Reuben's, Montreal's Premier Deli and Steakhouse, has been proudly serving the city since 1976. With an unparalleled reputation for excellence this landmark institution offers specialities such as Certified Angus Beef® steak cuts aged 28 days, burgers, sandwiches, salads and of course, their famous smoked meat and homemade strawberry cheesecake. A jazz-inspired, art-deco interior sets the tone for a casual dining experience you will never forget.
Reviews describe Reuben's Deli & Steakhouse as a standout Montreal spot with generous portions, a vibrant atmosphere, and consistently fresh, flavorful meat and classic deli dishes. The smoked meat sandwiches and other hearty options are repeatedly praised, often with high accolades for the service, especially attentive staff, friendly vibes, and hospitality. Desserts such as carrot cake and strawberry cheesecake receive kudos, while the decor and ambiance are highlighted as iconic and inviting. Some comments note high prices and occasional uneven portions or slower service on busy nights, and a few dishes like poutine or certain sides receive mixed reactions, but overall it remains a top choice for smoked meat and meals in the area.
Normally I like Reuben's but we had a terrible experience today. We had arranged to meet friends there at 1:00 & we decided to get to the area early so we could walk around the area, as it's a sunny breezy Saturday. We passed by Reuben's at noon & thought it would be a good idea to make a reservation for 1:00, even tho it wasn't that busy. But we were told that it would be fine & we wouldn't need a reservation. We thought, great! & continued on our walk. Came back to Reuben's at around 12:40 & there was a huge lineup & the hostess was already flustered & rude. She told everyone repeatedly that you better stay right there, because if she called your name with no response you would lose your spot. So we made sure to stay close & took a seat in the chairs in the waiting area right next to the hostess stand. We were lucky to hear the'third call' (we have no idea what happened with her two previous calls, as it would have been impossible for us to NOT hear her, we were that close) & when we answered, she rudely responded,'I already called you twice, you're lucky I didn't give your spot away.' Combined with their earlier reassurance we wouldn't need a reservation when we tried to make one, we decided we really didn't want to eat there. For the prices you pay at Reuben's, this kind of rudeness just makes the whole experience not worth it.
Service excellent, nourriture excellent, ambiance est exactement a quoi on s'attend dans un steakhouse. J'ai adoré je recommande l'odeur de viande fumée en entrant dans le restaurant est extrêmement invitant & le service était un des plus rapide & efficace que j'ai eu dans un restaurant je recommande a tout ceux qui désire de la bonne viande!
May 29, 2026
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.
Delicious food & good ambiance in the downtown location. I really enjoyed the smoke meat sandwich, Montréal classic. The service was outstanding in French & English, the staff was very cordial & warming. I enjoyed my time there. If you are downtown Montréal, do not hesitate to stop by. I really recommend this place.
Had an incredible steak here. Perfectly medium rare Big Jim edge to edge. Definitely coming back! Shout out to the bartender Wayne for the reccomendation he was fantastic & so incredibly nice. Every place needs a legend like him!
May 27, 2026
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.
We came in for a late lunch. I could not even breathe it was so hot. They said their AC was broken but another table told me that it's always hot there. Apparently they just don't bother with air conditioning even when it's 30° out?? No terrace window no ventilation. Terrible. It's a reflection how how much the owners care. Terrible Way to show appreciation for your own business! I feel bad for the staff they were literally sweating!
Don't let the glitzy ambiance fool you - this was solid deli-style fare! We each enjoyed a different entree of smoked beef (e.g. mac & cheese with smoked beef) & enjoyed every bite. Service was fantastic - timely & friendly. Also nice to have a full bar along with a deli dinner. Plenty of great looking dessert options that we didn't have room to try. Great stop!
We are a family of four from Portugal, & we came to Reubens with high expectations, having heard it was one of the best restaurant in town. After an hour & a half of walking in the heat & all this construction, we arrived, but it was unbearably hot inside. The staff was drenched in sweat it was disturbing, we couldn't even breathe. My mother, especially, was so upset. I asked about the AC, & the server said it was broken, with no effort to address it. We paid for our drinks, left immediately, & did not leave a tip. This was a completely unacceptable experience, & we will never return.
On May22 we were a group of eight to celebrate my daughter's graduation. Sadly, the experience was ruined by extreme heat inside-while it was 27 degrees outside, inside it felt like a SAUNA. We asked the server to turn up the AC, but she said it wasn't working, & there was nothing she could do. This became a serious health concern-my 92-year-old grandmother felt faint, & several others were struggling. As paying customers, we expected a safe, comfortable environment. I strongly advise that the restaurant inform guests at the door if the AC is not working-so that we have the option to stay or go. This is not acceptable for a well-known restaurant, especially on such a hot day. I give food three stars-not because it wasn't tasty, but because we couldn't enjoy it. The service 1 star…not the server's fault, but this is a vital issue. I hope the owners take action so no one else suffers this way in the future.
May 27, 2026
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.
After some serious shopping downtown, we stopped by Reuben's Deli & Steak on St. Catherine's (not too be confused with the other Reuben's on St. Catherine's a few blocks away. This one actually has a steakhouse vibe to it with the decor.
We ordered the Rated PG ($14) with passion fruit purée, lime, & rooibos tea as well as the Nojito ($14) with strawberry, lime, 7up, & mint.
For our meals, we had the Reuben's Chop-Chop Poutine ($22) & The Mediterranean Salad ($29) with chicken. Both dishes were quite large & we didn't finish. The poutine was in a large bowl & perfectly crispy fries. There wasn't a huge amount of gravy & most of it fell to the bottom of the bowl, but this kept the fries crisp instead of soggy. I did like the chopped up meats in the dish & it worked well if you mixed up the bowl to get the gravy on the bottom. If you like a super wet poutine, this isn't it.
Service was pretty good, friendly server. It was too bad they were still doing the construction on St. Catherine's out in front of the building. Wish we had enough room to try their cheesecakes.
I'm a regular here & I always order the same item, tonight it was completely different, before even pointing it out the waiter noticed & went to bring someone else, instead of apologizing, her first question was'talk to me', & ofcourse I left hungry. I guess staff during the week is not as professional as the weekends'. Keep that in mind!
Vivian is a rockstar, saw my partner & i overwhelmed with the menu & directed us to ultimate satisfaction with their Reuben sandwich. All the food was delish but the service was outstanding.
