Few cities celebrate indulgence with the sheer, unbridled enthusiasm of Montreal, a Francophone island where butter, fat, and late-night debauchery are practically civic duties. When The Layover touched down here around 2011, the goal was simple: survive a gauntlet of impossibly rich food and copious amounts of alcohol in just 24 hours. Montreal is a town deeply divided by language but united by its legendary smoked meat, wood-fired bagels, and an unapologetically decadent restaurant culture championed by fiercely proud chefs. The angle for this quick hit was to bypass the polite tourist sights and dive straight into the city’s hedonistic underbelly—from historic diners slinging heavy breakfasts to the infamous, foie gras-heavy excesses of the Joe Beef empire. It’s a city that eats like a European capital but drinks with North American grit. If you find yourself in Quebec’s coolest city with a ticking clock, loosen your belt and track down these essential, artery-clogging institutions.
When Anthony Bourdain visited Montreal on his show The Layover Season 1 Episode 6, he and his crew picked many restaurants. Here are all the addresses and the dishes showcased on The Layover – Anthony Bourdain Montreal episode, all in a convenient list:
READ MORE: QUEBEC: ALL OF THE RESTAURANTS PICKED BY ANTHONY BOURDAIN ON PARTS UNKNOWN
DISH – Beauty’s Special
WHAT IS IT?
Bagel with smoked salmon, cream cheese, onion and tomato.
WHERE IS IT?
Beautys Luncheonette
93 Mont-Royal Ave W
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
READ MORE: 5 must-try restaurants for every foodie in Montreal, Quebec
ANTHONY BOURDAIN MONTREAL NOTES
Open since 1942, Beauty’s Restaurant (Beautys Luncheonette) is one of the first restaurants to start breakfast in Montreal.
DISH – Montreal-style Bagel
WHAT IS IT?
Hand rolled, wood fire baked bagels made using the same European recipe brought over more than half a century ago.
WHERE IS IT?
St-Viateur Bagel Shop
263 Rue Saint Viateur O
Montréal, QC, Canada
ANTHONY BOURDAIN MONTREAL NOTES
Anthony Bourdain did not stop by St-Viateur Bagel Shop on this episode but he recommended it as “one of the best examples of Montreal-style bagels”.
DISH – Latte
WHAT IS IT?
Coffee made of espresso and steamed milk.
WHERE IS IT?
Club Social
180 Rue Saint Viateur O
Montréal, QC, Canada
ANTHONY BOURDAIN MONTREAL NOTES
While Anthony Bourdain did not stop by Café Club Social on this Montreal trip, he suggested it “if you like sitting for hours, sipping your latte”.
DISH – Artisan Cheese
WHAT IS IT?
Cheese made by hand and using traditional craftsmanship, like raw goat’s milk cheese.
WHERE IS IT?
Marché Jean-Talon
7070 Henri Julien Ave
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
ANTHONY BOURDAIN MONTREAL NOTES
Marché Jean-Talon is one of the two main farmers’ markets in Montreal with more than 300 vendors. One of the stalls that Anthony Bourdain stopped at is the artisan cheese stall where he sampled raw goat’s milk cheese. If you are looking for a larger selection, Bourdain suggests La Fromagerie Atwater in the Atwater Market that stocks about 850 kinds of cheeses.
DISH – Steak Tartare, Lobster Salad, Scallop Ceviche, Smoked Octopus, and Duck Magret
WHAT IS IT?
Steak Tartare – dish of raw ground meat; Lobster Salad – salad of lobster and vegetables; Scallop Ceviche – ceviche of scallops with grapefruit foam; Smoked Octopus – with smoked paprika, a foam of smoked potatoes, corn, beans, and cherry tomatoes; Duck Magret – duck breast with butternut squash, grilled onions, jalapeño and red pepper.
WHERE IS IT?
Club Chasse et Pêche
423 Rue Saint-Claude
Montréal, QC, Canada
ANTHONY BOURDAIN MONTREAL NOTES
Le Club Chasse et Pêche shares a terrace with the museum next door but is unaffiliated. The restaurant offers primarily refined Québécois fish and game dishes.
DISH – Grilled Cheese with Meat
WHAT IS IT?
Two pieces of grilled appenzeller cheese, with braised beef shoulder in the middle.
WHERE IS IT?
L’Emporte Piece
418 Rue Gilford
Montréal, QC, Canada
Unfortunately, this restaurant has since closed its doors.
ANTHONY BOURDAIN MONTREAL NOTES
Anthony Bourdain did not stop by L’Emporte Piece during this Montreal visit but he suggested it as a place for grilled cheese and meat. As of this writing, L’Emporte Piece is no longer in business.
DISH – Fried Calamari and Rib Steak
WHAT IS IT?
Fried Calamari – battered then fried squid rings; Rib Steak – steak from rib portion of a cow.
WHERE IS IT?
Marven’s
880 Avenue Ball
Montréal, QC, Canada
ANTHONY BOURDAIN MONTREAL NOTES
While Anthony Bourdain did not visit Marven’s on this episode, he suggested it as place “for some old world Greek food”.
DISH – Pork Knuckle
WHAT IS IT?
Slow-cooked pork knuckle.
WHERE IS IT?
Brasserie Capri
2172, St-Patrick
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
ANTHONY BOURDAIN MONTREAL NOTES
Brasserie Capri is a Québécois pub offering casual fare.
