Pretty average, crowded, service suffers due to crowding.The food itself is nothing special. You're paying for the hipster rep.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 3
Service: 3
Tony N
A wonderful evening. Food was top notch and well worth the reputation; excellent technique and ingredients. Service was great given the type of restaurant. Wine recommendations top notch. Would recommend.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Mike Nguyen
amazing food
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Bob Cudahy
Amazing meal and fantastic staff. It was a wonderful night.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
wesley Tahsir
We had such a good experience here. Server was great. Drinks were creative. Food was top notch and fresh. Crab, tuna, lobster spaghetti, scallop "sausage". Wow. Dessert also out of this world.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Lobster Spaghetti
Amy Waldorf
Everything was terrific, which was, of course, expected. Our server, I believe Gabriel from other reviews, was fabulous, friendly, and super attentive. No question was too much; every teammate we encountered was on point and super invested in the success of our meal. I cannot wait to be back.This is a bucket list project, and I have waited pre-pandemic for this one, and it did not disappoint. I will be making the frisee salad very soon; what a lovely surprise in taste for a simple starter salad. Every dish and drink was perfect. Merci, gentlemen.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Maxwell Tarantino
I actually enjoyed it this time than the last time.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
James Laird
Let me start off by saying that Joe Beef is the best restaurant I’ve ever been to, including places like Le Bernadin and Le Cirque. It is the perfect mixture. On one hand it is unpretentious, like a good neighborhood spot. But when it comes to technique, they are second to none. We come to Montreal every year, sometimes twice, and always dine at Joe Beef. Skipping the menu, we opt for the Joe Beef Experience. This has resulted in the best meals of our lives.This time, April 2, 2024, was no exception. Laura, once again, proved herself a genius by constructing a flawless series of courses for us each paired beautifully with an appropriate wine. She, and Kalina who stopped by to raise a glass with us, always make us feel like friends, not just clients.Years ago I had a recurring dream of the perfect restaurant. Never did I think I’d find it, but we did.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Melissa C
I really wanted to love this place. The food was good but nothing special. The server assistant was good and the only saving grace. The Server however was awful. Not friendly, not attentive and body shamed me for eating the lobster pasta. Would not return or recommend
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 3
Service: 1
Jack Cheung
Great service at this classic restaurant in Montreal.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Oysters on the Half Shell, Lobster Spaghetti, Foie Gras Terrine
We came here on a Wednesday so i guess it’s unsurprising that the atmosphere wasn’t too crazy and it felt a bit awkward where we sat. The service was incredible and everybody was very attentive and helpful. The food was really good! Loved the gâteau marjolaine, the pork was delicious and the lobster pasta is good but I would share because it’s VERY rich.
A must experience when in Montreal on my bucket list. World class food, wine and service. Joe Beef exceeded my high expectations, everything was on point. Thank you again for the wonderful experience.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Oysters on the Half Shell, Lobster Spaghetti, Beef Tartare, Foie Gras Terrine
John McCauley
The best I've had. Ordered
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Jon Yazer
The most important thing, the food, was a disappointment. The raw tuna ($30 + tax) was seven small squares of thinly sliced tuna on quite average potato chips with tiny dollops of ‘dip,’ a very insubstantial and underwhelming dish. In the next dish, the ‘clear borscht’ was just a consommé, the smoked herring was like the tuna too insubstantial and the pommes dauphines were soggy (yuck). The famous lobster pasta, an eye watering $71+tax: the lobster was too small a portion (including a large decorative but empty shell on top) and had a rubbery texture, either not having been cooked or sourced well (but at least you know you’re getting a famous dish circa 2005…). The pasta was tasty if far too salty, but more importantly, they do not mention on the menu that it’s prepared with small pieces of bacon in the sauce; not very thoughtful for anyone who is pescatarian or doesn’t eat meat or pork. The Cornish hen was succulent and excellent overall, the one good dish.The service was excellent, as you would expect.Overall, I would not return and cannot recommend.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 2
Service: 5
Kyla Cushenan
Food was to die for. Service was impeccable. Atmosphere was ok. The dim lighting made the menus hard to read and really see the food you are eating. You eat with your eyes first!! Acoustics were not great and I could hardly have a conversation with my husband. Good thing we can communicate through facial expressions!!
