Excellent quality of bagels. We got bagel with lox…read more Fresh and tasty. Very recommended

I am a carb enthusiast so of course I had to try a real Montreal bagel. As an American who has…read moreaccess to good New York style bagels, I was unfortunately not impressed. Like it's a good bagel, but nothing I was super excited about. I did love the amount of sesame seeds on this thing, being able to see the bagels coming right out of the oven, and the service. But the biggest highlight of my visit was seeing how many options for cream cheese and toppings there were inside for purchase. Like so many cream cheeses it was beautiful. We got a garlic and chive one and it was soooo good, def carried the bagel.

I am no bagel connoisseur, but even I know the ongoing battle that exists between two institutions,…read moreSt-Viateur and this equally famous purveyor, for the title of Montreal's Best Bagel. Jamie W and I didn't waste any time trying this one. It was a bus ride away from our hotel, and we were anticipating a long line when we arrived in the morning. Surprisingly there was a queue but not for Fairmount. It was for the obviously popular gnocchi next door at Drogheria Fine. Lucky for us we walked right in and didn't really have a chance to think about our order. The no-nonsense order takers were not up for chit-chat, so we impulsively decided on two C$1.40 Sesame and one C$1.50 Cinnamon & Raisin (Photo 8) plus a couple of C$0.80 mini-packets of Philadelphia cream cheese. There wasn't much to our interaction, so we took our haul across Boulevard Saint-Laurent to Parc Saint-Michel where we found an open picnic table. We immediately noticed how much softer they were than the ones we were used to. They were also a bit smaller which we didn't mind at all. The sesame bagels were nicely aerated, and the cinnamon and raisin one had a sweetness beyond the raisins. It turned out the cream cheese was somewhat superfluous, even though we ordered it more out of habit. As it turned out, we did end up trying a bagel from St-Viateur later that day, and I'm here to report that we are Team Fairmount. There wasn't a huge difference between the two, and St-Viateur has the advantage of showing how they make their bagels, but flavorwise, Fairmount has the slight edge. FOOD - 5 stars...chewy, sweeter, and nicely aerated AMBIANCE - 4 stars...small shop set up for takeout SERVICE - 4 stars...very much all-business, fast transaction TOTAL - 5 stars...Montrèal's best bagel?...could be RELATED - Exploring Montreal? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://yelp.to/jmMWXoPbnE

This may get my New Yorker card revoked but ... Montreal Bagels are better than New York Bagels…read more There, I said it. That is strictly based on preference ... If you're preference leans towards less carbs, more flavor, welcome to the Montreal Bagel Lovers - NYC Chapter. Fairmont was the most pleasant mistake I've made recently. I thought the line was for gnocchi but instead I ended up with the best bagels I've had in years. The bagels are fresh and packed with flavor. The Pina Colada bagel is life changing. The wait is well worth it and I highly recommend that Fairmont be your first stop in Montreal during your visit.

I'm a huge fan of Somebody Feed Phil, and after watching Phil rave about St-Viateur Bagel Café--and…read moreeven do his signature happy dance over the bagels--I knew I had to try it for myself. I've eaten bagels my entire life and honestly never thought they were anything that special. But when we had the chance to visit Montreal, this was one of the first places on our list. When we arrived, there was a long line, and we waited about 35 minutes. Normally, that would make me question whether it's worth it, but this time it absolutely was. I ordered the smoked salmon with fig jam on an everything bagel, and it was incredible. The bagel was perfectly fresh, with a chewy interior and just the right amount of crispness on the outside. Combined with the smoked salmon and the sweetness of the fig jam, it was one of the best bagel sandwiches I've ever had. I rarely say this, but it was 100% worth the wait. My only disappointment is that I didn't have enough time to try their famous competitor so I could compare the two. I guess that just gives me another reason to come back to Montreal!

Apparently you cannot come to Montreal without visiting St-Viateur Bagel…read more We tried on Monday. There was a line. A very long line. Mom looked at the line. Dad looked at the line. I looked at Mom and Dad. We left. But Mom does not give up easily when carbohydrates are involved, so we returned on Friday and successfully secured a table on the street patio. Much better. The patio is right out front and turned out to be an excellent place for me to sit with Mom and watch Mile End go by. You go inside to order and pay first, then they bring everything out to your table. Very convenient because when you're finished, you can simply get up and continue your adventures. Mom ordered the Traditional bagel with smoked salmon, cream cheese, tomato, onion and capers. It also arrived with two tiny slices of melon, which I assume constitutes dessert in the bagel industry. Dad ordered two plain bagels with butter. Please study the accompanying photograph carefully. You will see Dad actively eating a bagel while I sit approximately 18 inches away staring directly at the table. This was not an accidental composition. This was a cry for help. Mom had an iced coffee and Dad had a Diet Coke. The humans agreed the bagels were worth coming back for, and I have to admit the entire operation is pretty fun -- busy, casual and very Montreal. From a dog perspective, the outdoor patio works well and I was perfectly happy hanging out with the humans. However, no water bowl was offered during our visit. Dogba's verdict: 3 paws out of 5. Famous Montreal bagels: worth the return trip Street patio: excellent People watching: first-rate Mom's Traditional: very popular with Mom Dad's two buttered bagels: ambitious Iced coffee break: Mom approved Two tiny pieces of melon: apparently dessert Dogba's bagel allocation: suspiciously low Proof Dad ate directly in front of me: documented Would I return? Absolutely. It's a classic Montreal stop, the patio made it easy for me to join the humans, and I take my responsibility to investigate iconic local foods very seriously. Next time, however, I will be monitoring Dad's second bagel much more closely.

