Montreal 4D3N Foodie Adventure

I’d always heard that Eastern Canada had amazing food, but I never imagined it would be this good! Especially coming from Calgary—a certified food desert— every bite made me forget I was still in Canada. Turns out, following Xiaohongshu recommendations rarely leads you astray. 📍 La Panzeria More like an open-faced sandwich than pizza. We got a half-and-half combo: fig & burrata + pistachio & burrata (swapped the original ham for beef since my friend doesn’t eat pork). Sweet-savory flavors on pillowy focaccia—chef’s kiss! The pistachio pesto pasta was a bit heavy; best shared among 3-4 people. 📍 La Banquise 24-hour poutine spot. Arrived at 10:30 PM and still waited 40 mins. Cramped space, meh service, but so worth it. Never understood the hype around poutine until now— their gravy has a fragrant peppery kick, the meat is juicy, and it’s not overly salty! 📍 La Cave à Manger Came for the "tree ring" croissant (specifically pistachio). Surprisingly, no line and all flavors were in stock! Maybe my expectations were too high, but it didn’t wow me. The croissant lacked flakiness, though the pistachio filling was lush and not too sweet. 📍 Dunn’s Famous Montreal’s smoked meat sandwich showdown: this vs. Schwartz’s. We passed Schwartz’s twice but skipped due to the dingy vibe. This one’s pricier but more restaurant-like—and oh my god, who knew a simple sandwich could be this good? Meltingly tender meat, lightly dressed with yellow mustard. Perfection. 📍 Café Olimpico Solid coffee, though servings are tiny. Their viral tiramisu? Way too sweet for me. 📍 Au Pied de Cochon Duck "hand roll" tasted like decadent sashimi. Foie gras sushi with tangy sauce? Heaven in one bite. Book weeks ahead—this tiny place is packed, but service is impeccable. #Montreal #TravelCanada #MontrealEats #MontrealFoodie #FoodDiary #EatLikeALocal