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 described as a Montreal icon with a legendary smoked meat sandwich that is tender, generously stacked on rye and often paired with pickles and a cherry soda. The atmosphere is old school, bustling, and communal, with long lines that move quickly and shared tables that add to the nostalgic vibe. The sandwich is repeatedly praised as top tier or the best many have tasted, with meat that is flavorful and juicy and options to choose lean, medium, or fatty cuts, though a few reviews note occasional dryness or uneven fat distribution. Poutine and fries are common accompaniments, sometimes great but occasionally criticized for being soggy or underseasoned; service is described as fast and friendly or brisk and crowded, depending on peak times. The experience is widely called a must visit for meat lovers and a defining Montreal experience, with many commendations of the history and atmosphere that make lines feel worth it. Some comments surface about price and crowding, but the overall sentiment remains strongly positive, framing Schwartz's Deli as a legendary staple that delivers a memorable smoked meat experience worth waiting for.
The meat is absolutely great. But I wonder what's with Montreal's obsession with oily blackened french fries? Doesn't everybody understand that 1) The best fries are the golden yellow colored fries & 2) the reason they are soaked black with oil is because the oil is overused & fries taste worse because of that?
Quality of the smoked meat sandwich has certainly fallen from what I remember. They only seems to give the lean & dry pieces for the sandwich. It's not juicy at all but chewy & lacks flavor. The bread is also very basic. Yes its still an iconic place but don't get the sandwich...the plates are better because you can choose to get juicier better quality pieces.
Lovely food, great flavor you can choose the smoked meat to be lean which tends to be dry, medium fat or full fat. The flavor of the full fat sandwich is juicy. Very flavorful. The atmosphere is buzzing, you can sit at the bar or the tables which seat 6 at a time. There are about 10 tables. The place was packed & the service was speedy.
Jun 5, 2025
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Life-Changing Sandwich - A Reason to Return to Montreal!
Wow, just WOW. I still can't believe how incredible a huge hunk of meat between simple bread could taste. Seriously, this sandwich has given me a legitimate reason to come back to Montreal.
Despite the long lines, the service was incredibly quick & efficient. This place is all about no-nonsense, high-quality food, & they absolutely nail it. Don't change a thing - you clearly know exactly what you're doing!
The worst smoked meat sandwich I've ever had in Montreal. Dry, crumbly overly salty meat, soggy pickle, weird cole slaw, greasy fries . Just horrible. Three servings cost over $80. Not what it used to be. Go to the Platesu.
