Poutine!
 

Please, can anyone advise me as to where I can find decent Montreal/Quebec style poutine in Victoria or Vancouver? My husband and I are taking a trip to these cities and he REALLY wants to try it (after hearing me rave about when I had it in Montreal). Thanks!!!

Fritz European Fry House. Davie Street at Robson.

Not the most tourist-friendly block and not the greatest atmosphere, but it's fine. They're open late and there's also a late night pizza slice place next door, so after midnight it's crawling with drunk people getting their grease fix.

BUT, I digress. The poutine is really really really good.

Whoops, sorry -- that was for Vancouver.

Thank you!! We will definitely check it out.

Western Canada poutine - I have found at greek restaurants and pizza houses - is french fries, gravy and mozzarella cheese.

I love it but it is different than Quebec poutine.

Am I right?

Yes...definitely different. In quebec its with cheese curds. The very best in Quebec is in Quebec City, actually in St. Anne de Beaupre at a place called Chez Bolduc. YUM!!!

But if it's a dish that's distinctly Canadian, why is it named after the President of Russia? ;-)

A friend of mine once caused a waitress to double over laughing when he said" I'll have some putain"

Davie at Robson? Aren't they parallel streets about 6 blocks apart?

Given your description of the location, maybe Davie at Granville?

Rats! No one has it with cheese curds in BC? That's how I had it in Montreal...to me it's the cheese curds that really make it something special. Altho my husband prolly wouldn't turn down anything fried covered in any kind of cheese or gravy ;)

Just saw this place online...know anything about it?

http://www.mrpickwicks.bc.ca/index.html

"There's an old saying that simple dishes are the hardest to make well. Poutine looks simple, and Canadians are passionate about the way it should taste.

Mr. Pickwick went to the source and brought us real Quebec Cheese Curds, some times called squeeky cheese for the fresh sound it makes when you bite it. On a bed of our famous Chips and topped with thick, rich Brown Gravy it's easy to see what all the fuss is about. So good...and so good for you."

Oh, crap -- ron, thanks so much -- you're right. I mis-typed. It's Davie and GRANVILLE for Fritz European Fry House.

And yes, they use cheese curds. I had some poutine yesterday (craving sparked by this thread!).

It has to be made with cheddar cheese curds that squeek against the teeth when you chew.

I don't know if they still have it or if it is as authentic now but a few years ago Swan's Hotel in the pub served Poutine made the Quebec way. Its worth a try if you in Victoria