Restaurant A.A

Context. This is a greasy spoon (sans grease) since 1962 by the same owner. He works hard every day never taking a vacation. Everything is scratch made - even the delicious gravy for their delicious Poutine. The decor is classic period diner and it’s a throwback to the past. This is almost a museum of what great diners in Montreal were like and a cute education for the younger generation - myself included. There is nothing pretentious about this place. The menu is basic and expected. The pricing is reasonable and the portions are generous. The place is very clean. Though I didn’t see their washroom so can’t comment there. I visited this place at 12:30 pm after an evening out on the town and was quite famished. I looked online hoping to find exactly a place like this and actually was surprised to find one in the area and open so late. The bilingual staff are super friendly and helpful as well as passionate about the restaurant and the food they take pride in serving. I asked what’s the speciality and the answer was poutine. But, they also make excellent subs (next time I am having the AA sub with onions, pepperoni, green pepper, shaved steak slices, and much more). So I ordered a small and a toasted hot dog with mustard and slaw. The poutine was delicious. The gravy flavour was bespoke and hand made and the fries were hand cut, fried twice, and perfectly crisp exterior and fluffy potato interior. Fries topped with a huge portion of cheese, soaked in gravy (as I requested lots of gravy), and all I can saw is wow. I could not stop saying “umm” as I was consuming this cheesy poutine. Every bite was better than the last - it was difficult to control myself from scoffing this rapidly as I tried to enjoy each forkful of crisp fires, gooey cheese with gravy. A definite on future visits. I ordered the hot dog for good posture as this is something that should be a no brainer and wanted to be sure they make a good dog a la “decarie hot dog” level. I was surprised to find that they do not steam their dogs - or at least not at that time of day as I didn’t ask. But what I observed is they take the dog for the fridge and grill it on the flat top along with the bun and it was delicious. The crispy bun texture and somewhat nutty taste elevated the experience. Their slaw was a little different from others as it was just cabbage without carrot or other items and it’s was a creamy version not an oil and vinegar style. I like both so no issue there. It all came together and what a pleasant experience. They say that some late restaurants will not serve at the same quality level they would during normal day hours. This is not the case. Their standard is high and nothing was prepared without care and attention to make sure the customer enjoys their food consuming experience. Now that I know of this place I will be coming here as a regular post late evenings when applicable. I will also be keeping this in mind as the best place in the area - especially compared to the long standing restaurant called Greenspot nearby which is also an old diner ish place selling come similar products but at a higher price and with smaller portions. They live off their loud and proud reputation. This place is not loud, though proud, they just quietly do their thing and that seems to be working - since 1962. So, I encourage everyone to help promote this place along with me as they so deserve to be in the limelight too. Bottom line - you should have no regrets. Atmosphere is classic diner - lovely. Service - friendly and caring. Food - fresh ingredients, made freshly in front of you, great portions, taste and texture. Value - excellent. Conclusion A must return as a regular. You must go.

Legendary place. The quintessential MTL greasy spoon to be at. Get the burger. Get the poutine. Cash only. When you see an elder Greek papou handling the cooking, just know you're at the right place. You won't be disappointed. Allons-y!

Authentic old school vibe that will be nonexistent in the decades to come. Restaurant AA is like traveling back in time. Poutine was phenomenal. Just remember to bring cash if you can. While there is no atm in the restaurant, there is a bank across the street with one.

Great quality food Beautiful portion And affordable Highly recommend Owner and staff is very very friendly Since 1962!! Couldn't recommend add better place for a good meal at an affordable price For the souvlaki plate I had two strips of chicken, rice, potatoes and a beautiful salad All for 16$ is a steal of a deal!

Diner style flame broiled burger any way you want it! Enjoy the classic poutine at this retro experience with great tasting food!

I have been visiting restaurant A.A for 23 years and to this day, it remains the best poutine available in Montreal. THE. BEST. POUTINE. Open early and extra late, don’t let the look deceive you! This establishment is a staple to our city and the owner Andre is always attentive and caring to his clients. Over the years I have brought many people to experience A.A and it never disappoints. I highly recommend this gem.

Old school, unassuming joint with some of the dirtiest, most magical poutines you could imagine. Their bacon cheeseburgers are pretty impeccable as well. Efficient and easy going staff. Cash only but completely worth it. If you’re looking for some classic Quebecois diner food, AA is where it’s at.

