This is the kind of neighborhood bistro you'd expect to find in Paris--only cleaner and friendlier. The service was exceptional: attentive, welcoming, and perfectly paced without being overbearing. The food was excellent. We enjoyed the steak frites, duck confit, fish soup, and the complimentary cornichons, which were a lovely touch. By the time we were ready for dessert, they had sold out of the île flottante, which was disappointing, but the crème brûlée and tarte au citron more than made up for it. Both were outstanding. A wonderful meal from start to finish, and a place we'd happily return to. read more

L'Express is my go-to foolproof French restaurant perfect for dining with friends who came to visit me in Montreal . [[HIGHLIGHT]]You get a casual yet elegant fine French dining vibe effortlessly.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] No reservation needed for parties under two, plus it stays open till 1 AM, super convenient for flexible travelers. A local staple with countless loyal regulars, famous for its signature bone marrow and homemade pickles. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Warm welcoming atmosphere, friendly seasoned staff, free bread and pickles right after seating.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Must-try picks: rich bone marrow, smooth chicken liver mousse, tender duck confit and fresh beef tartare. Classic authentic French classics served in genuine local style. They have an amazing affordable wine list with massive collections. read more

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We had a delicious dinner at L'Express. This restaurant is on many lists for top restaurants of Montreal and it did not disappoint. We tried: - complimentary bread, butter, pickles, mustard. I loved this. Never saw another restaurant plop down mustard and pickles. The mustard was also possibly the most delicious mustard I've ever had. Very spicy and slightly salty - Duck confit on beans $37. Tasty, crispy, rich. - Grilled octopus on pepper sauce with potatos $24. Really tender and flavourful. The sauce was bright and acidic - Sorrel soup $13.75. First time having sorrel. It has a slightly sour taste. The soup was creamy and tangy. I'm glad we tried it - Quail with quail eggs on purple rice $37.50. Quail itself wasn't as flavourful but the sauce was amazing and soaked into the rice - Creme brulee $15. Flavour was impeccable. Had a slight grainy texture which was odd but this is just nit picking. Comes with a warm cookie Everything was good. I'm being more nitpicky here than usual, mostly to go back to these notes again in the future. I loved the meal and would definitely go back. Service is very friendly. Food came out super fast. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The restaurant is bright and lively.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]Tables are quite cramped together but it makes sense as they quickly filled up for the evening.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Thanks, we'll definitely be back! read more

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Everything about this restaurant is superb and I hope I get to return soon. It is worth ordering an appetizer and entrée and dessert at this Michelin level restaurant. The prices are amazing and the food is mouthwatering. Shouted out to our serving assistant Callum, he made sure that we had a constant flow of complementary baguette and house-made pickles. I dined with four other people and everyone ordered something different and there was zero disappointments. I however, would highly recommend their duck entrée meat was so tender and flavorful, and it was perfectly crisp on the outside. Ultimately my best dining experience in Montreal! read more

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Easily the best meal I had in all of Montreal and that's saying something!! [[HIGHLIGHT]]I just l loved everything about this place -- it's old school diner like ambiance wiyh black and white tiled floor and midcentury chrome fixtures, its impeccable service and friendly waiters, and of course it's amazing food![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I'm not normally one for chicken liver pate but theirs is so outstanding I had to actively stop myself from eating the entire thing so I wouldn't spoil my entree. The bread, the pistachios, the creamy amazingness -- just wow! But I'm glad I didn't because the duck confit was similarly to die for. Cooked perfectly, great portion, every bite to die for. My date's blood sausage entree was even more outstanding, I almost regretted not getting it even though it's not something I ever order. But most of all, the dessert! Ohhh the dessert! We got this Île Flottante au Caramel, which is a meringue covered in a glass-like caramel shell and floating in creme anglaise with sesame cookies. I can't tell you how happy this dessert made me, honestly almost to the point of tears in my eyes. I will dream about this crazy thing forever, alien technology went into making this. Epic dinner for me. I love basics done well and L'Express is the epitome of that. read more

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[[HIGHLIGHT]]I enjoyed a fine dinner at this cozy and busy eatery.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The service was helpful and available and the food was outstanding. The meal began with a jar of cornichons on the table. A few times during the meal, I would munch on these pickles for a merry jolt of tart and tangyness. I had the home-made Lobster Ravioli. Inside of the al dente and light pasta was a lobster mix, showcasing the tender and buttery tasting seafood. The dark sauce including earthy mushrooms for balance w scallions. The sauce was wort the price of the dish. I chose the Cahors 21 Solis Malbec (Domaine Casse de Maisonneuve) to along with the food. For dessert, I had the Baba Au Rhum, their signature cakey dessert, balancing sweetness with the more bitter rum taste. I enjoyed my meal here and look forward to returning soon. . read more

