Joe Beef was on my bucket list for my Montreal visit. I made a 9:30 PM reservation for 1 at the bar on a Wednesday evening that I arrived in Montreal from Toronto, which worked out in my favor as street parking restrictions near the restaurant were no enforced. I arrived there around 8:30 PM and waited in my car until 9:00 PM before I walked over and the hostess informed me that they were ready for me. I was greeted by JJ and the rest of the crew at the seafood bar, shown the wine/cocktail/ciders & beer menu and the main. menu. They also explained clearly the 2 daily special. I decided since I'm in Quebec, that I would order the Scallop Royale Custard, Nantua Sauce (Royale de Pétoncle Sauce Nantua) for appetizer Roasted Duck "Aux Navets" (Canard Rôti Aux Petits Navets) and I was informed I can add seared foie gras to it. I also paired it with the Notre Nacre cocktail which is mezcal based from the cocktail menu. The Scallop Royale was like a chawanmushi so clean and light with a seafood stock but loaded with scallop and pieces of lobster and the Roasted Duck was executed fantastically (medium rare) and their au poivre sauce paired so well with the duck and seared foie gras . I finished with a marjolaine which is a cake made with almond flour, chocolate, coffee and repeated 24 times! It was a nice sweet way to end the dinner and a contrast to the savory of the duck and au poivre sauce. All around amazing experience service & food. read more

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Great meal! My experience was very similar to the thoughts of many, Joe Beef is one of the iconic restaurants in Montreal. The beef rib was perfect! Definitely devoured the slices quickly and gnawed on the rib bone before the server took the remains of this dish away. LOL. The Spaghetti with Lobster was delicious although the lobster was slightly undercooked. The tail was especially hard to pull away from the shell. I never thought I'd say white asparagus was decadent but it surely was when topped with the sauce. The 15 layer cake can honestly be skipped as it was the thinnest slice of cake I've ever seen. LOL. It was impressive that they could even slice cake that thinly!!! The waitstaff service was great with suggestions to round out the meal perfectly. The host was personable, even helped me with understanding the street parking rules in the area taking me on a stroll outside to check my spot on a really frigid evening. read more

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I've been wanting to come to Joe Beef for years. I've been to Liverpool several times but I've never been able to get a reservation for Joe Beef. This time, I was prepared. My entire Montreal trip was planned around getting this reservation. The food here is good. It reminds me of what restaurants used to do; cook for enjoying instead of just paying the bills. When you start to cook for just the money, you lose the risk taking and excitement from the food. Firstly, the restaurant is very hot. They need to check their AC or maybe they're just choosing to be very European. But that aside our waiter was very good and friendly. He really helped make our dinner fun and memorable. The beef tartare was ok. The sweetbreads were probably the best I've ever had anywhere. The double down is their riff on the KFC sandwich where they used two pieces of fried chicken as bread, instead these guys used two pieces of fried foie gras. It's rich, fatty, and delicious. You do not want to eat more than what they've given but it was every bit enjoyable. The pasta and sausages were good as well. But the strawberry sorbet dessert was so damn good and exactly what I needed to cool down. I had a great experience and highly recommend Joe Beef. read more

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Honestly I've been obsessed with going to Joe Beef ever since Bourdain stamped it in my brain so many years ago. And while I recognize that The experience he had is vastly different from what it is now, it's still a fantastic thing to add to your MTL trip. The waiter we had was amazing and engaging and made it feel like we were having dinner at a friends place. The food was solid, the steak was perfect and delectable as was the caviar and the escargot as well as the tomato salad - the lobster spaghetti was honestly underwhelming as was the whisky offerings but the orange wine was a great replacement. It's a lot more touristy because of all the publicity so I think it's almost impossible for the food to not slip a bit, but overall a great meal and a great vibe. read more

