Montreal restaurants do not often take their business across the American border, and Nevada is a long way from Quebec. That makes Lester’s Deli’s restaurant in Henderson a bold move. The 75-year-old Outremont institution opened its U.S. location in August, bringing Montreal smoked meat to a new market.
Owner Kevin Fung, who bought Lester’s in 2023, explored taking the brand abroad and teamed up with Quebec-born Las Vegas resident Jean-François Blais and hospitality professional Melissa Blais. The menu features smoked meat sandwiches, poutine and deli classics. The meat is prepared in Montreal, then transported to Nevada, keeping the product at the centre of the operation.
That is the gamble: a Montreal name does not guarantee a following thousands of kilometres from home. The team must introduce smoked meat to local diners who may be unfamiliar with the tradition, while also attracting Canadians looking for a taste of home. Henderson is part of the Las Vegas metropolitan area, but it is not an obvious first stop for a Montreal deli expanding into the United States. Lester’s has made its move. The bigger test is whether Montreal comfort food can find a lasting place on Nevada’s dining scene beyond Canadian visitors.