Food is really amazing. Not surprised it is consistently rated one of the best restaurants in Canada. Really enjoyed the lobster spaghetti and steak. The wine selection was great too.
gondekp
I wanted to see for myself if all the popularly was accurate. It certainly was. I went during the week and was able to get 1 spot at the bar. It was tight quarters but that wasn’t a concern. Even though I was solo the server treated me like was sitting at a table of 6. I started with a cocktail and was given an explanation of the menu. I asked for recommendations and ordered accordingly. I started with the steak tartare. Like everything else I ate, perfectly balanced, perfectly seasoned. Meaty, good acid, some crunch. The dish was my favorite. Beef marrow and egg white “flan” with a tomato sauce. This was amazing. Great texture, great flavor. The tomato sauce went perfect with the flan. With the egg whites whipped in it was much lighter than a true flan. I and the hen breast next. Rarely would I order chicken but it was recommended. The chicken was tender and moist, but the sauce was amazing. Along with the caramelized endive another great combo. I kind of which there was some browning on the chicken but I was great. I was given a wine pairing to go with each item and enjoy the combinations. Make reservations way in advance especially for weekends but I thoroughly enjoyed my experience.
Paul M
Amazing food experience. I've been going twice a year for 6 or 7 years and not once has this establishment disappointed me. The staff is friendly and approachable. The food is epic every time, and the menu changes regularly. At this point we have our favorite waiter, Leo. This guy is a star. We just sit, and ask him to bring food. We don't need to pick and choose, he does it better than anyone. Impeccable taste, presentation and ambiance. 5 stars still, even after all these years
Stay16128524070
Food wasn’t that great Way over priced 20 years I want to try this restaurant Very disappointed
Radvany
If you're looking for Spago , this is not the place for you.Something uniquely quirky Montreal. My daughter found it via TikTok. The decor is rustic, but with a touch of cosmopolitan. The front could be a butcher shop. An amusingly unpretentious place with great food. I had a scotch-based cocktail called penicillin. Signature plate lobster spaghetti swimming in a butter sauce was great. As was smoked trout with cheese/caviar and I'm a burnt Ego waffle the flavors came together! ?. Dessert was a crepe folded around house made banana ice cream swimming in freshly made caramel sauce. So much butter!
Stephen R
It wouldn't be a foodie trip to Montréal without a visit to Joe Beef, so I was glad to be able to get a reservation on a Friday night to try it out for myself! I was dining solo this night and the restaurant caters extremely well to solo diners, with an extensive section of bar seating where you can watch the action and chat with other solo diners who have come for the experience. The food was fantastic. I started with a sampling of all the different types of oysters they had on offer, followed by escargots and then their claim to fame, the lobster spaghetti. Believe the hype, this was incredible! There was a generous amount of lobster and the pasta was so creamy, like no pasta I've tasted before. Remember to save room for dessert as well, their Marjolaine cake is incredible! Service from the guys behind the bar was excellent, they were really friendly with all the guests and very knowledgeable about all the food and drink options. When I enquired about a glass of wine to accompany my lobster spaghetti they asked me a couple of questions about preferences, thought about it, said "Done" and returned minutes later with a bottle of red which matched my preferences perfectly! Joe Beef was a perfect way to end my time in Montréal and there are plenty of elements of this meal that I'll be dreaming about for years to come. These are people who know and love their food, and it shows. Would definitely recommend!
Jody H
Heard from a friend that Joe Beef was doing vegetarian options. I thought that meant they added vegetarian stuff to the menu. Went there with my vegetarian bf and there were no vegetarian things on the menu so the chef made us a special 4 course meal. Lol. This must be what it’s like to be the queen of England.
H3952SGphilippec
The spot is perfect the atmosphere is good the service is good everything is good except the main course, I was so disappointed my wife and friends all had the same opinion Ordinaire, I ordered the lamb shank came on the plate like a canned corn beef and was simply a strain to eat, my Wife had the fish and she had to get up all night to drink some water, I picked up the tab $ 700.00 wasted
julierF6375EM
Fabulous seafood and steak restaurant. We found our server Alex most knowledgable on menu and wine options. We had the seared scollops for a starter and lobster spaghetti with a portion of corn for main. Followed by cherry ice cream and sorbet. We walked off the dinner on the way back to the hotel
M7678KUchrisw
We ate here to celebrate our son's engagement. It was an experience! The waiter was extremely knowledgable and able to describe the dishes in detail. Everything was perfectly delicious!
