Wonder shared is wonder doubled.

If you only eat one thing in Montréal, make it a poutine at La Banquise. This Plateau institution has been open 24 hours a day since the 60s, and the menu lists over 30 kinds of poutine — from La Classique (fries, squeaky cheese curds, hot gravy) to La T-Rex piled with ground beef, pepperoni, bacon and smoked sausage. Go late. There's something about queueing on Rue Rachel at 2 a.m. with night-shift workers, students and half the bar crowd of the Plateau that makes the first bite taste even better. The curds still squeak, the gravy is poured generously, and portions are enormous — a "regular" feeds two reasonable people or one very happy one. Tips from experience: bring cash or a Canadian card, expect a 20–30 minute line on weekend nights (it moves fast), and grab a picnic table at Parc La Fontaine across the street if the dining room is packed. Vegetarian gravy is available too. It's not fancy. That's the point. This is Montréal comfort food at its most honest.