Lester's Deli is a deli restaurant in Outremont, Montreal.
Lester's is the Outremont deli locals send you to when the Schwartz's line is too long, smoking its own brisket on Avenue Bernard since 1951.
Editorially verified July 1, 2026 by Lewis Vaughan, TableJourney editor. Source.
Why locals love it: The Outremont smoked-meat deli locals send you to when the Schwartz's line is out of hand, quietly curing its own brisket since 1951.
Tip: It is calmer and roomier than the Plateau delis; a medium sandwich with fries is the play.
Address: 1057 Avenue Bernard, Outremont, QC H2V 1V1, Montreal
Why locals love it: A fluorescent-lit Parc-Extension BYOB canteen that serious eaters cross the city for, invisible to visitors who never leave the downtown core.
Tip: Bring beer from the depanneur next door and order broadly; the bill stays tiny even for a feast.
Why locals love it: A Chinatown noodle window where the dough is hand-pulled to order, overshadowed by flashier neighbours but turning out the real Lanzhou article.
Tip: Watch the noodles being stretched at the counter and order the cumin-spiced beef soup.
Why locals love it: A thirty-seat Villeray trattoria hand-rolling pasta on upper Saint-Denis, well outside the tourist map yet booked out by in-the-know Montrealers.
Tip: Book ahead or aim for an early weeknight; the fresh pasta of the night is the thing to order.
Why locals love it: A warm Bib Gourmand bistro tucked by the Jean-Talon Market in Villeray, easy to miss but pouring one of the city's liveliest natural-wine lists.
Tip: Book midweek and let the room steer the wine; the daily plats change with the market next door.
Why locals love it: The casual, cash-friendly sibling beside formal Alep in Villeray, a Bib Gourmand mezze counter that tourists routinely walk straight past.
Tip: Order muhammara, sujuk and the grilled meats; it takes no reservations, so arrive a touch early.
Why locals love it: A tiny Saint-Henri taqueria pressing its own corn tortillas, quietly rated by Montreal's Mexican community over glossier downtown taco bars.
Tip: Order the al pastor with pineapple and load up at the salsa bar; three tacos is a real meal.