This classic bagel chain business is locked in a decades-long battle with Fairmount Bagel. Perhaps…read moreit's like "Heated Rivalry" where they present themselves as public arch-enemies in the fiercely competitive world of bagel making while conducting a clandestine affair behind the ovens. OK, maybe I'm just speculating, but the rivalry story worked on Jamie W and me. It wasn't even an hour after eating the Fairmount bagels that we found ourselves here. If I was to judge the two competitive shops on optics and friendliness, St-Viateur would win hands down. The moment we opened the front door, we were dumbstruck by the sea of freshly baked bagels laid out to be picked up by the cashier. Behind the bagels, a couple of the more seasoned staff were taking bagels out of the huge brick oven (Photo 5). None of that was visible at Fairmount nor was a smile. Here the cashier was really friendly. He also happily accepted a credit card for payment. In a way, it wasn't a fair fight because we bought three bagels at Fairmount and had room for just one from here. We chose the C$1.50 Maple Apple Bagel (Photo 7) and noticed it had a slightly crunchier crust than the similar Cinnamon and Raisin from Fairmount. It was also not quite as sweet, but then we didn't bother getting cream cheese. We slightly favored Fairmount, but it was close to a dead heat. FOOD - 5 stars...I favor Fairmount slightly, but this one was very good, too AMBIANCE - 5 stars...exposure to the vintage bagel making process makes this more unique SERVICE - 4.5 stars...really friendly here TOTAL - 5 stars...the "Heated Rivalry" of bagels, right? CORRESPONDING REVIEW Fairmount Bagel: https://yelp.to/n11Ufv8rER RELATED - Exploring Montreal? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://yelp.to/f2zPmmAzV5

I love St-Viateur bagels. They are one of the most famous bagel places in Montreal. The…read morecompetition is Fairmount, which I have not yet tried, but because I like St Viateur so much, I have had no need to check out the competition. I went in and got a few bagels to go. Some of the ones I got were still warm in the paper bag I received....and many of these bagels are only about $1.50 CDN. What a steal. I got a few flavors, Everything, Cinnamon Raisin and Blueberry. Check out their factory and get some bagels to go.....they sell cream cheese and other spreads on site.

Stopped in for a quick dinner when I was in town, since I'd been told not to miss some smoked meat…read morewhile in Montreal! Located on a very busy street, there isn't much easy parking, but you might get lucky with nearby street parking. There was a bit of a line to get a table on Saturday night, but it moved super quickly. Staff were friendly, although pretty slammed, with the volume of customers. The interior of the space is fairly typical of a deli, with some tables and a bar top available for small to medium groups. A small and straightforward menu make it easy to pick something. I got the sandwich with fries and pickles. Everything was absolutely delish and I can see what all the hype was about. Tender, flavorful meat stacked on bread with just a little mustard. Perfection!

Jewish deli sammies. Arrive hungry bc it's a good size…read moresammie. +. Ambiance is cramped tourist packed Montreal's Jewish deli like 2nd ave and Katz's. Everything is a bit smaller here ( DR, menu etc). The line snaked around for about 30 minutes depending on the size of your party. ++. Food-wise, theirs' are smoked meats not corned and more limited menu than the American delis. I had the smoked meat with double mustard on light rye with a cherry soda. They don't offer bread choices here. It was warm and came out quickly. It was a tad dry even though I didn't order it "lean" so I added a pickle. You can order it fat if you want it moist. I wouldn't order it lean here. The pickle was very ripe and added some moisture. My sandwich was delicious and hit the spot! ++. Service was fast and easy. The deli service style is very much in line with busy traditional delis with high turns found in NYC and Chicago. Helps if you know what you want when you sit down and order right away. Otherwise, you'll have to flag down the servers or wait 'til they come around again. +. Price was quite reasonable for the sandwich quality and quantity. My sammie, pickle, soda, tax and tips came to $33 CAD. =. Parking is paid street except during this Labor Day weekend, Saint Laurent was closed to vehicles. Walking and public transportation are best options. Overall,Schwartz's is a fine tuned Jewish deli serving select menu at a reasonable price. I would def visit again :) MY RATINGS - -- Inhumane -- Disgusted - Don't bother = Missed the Mark + Good ++ Better +++ EDIBLE...WHERE have you been all my LiFe!

Bagels and cream cheese were absolutely incredible. Took a while for me to find this location or on…read morea Sunday morning but well worth it.

This is listed as the Ste-Catherine location but I see some pictures of the one in Montreal Dorval…read moreAirport, which is where I was. Surprisingly good bagels for an airport food court restaurant! Very fresh and very tasty smoked salmon. Friendly service!

