L'Express

Jack Abe C. (152 reviews)

15 Apr 2026

Source: Google

5.0

This iconic Montreal institution sets an impeccable table. The cuisine is outstanding, highlighted by a classic bone marrow and a legendary steak tartare, made even more authentic by the signature jars of cornichons and grainy mustard. Service is both crisp and convivial, ensuring the atmosphere remains refined yet approachable. To finish, an exquisite value-driven selection from the renowned cellar rounds out the evening perfectly.

Jay Jay (148 reviews)

15 Apr 2026

Source: Google

2.0

Went for lunch and was expecting it to be better than it was. This place was an institution. I had the rognons which were not that great. Out of all the pieces I had 2 or 3 that were badly washed so it gave it a really bad and strong unpleasant taste to the rest of the plate. This was not my first time having kidneys. Was hoping it was better prepped. The service was also mediocre as we had to flag the server multiple times for our bottle of wine we purchased because they kept it elsewhere but next to our table. Would I give it another chance? Maybe in a couple of years. Lunc lunch for 1 entree, 2 main dishes with a 65$ bottle of wine ran a bill of 210$

Susana OM (32 reviews)

14 Apr 2026

Source: Google

1.0

We had an upsetting experience at L'Express last night. It was very surprising because one reason why we've regularly gone to L'Express for special occasions was because of their exceptional service. It's why we chose to celebrate our engagement at L'Express 25 years ago. In the past, when we asked to sit at the same table for subsequent anniversaries, they always saved the table and seemed genuinely happy to see us. Unlike other times, they did not save the table for us last night even though I made a reservation a couple of weeks in advance and mentioned that it was where we sat 25 years ago for our engagement dinner. Under different circumstances, we would have taken getting a different table in stride, but this was an extremely important milestone for us. We also would have understood if the people at the table were midway through their meal, but they had arrived only a short while before us, so saving the table shouldn't have been an issue. The waitress did try to come up with a plan of moving us to the table for dessert. Unfortunately, the restaurant was excessively loud, so we decided to leave after our main course. All of this would have been disappointing, but we could have salvaged the night if we had been treated better. What most upset us was how the manager handled the situation. He was dismissive and abrupt, barely listening to us when we explained why we were disappointed. He walked away shortly after telling us L'Express served 200 people a night and there was nothing he could do. We felt disrespected and disregarded; an apology or acknowledgment would have gone a long way. This is so different from our previous experiences at L'Express where the staff was committed to making our dining experience as exceptional as possible. Great attention and care was placed on making us feel valued and appreciated. While the food and ambiance are still great, the way we were treated by the manager seriously affected what should have been an incredibly special night. L'Express has a great ambiance and steak frites--but so do a lot of other places. We left feeling that we'd rather give our business to a restaurant that values us as customers.

Alona P. (47 reviews)

13 Apr 2026

Source: Google

5.0

Real french food. So goooooooddd

Ariyan (20 reviews)

11 Apr 2026

Source: Google

3.0

L’Express is often heralded as one of the most iconic institutions Montreal has to offer, which played a major part in shaping the city’s iconic food landscape. As such, I chose to dine in this restaurant with my partner for her birthday, expecting to be completely blown away by its food and wanted to confirm if their food matches their hype. It does not at all. The food is absolutely average. Starting with their in-house bread, which was extremely chewy and tough, like horribly tough… on the other hand, the mustard and pickles were very nice (probably the nicest thing we had). We chose bone marrow, having had bone marrow at other institutions in the city, we were expecting something similar. But no, it was not; it was unpleasant, very unpleasant, and painful to eat. The bone marrow was not seasoned in any way. Next, ravioli. This was quite good, I’ll give this to them. The filling was rich, the gravy it came in was quite thick and wonderful. One thing I will unfortunately point out: have the ravioli quickly because the gravy will get congealed quickly. Lastly, one of the dishes that you will frequently see people talk about the most is the Hanger Steak. I tried it, and honestly, just skip this dish altogether. The fries were regular fries (almost the exact same fries you get at Orange Julep), and the cut of steak is just sad with how much you are paying for it. The meat is not seasoned, extremely tough, and also, I do not think they baste their steak post-cooking either. Personally, I did not enjoy having a cold slab of butter on top. For a main highlight meat dish I didn’t like that I had two contrasting competing temperatures in my mouth. I’d appreciate it in an entree but maybe not in a main dish. Service is average, nothing fancy; you walk in, eat, walk out, no questions asked. Personally, L’Express did not match its hype. I don’t think I’ll be coming back here again. Ambiance was very nice, reminded me of Parisian restaurants. Hope whoever reads this has a better experience.

