Since I arrived in Montreal, February 1998, friends have been telling me that Schwartz has the best smoked meat in the city. Yeah, right! How much better could one smoked meat sandwich be than the other?
I have been tempted to go many times, but my dignity has not allowed me to be part of the long lineup outside. I've seen hundreds of tourists waiting in line at -20c. to get in and live the Shwartz experience.
Finally the curiosity overpowered my resistance. I asked my friend Gary to come with me to discover what all the buzz is about.
I discovered that Schwartz was established in 1928 by a Jewish immigrant from Romania and that the secret of their big clientele is their mandatory 10 day meat curing time which gives a distinct flavor to their meat, but above all, it's the heritage of almost 90 years of great customer service.
Gary and I went on a Tuesday at 2:00 pm, hoping not to stand in line for a long time. We got in after waiting only a few minutes. We asked for a table for two, but there is not such a thing as a table for two. All tables seat 6 people and you sit with people that you've never met before. We were sitting next to three men from Argentina who asked me to take photos of them.
The service was extremely efficient. There are many dishes on the menu at a low price, but most of us go there for one reason: their famous smoked meat sandwich. Within a few minutes the waiter was taking our order and somehow he managed to make us feel at home while expressing his Jewish humor. Five minutes later we were served.
The portions are big enough to satisfy a hungry man, and the taste was extraordinary. However, was it significantly better than any other established smoked meat sandwich in Montreal? Not really, at least not enough that would make it worth it for me to stand in a long line. Nevertheless, after eating at Schwartz, I feel that now I am a bit closer to the Montreal culture and history. Now I get to walk around telling people that yes! I have eaten at Schwartz's and yes! the smoked meat is delicious.
