I've been to Montreal a few times but this was my first trip to Schwartz's deli. Portion sizes were huge with tons of meats and sides to go with everything. The smoked meat was soft, tender and fatty all at the same time. If you've never been there, I highly recommend it.
Nina
Such a great experience. Go with medium
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Christopher Chen
The take out is a seperate entrance to the dine in. Line up can be really long. That wraps along outside. Gas a single washroom inside. It's worth the wait if you've never eaten here before. I enjoy most smoked meat but I'm partial to American BBQ. Still as a B tier smoked product (in my book) it surpassed expectations. I cannot imagine a better cook smoke or seasoning complex. So for what it is it's the best you can get around. Price is around $20 CAD. It's not cheap but for the prep and overhead cost they have to incur to make this product. It's likely they lose money to sell this.
Nicky's Travels
Schwartz’s Deli is one of those Montreal spots that hits you immediately with how tight and chaotic it feels inside. The space is small, constantly packed, and built around fast turnover rather than comfort, with people lining up at the counter while orders get called out across a loud, crowded room. It feels more like stepping into a system that has been running the same way for decades rather than a modern restaurant experience.
The smoked meat sandwich is the main reason to come here, and it delivers in a very direct, no-frills way. The meat is thick, heavily seasoned, and has a deep smoky flavor that comes through right away. The texture is what stands out most, tender but still structured enough to hold its bite, especially when stacked on rye bread with mustard. It is simple in concept but feels complete in execution, with nothing on the plate trying to distract from the main item.
The sides like pickles, coleslaw, and fries are more supportive than essential. The poutine is solid and filling, but it clearly sits in the background compared to the smoked meat sandwich. Everything on the menu feels centered around that one item, and the rest of the food reinforces that focus rather than expanding it into a wider dining experience.
Seating is communal and tightly packed, which adds to the overall intensity of the place. It is common to share tables with strangers, and there is very little personal space once you sit down. The noise level stays high the entire time, but the service is quick, so the pace of the meal keeps things moving even when it feels crowded.
Overall, Schwartz’s Deli feels like a Montreal institution defined by its simplicity and consistency. It is not a comfortable sit-down meal, but the smoked meat sandwich is strong enough to make the entire experience worth it, especially if you are there for what it is known for rather than the setting around it.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Irene Chu
Very busy small place.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 3
Service: 3
Doris H
Smoked meat sandwich and a pickle. GREAT Place is small and smelly. You're there for the meat and that's what it's all about.
Majdoub Fares
Amazing
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Justin Luthey
The food was good but the service really surprised me. For a place inundated with tourists they were friendly and have a jovial demeanor. They are definitely in the right jobs. The line was about 15 people deep but moved fast.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Ricardo Barrientos
Service is really good. The waiter gave great recommendations and let my pregnant sister in law sit down even though there was a line.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Amir Samadibahrami
Bad customer service,no respect,the food is a bit subjective,but I can’t bear the attitude of some people in this restaurant Even the food is not absorbing. If you are in Montreal,you have numerous options for great experiences
It was great. The best smoked meat sandwich I ever tasted.
ayda momeni
We came here because of all the amazing reviews, but it was a huge disappointment.
There was a long line, and when we finally got in, we had to share a table with four strangers. The restaurant was dirty, and the whole experience felt disrespectful.
The food was terrible—just a large amount of low-quality meat between two stale slices of toast. After the first bite, we got up and left.
To top it off, the cashier asked for a tip, which was shocking considering the food and service.
Completely overrated. Definitely not worth the wait or the hype.
Colleen Buzenus
Amazing! Great smoked meat sandwich and friendly service.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Anna Tyomin
The food was delicious but the service was terrible.
Gabriel Escoto
A piece of Montreal culture between two pieces of bread - with some potato salad on the side
I've been to Montreal a few times but this was my first trip to Schwartz's deli. Portion sizes were huge with tons of meats and sides to go with everything. The smoked meat was soft, tender and fatty all at the same time. If you've never been there, I highly recommend it.
Such a great experience. Go with medium
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The take out is a seperate entrance to the dine in. Line up can be really long. That wraps along outside. Gas a single washroom inside. It's worth the wait if you've never eaten here before. I enjoy most smoked meat but I'm partial to American BBQ. Still as a B tier smoked product (in my book) it surpassed expectations. I cannot imagine a better cook smoke or seasoning complex. So for what it is it's the best you can get around. Price is around $20 CAD. It's not cheap but for the prep and overhead cost they have to incur to make this product. It's likely they lose money to sell this.
Schwartz’s Deli is one of those Montreal spots that hits you immediately with how tight and chaotic it feels inside. The space is small, constantly packed, and built around fast turnover rather than comfort, with people lining up at the counter while orders get called out across a loud, crowded room. It feels more like stepping into a system that has been running the same way for decades rather than a modern restaurant experience.
The smoked meat sandwich is the main reason to come here, and it delivers in a very direct, no-frills way. The meat is thick, heavily seasoned, and has a deep smoky flavor that comes through right away. The texture is what stands out most, tender but still structured enough to hold its bite, especially when stacked on rye bread with mustard. It is simple in concept but feels complete in execution, with nothing on the plate trying to distract from the main item.
The sides like pickles, coleslaw, and fries are more supportive than essential. The poutine is solid and filling, but it clearly sits in the background compared to the smoked meat sandwich. Everything on the menu feels centered around that one item, and the rest of the food reinforces that focus rather than expanding it into a wider dining experience.
Seating is communal and tightly packed, which adds to the overall intensity of the place. It is common to share tables with strangers, and there is very little personal space once you sit down. The noise level stays high the entire time, but the service is quick, so the pace of the meal keeps things moving even when it feels crowded.
Overall, Schwartz’s Deli feels like a Montreal institution defined by its simplicity and consistency. It is not a comfortable sit-down meal, but the smoked meat sandwich is strong enough to make the entire experience worth it, especially if you are there for what it is known for rather than the setting around it.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Very busy small place.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 3
Service: 3
Smoked meat sandwich and a pickle. GREAT
Place is small and smelly.
You're there for the meat and that's what it's all about.
Amazing
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
The food was good but the service really surprised me. For a place inundated with tourists they were friendly and have a jovial demeanor. They are definitely in the right jobs. The line was about 15 people deep but moved fast.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Service is really good. The waiter gave great recommendations and let my pregnant sister in law sit down even though there was a line.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Bad customer service,no respect,the food is a bit subjective,but I can’t bear the attitude of some people in this restaurant
Even the food is not absorbing.
If you are in Montreal,you have numerous options for great experiences
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Restaurantji Recommends
It was great. The best smoked meat sandwich I ever tasted.
We came here because of all the amazing reviews, but it was a huge disappointment.
There was a long line, and when we finally got in, we had to share a table with four strangers. The restaurant was dirty, and the whole experience felt disrespectful.
The food was terrible—just a large amount of low-quality meat between two stale slices of toast. After the first bite, we got up and left.
To top it off, the cashier asked for a tip, which was shocking considering the food and service.
Completely overrated. Definitely not worth the wait or the hype.
Amazing! Great smoked meat sandwich and friendly service.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The food was delicious but the service was terrible.
A piece of Montreal culture between two pieces of bread - with some potato salad on the side
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