FROM FINE DINING & CREATIVE TO CASUAL & TRADITIONAL QUÉBÉCOIS FOOD – MY TOP CHOICES FOR RESTAURANTS AND CAFÉS IN QUÉBEC CITY.

 

Québec has such a huge variety of restaurants, from amazing, haute cuisine establishments to very casual ones serving traditional dishes typical of the region, that choosing where to go can be a real dilemma. Since I am a real foodie, I have put together a list of my favorite restaurants, which not only serve delicious food but also have a wonderful and special atmosphere. I spend a lot of time researching places to eat before my travels, and you can be assured that I have personally eaten in all of them and that these are therefore firsthand reviews.

 

Québécois food is generally very hearty, and therefore suitable for cold winters, so you will find that a lot of local dishes fit this description. However, since I like creative food very much, I try to have a mix of culinary experiences – places that serve mainly regional dishes, and those that strive for something more adventurous.

 

Here are my top choices, from the most expensive, fine dining places, to moderate, trendy ones and the most casual ones at the end. I have also included a chocolate shop/café, as I am a chocoholic and this particular store has some amazing choices, as well as being a small chocolate museum.

 

1. Restaurant Tanière3 – this is a definitely high-end restaurant for serious foodies and for a special occasion. It offers only multi-course (15-20) tasting menus. The restaurant is located near the Old Port, in a beautiful stone vault. The concept is to showcase the history of the land through food. It relies heavily on local farmers and the bounty of the forests, offering dishes that are not only unusual but also gorgeous in their presentation. Space and the design are also noteworthy, especially since you move from room to room between cocktails, the main part of the meal, and then dessert. It creates a unique sense of discovery and surprise not seen in many restaurants. Be prepared for at least a leisurely 3 hours or longer.

 

2. Restaurant Chez Muffy at Auberge Saint Antoine – my all-time favorite, located in a beautifully restored hotel that used to be a warehouse dating back to 1822, also in the Old Port neighborhood. The restaurant has a wonderfully warm and enchanting feeling of an old auberge, complete with wooden beams and stone walls, and offers farm-to-fork menus of delicious locally sourced food. The centerpiece of the restaurant is a glowing open fireplace, which gives it a delightful warm glow. It is probably one of the most romantic restaurants I have eaten in. The menu is small, but carefully executed, and absolutely outstanding. The restaurant prides itself on “slow cooking” techniques of fish, meat, and vegetables, and offers a well-chosen wine selection.

 

 

 

 

3. Chez Bouley – bistro boréal – a fantastic bistro offering cuisine inspired by the food of the northern territories, it focuses on game, freshwater fish, and the bounty of the forests, like wild mushrooms, lichen, and wild fruit. Located within Hôtel Manoir Victoria, on one of the famous Québec streets, it has an atmosphere that is a bit warmer and inviting than a typical bistro style, which makes it a fantastic place for either a special occasion or just a casual dinner.  The dishes are creative, making local and seasonal ingredients the real stars of the show. From seal meat to bison, from Québécois black pudding to blood sausage, Arctic char, and onion soup, to sea buckthorn pie, you will find something amazing to entice your palate.

4. Restaurant Ophelia – a modern and creative take on all things seafood 🦞, it offers not only delicious, but also very creative food combinations. In a great location, with great atmosphere, it has something for everyone – from the freshest seafood to outstanding combinations of land and sea. For the most fun experience, sit at the bar, which weaves throughout the whole place in a serpentine manner, and you can be in the middle of the action all night.

5. Chez Rioux et Pettigrew – a little cozy restaurant in the Old Port, with fun, vintage decor, it specializes in fresh cuisine influenced by local flavors and traditions. It is located in the former General Store of the same name, dating back to 1860. This is your perfect casual place for a quiet evening of conversation, a glass of wine or beer made in the house, and some very approachable yet amazing food. Small but extremely creative menu, well-executed with perfect technique, and an unusual combination of ingredients. The prices are moderate for the quality of the food, so it can become your favorite local haunt whenever you feel like having a less formal meal that still delights your senses.

6. La Buche – this is a phenomenal place for old-style Québécois cooking, featuring traditional dishes of the region: pea soup with bacon, onion soup with bone marrow, meat pie with venison, house-smoked salmon, shepherd’s pie 🥧, grilled smoked cheddar with bacon marmalade, braised rabbit, poutine, bison steak, deer tartare with black garlic, maple fudge, and maple syrup pie. You can’t get any more authentic than that. Fantastic cocktails, local ciders, sangria, and the famous Kariboo – a mix of alcohol, wine, and various spices. The restaurant looks like an old lodge, with stone on the walls full of hunting trophies, long wooden tables with benches, and wooden toboggans on the ceiling. Any time you’re in the mood, but especially when it’s cold and snowy outside, there is no better place to grab some amazing food. (And don’t forget to check out their bathrooms – they are a sight to behold.)

 

7. Aux Anciens Canadiens – located right across the street from La Buche, in the oldest house in Québec City dating back to 1675, is THE place to go for old cuisine of Québec where game meats rule supreme. The menu is huge, with lots to choose from, from more traditional dishes like bison shepherd’s pie, wapiti (elk) sausage, poutine of pig’s knuckle, caribou with berry sauce, bison bourguignon and red deer, to more familiar ones for less adventurous eaters. Finish your meal with maple bread pudding or maple syrup crepe brûlée and you have gone straight to heaven. The decor is very old-style traditional, filled with artifacts from the past, with even the wait staff dressed in traditional clothing from a bygone era.

8. Le Billig Crêperie-bistro – this is a fun little place that specializes in crepes of different kinds. From basic ones like ham & cheese to more gourmet like duck confit/goat cheese & onion confit, or black pudding/cheddar &fried apples, to mouth-watering sweet ones like caramelized apples/salted caramel/vanilla ice cream & whipped cream, lemon curd/mascarpone & white chocolate shavings, or my own favorite with poached pear/vanilla ice cream & almonds. All savory crepes are made of organic buckwheat flour. There are also regular dishes, including salads and large platters. Don’t forget to try one of their ciders. The warm, spiced ones are especially delightful on a cold, winter day. The decor is warm and welcoming, with brick walls and dimmed lights, and service personable. It’s a great casual restaurant for a quick breakfast or lunch stop.

 

9. Le Restaurant at Le Monastère des Augustines – a casual spot in the historic 17th century former monastery and birthplace of the first hospital in North America, it is great for a quick but healthy meal. There is also a museum, a hotel, a boutique, theatre, and lots of programs in holistic health and culture. The menu is limited and offers a table d’hôte format: soup and a choice of one of the 3 daily entrees, followed by a lovely dessert and their signature herbal tea inspired by the Augustinian sisters’ apothecary. Quiet and peaceful, yet historic at the same time.

10. Erico Chocolatier – a small chocolate shop, café, and chocolate museum. I am listing it here because it is a truly gourmet little place, with delicious chocolate and pastry creations, if you have a sweet tooth or are a chocoholic like me. There is also a tiny museum devoted to the history of chocolate.