World famous Schwartz's, serving the best smoked meat from the original recipe of spices since 1928. Imagine walking through the door and taking a step back 75 years into "Main Street" history in Montreal. A "true" Montreal landmark that has welcomed celebrities and visitors from all over the world.
Schwartz's Deli is widely celebrated as a Montreal institution, famous for its world famous smoked meat, a bustling old school deli atmosphere, and generous sandwiches that many say melt in the mouth; despite long lines, service is generally fast and efficient and the line often moves quickly, with takeout next door for those pressed for time. Reviewers praise the tenderness and bold seasoning of the meat, the classic rye bread, and the accompanying pickles, fries, and poutine, while some note variability in meat greasiness or portions and occasionally uneven service; overall, it remains a must visit for meat lovers and a memorable slice of Montreal history, though a few say the price and crowds can be a drawback.
I didn't see what the hype was about. Our sandwiches were just so dry & nothing special. I have been wanting to try this for years & it didn't live up to the expectation unfortunately.
Hands down the best Montreal smoked meat sandwich I've ever had. The meat was super tender & the spices added character & flavour. Also had a side of coleslaw & a pickle both of which were excellent. Worth lining up for (the line moves quick & you share tables with others creating a community feel). The staff were friendly & attentive & gave great recommendations.
We like the food. The guy who served our table was excellent. He was warm & welcoming. We took out a couple of stars for service because of one waiter who was acting really rude when taking counts of people outside the restaurant. If the guy does not know how to treat people with courtesy, he needs training for customer service. This is your job. Learn to do it well!
La viande est bonne mais pas de quoi s'extasier. Viande fumée ? Imperceptible, pas d'assaisonnement. 18$ le sandwich. C'est sympa mais je pense qu'il y a de meilleures adresses à Montréal à découvrir sans faire de queue.
May 14, 2026
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The meat was good but it simply didn't meet my expectations given the hype. I was expecting some monster sandwich & I left hungry. & it was not cheap either. Maybe it was the ambience. The line was long to get in & the place was packed & we had to sit at a very cramped bar. Service was incredible though the young woman serving us was incredible. Was it delicious, yes. Was the service good, yes. Was it worth my money, probably not. Would I go back, not likely. I would rather sit & enjoy what I eat as opposed to feeling like I am caught in a rat race. But in the end I am glad I tired it
Amazing & unique deli experience, true to form. The brisket sandwich was amazing & true to hype. I was so amazed by the first one I had to get a second. Place can get a bit of crammed though.
We had heard excellent stories about Schwartz's Deli from a few friends, & let me tell you, the restaurant exceeded our expectations. When we first walked in, we received an immediate warm greeting from the host who invited us to pick a spot. Our server came over right away & was incredibly friendly & helpful. My brother had a little cut on his finger, & our server instantly noticed & took the initiative to get him a bandaid. This is just a small example of the kindness we received from our server. She was joyful & overall very pleasant. The food came out so quickly & was delicious. Absolutely fantastic experience at Schwartz's Deli in Montreal! Thank you!
May 13, 2026
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Two weeks ago during our visit to Montreal, we went to this restaurant. After dinner, we left a tip, but the lady at the cashier seemed unhappy with the amount. She told us that for bills over $100, a tip higher than 15% was mandatory, & she rudely waved the tip money in front of us. We found this behavior very disrespectful & uncomfortable. Unfortunately, after this experience, we would not consider coming back again.
Visited Schwartz Deli on a Sunday afternoon at 3 PM. There were 3 of us & we waited for 30 minutes outside with only a few groups ahead. The place was crowded. We were seated at a shared table with 6 seats.
We ordered two smoked meat sandwiches & one poutine. The smoked meat was tender, the bread was thin & dry, & portions were small. The poutine was disappointing. Fries were overcooked & tasted burnt.
The bill came to about $50 (tax included, before tip), which felt overpriced for the quality & small portion size. Service was mediocre & rushed. The restaurant seemed more focused on turnover than experience.
While Schwartz Deli has a long-standing reputation & history, in my opinion, it was underwhelming & didn't live up to the hype. There are many other great restaurants worth exploring. This was a one-time visit, & unfortunately, not somewhere I'd return to.
Muhte?em ötesi bir lezzet. Mutlaka gelinöeaimgerekwn bir uwe. Porsiyonlar büyük. 4 ki?i bir sandwich ve combo menü ile doyabilirsiniz. Çal??anlar çok samimi. Fiyatlar uygun.