Bach (17 reviews)

10 Apr 2026

Source: Google

5.0

Finally one great restaurant in Montreal! Amazing service and the food is top-notch

Kai Feng Zhang (86 reviews)

9 Apr 2026

Source: Google

5.0

Very crowded even at night. Arrived 9:15 walk in and they put me down for reservation at 10:15. But I got text at 9:52 my table is ready. Delicious soup, herring, blood pudding (sausage). Phenomenal maple profiteroles. Massive drink menu

Lucky SixThreeNineNine (68 reviews)

7 Apr 2026

Source: Google

4.3

Classic French brasseries serving hearty dishes. We got the bone marrow for the starter which was okay but too oily and very filling. Personally, I would not recommend this as an appetizer as it was quite oily and essentially another version or bread with butter. But if you like bone marrow you will enjoy it. For main course we got the Boudin Noir (blood pudding) with apples and the hangar steak. Both were quite good and filling but the blood pudding was my favourite. The blood pudding was rich with a creamy texture while the mashed potatoes it comes with were very buttery. The fries with the steak were extra crispy (maybe a little over cooked) as well. Both the steak and the blood pudding felt like they were deep fried. We also got the maple profiteroles for dessert which was alright. The maple flavour is quite strong but it is essentially just profiteroles with maple ice cream in them. Overall not bad but you can get better food at a similar price at Monarque, which is much better.

Roger Virdee (175 reviews)

6 Apr 2026

Source: Google

4.7

Highly recomended restaurant from my Belgian friends brother. Had bone marrow for the first time it was nice, but different and takes a bit of effort to maximise the contents. The confit duck was good but not spectacular. Well cooked but the sides i felt although cooked lacked flavour. Finally desert which was the best of the lot nice ppecan flavour and pastry but i felt was misding a bit between pastry and pecans but nice never the less. Excellent service , great staff. A solid but not spectacular place.

Landon (64 reviews)

5 Apr 2026

Source: Google

5.0

Service and food was amazing, we had a great evening. Nice wine list too!

Jennifer (58 reviews)

4 Apr 2026

Source: Google

5.0

I dined here solo recently. I enjoyed the atmosphere and I was touched that the host thanked me by my name as I was leaving. I appreciated the gesture.

Sajad Ahmadian (20 reviews)

3 Apr 2026

Source: Google

5.0

It was one of the best experiences I’ve had. The restaurant staff were excellent and very professional. The steak was really good, and the best thing I had was the profiteroles for dessert—I definitely recommend trying it.

Emma Barbu (106 reviews)

3 Apr 2026

Source: Google

1.3

Rude service staff, specifically the host who takes reservations. If you are anglophone, don’t waste your money here - they will treat you differently and disrespect you.

S Alpha (20 reviews)

2 Apr 2026

Source: Google

4.7

Never heard of, but was suggested. Small place serving big portions of delicious food. Had the bone marrow and the duck. They didn't miss with those dishes. I will be back to try the rest.

Paoly Garcia (137 reviews)

2 Apr 2026

Source: Google

4.0

Amazing food… the duck was amazing, my husband and I have a thing about trying it out in every restaurant and so far this is one of the best ones. Risotto is a must have but wouldn’t choose it as a main dish. Lemon tart is amazing!!

Kayla Petro (23 reviews)

1 Apr 2026

Source: Google

5.0

Incredible service and tasty food :) highly recommend the maple profiteroles!