Joe Beef - Caviar on buckwheat waffle - Seafood Near Me - Montreal, Quebec

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Had dinner here while in town with my husband as he raved about it from his prior trips to MTL and WOW. He was not wrong. We ordered a variety of things (including things we wouldn't usually order to try and enjoy the full experience). We had a special that they were having that night similar to a charcuterie board, croquettes, hangar steak, lobster spaghetti, fries, bread and pickle, and a scallop soup type dish (I forget what it was called and honestly it was my absolute favorite most unique dish). The service is outstanding and our server was so knowledgeable and helpful. The space is small and intimate - perfect for a date night! read more

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Our dinner was incredibly delicious. My wife started out with the herb buttered escargot and garlic buttered baguette, while I opted for Western Canadian raw oysters. Then we had a salad of locally grown greens with thinly sliced apples and an apple vinaigrette with a finely shredded cheese (kind of a play on eating apples with slices of cheese). For our mains, my wife had a beautifully grilled fillet in a yellow pepper sauce reduction, while I had a roasted duck breast in a green peppercorn sauce. For dessert, we shared a fine layered cake of chocolate, coffee and Kailua with condensed milk. We enjoyed the rustic Quebecois ambiance. I was going to wear a jacket, but decided not to, and I'm glad I did since it really is a nice casual dining dress code. As for the service, it was on point. The courses arrived at the appropriate time. It was French-Quebecois cuisine at its finest. read more

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We had a late reservation and it was pouring that night but this was seriously the best food I've had in Montreal during my brief stay there. We ordered the apple salad, and the half dozen buttery escargot as starters. Wow. The roundest escargot shells I've ever seen, they look like high quality snails. Beyond that, the taste was so good. It comes with a toasted piece of bread that was so fresh and just perfect. For main courses, we had the lobster spaghetti and the duck breast and a side of fries. I normally like seafood, but I'm not huge on lobster. This lobster spaghetti will change your mind like it changed mine. Both were just absolutely delicious. If you have to make one reservation in Montreal, make it this one whether it's at 5:30pm or 10:15pm, rain or shine. read more

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Exceptional food and great service. Best meal I had in Montreal. Vibes were great too, local bistro experience with excellent food read more

Joe BEEF. As soon as I started planning my trip to Montreal, my parents immediately recommended that I dine at Joe Beef; they went here during their trip and had great things to say. It's true though, as their lauds matched many a review and write-up of it being one of the top dining spots in the city. You didn't need to convince me further, so I made plans to have dinner here my first night in the city. It's hard for me to describe exactly what kind of food JB serves; the name suggests it's meat-centric, but they have several non-meat items as well. I'm still deciding what to label it, but I do know that they serve high-quality meats with an equal showing of seafood. I heard it was hard to get a table here, so I set an alarm for 30-days out and was able to easily get a table. The restaurant was smaller than I expected - we were somewhat packed but not uncomfortable; the decor was somewhat eclectic with warm colors and a cozy atmosphere throughout. Our server went over several specials they had, and we decided to get some of those as well as some on-menu items. We shared everything - starting off with the croquettes and foie gras. Both of these were pretty good - I'm not too sure what was in the croquettes, but they tasted of fish so I'm assuming that in addition to potato. The foie gras was good as well - it came with cherry gummies to cut the richness but I didn't find they did a good job in doing so. The toast on the side, though, was a welcome reprieve. For mains, we we decided to share two - the halibut special and the steak. The halibut was really good, it had a tasty crust and was very tender. It came with a side of mushrooms which I usually don't gravitate to, but these were great. The steak was delicious - perfectly medium rare and seasoned well. Our server offered to substitute frites for the standard potatoes which we took; the frites were great and complemented the steak and sauce well. We opted to get two sides - specifically the bread with pickles and the seasonal vegetable. In hindsight, I didn't think these were necessary - both due to our mains being enough food and because I didn't think they were necessarily strong. The bread and pickles were simply that, I will say the bread was quality and it came with soft butter for spreading. The seasonal vegetable was butternut squash stuffed with raisins and topped with crisps. It looked pretty, but lacked flavor for me. We opted for dessert and shared the pear and pistachio tart - this was delicious, and came with warm chocolate sauce that elevated the dish to another level. Service was pretty good; it slowed down a little during the latter half of our meal, but everyone was super warm and welcoming which I really appreciated. Overall, I get why Joe Beef has its reputation - the food, service, and aesthetics were great. Personally, I don't think this was as 5-star experience, but I would definitely return for another meal. read more