DISH – Moules-Frites
WHAT IS IT?
Mussels with fries and small cubes of bacon.
WHERE IS IT?
Dominion Square Tavern
1243 Metcalfe St
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Unfortunately, this restaurant has since closed its doors.
ANTHONY BOURDAIN MONTREAL NOTES
Anthony Bourdain did not visit Dominion Square Tavern in this episode but suggested it as an option if you prefer a more sophisticated dining experience.
DISH – Orange Julep
WHAT IS IT?
A blend of milk and orange juice.
WHERE IS IT?
Gibeau Orange Julep
7700 Decarie Blvd
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
ANTHONY BOURDAIN MONTREAL NOTES
While Anthony Bourdain did not stop by Gibeau Orange Julep on this trip, he suggested it as a place for getting the frothy orange julep beverage .
DISH – Clams on a Radio, Double Down, and Meat Platter
WHAT IS IT?
Clams on a Radio – baked stuffed clams served on a radio; Double Down – two pieces of foie gras, house smoked cheddar and house bacon with house mayo made from reduced chicken stock; Meat Platter – chops of beef, chicken, duck and lamb.
WHERE IS IT?
Joe Beef
2491 Notre-Dame St W
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
ANTHONY BOURDAIN MONTREAL NOTES
Joe Beef is the flagship restaurant of chefs David McMillan and Fred Morin, with a menu that changes daily. Clams on a Radio is one of their signature dishes, along with their take on the Double Down and several others.
DISH – Steak Frites, Bone Marrow, and Trout Salad
WHAT IS IT?
Steak Frites – hanger steak with shallot butter and fries; Bone Marrow – served with coarse salt; Trout Salad – a salad of trout and vegetables.
WHERE IS IT?
L’Express
3927 St Denis St
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
ANTHONY BOURDAIN MONTREAL NOTES
Anthony Bourdain did not stop by L’Express on this trip but recommended it if you’re looking for classic bistro fare for lunch.
DISH – Portuguese Roast Chicken
WHAT IS IT?
Portuguese-style spicy roast chicken.
WHERE IS IT?
Rotisserie Romados
115 Rue Rachel E
Montréal, QC, Canada
ANTHONY BOURDAIN MONTREAL NOTES
Although Anthony Bourdain did not visit Rotisserie Romados during this trip, he recommended it if you’re looking for rotisserie chicken.
DISH – Head Cheese, Smoked Sausage, Sautéed Mushrooms and Soft-boiled Egg, Pork Salad, Garlic Sea Snails, and Lobster with Salad – The Layover Montreal
WHAT IS IT?
Head Cheese – with classical vinaigrette and mustard; Smoked Sausage – sausage cooked through smoking; Sautéed Mushrooms and Soft-boiled Egg – sautéed Girolles mushrooms served with a soft-boiled egg; Pork Salad – a salad of pork and vegetables; Garlic Sea Snails – escargot dish with garlic; Lobster with Salad – grilled lobster served with herb-chanterelle salad.
WHERE IS IT?
Brasserie T!
1425 Jeanne Mance St
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Unfortunately, this restaurant has since closed its doors.
ANTHONY BOURDAIN MONTREAL NOTES
Brasserie T! is Chef Normand Laprise’s restaurant in Place des Arts.
DISH – Saké – The Layover Montreal
WHAT IS IT?
Japanese alcoholic beverage made from fermented polished rice.
WHERE IS IT?
Big in Japan
4175 St Laurent Blvd
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
ANTHONY BOURDAIN MONTREAL NOTES
Anthony Bourdain visited Big in Japan Restaurant on this episode and had sake and Chinese whiskey. The Big in Japan Restaurant is no longer business, but the Big in Japan Bar continues to operate at its present location.
DISH – Taco – The Layover Montreal
WHAT IS IT?
Hand-sized tortilla with meat and/or vegetable toppings.
WHERE IS IT?
Nouveau Palais
281 Rue Bernard O
Montréal, QC, Canada
ANTHONY BOURDAIN MONTREAL NOTES
When Anthony Bourdain stopped by, Nouveau Palais was where you can get Grumman’78 tacos on weekends. These days, there are Grumman’78 taco trucks around Montreal, with locations updated through social media channels, as well as a Grumman’78 restaurant on Courcelle Street.
DISH – Smoked Meat Sandwich – The Layover Montreal
WHAT IS IT?
Meat that has been marinated and cooked through smoking placed between slices of bread.
WHERE IS IT?
Schwartz’s
3895 St Laurent Blvd
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
ANTHONY BOURDAIN MONTREAL NOTES
Opened in 1928, Schwartz’s is famous for its smoked meat.
READ MORE: 11 FREE THINGS TO DO IN MONTREAL
Montreal was undeniably one of Bourdain’s favorite cities in North America, a place where he found kindred spirits among its chefs—glorious, meat-loving maniacs who valued pleasure over pretense. This episode is historically significant for cementing the international fame of spots like Joe Beef, showcasing a culinary rebellion that rejected twee fine dining in favor of gargantuan, historically rooted Québécois gluttony. He adored the city’s unapologetic embrace of its own heritage, from Jewish delis to old-school French bistros. The legacy left here is a celebration of living entirely in the moment. Book a flight, brace yourself for the cold, and prepare for a meal you won’t soon forget.