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We stopped in for drinks a couple evenings ago and it was one of the best dirty martinis in Montreal! It was super packed so I'd recommend making reservation, however they were able to accommodate us at the bar! Staff was so friendly and quick! read more

L'Express - French Near Me - Montreal, Quebec

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Highlight: profiteroles. So so good. Loved the ice cream inside Ravioli: pretty good Duck: pretty good Loved the pickles they offer. read more

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Huge Disappointment ​I visited this restaurant with high hopes, but it was an absolute disaster from start to finish. For a place with this reputation, the food was completely unacceptable. ​Salade de gravlax, pistaches: This was recommended directly by our server, and it was a complete disaster. The salmon tasted terrible and smelled incredibly fishy, while the salad itself had absolutely no flavor. It felt like zero effort went into it. ​Pieuvre grillée romesco: The octopus arrived at the table freezing cold and entirely tasteless. ​Os à moelle: The bone marrow was a grease slick--just extremely oily and poorly prepared. ​Onglet beurre échalote (Hanger Steak): This arrived at the table completely cold. We had to send it back to the kitchen, and when it finally returned, it was ruined--tough as leather, incredibly hard, and totally tasteless. ​Poulet rôti (Rotisserie Chicken): The only silver lining of the entire night; this dish was actually not bad, but it certainly couldn't save the meal. ​Overall, the kitchen completely failed on execution, temperature, and flavor. I would not recommend this restaurant to anyone. Save your money and go somewhere else. read more

Came here for some classic French food while we visited Montreal. It did not disappoint! [[HIGHLIGHT]]The space is gorgeous and bright.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] It was a busy restaurant during a weekday lunch, thankfully we got reservations ahead of time. I got the duck confit and it was delicious. read more

I have not been back here in many many years however knowing I was returning on a business trip I made a reservation immediately. This place is just amazing. From the bread to the meal, the mutard and the cornichons. This is so good. Wine list is extensive. Wait staff is incredible. I've sent friends here in the last year to be blown away by the experience. Which is why I needed to return. Go, spoil yourself!! read more

L'Express - Steak frites. - French Near Me - Montreal, Quebec

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A trip to Montreal isn't complete without a trip to the classic French bistro L'Express. Make sure to make a reservation in advance or be prepared to wait at least an hour for a seat. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The place is busy and the servers are circling the place left and right. The bustle of activity adds to the ambiance of a lively old school bistro.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The meal starts off with bread, butter, mustard, and cornichons. The butter and mustard were really good and my friend and I were trying not to eat too much bread before our main courses. Then came our ravioli which were warm pillows of meat stuffed pasta with a tasty sauce. For our entrees, we enjoyed the succulent roasted quails with wild rice and the shrimp and chorizo risotto. I preferred the roasted quails over the risotto but both were great and served in large portions. To finish our meal, we had the Il Flottante with Caramel which is a huge dessert with cream encased in hardened caramel. The dessert was unique but a little big for a party of two. I can understand why L'Express is packed every night. The food and service are great coupled with the French Bistro charm makes L'Express the perfect place to impress out-of-towners. As an out-of-towner, I was more than satisfied. read more

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What a fantastic way to end our Montreal trip with - a classic French bistro experience at L'Express - filled with deliciously rich French fare, a chic atmosphere, and a relaxed experience for a date! My partner and I ordered a lot of food, and we loved all of it (would do the same order again, but maybe try another dessert). We got the chicken liver and bone marrow to start, steak frittes and crouqe monsour for main, and split some profiterole for dessert. All paired with a fantastic bottle of wine (great and reasonably priced wine list), and a dessert port at the end. Steak frittes were some of our fav we tried all trip! Also shout out to the delicious bread and butter, which paired magnificently with the bone marrow and chicken liver. Service was friendly and attentive - we never felt forgotten and were positively reinforced with our menu decisions ha! We would definitely return! read more

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[[HIGHLIGHT]]An excellent traditional French bistro.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]Atmosphere was buzzing, even late at night.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I started with the bone marrow, which was good but not great (wish they offered the steak tartare as a starter). The main, though, was incredible. Best duck confit I have ever had; it was cooked perfectly, including the beans it was served on. Crème brûlée was also excellent. A must visit when in Montreal. read more

