Hollywood Smoked Meats Brings an Authentic Taste of Montreal to South Florida.

July 16th, 2026

There are plenty of places in South Florida where you can grab a pastrami sandwich. Finding authentic Montreal smoked meat, however, has long been a different story.

For James DeSantis, that wasn’t just an inconvenience. It became a mission.

After spending the past two decades living in Florida, the Montreal native found himself craving the comfort food he grew up with. Every now and then he’d come across restaurants claiming to serve Montreal smoked meat, but something always seemed off.

“I’ve been here 20 years. I couldn’t find the real thing,” DeSantis said. “I wouldn’t open a place like this if I couldn’t serve the real stuff.”

Today, that mission has become Hollywood Smoked Meats, a welcoming restaurant in Hollywood that doesn’t simply borrow inspiration from Canada. It recreates it.

The moment you walk inside, you’re surrounded by murals celebrating Montreal, vintage hockey memories, Canadiens jerseys hanging overhead and enough Canadian pride to make you wonder if you accidentally crossed the border instead of Broward County.

Then the food arrives.

Not Your Typical Deli Sandwich

Calling Montreal smoked meat “Canadian pastrami” doesn’t quite do it justice.

Sure, they’re cousins, but after one bite, you’ll quickly understand why DeSantis jokingly describes it as:

“Pastrami on steroids.”

The restaurant’s signature sandwich arrives piled high with hand-sliced smoked beef layered generously between slices of soft rye bread with mustard doing exactly what it should: complementing the meat instead of competing with it.

The first thing that stands out is just how tender it is. Every bite practically melts away while the peppery spice blend delivers noticeably more depth than a traditional pastrami. Rich? Absolutely. Heavy? Surprisingly not. The seasoning keeps everything balanced enough that it’s easy to understand why locals and visiting Canadians alike keep returning.

It’s the kind of sandwich where halfway through you begin wondering if you should order another one… even while you’re still finishing the first.

Poutine Worth Crossing the Border For

If the smoked meat is the headliner, the poutine is every bit deserving of a standing ovation.

Golden fries arrive buried beneath authentic cheese curds and an incredibly rich brown gravy that coats every bite without turning the fries into mush.

DeSantis insisted authenticity mattered here just as much as the sandwiches.

“I didn’t want frozen fries. I wanted the real cheese curds. Everything had to be the real deal.”

Mission accomplished.

The fries maintain enough crispness to stand up to the gravy while the fresh cheese curds provide the signature squeak that true poutine fans immediately recognize. It’s indulgent comfort food at its finest and one of the strongest arguments for making the drive to Hollywood all by itself.

More Than Just Smoked Meat

While smoked meat may have inspired the restaurant, the menu doesn’t stop there.

One surprise is the pinsa.

DeSantis intentionally expanded beyond Canadian favorites, drawing on both French and Italian influences to create a menu with something for nearly every appetite. The pepperoni pinsa features a crisp crust with bubbling mozzarella and slightly curled pepperoni that delivers exactly what you hope for from a neighborhood pizza shop.

The Italian sandwich also impressed with layers of cured meats, fresh mozzarella, tomatoes and crisp lettuce tucked inside lightly toasted bread that offered just the right amount of chew.

Then there are the famous Montreal steamed hot dogs.

Served in pillowy steamed buns and topped with mustard, relish, onions and an avalanche of finely shredded cabbage, they’re unlike the loaded ballpark dogs many Americans are used to. Better yet, diners can sample two of them as part of an affordable combo that includes fries and a drink.

Built on Authenticity

Perhaps the most impressive part of Hollywood Smoked Meats isn’t the menu. It’s the story behind it.

For years, authentic Montreal smoked meat couldn’t legally be recreated here because certain ingredients weren’t permitted for commercial production in the United States. When regulations eventually changed, DeSantis developed what he calls a U.S.-approved version while preserving the traditional flavor that Canadians expect.

He knew there would be no room for shortcuts.

“When we opened, 99 percent of our customers were Canadians,” he explained. “They’re experts. If it wasn’t the real thing, they would’ve told me right away.”

Instead, they embraced it.

Now, just six months after opening, local Floridians are discovering what Canadians have known for generations.

Hospitality You Can Feel

Throughout our visit, DeSantis wasn’t hidden away in the kitchen.

He moved from table to table chatting with guests, delivering food himself, sharing stories about Montreal traditions and explaining why each dish mattered. It’s obvious this restaurant isn’t simply about selling sandwiches. It’s about introducing people to a piece of home.

That personal touch makes the meal feel less like dining at another restaurant and more like being invited into someone’s favorite neighborhood spot.

Final Bite

South Florida certainly doesn’t lack sandwich shops.

What it has lacked is a destination dedicated to introducing diners to one of Canada’s most beloved culinary traditions without sacrificing authenticity.

Hollywood Smoked Meats delivers exactly that.

Whether you’re a homesick Canadian searching for a familiar bite, a hockey fan soaking in the Montreal atmosphere, or simply someone curious about why people rave about smoked meat and poutine, this Hollywood gem offers an experience that’s both delicious and genuinely different.

As James DeSantis proves, sometimes the quickest trip to Montreal doesn’t require a passport.

It just requires a healthy appetite.

Recommended Order:

• Montreal Smoked Meat Sandwich
• Authentic Poutine
• Montreal Steamed Hot Dogs
• Pepperoni Pinsa
• Italian Sandwich

Hollywood Smoked Meats isn’t just serving lunch. It’s serving a century-old Montreal tradition, one towering sandwich at a time.