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Everybody told us we had to go to Joe Beef and they were not wrong! Rich, delicious comfort food where all flavors are at 11 and all you wanna do is just lean in further. None of the cocktails appealed to me particularly (they all seemed pretty abrasive in an interesting way but my palette doesn't love bitter) though my date had a really solid martini. I opted for the wine instead and was very impressed -- some interesting options, all of which I enjoyed and complimented the food well. Now to the food: we got a variety of oysters, all of which were delicious!! I coulda had a second round, but my date loves escargot so we did that instead -- extremely rich but always tasty. From there we went straight into entrees, I got the duck breast which was tender and lovely! So filling, so delicious. But my date chose even better with the rabbit. Omg. It was like a rabbit & foie gras entree with truffle on top and it was just out of this world! Again, so heavy but so delicious -- you wanna just drape it over your shoulders like a velvet curtain. Needless to say we were both too stuffed for dessert. But man, what an outstanding meal! Would love to come back here some day and do it all again. read more

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Overpriced bad food! The filet mignon's texture is mushy, dried, and cold. It feels like some low-quality, unfresh meat. For $89 per 6oz serving, I expect the meat will be cooked perfectly and of top-notch quality. The bread served with escargot is hard and chewy; scallop soup is lumpy and lukewarm; the double down foie gras is just two pieces of hard bread which barely has any foie gras; duck breast sliced into 6 thin pieces serves with breakfast sausage; the meat is cold, covered by a gluey sauce; the presentation is disastrous. Asparagus is cold, and the cheese sauce on top is cold too. Maybe it's supposed to be cold? But it is weird to serve as a side of a meat course. read more

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The bread was the best thing here. Everything else was okay - foie gras terrine: pretty good it just melts in your mouth. Cherry gummy had a bitter taste to it. Bread was fantastic - snails: in fake shells?! The snails tasted hard and not as good as other places. Buttered baguette great - lobster pasta: honestly tasted pretty standard to me. Not sure why everyone is raving about it - cake: okay cake Not sure why there is such a big hype around this restaurant. read more

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Joe Beef has a solid reputation and I can see why people like it, but it didn't blow me away. The space itself is lovely. Dim lighting, vintage touches, and that classic Montreal bistro charm make it a cozy, intimate atmosphere that's easy to settle into. We ordered: * Oysters * Escargot * Hanger steak: this was the highlight. It was cooked to a perfect medium rare, tender and their peppercorn sauce tied everything together nicely. Service was genuinely excellent. The staff were friendly, attentive, and made the whole experience feel relaxed. It's a good spot with great service and a nice vibe. The food was decent. I'd come back for sure but it's definitely not a must-visit. But if you're in the area and curious, it's still worth checking out. read more

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Ate here while visiting Montreal for a few days and was pleasantly surprised. I had the lobster spaghetti and my son had a filet. Both were excellent and the filet was cooked exactly as requested. There were three decently sized pieces of lobster in the shell, served on top of the spaghetti. We also had an order of escargot, which was served with a large piece of garlic bread and was delicious. Definitely recommended. read more

Joe Beef - Escargot and garlic bread (already partially eaten). - Seafood Near Me - Montreal, Quebec

After two prior visit during F1 race week I was beginning to think some of the Joe Beef magic was lost however my most recent visit and Wednesday reconfirmed JB still has it. Great escargot! Always interesting croquette lamb this visit. Always amazing sauces whether it's the lobster spaghetti or the scallops the sauces always steal the show even from the incredibly fresh and tasty seafood Service is always expert and there's always a willingness to explain some things that are difficult to translate Only negative is it is always exceptionally loud making a difficult to carry on a date night conversation read more

