212:. While both establishments continued to be rated highly in recent years, Main Deli never won the ‘Best Montreal Sandwich Award’ which usually went to Schwartz's. Furthermore, Schwartz's was always much more popular among tourists who lined up there for hours while ignoring the Main Deli, attributed to Schwartz's "worldwide fame that makes it a must-enjoy attraction for tourists after 95 years in existence". Perhaps because of this, a frequent customer of Main Deli said “From what I heard, many Montrealers preferred it to Schwartz’s. It felt like it had more of the real traditional feel, while Schwartz’s can feel kind of touristy.”
1371:
1383:
301:
498:
286:. The meat was then smoked in a smoking oven and steamed to completion. Peter Varvaro Sr. indicated that while the spice mixture was important, it was the method of smoking and cooking the meat that contributed to its flavours and textures.
230:
The
Varvaro family sold the restaurant in 2013 after Peter Sr. died. However under new ownership, the quality of the food began to decline while prices rose, as the meat wasn't smoked in-house anymore while the
1475:
1209:
467:
1350:
434:
688:
508:
377:
678:
289:
The restaurant was also well known for its smoked meat poutine, smoked meat burger, and coleslaw. Peter Sr. reportedly made everything by hand.
419:
658:
588:
541:
1470:
187:
language and culture. The deli remained a family business, and two of
Varvaro's children have opened their own deli restaurants in the
1257:
1445:
1465:
1460:
1194:
1450:
1401:
1440:
1199:
963:
1485:
1455:
741:
711:
400:
1262:
1237:
726:
1003:
1355:
905:
618:
716:
706:
1023:
475:
1219:
860:
1204:
1060:
1050:
638:
581:
1045:
1247:
443:
135:
1386:
1288:
721:
334:
973:
698:
663:
239:
184:
1242:
1267:
653:
208:. The two restaurants were often compared against each other in their patronage and the flavours of their
940:
673:
628:
605:
574:
1176:
968:
935:
930:
900:
259:
209:
523:
354:
1314:
1118:
1013:
950:
731:
243:
749:
1184:
1108:
845:
283:
216:
1166:
1073:
895:
754:
683:
160:
87:
1146:
1098:
1068:
1035:
378:"Josh Freed: The Main Deli's closing heartbreaking for Smoke Meat Pete | Montreal Gazette"
835:
393:
Save the Deli: In Search of
Perfect Pastrami, Crusty Rye, and the Heart of Jewish Delicatessen
1133:
1103:
1040:
597:
314:
633:
499:"The Main, famed Montreal smoked meat institution beloved by Trudeau and Cohen, closes down"
335:"The Main, famed Montreal smoked meat institution beloved by Trudeau and Cohen, closes down"
1480:
1030:
875:
648:
255:
192:
8:
1227:
1123:
925:
820:
794:
784:
759:
830:
258:, which they cured and smoked in the back of their restaurant. Whole beef briskets were
1319:
1151:
1113:
885:
870:
195:, with Philip operating Delibee's, and Peter Jr. running Smoke Meat Pete which won the
613:
1374:
1156:
1078:
988:
983:
915:
890:
855:
825:
779:
769:
764:
396:
1329:
1088:
1008:
998:
789:
623:
197:
242:, unrelenting city construction on Saint Laurent Boulevard, and rising costs from
227:, who had gone on to become their competition as one of the owners of Schwartz's.
1304:
1252:
1161:
1093:
1083:
865:
850:
204:
Main Deli was right across the street from their main business rival, the famed
1189:
958:
920:
880:
810:
668:
1232:
224:
1434:
1416:
1403:
1334:
1324:
993:
910:
643:
220:
205:
1141:
420:"Main Deli's closing a sign of troubled times for Montreal restaurant scene"
279:
267:
64:
61:
1309:
1018:
815:
306:
566:
978:
840:
156:
68:
524:"'End of an era': Montreal now set to lose 2 smoked meat institutions"
774:
275:
561:
238:
The Main Deli closed in May 2023, with its demise attributed to the
1272:
503:
232:
180:
179:
Main Deli was established in 1974 by Peter
Varvaro Sr. Varvaro was
164:
97:
215:
Some of the regular clients of the Main Deli in the past included
271:
188:
168:
125:
107:
263:
300:
1476:
Restaurants disestablished due to the COVID-19 pandemic
296:
191:of Montreal using their father's secret recipe for
521:
413:
411:
201:’s annual ‘Best Montreal Sandwich Award’ in 2001.
