Schwartz's
Schwartz's menu
I've been travelling to Montreal for nearly 30 years. I love smoked meat sandwiches. Love them!! But believe it or not, i've never been to Schwartz's whom many have claimed make the best smoke meat sandwiches in the world. I had passed by several times over the years, but the lineups outside always discouraged me from eating there. I had also been told to forget it if i planned to eat inside since the seating area was very small and always full. Since i rarely drive to Mtl, i wasn't going to use take-out and eat outside on the street. So i passed.
A few days ago, i was walking along St-Laurent boulevard following the GP activities. The street was still blocked off to traffic from Sherbrooke going way up north. Since it was about 5pm or so, i was getting hungry not having eaten since the morning. I figured i finally might give Schwartz's a try since i wasn't sure when i'd be back in the area. To my great surprise, there was no lineup outside when i approached the restaurant. I noticed they had set up a small terrace outside in front and there was only 1 person eating there. So i approached the restaurant's entrance and was asked by one of the workers if it was for 'take-out' or 'eat inside'. I looked around and the place wasn't full. There were still a couple of tables left, but i noticed that all the seats at the counter were empty so i told the gentleman that i'd eat inside. "I was finally going to eat one of Schwartz's famous smoked meat sandwiches!!!! It only took me 30 years to do so!!!"
Soon after i sat down, i took a look at the menu above on the wall and told a gentleman that i'd take the smoked meat sandwich with fries and a diet coke. The smoked meat sandwich was $9.75 and the fries $3.40. I think the diet Coke was $2.75 if i remember correctly. A couple of minutes later, another gentleman came from the back area and handed me the fries. They were very good!!! But i had went there for the smoked meat, and i was so looking forward to it!!
A few minutes later came the smoked meat. It was different from the ones i usually ate. It reminded me of the one made by Dunn's, which i had criticized to a friend of mine a day earlier. I now realize that my severe criticism of Dunn's may have been misplaced considering how similar i found it to Schwartz's. I'll be honest: I forced myself to finish eating it. The whole time i was thinking: "What's the big fuss all about?? This is far from being the best smoked meat sandwich i've ever eaten!" So i finished my diet coke and once i received my bill, i went to the cashier by the door and gave the lady $20 and told her to keep the change. I looked around one more time and saw that the place was still half-empty and only 2 gentlemen were sitting at the counter. I stepped outside and still no lineup. Still only that one person sitting at the outdoor terrace. "This was at the dinner hour on a Monday evening and not more people??? What's going on??" I've realized while writing this review that it's quite possible the bulk of their clientele are take-outs and since St-Laurent was blocked to traffic that week, maybe that's why the place wasn't busy.
Anyways, i must confess that i was extremely disappointed. This was definitely not a great smoked meat sandwich in my opinion! Reubens makes a much better smoked meat sandwich in my opinion. Okay, maybe i'm biased since it's my favorite place to eat at, but there's a reason why i've kept coming back for nearly 15 years and it's because they make great food!
One of my buddies texted me that night and when i told him about my experience earlier, he replied that the place is very hyped up which he attributes to its popularity. No kidding!
Needless to say, i doubt i'll ever be back. Unless it's for their fries, which i liked very much. Want to know which fries i liked the best during my recent trip??? At one of the food trucks parked by that park on Peel and Rene-Levesque. They serve them in a large cone and charge $5 (tax included) for them. Well worth it!!! I went back twice afterwards and when i went back a couple of days ago, the truck was gone much to my disappointment.
My rating of Schwartz's: 3 out of 5 stars. (thanks to the fries which i really liked)
