I am from NY. Well, I am from NJ, and work in NY. This is based on that.
I like this place. The place is solid. It's a sort of hole in the wall full of tourists that are heeding the advice that "you must go here." Andy wanted me to try it, as she lived in Montreal for many years. She did not say that I must try it. But we were close, and it's kind of a well-known establishment in Montreal. So we went in.
The place is old school, for sure. The vibe is totally New York, which I like. People are piled in at tables and slamming down millions of calories of food in a very blue collar setting. Totally enjoy the vibe of the place. We were squeezed in where they could fit us. People watching was ok, though it's a small joint and reading the stuff on the walls was just as entertaining.
We got a sandwich. For me, this is pastrami from a Jewish deli. I know, I know. Everyone is going to say that no, it's different. To me, it tasted more or less the same as a real good pastrami. It's good, it's tasty, gooey, fatty, succulent, etc etc. I am not a big enough red meat fan to say that you absolutely must go here. It was good, the sandwich was good, the experience was good. But I think the hype is a little bit much. I read some of the reviews here and think that some people are out of their minds. Well, I guess I know that some people are out of their minds based on much more than that. But you get the point.
If you are from the NY area and have eaten pastrami & corned beef all your life, don't go here. You will wonder what the fuss is all about. If that does not describe you, then you should go for it. It will be a really good, reasonably priced, down-to-earth eating experience that you will enjoy for sure. Unless you're a vegetarian. Then go to Fairmount Bagels instead.