Jumbo Burger + Poutine was so good , discover this place today what a gem. Authentic, and the owner make the visit even better. Thanks

I was visiting the nearby Atwater market and couldn't resist stopping in for a pre-dinner snack after having heard praise for its poutine. The space was completely empty around 6 PM -- this is a small, local greasy spoon that opens at 4 pm but really does most of its business in the late night/morning hours. The poutines are offered in five different sizes ranging from mini to familiale -- I got the mini ($8.50, tax included) and it was the perfect portion for one (particularly if pairing with another item), with just the right fries, sauce, and cheese curd ratios. This was actually my first time trying an Italian (bolognese) poutine and I loved it and may very well gravitate towards it again in the future. Traditional poutine gravies can be very hit or miss to me and often too salty, but I really enjoyed the acidity from the tomatoes and the rich, comforting flavors of the ground meat in the sauce. The fries were warm and tender, while the curds had both good flavor and texture. I'd asked for the sauce on the side because I meant to take this to the waterfront to enjoy, but stopped a few feet from the restaurant to sample at peak freshness, and ended up demolishing it there in the space of a couple of minutes (including every last drop of sauce). Cash only and not much to speak of in terms of service, but your order is prepared right in front of you and it was nice to watch the woman behind the counter carefully package my takeout order and layer the fried-to-order fries and curds. Essentially, this isn't the kind of gourmet poutine you'll see recommended on a bunch of travel blogs, but it is pure comfort food, and Restaurant AA delivers on all the aspects you'd want it to.

Classic MTL style greasy spoon diner. We came for a late night snack and we're not disappointed whatsoever. Had a loaded sub and sampled their hand cut fries. The owner mentioned he has been there since the early 1960's. Prices are inexpensive. One of a kind. Delicious!

Best Poutine in Town. Whenever I have friends in town I tell them to go here for the poutine. Don't know what the secret is, but you have it covered. It is honestly the quintessential cases croute.

Second year my sweet heart is getting his 4th of July hot dog fix in this classical Quebec diner and we just love it. Hot dogs are good, but the poutine is to die for, one of the best in Montreal. Crispy fries, amazing thick gravy, cheese is not submerged in the gravy and still keeps its firmness. During our last visit we had the Grande poutine, which is huge. Our only challenge is we can't eat this kind of food every day and have healthy life style. Otherwise I will be at AA on a weekly basis. Must try! Note cash is the only method of payment available in this eatery.

One of the best greasy spoons out there, I'll be honest this is not the kind of place I've ever been without having had a bit to drink. That being said , it doesn't take away their amazing submarines and other typical dinner food. The owner and hardest working employee out there is Andre , an old man with white hair that barely speaks and is always there. He makes this place special and the food is always consistent since it's always him , whether you're there at 2 am or at 5 pm , it's him , the man never sleeps ! Overall great food and worth going for late night munchies !

Ok, I've totally changed my mind about this place. The truth is, it's pretty hit or miss. Depends on who's working, what time of day, etc. I've had some of the best cheeseburgers ever here, and I've grown to like the gravy on the poutine. It's pretty much the only thing open late in st-henri so you have to deal with it.

BOYCOTT THIS PLACE! My partner and I have always shared their extra large poutine without additional charges, but today they suddenly charged us an extra $2 for sharing. So I realised that the menu had other items at $2 or below, and I asked the owner if he could give us one of those since it's the same anyway. Not only did he snap at me and told me that his food was already cheaper than other places (which wasn't the point), he continued shouting at me and my partner after I said ok and walked away. Terrible service, all for $2?

The new waitress is super rude!!!! She reminds me the "Nazi soup" guy in Jerry Seinfeld show!!!

Very nice staff and fast wifi connection (password is the restaurant phone number). Small poutine is actually quite large, I couldn't finish it. It's one of those opaque kinda cheap gravy style poutine but I find the amount of cheese quite appropriate. Service is fast. Would definitely come back

Missed The Mark A St. Henri landmark but it just didn't do it for me. I had the poutne but the gravy had enough corn starch in it to kill a small horse. I followed that up with there massive burger but it was literally falling apart at the seems. I just went on a bad day??? Either that or they are a front. Go to Dillalo Waka waka

It's a small neighborhood spot with really reasonable prices and a hearty poutine. No frills and kind of a hole in the wall vibe. I'm not a super huge fan of poutine but my husband loved it.

We went out to eat something and finally we ended up here. We were eating cheese burger and jumbo burger with poutine. The burger meet was awesome!!! We loved a lot both burger. The poutine we ordered with the brown sauce. For me it was ok, but my husband loved it. The service was fast and kind. Just cash only.

