AMAZING: Joe Beef In Montreal Restaurant Review

Food lovers dream of dining at Joe Beef in Montreal, Canada for a bucket list meal worthy of bragging rights for years to come. I dropped over $350 for dinner and I’m sharing my thoughts about every dish. Scroll down to learn about prices, menu options, and what to expect from your meal at the legendary Joe Beef. 

Joe Beef in Montreal: My Bucket List Restaurant

I am envious of the French Canadians for their polite demeanor, gracious hospitality, and easy access to Joe Beef in Montreal. I first learned about Joe Beef while watching Anthony Bourdain’s The Layover in Montreal, and witnessed the escapade of unbelievable food being served. 

Through other shows and videos, creations from the kitchen captured my attention. Foie EVERYWHERE, steaks smothered with sinister dark brown sauces and enough oysters to satisfy even the most savage of appetites. 

Since then, Joe Beef in Montreal won a top spot on my food bucket list without being unseated for years. Keep reading for my full food experience so you can have an amazing experience at Joe Beef for yourself. 

Joe Beef Menu and Prices

The main dining areas display the menu and daily specials on handwritten chalkboards all in French. The usual fare comes to the table printed on a plus sized sheet of paper with food on one side and their impressive wine list on the other. 

Prices range from $19- $125 for each dish and are designed for sharing with the whole table. Yes, expensive, but worth every penny. If you don’t know French, I am sure the waitstaff will go through in detail the menu and the specials. 

My Meal at Joe Beef in Montreal

With the food, service, and atmosphere, Joe Beef lands as one of my favorite meals of all time. The genius of David McMillan and Frederic Morin shined through every bite leaving me in a helpless food coma. Not only would I recommend Joe Beef to friends, but I would say it’s a necessity for foodists everywhere to experience the delicacies for themselves. 

Oysters from Quebec

I find no better way to start a meal than with oysters. Local Quebec oysters to be exact. We were given the choices of three different types and opted for these smaller sweeter oysters. Paired with the usual accouterments, we sucked these back with ease. 

Canadian Sturgeon Caviar

These briny pearls express a character of their own with a significantly different flavor from other caviars I’ve tried. The bread was a perfect pair, rounding out the flavors. Don’t be shy.

Seared Walleye with Champagne Butter Sauce

Perfect. Seriously perfect. The seared walleye flaked under the fork and ate with a satisfying crunch with every bite.

The oval item is a fish cake made with walleye and sea scallops blended together then seamed to form an airy texture then topped with Canadian caviar. What a great bite especially with the crispy walleye. 

The sauce was an emulsion of butter, magic, and cocaine that was velvety smooth with a sharp acidic bite from the champagne. Ok, maybe no cocaine, but it was so addictive! I used all my self-restraint to come just short of licking the plate. This was my wife’s favorite dish at Joe Beef. 

Steak au Poivre

What a classic french dish executed with such decadent precision. The steak was a seared strip cooked medium rare, sliced thin, and topped with a luxurious brown peppercorn gravy and dressed microgreens. 

Oh, that gravy haunts me. Uber savory, rich and salty, I could pour that in a mug and drink it.  

An expertly rendered layer of fat ran down the side of the steak, blending with the meat like a homogenous counterpart. Usually, my wife hates the texture of extra fat on meat, but with this steak, Joe Beef made it wonderful. 

I watched her gobble down more fatty steak than anywhere else before; a testament to proper cooking and high quality ingredients.

Fried Rice with Seared Foie and Egg

What a masterpiece. This is not Asian fried rice, so watch the expectations. Mixed in with the rice are snow peas, pork, duck hearts, sweetbreads, duck confit, then topped with seared foie and over easy egg all drizzled with a mysterious golden gravy. 

One of my favorite dishes of all time. 

Not only is fried rice the perfect side dish, but it also utilizes often overlooked offal meats. Nose-to-tail cooking became a passion of mine over the years, and when cooked correctly, these underutilized proteins elevate a dish to new levels. 

This fried rice does just that, with all the chopped bits of meat mixed together. By themselves, they taste wonderful, and mixing in the foie, egg, and gravy takes the flavor profile over the top. Hopefully when you visit, Joe Beef will still have this amazing special on the menu. 

Mashed Potatoes With Bone Marrow

I found the gold standard of mashed potatoes. Not only are these delicious with a rich Bordelaise red wine sauce, but a hunk of bone marrow sits in the center waiting to be swirled into the mix.

The bone marrow adds an unctuousness with a delicate beefy aftertaste. Why don’t all mashed potatoes include bone marrow?

