It was never Jamie W's and my mutual goal to find the best smoked meat deli in Montreal. It just kinda happened for us because there was a plethora of YouTube videos with interchangeable vloggers covering the same three places: Schwartz's, Snowdon, and this evocative spot in the Outremont neighborhood. Lester's appealed to us because it doesn't draw the shoulder-to-shoulder crowds that apparently bedevil the more famous Schwartz's. We were on our way back from Marche Jean-Talon when we walked through Outremont where we found ourselves immersed in the historic architecture and the prevalent Hasidic Jewish community. It was fairly quiet when we arrived here. The young server was quite attentive as we ordered the signature C$16.95 Smoked Meat Sandwich (Sandwich à la Viande Fumee). One was enough to split with thin, hand-cut slices of smoked brisket piled high (Photo 8). Two thin slices of rye bread smeared with yellow mustard were just enough to pick up the generous sandwich. There was no lettuce, tomato, or mayonnaise. Didn't need it. Delicious. Instead, we went for the C$3.50 Potato Salad (Salade Pommes de Terre) (Photo 10). It was prepared in the classic, old-school Eastern European Jewish deli style with plenty of full-fat mayo. It was the ideal late afternoon lunch without fellow tourists Instagramming everything. FOOD - 5 stars...Snowdon was our absolute favorite but this sandwich was pretty close AMBIANCE - 4.5 stars...very old-school, traditional space SERVICE - 4.5 stars...the server was friendly to these two obvious tourists TOTAL - 5 stars...best if you're looking for high quality smoked meat sandwich in a traditional Montreal neighborhood CORRESPONDING REVIEW Snowdon Deli: https://yelp.to/M-cHOqEB82 RELATED - Exploring Montreal? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://yelp.to/bNQtXYGxQR read more

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Lester's in an old fashioned Montreal deli. I went on a Friday evening with my brother. It wasn't too busy even though it's a small interior. I got their classic smoked meat sandwich. I was not disappointed. I'm a smoked meat lover, and this is it! Our servers were also very friendly. I would definitely return read more

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Montreal is very much a foodie city, and one of things their known for is smoked meat - specifically, the type traditionally served in Jewish Delis. Arguably, the most famous smoked meat spot in the city is Schwartz's - and indeed when we were walking past it there was a huge line of people waiting to get in. Smoked meat wasn't on the top of my list, as I could easily go to a Jewish Deli in NYC - but we were on a food tour and this was one of the stops. That being said, I was looking forward to checking out the meats. Lester's is located in Outremont, which is also the home to Montreal's Hasidic Jewish community. The place gave off old school vibes - walking in we were greeted by the deli counter with tables scattered throughout the dining room. The decor was charming and casual with touches of kitsch on the walls without being tacky. There is a good variety of classic deli dishes, though we went classic and got the smoked meat with rye, pickles, and mustard. There was enough for each of us to make one sandwich, so that's what we did. This was honestly better than I expected - the meat was juicy and tender, the bread was soft yet was able to withstand being part of a sandwich, and the pickles were super flavorful. Special shoutout to the mustard - we were told they make their own which I felt was a really special touch. Service was good, and overall this was an unexpected highlight of my food tour. Jewish deli food is not something I usually gravitate towards, but this was some of the best I've had - it's well worth making a trip here. read more

Lester's Deli - Delis Near Me - Outremont, Quebec

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Such great food and such a great experience! Staff was very kind and made sure we had a great time; extremely nice to our kids also. Highly recommend and we will definitely go back. Great value for huge delicious sandwiches. read more

You pretty much kmow what you're getting here good smoked meat, classic sides, and a cozy vibe. Not perfect, but definitely reliable.

