L’Express, with its iconic black-and-white tiles spilling into the St-Denis sidewalk, is the ultimate bistro, and the perfectly cooked steak-frites with shallot butter are something everyone in Montreal should eat at least once. There's no sign in front, but there's no mistaking the classic French vibe of L'Express, with its long zinc bar and decades-old photographs of the staff lining the walls. The meal starts off with complimentary baguette and cornichons, so you should get some rillettes, bone marrow, or chicken liver pâté to go along, moving on to kidneys in mustard sauce or poached salmon.

This is one of Montreal’s great restaurants, with exemplary classic French food and 11,000 well-chosen bottles: There probably isn’t a really good wine list in the entire city that doesn’t owe something to Mario Brossoit, who oversees that incredible cellar. The look, by the late Luc Laporte, is quintessential French bistro, straight out of a mid-century movie: Black and white-checked floor tiles, large mirrors, scarlet bar stools, white tablecloths, a palm tree. The staff know their stuff, and more: Brossoit says there are no sommeliers here; just servers who understand wine.

This iconic Montréal bistro hasn’t changed much since its opening in 1980, and it’s just as well—regulars would throw a fit if it did. Quintessential French fare is fairly priced and appetizing, outstanding even, with dishes like steak tartare with fries, salmon with sorrel, and calf's liver with tarragon. Tiny tables sometimes struggle to accommodate the ever-present crowds (including local chefs, who congregate here for dinner after hours), but the lively atmosphere is part of the charm.

L’Express, on rue St-Denis in the Plateau Mont-Royal neighborhood, opened in 1980 and has about it the air of a beloved institution. Indeed, with its timeless style, it feels even older than it is. This popular spot serves classic renditions of bistro fare—steak tartare, bone marrow, onion soup—into the early morning hours (2 a.m. except for Sundays, when it closes at 1 a.m.).

Walking off Saint-Denis Street into L’Express feels like stepping into the past. The restaurant, which opened in 1980, is dear to most Montréalers for its magnetic ambiance and classic bistro fare. Conceived by architect Luc Laporte and its owners Colette Brossoit and Pierre Villeneuve, L’Express harkens back to a time of white tablecloths, checkered floors and opulent bars.

Cornichons, baguette, and butter sandwiches FTW,” Cardarelli says. “Seriously, my mother took me [to L’Express] for the first time when I was 16. I go back all the time for the same dish, the ravioli, which at the time I had no idea was made with veal brains.

L’Express has all the hallmarks of a Parisian bistro – black-and-white checkered floor, art-deco globe lights, papered tables and mirrored walls.

It is also, these days, French and American, with fast food joints, obligatory tipping, but also, some of the best French restaurants I’ve visited, from L’Express, with its monochrome tiles, white tablecloths and vast cellars, to Café Cherrier, a bistro with a reputation as the hangout of choice for the Quebec politicians and literati of the last generation (and photos on the wall to prove it). Cherrier has waiters in ties and a menu of French classics straight out of the 1950s, but no matter their uniform, those staff have none of the hauteur of their counterparts in the old country. No matter how many snails you eat, or French wines you drink, you are still in North America, insulated from more than the weather.

Why You Need To Go: Few fancy restaurants can maintain their vitality and centrality in the long term — celebrity chefs move on, diners lose interest and chase bookings at the next trendy spot — but Saint-Denis stalwart L'Express has been a very good, very busy, classic French bistro since the beginning of time. It's not cheap, but it earned a place on JP Karwacki's list of affordable excellent Montreal restaurants because it's not astronomical, everything is made well and the service is impeccable. And in proper Parisian style, the waiters will treat you with the very same respectful disdain they'd treat a Westmount zillionaire.

A Montreal mainstay for more than 40 years, L’express has become well-loved for its top notch French bistro fare and comprehensive wine list. While we wouldn’t dare to suggest the white glove service, charming checkered flooring and bustling atmosphere could ever really be replicated at home, the St-Denis establishment has begun to offer expertly packaged takeout meals — from croque monsieur to house made ravioli — for those who would prefer to dine at home during the pandemic. Note takeout is available from Thursday to Saturday, but orders must be placed one day in advance.

A Montreal institution since 1980 on rue Saint-Denis, L'Express continues to uphold its reputation for timeless French cuisine and conviviality. Founded by François Tremblay, Colette Brossoit, and Pierre Villeneuve, the restaurant caters to everyone with a welcoming atmosphere that remains to this day. With a menu largely unchanged over the years, L'Express offers classic dishes like sorrel soup, marrow, and veal liver, prepared with an unwavering consistency and attention to detail.

