libère. Nous avons été placés rapidement! Le staff est très professionnel & courtois. Les plats sont pleins de saveurs & frais. Je recommande la pieuvre sans hésitation ainsi que la bisque en entrée. Vous ne serez pas déçue de ce restaurant.
Restaurant has been open for a long time & is a blend of classic French & Montreal fare. Food was amazing. Complimentary table gherkins with mustard was oddly delicious. Profiteroles for dessert were also a highlight.
By far one of the best restaurants in Montreal. Incredible French Bistro on St-Denis. The service is fantastic, the food is delicious, & the cozy atmosphere is immediately greets you.
Each table comes with complementary pickles, dijon mustard, & bread!
The duck & veal kidneys are a must have. Finally the Ile flottante dessert is massive, but delicious.
