Punjab Canteen — Restaurant in Montreal

Let's start with the food: it's excellent, by any standard. And, if you ask for it, mild - which many places say they'll do but don't. We've been here twice, once in the evening, once during the day. The quality was the same, i.e., really good.

The menu is pretty long, standard fare as well as some things not often see in Montreal Indian restaurants. Missi roti is now a new favourite, thanks to this place, and channa batura and puris are also lovely, better than any others locally and maybe even better than what I last had in India. Vegetarian thali provided good portions and was yummy, with choice of roti or naan. Chilli cheese "Asian fusion" came as a generous-sized dish - it was not to our liking but that's a matter of individual taste.

The service is good (and patient with questions), although both times there was only one person serving.

Now the more critical points: this place is geared towards a younger crowd. The chairs are heavy, there are no printed menus, chalkboard, even just one printed menu at the counter, or a tablet you can use to order on; the menu is online only so bring your cell phone with QR code scanner and have your data on.

I don't think a group in their late forties or early fifties are tech-dinosaurs (heck, one works in I.T.), and we all had cells, but 3 out of 4 couldn't access the menu. You need to download a PDF and it just wouldn't work so we ended up doing I.T. support for a while before resorting to Google Images and Uber Eats menus. On the second visit, this time with a group of "elders", again, two phones (one brand new, one older) couldn't access it and the two "aunties" simply refused to be bothered to even try. The server was kind enough to let us use his phone to read it.

While the décor and ambiance are nice, there are definitely some things that need attention:

the bathrooms - OMG, install sliding doors!!! It's impossible to close the current door without basically falling into the toilet. For seniors or larger people, it's impossible gymnastics to close the door. Probably some ladies have had saree pullus end up a bit wet and not from the sink! Forget taking a kid to the loo - no room for parent and child.

to access the washrooms, you need to pass through a glass door and then walk through the function room; please add a decorative decal or window film to this door. One of the seniors in our group walked right into it and what with all the drinks on the menu, I'd imagine so have some party-attendees. Also, a sign pointing towards the washrooms would be useful.

keeping with the theme of health and safety, the blue carpet at the front doors needs attention; it is really easy to trip over, as the aunty with a cane learned.

During the evening, the music was at an appropriate level while in the afternoon, it was way too loud and quite ... um, raucous. We asked for it to be lowered and it was, but only temporarily. Perhaps we outstayed our welcome?

I hope this place sticks around as it's really great to have such yummy food in LaSalle, particularly one with a nice dining room where you don't feel rushed and can take your time to enjoy the food. And have a "coat chair" in the winter. :)

Update: have since gotten take-out twice from here, both times the food was hot as hell, despite our asking for mild and "MILD" being written on the receipt printout. In one dish, there was a whole green chili and a whole red chili - made it easy to take them out but basically we finished two 650g containers of yogurt just to get through the food we'd paid for. And, yes, we are desi, but that doesn't mean bring on the spicy. Will not be going back, instead returning to Les Délices de Punjab as a regular, where, despite a shorter menu, the quality is consistent, flavourful, not tongue-melting, and...

This was my second time eating Indian food

We ordered Chana Samosa - delicious would come back for it alone (my favorite from what we ordered) Honey Chili potatoes - not for everyone but I enjoyed them a lot smells like general Tao chicken but tastes more garlic and chili. Not too sweet Biryani Chicken Rice - I almost died with how spicy the first bite of chicken was but the fragrance was very good and the flavour was very strong but pleasant. the yogurt sauce helped for the spicyness (my spice level is eating sriracha sauce regularly as well as the Buldak noodles with half the spicy packet if that helps) Butter Chicken - nice balance with the tomato and creamyness would order again Onion Naan - must Garlic Naan - must (I love bread) Mango smoothie - more like a yogurt (think thick yop) would drink again Rasmalai - had it to go and ate it the next day not sure if it was a good idea it tasted good but the texture was not for everyone (wet cake) enjoyable

It was a lot for two people but probably could have fed 4 people (we took away and had lunch the next day and still had left overs) Very nice take away bag

Water was served at room temperature with a neutral taste (no chlorine taste or salt smell).

Service was really nice and approchable but a bit busy (5 tables as well as online orders)

The place has a very pretty decor and when you come in you have a pleasant...

The RESTAURANT CERTAINLY has GOOD AMBIENCE and HAD good service until the OWNER ENTERED INTO THE RESTAURANT with HER PERSONAL GUESTS WHEN WE WERE PLACING OUR ORDER on the table, OWNER THEN SEEMED TO HAVE ADVISED THE STAFF IN HER FREQUENT VISITS TO KITCHEN AND AT RECEPTION TO STOP SERVING OTHER TABLES AND FOCUS ON THEIR TABLE, LIKE ALL OTHER ORDERS WERE PUT ON LOW BURNER or HOLD, AND ABOUT 5+ EXCLUSIVE DISHES AND SOME SPECIAL DRINKS WERE SERVED ON THEIR TABLE ONE AFTER ANOTHER, WHILE ME AND MY KID KEPT WATCHING, WAITING and STARVING in THE SUNNY AFTERNOON FOR OUR FOOD TO BE SERVED FOR ABOUT 30+ MINUTES. THE OWNER DID NOT REALIZE THAT WHILE TRYING TO IMPRESS SOMEONE SHE LOST THE CREDIBILITY OF HER RESTAURANT's SERVICE.

WITH SO MUCH ANGER AND STARVING SITUATION WE FINALLY LEFT THE RESTAURANT WITHOUT EATING AT 16.30 IN THE AFTERNOON, THERE IS NO NEGATIVE MARKING AVAILABLE FOR RATING OTHERWISE WOULD HAVE RATED "-10" FOR THIS SPECIAL TREATMENT BY THE RESTAURANT OWNER.

DON'T RECOMMEND GOING HERE WHEN OWNER IS AROUND, AND CERTAINLY CAN'T RECOMMEND FOOD AS I COULD NOT HAVE IT AND SAW THE CUSTOMER ON THE OTHER TABLE LEFT THEIR ALMOST ALL THE FOOD THEY ORDERED AS IS ON THE TABLE WHILE WE WERE WAITING FOR OUR FOOD, SO NOT SURE OF THE TASTE TOO.

GO ON YOUR OWN RISK EXPECTING GOOD FOOD AND CERTAINLY GOOD...