L Express, 3927, Rue St Denis, Montreal Quebec Restaurant Review

L'Express

A classic & simple Parisian bistro

Photo by Braised and Confused

Montreal is a city with no shortage of culinary institutions and L’Express is one of my favorites. Established in 1980, this Parisian bistro has long been a fixture of St Denis street with its name written out on the iconic tiled terrace. The last time we were here was over a year ago and as we settled into our table, we were happy to see the menu virtually unchanged. The beauty of L’Express is in what it doesn’t do – no flash, no grandeur, no twists – just a draconian adherence to classic french cooking.

There is a comforting sense of accessibility to the place as well, the dishes are almost entirely priced under $25. This visit we decided to order a bottle of white wine along with:

Octopus and Lentil Salad
Beet Salad
Roasted Quail with Wild Rice
Sauted Duck Confit with Salad

Before our starters arrived we snacked on baguette and the signature pickles with spicy mustard. The octopus lentil salad is absolutely my favorite dish at L’Express. The citrus vinaigrette binds so well with the cold perfectly cooked octopus and lentils – I could eat this salad every day. The beet salad was served with crunchy nuts and sweet fruit – also vanished from the plate immediately.

Photo by Braised and Confused

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About the author - Braised & Confused is a Montreal based food blog written and managed by Jen Ho and Alex Chinien that covers restaurants, street food and events. Endeavoring to leave no culinary stone unturned, the blog has featured over 160 posts from eight international cities in less than a year. Additionally, B&C publishes video interviews with chefs and restauranteurs.