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.
Great dish we had as the famous smokey beef sandwich. Very good taste & not that much expensive. The place was crowded but had good vibes. Definitely a must go
This place came highly recommended & it did not disappoint. A very old-school deli/diner style. I ordered the smoked meat sandwich, the pickle & a cherry cola. This food was well priced & tasty 😋🤤. Love classic style joints like Schwartzes & would recommend.
Une véritable légende à Montréal ! Schwartz's Deli est un arrêt obligatoire. Le smoked meat est d'une tendreté & d'un goût inégalables.
?Petit conseil d'initié : plutôt que le sandwich, je vous recommande vivement l'assiette de smoked meat pour vraiment savourer la générosité & la qualité de la viande sans être limité par le pain.
?Un must absolu si vous visitez la ville ! 😋👍👏👏👏
A true legend in Montreal! Schwartz's Deli is a mandatory stop. Smoked meat is of unrivalled tenderness & taste.
Insider tip: Instead of sandwiching, I highly recommend smoked meat platter to really savor the bounty & quality of the meat without being limited by the bread.👍👏👏👏
Old school, crowded, absolutely worth going. Meat is excellent. Fries & pickles are good too. Really glad we stopped in for a bite while we were exploring.
Food was fine, just average beef taste. However, I don't recommend to eat in dining, because some of waiters were bit rude attitude especially the old guy who was wearing white shirt looks like manager. He didn't order mine for a while even I was seating down, some Indian guy who was nice chef got my order hh
Even though, your history is great for a long time, your histories of services to customers was terrible. I didn't want to pay for tips of service, but I payed for that. Never come again 👋
Nov 5, 2025
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I wanted to recreate the Montreal Layover episode by Anthony Bourdain. We got the smoked meat sandwich, a pickle, & cherry coke. It is now my gold standard for smoked meat. Wonderful.
It was my first time in Montreal & I saw the reviews for this place in reddit. Gotta say, I didn't expect this place to have THE BEST SANDWICH EVER. I will definitely go to this place again if I'm in Montreal. 100/10.