The smoked meat is delicious here! Made to perfection! I've had a lot of smoked meat in Montreal and this is honestly the best! The pickles here are so good also! Waitress was super friendly and was very attentive! Loved the decor in here! Come here if you want delicious smoked meat! read more

Lester's Deli - Smoked meat - Delis Near Me - Outremont, Quebec

Visited Montreal and this was the best smoked meat we had on our trip! Much better than Schwartz's and no wait at all. The meat was way more juicy, flavorful, and less salty, and tasted great on both a sandwich and on top of poutine. Would definitely recommend to anyone visiting, and would return again! read more

Lester's Deli - Smoked Meat Sandwich - Delis Near Me - Outremont, Quebec

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an absolute montreal staple for smoked meat that gives the tourist traps a run for their money. the beef is piled incredibly high, perfectly spiced, and melts in your mouth with just the right amount of mustard on rye. only losing a star cause the space gets incredibly tight and hectic during the lunch rush read more

Amazing!! If you haven't been, the smokemeat here is much better than the touristy Swartz and Dunn's. This place brines their meat and it's less salty and much more flavorful. They have sliced/sealed packages so you can bring back home if you are from abroad. Go give this a try, you won't be disappointed. read more

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of all the smoked meat sandwich restaurants i have tried in montreal, i have to say that this one is the best. very old place with a lots of also old regulars. The quality of the meat is excellent. The decor mérinos me of the 60-70 Not an elegant or romantic place. you come here for the best sandwich in town. The service is friendly and efficient but if you stay too long after you paid your bill, they will let you know. read more

Lester's Deli - Delis Near Me - Outremont, Quebec

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So we ordered two sandwiches from Schwartz's before coming to Lester's Deli so we can fairly compare the two. First Lester's service was excellent. The guy was nice and concise. He made me very comfortable and belonging, what a family own business gave me. The sandwich was soft but lacked a bit of flavor, then Schwartz, but still decent. Also, get the Cott cheery soda when you are there. It was a soda I had never had before. Come Lester's and support local businesses that actually gave that type of service. read more

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Great deli. Worth a visit. There are two other great delis in Montreal but this has a great history. Food is okay but the story is worthy of your visit read more

The food was, of course, amazing! The service was fantastic and the decor and lighting was perfectly simple, and comfortable. I look forward to returning when I'm back in Montréal! read more

The smoked meat sandwich is the way to go! This came highly recommended for our visit to Montreal, and now we know why. We ordered the salami sandwich and the smoked meat sandwich. The salami sandwich was just too much salami, and not too flavorful. The smoked meat sandwich, that sandwich brings the flavor! The meat was so delicious, and every bit you just wanted more! I wish we had ordered two smoked meat sandwiches! The staff was so friendly and the restaurant had such a welcoming atmosphere. Definitely recommend stopping in if you're in Montreal! read more

Lester's Deli - Salami sandwich - Delis Near Me - Outremont, Quebec

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Came here for a food tour stop and it was a great restuarant. The meat was fresh and the bread soft. There was just enough mustard on the smoked meat sandwich. The only thing was that it was too cold for my liking. I like warm meat and this was kinda cold. It didn't melt in my mouth as much as it could have if warmed. The staff was so lovely here and it felt like a piece of the neighborhood. I'd definitely come back for a club sandwich and a pickle. read more

Lester's Deli - Smoked meat sandwich - Delis Near Me - Outremont, Quebec

A Montreal institution. Lester's smoked meat is closer to corned beef. The flavor profile of the smoked meat is close to bologna. This is not a bad thing - the sandwich is delicious. The service is attentive and the room is a step back in history. read more

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Fantastic smoked meat sandwich! This is where the locals eat. Expertly seasoned smoked meat with mustard on fantastic rye bread. Served along with some outstanding fresh-cut french fries and old dill pickles. And a fantastic sugar pie for dessert! The real deal. A true Montréal gem! Fantastic meal and fantastic service! Highly recommend if you are you looking for a smoked meat sandwich in Montréal. read more

Why wait in line at Schwartz's...Lester's was just as good, sandwiches were larger and with more meat. The meat is prepared elsewhere which is different than Schwartz's which prepares the meat in house. At Lester's, there was plenty of seating and they SELL BEER!!! Perfect place for pastrami Sami and some suds. read more

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I had the smoked meat sandwich & poutine with chopped up smoked meat. Both were delicious, especially with the vinegar in the spray bottle. Bathrooms in the back - getting to them is hard because of tight space/large size person beware. Server was ok with our request for 2 separate bills. Recommend read more

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The Smoke Meat Sandwich is Simply Awesome!!! The service is Great! Very Warm Welcoming with a big smile like if they know you from ever... The ambiance is Great too! A warm place that makes feel you're really welcome and special I Definitely Loved this place and I Highly Recommend it! read more

