Schwartz's Deli

Stacy

5.0

Absolutely worth waiting in line first for the food, second for the service & atmosphere. We recommend the plate, with bread, pickles, & for sure order the coleslaw. Add mustard. The famous soda is a perfect accompaniment.

Marc

4.0

The smoked meat is really delicious, although the sandwich is more like a plate of meat with bread ...it wasn't really sandwich shaped & requires a knife & fork....but still really delicious!! If you go in to sit down the look is probably the same it's had for 50 years, which is fun, but it is loud & crowded. You end up eating elbow to elbow with other guests, so that's its own experience. We stood in line for about 30 minutes & I didn't really feel like it was worth standing in a line on the sidewalk. If I get to go back, & I definitely would go back, I'm going to go out of my way to visit when I don't have to wait.

Jarek

4.0

If you like smoked meat, you're going to love this place. It's some of the best I've ever had.

The sandwich is almost impossible to eat because it's packed with so much delicious meat that it's falling apart. Personally, I'd recommend ordering the meat by weight & eating it with a fork. Mixing this incredible meat with bread & all the other toppings just takes away from what makes it special.

The smoked meat is the reason to come here. It's absolutely finger-licking good.

Lisa

1.0

Very sad to write this review. My first time back in 20 years was extremely disappointing. While waiting in the takeout line on the sidewalk, a very rude employee put his hand in my face, closed the door & said not to come inside until there was more room. The smoked meat was not prepared properly, all I tasted was tons of salt, & the bread pieces were so small - the slices of rye looked like they'd been halved - it was impossible to pick as a sandwich. I paid $17 for that. One of the framed articles at the back said the latest owner tried to make improvements, encouraging employees to be more friendly, to not put off tourists. It's not working. I won't be back. Fix your recipe & your attitude please.

Eric

5.0

If you want Montreal smoked meat, this is the place to get it. In addition to the classic sandwich, you can also forgo the silly bread & just opt for a plate of smoked meat. Yes, smoked meat poutine is also a thing here. This place does get pretty busy, so if there's a long line, consider grabbing something to go from their take-out location (literally right next door to the main restaurant).

Sam

5.0

Schwartz's Deli is part of Montréal's story, & no restaurant achieves that status without having something really special to offer. I've been to several smoked meat joints & Schwartz hands down has the most tender meat cuts. The bread, the mustard & crunchy pickles join the party to enhance the sandwich, but it's the meat that definitely steals the show. If you're in Montréal, you must drop by Schwartz at least once & you'll know what I'm talking about.

Sandy

4.0

Perfect smoked meat to bread ratio!

Judie

2.0

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.

Jessica

5.0

This was definitely worth the wait! So good! Gluten free except the bread & the gravy on the poutine.

W

3.0

It was OK - not sure if it was worth the visit though...
Honest opinion, I don't find the smoked meat in here worth the money. It's overpriced for the portion & the taste. Frankly I didn't find anything so special about it... & the sandwich is hard to eat. Meat is way to big compared to the bread, inevitable to eat with a mess.
I came to satisfy my curiosity, but probably won't visit again...