Schwartz Deli and Montreal Smoked Meat Review

Schwartz Deli is a world famous deli, famous for Montreal smoked meat and it has been a staple in Montreal since 1928.  When you go to Montreal, you are told you must go to Schwartz and try the Montreal smoked meat.  Is Schwartz that good?  Is it a must go? 

Montreal-style smoked meat is made from dry curing and then smoking a whole beef brisket.  Montreal smoked meat is known for its flavour and the incredible tendernous when you bite down on it.  It is usually ate as a sandwich but can be served on poutine too.

There’s no question that there is a lot of history behind Schwartz and it is a landmark in Montreal.  Schwartz is in Plateau neighborhood, so when you go there, take the metro, stroll through the charming streets and then finally arrive at Schwartz.  When you arrive, the iconic orange, white and black stands out, as does the massive line down the street.  When you finally make it inside, the smell of smoked meat, the atmosphere, the original interior design and old pictures stand out as well.  One of the biggest draws for me is the atmosphere and original décor.

The smoked meat is juicy and succulent and has an excellent flavor.  The fries are good too.  But keep in mind, you are eating a sandwich with relatively few ingredients.  The bread is fresh but it's just basic rye bread. I've been almost every time i've been in Montreal, but this past visit I really appreciated the simplicity of the sandwich.  The mustard and the flavourful smoked meat really packed a punch and the sandwich was mouth watering. The pickles are pretty good, but if you have a good recipe and the ingredients you can make a dill pickle that holds up to the standards of Schwartz.  

Overall, the food is good… but the past few times I was overwhelmed.  This time I can't say that because it tasted excellent and we tried a few new different dishes including steak, which was flavourful and the smoked meat poutine.   All in all though, you can get smoked meat across Montreal, but for me the atmosphere is the main draw to Schwartz.  Plus, if you’re in Montreal you’ll probably want to explore Plateau so while doing so, make some time to stand in line for a while and try the Schwartz Montreal smoked meat sandwich.  The price is reasonable too, especially for such a touristy place.  It isn't cheap, but its a reasonable price compared to everywhere else across Montreal.  And if you think you can try it elsewhere, think again, there have been numerous attempts to franchise Schwartz, but to no avail.  The owners have refused.  And even if you’re low on time and want to avoid the crowds, they offer takeout next  door.