this place is a gem. it’s such a simple sandwich but you can tell it’s been made with such care and authenticity. love that this family owned restaurant has been in existence for so long. also you must try the chocolate soda. they make it from scratch using syrup, milk, and carbonation. when you walk in you feel like you’ve been transported 60 years into the past with a warm fuzzy feeling on the inside. their prices are beyond reasonable too

A Montreal staple since 1932, this family operated deli has been featured in books, magazines, television and movies. The renowned "Wilensky special" and home-made cherry cola are incomparable. The savoury, grilled, all-beef salami and all-beef bologna with mustard on a kaiser roll and excellent side options are a perfect, satisfying light lunch. A must try for any true Montrealer

Been going for over 30 years but it's a stop all tourists and locals who haven't gone must do. Simple fair, small deli with an old fashion soda fountain and over 90 yrs of history. Nothing as really changed. You're basically eating in a wonderful time capsule.

Jewish cuisine with rich history. Owners are friendly, sandwich tastes great and the ambience is rustic and homely. You can see how it has evolved over the years with photos of the family restaurant laid neatly across the walls. Go for a Wilensky special with Swiss cheese (and pickles if you like).

This place has both history and ambiance. The fried salami and cheese sandwich was decent and the pickles nice and crisp. The cola is made to order with syrup and soda water and is pleasant and not overly sweet like canned cola. I’ll definitely go back again.

I’m a tourist from New England in th US and researched this is a must try. So glad I came! The whole staff was so friendly and had a old-school, home feel. I got the Wilensky special with Swiss cheese. Around $5. Everything was on point. The meat was super flavorful and stuffed more than I expected. The bun they use is incredible. I wish I had this place near my home.

Confronted by the old counter as you walk in you’d think that this would be intimidating, it’s however the opposite, the staff are welcoming, and the little sandwiches the other customers are satisfyingly eating lure you in. There’s only one thing for it, the Wilensky Special and a Soda. They make it the old fashioned way in front you of with joyous theatre, syrup and then the soda. I would encourage you to eat the special with lashings of the mustard, the bottles placed in front of you like mini golden idols. The special is as expected, perfectly simple and delicious. I could’ve sat here and eaten three more whilst I soaked up the atmosphere but I think it was also time to give my seat up to the next willing customer.

Bread is made so soft and great taste, the place is marvelous and the staff were super friendly, thank you! Oh, the meat was super yummy.. truly a must-try!!!

Wilensky's feels like a veritable Mile End institution, and a simple bologna sandwich delivers more than would be assumed at first glance. The bread is light and crisp, encasing a tasty medly of cured meat, melted cheese and the right amount of mustard spread. Perhaps for the history of the place alone a visit is warranted, but the classic sandwich certainly does not disappoint.

Amazing spot. A MUST when in Montreal and in need of a quick, delicious snack. A truly awesome landmark and piece of local history. Be sure to check out all the cool clippings on the walls!

Ok ok ok place is not my cup of tea but here is why I give it a 4 stars. The lady behind the counter has character. Bought the classic bologna with Swiss and the kids ate it all up and they don’t like mustard which of course cannot be left out. Had the hotdog in the onion bun and it was ok. Like the old school feel and the fact my kids loved it. That is enough for me.

This place is awesome. As soon as you go inside you feel it’s a different vibe. The family style just shines through. For how simple the meal was it was delicious. Highly recommend the soda as well as the special with swiss

Lovely old school vibe, extremely kind and friendly folks behind the counter (friendliness level is high comparing to other food & beverage spots in Montreal). I think less than 10 seats at the bar, expect a wait if you want to dine in (or there are plenty of spots outdoor/by the park too). The sandwich is ready, comes warm within in 10 secons of me ordering, amazing! The sandwich itself is tasty, small and light but to be honest not mindblowing. Ill probably be back for quick snack and for the service & nostalgia of it. Sandwich cost CA$4.50, side of pickle 80cents and a glass of cola $1 something. Whole meal cost less than $10. And you can easily eat 2 sandwich if hungry. Another important note- they accept cash or Canadian debit card only ( they do not accept US or international debit/credit cards). Please come prepared with some cash.