A.A. is for Original Gangsters only. Ok, maybe not, but I know you smell what I'm cookin. I walked into the mostly empty shop on a cold late afternoon while the owner / cook / triple O.G. was choppin' it up (conversing) with his triple O.G. coterie. Time definitely stops when you walk in, as the decor - or anything really, for that matter - hasn't changed in over 50 years, per the owner. My quest to find Montreal's most satisfying hot dog led me here. I got one 'all dressed' as they say up North, and I think it just consists of mustard, relish and cabbage. I'm not sure how the cabbage is prepped, but it was like a pseudo cole slaw topping. The dog itself was average, the cabbage didn't do anything for me, but at the very least they toasted my buns. If you're into nostalgic restaurants and older men droppin' knowledge on us youngins' on how to truly conduct ourselves, A.A. is the place for you. -Beantowns Finest

This is a classic Quebec 24 hours diner, with some magic in their poutine gravy and colorful clientele. If there's a hockey match playing on the TV, no one will talk to you, not even the staff. This place is as local as it gets. I find it to be the best trashy poutine in town. A classic way to end a night out or a show at the Corona Theatre. Tip: Order the mini poutine- it's big enough.

I ordered the jumbo hamburger + mini poutine combo. The hamburger was very mediocre, however the poutine was extremely delicious. The gravy used was pretty unique. Despite the good poutine, there are two main issues. Firstly, it is definitely not the most economical place to eat, a burger and a small cup of poutine cost around 12$. Secondly, the main issue, is that the sanitariness was extremely concerning and disturbing, especially when you can watch the whole process of your food being made. The cashier/cook wears no gloves when cooking. He handles cooked food (burger buns, fries, lettuce and tomato slices) and sprinkles cheese on poutine with his bare hands after touching money, coins, newspaper, raw meat (food poisoning concern) and god knows where. He touched all of that I mentioned in front of me. If you are nearby and want some good poutine this is a place to go. However, eat at your own risk.

Excellent small diner for your poutine fix. I could only have a mini poutine while others seemed to order a burger and a regular size poutine and finish it.

3.5 Stars! We got the regular poutine & the bacon poutine. The poutine was good, not great. Thick gravy, flavorful, but not enough cheese curds. The bacon poutine has very little bacon. We don't think the bacon poutine worth ordering. The place looks old, not that clean. Service wasn't that good. When we were there, there was only one guy works there. He does the cooking, cleaning, & everything else. We had to ask more than once just for a glass of water. We spent all total about $17. If you happen to be in the area, this place is worth stopping but we don't think it's worth going out of your way just to visit this place.

I remember my first year in Montréal I stumbled into A A in a drunken stupor. My friend and I ordered the poutine and this gigantic plate was placed between us. For five years since I have been frequenting here and have enjoyed every bit. The Special sub is so large it has to be measured in width, length AND depth. It shouldn't be missed. Service is good, a quintessential St Henri diner well worth your visit.

Great poutine. Rivals La Banquise, the traditional gold standard. I'd say La Banquise has slightly better fries, worse gravy, approximately equal cheese curds (smaller though, which I think is a minus), but has the advantage of atmosphere--but AA doesn't have crazy down-the-block lineups either, perhaps because with Greenspot and an especially cool LBP branch nearby, they aren't the only game in town. They put something crazy in that gravy, very distinctive...cinnamon maybe? Something mildly narcotic that just makes you feel a special something? Cheeseburger was awesome too. Cash only, pay after you eat.

Classic and delicious greasy spoon delight! Their subs are really yum and their poutines are one of my faves! In this digital world, it's a place I go out of my way to carry around cash for

Came here after reading the other good reviews on Yelp, and I wasn't disappointed - they're all true (including this one!). When I showed up, it's obvious that this place has been around for a long time. Like a lot of the other good poutine places in Montreal, don't be food by the fact that the decore hasn't been changed in 20 years - you're not here for the ambiance. I got the cheese burger and poutine. The burger was a good North American burger - a bit small by Aussie standards, but the toppings were all fresh. In the end, it was just a side to the "main" dish... The poutine was fantastic! the fries were good, fresh, but not too fried. The gravy was outstanding. It was thicker than most poutine gravies, very beefy. The cheese curds were fresh, and there were plenty of both on it. If that seems like a lot of time to spend describing fries, curds, and gravy, then you don't know how big a deal poutine is in Montreal. I won't say it's the best in Montreal here, but if you're serious about trying the "best of" poutines, you HAVE to try A.A.'s.