Service was excellent !Attentive ,good explanation of the menu .Had the lobster spaghetti which was tasty lobster and pasta on point !Octopus with potatoes just yummy !Tuna tartare with a sauce I can’t quite describe but delicious .Chocolate eclair with ice cream ,Sorbet with melon for dessert !Another winner .Last trip to Montreal we couldn’t get into Joe Beef so we went to Liverpool house it’s sister restaurant .It’s right next door and had a similar menu.This time I made the reservations 2 months ahead .We were very pleased with our experience !
Matthew H
Killer hostess, killer food runners, killer ambience, killer food, not so killer waiter who was super pushy, pushing to double up and full order everything. A customer knows how hungry they are, how much to order and can certainly order more if needed. I was surprised this guy was trained to be that pushy.
Climber59180258181
Wow! You have to hand it to whoever is running this show. Kahunas (sp?) the size of grapefruits. My wife told me she had tried numerous times before to get a reservation without success because this place was so popular. My BS radar was on alert when I discovered it was also celebrity chef endorsed. Almost always a sign of mediocrity put through a PR spin machine. My radar proved spot on. I have had the privilege of eating at at many of the finest restaurants in Canada, the US and Europe. This is definitely not one of them. Don’t get me wrong, the food was ok. If I had paid $100 for a meal for two here I would have been delighted but at $400 (tax and tip in) my only thought is yougoddabekiddinme. $75 for a lobster spaghetti with 2oz of rubbery over cooked lobster and too much of an only ok sauce!? Yes, I know, I should have known better than to order that dish out of lobster season but even with frozen pre cooked lobster from a local super market any mediocre home cook could have done at least as well. The $21 pile of lettuce drowned in dressing appetizer did not help even though the dressing was quite good ( bit of advice to encourage a better review- serve it on the side). The dessert was the best part of my meal but I can eat a boatload of almost anything covered in whipped cream and chocolate sauce so that is not saying much. To be fair, my wife’s appetizer, a creative riff on melon wrapped in prosciutto was decent and her main, leg of some fowl stuffed with pate and chanterelles, was good. Most heavily over rated places have to hide their mediocrity behind snotty wait staff in crisp uniforms, fine linens, impressive wine collections displayed in glass cellars or other similar distractions. Not this place. Kitschy, dated decor, crappy music played too loudly, ceiling fans spinning so fast they threatened to blow the linen off the tables and wait staff dressed like the forgot to change before coming to work straight from the gym (I am not trashing the staff, the service was fine and they were tipped accordingly. I just hope the didn’t have to share it with the house). I can only guess that the great reviews come from people who don’t get out much and need to calm the cognitive dissonance they are feeling after blowing a bundle that they can’t get back. Time for more people to call this place out and let the world know what is obvious to anyone not blinded by the embarrassment of having fallen for the hype…the emperor has no clothes.
Z5075FHpeterf
Our first dinner in Montreal, the first day, was perfection. We got a table on the outside patio. The meal consisted of Lobster Pasta, steak, and a bottle of wine. I fell in love with the waitress who was half my age, but no matter, she was so gracious and helpful in helping us choose the right course.
MississippiMama17
I booked two months in advance for a 9:30 table on a Wednesday night. Had no idea what to expect- and was ABSOLUTELY swept away by the warmth and inviting spirit. Place has a je ne sais quoi kitsch/homey vibe with winding old hallways and - viola!- we were seated on a gorgeous patio. Service was impeccable and great care and clarity for our celiac diner. I’m not a real foodie but the Halibut in tomato butter knocked my socks off. Wine list was superb and servers very well informed. What I loved most was the vibe- I don’t know how they pull off the intimacy and joy but there were tables and tables inside and out just beaming - taking calvados shots, toasting birthday boys. We had to leave to catch a midnight comedy show, but I have no doubt the party and warmth continued well past our departure!