Good selection from the menu and they use a lot of dishes that use different ingredients like liver and kidney which is interesting. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The restaurant can get a little noisy though.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Service is friendly and attentive. There is parking outside on the street with a meter so if you are unlucky, you may have to walk some distance before reaching the restaurant. read more

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L' Express, 3927 rue St Denis , Montreal, Quebec..... La Classe ....... Inutile de chercher plus loin... Service Food [[HIGHLIGHT]]Ambiance.... Comme a Paris[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

[[HIGHLIGHT]]Cute French Bistro.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Been here a couple times now on visits to Montreal. It gets super busy so you have to make a reservation. It's a little slow, but service is very good. On this visit ordered an escargot in wine sauce special, liver pâté, beef tartare, hanger steak and fries, and the floating island (île flottante) for dessert. They also bring bread and cornichons to the table. Tasty food, the steak was deservingly popular, and the fries are crisp. The escargot was good too. Both dishes were rich, and everything can be eaten with the bread. The floating island (which they actually comped for the slower service) was also very good. The meringue is light with a crispy caramel outer layer. Very sweet though and the caramel shell gets stuck in your teeth. Overall would highly recommend. Price is a little high, but still worth it in my opinion. read more

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L'Express absolutely stole my heart! [[HIGHLIGHT]]From the moment we walked in, the cozy, bustling atmosphere made us feel instantly at home.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Our server was an absolute delight -- warm, attentive, and sporting a smile that could brighten all of Saint-Denis. And then... the jar of pickles. I swear, that alone made me the happiest girl in Montreal. Crunchy, tangy perfection -- I could've taken the whole jar home. The food was incredible across the board: beautifully prepared, full of flavor, and exactly the kind of comfort-meets-classics that makes you want to come back before you've even finished your meal. I'd return in a heartbeat. L'Express is officially on my must-visit list every time I'm in Montreal. read more

L'express service was incredible. The staff was so warm and attentive and sure to give us plenty of recommendations. The ambiance takes us back to Europe. Not too frilly, just lovely to relax and have a good meal and good drinks. Less of a cocktail place and more emphasis on wine. You have to get the steak frites of course, but all of the other options we ate were delicious. Love this for a date night or a celebratory meal, or just a casual meal when you're feeling like having some good food. read more

L'Express - Dessert!! So yummy! - French Near Me - Montreal, Quebec

At first, I thought L'Express was a tourist trap, but was I wrong. Packed at 2:00 on a blistering hot Tuesday in the middle of June, L'Express would feel comfortable in any arrondissement in Paris. We settled in at the expansive bar, ordered wine and a cocktail, and didn't miss Paris at all. Romanik took great care of us, and his graciousness was welcome after the often self entitled servers in the United States. Maybe Canada's universal health care has something to do with that. The menu covers every classic French dish, and we ordered calves liver with frites and Duck Confit for nostalgia's sake. Ooh La La. They were both fantastic. Our late lunch was long and so relaxing. Regrettably, we left the AC of L'Express to take a stroll in 93 degree heat. Mistake. We should have stayed at L'Express and ordered dessert. read more

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Our first night in Montreal and we dined at this gem! I ate a lot of bread cause it was soooo good...the pickles...wow i should have taken jar with me!! The service was fantastic! Quick and efficient. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Place was packed and I can see why![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] My favorite bite...the maple profiteroles...omg i dream of them! Will definately visit next time im in Montreal! read more

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We went to L'Express after being awake for over 24 hours and taking a 3 hour nap. This French restaurant was highly recommended and of course we had to make a visit here! Our reservation was at 5pm, but the inside was already filled with many occupied tables. The restaurant itself was quite narrow and you were pretty close to the tables beside you. It made the feeling more intimate and authentic. I actually really liked the interiors - checkered flooring, bar seating, big windows. For food, they started us off with mini pickles, mustard, and baguette. For starters we got Bone Marrow ($21) and the Grilled Octopus ($22.50). Bone marrow came with 3 and plenty of bread. The marrow is quite fatty and rich, and the plain, crunchy bread is an excellent balance for it. The mini pickles really helped to cut out the oily taste of the bone marrow. I would say only 2 of the 3 bone marrows were 75% full with marrow, but honestly it was more than enough - eating any more would make you too full for anything else. The grilled octopus was delicious! Just the right amount of char that matched well with their sauce. The mini greens was refreshing. For mains, we ordered the Confit duck leg ($33) and Hanger Steak and Fries ($36.25). Duck leg was tender and I especially enjoyed the pumpkin puree. Steak was cooked medium rare, but not as tender as I thought. Shallot butter was super fragrant and rich and added a nice creamy texture to the steak. Fries are good and plenty enough to take home. I liked their dipping sauce. I'm actually really a fan of how Montreal restaurants cook their fries. Everything was just a tad too salty for me though. We also ordered crème brûlée ($13.25) for dessert. Custard was sweet and creamy. Great first dinner at Montreal but I feel like everything was pretty standard / nothing blew me out of the water. Would be a good restaurant to visit once but not sure if I would return. read more

