With over-the-top lobster spaghetti, a take on the Canadian Nanaimo bar with foie gras, fiddlehead carbonara, and an expansive wine list, you’ll want to spend an entire evening here to try Joe Beef’s take on Québecois classics. This is the restaurant a lot of people think of when they think about Montreal, and lots of people who worked here have gone on to open many of the places on this list. Aim for a table on their garden terrace if the weather’s right, and if you can’t get a reservation on short notice, try their sister restaurants nearby: the cozy Liverpool House and the vegetable-focused Vin Papillon.

Joe Beef is a flagship restaurant that greatly helped propel Montreal's gastronomic scene to international level. Since 2005, locals and tourists from around the world have clamoured for tables to experience the unique experience offered by Fred Morin and his dedicated team. The widely acclaimed international reputation of Joe Beef was forged from the early years, notably thanks to generous plates - to say the least decadent - revealing accomplished research, mastered techniques, and a unique eloquence, always derived from Quebec or Canadian terroir.

Joe Beef, a 19th-century Irish-Canadian tavern owner, wasn’t Jewish, and nor are Fred Morin and David MacMillan, who named their original restaurant for him and now own a group of world-beating Montreal eateries. Raegan Steinberg, Alex Cohen and Jeffrey Finkelstein have all worked at Joe Beef; Hof Kelsten supplies their bread; and the most innovative neo-Jewish dish I’ve ever tasted is David MacMillan’s smoked-meat croquette. That blend of old and new, Jewish and gentile, French and English, thick skin and tender centre, is quintessential Montreal.

Eating out at this establishment in the St-Henri/Little Burgundy neighborhood is a little like being invited to a dinner party by a couple of friends who just happen to be top-notch chefs. Everything written on the chalkboard menu is simple, hearty, and just delicious, from the fresh oysters to the organic rib steak and the now-famous lobster spaghetti. In summer, the best seat in the house is one of the 25 coveted chairs spread out on the back patio, among the beautiful patches of an organic vegetable garden.

Montréal’s most famous bohemian bistro is headed by chefs David McMillan and Fred Morin, and goes above and beyond its steak-and-seafood billing. In fact, Joe Beef has made a name for itself with just one dish, the infamous Joe Beef foie gras double down. The dish is made with bacon and cheese topped with chicken-skin mayonnaise and sandwiched between two deep-fried slabs of foie gras, then drizzled with maple syrup.

Their chalkboard menu may be ever-changing, but the quality of the beefy steaks served up by the culinary bosses behind Joe Beef is always above-par. Their soft and fatty steaks, often served in the pan they’re cooked in, may come wrapped in bacon, served with scallops, or swimming in gravy, but no matter how it’s wrapped, Joe Beef’s beef (almost) is the greatest gift you could ever give to your mouth.

The folks behind Joe Beef continue the hit parade with this delightful wine bar and small-plate eatery next door to Liverpool House – another Joe Beef…

To say Joe Beef is a Montreal institution would be a severe understatement. Owners and chefs David McMillan and Fred Morin have been serving natural wine, seasonal fare, and a humble home for everyone from international chefs and celebrities to students and young families since opening their doors more than a decade ago. Ask any local and they’ll tell you, despite the near-impossible feat that is getting a reservation, Joe Beef feels decidedly more like stepping into a family friend’s home for a decadent — yet down-to-earth — meal, than it does an internationally renowned landmark.

Les célèbres copropriétaires David McMillan et Frédéric Morin ont été les précurseurs de cette cuisine très soignée et totalement décomplexée qui va puiser au meilleur des deux marmites officielles de notre beau grand pays. A suivi toute une ribambelle de jeunes chefs formés par ces deux-là à une bien bonne école. Joe Beef est aujourd’hui solidement installé comme l’un des meilleurs restaurants québécois de Montréal et l’on y savoure une cuisine qui reflète l’intelligence et la culture gastronomique des deux leaders spirituels.

Named after Charles 'Joe-Beef' McKiernan, a Montreal innkeeper and working-class hero from the 1800s, Joe Beef serves steaks and seafood to those looking for something a cut above ordinary. Joe Beef is the brainchild of Frederic Morin and David McMillan, who've recently released their first cookbook/memoir, and have a seafood catering truck on the side. Like Au Pied du Cochon, (more information on them to come) there's a sense of whimsical gluttony in the menu, which is all crammed onto a single chalkboard.

