Poutineville — Review by Randy Santel

The Dishes

The Heart Attack Challenge is an impressive 15-pound poutine featuring approximately 11 pounds of hand-cut fries prepared fresh each morning with the skin still on. The restaurant makes its cheese curds fresh daily, and they deliver that signature squeaky texture that poutine enthusiasts crave. The all-dressed version comes loaded with an extensive array of toppings including smoked meat, which Randy learned is the Canadian equivalent of American pastrami, sliced hot dogs, bacon, chicken, and hamburger meat. Fresh vegetables add a surprising healthy element, with green peppers, mushrooms, onions, tomatoes, and black olives distributed throughout. Everything is held together with a substantial amount of savory brown gravy that coats each component. A.C. noted that the gravy is very savory and perfectly complements the squeaky cheese curds, while the combination of all the meats and vegetables creates a harmonious blend of flavors.

The Experience

The challenge took place at the Beaubien East location at 1348 Beaubien East in Montreal, which was filled with an enthusiastic crowd cheering on the competitors. Randy and A.C. worked together as a team, with A.C. being a local regular at Poutineville who helped Randy navigate the menu and experience. The owners, Kosta and Camillo, who have run the brand for 16 years, were welcoming and informed the team that they have served only two people who completed this challenge solo, making it primarily a team dish. The atmosphere was celebratory, with staff encouraging them and revealing that they were setting a new record for fastest completion.

Value and Pricing

The challenge requires a one-hour time limit, with a $125 Canadian dollar penalty if failed, roughly $90 USD. However, winning competitors receive their entire meal for free, official t-shirts, and their names and photos displayed on the Wall of Fame. The restaurant also offers an All You Can Eat Poutine special on Tuesdays for $20 Canadian dollars, where customers can consume smaller portions equivalent to the full Heart Attack challenge. The regular poutine portions are competitively priced, making this an accessible option for casual diners, though exact prices for standard servings were not mentioned.

Notable Moments

There's not a whole lot of chewing because of the gravy, and there is a lot of gravy! And this cheese is fire, too!

The team completed the challenge in a record-breaking 15 minutes and 34 seconds. A humorous exchange occurred when Katina, Randy's fiancee, expressed her disdain for soggy fries and gravy-soaked poutines, prompting jokes about whether she would be allowed back to the restaurant. A.C. mentioned the Italian tradition of using bread to sop up gravy, calling it scarpetta, which had the crowd laughing. There was also mention of a local bettor who doubted they could complete the challenge, but they proved him wrong and set the new record.

The Verdict

Randy and A.C. were thoroughly impressed with the Heart Attack Challenge and enthusiastically recommend Poutineville to anyone visiting Montreal. The quality of the ingredients, particularly the fresh cheese curds and hand-cut fries, combined with the generous assortment of toppings and savory gravy, made this a standout poutine experience. Randy specifically recommends ordering it all-dressed to get the full experience of all available toppings. While the challenge itself is designed for teams or those with exceptional appetites, the restaurant is perfect for anyone simply wanting an excellent traditional or customized poutine. The All You Can Eat Tuesday special offers another great way to experience what the restaurant offers without committing to the massive challenge portion.