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This was my favorite meal on my trip to Montreal. The service was friendly and efficient. I got bone marrow and duck confit, which both did not disappoint. High recommend! I would return if I was back in Montreal read more

L'Express - Duck confit. - French Near Me - Montreal, Quebec

Had a wonderful experience at L'Express! It was our first time to Montreal and the first reservation we had on our trip. It did not disappoint, and L'Express set us up for a great first impression of the Montreal food scene. [[HIGHLIGHT]]We opted for a 2 pm lunch reservation, and the restaurant was bustling with people and immediately warm and comfortable.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]We hung up our jackets and were seating towards the front window.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]I went with red wine to start and my partner with white, overall it was easy to have conversation despite the busy restaurant.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] After ordering we were brought bread with butter and CORNICHONS WITH MUSTARD!!! I love pickles so I was very excited. To start, we had the smoked herring, it was amazing. Perfect serving for an appetizer and a nice light way to start the meal in addition to the bread & pickles. Next was the quail and homemade mushroom ravioli. Both were wonderful and the presentation of the quail was beautiful. The ravioli were steaming hot, cooked perfectly, and the SAUCE was divine. Service was consistent and attentive. Courses had perfect timing and our glasses were never empty! Definitely will be back to try more of the menu. Merci! read more

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Came here for lunch during a visit to Montreal from NYC. Expected it to be one of those popular just okay tourist places, but thoroughly enjoyed the meal and experience. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The interior has a quaint Parisian bistro feel[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]], and the wait staff was very warm and friendly, and gave us great menu recommendations. Ordered the octopus, steak frites, duck confit, and creme brûlée and enjoyed it all. Overall, a nice memorable lunch. read more

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WOWWWWW THIS WAS AN EXPERIENCE! Also, somehow we got in on a Saturday night with no reservation. Pro tip: MAKE A RESERVATION! We tried to get in around 5 PM and a man kindly told us to try again in an hour. We tried again in about 30 minutes and they squeezed us in. It truly made my trip to Montreal! This meal was incredible! They bring cornichons for the table. A GIANT JAR OF THEM. Our jaws fell in surprise and excitement. I can't recommend the homemade ravioli enough. It was out of this world. We will definitely be back! read more

L'Express - French Near Me - Montreal, Quebec

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Best restaurant in Montreal. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Amazing food service and ambience.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I am dreaming of their food. read more

L'Express - Herengs. Herring. - French Near Me - Montreal, Quebec

Exceptional dinner and the prices are fair considering the quality and portion size. I ordered the roasted quail with wild rice ($35.00). The quail was an enhanced chicken wing, but the crispy skin and amazing sauce that was served with it took it over the top. I'm not sure what was in the sauce, but I could drink 2 cups of that stuff. It was amazing and so deep in flavor. My mother got the chicken paillard ($27). I tried some and the chicken was very tender and I believe the dish also with the same sauce that I had. We like the mini stuffed tomatoes and the flavor of the dish overall was fantastic as well. Great service all around from the bus boy, waiter and hostess. The atmosphere is lively and has a fine dining field, but not stuffy. They accommodate tourist very well and have the menu in English. read more

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Some satisfying flavors (like the croque monsieur), solid wine selection, but some elements seemed less exciting, such as the table bread that felt super standard and like it could have been around for a while, and the somewhat straightforward (chicken? did not say) rilette. Altogether felt like a solid example of the foods we ordered, but all the hype and the hard-to-get reservations (we were lucky to get one at 9 PM) were a bit confusing compared with some of the other fabulous places we tried in Montreal. Kind, attentive staff and bustling ambience, but regarding food, my partner and I had somewhat different opinions on this one (his was a bit more positive). It's open late, though, so if you're craving a croque monsieur at 1 AM it's a solid option! read more