Famed Montreal restaurateur David McMillan (Joe Beef, Le Vin Papillon) says, "I'll tell you why Montreal is the best restaurant city, and it's not about the skill of our cooking. We have the most advanced dining public in North America. I serve lamb liver cooked rare to 17-year-old girls. I sell tons of kidneys and sweetbreads. Manhattan is one giant steakhouse. Everybody there wants steak, or red tuna. I don't want to know how much red tuna is sold every day.

In a once-divey, neglected part of town, owners and chefs Frederic Morin and David McMillan named their one-of-a-kind restaurant after a British Quartermaster known specifically for his ability to scrounge meat for his men during the Crimean War: Joe Beef. Here, they serve up bad jokes turned into good (yet still silly) dishes, such as stuffed clams atop a vintage radio or laid out on the cover of erotic novels. While the menu changes daily, the theme remains.

I don’t think we have many three-star restaurants in Montreal,” said Frédéric Morin, chef and co-owner of Montreal institution Joe Beef, Vin Papillon, Liverpool House and McKiernan. “I don’t think we have many two-star restaurants. But I do think that what makes Montreal a city people want to come visit, what makes it a city I want to live in and have restaurants in, and that I enjoy dining out in, is that a lot of our restaurants are one-star.

Joe Beef is an old-school restaurant paying homage to Montreal’s famous Joe Beef, otherwise known as Charles McKierman who was well known in the neighborhood for generously serving lower class laborers. The spirit of McKierman lives on in its no-frill ambiance and mouth-watering dishes. There are no white tablecloths, and the menu is written on a chalkboard; a stark contrast to how we typically imagine a French-style steakhouse to appear.

The Joe Beef suite consists of 3 unmissable restaurants that have become veritable institutions. The team of Frédéric Morin, David McMillan and Allison Cunningham embarked on this adventure in the then completely residential Little Burgundy district. Their first restaurant, Joe Beef, put Montreal's gastronomic scene on the map, and brought a new dynamic to the area, now filled with trendy bars and restaurants along the Lachine Canal.

I wrote about the lighter side of Joe Beef last year and their seafood platter is definitely one way to experience that light side or to kick off any dinner at the iconic Montreal restaurant. Joe Beef doesn’t do anything half way and that goes for their out-of-this world seafood platter, which includes the most pristine oysters. Joe Beef’s sibling restaurants Liverpool House and Le Vin Papillon are also great oyster spots.

Why You Need To Go: This tavern in Little Burgundy serves indulgent dishes made with local and seasonal ingredients in a rustic yet refined atmosphere. You might have a hard time picking between the lobster spaghetti and the "Foie Gras Double Down" — two foie gras patties sandwiched between slices of house-cured bacon with a side of maple syrup-infused toast — the good news is you can't go wrong.

The Montreal culinary scene appears to be dominated by the creators of Joe Beef on one side, and the creators of Nora Gray on another. Joe Beef and its offspring Liverpool House represent the best Montreal has to offer, in the style described above. If they put white table clothes on the tables, they would be a very serious culinary institutions and no one would be any happier.

What Wadjers are saying: One of the ultimate restaurants in a city known for its casual take on fine dining cuisine, this Little Burgundy destination is regularly at the top of everyone’s list of places to eat in Montreal. Wadju need to eat there: The menu changes often here, but the lobster spaghetti has remained on their menu for a long time for a reason—it’s fantastic.

We have a saying that, if you haven’t been to Joe Beef, you haven’t been to Montreal. For real, Joe Beef has somehow become one of the most iconic destinations in town, specializing in steak and seafood with a beautiful, sun-soaked patio, vegetable garden, and homey ambiance. Once you’re here, be sure to try the Steak Joe Beef Monsieur first, this is their signature one!

In the neighborhood of Little Burgundy, Joe Beef is more than just a steakhouse. It's a casual restaurant and bar that pays homage to the working-class history of Charles "Joe-Beef" McKiernan. Opened in 2005, this establishment offers comforting and generous French cuisine in a warm and festive setting, enjoyed by renowned chefs such as David Chang and Anthony Bourdain.

Adress: 2491 Notre-Dame St W, Montreal, Quebec H3J 1N6, Canada. My experience at Joe beef surprised me so much that I wrote a whole separate post about my experience, and why everyone should eat at Joe Beef in Montreal. My wife and I both agree that Joe Beef made our list of best meals of all time, and definitely one of the best restaurants in Montreal.

L’iconique et avant-gardiste Joe Beef fait encore des vagues sur la scène gastronomique montréalaise. Son menu généreux et raffiné inspiré de la cuisine lyonnaise n’a d’égal que le service attentionné et l’ambiance du tonnerre qui y règnent. La terrasse arrière du resto et son jardin constituent un véritable coin de paradis lors des beaux jours d’été.

