Smoked Meat, Poutine Pleasures

Garnish, garnish, garnish. For many the idea of the classic, simple, uncomplicated grub of Canadian palates just isn’t enough. Poutine has seen its fair share of creative redesigns from the bold and brave restaurateurs determined to reach a new echelon of poutine perfection, and the stomachs eager to gobble it all down. Although the straightforward meat, cheese, gravy combo will always have its place in the kitchens of the greasy spoons, it’s got some stiff competition. Restaurants have upped the ante on the poutine. 

Dunn’s Famous has a rich history and stellar track record of consistently providing savoury smoked meat to the patrons of Montreal for decades. With over 88 years under its belt, the delicatessen has managed to remain an authentic staple in Montreal’s restaurant scene. With a philosophy of “no quick fixes and no cutting corners,” Dunn’s has kept their tradition of stacking the smoked meat as high as they were in 1927 when the franchise was born. And their offerings have since expanded to include another staple of Quebec culture.

Of the numerous South Shore restaurants, Dunn’s Famous, nestled just a stone’s throw away from Montreal, offers an tantalizing spin on poutine that is uniquely famous:

ITALIAN

The poutine that will make you want to call your mama! Here, the classic gravy is replaced with an Italian-inspired meat sauce so delicious, spaghetti will be crying foul.

ALL DRESSED

Think pizza minus the dough. This poutine gives you sautéed mushrooms, onions, peppers, pepperoni and Dunn’s homemade gravy. It’s pizza for when you don’t actually want a pizza.

LE HOT CHICKEN

What came first, the chicken breast or the peas? In addition to these ingredients, the poutine is topped once again with Dunn’s homemade gravy and fresh cheese curds. Handle with care!

BUFFALO

Go head to head with this Dunn’s creation of chicken tenders cloaked in buffalo sauce and topped with shallots. No guarantee you’ll grow buffalo horns, though.

DUNN’S FAMOUS

The namesake of the restaurant, this Quebecoise poutine is packed with the Dunn’s famous smoked meat. It’s a 2-in-1 for the newbies to poutine and to Montreal’s famous smoked meat.

MEXICAN

If you were to weigh all of Dunn’s poutines, this one would take the top spot. You’ve got your fries and seasoned ground beef garnished with banana peppers, shallots, cheddar cheese and sour cream. Chances are by the time you’re done you’ll be in a satisfying food coma.

If these selections just aren’t enough to fulfill your Dunn’s poutine cravings you can always build your own with extra cheese, hot dog, bacon, smoked meat, grilled chicken, ground beef and sautéed onions and mushrooms. 

Montreal’s premier deli doesn’t skirt on ingredients, flavour or polish on the menu. In fact, you can’t get any messier than with poutine and smoked meat. With an array of traditional offerings mixed in with modern dishes, Dunn’s is a restaurant that young and old can enjoy. If you’re ever in the Montreal area, this is one stop you can’t ignore.