Best Steak Place In Montreal

[glaze]

Message

[kpzoo]

Montreal's not known for its steakhouses, so if you're here from out of town you may want to consider bypassing the steakhouse - which other cities do much better - and instead go for something Montreal does really well. (And we are known for *many* other culinary goodnesses, just poke around the board and you'll find a wealth of options.)

Nonetheless, check out these threads and decide for yourself:

Classic Montreal Steakhouse
http://www.chowhound.com/topics/480343

Steakhouse in Montreal?
http://www.chowhound.com/topics/422087

Restaurant Steak Frites Paul
http://www.chowhound.com/topics/512293

Moishes Steak Oy
http://www.chowhound.com/topics/525585

Restaurant Steak Frites? YoYo's?
http://www.chowhound.com/topics/524620

Good luck!

[BLM]

Which other cities in Canada do better steak than Montreal, besides probably Toronto? You can't get US Prime almost anywhere in Alberta except the one Ruth's Chris Steakhouse in Edmonton, & apparently they recently opened a location in Calgary. Even in Alberta, it's almost impossible to find Canada Prime grade beef. If the person is from the US, where can he/she find very good Canadian beef anywhere in the US(I don't know any(not even one) of the top steakhouses in US serving Canadian beef)?

[cherylmtl]

I don't think Canada in general is known for steakhouses. That's something the US does have over us. And the OP is from Arizona, as he said in another post - I have no doubt there are many decent steakhouses there, but most in Montreal would probably disappoint.

[afoodyear]

Wasn't Moishe's recently rated one of the top steakhouses in the world by Fodor's or something? Isn't Queue de Cheval pretty popular as well? Steakhouses aren't really my thing, but... somebody likes them for a reason, I suppose!

[BLM]

Yes Moishe's was rated top 10 in the world, but it was by Forbes.com, but I could take it or leave it with Forbes(they're constant publicity hounds, with cover stories on the top 100 richest entertainers;top 100 richest athletes;& so on). All the top chefs in the US, are opening steakhouses(even French chefs).

[rcianci]

Yeah, Forbes also rated Queue one of the ten most expensive restaurants in the world. I don't recall them claiming it was good. :)

[mrbozo]

Ah yes, "Welcome to the Beef 'n Buck".

[BLM]

IMO, a draw to 'some' Americans coming here is Canadian beef, in particular Alberta beef. While in rest of Canada, it might be US Prime beef(unless they're from Vancouver or Toronto).

[cherylmtl]

Unfortunately, as you noted, we can't get it at most steakhouses here :-(

[Venusia]

But why would we want it? The Alberta beef industry is majority owned and controlled by American meatpackers, fattened in the same type of unsanitary feedlots and processed at a too-fast pace in the same huge plants.

Actually, I'd like to know if there are any steakhouses here that do not offer Cargill or Tyson beef, or that know exactly where the meat comes from and how it was raised. I know high end restaurants (not steakhouses) like Laloux and Lemeac list the farm their meat comes from on their menus; APDC doesn't even offer beef b/c of the issues associated with its production.

[danodanilo]

Hahah... sounds like you have yet to take a tour of the West...

[DoctorPINK]

Someone can you try "Les Serres Manhattan Steak House" in Laval
Never been to moishe nor Queue de Cheval.

but the "PRIME STEAK" over there was awesome!! 24$ "Prime" STEAK

[davidfine]

This list is totally incomplete and not that great. Moishes is great, indeed, but here are my two suggestions:

Mortys Steakhouse
www.mortys.ca
it's Kosher, but don't let that scare you.

Rib N Reef

www.ribnreef.com

[MISTER_C]

Rib'n'Reef is a total ripoff. Average quality steak (at best) at Moishe's prices. I wouldn't eat here again unless YOU were paying!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Morty's is good if you are restricted to eating in Kosher restaurants....nothing special if you have a wider choice

[porker]

I agree with you MISTER_C; Morty's isn't necessarily bad.
We first tried it last year and really looked forward to it. It was a let down...like I say, not bad, but nothing special.

I ate a steak at La Cabane Portuguese this past weekend. It was very good.
OK, not a masterpiece of dry-aged, hand-rubbed, Japanese-beer fed, heirloom beef, but a nice ribsteak grilled to a proper rare at a good price!

Rib&Reef - kinda like Moishes, a bit too old-school and stuffy

[MISTER_C]

I am amending my own post here. I had a rotten experience the last time I ate at Morty's (last week). The server was extremely rude and hostile and when I told her I wanted to speak to the manager, she arrogantly informed me that SHE was the manager (the owner's daughter). I will never eat here again!!!!!!

