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.
Had a meal there on Friday night with a friend, the server Sarah was so sweet & was very helpful! Food was very fresh. Great ambiance. Will go again next time i come to MTL :'')
Apr 21, 2025
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Très beau resto, on a beaucoup aimé les plats. Le boeuf était juteux & les frites étaient croustillantes & parfaitement salées. La serveuse était très gentille.
I wish I could have given a better review, but the octopus was like caoutchouc, the salmon overcooked, the canard confit too salty.....but overall the service was good.
First time here with my wife , I've been here a few times already. The food is always good as usual, we did book online which made it quicker when we came in. My wife had the paysanne soup which wasn't famous to be honest . We both has the steak which was pretty good & the dessert that was delicious .
Apr 10, 2025
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Dans l'ensemble, c'était bien. Le goût du poulet & du canard que nous avions choisis était très savoureux. Mais à mon avis, la salade que nous avions choisie n'avait pas de goût particulier & elle était trop salée.
En général, c'était une bonne expérience à essaye
We were told about this from some locals, I never would've recognized it from the street as a restaurant. It flies under the radar. Almost like it is hidden in plain sight. A real treasure.
It is so worth finding this place. The food was fabulous. The service is the most attentive I've seen in a very, very long time! & they clearly take pride in that service when you look at the wall of photos that shows the wait staff & culinary team that support this restaurant year after year after year!
I had the special that involved fish, & a gorgeous caper, butter, lemon sauce. They had no trouble working around an unusual allergy like garlic. Rather than telling me what limited options they could have, they told me to just tell them what I liked, & that they would adapt it… this is so very, very rare today, post pandemic.
Just know that if you order the floating caramel island dessert it is gigantic! & far more than you can consume, even between two people!
A wonderful neighbourhood restaurant. Having turned up on the wrong day, they went out of their way to save our evening & squeeze us in. I would have been so pleased just with anything ok after that, but the whole experience was exceptional. Wonderful service, wonderful French food, & a warm Friday evening neighbourhood vibe. Thank you
Mar 29, 2025
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When you enter l'express, you get a rush of nostalgia & familiarity; even though you've never been there before. The decor is classic but not over the top. It has a certain type of charm.
Make sure you reserve in advance because this place gets packed quickly, we had a reservation for 4pm & there were already a lot of patrons.
Food is good, a tiny bit salty but they do provide a huge jar of
home made pickles & baguette bread a volonté to balance everything out. Its on the pricy side but the portions are big enough.
In the end, we loved the pickles so much that we bought a jar home, 30$ but it taste amazing.
Although the place is named l'express, we've never felt a rush to eat or a rush to leave. The waiters always ask if we wanted the next course or not & we enjoyed the time we had there.
J'adore L'Express, je ne suis jamais déçue. La cuisine est simple & savoureuse, & la cuisson des viandes est bien maîtrisée. C'est toujours un plaisir d'y manger !
My favourite restaurant on Earth, everything is exactly what it should be, from the food on offer, menu design, floor, & staff. For the perfect meal, get the celeriac remoulade, whatever main you want, & the maple profiteroles. Thank me later.
