There are a few must-dos when you visit Montreal. Wander through Old Montreal, Mile End, and Mount Royal Park. And, of course, stop by the stunning Notre-Dame Basilica. But no Montreal itinerary is complete without one very important stop.Ornate interior of a grand cathedral with intricate arches and a large illuminated altar in the center

Jen McPhee

Poutine!You obviously can’t do Québec without poutine, so when my five best girlfriends and I took a weekend trip from Toronto to Montreal, we knew we couldn’t leave without indulging in gravy, cheese curds, and endless fries. And what better place to do it than the iconic, viral, 24-hour hot spot La Banquise?Exterior of La Banquise restaurant with striped awnings and floral decor, specializing in poutine since 1968

Jen McPhee

Rumour is…this place is always bustling. Sure, we weren’t there at 3 a.m., but even for a casual noon visit, there were barely any tables left. We grabbed a spot on the back patio, soaking up the sun before soaking up the gravy.Group of six smiling friends taking a selfie in front of a fountain in an outdoor plaza

Jen McPhee

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The Menu…We are BIG foodies, so we had our work cut out for us when we had to narrow down our order to just six poutines from their impressively long menu. We went with some of the most popular, highly recommended options. And trust me, we definitely have thoughts.Menu page featuring various poutine options with descriptions and prices. Includes a specials section and allergen information

Jen McPhee

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Our Picks…We, of course, had to order some of the classics, but we also ventured into a few of the more adventurous options. After spending what felt like several business days debating our choices and being veryyyy strategic with our picks, these are the poutines we decided on. And because you can’t taste a photo through your screen (yet), each one comes with a little quote, lovingly conjured up by the six of us, to sum up the flavour. Jen McPhee

Jen McPhee

Then it got romantic for a sec…and we got carried away with feeding each other. But back to the reviews…Person smiling feeds another bite from a fork outdoors; both wear casual tops and one has a camouflage hat

Jen McPhee

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Our Reviews…We first tried to describe each poutine in a single sentence (which was harder than we expected!). Then… while we were at it, I asked my friends to share a one-liner that captures their honest thoughts on the poutines. You know, normal girl-bonding stuff, right? Here’s what we came up with:A dish of fries topped with gravy, bacon, and cheese curds, resembling poutine, on a textured table surface

Jen McPhee

Person with short hair sitting outdoors, holding a plate of food, smiling gladly at it. People are seated at tables in the background

Jen McPhee

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A plate of loaded fries topped with sliced beef, shredded cabbage, pickles, and a creamy dressing, presented on a rustic wooden table

Jen McPhee

Person with short hair sitting outdoors, holding a plate of food, smiling gladly at it. People are seated at tables in the background

Jen McPhee

A plate of loaded fries topped with cheese curds, roast beef, fried pickles, and drizzled with a creamy sauce on a wooden table

Jen McPhee

Person with short hair sitting outdoors, holding a plate of food, smiling gladly at it. People are seated at tables in the background

Jen McPhee

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A plate of fries topped with onion rings, sauce, and pickles, set on a wooden table

Jen McPhee

Person with short hair sitting outdoors, holding a plate of food, smiling gladly at it. People are seated at tables in the background

Jen McPhee

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Plate of loaded poutine topped with sausage strips, ground meat, gravy, and cheese curds

Jen McPhee

Two people enjoying a meal outdoors. One person, wearing glasses and a green top, is eating with a fork. The other smiles in a plaid shirt and cap

Jen McPhee

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Our Honest Rankings…Now for the moment you’ve all been waiting for. (Drumroll, please.) Yep, our highly professional ranking of the poutines. From our absolute favourite in the No. 1 spot to the one that sadly landed at the bottom of the pile, here’s how they ranked:Plates of loaded poutine with various toppings, including cheese curds, gravy, meats, and sauces, displayed on a picnic table

Jen McPhee

Now, fellow Montreal travellers, I want to hear from you: what’s your favourite poutine spot in the city? Drop your recommendations in the comments so that the next time I’m in the City of Saints, my Poutine Posse and I can continue expanding our poutine palate.And for more fun travel content like this, make sure you follow BuzzFeed Canada on TikTok and Instagram! And check out our new travel page, On My Way!

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