Very pleasant, quick and efficient service. Classic deli atmosphere and straightforward tasty food. read more

The new owners refused to let me redeem a previously purchased gift certificate and then proceeded to stop answering my emails concerning this. Horrible customer service. read more

This place is good but not as good as Schwartz's deli which it's compared to often online. If this was in my hometown, I would be happy to go. I can't eat a smoked meat more that once a month so will go to Schwartz's instead. Service was great, I guess worth checking out. read more

Probably the best all round meal in Montreal that we had during the Grand Prix weekend. Wanting to avoid the 2 hour wait at Schwartz's, we elected to go directly to Lester's as it was always the second choice by most other polls... And boy, are we glad we did!!! Just a few tables occupied inside as we strolled up around 130pm Friday. The staff was immediately friendly, funny, hospitable and helpful. Service was quick and efficient. The smoked meat sandwich was utter perfection. The medium fat meat that we chose simply melted in your mouth without a greasy or fatty taste at all!! The rye bread that the sandwich came on was perfection as well....strong enough to hold up to the task but felt like a cloud in your mouth. All four of us eating agreed that this was in our top sandwiches of all time. The cole slaw, pickles and fries are necessary additions. We also loved how when we ordered 4 beers, they just brought 4 beers....no question about what type...and they were great Pales. I just wished we had room for the cheesecake...next time!! Make Lester's your next Smoked Meat destination...you won't regret it!!! read more

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3.5 stars. The meat was good but got to admit Schwartz set the bar pretty high for Lesters to beat. Some suggestions, the meat could be less processed and offer more fatty option. Service was great with waitress having good sense of humour read more

Lester's Deli - Sandwich special - Delis Near Me - Outremont, Quebec

Made a final run for poutine at Lester's, as it was recommended by my local cousins. I don't think it helped that I got the poutine to-go, but it was solid nonetheless! They're efficient with their orders, and the service is solid. I got the smoked meat poutine, and it was really good! It wasn't overwhelming or too salty, which was nice because I was concerned that the smoked meat would overpower the rest of the dish. Instead, it was mild and came together with the gravy quite well. I think Lester's is worth checking out if you want solid poutine, but I wouldn't say it was the best poutine I've ever had. read more

Lester's Deli - Delis Near Me - Outremont, Quebec

yet another Montreal staple. Serving thick sliced, unique tasting smoked meat with an excellent flavour and seasoning on a nice crisp yet moist bread and a perfect ratio of the necessary elements (mustard, meat and bread) since 1951 read more

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After visiting Montreal multiple times, I decided to venture out and try another restaurant for smoked meat. To begin with, Lester's is less touristy and the outdoor patio was filled with locals during the Labour day weekend. From the moment we sat down the waitress had claimed that they were the best in the city. Although we were a little skeptical since every restaurant makes the same claim, ordered two smoked meat sandwiches with a side of fries. The sandwiches came quickly and were packed with delicious smoked meat between rye bread. The meat was a blend of fatty and lean pieces. The mix of cuts was the perfect and made the sandwich so much more enjoyable. The meat was tender, juicy and flavourful at the same time without being overly salty. The fries were crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. I'm not sure if it's just me, but Quebec fries have a subtle sweetness to them and I was so sad when they were finished. Our waitress was very straight forward with her no fuss type attitude. She was confident in what the restaurant offered and knew that the food would speak for itself. Lester's will definitely be my new go-to restaurant when I'm in Montreal craving smoked meat. read more

When I used to visit Montreal (every two months) Lester's was always a must for lunch! Now that I live here in Montreal, Lester's is a payday treat that I always look forward to every two weeks! Their Smoked meat is to die for! Their coleslaw is heavenly and the staff are just so down to Earth! So friendly and always a pleasure to see! read more

No trip to Montreal is complete without a Lester's smoked meat sandwich. In my case, I go multiple times in a trip. I usually plan where I stay so that I can walk there, along with a few other select places. This is, without a doubt, one of the must have specialties in MTL. So delicious and flavorful. My wife does not care for beef, but she eats the smoked meat at Lester's. That should tell you something right there. Order the Super with fries, you will be glad you did. read more

