Montreal, Canada (The Joy of Food) — There’s no where better to journey into a plate of grease for dinner than La Banquise, also known as Montreal’s poutine mecca. Open 24/7, this place is popular with daytime and nighttime crowds, a beacon of hope and refuge for the drunk, stoned, or all of the above.
La Banquise began as an ice cream parlor when it first opened in the 1960’s, thus the name which translates to “pack of ice.” The poutine element came in the 1980’s and was a hit, prompting them to expand their menu in the years that followed.
For the uninitiated, poutine is a calorific bed of crispy, salted fries tossed with pillowy, tender cheese curds, then smothered in rich brown gravy.
At La Banquise, more than 30 types of this sweet-salty-savory delicacy are available for feasting. If you’re a first-timer, you shouldn’t pass up the classic poutine, known as La Classique.
As you’d probably expect, a mix of hot, crispy, and salty fries topped with cheese and thick gravy can be very delicious. The cheese is rich and squeaks in between bites.
The gravy is a heavenly type of thick and offers a smoky aftertaste — a nice touch that sets La Banquise’s version apart from the pack. The trick is to keep the crispy texture of the fries intact despite the drenching of stuff on top.
If you’re not used to the sight of poutine-eating as a lunch or dinner ritual, it can be a little surreal, especially when there’s even more stuff like guacamole, hot peppers, and multiple varieties of sausage involved. A meal here is not for the faint of heart, or stomach.
If you must order a side-dish, the burgers run the gamut from small and simple to poutine-levels of outrageous. There’s also a little something called the Plato, a cleverly named mix of every single side dish on the menu that includes cheese sticks, mac ’n cheese bites, and cheese sauce. Glorious cheese, cheese, and more cheese.
Drinks for washing down all this artery-clogging goodness range from your standard sodas to a bevy of alcoholic choices, including a large menu of local microbrews. La Banquise’s own golden pilsner ale is a great choice.
The dining room itself is an acid trip of vividly colored walls and cactus and flower-themed table art. You’ll probably expect this once you see the outside, an equally psychedelic color combo of alternating bright orange and yellow stripes. This no doubt helps La Banquise get noticed and attract crowds year in and year out in the heart of what’s probably the world’s most competitive poutine scene.
Written by Joy
Thanks for reading. The Joy of Food blog celebrates eating well, traveling often, and living la dolce vita. San Diego, California is home base, but thoughts are from all over. Reviews and photos help to highlight wonderful (or not) food experiences from around the world.
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Good thing everybody has medical care in Canada. I think you would need it if you ate here everyday.
HA! Montreal truly has one of the richest food cultures in the world. I feel like I need to check myself into the hospital for an EKG after a trip there.
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I went to Montreal so I’m reminiscing. I thought the fries were just ok. I believe they use red potatoes so they don’t get as crispy as I like. The smoke meat was just average.
I think the best fries in Montreal was across the street at Ma Poule Mouille. So crispy and excellent. The chicken is to die for
Thanks for the tip I will try Ma Poule Mouillée next time around! Montreal is another of the world’s great food cities, though the food can be rich. I feel like I need to check myself into the hospital for an EKG after every meal lol.