[porker]

I'm always frustrated in my quest for good steak in Montreal. I'm guessing that many people might think of Montreal as a steak destination because of the "Montreal Steak Spice" thing

[mrbozo]

Well, traditionally spice has been used to cover up ...

Seriously though, French/Québecois culture has never really been big on steak (on beef dishes certainly yes). Steak frites was fast food when food was slow. Consumption of massive slabs of beef tends to be an American/Albertan/Australian/Brazilian kind of behaviour, where the thickness of the steak metaphorically stands in for the thickness of the wallet (whether or not that is in actual fact the case).

But pork, birds of a feather, and seafood ...

[MISTER_C]

Best steakhouse IMHO is Moishe's

Best steak for the money.....$23 "baseball" steak at the Keg

Worst steak for the money......$43 Ribeye steak I had the misfortune of having at Rib'n'Reef. The $23 baseball steak I had at Keg was much much better at half the price.

[StellasDad]

I haven't been to Moishe's but I have been to Le Biftheque on Cote De Liesse and they always have me going back for more. Prime rib is very tender but pricey, but it money well spent.

[MISTER_C]

I have never eaten at Queue de Cheval/heard too many people tell me it is overpriced and not as good as Moishe's. Ate at Westt 40 and thought it was overpriced there too.

Biftheque offers pretty good value when rib or sirloin steaks come up on special.....otherwise pretty much fair value, no better. Prime Rib is pretty much fair value for what you get.

[porker]

I *wanna* like Le Biftheqe as we used to go quite often, it was THE place we'd eat steak. Problem is after two consecutive heavy dissapointments we decided to give it one last try. Three strikes and we haven't been back...

[moh]

Hey Mister_C, you are rapidly becoming the steak expert on the board!

Just out of curiosity, where do you place Queue de Cheval in your pantheon of steak places?

I must admit, I didn't have a bad experience at Rib 'n' Reef, but then again, I've only been once. Good to hear you can get a good quality steak for cheaper at the Keg.

[mrbozo]

I have found the Keg (founded in Vancouver) to be very reliable across the country (heck, they have the cojones and product to operate in Arizona, Colorado and Texas). http://en.kegsteakhouse.com/home

[kpzoo]

My Australian pal who lived in Mtl for over a year found The Keg's Old Mtl location the only place in town that remotely met his high Aussie steak standards. This was after trying half a dozen other places and being despondent at how unacceptable they were. He happily went back to the Keg again and again, and loved it enough to hold his 25th birthday blowout there. (Mind you, I don't think he ever tried either Moishes or QdeC. As for me, I had fish on my one visit, so I can't comment first-hand.)

[BLM]

Their new PVM location seems pretty fancy. BTW, do you know if I can order from their dinner menu at lunch time(the baseball sirloin cut is only on their dinner menu)?

[westaust]

I love Queue de Cheval, i’ve always had an excellent meal, steaks tender, perfectly cooked, good marbling, however it is expensive, if not overpriced. Although, their pricing was definitly in line with what you would have paid at Morton’s or any other steakhouse of that kind in the US when the exchange rate was more favorable for the US. (Don’t get me started on their 125$ offering of Kobe beef Sirloin)

The Keg on the other hand offers a reliable steak at a good price, i’m also a fan of their baseball cut, which is the best value for the money.

Another place to mention, is Auroch in Brossard (Quartier Dix30) yes i know it’s a suburb place, but great steaks, I had a great entrecote, perfectly cooked, tender, again good marbling, with steak spices and beurre maitre d’hotel

[Tzenaki]

I got a gift certificate to there for Christmas so we sucked it up and drove out to 10-30 (Lavaler here!) My husband and I were more than disappointed with the steak here. Everything was over cooked and just wasn`t presented well. I would not recommend this place to a serious steak eater.

My choice for a steak house in the Montreal area is going to be 40 West. I`ve eaten at all of the `go to` places and it really does top the list for me.

Queue de Cheval IS over priced. I hated how I asked the waiter for my steak to be cooked to MY preference and I was told ``Oh our chef will not cook it like that, it only comes medium``. I can understand the waiter stressing how the chef doesn`t recommend cooking the steak past medium because it loses tenderness, loses juice etc but to be told that I CANNOT have a steak to my liking...Get out of here!

I didn`t like Moishes. I think part of the appeal to it is how long its been around and the fact that it is a landmark. I didn`t find the food to be anything special, neither was the food or the service.