Veronica (2 reviews)

1 Apr 2026

Source: Google

4.3

Overhyped but affordable

Claire Boss (4 reviews)

30 Mar 2026

Source: Google

4.7

Small but mighty! L’express was a happening place on the Monday night in March when we visited from New York. Ordered the beet salad (red and yellow beets, goat cheese, arulgula, candied almonds, raspberries, with an apple cider vinaigrette), the duck confit, and the steak frites. Salad was delicious, duck was lovely and the steak was the best I’ve ever had. So tender. And can’t forget the complimentary bread, butter, cornichons, and mustard! The waitstaff was friendly and made an excellent recommendation for a wine pairing with our meal. At times we waited for water refills, but it was so lovely to be there we didn’t mind. Food was rich and delicious, probably would have a heart attack if you came here regularly, but this is a great spot to celebrate a special occasion or just enjoy the company of someone you love. Small, bustling restaurant with a lovely neighborhood vibe. Would absolutely come back next time we find ourselves in Montreal. 10/10 would recommend to a friend!

Nasigil (49 reviews)

30 Mar 2026

Source: Google

5.0

One of the rare restaurants that hit the holy triangle: great taste, huge portion, reasonable price. One brunch here at 9AM literally sustained me for the whole day, didn't even need dinner.

red 5 (7 reviews)

28 Mar 2026

Source: Google

2.3

Went for dinner with friends , had not been in over 20 years and will not go back for another 20 ! Service was mediocre at best with the typical I don’t care attitude . Unfriendly and not very helpful . We all had entrees , calamari was mediocre with very little calamari on the dish . I was looking forward to the onglet (steak) but this was also underwhelming and lacked taste . The only good thing was the fries and mayonnaise . At 39 dollars I would expect better than that . As others have mentioned the deserts are way overpriced so we all decided to skip . At well over 200 dollars there are much better restaurants to go to in Montreal .

Scott Laine (441 reviews)

23 Mar 2026

Source: Google

5.0

What you'll notice immediately about L’Express is its authenticity. The room looks like it was plucked straight out of Paris. There is a long bar with a partition separating it from the dining room. The tables are well spaced, but the room has energy, so bring your own. Reservations are highly recommended. I arrived as a solo diner on a Monday at 7:45 and had to return an hour later just to sit at the bar—it was worth waiting. After choosing my meal, the waiter set a massive container of cronichon on the table with bread, butter, and mustard. Don't skip tasting them—the cronichon are pure perfection, and the mustard is spicy and tart, a classic dijon. The real challenge is not finishing it all (though with the huge jar of pickles, it's impossible; but beware: bread is the enemy). My order needed to be classic but not pedestrian, so I chose the cured salmon, served over a bed of thinly sliced cabbage, dressed with cream, lemon, and dill, and garnished with radish and micro-greens. Wow, this was such a surprise. I was blown away. Great fish, paired with a salad I would have never considered, a true win. For my main, I ordered the hanger steak (Aka Steak Frites) along with a wine of the server's choosing after letting him know what I usually enjoy. The steak was great, served with hotel butter, cooked to perfection. On the side were the fries, hot and crisp, with a fluffy interior and a generous serving of mayo. I ate everything and required a coffee just to make it to my hotel. I will be back, with reservations and a larger group next time, so I can try more of the menu, but my first impression... O la la!

Calvin Kwong (10 reviews)

20 Mar 2026

Source: Google

5.0

We had the steak, duck confit and the roast quail. Definately an experience with great food

Bill MacClemmy (45 reviews)

19 Mar 2026

Source: Google

2.7

I had a hard time finding something I wanted on the menu. Herring was just ok, tripes were boring and the raviolis just weren't very good, especially for $30. The younger guy behind the bar was friendly and attentive, our older server not so much. Inside was way too hot, I couldn’t wait to get out of there. Place was packed so what do I know🤷🏼‍♂️

John Wenk (2 reviews)

18 Mar 2026

Source: Google

5.0

It’s a good thing I don’t live here, as I’d be dead in no time from coming here daily to gorge on this amazing and decadent food.

Tom Watt (31 reviews)

17 Mar 2026

Source: Google

5.0

A restaurant that will always make you proud to be from Montreal. What's more this place has not changed in 30 years, the atmosphere is exactly the same, the food is too, and this is highly appreciated as the atmosphere And food are of the highest quality.