Cheap Places to Eat in Quebec

"This version has chopped hot dogs in addition to gravy and cheese curds. When Pierre Barsalou opened La Banquise in the Plateau neighborhood in 1968, he didn’t have poutine on the menu. Fast forward to today and poutine dominates at this kitschy Montreal icon helmed by Barsalou’s daughter Annie and her partner Marc Latendresse."

"The standard recommendation is La Banquise and with only 3 days in Montreal, I wasn’t going to mess around with subpar poutine. There are a ton of variations on the classic — and while poutine purists may kill me for saying it, a fried egg on top of anything is never a bad idea."

"The family-owned Gema pizzeria is one of the rare, if not only, Montreal establishment to offer homemade ice cream made with custard. This incredibly rich and creamy dessert is offered in many traditional flavours like Belgian chocolate, pistachio and vanilla. You can also choose to add tantalizing garnishes, although it is not necessary since their frozen desserts are delicious plain."

"While this Little Italy gem may be better known for slinging pies, the secret’s out on its homemade frozen custard too. Served from a walk-up window, the rich and creamy treat is made in-house with dairy from Laiterie Chagnon in Waterloo, Quebec and offered in traditional flavours⁠—pistachio, vanilla, and chocolate⁠—that are switched up on the regular."

"Despite the rather audacious dual claim of frozen custard and Italian pizza specialties, Gema Pizzeria succeeds in pleasing all critics, thanks to refined, traditional, and extremely tasty fare, which is mostly made from produce bought at nearby..."

"What is it: There’s a rich tradition of greasy spoons in Québec—known as casse-croûtes in these parts—and they’re all endearingly celebrated as much as they’re a chagrin to waistlines. If there was ever a question about what a premium case-croûte would be like, Chez Tousignant is the answer. Classic but with the quality seems the common mantra here, as chefs Yann Turcotte and Michele Forgione used their skills with tremendous focus to create quality elements, from hamburger and hotdog buns to fries, patties, and gravy."

"Impasto chef Michele Forgione's first love, pasta aside, is for pastry and sweets. At his and partner Stefano Faita's snack bar Chez Tousignant, freshly-made piles of potato doughnuts beckon customers from the takeout counter."

"Burger de Ville is a family-owned business that started in 2009. These are premium quality burgers, made with fresh produce and they are delicious. The prices are reasonable, there are no airs and graces about the place and everyone is very friendly."

"For over half a century, Mister Steer has been serving one of the most popular kosher burgers in Montreal!. The industrial-looking interior speaks to American restaurant chains yet the burgers are excellent. The best-known are the Mr. Steerburger, Mr. Baconburger and Mr. Cheeseburger."

"One of the sole reliable cheap breakfasts in the downtown area, Mister Steer is known for its burgers, but it also has diner classics, including the option for Steerburger and eggs."

"The customer service at this restaurant is absolutely horrendous, I went there and was turned away, with no explanation. From inside the restaurant, an e..."

"Particularly excellent in colder months, Hot Pot Panda’s Mongolian-style all-you-can-eat buffet is where you want to go. Focused on Chinese fondue, the restaurant’s tabletop induction plates heat up your bowls of regular or spicy broth to cook up a long list of meats, vegetables, seafood, noodles and more. Best enjoyed in a group, keep in mind there’s a tradition where if you lose something in your boiling soup, you have to kiss everyone at the table."

"Hotpot Panda is a Mongolian-style buffet that offers a bunch of all-you-can-eat meal options in fondue form. Meats, veggies, seafood, noodles, and dessert — what else do you need?"

"Build-your-own-burger spots have never been so delicious or cheap, and that’s just the cost of a double burger. What makes these burgers a step up—hell, two or three steps up—from your average fast food joint is because of the patties. Made from an exceptional marinated beef recipe, they get sandwiched between buns that are glazed on the outside and crisp on the inside (they won't tell us where they get them from) and it makes for a irreplicable package."

"Surrounding La Ronde, you’ll find the expansive Parc Jean-Drapeau, which comprises two islands: Île Sainte-Hélène and the artificial Île Notre-Dame. In addition to hiking and skiing trails, green space, bike paths and gardens, the park also boasts the city’s largest outdoor concert venue, a Formula 1 race track (which hosts the Canadian Grand Prix), the Montreal Casino and a beach, among plenty of other paid and free activities."

