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.
Roast beef sandwich is highly recommended! My American rueben lovers should try a version of reuben sandwich with white bread instead of rye without sourkraut & thousand islands but with mustard 😋 Fries could be better.
Got a table rather quickly since we were a party of two. Do be careful if you want to get a table as the wait can be long. There is a take out option if you can't. They have more offerings than smoked meat but I highly recommend to get the plate or the sandwich. Try to get it medium as the fat simply melts in your mouth. Would definitely have it again when I'm back at Montreal.
Aug 4, 2024
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Sentiment mitigé. Bcp de monde en ce dimanche & donc beaucoup d'attente. La viande en soi est plutôt bonne, mais ambiance intérieure enfumée plutôt désagréable, pain qui accompagne la viande plutôt simple & minimal (genre 3 fines tranches de pain complet) & l'ensemble ressort plutôt gras. Le paquet de frites format familial est très largement suffisant pour 4. Au final, bon on a aimé mais on en ferait pas une folie à y revenir d'autres fois.
Visited Schwartz Deli holidaying in Montreal for 2 days. This restaurant is one must try & not to be missed. We had juicy, Smoked Meat Sandwich, full of flavour. Most popular sandwich for the first timers. Highly recommend! Coleslaw made with vinegar was tge idel side for the sandwich. We had A&W cold Root Beer.
Jul 28, 2024
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Huge portions & a lively atmosphere! My partner & I came here for dinner & the place was packed even when it was already 8-9 PM. We had to park a few streets away since there was no parking nearby, but it was a nice walk. There was a line up (which tells you it's a good place) but the wait time was quite reasonable & we weren't in a rush so it was all good. The server was super nice & friendly, & food was delicious. We left the place feeling so full, so the walk back to our parking spot helped us digest a bit haha.
Schwartz' Deli is an iconic Montreal restaurant that is known for its smoked meat. Expect to wait in a line which, in our case, moved quote quickly. All of this is for good reason! The smoked meat is the best I've ever had (& I've had smoked meat in NYC, Atlanta, Nashville, Austin & throughout Florida, too name a few places). People share a table seating 6. I ordered a side of cole slaw ( which is solely vinegar based & very tasty!) The star, the smoked meat, is tender, flavorful & ample in sandwich serving size, if you don't opt for a small plate or a large plate. Be advised that the Cherry Cola is "Cott," not Coca Cola. It is a our now tasty than Cherry Coke. You MUST eat smoked meat at Schwartz' Deli if you are in Montreal & want quality smoked meat!! I will return when next I 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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Time capsule of an amazing place. Memories from my childhood are exactly the same. The most perfect smoked meat sandwich ever, paired with a pickle that you cut like a steak & a Cott's black cherry pop! Share a table with everyone in the place & it's always busy. Waiting in line is worth it. The servers seemed nicer than I remember this time... Although the rough edges add to the charm.
I realy do not understand why is this place so popular. & why the people stand outside in a line.The meal is just a meat slices put in plain bread.....🤭
I heard a lot of good things about Schartz's so I decided to try it. Unfortunatly the meat was so dry & barely tasty & over price.. there are other places with better smoke meat...
Mostly go there for lunch, it's honestly less busy. There is also another shop beside. Mostly for to-go, it is also quite busy 😂 & they ask you sometimes if you want your smoke meat with or w/o fat. Take the fatty one, you won't be disappointed.