Went by for lunch yesterday. This is my go-to place when I'm home in Montreal, but giving only 4 stars this time. Prices were insane (45$+ for 2 sandwiches, a fry, a drink and a bagel with cream cheese), no ice in the place, sandwich was small, waitress could not be bothered to even try to engage ( minimum effort on her end). I'll probably go back but wasn't too happy this time. read more

What a fun experience! Walking into Lester's felt like coming home after a long trip. The staff was so friendly, joking with my friend and me throughout our meal. While the restaurant was certainly filled to the brim, the wait staff at Lester's handled the crowd nicely. I'm not a huge meat-eater, so instead of ordering a smoked meat sandwich, I opted for the smoked meat poutine. What a treat! It was my first, and only, time eating poutine. I must say- the idea of french fries drenched in gravy and cheese curds did not sound enticing, but I would happily order the dish again. The smoked meat added a hearty flavor, and was the perfect addition to the poutine. My friend and I split the order as a midday snack. We both left satisfied. I highly recommend Lester's Deli. read more

Lester's Deli - Smoked meat poutine - Delis Near Me - Outremont, Quebec

Came here on a rainy Thursday afternoon. Not sure if it's like this all the time, but it was mostly empty, which I was perfectly fine with. Nice not to have to wait for a table and/or share a table with strangers (though sometimes I don't mind). Lester's is stacked with charm, from the hand-painted lettering and signs outside, to the walls full of antique things and signed celebrity photographs. The staff greeted us like we existed (some places literally treat me like I'm invisible), so that alone was a treat. We weren't super hungry, so we shared the smoked meat plate, which quite simply is a pile of smoked meat, all the rye bread you want, pickles, and mustard. Added some fries and gravy to that and we were good. I'd probably say Lester's is near the top of my favorite smoked meat. Juicy, flavorful, and satisfying. I definitely plan on coming back when I'm in the neighborhood. read more

Lester's Deli - Smoked meat platter! Bread and meat, keep it simple! - Delis Near Me - Outremont, Quebec

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Sometimes there's no substitute for the real thing. Lesters with its iconic bright yellow awning, has been a mainstay in the Outremont neighborhood for years now. My grandma lives just around the corner from this institution and though I often walked by during visits to Montreal, I never found the time to go in for a bite. Why? Because my grandma and her clan are die-hard Schwartz's folks. Yes, the sole incarnation of smoked meat they've come to know has been from the famous deli downtown. Even my mother, who finds little to embrace in Western cuisine, has a hankering for the restaurant's famed brisket every now and then. Cut to a recent visit to Montreal with mum, when we were both hit with smoked meat cravings. My mother wanted Schwartz's of course but we were due back at Grandma's for lunch so we were playing hooky and couldn't ask the rest of the clan for directions. Furthermore, I was without my bearings (i.e. smart phone), so I proposed we hit up Lesters instead. "Okay," she muttered begrudgingly. There's sidewalk seating during the warm months so deli goers can enjoy the comings and goings of the neighborhood while they nosh. Very European. Inside, there's a different feel. Old-school diner. There's booths, rows of tables and a deli counter where the slicers stand hand-slicing the brisket. Tchotchkes from bygone decades in Quebec fill the walls. We're seated quickly inside and place our order with our server, a curt but sassy type with a thick Quebecois accent. Two smoked meat sammies, an order of fries and a ginger ale in a frosty mug to share. Mum does not want to share a sandwich despite the obvious fact that we'll be eating more at Grandma's later. Our meal arrives. The fries are not very crispy on the outside but feature very soft, fluffy and sweet innards. They are addictive but they lack crunch. I take a bite out of my sandwich and I already know what the verdict will be. But I wait for mum to deliver her pronouncement. She takes a bite, squirts a little more mustard onto her sandwich and begins pawing at the meat at bit with her fork. If there ever was a time to tell someone to stop playing with their food..... But then the kvetching starts up. "NO! Not the same", she weighs in. Adding to that, "Soft meat, no flavor. Other place better." And of course, "How come other table get more pickles than us!" Okay. This is her 'I told you so' moment in food form. It's true though. The meat, although velvety soft from the steaming, lacks the beautiful array of spices or much smoke. It may be hand sliced expertly into paper thin slices but it doesn't make up for the blandness or the slimy texture. A extra squirt or two of mustard fails to perk up the DOA meat. There's no oomph here, sad to say. The sandwich reminds me faintly of my experience at Ben's years ago, though even that version had more flavour. I suspect that they use industrial processed briskets which are jacked up with chemicals and preservatives. I don't have a problem with that so long as the flavour remains intact. The whole sandwich is rather underwhelming. We continue on with our fries, gobbling them up. So this is not the best smoked meat that Montreal has to offer. It may alright fine for diner fare or what not but skip the brisket. Next time, no shortcuts! read more

