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| - The best beef brisket sandwich of all time. Of all time. I will try to describe it: smoky yet juicy, peppery yet salty, spicy yet sweet. I realize I have failed to describe it. You should go buy some and put it in your mouth and you will understand.
It would really be unfair to compare Schwartz's with another one of my favorite Hebrew Delicatessen's: Katz's in New York's Lower East Side. It is unfair, but I will do it anyway.
At Katz's, their specialty is pastrami, which is sweeter and sliced thinner. They also serve it on rye bread with mustard, and it's also delicious, but it's totally different here at Schwartz's. Katz's is the undeniable champion of the pastrami and the salami, but this smoked meat thing in Montreal is really special. It wasn't until I came here that I realized "Montreal steak seasoning" that I have in my kitchen probably originated here.
Here at Schwartz, the smoked meat is cut by hand into big chunks and slathered on the bread. It's very juicy and fatty, and more smoky than sweet. Their mustard and spices work as a perfect counterpoint to the flavors they have working in the meat. They're subversive. This sandwich may be perfect as it is.
The staff is also really cool and recommended that we complete the pilgrimige with fries, a pickle and a black cherry soda. Do that. The fries are awesome.
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