"This restaurant is as quintessentially Montreal as Notre-Dame Basilica or Mont Royal. As soon as you cross the threshold, you are immersed in history: covering an entire wall, photos, illustrations, and articles chart the existence of this institution, which will celebrate its centenary in 2028. To avoid the queues, aim for off-peak times, sit at the counter, or share a table. Needless to say, the menu includes steak, entrecôte, chicken, and foie gras, but it is the famous smoked meat that is the main draw. Their recipe sees beef brisket marinated in the house's own spice blend, smoked, steamed, thinly sliced, and served on rye bread smeared with mustard. If you want to stick with tradition, wash it all down with a cherry soda." - Michelin Inspector
"There’s a lot of smoked, marinated, and steamed beef brisket in Montreal, but the sandwich from Schwartz’s will always be our favorite. It comes on rye with yellow mustard, and the meat is studded with black peppercorns and a secret mix of pickling salt and spices. The “medium fat” option strikes a good balance, and it goes well with a cherry coke, fries, and a half-sour pickle. Schwartz’s is one of the last remnants of the Eastern European Jewish influence on St-Laurent Boulevard, otherwise known as “The Main.” But their smoked meat is one sandwich that pretty much everyone (including Celine Dion, who’s now part owner of this classic hangout) can agree on. Just know that it’s all meat here, so if you can’t live without a cheese blintz, you’ll have to head across town to Snowdon Deli." - ivy lerner frank
"The most famous smoked-meat deli in Montreal, partly owned by Celine Dion, known for its legendary sandwiches and lively atmosphere." - Nathan Englander Nathan Englander Nathan Englander is a Toronto-based writer and best-selling author. His short fiction and essays have appeared in The New Yorker, The New York Times, The Atlantic Monthly, The Washingt
"There’s a lot of smoked, marinated, and steamed beef brisket in Montreal, but the sandwich from Schwartz’s will always be our favorite. It comes on rye with yellow mustard, and the meat is studded with black peppercorns and a secret mix of pickling salt and spices. The “medium fat” option strikes a good balance, and it goes well with a cherry coke, fries, and a half-sour pickle. Schwartz’s is one of the last remnants of the Eastern European Jewish influence on St-Laurent Boulevard, otherwise known as “The Main.” But their smoked meat is one sandwich that pretty much everyone (including Celine Dion, who’s now part owner of this classic hangout) can agree on. Just know that it’s all meat here, so if you can’t live without a cheese blintz, you’ll have to head across town to Snowdon Deli." - Ivy Lerner-Frank
"Famous for its smoked-meat sandwiches, this iconic deli offers a quintessential Montreal dining experience."