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I was told Joe Beef was the quintessential Montreal experience and it did not disappoint. From the street, it's unassuming and looks like a hole-in-the-wall. Inside, it could be your grandmothers house, but the food is anything but old-fashioned. The menu here is exciting, innovative, and bold and the food is the same. My favorite dish was their signature lobster spaghetti but there is nothing bad on menu. From the cocktails to the dessert no detail is left unconsidered. To top it off the service was outstanding. Our waitress took a great meal and turned it into a great experience. While we would have had a good meal regardless, Kalina made it truly amazing. She was fun, attentive, and had great recommendations. She even helped us plan some additional meals in the city and ensured we would be taken care of. Ambiance: 4 Food: 5 Service: 5 Value: 4 read more

Great food overall, but I think it has lost some greatness. I recall how difficult it was to get a reservation here 10 years ago..yes, it is still tough to get the prime reservation time, but we were able to snag last minute reservations for 9:30pm. The restaurant was packed! Clearly it continues to be a popular spot. Our server was friendly, consistent with everyone's observation that the outstanding service is its key strength! The dishes were had were all decent, but nothing out of this world. The bone marrow had an interesting spin, but the chawanmushi (Japanese steamed egg) became the main ingredient for the dish, rather than tasting much of the bone marrow and uni. The server recommended the duck - which happens to be our pick as well. But the meat wasn't as tender as I'd like. The side dish - carrots, turned out to be my favorite dish for the night. read more

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Top notch top notch top notch! This is the real deal! I cannot express how awesome this place was. From the food to the staff to the atmosphere, it all checked off every box. This place has been around for a minute and if you're looking it up you probably already know about their classic dishes. Yes they were as good as everyone says they are. Everything was perfection. Not a single dish was lacking. I recommend ordering as many different items as you can. I was sober on this trip so just had mocktails but they were awesome. Also the wine recommendations for my friend were excellent and he enjoyed every glass. I will be back as quickly as I can! read more

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Renowned as one of Montreal's top restaurants, Joe Beef delivers extraordinary food and impeccable service in a lively and mostly casual environment that somehow manages to make you feel both relaxed and like you're having one of the best meals of your life -- certainly the best one you'll have had this week or month. The creative menu makes it almost impossible to choose what to have, so I'm glad we were a party of 4 could who could order a wide variety of items and share everything. A perfect martini got things started and paired well with their "Bread & Pickles" -- a fresh-baked loaf served with appealingly salty butter and a pickle that looked like a deli dill but actually tasted like the bread & butter pickles you might get on a sandwich. Clever and memorable. A trio of appetizers impressed with exceptional flavor and stunning visuals: Bone Marrow Flan with Uni, Asparagus with caviar buerre blanc, mushrooms and a sunny-side-up egg, and finally a lobster salad riding atop a thin, crispy cracker. All managed to stop us in our tracks; we had to pause and really appreciate the flavor and the chef's craft before going on to the next bite. Main courses featured one of their signature dishes: Lobster Spaghetti, which is served in a sauce of lobster bisque, and a 32oz rib eye tomahawk, perfectly cooked and seasoned, accompanied by a ricotta gnocchi in a parmesan cream with shaved truffle. This was a meal for the ages, in a place you couldn't help but love, served by a friendly, insanely professional staff that deserves every penny of every tip they get. It's a tough reservation to get, so jump on their website the minute you make your plans to visit Montreal... you cannot leave the city without some maple syrup candy or a meal at Joe Beef read more

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Fun local eatery - staff is warm and attentive without being obnoxious. Food was outstanding: a must is the unique lobster spaghetti.

If you're visiting Montreal, this place is not overhyped - this was some of the best beef I've ever had in my life! I wish I could relive this meal again and again. I hear that they change the menu often, so I'm not sure if my recommendations will be helpful, but honestly, just eat as much as you can! :) This place books out weeks in advance, so definitely make sure to have a reservation. read more

Joe Beef - Hanger steak - Seafood Near Me - Montreal, Quebec

It's amazing that 6 yrs later, it's still such an amazing place. Do not miss!!! Sea urchin atop cucumber with a dill vinaigrette.. 1/2 dozen assorted Canadian oysters... Shrimp croquettes. This place n ver disappoints read more

Joe Beef - Onglet sauce bordelaise Avicenna escargot - Seafood Near Me - Montreal, Quebec

