Reviews describe Smoke Meat Pete as a legendary Montreal staple with generous portions of tender, flavorful smoked meat, a standout poutine and fries, and a lively bluesy atmosphere powered by live bands that draw crowds of locals and visitors alike. The experience is often praised for friendly staff, efficient service, and a welcoming vibe, though several comments note rising prices and, in some cases, reduced portion sizes or inconsistent meat quality, especially for lean cuts or fattier options. Dining in can be crowded and ordering at the counter is common, with takeout and to go serving as popular alternatives, and the overall value debated as prices climb, while many reviewers insist the meat, smoke and authentic ambience make Smoke Meat Pete worth the trip, especially when a show is on.
The smoked meat was great - it's a shame about the bread, though. For $26, one would hope for a better quality rye bread (or a pickle to accompany the sandwich 😅). Would've given 5 stars if it weren't for that 🤷🏻?♀? Poutine was good too - no complaints there. The service was friendly & the band was FANTASTIC (it made for a lively atmosphere!)
May 8, 2026
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I ordered the smoked meat sandwich, & it was quite tasty & unique. They're definitely heavier on the pepper seasoning, & it doesn't have that classic pastrami?like flavour. It's almost closer to corned beef but with a bold & heavy pepper seasoning, it's unique & really enjoyable. If you like smoked meat, this place is worth trying because it's different from the usual. The meat itself is tender. I do wish the sandwich had a bit more fat, but next time I'll just ask for it. I would also recommend to leave it in the steamer for a little longer as well.
Stopped by this restaurant from a friend's recommendation & this place did not disappoint. I thought the restaurant ambiance looked spot on & had a smokey bbq theme. Ordered a pound of sliced smoked meat & made some sandwiches. The amount given was generous & exceeded the pound. Needless to say the meat tasted very very good. A must visit.
I'm a BIG food lover, & I have to say, I have driven from Brockville Ontario to Smoke meat Pete's many times for the best, juicy & flavourful sandwich around! My favourite for sure & the atmosphere makes my foot tap to the blues music while diving into my smoked meat platter!!!!
👍😉
Mar 17, 2026
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J'avais laissé 5 étoiles mais je me dois de revoir mon évaluation après notre visite d'aujourd'hui. Oui, c'est bon, mais ce n'est pas le problème. Nous avons pris 2 sandwichs viande fumée, dont un en version jumbo pour moi-même. Pour 9$ d'extra, je m'attendais à quelque chose de costaud, il n'en est rien. Le jumbo est à peine plus gros que le format standard. De plus, frites & boissons sont aussi en extra. Un 9$ supplémentaire par assiette pour quelques patates & une boisson Fontaine. C'est littéralement du vol. 9 DOLLARS ! Au final, 70 $ pour deux pauvres sandwichs & quelques frites. Faut pas déconner, allez chez Schwartz, c'est aussi bon & surtout moins cher.
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.
Si vous aimez l'ambiance avec musique forte, show live 7/7 & les meilleurs sandwich smoked meat de la région avec vraies frites maison! Beaucoup de places à l'intérieur, décor des années 70
Dec 29, 2025
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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.
I went with a friend & we placed our orders one at a time at the counter, she placed it before I did, they ere both exactly the same. I had my meal brought to the table in a coupe of minutes. We waited for a while & no meal yet for her. She noticed that the fork had some left over food still on it. We had to ask the server about the missing meal. Why the delay & forgotten meal? My sandwich was greasy & hers was dry.
Dec 18, 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.
Le meilleur smoke meat sandwich que j'ai mangé! Ce restaurant est une institution! Surtout si vous passez par là arrêtez-vous. L'ambiance, le décor, le service, tout y est pour passer un bon moment. Moment. Ils offrent une multitude de plats, pas seulement l'assiette smoke meat. Tout à l'heure, fait sur place, c'est délicieux!!
It's mid. The atmosphere is the best thing, the food is known for the famous smoke meat. You get a good portion of meat when you order. 3 people 2 sandwiches 1 combo 3 drinks. Cost $75 bucks. Kinda pricy. Location is very close to the airport.
We had a run in with other local tourists that promoted rudeness & shellfishness. That killed this review. The staff serving me was also a bit tough to deal with & not very friendly with English/french people.