As an adopted Montrealer (for five months a stretch over each of the past four years), Mike Klassen needs to put the debate to bed, once and for all.

So: Dunn’s or Schwartz’s?

“I’m gonna have to say … Dunn’s,’’ replies Klassen, without, it must be said, anything sounding remotely like ironclad conviction.

A resigned, what-can-I-tell-you? shrug.

“Why? There wasn’t a long lineup any time I went.

“Let’s face it. You can’t go wrong with the smoked meat anywhere in that city.

“I always tell people that in Montreal you can go and find a restaurant every day that was better than the one you ate at the night before.

“That was one of the great aspects of my time there – I managed to see a lot of the city, on the food side of things.”

Old home-away-from-home week for Klassen is shrunk into a back-for-a-visit return as the 2-0-1 Stampeders jet off to Montreal for Friday’s Week 3 tilt against the 1-2 Als at a familiar stomping ground for the former U of C Dinos star, Stade Percival-Molson.

The eastern jaunt at least provides the 26-year-old, 6-foot-5, 275-lb. defensive lineman the chance for a spot of catching-up.

“Most of the O-line,’’ Klaassen reckons, “is the same. It’s been that way for a few years. John Bowman, Chip Cox, Kyries Hebert, they’ve been the mainstays on defence for so long, great leaders.

“(Defensive co-ordinator) Noel Thorpe is still there, of course. His first year was my first year. He kinda took me under his wing, let me get out and do my thing.

“For dinner? I’ll probably hook up with the D-line guys that are still there, (Gabriel) Knapton and Bowman. Hopefully. If they have time for me.

“Most likely we’ll grab a steak somewhere.”

During his freshman campaign, as a grass-green kid back in 2013 after being a fourth round, 32^nd-overall selection in the draft, Klassen naturally gravitated towards one of the Als’ great pros to use as an example.

“John Bowman is going into, what?, his 11th or 12th year and he’s missed maybe a half dozen games,’’ he marvels. “He’s the guy a lot of the defensive players across the league admire; the guy you look at and say: ‘I want to have a career like that.’ Well over 100 sacks now. He’s not one of those vets who takes a day off either. He’s fully engaged, every practice.

“Just truly a player to emulate. I’m lucky to call him a good friend of mine.”

For a young man from out western Canada-way, the lifestyle in Montreal proved every bit as varied and intoxicating as advertised.

“Every year I lived really close to Ste. Catharine Street so when you wanted something to do, people to look at, you didn’t have to wander far,’’ Klassen recalls. “All kinds of music and art festivals, which were cool.

“But living there is different than visiting for a week. In a week, you pack everything in, right? All the good clubs, all the great restaurants. You don’t want to leave anything out, so it’s go, go, go.

“Living there, you’re working. After a long practice on a Friday or a Saturday if we weren’t playing, I’d be going home for a nap.”

The enticing glamour of Montreal aside – as well as that to-die-for smoked meat, whether at Dunn’s or Schwartz’s, to lay waste to – Klassen couldn’t be happier with the chance to ply his trade in his hometown.

He’s in the early stages of a return to the roost, of course, but the initial shock of being released after agreeing to a contract extension with the Als has passed.

“Being in my hometown, living with my girlfriend and not being away from my family for six months, I’m truly blessed,’’ he says.

“In Montreal, you’d just be hanging out with teammates all day, every day. Which is cool, too, but sometimes you need to see a different side of things.

“I have nothing but good things to say about the Montreal Alouettes. They’re the ones who drafted me, gave me my start, extended my contract.

“I made some great friends out there, friendships that’ll probably last a lifetime. So I’m excited to get out there and see a lot of people.

“No hostile feelings whatsoever.

“But I’m very happy to be here, now. To be home.

“And ready to get at them. That’s for sure.”