Snowdon Deli emerges in reviews as a Montreal institution with an old school, welcoming deli vibe where the smoked meat sandwich is consistently praised for tenderness and rich flavor, the brisket earns praise for melt in your mouth texture, and the bagels, matzo ball soup, latkes, knishes, and pickles round out a hearty experience. Many describe the service as friendly and efficient, with a warm, nostalgic atmosphere that draws locals and visitors alike, though it can get slow when crowds are large. Takeout and dine in both work well, and portions are often generous, though a few visits note prices are high for the amount of food or that particular items were not up to par on that day, including some disappointing fries or dry meat. Still, the overall sentiment centers on Snowdon Deli as a top spot for authentic Montreal smoked meat and classic Jewish deli fare, a must visit for those seeking a traditional, comforting, and dependable deli experience.
Great spot to get the Montreal smoked meat sandwich. The sandwich is solid & the combination of smoked meat, bread, & mustard is delicious. My brother & I also tried poutine from here which was pretty solid too. Service was excellent, our waitress was super friendly & did a great job with anything that was needed on our end, I would give six stars if I could for the service. The atmosphere was pretty nice, felt like a classic spot that you could tell was loved by the community. Definitely would recommend coming here.
Excellent Classic Smoked Meat Sandwich.
Had the smoked meat sandwich'medium' & old-fashioned spiced, just as recommended-absolutely excellent. Tender, juicy, & full of flavour. The fries were tasty too, though most pieces were too short /small for my liking. Still enjoyable. Added a cherry Coke for the full throwback deli experience. All around, a great visit.
Good sandwich but pricey & totally weird service from the owner. He told us takeout only at 4:15 when they close at 6, but then continued serving other people that were walking in. Clearly a good spot for locals, but do NOT recommend for any tourists.
Jun 27, 2025
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Went to Schwartz the past 2 times until someone recommended me to Snowdon Deli. I highly rate their smoked meat sandwich. We also had the Snowdon special & coleslaw. Both were good. I'd definitely come here over Schwartz. I got the fatty cut & absolutely no regrets. There was no line. Service was quick & friendly staff. Highly recommend!
1st time here! I agree! This place is way better!!!! Wow! Definitely lived up to the hype! Our server was really nice as well! I highly recommend this place! Forgot to take pictures. Was too hungry & we just landed.
Went today for the first time to get a take out, the service was super friendly & welcoming. We already felt like regulars, & will definitely become so. Got the potato salad & some tuna/egg sandwich, both were good!! I recommend.
When in Montreal, you have to stop for some smoked meat!
Our large group of 10 selected Snowdon as we anticipated it to be much less busy than Schwartz's Deli & we didn't want to wait or stand to eat. We were seated right away & our server was very nice.
What we got:
- Hot brisket sandwich
- Meatballs
- Smoked meat platter (with fries, pickle, & rye)
- Coleslaw
- Sauerkraut
Final Thoughts:
All our sandwiches & platters were delicious! Soft & tender meat on the sandwich & platters, the meatballs were good but a tad sweet. I found the pickles a little too sour, but I really enjoyed the coleslaw. Would recommend checking out this spot next time you're in Montreal & craving a smoked meat sandwich.
Feb 13, 2025
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When talking about smoked meat sandwiches in Montreal, as I researched, people always recommend Snowdon & Schwartz's. I haven't tried the other one, in my experience in Snowdon, the smoked beef sandwich is definitely top notch. I chose a medium fatty meat which was so tender & juicy with moderate smoky flavor, & I regretted having shared with family Lol. Turkey sandwich is recommended as well, different from our usual turkey ham. Meat balls are great too, just not out of my expectation. Kids love the sauce on meat balls. Others are just average, would not recommend the fries or salad.
Authentic Jewish deli that makes me want to ripen to old age & be a regular here! As recommended by various blogs & reviews, I had the full fat smoked meat plate. Delicious & decadent. The smoked meat was not too salty & melt in your mouth! The brisket was also recommended & it was very good but pales in comparison to the smoked meat. The coleslaw is also refreshing & not mayo based. I would pass on the potato pancake next time, it was heavy & denser than I expected. I would definitely recommend & will be back again. P.S. we did compare this to Schwartz's but not clear cut. I preferred Snowden but husband preferred Schwartz either way, both excellent!
Snowden Deli is a great alternative to some of the flashier names in the delicatessen game. It's not in a trendy area & it's got an inauspicious exterior, but the inside looks unchanged since the late eighties in a good way. The smoked meat was amazing. We had it medium & it was rich, sweet, & not too greasy or heavy. The platter w/fries & pickles is absolutely massive, it's probably better suited to share than to eat alone. The place is very hectic & full at mealtimes & the service can be a bit hard to flag down, though the food comes out quickly once ordered. We saw plenty of regulars & folks really enjoying their meals. Strong recommend!
Great place to get smoked meats & fish! The food was all delicious, & the menu was so large - you can easily get just about anything you're craving, & at a range of price points. They do have more expensive plates but those servings are very generous! It's about as classic of a deli as you can get - cozy & unpretentious, very kind servers, cheap coffee, good food. I would highly recommend it!
Jun 6, 2024
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Phenomenal experience! We were a huge group & not only was the service flawless, the waitresses were so kind & lovely. Delicious comfort food with an extensive menu (great for vegetarians as well). Couldn't recommend this place enough :)
Excellent ! J'y suis retourné avec ma copine 3x. Les prix sont plus que raisonnable, la nourriture excellente & les soupes absolument délicieuses!! Dommage que certaines serveuse ne parlent pas francais mais bon c'est pas la fin du monde. Je recommande !!
We are from BC, & we went here for lunch before heading back west. Traditional awesome Montreal smoked meat platter!!! Highly recommended! The server was excellent 👌