By far the best bagels here. Crisp and the right density. Love that you can watch the bakers do…read moretheir business at the front of the shop. - Such fresh bagels - we watch them come out of the oven! - Tasty spreads - Great sandwiches Coffee was great. All around, win-win There was a piece of the original Berlin Wall not far from here. Very unexpected and amazing

More of a business morning spot than a tourist spot. And maybe that is why it was so good…read more The bagels were delish, the scone fluffy, and the cream cheese was just the right amount. Service was friendly and quick. There were tables, but the ambiance lacked a bit as most people took items to go.

We had already gotten bagels from a nearby shop, and pastries earlier in the day. We were looking…read morefor a bakery with breads in this neighborhood, and Guillaume has a wide variety! Also appreciated that they offer Demi-loaves, not just full ones.

Boulangerie Guillaume caught my eye unexpectedly. I did not have this place on my list of bakeries…read moreto try while in Montreal, but as I was walking in the area I noticed many people holding their distinctive yellow bags. I was intrigued, and since I can always go for some carbs I decided to head in and check this place out. Unlike most bakeries I visited, Boulangerie Guillaume has a much more modern look, and is larger than a standard bakery. Walking in, I was immediately greeted by stairs which led up to the main production area. All of the bakes were arranged on the back-wall perimeter of the space separated from the pedestrians by a glass wall. The color scheme was mostly black to contrast the bright yellow of the bags and signage. The arrangement of the bakes, combined with the color scheme and modern aesthetics, resulted in a stunning, visually striking presentation. I wasn't too hungry, but I can always go for some sweets and their date square looked good. I went with that, along with a cappuccino. The square was delicious - the dates were high quality, and the crust underneath was moist while maintaining its integrity. The cappuccino was also good, a great complement to the bake. Service was efficient, and overall I had a great experience at Boulangerie Guillaume. I definitely want to return to explore more of their menu - I noticed they had some savory items so perhaps for some lunch. Definitely one of the best bakeries I visited in Montreal.

St-Viateur one of the best, if not the best bagel in the Montreal area. We've got one traditional…read moresesame bagel with cream cheese and one with smoked salmon. We also took a dozen of fresh hot bagels. The bagels are made on the spot in a wood oven. The bagels were still hot out of the oven and they're very tasty and full of flavors. Service was quick and professional. There is a small standing area where you can eat your bagel on the go. It would be nice if they have a larger sitting area where you can enjoy your bagels. This location in Laval in the northern suburbs of Montreal is a mostly industrial/commercial area.

A birdie recently told me that Montreal bagels are better than New York's (where I am from), so…read morewhen I visited Montreal during an extended weekend, I gave bagels from St-Viateur a try. Holy crappola... they were unbelievably good! The portions were not thick and ginormous like some of the ones I've had back home. They were the perfect size, not too thick and still soft and chewy inside with a toasted exterior. My entire family wanted sesame bagels with cream cheese, except mine had additional lox and capers. We enjoyed them so much we are planning to return for more tomorrow morning!

After having tried Montréal's iconic bagel places, was eager to go for a bagel at Kettlemans, the…read moreOntario chain's first Montréal location that happened to be (1) opened 24 hours and (2) a relatively short walking distance from my hotel. With large picture windows, seating, and bagel production able to be watched, it ended up to be a good choice. Chose Kettlemans Pumpernickel Bagel with Light Cream Cheese, a Cinnamon Puff, and a Coffee. The friendly attendant provided a pager while he prepared my baked goods. Kettlemans house coffees happen to be Lavazza, so selected the Dark Roast option. The great, super fresh Bagel also was half coated in Sesame. All was perfectly delicious at Kettlemans - plus sitting there enabled me to see one of their bakers rolling bagels, people watch, and charge my phone! Noted they had other enticing specialty treats that, had I not been on vacation with a full agenda, would have tried. Might consider next time trying their Sesame Bagel Dog! Definitely would recommend checking out this Kettlemans!

Visiting Montreal for the first time and the Canadian hockey club team stadium store. Had a long…read moreday of walking through this very large city, enough to build up anxiety in any common person. However, got close to the end of our day and saw Kettlemans Bagel store across the way from the stadium and decided to give them a try. They were not to busy at the moment, I'm sure when the hockey season is in play they get packed. The gentleman that took our order at the check in was nice and patient. I'm sure that it didn't help that we did not speak French, which seems to be the main language here in Montreal. I got the BLT and tots, the family got sandwiches as well and tots. They did have a little hiccup with our order, they forgot one of the tater tots. I let them know and they were super apologetic and made another fresh batch for us. They have an area where you can see them cutting up the dough and roll up the bagels to be made. There is an outdoor seating area (it's like a patio) or you can sit inside mostly barstools and a couple tables with chairs. The Bathroom you need to get the key from the counter, bathrooms were a bit on the dingy for being a locked up bathroom. The restaurant itself looked clean and well kept. The sandwich was good, bagel was a bit on the chewy side. Like I said the staff was nice which was the best part of the visit here.