Schwartz's Deli propose le sandwich à la viande fumée montréalais emblématique préparé selon un processus de salaison traditionnel s'étendant sur dix jours. Chaque portion comprend une poitrine frottée avec un mélange d'épices signature et fumée lentement jusqu'à obtenir une tendreté optimale. Cet établissement maintient un menu direct centré sur ce produit phare accompagné de garnitures essentielles comme de la salade de chou fraîche et de la moutarde jaune. L'environnement intérieur reflète une esthétique fonctionnelle et très fréquentée définie par des sièges serrés et un décor utilitaire conçu pour un service efficace. Les clients reçoivent des portions de bœuf salé tranché à la demande pour garantir la texture et la température requises par les standards locaux. L'expérience culinaire repose sur cette méthode de préparation constante qui définit l'établissement depuis des décennies en privilégiant la qualité de la protéine primaire.
Schwartz's Deli est largement considéré comme une institution légendaire de Montréal et une destination incontournable pour quiconque recherche une expérience authentique de viande fumée. Bien que le restaurant soit fréquemment bondé et qu'il y ait souvent de longues files d'attente, la plupart des clients estiment que la viande tendre et savoureuse ainsi que l'atmosphère nostalgique valent largement l'attente. Le service est généralement décrit comme rapide et efficace, bien que l'espace soit particulièrement étroit et nécessite le partage de tables, ce qui contribue à son charme animé et convivial. Si les avis sur les prix et la taille des portions varient, et qu'une minorité de visiteurs a vécu des expériences de service inégales ou a trouvé que la réputation dépassait la réalité, la majorité des clients loue la qualité des sandwichs, de la poutine et des cornichons, confirmant son statut d'incontournable de la scène culinaire locale.
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.
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.
8 mai 2026
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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...
Visiting Schwartz's Deli in Montreal was an incredible culinary experience that lived up to all the hype! The world-famous smoked meat sandwich is an absolute masterpiece-tender, perfectly spiced, & piled impressively high on fresh rye bread. I highly recommend ordering it'medium' for the perfect balance of flavour & juiciness, & don't forget to pair it with a classic black cherry soda & a large pickle. Despite the nearly constant queue out the door, the service is remarkably fast & the old-school atmosphere adds so much character to the meal. It is a legendary landmark for a reason, & easily some of the best comfort food I have ever tasted!
The bread is very soft, & the layers of beef are well seasoned, tender, & rich with a nice fatty aroma. Personally, I think it tastes even better with a bit more yellow mustard.
The fat distribution could be more even - some parts were a little dry & firm, while others were quite fatty.
Highly recommend having it with pickles, which really balance the richness of the beef.
Beyond the fame & tradition, I have to say this was the most disappointing sandwich I've ever had. Maybe it's great if you're comparing it to McDonald's but realistically there is nothing notable about a hunk of meat thrown between two half slices of extremely mediocre bread. I don't get what's all the rage.
I really wanted to try the smoked meat sandwich here so that is what I have ordered. The bread was soft but thin & to be honest the smoke meat was not so tasteful that I need to add ketchup to enhance the taste but meat was really very juicy & generous portion. Sandwich size is just enough for one person. However, I was expecting to taste a special & unique flavor of the meat but again good thing it's really juicy & almost melts in your mouth. The fries has crispy burnt taste. The price is like around 30$ per person if you will have fries & a drink with it. The ambiance is like 80's or 90's era & I like it.
The staffs are pleasant & they serve fast. Overall, good to try for tourist as it has its history.
Ordered on doordash, we considered going in person but after reading all of these reviews about disrespectful, condecending, & demanding service I am truly glad that we stayed in.
The Sandwich à la viande fumèe was small but delicious, I haven't had pastrami in a long time as I usually follow a pescatarian diet but it was so worth it!
A perfect ratio of fat to meat, genuinely could not have been better except to perhaps have wider slices of bread to not need to stack the meat so high on small slices (makes it difficult to take a bite).
However, the poutine is the first terrible poutine I've ever had in Montreal, the fries were soggy which is to be expected & is understandable when ordering fries for delivery & the cheese curds were pretty decent, but the issue was that they were incredibly burnt & just tasted like char or straight liquid smoke. Don't get me wrong, I love a smokey flavor, I charcoal grill nearly every chance I get in all seasons rain or shine, but these were not just smokey fries they were actually burnt to the point that we just picked out the cheese curds & couldn't stomach the fries at all..
My suggestion is order from a food delivery app like doordash, ABSOLUTELY get the smoked meat sandwich, & avoid the poutine at all costs.
