Schwartz’s
GO HERE: for a taste of Montreal’s best smoked meat sandwich. Schwartz’s has a cult following for a reason.
ORDER THE: smoked meat sandwich, duh. It’s Canada’s answer to pastrami: the meat is piled high, slicked with deli mustard and nothing else, and served on untoasted rye. It’s out of this world. Order a side of pickles and coleslaw to balance out all that meaty richness and call it a day. Sure, there are other items on the menu, but 95 percent of the people here are getting the sandwich (in other words, skip the poutine).
WORD TO THE WISE: The lines are INSANE, wrapping around the block even when it’s minus-10 degrees outside. Your best bet is to go off-hours between the lunch and dinner rush, or order a sandwich to-go from the adjacent take-out shop. The food will taste the same, but you won’t get the full experience.
THE VIBE: is old-school, a turn-and-burn deli counter. It’s been around since 1928 and the decor hasn’t changed since (menus plastered on the walls, paper placemats).
PRACTICAL STUFF: Open every day: Sunday to Thursday 8 a.m. to 12:30 a.m., Friday 8 a.m. to 1:30 a.m., and Saturday 8 a.m. to 2:30 a.m.
—Molly Baz