Food is really amazing. Not surprised it is consistently rated one of the best restaurants in Canada. Really enjoyed the lobster spaghetti and steak. The wine selection was great too.
I wanted to see for myself if all the popularly was accurate. It certainly was. I went during the week and was able to get 1 spot at the bar. It was tight quarters but that wasn’t a concern. Even though I was solo the server treated me like was sitting at a table of 6. I started with a cocktail and was given an explanation of the menu. I asked for recommendations and ordered accordingly. I started with the steak tartare. Like everything else I ate, perfectly balanced, perfectly seasoned. Meaty, good acid, some crunch. The dish was my favorite. Beef marrow and egg white “flan” with a tomato sauce. This was amazing. Great texture, great flavor. The tomato sauce went perfect with the flan. With the egg whites whipped in it was much lighter than a true flan. I and the hen breast next. Rarely would I order chicken but it was recommended. The chicken was tender and moist, but the sauce was amazing. Along with the caramelized endive another great combo. I kind of which there was some browning on the chicken but I was great. I was given a wine pairing to go with each item and enjoy the combinations. Make reservations way in advance especially for weekends but I thoroughly enjoyed my experience.
Amazing food experience. I've been going twice a year for 6 or 7 years and not once has this establishment disappointed me. The staff is friendly and approachable. The food is epic every time, and the menu changes regularly. At this point we have our favorite waiter, Leo. This guy is a star. We just sit, and ask him to bring food. We don't need to pick and choose, he does it better than anyone. Impeccable taste, presentation and ambiance. 5 stars still, even after all these years
Food wasn’t that great Way over priced 20 years I want to try this restaurant Very disappointed
If you're looking for Spago , this is not the place for you.Something uniquely quirky Montreal. My daughter found it via TikTok. The decor is rustic, but with a touch of cosmopolitan. The front could be a butcher shop. An amusingly unpretentious place with great food. I had a scotch-based cocktail called penicillin. Signature plate lobster spaghetti swimming in a butter sauce was great. As was smoked trout with cheese/caviar and I'm a burnt Ego waffle the flavors came together! ?. Dessert was a crepe folded around house made banana ice cream swimming in freshly made caramel sauce. So much butter!
It wouldn't be a foodie trip to Montréal without a visit to Joe Beef, so I was glad to be able to get a reservation on a Friday night to try it out for myself! I was dining solo this night and the restaurant caters extremely well to solo diners, with an extensive section of bar seating where you can watch the action and chat with other solo diners who have come for the experience. The food was fantastic. I started with a sampling of all the different types of oysters they had on offer, followed by escargots and then their claim to fame, the lobster spaghetti. Believe the hype, this was incredible! There was a generous amount of lobster and the pasta was so creamy, like no pasta I've tasted before. Remember to save room for dessert as well, their Marjolaine cake is incredible! Service from the guys behind the bar was excellent, they were really friendly with all the guests and very knowledgeable about all the food and drink options. When I enquired about a glass of wine to accompany my lobster spaghetti they asked me a couple of questions about preferences, thought about it, said "Done" and returned minutes later with a bottle of red which matched my preferences perfectly! Joe Beef was a perfect way to end my time in Montréal and there are plenty of elements of this meal that I'll be dreaming about for years to come. These are people who know and love their food, and it shows. Would definitely recommend!
Heard from a friend that Joe Beef was doing vegetarian options. I thought that meant they added vegetarian stuff to the menu. Went there with my vegetarian bf and there were no vegetarian things on the menu so the chef made us a special 4 course meal. Lol. This must be what it’s like to be the queen of England.
The spot is perfect the atmosphere is good the service is good everything is good except the main course, I was so disappointed my wife and friends all had the same opinion Ordinaire, I ordered the lamb shank came on the plate like a canned corn beef and was simply a strain to eat, my Wife had the fish and she had to get up all night to drink some water, I picked up the tab $ 700.00 wasted
Fabulous seafood and steak restaurant. We found our server Alex most knowledgable on menu and wine options. We had the seared scollops for a starter and lobster spaghetti with a portion of corn for main. Followed by cherry ice cream and sorbet. We walked off the dinner on the way back to the hotel
We ate here to celebrate our son's engagement. It was an experience! The waiter was extremely knowledgable and able to describe the dishes in detail. Everything was perfectly delicious!