689:Sir George-Étienne Cartier National Historic Site
1432:
418:Bruemmer, René; Lalonde, Michelle (9 May 2023).
332:
679:The Fur Trade at Lachine National Historic Site
468:"Celine Dion: Montreal's Schwartz's will go on"
417:
408:
582:
515:
542:"Evelyn's Memory, The Main, Dangerous Dan's"
326:
183:in background, but grew up immersed in the
589:
575:
596:
432:
539:
535:
533:
493:
491:
206:Schwartz's Montreal Hebrew Delicatessen
1433:
372:
370:
368:
266:and their own spice mix consisting of
712:Church of St. Michael and St. Anthony
570:
465:
254:The Main Deli's primary offering was
1263:Montreal International Jazz Festival
1238:Fantasia International Film Festival
530:
488:
433:Langlois, Christine (October 2009),
352:
348:
346:
344:
1382:
1351:National Historic Sites in Montreal
390:
365:
13:
1471:Restaurants disestablished in 2023
717:Mary, Queen of the World Cathedral
522:Kalina Laframboise (12 May 2023).
384:
14:
1497:
1200:Réseau de transport métropolitain
555:
442:, Reader's Digest, archived from
341:
282:, and other ingredients found in
1446:2023 disestablishments in Quebec
1381:
1370:
1369:
1195:Société de transport de Montréal
1051:Ruisseau-De Montigny Nature Park
964:Bois-de-l'Île-Bizard Nature Park
639:Canadian Centre for Architecture
511:from the original on 2023-06-01.
466:WYATT, NELSON (March 11, 2012),
299:
1466:Restaurants established in 1974
1461:Defunct restaurants in Montreal
1046:Pointe-aux-Prairies Nature Park
1024:George-Étienne Cartier Monument
333:Matthew Lapierre (9 May 2023).
1451:Jewish delicatessens in Canada
1289:Notre Dame des Neiges Cemetery
906:Palais des congrès de Montréal
459:
426:
1:
1441:1974 establishments in Quebec
974:Cap-Saint-Jacques Nature Park
619:Centre d'histoire de Montréal
548:, 1 (21), Food Network Canada
320:
240:COVID-19 pandemic in Montreal
1486:Ashkenazi Jewish restaurants
1456:Jews and Judaism in Montreal
1268:Montreal World Film Festival
861:McCall MacBain Arts Building
654:Montreal Museum of Fine Arts
249:
7:
1356:Historic places in Montreal
1258:Montreal Fireworks Festival
1205:Gare d'autocars de Montréal
1004:L'Anse-à-l'Orme Nature Park
941:World Trade Centre Montreal
674:Rio Tinto Alcan Planetarium
629:Maison Saint-Gabriel Museum
292:
10:
1502:
969:Bois-de-Liesse Nature Park
210:Montreal-style smoked meat
174:
16:Building in Quebec, Canada
1364:
1343:
1297:
1281:
1218:
1175:
1132:
1059:
1014:Montreal Botanical Garden
949:
803:
740:
727:Saint James United Church
697:
604:
391:Sax, David (2010-10-01),
284:Montreal steak seasonings
155:, was a delicatessen and
131:
121:
113:
103:
93:
82:
74:
57:
49:
41:
33:
29:
23:
1109:Place Jean-Paul Riopelle
846:Habitations Jeanne-Mance
664:Pointe-à-Callière Museum
659:Musée d'art contemporain
355:"Birth of the Smokemeat"
235:was taken off the menu.