This is totally my go to place when I want a poutine or a greasy burger or something that just feels like it's out of a 50s diner (literally, not like a modern crisp version of one). This is a far superior poutine than Banquise, if you wanna talk about "best" poutines. I love places like this. Totally old school. Totally awesome. Just stuck with what works for decades.

Don't be stupid like me and expect to have a good meal sober, drinking cups seemed recycled, gravy was weird and biggest crime is using mozzarella cheese instead of cheese curds! I'm giving it a generous star because it stays open late

My friend put me on to this place. Open pretty much 24/7, it a premium spot to get something else than late McDs. The Hot-Dog Michigan and bacon grill-cheese are a must for me every time. The owner, André, is there everyday making sure everybody gets served even when it's packed around 2/3 am.

I heard about their poutine and finally paid a visit. Our waitress Nicole suggested we try the half half poutine, one side sauce brune and the other side italian. We really liked the italian sauce and the fries are well cooked and lots of cheese!

Okay. Best poutine in the city. Somehow the owner, Andre, has figured out how to keep the fries perfectly crispy under that amazing gravy of his. His poutine makes me want to go out in the St. Henri area just so I can end up at his doorstep at 3 am.

Ok. Now this isn't the kind of place you go to gaze upon the beauty of the restaurant.. It's a little hot-dog/ french-fry dive located in St.Henri that just happens to serve THE BEST poutine! Andre, the owner/manager/full-time worker there, makes the most delicious poutine sauce ever! Also, if your in the mood to chomp into some real meat, they have the most monstrous jumbo burgers i've ever seen.. I think i'd call them meat pancakes instead of burger patties. lol. So if your ever looking for something to soak up the alcohol in your stomach after a night of drinking, or you've just got a hankering for an amazing poutine.. A.A.'s is the place to go my friends! :)

Ok, this place has really great hours. They are open something like 20 hours a day, 7 days a week. So, If you are in the area at 4am, this is your only option for food. Andre, the main guy is liked by everyone and pretty overworked. The food is not disgusting but I wish the prices were as low as the hygiene standards.

I give them 5 stars rather than 4 because they renovated and that would have been my only complaint before. As far as the food goes...top notch in its category. This guy know the art of the French Fry. They blanch the potatoes to a perfection in sweet water and they only use redskin potatoes because they absorb the least grease making them crispy and taste clean. The father and the son know the tricks of the trade inside out. The subs are great. The poutines are great. But there's one thing that makes me wake up in the middle of the night craving it (so fat I know) and that is their Italian poutine. If u want some greasy food this is the perfect place. Perfect for a post bar visit as well they're open all night!!

I know a good greasy spoon when I see one, and I didn't see one here. But if your idea of low-rent lunch counter Elysium is eating an overflowing plateload of oddly-sauced poutine and a drearily-assembled steamie on a dirty countertop without a napkin dispenser in sight while ultraconservative American religious programming blares from the overhead television, you're gonna love this place. Restroom looked like CBGB's must have in the seventies. My lasting impression is that they've stopped giving a damn. Bon apétit.

best. poutine. ever. I used to get insane cravings for their fries and their gravy. It's not the fanciest place but I've been going back for their poutine for years.

The hideous decor and gruff staff are part of the charm, so don't turn around upon entering. You may be shocked by the prices too, but If you're looking for genuine Quebecois casse croute, this place is true to its roots. Steamies abound, and the poutine gravy is one of the best in the city.

Good poutine is good. Thick cut perfect fries topped with one of the best sauces and massive hunks of cheese curds. Need I say more?

Indispensable poutine and burger joint in Saint-Henri. It seems they are recently closed for renovation but the place goes as authentic as it gets, not to mention it is affordable.

There's nowhere better to have a hot dog and a poutine at 5 in the morning, NOWHERE! Andre has been grilling up the big dirty for a million years, and although he's closed for renovations right now, when he reopens, he'll keep cooking it up for another million. The portions are insane, the staff is borderline crazy, sometimes rude, sometimes amazing, but this place can't be beat. Their hours are crazy too, basically Andre will not close down shop unless it's completely empty. I've gone in at six in the morning and he's still been slinging gravy during a snow storm, the guy is insane! I usually go for the small poutine and a toasted hot dog on the side, all dressed. If I'm feeling particularly like I want to kill myself, I get the Bacon cheeseburger. If you do the same, watch the handful of bacon Andre is going to throw on the flat top. That's too much bacon! It's so good. Please reopen soon AA, I need you.