Restaurantji Recommends
Service was excellent !Attentive ,good explanation of the menu .Had the lobster spaghetti which was tasty lobster and pasta on point !Octopus with potatoes just yummy !Tuna tartare with a sauce I can’t quite describe but delicious .Chocolate eclair with ice cream ,Sorbet with melon for dessert !Another winner .Last trip to Montreal we couldn’t get into Joe Beef so we went to Liverpool house it’s sister restaurant .It’s right next door and had a similar menu.This time I made the reservations 2 months ahead .We were very pleased with our experience !
Killer hostess, killer food runners, killer ambience, killer food, not so killer waiter who was super pushy, pushing to double up and full order everything. A customer knows how hungry they are, how much to order and can certainly order more if needed. I was surprised this guy was trained to be that pushy.
Wow! You have to hand it to whoever is running this show. Kahunas (sp?) the size of grapefruits. My wife told me she had tried numerous times before to get a reservation without success because this place was so popular. My BS radar was on alert when I discovered it was also celebrity chef endorsed. Almost always a sign of mediocrity put through a PR spin machine. My radar proved spot on. I have had the privilege of eating at at many of the finest restaurants in Canada, the US and Europe. This is definitely not one of them. Don’t get me wrong, the food was ok. If I had paid $100 for a meal for two here I would have been delighted but at $400 (tax and tip in) my only thought is yougoddabekiddinme. $75 for a lobster spaghetti with 2oz of rubbery over cooked lobster and too much of an only ok sauce!? Yes, I know, I should have known better than to order that dish out of lobster season but even with frozen pre cooked lobster from a local super market any mediocre home cook could have done at least as well. The $21 pile of lettuce drowned in dressing appetizer did not help even though the dressing was quite good ( bit of advice to encourage a better review- serve it on the side). The dessert was the best part of my meal but I can eat a boatload of almost anything covered in whipped cream and chocolate sauce so that is not saying much. To be fair, my wife’s appetizer, a creative riff on melon wrapped in prosciutto was decent and her main, leg of some fowl stuffed with pate and chanterelles, was good. Most heavily over rated places have to hide their mediocrity behind snotty wait staff in crisp uniforms, fine linens, impressive wine collections displayed in glass cellars or other similar distractions. Not this place. Kitschy, dated decor, crappy music played too loudly, ceiling fans spinning so fast they threatened to blow the linen off the tables and wait staff dressed like the forgot to change before coming to work straight from the gym (I am not trashing the staff, the service was fine and they were tipped accordingly. I just hope the didn’t have to share it with the house). I can only guess that the great reviews come from people who don’t get out much and need to calm the cognitive dissonance they are feeling after blowing a bundle that they can’t get back. Time for more people to call this place out and let the world know what is obvious to anyone not blinded by the embarrassment of having fallen for the hype…the emperor has no clothes.
Our first dinner in Montreal, the first day, was perfection. We got a table on the outside patio. The meal consisted of Lobster Pasta, steak, and a bottle of wine. I fell in love with the waitress who was half my age, but no matter, she was so gracious and helpful in helping us choose the right course.
I booked two months in advance for a 9:30 table on a Wednesday night. Had no idea what to expect- and was ABSOLUTELY swept away by the warmth and inviting spirit. Place has a je ne sais quoi kitsch/homey vibe with winding old hallways and - viola!- we were seated on a gorgeous patio. Service was impeccable and great care and clarity for our celiac diner. I’m not a real foodie but the Halibut in tomato butter knocked my socks off. Wine list was superb and servers very well informed. What I loved most was the vibe- I don’t know how they pull off the intimacy and joy but there were tables and tables inside and out just beaming - taking calvados shots, toasting birthday boys. We had to leave to catch a midnight comedy show, but I have no doubt the party and warmth continued well past our departure!