Le Cheval

I went to Le Cheval on a mission: to try the recommended smoked meat special.
I chose the combo with a draft beer. For around CAD $ 13.00 (tax extra), you get a smoked meat sandwich, fries, coleslaw, 12 oz. draft and the all-​important pickle.
I ate the fries while they were still warm, not hot. Shoestring cut, nothing better than what McDonald’s serves.
The coleslaw was so nondescript I almost forgot to mention it. Eat it with the sharp and salty pickle, though, and you’ll be fine.
The draft beer choices that day were slim: Molson Export Ale, Coors Light and Rickard’s Red (all Molson Coors products). Since I had just seen a Québécois movie set in a tavern, I chose the Ex. Like most drafts, it had more air than taste going for it … at first. Come to think of it, like most Québécois movies, too.
As for the sandwich, what it lacks in size, it makes up for in savoriness. (Much like your humble reviewer.) The light rye is bland, the mustard unremarkable. The smoked meat, however, is simply the best I have had in Montréal, and I have lived here for well over 03 years. Less pink in color than most, less salty, and the spicing is superb. The draft beer complements the bitterness tremendously, so that all you want is more. You’ll still leave satisfied.
The service was personable, if a bit awkward making the transition from French to English. Do them the favor of helping them practice. Thankfully, there’s no smoking inside, so they can read your lips.
All in all, the Casino doesn’t have the cachet of Schwartz’s on The Main, and for that I’m glad. Le Cheval is a better deal, tabarnac. If I wanted hot tongue and cold shoulder service, I’d stay at home.

While there are bars in every casino resort property, there is usually at least one casino dedicated bar within the casino floor. Le Cheval happens to be the one for Casino de Montréal and is a small sectioned off area, surrounded by comfy chairs, plenty of TVs with waiter service.
Drinks on tap are surprisingly limited. The standard beers (Budweiser, Coors, etc.) are available and there is some degree of import grade stuff as well (Heinekin, Stella, etc.). All of these drinks are pricey and the cocktails don’t seem to be much cheaper. I forget if there is a happy hour here, but I wouldn’t be surprised if there wasn’t.
There isn’t much food on the menu, other than bar food. By bar food I really just mean hot dogs, chips, and poutine or fries. Most of the stuff is provided by L’Entre-mise Deli and is shockingly very good. The combination hotdog + poutine will normally come with a drink and will be about $ 17CAD. My hot dog was Costco good and the poutine though soggy, had plenty of cheese and gravy.
Service here was very prompt. Our waiter was attentive and amusing. He misunderstood my group a few times, perhaps his command of English wasn’t as good as his French. I’d come back here again, but only for drinks. I can get the Poutine at the Deli.
One more important thing: The chairs can be rearranged, but the stools and tables are bolted into the ground. Watch out for your knees.