The Keg is pretty good. Reasonably priced, good food, but not my favorite place. I have nothing bad to say about this place other than its just not my first thought when I think of a steak house.

I just really like 40 West. I would recommend getting the Aliki Village Salad (and ask to make sure it comes with the croutons!), grilled octopus, lobster bisque, filet mignon OR veal chop, and of course the chocolate souffle. I know this is a steak thread but I do NOT recommend their Chilean Sea Bass. It`s the worst I`ve ever had in Montreal...

[meinNYC]

Moishe's is tolerable. Steak was full of gristle. Sides were limp french fries and undercooked potato vareneke. Queque de Cheval was much worse. Noisy, overpriced and very mediocre food for the money. Go to Au Pied the Cochon order the bison steak with frites. If you're still hungry order another steak. You'll much happier.

[mzalce]

Does anybody know if there is a good argentinian restaurant in Montreal? No nation does steak better than them.

I have been living in Montreal for 8 years now, and frankly, I just haven't find a good price-value steak meal here. For steak-house craving I prefer to wait and visit an argentinian restaurant in my annual mexican vacation.

[TheSnowpea]

I don't know about Argentinian, but there is a Brazilian churrascaria, Le Milsa (www.lemilsa.com, warning: stupid flash-only site)

[duckiedmud]

How about schwartz, it has very good steaks with fries and pickles, no liquor though.

[harry in montreal]

I like the rib steak at Schwartz's very much. Queue is the best because its dry-aged. i like that - kindof unusual for Montreal. Here are some enjoyable and good steaks:

-flank steak frites at The Taverne on Monkland and L'Avenue on Mt Royal

H

[davidfine]

Schwartz is not that great, they're better with their Smoked Meat. I think my order of preference is as follows:

1. 40 Westt
2. Mortys
3. Moishes
4. Queue de cheval
5. RibNReef

[HappyMtl]

For an inexpensive steak, Schwartz’s is not bad at all. Love their antique charcoal grill. Also, like the little side of liver and sausage that comes with it.

[BLM]

Their antique charcoal grill became history several years ago.

[HappyMtl]

Do they still use real charcoal?

[BLM]

Last I checked 'No.'

[duckdown]

Too trendy to hate on Queue de Cheval. Their steaks are dry aged and delicious, to say their food is bad is to say dry aged beef is bad. In which case, you are an idiot :)

[BLM]

Which restaurants in Montreal dry-age their beef? I'm aware of Queue de Cheval, Cava & 40 Westt.

[thomasein]

Chez Ma Grosse Truie Chérie dry-ages their beef as well. In fact, they plan to open an adjoining room in their complex modeled as a steak house.

[BLM]

Any idea of their beef supplier? Their beef is Triple A Angus apparently.

[meinNYC]

What matters if their beef is dry aged?It is way overpriced and the place is so loud that your head rattles. Drive down to NYC if you're desperate for some good beef.

[BLM]

For their other meats(like pork), they list their suppliers on their menu(from checking their website). Otherwise I wouldn't ask.

[thomasein]

I didn't find the place so loud. As for the price it is about average and certainly less than similar Montreal and NYC steakhouses.

[thomasein]

I don't know the source of their beef. I know that they have a strong preference for local sources, but I suspect this might not possible in this case.

[chap25]

For all the peole that like dry aged beef. You can now get some at a new butcher in Rosemont.
http://www.marchanddubourg.com/
Marchand du Bourg is selling 40 days aged steak. But you have to place a reservation for it because the demand is high

[celfie]

Mechant Boeuf is one of the few places in town with a bone in filet. It's definitely worth trying.

also burger de ville has a surprisingly tasty steak

[lilymex]

I was at Queue de Cheval last summer for the first delicious time and just returned again for the best steak ever and the shrimp were delish too.

[kpaxonite]

I`ve been it was pretty good but would never return again knowing who the owner (and what a .... he is).

[Tzenaki]

If I`m not mistaken isn`t 40 West also owned by the same person. Who also owns Trinity.... Oddly enough the ONLY place of his that I am fond of is 40 West.

(BTW I totally know what a question mark is but my keyboard turned french on me and my question mark key is now É so I`d rather not type it!)

[porker]

...and Moe's Deli and Bentley's (since sold) and Eggspectations (sold) and Weinsteinn & Gavinos (sold) and Tsirco (sold, turned Decca 77), and Montreal Bread Company, and Pois Penche.
BTW, he doesn't own 40 Westt (sold to family)...

[lilymex]

kpaxonite - I just was there during the Grand Prix and I Really enjoyed my dinners regardless of the owner history ( I rather not know )