Baked Alaska with Chestnut Ice Cream 

For dessert, we shared the Baked Alaska which was set aflame at the table. Vanilla cream sat directly under the meringue with a thick layer of chestnut ice cream resting on a thin layer of cake. 

This was my first Baked Alaska, and I was happy with the result. Creamy, nutty, and all around delicious. 

How To Book Reservations For Joe Beef

Currently, reservations are booked solely on Resy, and reservations open a month in advance. Due to Joe Beef’s reputation, getting reservations can be tough. I booked mine a full one month in advance on the exact day I wanted to eat there. Be ready because spots go fast! 

Plan ahead, or for last minute plans, check Resy a day before to see if slots opened for the following night. I’ve personally seen canceled reservations open up on Resy, so count yourself lucky if you snag a last minute spot. 

If all else fails, try calling Joe Beef, give them your information and request any time available. I’ve read the successful attempts from food lovers squeezing into dinner this way, but I wouldn’t leave my hunger up to chance.

A Brief History of Joe Beef

Joe Beef first opened in 2005 in Montreal, Quebec by owners David McMillan, Frederic Morin, and Allison Cunningham. The beloved restaurant pays homage to Charles “Joe Beef” McKiernan, an ex quartermaster for the British Army, whose resourceful nature prompted the nickname for always finding meat and provisions during times of low supply. 

Through the years, Joe Beef and its owners appeared on Anthony Bourdain’s shows on The Layover and Parts Unknown in Quebec and gained a reputation as a chef’s spot in Montreal.

Joe Rogan proclaimed on his podcast, The Joe Rogan Experience, that Joe Beef is his “all time favorite restaurant.” With notable chefs like David Chang raving about the place, Joe Beef became the most notable and popular restaurant in Montreal.

On November 25th, 2021, co-founder David McMillan, announced his retirement from the restaurant business, keeping his time away from the stressful grind to focus on family. McMillan’s return to the restaurant industry is uncertain, but if he ever opens another restaurant, count me first in line.  

Where is Joe Beef Located?

Joe beef is located in Montreal’s Little Burgundy neighborhood in Quebec, Canada. 

2491 Notre-Dame St W, Montreal, Quebec H3J 1N6, Canada

Food and Service Overview at Joe Beef

Joe Beef’s reputation of exquisite, decadent food and superb wines only scratches the surface of what to expect.  The chefs pride themselves on making everything in house, serving creations that they, themselves, love to eat. 

The Atmosphere and Dress Code at Joe Beef

Casually quirky comes to mind when entering Joe Beef. The furnishings and interior remind me of a neighborhood tavern with a dark wood bar, a large wooden salmon hanging over the doorway, and an obscenely large stuffed buffalo head in the bathroom. 

Although the cuisine is reminiscent of fine dining, Joe Beef’s atmosphere is comfortable with diners wearing anything from t-shirts to button downs with a tie. 

To my knowledge, the restaurant lacks a specific dress code, but I wouldn’t wear shorts or flip flops. It’s still a nice dining establishment. 

The Super Friendly Canadian Service

The service was impeccable with my waitress diligently translating into English the standard menu and chalkboard menu with the daily specials. She made recommendations, described preparations, and reaffirmed my choices.

I picked her brain about the different ingredients, and what to expect from certain dishes. With unwavering patience for a busy server, she stood by us until I exhausted my questions. 

I received checkups by the waitstaff, with frequent changes in plates and cutlery. Empty glasses were promptly refilled, and our waitress always gave a new wine recommendation with the courses. Fine dining service in a relaxed setting. What’s not to love?

What Food is Joe Beef Known For?

Think of Joe Beef as an overly decadent, contemporary, french style bistro with unusual twists along the way.

The owners describe their cooking as French market cuisine, with the menu changing daily based on seasonality and availability at the local markets. 

Yes, they serve French classics like steak au poivre, fries, and oysters, but they unapologetically dish out horse tartar and braised rabbit. A healthy focus goes into the lesser cuts of meat like hearts, kidneys, bone marrow, and liver, which for me was particularly exciting. 

What Are Joe Beef’s Sister Restaurants In Montreal?

Liverpool House
2501 Notre-Dame St W, Montreal, Quebec H3J 1N6, Canada
Fresh seafood, french classics and nightly specials.

McKiernan
5524 Rue Saint-Patrick #200, Montréal, QC H4E 1A8, Canada
Super casual serving up rotisserie chicken, sandwiches and brioche donuts with a prime rib roast on the weekends. 

Vin Papillon
2519 Notre-Dame St W, Montreal, Quebec H3J 1N4, Canada
Wine bar with farm fresh fare.