One of Montreal’s most beloved restaurants, L’Express opened their doors all the way back in 1980 — and has had a steady flow of regulars ever since. Though the French-style brasserie skews on the higher end side of dining, dishes are available at many price ranges — with plates starting from $5. Along with a friendly staff and wine by the glass, locals and tourists head to L’Express for their chicken liver pâté, homemade raviolis and of course, their steak frites.

L’Express, with its iconic black and white tiles spilling into the St. Denis sidewalk, is the ultimate bistro, and the perfectly cooked steak-frites with shallot butter are something everyone in Montreal should eat at least once. There's no sign in front, but there's no mistaking the classic French vibe of L'Express. The meal starts off with a complimentary baguette and cornichons, so you should get some rillettes, bone marrow, or chicken liver pâté to go along.

What Wadjers are saying: This classic French restaurant in the Plateau is an undisputed favorite thanks to its level of service, expertise in the kitchen, and an incomparable wine list pulling from all kinds of regions of France. Wadju need to eat there: The steak tartare with fried potatoes, celery remoulade, and shrimp-chorizo risotto are all fantastic, but the dishes of foie gras or onglet with shallot butter are always at the top of everyone’s lists.

Without question, the widely accepted classic restaurant for Montreal is L’Express. When I lived in Montreal, I learned to sneak in to L’Express on the very early side of the dinner hour and eat at the bar. (Montreal likes to eat late. Making a 9 pm dinner reservation is entirely common. Making an 11 pm one is also not unheard of.) If I wanted the full dinner experience, then I’d make a reservation well in advance, which is still recommended.

Highlights: L’Express offers a classic Parisian bistro experience in the Plateau Mont-Royal, perfect for confidential business meetings. Known for its traditional French cuisine and elegant, unassuming ambiance, this venue is ideal for those seeking privacy and sophistication. The menu features time-honored dishes like steak tartare and provides a serene setting with efficient service, suitable for a discreet and effective business lunch.

Open since 1980, l’Express is perhaps the city’s most beloved dining institution. Classic French fare like steak frites and rognons de veau are served in the generously lit, Luc Laporte-designed dining room. While the restaurant isn’t known for being particularly innovative, the daily specials have gotten a lot more playful in recent years and have graduated from casual curiosities to frequently must-order dishes.

L’Express est un incontournable de la scène gastronomique montréalaise ainsi qu’une réelle institution – il existe depuis 1980!. La carte n’a pratiquement pas changé au cours des 40 dernières années et tout est fait maison (à l’exception du pain). Des cornichons préparés deux fois par jour aux sauces signature, l’équipe de L’Express met beaucoup d’amour et d’attention dans tout ce qui est servi dans cette maison.

My first meal in Montreal was at the full-on French-focused L'Express. I've been foie gras deprived due to California's ban, so I dove in...at pretty much every meal, starting at the 35 year institution, L'Express. No French stone was left unturned here from the the black and white checkered floor, white tablecloths and each and every item that was placed on the paper covered table.

**Who needs to go to Paris when we have L’Express conjuring up some of the best French cuisine in our backyards?. Their famous steak tartare dish ($25.90) is what pops into our heads whenever tartare is brought up. Seasoned to excellence a l’ancien with a side of duck fat fried frites – L’Express hits the nail on the head with the perfect picturesque and flavourful tartare dish.

Ce bistro français, qui a pignon sur rue depuis 1980, propose plusieurs classiques de la cuisine française sur son menu, de la bavette aux rognons, en passant bien sûr par son tartare de bœuf réalisé de main de maître. Avec une cuisine ouverte jusqu’aux petites heures du matin et une carte des vins bien fournie, que demander de mieux ?. 3927 rue Saint-Denis, Montréal, QC H2W 2M4

For more than forty years it has stood as the city’s premier French bistro, headed by acclaimed chef, Jean-Francois Vachon. The preparation of all the French classics – croque monsieur, confit duck leg, steak tartare and more – are flawlessly executed and consistently delicious. The ambiance is cool and romantic featuring a long wooden bar, auburn walls, and small tables.