"Montreal's largest park comprises two islands (Ile Ste-Hélène and Ile Notre-Dame) and was the site of the city's monumental Expo 67 World Fair. Today, the islands are a great spot for exploring on foot, bicycle or rollerblades. Half of Ile Ste-Hélène is taken up by La Ronde amusement park."

"1 Circuit Gilles VilleneuveMontréal, Québec H3C 1A9(514) 977-9328. Parc Jean-Drapeau consists of two islands, Saint Helen’s Island and Notre Dame Island. The Parc Jean-Drapeau is one of the top recreational areas in the city, featuring many attractions."

"Plus, after eating at La Banquise you’re basically already in one of Montreal’s lovely green spaces, Parc la Fontaine, where you can rent boats on a small lake or just sit and people watch. I also really loved cycling around the neighborhood here, with its cute alleyways and houses. I used the network of Bixi bikes during my stay in Montreal, which is extremely convenient and affordable, and definitely my favorite way of getting around the city (weather permitting)"

"Follow this pretty street lined with trees and Victorian homes to Parc Lafontaine. This is one of Montreal’s nicest parks with lots of trees, a man-made lake (skating in the winter), ducks and many spots to sit and people watch."

"Best reached by car or by bicycle, Bois de l'Île Bizard is about as far removed from the city center as you can get while still remaining within city limits. It's on the northwestern island and Montreal borough, Île Bizard. Driving is the easiest way to reach the island since it's about 40 minutes away from downtown by car and public transit is limited."

"Bois-de-l'Île-Bizard is a haven, and a local favorite place to be in all of Montreal. But getting to this idyllic beach without a car of your own requires a trek and then some. Factor in two hours of public transit followed by a 40-minute hike—or bike—just to get to the park."

"If you want to experience nature, then this is the park for you. Families can cool off with a swim at a sandy beach and then explore the park’s marshes, trails and boardwalks, either by foot or bike. There are also spots for canoeing, kayaking and fishing."

"One of the sights you can’t miss is Montreal’s stunning Town Hall, pictured below. You’ll also want to walk down the charming street of St. Paul Street, with its cobblestoned streets and charming façades."

"Next to the Biodome and standing 165 metres is the Montreal Tower, the highest inclined structure in the world. With a 45-degree angle, it knocks the socks off the Leaning Tower of Pisa, that’s tilted a piddly five degrees. It’s worth the ride up the glass enclosed funicular, because elevators are for old folks and the panoramic views of the city and the St. Lawrence Valley can’t be missed."

"After enjoying the gardens, you can enjoy an incredible view of Montreal from the top of the Montreal Tower Observatory. At 165 meters high with a 45-degree angle, this is the tallest inclined tower in the world. At the top of the tower, you can experience 360º panorama views. You can also enjoy a FREE tour of the Olympic Stadium with the Montreal Passport."

"The Montreal Tower Observatory (view ticket prices) can be accessed separately, and it’s a pretty quick ride to the top. Once you’re up there, the views and photo opportunities are amazing, and there’s a nice gift shop to pick up souvenirs."

"Botanical Gardens & Insectarium: Contained within Maisonneuve Park, this is one of the city’s jewels and is recognized as one of the world’s greatest botanical gardens. Find yourself surrounded by over 20,000 species of flora and fauna. The expansive gardens, established in 1930, offer a mix of botany and wildlife, with the insect exhibit taking a place of pride among a host of floral displays. Reserve your tickets in advance to avoid having to queue at the entrance."

"Once known as an inner-city golf course—the links can still be spotted from a bird’s eye view—Parc Maisonneuve shares its borders with the Botanical Gardens. That gigantic amount of greenspace contains spots like the Chinese Garden and the Japanese Garden among others, all of which are must-visits during the spring and summer seasons. The park also regularly hosts the city’s Saint-Jean Baptiste festivities to celebrate Quebec’s national holiday."

"At over 155 acres, Parc Maisonnueve is one of Montreal’s largest parks and an ideal place for a wide assortment of outdoor activities. This is a great park to bring the whole family and enjoy Montreal nature on a nice day. At the park, you can go biking, rollerblading, running, or bring a picnic, and it’s right next to the Montreal Botanical Gardens."