1417:45.515925°N 73.577582°W
707:Christ Church Cathedral
684:Montreal Science Centre
161:Saint Laurent Boulevard
147:, also known simply as
88:Saint Laurent Boulevard
1243:Festival of New Cinema
750:1000 de La Gauchetière
732:Saint Joseph's Oratory
540:Catucci, John (2013),
436:First We Take The Main
24:Main Deli Steak House
1422:45.515925; -73.577582
1104:Place Jacques-Cartier
598:Landmarks of Montreal
353:Pope, Jeanne (2006),
315:List of delicatessens
244:recent food inflation
145:Main Deli Steak House
1387:WikiProject:Montreal
1167:Saint Helen's Island
1147:Île de la Visitation
1099:Place Émilie-Gamelin
876:Montreal Clock Tower
649:Montreal Insectarium
472:The Chronicle Herald
256:Montreal smoked meat
136:(archived: May 2018)
1413: /
1228:Canadian Grand Prix
836:Grande Bibliothèque
795:Maison Radio-Canada
785:Complexe Desjardins
760:1501 McGill College
722:Notre-Dame Basilica
546:You Gotta Eat Here!
422:. Montreal Gazette.
1320:Montreal Pool Room
1152:Island of Montreal
1114:Saint-Louis Square
886:Mount Royal Chalet
871:Montreal City Hall
755:1250 René-Lévesque
634:Montreal Biosphère
361:, CBC Radio Canada
1396:
1395:
1375:Category:Montreal
1157:Notre Dame Island
1079:Dorchester Square
989:Jeanne-Mance Park
984:Parc Jean-Drapeau
916:Place Bonaventure
891:Mount Royal Cross
856:Jean-Talon Market
826:Bonsecours Market
780:Sun Life Building
770:Place Ville Marie
765:Tour de la Bourse
562:Main Deli webpage
402:978-0-547-38644-7
395:, Mariner Books,
141:
140:
1493:
1428:
1427:
1425:
1424:
1423:
1418:
1414:
1411:
1410:
1409:
1406:
1385:
1384:
1373:
1372:
1330:St-Viateur Bagel
1248:Les FrancoFolies
1124:Place d'Youville
1009:Maisonneuve Park
999:La Fontaine Park
951:Nature and parks
931:Underground City
831:Château Dufresne
804:Other structures
790:Westmount Square
591:
584:
577:
568:
567:
550:
549:
537:
528:
527:
519:
513:
512:
495:
486:
485:
484:
483:
474:, archived from
463:
457:
456:
455:
454:
448:
441:
430:
424:
423:
415:
406:
405:
388:
382:
381:
374:
363:
362:
350:
339:
338:
330:
309:
304:
303:
198:Montreal Gazette
36:
21:
20:
1501:
1500:
1496:
1495:
1494:
1492:
1491:
1490:
1431:
1430:
1421:
1419:
1415:
1412:
1407:
1404:
1402:
1400:
1399:
1397:
1392:
1360:
1339:
1305:Fairmount Bagel
1293:
1277:
1253:Just for Laughs
1214:
1210:Trudeau Airport
1185:Central Station
1171:
1128:
1119:Victoria Square
1094:Place du Canada
1084:Phillips Square
1055:
945:
936:Windsor Station
901:Olympic Stadium
866:Montreal Casino
851:Hurtubise House
799:
736:
693:
614:Château Ramezay
600:
595:
558:
553:
538:
531:
520:
516:
497:
496:
489:
481:
479:
464:
460:
452:
450:
446:
439:
431:
427:
416:
409:
403:
389:
385:
376:
375:
366:
351:
342:
331:
327:
323:
305:
298:
295:
252:
177:
114:Postal/ZIP Code
34:
25:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1499:
1489:
1488:
1483:
1478:
1473:
1468:
1463:
1458:
1453:
1448:
1443:
1394:
1393:
1391:
1390:
1378:
1365:
1362:
1361:
1359:
1358:
1353:
1347:
1345:
1341:
1340:
1338:
1337:
1332:
1327:
1322:
1317:
1312:
1307:
1301:
1299:
1298:Establishments
1295:
1294:
1292:
1291:
1285:
1283:
1279:
1278:
1276:
1275:
1270:
1265:
1260:
1255:
1250:
1245:
1240:
1235:
1230:
1224:
1222:
1216:
1215:
1213:
1212:
1207:
1202:
1197:
1192:
1190:Montreal Metro
1187:
1181:
1179:
1177:Transportation
1173:
1172:
1170:
1169:
1164:
1159:
1154:
1149:
1144:
1138:
1136:
1130:
1129:
1127:
1126:
1121:
1116:
1111:
1106:
1101:
1096:
1091:
1086:
1081:
1076:
1071:
1065:
1063:
1057:
1056:
1054:
1053:
1048:
1043:
1038:
1033:
1028:
1027:
1026:
1016:
1011:
1006:
1001:
996:
991:
986:
981:
976:
971:
966:
961:
959:Angrignon Park
955:
953:
947:
946:
944:
943:
938:
933:
928:
923:
921:Place des Arts
918:
913:
908:
903:
898:
893:
888:
883:
881:Montreal Forum
878:
873:
868:
863:
858:
853:
848:
843:
838:
833:
828:
823:
818:
813:
811:Atwater Market
807:
805:
801:
800:
798:
797:
792:
787:
782:
777:
772:
767:
762:
757:
752:
746:
744:
738:
737:
735:
734:
729:
724:
719:
714:
709:
703:
701:
695:
694:
692:
691:
686:
681:
676:
671:
669:Redpath Museum
666:
661:
656:
651:
646:
641:
636:
631:
626:
621:
616:
610:
608:
602:
601:
594:
593:
586:
579:
571:
565:
564:
557:
556:External links
554:
552:
551:
529:
526:. Global News.
514:
507:. 2023-05-09.
487:
458:
425:
407:
401:
383:
364:
340:
324:
322:
319:
318:
317:
311:
310:
294:
291:
251:
248:
176:
173:
139:
138:
133:
129:
128:
123:
119:
118:
115:
111:
110:
105:
101:
100:
95:
91:
90:
84:
83:Street address
80:
79:
76:
72:
71:
59:
55:
54:
51:
47:
46:
43:
39:
38:
31:
30:
27:
26:
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1498:
1487:
1484:
1482:
1479:
1477:
1474:
1472:
1469:
1467:
1464:
1462:
1459:
1457:
1454:
1452:
1449:
1447:
1444:
1442:
1439:
1438:
1436:
1429:
1426:
1389:
1388:
1379:
1377:
1376:
1367:
1366:
1363:
1357:
1354:
1352:
1349:
1348:
1346:
1342:
1336:
1333:
1331:
1328:
1326:
1323:
1321:
1318:
1316:
1313:
1311:
1308:
1306:
1303:
1302:
1300:
1296:
1290:
1287:
1286:
1284:
1280:
1274:
1271:
1269:
1266:
1264:
1261:
1259:
1256:
1254:
1251:
1249:
1246:
1244:
1241:
1239:
1236:
1234:
1231:
1229:
1226:
1225:
1223:
1221:
1217:
1211:
1208:
1206:
1203:
1201:
1198:
1196:
1193:
1191:
1188:
1186:
1183:
1182:
1180:
1178:
1174:
1168:
1165:
1163:
1160:
1158:
1155:
1153:
1150:
1148:
1145:
1143:
1140:
1139:
1137:
1135:
1131:
1125:
1122:
1120:
1117:
1115:
1112:
1110:
1107:
1105:
1102:
1100:
1097:
1095:
1092:
1090:
1089:Place d'Armes
1087:
1085:
1082:
1080:
1077:
1075:
1074:Champ de Mars
1072:
1070:
1067:
1066:
1064:
1062:
1058:
1052:
1049:
1047:
1044:
1042:
1039:
1037:
1034:
1032:
1029:
1025:
1022:
1021:
1020:
1017:
1015:
1012:
1010:
1007:
1005:
1002:
1000:
997:
995:
994:Lachine Canal
992:
990:
987:
985:
982:
980:
977:
975:
972:
970:
967:
965:
962:
960:
957:
956:
954:
952:
948:
942:
939:
937:
934:
932:
929:
927:
924:
922:
919:
917:
914:
912:
911:Peck Building
909:
907:
904:
902:
899:
897:
894:
892:
889:
887:
884:
882:
879:
877:
874:
872:
869:
867:
864:
862:
859:
857:
854:
852:
849:
847:
844:
842:
839:
837:
834:
832:
829:
827:
824:
822:
819:
817:
814:
812:
809:
808:
806:
802:
796:
793:
791:
788:
786:
783:
781:
778:
776:
773:
771:
768:
766:
763:
761:
758:
756:
753:
751:
748:
747:
745:
743:
739:
733:
730:
728:
725:
723:
720:
718:
715:
713:
710:
708:
705:
704:
702:
700:
696:
690:
687:
685:
682:
680:
677:
675:
672:
670:
667:
665:
662:
660:
657:
655:
652:
650:
647:
645:
644:McCord Museum
642:
640:
637:
635:
632:
630:
627:
625:
622:
620:
617:
615:
612:
611:
609:
607:
603:
599:
592:
587:
585:
580:
578:
573:
572:
569:
563:
560:
559:
547:
543:
536:
534:
525:
518:
510:
506:
505:
500:
494:
492:
478:on 2012-03-14
477:
473:
469:
462:
449:on 2013-07-30
445:
438:
437:
429:
421:
414:
412:
404:
398:
394:
387:
379:
373:
371:
369:
360:
356:
349:
347:
345:
336:
329:
325:
316:
313:
312:
308:
302:
297:
290:
287:
285:
281:
277:
273:
269:
265:
261:
257:
247:
245:
241:
236:
234:
228:
226:
223:, as well as
222:
221:Leonard Cohen
218:
217:Stanley Lewis
213:
211:
207:
202:
200:
199:
194:
190:
186:
182:
172:
170:
166:
162:
158:
154:
150:
146:
137:
134:
130:
127:
124:
120:
116:
112:
109:
106:
102:
99:
96:
92:
89:
85:
81:
77:
73:
70:
66:
63:
60:
56:
52:
48:
44:
40:
32:
28:
22:
19:
1398:
1380:
1368:
1162:Nuns' Island
1069:Cabot Square
1036:Olympic Park
896:Olympic Park
545:
517:
502:
480:, retrieved
476:the original
471:
461:
451:, retrieved
444:the original
435:
428:
392:
386:
358:
328:
288:
280:mustard seed
268:black pepper
253:
237:
229:
214:
203:
196:
178:
152:
148:
144:
142:
65:delicatessen
62:Kosher style
18:
1481:Steakhouses
1420: /
1310:La Banquise
1233:Divers/Cité
1041:Oxford Park
1019:Mount Royal
816:Bell Centre
742:Skyscrapers
337:. CBC News.
307:Food portal
225:Céline Dion
193:smoked meat
159:located on
42:Established
37:information
1435:Categories
1408:73°34′39″W
1405:45°30′57″N
1335:Wilensky's
1325:Schwartz's
1282:Cemeteries
1142:Île Bizard
979:Jarry Park
926:Technoparc
841:Habitat 67
821:Big Orange
482:2019-11-27
453:2013-02-11
359:RCI Vision
321:References
171:, Canada.
157:steakhouse
75:Dress code
69:Steakhouse
35:Restaurant
775:Tour CIBC
276:coriander
250:Offerings
149:Main Deli
58:Food type
1315:La Ronde
1273:Tam-Tams
1031:Old Port
699:Churches
509:Archived
504:CBC News
293:See also
233:coleslaw
165:Montreal
153:The Main
98:Montreal
1344:Related
1134:Islands
1061:Squares
624:Biodome
606:Museums
189:suburbs
181:Italian
175:History
132:Website
122:Country
117:H2W 1Y2
1220:Events
399:
272:garlic
185:Jewish
169:Quebec
126:Canada
108:Quebec
78:Casual
50:Closed
447:(PDF)
440:(PDF)
264:brine
262:with
260:cured
104:State
86:3864
397:ISBN
219:and
143:The
94:City
67:and
53:2023
45:1974
163:in
151:or
1437::
544:,
532:^
501:.
490:^
470:,
410:^
367:^
357:,
343:^
278:,
274:,
270:,
246:.
167:,
590:e
583:t
576:v
380:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.