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I compared Schwartz's and Lester's. Lester's is much better. I gave Schwartz's two stars. Here is my review under Schwartz's, but it works as a review for lester's too: I'm was a Montrealer for 40 years, and I'm now an American. I hadn't had smoked meat in about 10 years. I was visiting Montreal for work, and on consecutive days I ate at Lester's (first) and at Schwartz's the very next day. I'm sorry to say I have to "profane the sacred name": Schwartz's sucks. Lester's meat was moist, correctly and adequately spiced and smoke flavor was low, but it was there. Schwartz's meat was of lower quality, inadequately spiced to the point of blandness, and even though I ordered a medium, was very fat. I tasted no smoke flavor at all. It was really second rate smoked meat. Schwartz's sour pickle was very good though, I must say. (I didn't have a pickle at Lester's.) Lester's was not at all crowded and service was very good. Schwartz's service was also very good, but it was crowded and as usual I had to share the table I was at. I didn't mind sharing, because I like talking to people. (But I talked to people in Lester's too, without being crowded.) Schwartz's looks like it caters to tourists and ex-Montrealers and anyone that doesn't know better. Schwartz's has history, but not quality. I'll be visiting Montreal again in a month and I'll go to Lester's, but not Schwartz's. read more

Way too over priced for mediocre food. I paid $35 for a smoke meat sandwich (old fashioned) a pickle soft drink and poutine. This should be a trio for $18 MaX and instead they charged me individually for everything. The poutine was reheated fries and came in a small styrofoam container (Stingy) All the food was mediocre and not worth the premium tourist prices they charge on top of the fact they will try and take you through the ringer and charge you all individual instead of charging the trio. One thing that becomes very apparent from my experience is that they must be struggling to make money by these practices $$ read more

Lester's Deli - This is $35 worth of food according to Lester's Deli Mediocre at best...re-heated fries. - Delis Near Me - Outremont, Quebec

I went there earlier this year for Valentines. Ended up becoming up another big fan. I had Smoked Meat with the poutine and also tried a bagel with smoked salmon. Everything was done superbly and the service was terrific. This really is a nice joint to try for locals or tourists for a nice brunch out. Good for family too. PS. Great option to try if you're bored with always the usual place Schwartz ;) read more

Lester's Deli - Delis Near Me - Outremont, Quebec

Highly recommended when you visit Montreal or you live there. The corned beef was hot and tasty. Also very tender. The employees were also super friendly and was able to guide to what I should get! read more

Lester's Deli - Delis Near Me - Outremont, Quebec

As an ex-Montrealers visiting relatives, I had a hankering for smoked meat. "Real" Montreal smoked meat. My kids have never had it (try finding it in Seattle. Hrmph!), and I debated going to Schwartz's or here to Lester's. I didn't particularly want to deal with the long line of tourists at Schwartz's or with the issue of parking on the Main, so we decided to come here instead. My relatives prefer Lester's, anyhow, and come here regularly (but its been about 5 or 6 years since I've been here). It was as good as ever. Cute seating area outside, but our larger party chose to sit inside, surrounded by all the Montreal memorabilia of yore. It's a real Jewish deli feel inside and I imagine it hasn't changed much, if at all. In the past 50 years. The food was capital-A amazing. We all had the iconic smoked meat sandwiches. They're exactly as I remember them from my youth. My 80 year old dad said the same thing. The sandwiches were piled high with soft, moist, perfectly seasoned meat (we all chose medium fa), with rye bread and mustard. The French fries were capital-D delicious, which we doused in vinegar. My kids were in heaven. The pickles were a bit too sour for me, but everyone else loved them. Everything was devoured quickly. The service was great and attentive, and the owner chatted with us. Asa bonus, it was nice to stroll Bernard, with all its shops and bistros. read more

A nice place to eat at with your family. My parents love smoke meat and this is their favourite place.