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We had an early anniversary dinner at L'Express and I was glad I was able to get a reservation. To our surprise it was pretty empty when we arrived. We ordered: * Os a Moelle ($21.00) * Pieuvre Grillée ($22.50) * Risotto Crevette ($34.50) * Cuisse de Canard ($33.00) total came out to $127.62 Everything was absolutely delicious. Bone marrow was savory melt in your mouth while the octopus and duck leg were perfectly cooked. The dishes here really highlight fresh ingredients and they're composed beautifully. I love how there's a generous amount of cornichons, mustard (very horseradish like) and bread on your table. We love to return and try out more of their dishes. read more

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Best duck I've ever had. Skin was super crispy and the meat fell off the bone. Bone marrow here was super unique but delicious. The desserts too were high quality and amazing. read more

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This restaurant transported us to France! It is a classic French bistro and it was a wonderful experience. We sat at the bar and I would really recommend that. They bring baguettes and a whole jar of cornichons to your table. We shared a bottle of wine and asked the bartender/server what to order The ravioli was super delicious and we chose to get that as our appetizer. For entrees we got steak frites and duck confit, because they're classic French dishes. For dessert the profiteroles were great. Overall it was the service and the atmosphere that made this place so special read more

Phenomenal meal here, I see why this place is so popular. I'd definitely recommend a reservation, as it's very busy. We got four things to split: the chicken liver paté, the duck rillettes, the quail, and the ravioli. Absolutely everything was wonderful. Even the jar of cornichons were delicious. I'd strongly recommend this place! read more

L'Express - French Near Me - Montreal, Quebec

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Revisited L'Express few weeks ago and it's still top-notch. The food & drink, dish presentation, ambiance, and service, all combine beautifully to give us an excellent dining experience. We had a group of 15 people from 4 families in total. Tables were set next to each other comfortably. The moment I walked in, the manager greeted me in a very professional manner. The servers were friendly and knowledgeable about the menu, how's food prepared, and what drink could they make for my daughter. Needless to say, the servers were very attentive to our tables the whole time. Very happy with this special treatment. Honestly, it was an impressive meal from a fine French bistro in Montreal. Wholeheartedly, it is highly recommended. Thank you L'Express, we had a great time there during our vacation! Can't wait to share photos with my Yelp friends here. Enjoy! read more

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Made a reservation the day before, got seated very quickly. Ordered the octopus, bone marrow, quail, duck confit, and beef tartare. The service was great, they were very professional and attentive. The octopus and quail were yummy. The duck was solid too but not a huge fan of it. The bone marrow was kinda aite imo, nothing to write home about. What surprised me was the beef tartare, which was actually super tasty. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The overall ambiance of the place was pretty busy but I would recommend if you are in the area![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

This was our first meal back in Canada since before Covid and we ordered all our favorites: Bone Marrow, Steak Tartare, Duck Confit, Steak Frites and a Maple Ice Cream dessert. Service was wonderful and everyone worked well and efficiently together for an all around amazing dining experience. L'Express was a great find and cannot wait to return. We look forward to our next visit back and will most likely the same exact dinner because again, it was that good. Highly recommend and reservations are a must here! read more

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I came here for dinner and was not impressed. I might have gotten the wrong things though. Quality- the poached salmon was cooked well and is fresh. However, the green mashed potatoes and lemon sauce they provide is too mild. No bold flavors stand out. The risotto was way too salty. I had trouble finishing it. Quantity- a bit lacking for the price. Atmosphere- packed and not much space. Service- pretty fast read more

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One of the best traditional French meals in Montreal. Spicy beef tartare and duck confit were delicious. Friends were amazed by their liver and kidney dishes, but I didn't verify this time. The bone marrow is the best I had. And don't skip their house made pickles. They are heavenly. The wines by the glass are awesome value. I had an affordable delicious Bordeaux. I skipped dessert for a nice Calvados. This is very high on my favorite restaurant list. Service is incredible and not arrogant. The whole atmosphere is pleasant and the food is amazing. read more

Solid choice, as other have stated good food and service. There are items on the menu in French that didn't make it over to the English one. Check it out. Super cool inside really does feel like something in France. read more

L'Express - French Near Me - Montreal, Quebec

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Restaurant L'Express has been serving patrons for decades. You will see why it is successful when you dine here. The service, food, and cocktails are exemplary. Everything from the pate to the duck confit to the dessert is expertly crafted. Please remember to make reservations several weeks in advance due to its popularity. If I return to the area again, I will definitely dine here once more. read more

L'Express - Floating Island - French Near Me - Montreal, Quebec