What would Montreal be without Poutine?

Fries, meat sauce and cheese kurds : poutine is the perfect cure for anything (alcohol related), except a heart-attack. It's the joke of all Frenchman, the stereotype of all anglos, yet one of my favourite things this town has to offer. It's available anywhere and anytime in this party-town but anywhere you go the eternal debate remains : who serves the best poutine?

Most Montrealers will argue that La Banquise has the best poutine. The line-up at 3am on weekends gives some backing to that, but I will say : THEY LIE. It's only semi-decent.

Sure you can go there at any time, get well seated, have decent portions with a huge variety; but frankly, the meat sauce is average and the fries are basic. Plus, the texture always ends up blending together somehow... you get a big mushy mess of fat (though satisfying when drunk is still is rather confusing). It is well known and worth trying out, but frankly I've had better.

994 Rachel E.

Price: $9 Small; $12 Big

Poutine : 6/10                          

Open : 24/7

Drunchies satisfaction : 7/10

Sober satisfaction : 4/10

Overall : 6/10

If you're from St-Henri or in the area, you have to try the cheapest diner in town. Though people disagree on the quality of their poutine, Green Spot (or cheekily renamed G-spot by some locals) has some of the best fries in town. They're big, fresh and deep-fried just right, plus their prices are unbeatable. I would recommend their awesome $5 breakfast, but that's best the morning after.

 3041 Notre-Dame O.

Price : $5 Small; $8 Big

Poutine : 8/10                                        

Open : Don't trust me, but I think 11pm?

Drunchies : Only hungover

Sober : Badass

Overall : 8/10 (Because the waitresses are awesome)

Classic poutine, on the otherhand, can be found at the chain-like diners. These include AA (only in St Henri, apparently) and La Belle Province. Basic fries, basic sauce (that apparently is vegan as well... yay MSG), but at least you don't expect the best. You're happy with what you get.

AA : 3702 Notre-Dame O.

Price : $5 - $10

B-Pro : Google it... they're all around

Drunchies : 8/10

Sober : 6/10

Open : Late, but not all night
Overall : 7/10

The best poutine is fortunately conveniently a block away from my place at Ma am Bolduc. Even this guy says so (http://www.montrealpoutine.com/reviews.html). It's something about their meat-sauce being so flavourful. Maybe it's because the owners are French; maybe it's because I'm biased because they offered me a job. But compared to the many poutines I've tasted, this one is truly unique and delicious. Their 3 cheese with blue, goat and cheddar is absolutely amazing. If you're adventurous enough to go this far east, it's something you can't miss.

4351 Delorimier

Price : $10 Small; $13 Big

Drunchies : They close early (no time for those shenanigans)      

Sober : 9/10

Poutine : 9/10

Overall : 9/10

Next article : something a bit more classy...