This has been quite the year for me in terms of mini trips. Earlier in the year, Jenkins and I went with my family to a trip out to Eastern Canada. It was my first family trip in a while and it turned out better than I expected. 
Our first stop was in Montreal. Jenkins and I had travelled there a few years back and I was hoping to revisit some of our favourite places from our last trip as well as try out some new places that cropped up on my radar.
Due to flight delays and other unpredictable events that often come with travel, we didn’t arrive in Montreal until pretty late and after we checked in at our hotel, it was already 9:30PM local time. I had a feeling that we’d be arriving in town pretty late so I had found a suitable dinner location ahead of time. Jenkins and I had tried Reuben’s during our first trip to Montreal and thought it was decent and another plus was the fact that it was fairly close to our hotel.
Since it was fairly late in the evening, we were able to find a table quite easily for our party of 8. Since I was in Montreal, I decided to order the Montreal smoked meat sandwich. If it looks a little small to you, that’s because I ordered the smaller version because I didn’t want to go to bed on a full stomach. The meat was quite flavourful and fairly juicy but I would have liked for it to be slightly fattier. I asked for my meat to be medium fatty so the fattier version potentially could have had the extra flavour and fat I was looking for. The accompanying coleslaw was lightly dressed with a vinaigrette dressing rather than mayo-based, which I liked.
Believe it or not, but Jenkins actually isn’t a huge smoked meat fan so he opted for a regular clubhouse sandwich. As you can see in the picture below, it was quite a generous serving size and although it tasted pretty standard, Jenkins noted that it was still pretty good. Jenkins’ order also came with the same coleslaw that I had in my smoked meat sandwich and a side of fries. The fries could have been fried a bit longer but other than that, nothing much to comment about.
Even though it was late and we were all pretty full, my brother convinced us to share some dessert. We opted for the strawberry cheesecake, which was also noted on the menu as a Reuben’s specialty. The cheesecake was probably the one downer of our meal. I thought it was too dense and even dry for my liking although the strawberries were surprisingly sweet and flavourful. I’m fairly particular about my cheesecake and although the taste was alright, I didn’t like the texture at all.
My family’s introduction to smoked meat sandwiches at Reuben’s was just enough to whet their appetite. As was with our previous visit here, the food at Reuben’s is pretty good but I definitely prefer the smoked meat at Schwartz’s, which you’ll see in a later review.
Details:
888 Sainte-Catherine Ouest, Montreal
Tel: 514-861-1255
Summary:
Food: 
Service: 
Price: $$
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{ 12 comments… read them below or add one }
looks delish! how does that compare to Schwartz’s?
coffeefoodies – It was good but I definitely prefer Schwartz’s…it’s in a category of its own!
I’m based here in Montreal, to comment on your Reuben’s Deli review. First of all you listed the ‘WRONG’ Reuben’s Deli. You went to the one at 888 Sainte-Catherine West(not the near-by 1116 Sainte-Catherine West). Check your second picture(the address is listed below the plate). I don’t think they’re even related(even with the same name & fairly similar menu). Secondly, it looks like you ordered their regular smoked meat(not their old-fashioned smoked meat). When you say ‘medium fatty’ you ordered your smoked meat ‘medium?’ It’s best to order smoked meat in Montreal medium-fat. The smoked meat you got at Reuben’s Deli was cut way too thick(it’s usually cut much thinner). The strawberry cheesecake you dislike is a Montreal-style cheesecake. Anxious to check your review of Schwartz’s Deli coming up. Where else in Montreal did you go to eat?
WS – Oops, thanks for catching that! I thought I double checked their address on Google Maps but I guess that’s the problem when you’re blogging about a town you’re not from.
My other friend from Montreal had thought they were owned by the same owner but I’m not really sure myself. In the menu, I only recalled them having one type of smoked meat option (albeit with different sizes) but since I was eating so late, I might not have been paying attention. 
We went to a bunch of places in Montreal including Garde Manger and Au Pied du Cochon…looking forward to hearing your feedback on those places too!
I’ll checked the Reuben’s Deli menu the next time I’m in the area(maybe in about a week or so), to check how their smoked meat sandwich is listed(I think it’s listed regular or old fashioned in brackets, & they charge same price). If you don’t specify, they give you regular smoked meat. To me your regular Montreal smoked meat looks way too lean, even if you ordered it ‘medium.’ I always order my smoked meat medium-fat(including at Schwartz’s, & even ‘medium’ is too lean for me). So you got into Garde Manger(it’s hard to get in with such limited seating, even with people trying to get a reservation).
BTW, for Montreal-style cheesecake the best known one is at Dunn’s(it’s official name is Dunn’s Famous). Dunn’s Famous is suppose to open a Vancouver location sometime this fall(they also have Montreal smoked meat).
Forgot to say. Now you listed the right Reuben’s Deli address, but you still got their wrong phone number.
WS – I agree, I did find the smoked meat I had to be a little on the lean side but the server had indicated that was the option most people got? I guess I know for next time though! I actually work really close to the Vancouver Dunn’s location…I’ll definitely be checking it out when it does open!
OK I went today to the Reuben’s Deli location that you went. Checked their menu, as I thought they have both Old Fashioned & Regular smoked meat(it says it on their menu, & you have a choice). If you don’t specify, they give you regular smoked meat. As a test, I ordered their Old Fashioned medium-fat smoked meat there. Mine smoked meat was fatty enough, & it was very good(not as good as the absolute top tier Montreal smoked meat delis, but still very decent).
WS – wow, thanks for doing the follow-up! Hopefully, I won’t forget your tips the next time I go to Montreal :p
What is on the side of the Montreal style cheesecake
joel – I’m not sure what it was called but it was a slightly sweet crumble (but not crispy). Sometimes, I see it sprinkled on top of strawberry short cakes, if that helps.
Dunn’s Famous Vancouver opened for business beginning today I just heard.