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.
Finally made it here. Ate in at the take out side. 3x water, 3x cherry colas, 2x sandwiches & a fries total with tax $61.98! The sandwiches were great. Just didn't seem to be priced right for the size at $14.50! Canned cherry cola was $3.50 each. Very pricey for the experience & taste. I did love the sandwiches just didn't feel the prices were justified. (July 28 visit)
Service can be described using only one word. Amazing!! Our waiter was very, very kind & friendly. He tried to get to know us & even was okay being in a picture with us! Moving onto the food, our smoked meat sandwiches were a must have! The bread was very soft & fluffy, while the meat was not dry & perfectly cooked! The smoked meat poutine, as well was also phenomenal! It was above average poutine with Schwartz's above average meat! However, like all other restaurants, Schwartz has its downsides. Some of the forks & cups looked dirty & unwell washed & scrubbed. However, the dirty forks & cups do not, at all make a dent in my 5 star review for this restaurant.
Jul 27, 2024
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Schwartz's is an experience, you line up to get in & often end up sharing a table as most of the tables seat 6 except for the counter. It's not a place to linger, you go in & get smoked meat the way they've been doing it for about 96 years & the only question you'll get asked about the sandwich is whether you want full fat or medium. Still it is for me, one of the best smoked meat sandwiches you can get, served on rye bread with mustard.
Great Jewish deli with delicious smoked meat sandwiches. You will leave feeling full! The lines for the sit-down restaurant can be huge, so if you don't feel like waiting there's a separate take away section with a much faster line. Also, make sure you bring cash!
Amazing Service & Honesty!! Being one of the iconic places to eat in Montreal, I paid a visit to taste their iconic food. I do not consume beef, so went in to try their other sandwiches. The waitress that attended us, was very patient & clearly explained the meat that goes into each of the sandwiches. I ordered a salami sandwiche, where she pointed out that it's Beef Salami( I was assuming, it's Pork). She also explained that this restaurant does not serve pork due to its founding principles, & was very Frank about the turkey sandwich just being a regular cold cut sandwich. Many thanks to the waitress & the restaurant for fostering the culture to put customer satisfaction & food at their top priority.
This place is overrated.... The service was excellent! But the food left much to desire. The meat melts in your mouth but it lacks flavour & it didn't taste smoky at all. The sandwiches are meh, very little effort just a bunch of meat some mustard & some white bread. We didn't wait long for a table but you are seated with strangers so it's not the most comfortable spot...
May 12, 2024
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Good smoked meat sandwiches in an old school Hebrew deli setting, with super tight seating. Fun traditional experience with good food. Worth a visit to this very popular place.
I was looking forward to trying their famous smoked meat sandwich during my MTL visit. This was my first visit & sadly will be my last as I was disappointed in the food & service from the takeout counter. I ordered a smoked meat sandwich, pickle & cherry coke. I was shocked by the small portion size given the price charged(almost 30$ for everything) & that there isn't a combo offered at the takeout counter. My sandwich was kind of dry & made me feel sick later; also my pickle seemed rotten(I had to throw it away after my first bite). Plus I witnessed the cashier coughing & then giving the takeout order receipt to the guy making sandwiches after I received my order. Her customer service was lacking & I see that seems to be an issue from others' reviews. Plus no straws for soft drinks? I wish I had read the reviews beforehand but oh well. I will try another spot for smoked meat next time & hopefully have a better experience.
A gem! We opted to share the large platter (~$24) & it came with the bread shown, we could assemble our own sandwiches & apply as much mustard as our heart desired. $2.50 per pickle & I recommend slicing it up for your sandwiches. Yum! We ordered medium cut (not too fatty) The style of dining is communal, there are 6 person tables that they seat mixed groups (in our case, 3 pairs of strangers) they are full at all times & do this to run efficiently, if you come in solo I noticed you were sent to the high top to sit without much wait in the queue. Notice the plate of fries in the top right corner of the photo? That was our table mates food, so it's cozy & tight, not a place to be able to privately chat, but more so a place to strike up a simple conversation with fellow hungry table mates. One of them told us about the Cotts black cherry pop as a must try, & it was very sweet but did cut the fat of the meat. Poutine fried done just right. Would return & recommend. They have a take out storefront next door also.
Mar 21, 2024
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A can't miss Montreal institution. If you come before noon on a weekday in February, no line up! Service is efficient & attentive. Smoked meat sandwiches with mustard & a cherry cotts is classic. Delicious.
I came to Schwartz's Deli - Sandwiches - Steaks for lunch a while ago & tried their Smoked Meat Sandwich. It was delicious. The smoked meat was amazing, there was a good portion of food, & it was excellent value. Another must try place in Montreal & I'd give it 9/10
I have no idea what happened to this place but damn it's nowhere near as good as it used to be. The meat was dry, unflavoured & overall disappointing. I remember back in the day thinking this was the best smoked meat sandwich I've ever had but it barely passes as a good sandwich anymore Wait. That's the exact review someone just posted. I went there & I can concur 100% how true that person's review was. On top of that the staff were so darn grumpy today. The cashier was nice but the guys taking the order & prepping the sandwiches were just so grumpy. I got 4 sandwiches & a frozen pack of 10 slices of deli meat & it was just under $100. Wow! But just refer to the first paragraph. I just cut & pasted a previous reviewers comments because it was so true! I couldn't have stated it any different or any different.
Schwartz's Deli is an iconic gem! The ambiance exudes a classic deli charm, capturing the essence of Montreal's culinary history. The smoked meat sandwiches are an absolute must-try-flavorful, tender, & perfectly spiced. The bustling atmosphere adds to the experience, making it feel like a true Montreal institution. Whether you're a local or a visitor, Schwartz's is a culinary journey worth savoring.
You come for the experience- not to sit, chat & stay for a meal with friends. There is usually a line up from what I gather; we waited about 10 minutes before being seated. Seats are close quartered so you are likely sitting next to people you don't know- everyone keeps to themselves & comes to eat their food & leave so I didn't see an issue with this as it is apart of the "Schwart'z experience." My partner has always raved about Schwart'z as his family & him always go when they come to Montreal, this was my first time coming here & his hype lived up to the standards. We ordered 2 smoked meat sandwiches on rye with pickles on the side; DELICIOUS. My partner says they taste how he remembers them, as it's been a while since he had gone. You can tell when the orders go out as the place goes QUIET from everyone enjoying their food. Big fan & will definitely be back the next time I'm in Montreal!
What can I say, been coming here for years every time I come to Montreal. It's worth the waiting in line. The sandwiches are always amazing & so are the sides.
