Beauty's Restaurant — Restaurant in Montreal

I had high expectations for this restaurant, but my recent visit left a sour taste in my mouth, and it wasn't due to the food. While the dishes were well-prepared and flavorful, the overall experience was severely tarnished by the appalling service. We decided to sit at the bar, expecting a more casual and enjoyable atmosphere. Unfortunately, what we encountered was far from pleasant.

The waitress seemed more interested in pushing us for tips than providing quality service. Despite the fact that there is no legal obligation to tip in Quebec, we were subjected to relentless harassment from the bar waitress with comments ranging from subtle hints to outright demands. It was incredibly uncomfortable and unprofessional.

Tipping is meant to be a discretionary gesture of gratitude for exceptional service, not something that customers should be bullied into. The waitress aggressive and intrusive behavior was not only off-putting but completely inappropriate.

The atmosphere at the bar, which should have been relaxed and enjoyable, was ruined by this unnecessary pressure. It's astonishing that a restaurant of this caliber would resort to such desperate and disrespectful tactics. The management seriously needs to reconsider their approach to customer service and educate their staff on proper etiquette and respect for patrons.

In the end, the experience was so unpleasant that it overshadowed the quality of the food. Despite the potential this restaurant has, I cannot recommend it to anyone who values respectful and professional service. There are plenty of other places in Quebec where you can enjoy great food without being harassed for tips. Save yourself the trouble and...

This was my first time at Beauty’s despite living in Montreal for 5 years and Saint Urbain for 2 of them. Sacrilegious, I know!

I split the Beauty’s Breakfast melt (egg, cheese, salami, and tomato grilled on challah), latkes, and a side order of pancakes with my dad.

We started by taking a bite into the sandwich, which we immediately deemed a major L. As in, it can’t get better from here- right? Just look at the cross section shot in the attached pic. Let's just say it was a breakfast sando on beast mode.

Next we tried the latkes, which affirmed our worry a bit. They were solid but I think they could’ve been a bit crispier + saltier.

We finished with the pancakes. I have to assert that I’m basically the queen of pancakes. It’s my favourite breakfast food to order when eating out. BOY were these a slap to the puny proclamation we first made! Crispy exterior, fluffy interior, and perfect chew. Even if you don’t order them as your main, a side order is $6 for two generous golden coins of goodness.

You walk into Beauty’s and it’s a no brainer why this has remained such a prominent institution in Montreal’s food scene for decades. The food isn’t necessarily drop-to-your-knees incredible, but you’re paying for a solid meal and eating it in a sliver of Montreal’s rich Jewish history.

Just a thought experiment here- someone needs to get Drake (Jewish Canadian cultural icon) and his PR in on this establishment. Think about the market potential they could tap into with a collaboration here. OVO hypebeasts stretch far and wide in this country. Not that Beauty’s necessarily needs more hype, but it...

Why do we go to restaurants? There are two main reasons: we want good food, and we want good company. There are many, many great restaurants in Montreal, but the most memorable ones are often the places in which we felt a genuine human connection with the people that run them. Beauty's is one of the very few establishments that not only serves up great food, but also makes sure that everyone is treated with the utmost respect and friendliness. You feel a vibe when you walk in that is not unlike the communal cheerfulness at Schwartz's. The family, spanning several generations, is what makes Beauty's unique. They stand united in their service, ensuring the mission of the late founder is completed day in and day out. For an hour or two, patrons become part of this family, and I am very grateful to have finally gotten the chance to eat here for the first time. The Mish Mash omelette I ordered lives up to the hype as comfort food that's really kind to the soul and the stomach, the milkshake was enormous and stunning in the quality of ingredients, and the waffle was really soft and just right. Everything seemed very fresh, and there were no brunch faux-pas like out of season fruits tossed in for decoration, or potatoes clearly from frozen. They take a less-is-more approach compared to the chain brunch joints, but it really works, because everything on the plate is worth savoring (I'm thinking of you, fresh Montreal bagels). You can bet I'll be returning to this landmark as the great family starts their next chapter, with decades of tried-and-true experience, love, and happy customers as...