Montreal’s Joe Beef dishes up hearty Quebecois classics like over-the-top lobster spaghetti and steak in a cozy, lively bistro setting with killer wine.
"Joe Beef is the restaurant people think of when they think about Montreal, and they’re right for it: it’s where the city’s dining buzz started, and many people who used to work have opened other places on this list. You’ll want to spend an entire evening at the original Little Burgundy location trying their take on continental classics, like over-the-top lobster spaghetti with bacon, cream, and brandy, and a whole lot of seafood-centric seasonal specials. If you can’t get a reservation on short notice, try their sister spots nearby: the cozy Liverpool House and the vegetable-focused wine bar Vin Papillon." - Ivy Lerner-Frank
"With over-the-top lobster spaghetti, a take on the Canadian Nanaimo bar with foie gras, fiddlehead carbonara, and an expansive wine list, you’ll want to spend an entire evening here to try Joe Beef’s take on Québecois classics. This is the restaurant a lot of people think of when they think about Montreal, and lots of people who worked here have gone on to open many of the places on this list. Aim for a table on their garden terrace if the weather’s right, and if you can’t get a reservation on short notice, try their sister restaurants nearby: the cozy Liverpool House and the vegetable-focused Vin Papillon." - ivy lerner frank, team infatuation
"This style of cooking grew to prominence in places like Montreal at Au Pied de Cochon and Joe Beef, and in London at Fergus Hendersons’s iconic St. John, but was a novelty at the time on this particular stretch in the Fairfax District." - Cathy Chaplin
"This Montreal icon has no need for introductions: If purveying its own line of steak spices and sauces weren’t enough to convince you, a visit to eat of the restaurant’s menu mainstays of steak certainly will." - JP Karwacki, Tim Forster
"Though the recipe for Joe Beef’s fabled lobster spaghetti can be easily found online, many still head to the Montreal landmark for a taste of the real thing. Established in 2005, when Little Burgundy was far from the restaurant hotbed it is today, Joe Beef’s nest of creamy pasta topped with tender chunks of lobster has been a staple since its early days." - Valerie Silva, Tim Forster