Pretty average, crowded, service suffers due to crowding.The food itself is nothing special. You're paying for the hipster rep.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 3
Service: 3
A wonderful evening. Food was top notch and well worth the reputation; excellent technique and ingredients. Service was great given the type of restaurant. Wine recommendations top notch. Would recommend.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
amazing food
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Amazing meal and fantastic staff. It was a wonderful night.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
We had such a good experience here. Server was great. Drinks were creative. Food was top notch and fresh. Crab, tuna, lobster spaghetti, scallop "sausage". Wow. Dessert also out of this world.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Lobster Spaghetti
Everything was terrific, which was, of course, expected. Our server, I believe Gabriel from other reviews, was fabulous, friendly, and super attentive. No question was too much; every teammate we encountered was on point and super invested in the success of our meal. I cannot wait to be back.This is a bucket list project, and I have waited pre-pandemic for this one, and it did not disappoint. I will be making the frisee salad very soon; what a lovely surprise in taste for a simple starter salad. Every dish and drink was perfect. Merci, gentlemen.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I actually enjoyed it this time than the last time.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Let me start off by saying that Joe Beef is the best restaurant I’ve ever been to, including places like Le Bernadin and Le Cirque. It is the perfect mixture. On one hand it is unpretentious, like a good neighborhood spot. But when it comes to technique, they are second to none. We come to Montreal every year, sometimes twice, and always dine at Joe Beef. Skipping the menu, we opt for the Joe Beef Experience. This has resulted in the best meals of our lives.This time, April 2, 2024, was no exception. Laura, once again, proved herself a genius by constructing a flawless series of courses for us each paired beautifully with an appropriate wine. She, and Kalina who stopped by to raise a glass with us, always make us feel like friends, not just clients.Years ago I had a recurring dream of the perfect restaurant. Never did I think I’d find it, but we did.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I really wanted to love this place. The food was good but nothing special. The server assistant was good and the only saving grace. The Server however was awful. Not friendly, not attentive and body shamed me for eating the lobster pasta. Would not return or recommend
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 3
Service: 1
Great service at this classic restaurant in Montreal.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Oysters on the Half Shell, Lobster Spaghetti, Foie Gras Terrine
Restaurantji Recommends
We came here on a Wednesday so i guess it’s unsurprising that the atmosphere wasn’t too crazy and it felt a bit awkward where we sat. The service was incredible and everybody was very attentive and helpful. The food was really good! Loved the gâteau marjolaine, the pork was delicious and the lobster pasta is good but I would share because it’s VERY rich.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Lobster Spaghetti, Marjolaine Cake Gluten Free
A must experience when in Montreal on my bucket list. World class food, wine and service. Joe Beef exceeded my high expectations, everything was on point. Thank you again for the wonderful experience.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Oysters on the Half Shell, Lobster Spaghetti, Beef Tartare, Foie Gras Terrine
The best I've had. Ordered
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The most important thing, the food, was a disappointment. The raw tuna ($30 + tax) was seven small squares of thinly sliced tuna on quite average potato chips with tiny dollops of ‘dip,’ a very insubstantial and underwhelming dish. In the next dish, the ‘clear borscht’ was just a consommé, the smoked herring was like the tuna too insubstantial and the pommes dauphines were soggy (yuck). The famous lobster pasta, an eye watering $71+tax: the lobster was too small a portion (including a large decorative but empty shell on top) and had a rubbery texture, either not having been cooked or sourced well (but at least you know you’re getting a famous dish circa 2005…). The pasta was tasty if far too salty, but more importantly, they do not mention on the menu that it’s prepared with small pieces of bacon in the sauce; not very thoughtful for anyone who is pescatarian or doesn’t eat meat or pork. The Cornish hen was succulent and excellent overall, the one good dish.The service was excellent, as you would expect.Overall, I would not return and cannot recommend.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 2
Service: 5
Food was to die for. Service was impeccable. Atmosphere was ok. The dim lighting made the menus hard to read and really see the food you are eating. You eat with your eyes first!! Acoustics were not great and I could hardly have a conversation with my husband. Good thing we can communicate through facial expressions!!
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Lobster Spaghetti