I love the feeling of being in an old school diner - you just pull up a stool to the bar counter, tell the friendly staff what you’d like and you get it within 5 minutes. Don’t miss out on the handmade sodas as well! Prices are shockingly low and they don’t accept tips which is unique for today’s economy.

Great place to grab a quick sandwich. The special was really good and a must have when you go to Montreal! Also try their sodas! Everyone was really nice and explained their menu since it was our first time eating there. The building itself was really cool and had old newspapers along the walls. It was nice to sit and eat out of the cold rain.

This place is an absolute gem. The Wilensky Special (Pictured) is UNBELIEVABLE!!! Not just a sandwich, an experience! You can't visit Montreal and not go there.

No frills sandwich shop with super quick service and would rate 4.3 stars if possible. Our Wilensky specials included a moderate amount of salami, bologna, mustard, and swiss cheese. Served warm on a grilled roll which made the bread slightly crispy. Came in just over $5 after tax. Cash or debit only. Came at the advice of Anthony Bourdain.

Went on a self guided food crawl in the mile end area and had Wilensky's on my itinerary. Read about this nostalgic location and it lived up to the hype. Simple fare with simple prices and old school decor (or original decor). I ordered the Wilensky original with out cheese. Simple but delicious sandwich. I can see this being a local staple back in the day when money was tight. Didn't grab a cola or a pickle due to the fact this was the 6th spot on our food crawl. I would highly recommend visiting Wilensky's when in Montreal and will return my next time in town.

The best bologna sandwich in Montreal hands down! The staff is always kind and welcoming. Affordable and won't break the bank to get an authentic experience of the past. Make sure to go at odd times as there can be line during the rush hours. My go to order is the Wilensky special with swiss cheese and a sour pickle on the side and a old fashion cherry soda.

The famous wilensky looks like it was trapped in a time capsule. Its a family owned place since 1932 with there famous sandwiches that every one seems to flock to. The base price starts at 4.39 per sandwich. I find it a little mediocre you’re not paying for the quality of the food only for the nostalgia.

An absolute classic. Undeniably simple and perfectly uncomplicated. Sodas made fresh, the old fashioned way. Sandos are ready and served before you can even sit down.

Iconic Montreal institution for 90 years. Their special is a delicious sandwich of select quality sliced meats with your choice of cheddar or Swiss cheese that melts beautifully to complement the crunchiness of the bread and the warmth of the meat. Take a bite and pair it with a scrumptious pickle and a coffee or an ice cold freshly made soda from the wide selection of flavours they offer.

How can’t you love an old school sandwich? Everything about this place is awesome, literally everything. The hand made soda’s they make are amazing I got special with cheddar cheese & a pickle & I’m by no means a pickle person. Man do I hope this place never closes for any sort of reason because I will be back everytime I’m in Montreal. Oh yeah and I got shirt!

An institution in Montreal! Great small spot! Fast and very friendly! The Special sandwich is great for breakfast and the cherry cola made to order is so great!

Absolutely amazing!! We saw videos on YouTube and put this on our list of places to go. Definitely didn't disappoint and was with the 45 minute wall to get there. I got 2 of the originals with cheddar, my wife had one. Delicious!!! I don't know what it is about the pickles but, they were the best one ever had. My wife isn't a fan of pop but she loved the homemade soda. Will definitely be back on our next trip to Montréal.

I ate Welinsky special sandwich here, it was perfect! Very tasty and full of flavours. Definitely recommended

Great old school diner feel. Friendly staff. Lady at the bar gave me a key ring since my Air bnb was falling apart ha! Great food! Pickles, chocolate soda and the special.

It's basically a time capsule of a time gone by. You know what your getting and it's going to be good. The classic sandwich was great but don't sleep on the hand crafted soda! The egg creams are amazing!

