La Banquise

The Rating:

2 Fat Buddhas: A wide selection of good poutine

Cheap and generous servings

The Review:

Amid looks of shock and horror at the amount of time we had spent in Montreal without visiting La Banquise, our friends directed us to this popular resto in answer to our question "So, where should we go for poutine?". La Banquise was the unanimous reply for the best poutine in Montreal.

Some of our readers (if, indeed, there are any readers at all) will not know what poutine is, so let us start with a brief description. It is a comfort food, a Quebec tradition, and reasonably unhealthy. Take one serve fries, add fresh cheese curds, top with gravy. Fairly simple, and our Australian friends will say "Hey, that's just chips and gravy with some cheese thrown in". Too true. Those from Adelaide will be asking "Yes, but how does it compare with a BBQ AB?".

La Banquise is a bright and cheery place tucked away next to Parc La Fontaine on Rachel. A Yellow facade and ornate logo open into a smallish restaurant that is a cross between a fish'n'chip takeaway and a diner. Some good music is in the air as hip, bohemian waiting staff lead you to artistically laquered tables. The place is open 24 hours and appears to be always busy.

Poutine is the order of the day, and there is a range of some 20-plus varieties to choose from, as well as a selection of burgers, sandwiches, and hot dogs, but to be honest, we're here for poutine. The classic poutine should be had for any first-time poutiner, as it demonstrates all the hallmarks of good poutine: crisp, fresh fries, chewy and tasty cheese curds, and the right amount of suitably tasty gravy. The regular size is enough for most, the large is for hungry people who can put it away. Prices are reasonable, with regular sizes ranging from $6 to $9 or so, and larges $8 to $12 or so.

Some would argue that adding any more to this combination is an abomination on the good name of poutine. Some would argue that poutine has no good name to begin with. To those people I say "Bah humbug". La Banquise does a good job of adding to poutine, but I think it is down to the eater to choose wisely. I, for one, would avoid the chicken and peas, but I applaud the bacon, the mushroom, the sausage, bacon, and onion (which was like a hot dog with the lot and fries, all on one plate), and, on a cold day, the kamikaze—a mix of hot sausage, chillis, and tobasco that had only a mild tingle of warmth to my palate. I think my preference is towards the simpler poutines, less crowded by add-ons on top.

So we've added it to our gourmand's tour of Montreal for visiting friends—now it's Fairmount Bagels for 24-hour, delicious bagelly goodness, Schwartz's for the best smoked meat in town in an unforgettable atmosphere, and now La Banquise for the best poutine at any time of day (and let's face it, poutine is, by definition, a late-night, rather drunken stomach filler).

http://www.restolabanquise.com/
994 Rachel Est, Plateau
No credit cards