Smoke Meat Pete is widely praised as a standout for smoked meat in Montreal and a landmark in the city’s tradition. The atmosphere is repeatedly described as lively and old school, with live blues, a friendly staff, and a vibe that makes the wait part of the experience. The meat is tender and richly flavored, with standout fries and coleslaw and ribs and poutine also receiving praise. Several reviews discuss value, noting portions or prices have shifted over time and that some days feel pricey for the size. Crowds and noise are common, especially when live music is on, but the energy is part of the appeal. Service is often described as fast and friendly, with the ordering system at the counter and options for takeout or bundles. Overall the reviews converge on a memorable Montreal experience where the food, music, and atmosphere combine to justify a trip.
Went for the 30th birthday of Pete🥳 & it was my first visit & then went back next day to try more of their delicious food.
From the atmosphere, to the service, to the food all was great. So welcoming & generous, smiles & good time all around.
Thank you
I'm a BIG food lover, & I have to say, I have driven from Brockville Ontario to Smoke meat Pete's many times for the best, juicy & flavourful sandwich around! My favourite for sure & the atmosphere makes my foot tap to the blues music while diving into my smoked meat platter!!!!
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Mar 17, 2026
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Always a good time going to Pete's & seeing live music. Food is awesome just a little pricy now for what it is. That's the only thing I could eat out at a fancy restaurant for the same price as Pete's. I suggest buying the family combo meal that way you can make the sandwiches at home for a bit of a better price.
I've been going here for nearly 30 years now & I never walked away dissatisfied. Pete's smoked meat is reason alone, but the people who work there & the atmosphere put it over the top. Smoked Meat Pete is a landmark & well represents Montreal's unique smoked meat tradition.'You can't beat Pete's meat,' & his fries are damn good too!
I've been going to Smoked Meat Pete's for many years, & I want to start by saying that I genuinely like their smoked meat - I still do. The flavor, seasoning, & overall taste are what made this place famous, & that part has remained consistent over time.
However, it's hard to ignore the changes that have happened recently, & unfortunately not for the better. The portion sizes have gone down dramatically, while prices have gone up noticeably. When you're charging premium prices for a smoked meat sandwich & a poutine, customers naturally expect the portions to remain generous, or at the very least consistent with what they were known for.
What's disappointing is that the value just isn't there anymore. Paying that much & walking away feeling like the sandwich is noticeably smaller than it used to be takes away from the experience, no matter how good the taste still is. The same goes for the poutine - higher price, smaller portion.
Taste-wise, the smoked meat is still good, but honestly, I'm now getting very similar - & in some cases even better - flavor at Markies in Ottawa, where the portions are bigger & the prices are more reasonable. When another spot can match the taste while offering better value, it really makes you think twice.
I don't say this lightly because Smoked Meat Pete's has been a go-to spot for me for a long time. I want to keep supporting them, but portion shrinkage combined with rising prices is hard to justify. If you're going to increase prices, at least maintain the portion sizes that built your reputation in the first place.
The food is still tasty, but value matters - & right now, that balance feels off.
Smoked Meat Pete is one of those places that feels timeless. We tried the classic smoked meat sandwich, the full rack of ribs, & the smoked meat poutine, & everything was excellent. The smoked meat is rich, tender, & full of flavour, easily among the best you can find in Montreal & the surrounding area. Honestly, if this place were located downtown, it would probably be considered the best smoked meat in Montreal.
The ribs were generous & well done, & the poutine with smoked meat was comforting & satisfying. Their coleslaw is also very good & pairs perfectly with the main dishes.
The atmosphere is friendly & welcoming, & you can really feel that this is a place people have been coming to for years. It's always busy, especially in the summer when lineups are common, which says a lot. They also have a varied menu with things like pasta & ice cream, making it great for families & groups.
If you want to experience truly great smoked meat at a place that's stood the test of time, Smoked Meat Pete is absolutely worth the trip.
Dec 23, 2025
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I've been to this restaurant MANY times. We visited friends in Vaudreuil yesterday & stopped in at Smoke Meat Pete on the way home. It's a five or so minute drive from their home. We had our dog with us so we couldn't leave him alone in the car. We got a couple of meals to go & ate in the parking lot. His Highness may have gotten a bit of smoked meat as a treat. Great meal as usual but the sandwich was a bit sloppy. You couldn't help it because of the confines of the car & the to-go box. Fries had a bit of a sweet taste to them. Loved them. Smoked meat was piled high on the sandwich. Loved it. Whenever I'm in the area, I stop into this restaurant for my smoked meat fix. Ile Perrot is much easier to get to than trying to get to Moe's or Ben's or Schwartz on the Island by crossing the bridge on the 40. I've never been in the evening when they've had the live band playing blues but that's hopefully remedied soon. I will be back.
Smoke Meat Pete is hands down the best smoked meat in Québec. The sandwiches are packed, flavorful, & incredibly tender. Portions are generous & the quality is always top notch. They also have live bands on select days, which adds a great vibe to the experience. A must-visit for anyone who loves authentic Montréal-style smoked meat.
Always grab some smoke meat at Pete's on my way home & when traveling through Montreal ... What a spot great meat & awesome atmosphere in the restaurant if you are sticking around for a meal ... I was on the move so bringing some to my family in Nova Scotia.
It's a bit far from the city but totally worth the ride. Great ribs & smoked meat, old school seating & some good old live blues... can't beat Pete's meat!
30$ is too expensive for an average smoked meat sandwich. Smoked meat was once upon a time supposed be a cheap way of eating a cured inexpensive piece of meat. Smoke Meat Pete has lost its way.
You order at the cash & then grab a seat & they bring you your food. Paid about 24 bucks & a 3 dollar tip for their Pete's smoke meat plate. Not sure if I needed to specify or not, but a third of my smoke meat was fat & not edible(unless you love eating nutrition-less fat). Maybe I have a big appetite, but the sandwich did not fill me, even with the fries & small container of slaw. Now, the size of the sandwich would have gone unnoticed if there wasn't so much fat scrap on the meat...feels like I paid for fat & that I got rooked. 27bucks not worth it. Could have gotten a decent meal for that price. The taste of the smoke meat wasn't bad.
Oct 25, 2025
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You can't beat Pete's meat! Stopped by on New Year's Eve for a quick smoked meat sandwich before hitting the road, & it did not disappoint.
The place had tons of Christmas decorations up, which made for a really cozy vibe. The atmosphere is always fun with live blues on stage, & the staff & owner were so friendly the owner even invited us to their NYE party (so sweet!).
Ordering is simple: you head to the counter, pay, & then grab a wooden table. I went for the smoked meat with fries, pickle, & coleslaw yummm absolutely delicious. If you like it lean, it's a couple bucks more, but I personally love it the classic way.
They even bring a little starter of hot dog, liver, bread, coleslaw, & butter. & I finally tried the ribs this time - wow! Super tender, sweet, & packed with flavor. Highly recommend them.
This place might be known for its smoked meat sandwich but the ribs is where it's at. Great menu with mouth watering options (& amazing portions too!). The service is very impressive as well.
We arrived & it was the Sunday Jam!
This place exceeded my expectations. Large portions of food, either smoke meat, ribs or brisket with plenty of coleslaw & pickles.
We were so lucky there was live music! Even Pete himself was there & played the guitar ! Excellent ambiance also children friendly.
Really good tunes, great music & the waitresses were very nice & friendly.