Simple and Great. I would have given 4.5 if that option was there. Lightly toasted bun with meat and mustard. My only problem was I had it with cheese and probably the bun was not hot enough so the cheese did not melt to consistency I like. Other than that its perfect for the price. PS - The hidden star is old fashioned cola - I had Cherry one and it was - amazing. One bite of special and a sip of cola - simple great.

Super tasty and the family that owns it is super nice, they even provide recommendations and so nice

Old place classic food calm time

True Montreal icon. What a fantastic tasting sandwhich. Freshly made and the meat is amazing. Folks are very friendly too.

Good taste since 1932, the specialty sandwich with cheese come with soda, great!

Quick bite at a very old school spot in the heart of one of the coolest neighbourhoods in MTL. Get two sandwiches for under 10$ feel good and not too full. The service is outstanding and the vibe is cool retro without the sad nostalgia

Should be a staple of your visit to Montreal. Great lunch spot when you’re looking to try some local favourites.

In today's rapidly changing world Wilensky's is a wonderfully iconic 1934 Montreal dining experience. There's nothing that hasn't already been said about the Wilensky's Special. Its simply delicious and a must for Montrealers and visitors alike.

A must for anyone who wants to experience one of Montreal's most iconic deli

Family owned restaurant and the staff is so friendly. I took the special Wilensky with Swiss cheese. It tastes like smoked meat sandwich and try their pickle, it goes well with sandwich.

Even with COVID, aside from the dividers this place has barely changed and that's a good thing. For food, I've only ever had the Special, the hot dog on a top, and the karnatzel, which are all good. Don't miss the soda fountain style drinks though, especially the chocolate egg cream which is great and getting harder to find.

The Wilensky's Special is so simple yet sooo good! Went 30 minute before closing, so they were doing take out only, but I loved the historic and nostalgic atmosphere of the place with counter seating. I chose to have cheddar on my sandwich (choice of Swiss or cheddar) and really enjoyed it. Added an order of pickles and a cherry cola to my order. I was expecting a canned soda, but instead it was tap fountain draft soda! So cool and really brought back old-school vibes. One sandwich is a decent sized snack, but I think two would be optimal if it is your main lunch meal. Staff were friendly, and the sandwich was prompty made fresh in front of us. Definitely will go back. *Canadian Debit and cash only.

Wasn’t surprised to see Anthony Bourdain’s photo on the wall! Love this place so much. A relic from the past. Insanely quick and super friendly service. Simple menu. Loved the root beer egg cream and the extra crispy pickles.

This place is preserved in time in the best possible way. They have perfected the art of what they serve, and if you don't like it, get the F out of the way and make room for customers who actually like good food. We were the first customers in Wilensky's the day before leaving Montreal. We didn't know about this place until we stumbled across it after getting some bagels nearby. It was early and we were still hungry, so we went in. Omg. This place is amazing. Nice conversation with staff. Delicious sandwiches and sodas. Wilensky's is a must try if you are in Montreal. Tourists! To miss Wilensky's in Montreal is like missing dim sum or sushi if you're visiting Vancouver! Stop what you're doing and go there now!

Another rock-solid Montreal establishment that has stood the test of time. This place was popular long before Bourdain and Chang visited. The “Special” is a beautiful thing, along with the whole experience of sitting at the bar and soaking up the nostalgia.

Ordered the Special and Egg Cream Cola based on recommendations. Everything was great. Staff were friendly. Cash only. Tipping is optional! Great prices and the meat in the sandwich was delicious, better than some of the smoked meats I've had in Montreal

This place is mostly for the great history of this place and the vibe that it gives you feeling a bit way on the good oldies :) It is like entering the place like it was back on the days, staff is very approachable and welcoming and you can feel it still has kept the same mood and context. I cant say that the food wasnt great of course, delicious and the meat so tasty. Served with some fresh pickles, made it perfect! If you want an authentic taste of the past, this is your place!