Here, you have (great) restaurants like Au Pied de Cochon and Joe Beef that have such menu items as “duck in a can” and “double down” — all various forms of foie gras, the very controversial and rich French dish which is the product of force feeding a duck to fatten its liver. Cruel, say animals rights activists. Delicious, say the French.

If you've been researching where to eat in Montreal, you've undoubtedly come across Joe Beef about 4273948329742 times. Presidents love it, chefs love it, critics love it, and everyone who is not famous and goes there loves it, too. As the name of the spot would indicate, there's a whole lot of meat on the menu (like beef and rabbit).

Joe Beef is run by Chef Fred Morin and works to showcase the local produce, meats, and ingredients of the Quebec terroir. Many people credit the Joe Beef restaurant group as a driving force in the Montreal food scene (via Tastet). Their menu is seasonal, but features items like steak dishes, Foie Gras, tartare, and croquettes.

What started as a 30-person restaurant in 2005 has turned into a massive food operation. This spot has doubled in size, added a gorgeous bar and patio, spawned two sister restaurants, has its own onsite smokehouse, trout pond, vegetable garden, a retail spice line and a successful cookbook. Plus, the food is top-notch.

All five herald from Vin Papillon, a sister restaurant to Joe Beef and Liverpool House in Montreal’s Little Burgundy. When they launched Vin Mon Lapin in 2018, the team sought to create a unique dining experience that is rooted in their fine dining background and highlights Québec’s legendary down-to-earth hospitality.

Joe Beef is a world-renowned restaurant located in the Little Burgundy neighborhood of Montreal. Known for its inventive and creative cuisine, Joe Beef has been named one of the top restaurants in the world. The menu at Joe Beef is constantly changing, with a focus on using local and seasonal ingredients.

Joe Beef is highly ranked on the Montreal Best Restaurants list. The restaurant is known for its playful cuisine, ranging from truffled beer-can chicken to a KFC-like double down with foie gras. Sitting on the back terrace immerses you in the beauty of the Burgundy back alley scene.

Foodies will have heard of the glutton-inducing Joe Beef before arriving in Montréal, and it’s likely that some of them will have planned their trip around dining here. Co-founder David McMillan and the restaurant—think boisterous diner with adventurous food—have been profiled…

Some people love this Little Burgundy eatery because it serves beautiful seafood platters, foie gras, excellent dry-aged steak, and all kinds of other sturdy, meaty dishes, liberally seasoned with old-school enhancements like salt, butter and Worcestershire sauce.

The restaurant that launched a thousand ships, this is a definitive Montreal dining experience thanks to its one-two punch celebrating classic dining with a banquet-style celebration of good food. View this post on Instagram. A post shared by Joe Beef (@joebeef)

Le Violon (11), Tanière3 (13), Monarque (17), Montréal Plaza (20), Cabaret l’Enfer (22), Alma (24), Pichai (25), Bar St-Denis (27), Casavant (31), Parapluie (35), La Cabane d’à côté (38), Mastard (40), Salle Climatisée (44), Joe Beef (46) et Sabayon (48).

Joe Beef is celebrated for its inventive and rustic French-Canadian cuisine. The restaurant boasts a cozy as well as intimate ambience. With a menu that places emphasis on meat and seafood dishes, Joe Beef offers a unique culinary experience.

Classic bistro serving large portions of simple, exquisite Quebecois cuisine. The rustic decor includes a bear head over the bar and blue checkered napkins. A favorite of both locals and visitors, so reserve your table well in advance.

For its rustic charm and flavoursome menu, Joe Beef restaurant has become a real institution and a must-visit restaurant. Make sure to have a shared dining experience with someone, so you get to taste as many dishes as possible!

If you ever get to Montreal and leave without eating at Joe Beef, you will regret it!. There are both Canadian and French cooking methods adopted. Fresh seafood is something for which people love going here.

Joe Beef is the restaurant a lot of people think of when they think about Montreal, and many people who worked here have gone on to open many of the places on this list.

I am pretty sure you have all heard of Montreal's darling Joe Beef. If not, it's time you check them out!. They are known for their legendary steak and seafood.

Buck15 has become a growing fixture in Montreal’s St-Henri neighbourhood, home to well-known culinary heavyweights like Joe Beef, Nora Gray, and Tuck Shop.

Of course, you can never go wrong with the decadence of Joe Beef or the elegance of Maison Boulud .