Not impressed. We went here after seeing all the great reviews and knowing it's a local institution. It's so small inside that you really can't see the bagels being made, which would have been great for my kids. My kids and I waited outside while my husband waited in line because there just wasn't room inside.
And there are no tables so you can't eat there. I realize for locals they just need to grab and go back home or to work, but for out-of-towners, seating would be nice. There are some benches outside on the sidewalk, but not helpful on a rainy day.
The bagels were not great. My wheat bagel had poppyseeds all over it. I've never seen a wheat bagel with poppyseeds. Maybe it's a Montreal thing and I just didn't know. I hate poppyseeds on bagels, so that ruined it for me. My son got a cinnamon raisin bagel and he hated it. It was overcooked and crispy/burnt on the outside. He took one or two bites and refused to eat any more. I tried a bite and wouldn't eat the rest either.
As tourists, it was a bit of a schlep to take the Metro subway and then a long walk to Fairmount from the Metro station to get there. Definitely not worth it in my opinion. Wish we had tried the famous St. V bagels instead.