I was counting down the days till I could make reservations for Joe Beef. I snagged a 5:30 pm reservation on a Thursday. We were seated right away in the back and brought water. Everyone spoke both French and English, which was super helpful to us since we don't speak French! We got the lobster spaghetti, the steak for 2, the asparagus, and mushrooms. The lobster spaghetti came out first. It is a very very rich dish. I ended up squeezing the lemon over the entire dish (not just the lobster) and it helped a lot. We still really enjoyed it. The steak came with potatoes, bone marrow, and a side salad. The bone marrow was so good. Perfect pairing on either the steak or potatoes. The steak was fine. We loved the mushrooms, perfectly cooked and seasoned. My husband enjoyed the asparagus with the hollandaise sauce. We did order dessert. An espresso, their signature hazelnut pistachio cake, and the fruit with pastry cream. That cake is amazing. It's what dreams are made of. I loved the amount of layers. Every bite was the perfect bite. The fruit was delicious too, a standard fruit bowl that paired well with a pastry cream. Service was really nice and friendly. We would definitely be back. read more

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One of the best in Montreal, I would highly recommend when visiting. The specials of the day are probably better than what is on the menu so definitely ask when there. read more

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Visited Montreal and had dinner here. Highly recommend! It seems like everyone had reservations, so I would definitely recommend booking ahead of time. Ambiance / Service: not a fancy spot necessarily (you can dress pretty casually if you want), but I would still consider this a nice dinner spot. Decor is kind of kitschy cute - wallpaper, mismatched paintings and things on the walls. This restaurant is quite versatile: lots of date nights, I also saw a bachelor party, and a few families with younger kids dining. Service was amazing. Food: I ordered way too much for 2 people, but wanted to try a lot. -Hay Baked Ham: simple, but I really enjoyed. Hard to go wrong with ham & fresh cheese. -Raw Tuna Tomato Tart: this was delicious. Fresh and flavorful. Best appetizer we got. -Snails: this wasn't bad, but wasn't the flavorful I was hoping for. Not buttery or garlicky, which is what I wanted. -Lobster Spaghetti: this is a must, obviously. I'm actually glad we shared because it's really rich. Not sure I could eat this as my only main, but I would definitely order. -Steak: a very very large steak (way too big for 2 people!) perfectly cooked. Came with a few sides that were delish and perfectly savory (potato stacks & asparagus with some cheese sauce). For dessert, some thin layered strawberry cake that was really good. Taste reminded me of Neapolitan ice-cream. Also got some ice cream dessert that was also quite good. read more

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Service really stood out staff were knowledgeable and friendly. Food was rich and well-prepared, just a little heavy after a while.

Amazing really good food , but it was a little pricey but that's what you have to pay for some stuff f the best food in the world and go during summer and get the tomato heirloom salad it's one of the best and for dessert get the 26 layer cake it's perfect read more

Just back from a day trip to Montreal to visit museums but most importantly to have dinner at Joe Beef. Long time Anthony Bourdain fan they waited too long to visit Montreal, but will definitely be back. The food was extraordinary and only outdone by the great team throughout the restaurant. Every single member of the staff said hello as we were taken to our seat. Our waiter, Gabrielle and busser Valentina both the epitome of professionalism and great young people. For dinner I started with some of the oysters which were excellent, and we then shared the fillet special, which was a take on French onion soup with a nice big hunk of beef. The plate was covered with onions and a little bit of broth and the fillet was covered with a piece of toast and cheese. The duck is a regular menu item served with plum sauce, fried mushrooms as well as duck hearts. We thoroughly enjoyed both! We finished the meal with dessert that I failed to take a picture of, but it was delicious as well . Hope to go back again as this is definitely one of the best din experiences we've had this year. read more

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The food was surprisingly not good. My husband enjoyed his though. I had a disappointing experience, just the nostalgia that once upon a time, Anthony Bourdain raved about this restaurant. - the snails were on fake shells - my entree had too much fat, it was supposed to be Peking duck breast. Instead, I was serve the peking duck trimmings. - the dessert was missing the *foam and it looked different from what I was expecting. We went out of our way to try this restaurant, I wish the experience and food flavors justify the price. Not worth it. read more

