Serious Eats - seriouseats.com

Schwartz in Montreal has no competition. It is smoked meat, which is different from pastrami, but hard to describe it. You taste the beef and the spices much more. As an ex-Montrealer and a current New Yorker, I still go up to Montreal whenever I can. The rye bread is also fantastic, slightly crispy outside that I never had here in New York. Also btw, Montreal has the best bagels in the world - chewy and not doughy like the ones here - two places: St Viateur Bagel (La Maison de Bagel) and Fairmont close and second best (i know I digress)...Went to Rascals in Miami - absolutely horrible! No loss.