I think a lot of Montreal restaurants are excellent, but because we don’t have a tradition of Michelin Guides here, we didn’t build restaurants based on the Michelin goal,” says former Gazette fine-dining critic and cookbook author Lesley Chesterman. Would one of her favourites, L’Express, make the cut?. Photo by Pierre Obendrauf /Montreal Gazette

You will have a better time at this hip French Bistro if you do. Young, upwardly mobile Francophones flock to L'Express to see and be seen and to eat the best steak tartare et pomme frites on the planet or the tantalizing duck and foie gras. Calf liver, salmon and ravioli top the favorites list of this Plateau neighborhood haunt.

The only time you’re likely to get a last-minute reservation at L’Express is for lunch — and why not go when it’s a bit quieter, anyway, for an old-fashioned, midday steak-frites?. Most visitors to Montreal want a French bistro experience. When residents feel the same way (which is often enough), L’Express is their top choice.

The first inkling that this could be an ideal pairing came when L’Express opened in 1980. With its elegant interior, classic menu, and 11,000-bottle cellar, this is a bistro to make a Frenchman sigh with envy. Eventually, old-fashioned, Bordeaux-heavy wine lists gave way to small-production private imports all over the city.

One of the best places to enjoy a typical French meal in Montreal is L’Express. This brasserie has been an institution in Montreal for over 30 years. With seating options at a long wooden bar or in the checkered-floor dining room, and with opening hours until 2 am, it feels like something straight out of Paris.

Other notable locations in Montreal include the traditional L’express, which has a magnificent cellar, of which only certain wines appear at any time on the 4 pages it prints. This wine list, unlike most of the other ones, includes high-flying conventional varieties as well. We had an aged Matassa.

Beloved by Montréalers and visitors alike for its old-timey Parisian style, there’s almost always a wait for tables at L’Express. Main courses include the usual bistro fare, from pot-au-feu to duck confit, and the maple syrup pie is outstanding. (It’s possible that the globe lights,…

Danny, you gotta stop eating out said my bestie the other day, as we devoured the lovely Japanese coleslaw at l’Express. Often my go-to post workout lunch choice, l’Express is one of those spots where I love to date myself and, it is true that I take myself out on a lot of dates….

L’Express restaurant looks like an old brasserie type restaurant. Their classic ambiance is superb and can click lot of amazing pictures for your Instagram story. So, if you are fascinated about French cuisines then this is parfait and becomes the choice of local people.

L’Express is a classic bistro located on Saint-Denis Street in Montreal. This restaurant has been a favourite for many years, known for its decor and traditional cuisine. The menu includes all the French classics, like steak frites, escargots, and crème brûlée.

Here, Tony joins up again with Adam Gollner for classic bistro brasserie fare at L’express: steak and frites, bone marrow, and trout salad. How is he still eating?!. Sadly, L’express seems to have closed its doors since Tony enjoyed those delicious dishes.

Le restaurant L'Express est réputé pour son excellente cuisine française depuis plusieurs années. Il s'agit sans aucun doute d'un endroit où il est possible de déguster des mets délicieux et d'excellents tartares !. https://www.instagram.com/p/CAD8eAkgWVc/

Grab breakfast at French bistro L’Express and keep your eyes peeled for the cobblestone avenue Duluth and, farther north, avenue Marie Anne, Leonard Cohen’s old haunt. Explore a bit of the French side of avenue Mont-Royal before heading west and north.

L’Express’ pâté is a creamy and fluffy dish that is a must if you’re on the hunt for traditional French dishes. Served at one of Montreal’s most iconic restaurants, it’s a must-try. Even if you’re not into pâté, give this a shot to change your mind.

L’Express is forty-ish-year-old – an achievement for a Montreal restaurant – and a local institution. Almost nothing has changed inside over the years. The same thing for the people; clients here are mainly regular patrons.

The very accommodating L’Express is well known for welcoming children. Small colouring pencils are on loan, and it's a great place to introduce your little ones to succulent and simple French gastronomy.

Tu es tanné des endroits qui fourrent la viande de ton tartare avec tout plein de mayo?. Eh bien, ici ce n'est pas le cas. Au contraire, à ta surprise tu goûteras à un des meilleurs tartares à vie!

La célèbre institution L’Express (3927 rue Saint-Denis) et le Café Cherrier (3635 rue Saint-Denis, en face du square Saint-Louis) proposeront le tartare classique, savoureux et sans fioritures.

3927 Saint Denis StMontreal, Quebec H2W 2M4, Canada(514) 845-5333. L’Express, a classic Parisian bistro with checkered floors and a bar, has been serving exquisite meals since 1980.