Joe Beef - Seafood Near Me - Montreal, Quebec

Lovely experience. Came for an early birthday dinner. There are multiple seating areas with different vibes. The service is great and servers are fun to talk to when they're not busy. Came specifically for the lobster spaghetti and duck dishes. Both were top notch and exceeded expectations. The spaghetti was filled with lobster flavor. The lobster was tender. And I think it had pancetta bits. Very creamy and savory. The Millard duck breast, heart, and cherry sauce was even better than the whole duck dish we had been expecting. The bite of chantrelle mushroom, cherry, duck breast, duck heart dipped into the sherry reduction sauce was the perfect bite. The sourdough was the perfect vehicle for mopping up the sauces. The fries were the only disappointment. Not particularly interesting or crispy. The truffle aioli was good but couldn't save the fries. The marjolaine cake was okay. Presentation and colors were great. The top section with lots of strawberry layer was the best, the most tart. The rest had too little of every flavor it mostly blended and just became sweet. Would have liked to try the seasonal hazelnut chocolate tart instead but I usually like to try the more fruity options. Maybe the peach cream puff would have also been a better choice. Got some cute stickers at the end for the memories! Worth the visit. read more

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I have been itching to come back to Joe Beef for about 10 years, and it finally happened, it is out of my system. The place seems a little 'cleaner' and 'fresher' than the last time I was here, not for the worse, but seemed to take a little bit out of the original vibe and over the topness. Food: -Raw tuna - this was really good, good acid, good citrus -Pan seared hanger steak - the beef was very good, it was cooked just over, overall good -Suckling Pig Confit - this was mixed by all of us, some people at the table did not like this at all, they thought it was dry, and the jus it was sitting in was an afterthought as it was so dry. others at the table really liked how different it was. wouldn't get again. -Homard Lobster Spaghetti - this original dish is still on the menu for a damn good reason, it's really damn good. I really could come to Joe Beef and only order this, and be a very happy person. Look, does it live up to the hype of what Joe Beef used to be, not as I remember it, no. Is it really good, yes. Is it worth the money, debatable. I'm not saying not to come here, because if' you've never been, it's def worth going. I just know I don't need to come back the next time i'm in Montreal, there are enough other places to try. Joe Beef, *chefs kiss goodbye read more

Great food, great friendly service. The food was well prepared and our server was friendly and attentive including paring us with a delicious yet well priced wine. Sad there was no horse but perhaps next time. The inside was cute albeit small so get a reservation! read more

Got a reservation and we came here during a rain. Surprisingly their outside patio area was nice and rain-proof. The highlight was my dish; the pork confit. Very strong contrasting flavors; meat & roux vs greens vs mostarda. Makes it interesting and a pleasure to eat. The other winner was the duck pate -- not usually a fan but enjoyed this smooth one a lot Professional service and fun the waiter was from DC and knew Philly places read more

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If Anthony Bourdain raved about it and reviews consistently say "one of the best in Montreal and maybe Canada"... We booked about a month out. Small and noisy space. Very efficient service (they are flipping tables many times per night but not appearing to rush you). Cocktails. Oyster selection was superb. Three glasses of wine (by the glass) during the meal. The beef tartare was one of the best we had and huge - definitely enough for 2 to share as an appetizer. The spaghetti with lobster was swell (but at $54 USD) and the "porc veilli" was also a winner. Our waiter raved about their specialty dessert... A memorable evening but now we have done Joe Beef"... Food 5/5 Service 5/5 Value 3/5 Cleanliness 5/5 Noise 2/5 (very close tables and happy and talkative diners) Decor 3/5 (unless you are into funky and you would rate it higher) Damages with tip was $285 USD. read more

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Very interesting experience dining at Joe Beef! I would recommend this place in a heartbeat for their diverse menu! Ever had horse tartare? Joe Beef's got it! They also have duck, steak AND fish on their menu. This is a one stop shop to blow your (tastebud's) mind. The service was suuuper friendly and the ambiance was electric. Don't forget to say hi to your furry friend when you visit the restroom! read more

