La Banquise — Restaurant in Montreal

Attention all poutine lovers! Get ready to indulge in a culinary delight at La Banquise, where fantastic service and high-quality smoked meat await your taste buds! 🍽️🧀 I recently had the pleasure of experiencing their outstanding offerings, with a special recommendation for their special poutine with smoked meat. Join me as we explore the exceptional quality and generous portions at this renowned establishment, where affordability and excellence come together in a true poutine haven. Trust me, you won't want to miss this mouthwatering experience! 🌟😄

🍽️ A Poutine Lover's Dream: As I stepped into La Banquise, I found myself in a poutine lover's dream come true. The atmosphere was vibrant, with the aroma of delicious toppings filling the air. The staff greeted me with warm smiles and provided exceptional service throughout my visit. From the moment I sat down, I knew I was about to embark on a poutine adventure like no other. La Banquise truly captures the essence of poutine dining, making it the perfect destination for enthusiasts seeking the ultimate poutine experience. 🍟😊

🧀 Outstanding Quality: Let's talk about the star of the show—the outstanding quality of La Banquise's poutine. Each component, from the crispy fries to the delectable cheese curds, was of the highest caliber. The smoked meat, with its rich and savory flavors, added a delightful twist to the classic poutine. The attention to detail and commitment to using top-quality ingredients were evident in every mouthwatering bite. La Banquise's dedication to outstanding quality ensures that every poutine lover is treated to an unforgettable culinary experience. 🧀🌟

🍖 Special Poutine with Smoked Meat: A Must-Try Delight: One dish that should not be missed at La Banquise is their special poutine with smoked meat. This tantalizing creation takes the beloved poutine to new heights. The combination of perfectly cooked fries, squeaky cheese curds, and succulent smoked meat is a match made in poutine heaven. Each bite offers a symphony of flavors, where the richness of the smoked meat enhances the overall taste experience. The special poutine with smoked meat is a true indulgence that will leave you craving for more. Don't miss the opportunity to savor this extraordinary dish! 🍖🔥

💰 Affordable Excellence: La Banquise not only excels in quality but also offers exceptional value for your money. When considering the price and food volume in comparison to other establishments like Schwartz, La Banquise stands out as a remarkable choice. The combination of generous portions, high-quality ingredients, and reasonable prices make it a standout in the poutine scene. You can indulge in the most delectable poutine without breaking the bank. It's a win-win situation that makes La Banquise even more irresistible! 💸😉

😄 A Memorable Poutine Experience: My visit to La Banquise was an absolute delight. From the moment I arrived, the fantastic service and outstanding quality of the food left a lasting impression. Every bite of the special poutine with smoked meat was a taste sensation, and the attention to detail and flavors was second to none. The inviting atmosphere and friendly staff added to the overall experience, creating a memorable dining adventure. Whether you're a die-hard poutine fan or simply looking for a taste of true poutine perfection, La Banquise will exceed your expectations and leave you with a smile on...

Famous for its poutine and its various flavours and options. The food as a whole was amazing and you have options for both take out and dining in. We opted to dine in.

The food itself was great and for that I gave this the 2 stars that it is rated. The cooks brought any kind of win to this location.

The missing stars unfortunately were a result of the overall customer service experience myself and my friends have experienced at this establishment on different occasions. I had a feeling my visit there was purposefully being handled in a negative way on purpose. While I was seated fairly quickly being only a 2 person party the issue came afterwards. I had a middle aged woman with brown hair serve us. We were seated in the middle of her section. Followed us was a family of 5 who was seated behind us. A single woman to my left who was half way through her meal, a large party of 5-6 to my right and a family of 3 infront of me. After being seated I had the pleasure of watching the family that got seated after me get their order taken, the girl to my left finish her meal and pay, the group to my right and infront of me finish their meal and a new group replacing them of similar size all before we even had our order taken or even acknowledged. By the time our order was taken the family behind us was almost already done, a new couple replaced the single girl and had their order already taken as well as the new group to my right. We waited another 20 minutes before our food came only to watch the new couple to my left finish and pay, the group to my right ordering the same thing almost finish and the family behind me already gone and replaced. I had to ask where our food was only to be told to wait 5 more minutes.

It’s poutine bro. 25 minutes for poutine? Or did she just not actually take my order to the kitchen.

0 water refills, no check up on us (while she did other tables) all this while the restaurant became less busy and the section even had empty tables.

When we asked for our bill I paid for the meal and left a $0 tip. (What did you do to deserve one? Lmao) the waitress had the audacity to question my $0 tip. She said it’s standard to tip 15%. I asked her if it’s mandatory. She said yes, I told her the receipt says it’s “suggested”. I then told her I’m not tipping her anything due to the service and the wait time and walked out.

Servers in Montreal make $21/hr compared to the $3 servers make in the United States. Don’t act like you’re deserving of a tip for terrible service.

I found out from another friend they had the same experience when visiting a couple years back. Maybe it’s because we’re Asian. Maybe it’s because we’re English only speakers from Toronto. Maybe the server just sucked. Whatever it is, if your service is bad then you don’t get a tip. Apparently Montreal is aggressive with tips - so to anyone who experiences bad service here - just don’t tip. Pay for your food and tell them...

La Banquise Restaurant in Montreal, unfortunately, provided an experience far from what one would expect from such a famed establishment. My anticipation, built over a year of saving and planning for this adventure, was met with profound disappointment due to several glaring issues during my visit.

First and foremost, the service left much to be desired. An incident involving the La T-Rex Poutine, which to my dismay contained hair amidst its ingredients, was just the beginning of a series of service-related mishaps. Despite this, we were still charged for the dish, adding insult to injury. Furthermore, when we ordered the Classic Poutine, it was served in the wrong size, and attempts were made to charge us for their mistake, showcasing a lack of attention to customer orders and an apparent indifference towards rectifying their errors.

The issues did not end with the food or the billing; the restaurant’s hygiene and comfort also fell short of expectations. The utensils provided were better left unmentioned, and the establishment’s poor ventilation only compounded the already unsatisfactory dining experience.

This was my first visit to La Banquise, and based on this experience, it will unequivocally be my last. I had spent a year looking forward to sampling what I believed to be a highlight of Montreal’s culinary scene, only to be met with a series of disappointments. It’s disheartening when such anticipation culminates in an experience that fails to meet even the most basic expectations of service and quality.

Given these issues, I cannot recommend La Banquise Restaurant. For those seeking the quintessential Montreal poutine experience, it may be wise to consider other establishments that hold a higher standard of food quality, customer service, and overall...