I’m a huge foodie and when I travel, I love to try as many different foods as possible. Although I usually try to find local recommendations, I’m always intrigued by a destination’s viral foods. Are they overhyped tourist traps or are they famous because they’re actually great places to eat?
The only way to find out during my recent trip to Canada’s foodie city, Montreal, was to eat all the viral foods recommended by travel blogs, social media and Reddit to find out if they are worth the hype or overhyped.
Poutine from La Banquise
Although the best poutine in Canada can be found in more rural Quebec (where it originated), Montreal has some top tier options for poutine. Other recommended venues include Poutineville or Chez Claudette, but I had to try the most hyped restaurant, La Banquise. It’s a long queue to get in and very bright and noisy when you’re inside, but the portions are huge, the prices are decent, and the poutine is heavily loaded with toppings.
You can’t really go wrong with the original fries, cheese and gravy combo. I was less enthralled with the other options; for example, instead of ground beef, guac, sour cream and salsa on top of fries, I’d prefer nachos instead. But I’ll be dreaming about the classic poutine for years to come.
Worth the hype or overhyped? Worth the hype
Bagels from St-Viateur Bagel or Fairmount Bagel
If you’re wondering what the difference is between a Montreal bagel and a New York bagel, Montreal bagels are smaller, less doughy and sweeter (they are cooked in honey-sweetened water). They are typically served plain or with a side of cream cheese, rather than stuffed with sandwich toppings. Though I still prefer the savoury flavour of a New York bagel, I did enjoy the Montreal bagel.
Normally, I prefer a toasted bagel, but the crunchy outside and warm, soft inside of a Montreal bagel works so well, I could eat it fresh. They’re not as filling as a New York bagel, so don’t count on having one as a full meal, but they make an affordable snack (a plain bagel is only around $1.30). I didn’t have a preference between the two famous bagel shops, St-Viateur or Fairmount; since they’re so cheap, you may as well get one of each!
Worth the hype or overhyped? Worth the hype
Smoked meat from Schwartz’s Deli
I could’ve lived without trying this one. Perhaps it tastes better in its iconic sandwich form but, as I don’t like mustard or pickles, I got the smoked meat poutine. It was just fine; not terrible but nothing to write home about! The main flavour profile from the meat was salt rather than smoke, and I’m not sure it tasted different to other briskets I’ve had. Maybe I’m just not a big fan of meat, because I’ve also never cared for Ontario’s peameal bacon (however, I do love Texas BBQ). Anyway, if you plan on going to Schwartz’s, a pro tip is get the food to go to skip the line for dining in and order straight at the counter.
Worth the hype or overhyped? Overhyped
Italian coffee and pastries from Cafe Olimpico
Cafe Olimpico has been a neighbourhood institution since the 1970s, serving traditional Italian pastries and coffees. Unfortunately, I left feeling disappointed. The viral pistachio bombolone was kept in an open cabinet covered in flies, so I didn’t try it. The first bite of cafe crema (coffee ice cream) was delicious but quickly became sickly. The cannoli didn’t have enough filling-to-shell ratio and was dry. The tiramisu was like a cream cake with no coffee flavour.
Plus, the atmosphere wasn’t relaxing. The indoor area is loud and crowded (the queue snakes around the tables, so you have to stand on top of other patrons). The outdoor area had such a bad smell, I had to take my order to go. The staff were doing their best to clear the long lines but, as a result, the service was rushed and abrupt. In a city where you’re spoiled for choice with good cafes, I’d give this a miss.
Worth the hype or overhyped? Overhyped
Freddo cap from Alphabet Cafe
Admittedly, I had low expectations for Alphabet Cafe’s freddo cap (espresso topped with frothy, cold milk). FYI, they also do a freddo matcha if coffee isn’t your thing. I’m an annoying coffee snob and I was worried this would be a weak gimmick, created more for Instagram than for your taste buds. But I was pleasantly surprised to find the coffee actually tasted like coffee and there wasn’t too much foam. The topping had a hint of sweetness but nothing overpowering. A genuinely pleasant drink and I enjoyed the overall experience (the staff were kind and more welcoming of my poor French skills than many of the other places I’ve been). Goes especially well with Bernie beignets from over the road!
Worth the hype or overhyped? Worth the hype
Donuts from Bernie Beigne
I’m a huge dessert fan and take my donuts very seriously. Luckily, the long queue for Bernie Beigne moves quickly and the donuts are made and dipped fresh in front of you. In an ideal world, I’d have tried their bestseller, the apple fritter, but even I can’t justify a donut the size of my head for one person.
I picked the classic glazed because I was worried the other donuts would be too sweet. The classic donut was soft, light and evenly coated with a thin layer of the glaze. If there had been more glaze, I suspect it would be unbearably sweet. I’d say the classic glazed lived up to the hype but if I’d chosen a different flavour with more icing, perhaps I wouldn’t have rated it as highly.
Worth the hype or overhyped? Worth the hype
Gnocchi from Drogheria Fine
It’s a simple concept: a takeout window serving only one dish (gnocchi in tomato sauce) for $5. You can customise it by adding cheese and/or chilli flakes, but that’s it. It’s hard to be too critical when you’re getting a meal for $5 in a major city. However, putting the cost to one side, I didn’t enjoy the gnocchi. The sauce tasted cheap and like something I could make at home (and I’m not a good cook…). I ended up wiping the sauce off the gnocchi to make it more palatable.
Also, they lose points for serving steaming hot gnocchi in a cardboard tub with no insulation. It’s difficult to hold and eat without melting the skin off your hands! If you need a cheap solution for dinner, it’s probably worth checking out, but don’t expect much taste-wise. FYI, Drogheria Fine is located next door to Kem Coba (more on them below) so you can tick off two viral foods in one visit.
Worth the hype or overhyped? Overhyped
Ice cream from Kem Coba
Soft serve swirls are a big thing in Montreal; many ice cream shops have one or two flavours that rotate on a weekly or bi-weekly basis. I’m surprised that Kem Coba has become as famous as it has. Though the swirl I had here tasted nice, it wasn’t different to the other ice cream swirls I tried throughout my time in Montreal. The main difference between Kem Coba and other similar shops is Kem Coba only accepts cash!
If you try Kem Coba, I doubt you’ll be disappointed with the flavours of the ice cream. But there’s no real point in prioritising this shop; you can walk one street over and get a similar swirl at Iconoglace, where you can pay by card, have a bigger choice of cup sizes and swirl flavours, and sit down in an air conditioned room…
Worth the hype or overhyped? Overhyped
What non-viral foods are worth trying?
Finally, here are some of my other recommendations for things to eat in Montreal that aren’t viral, but they should be:
- French pastries from just about any cafe or boulangerie, but a special shout out to Le Toledo for the best chocolatine aux amandes I’ve ever had!
- Dumplings from Sammi and Soupe Dumpling or Yum Yum Soupe Dumpling
- Soft serve swirls from Iconoglace
- Ramen from Tsukuyomi Ramen
- Thai from Pumpui
- Pizza from anywhere in Little Italy (or for a cheap and cheerful slice on the go, Slice and Soda)
- Pierogi from Pierogi Lili
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