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Joe Beef is a stunning French restaurant in the heart of Montreal. We had a reservation for two and were seated at the bar, which was the perfect view to watch the employees shuck fresh oysters. This restaurant is super busy, with every table packed. I felt like there was barely any space to walk through at times. However, it's busy for a good reason! We ordered the Truffle Fries and Escargot to start. The truffle fries were delicious, although they are less crispy and more on the limp side (which I prefer actually). The escargot was also delicious and comes with a nice crusty, buttered bread. For the entrees, we ordered the Lobster Pasta and Sweetbreads dish. The Lobster Pasta was probably the best pasta dish that has ever graced my lips. Super rich and creamy, with the lobster flavour definitely highlighted. This was my first time having Sweetbread, and I'm definitely a fan. It's super soft and fatty, and tastes super rich and succulent. If you are an adventurous eater, definitely try this dish! For dessert, we had the Layered Hazelnut Cake. I'm not much of a chocolate fan, or a cake fan, but this is the best cake I've ever had. I would come back just for the cake alone. It's perfectly nutty and sweet. If you like a denser cake like I do, you'll definitely enjoy this one. Joe Beef was an exceptional experience for my short visit in Montreal. My only suggestion is to sell the full cake so I can bring it back home to eat whole! read more

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We went to Joe Beef expecting a standout experience given the reputation, and instead got some of the most poorly executed food I've had in years. My halibut was completely overcooked--rubbery and dry to the point where it was actually difficult to eat. My partner's lobster was the same story: tough, overdone, and lacking any of the sweetness or texture you expect when it's cooked properly. The low point was the soup, which honestly tasted like hot water. No depth, no seasoning, nothing to justify it being on the menu. What's frustrating is that these aren't subjective complaints or a matter of taste--this is basic execution. Cooking seafood properly and seasoning a dish are fundamentals, not fine-dining luxuries. Given the price point and reputation, this wasn't just underwhelming--it was shocking. We left feeling like we would have been better off grabbing something simple elsewhere and saving the time and money. I don't mind paying for a great meal. I do mind paying for food that isn't cooked correctly. Would not return. read more

This was the best dinner I had in Montreal. Ambiance was really warm, inviting, comfortable, excellent vibe. Service was very attentive and warm. Food was excellent, drinks were strong. I specifically enjoyed the steak, lobster spaghetti, and the 20 layered cake. read more

I don't focus on Joe Beef being a steak or seafood restaurant, I think of it more as a high quality restaurant that offers primarily various types of steaks and seafoods, with equally good drinks and service. The regular menu will be somewhat limited, with copies in both English and French, but there will be many specials on the blackboard (only in French) but relayed to you in your language of choice. We went with traditional menu offerings, the lamb shank and hangar steak, but we opted for one of the appetizer specials, a shrimp dish. These were jumbo shrimp, grilled, butterflied, and served with tasty garnish and sauce. It was the first time I ever had to use major cutlery to extract and eat a shrimp. We had a speed bump with our entrees, as we got one we didn't order. But our server acknowledged the problem immediately, offered us several options for compensation, and we got the requested entree within a reasonable amount of time. My hangar steak was cooked as requested, maybe without quite as much char as I expected, but the steak sauce was terrific. For dessert, we got a Basque cheesecake served on a bed of finely sliced peaches in a raspberry glaze. Reservations are highly recommended here, and very often on weekends, unless you are quick, your options will be at the opening time of 5pm, or after 9. read more

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Five stars! We had a fabulous first meal in Montreal at Joe Beef! The highlight for me was the eggplant special. My niece and nephew absolutely loved their hangar steak. The foie gras was very unique (made into a slice of cake). Flo was our server and he took great care of us! He realized we were really a party of 8 but had booked a reservation for 6 and 2 (the hostess also was nice enough to seat us next to each other) and offered us an impromptu customizable tasting menu for the 8 of us. We normally would have jumped on this, but there were several picky eaters in our group. Rezzies get snatched up pretty quick and are a max of six persons. Make them on Resy! A gem in Montreal! read more

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