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Tours in Quebec City |
Restaurant charges are subject to GST (goods and services tax) of 6% and TVQ (Québec sales tax) of 7.5%, which are usually added to the bill at the end. Restaurant bills do not usually include a service charge (although it is more common for large groups), so a tip is expected. The standard tip is 15%, adjusted up/down for exceptionally good/bad service.
The restaurants below have been grouped into four different pricing categories:
$$$$ (over C$60)
$$$ (C$40 to C$60)
$$ (C$20 to C$40)
$ (up to C$20)
These are based on an average three-course meal for one person; they do not include drinks, service charge or tax/tip.
Gastronomic
Initiale
High-backed fabric chairs, heavy dark beams and soft grey earth tones provide a subdued backdrop that doesn't draw attention away from the superb cuisine here. The classic French cooking is tempered by a seasonal approach to local produce, so this cuisine du terroir might include magret de canard confit, herbed blue fin tuna or locally sourced lamb. There are also three smaller salons for private dining for groups.
54 rue St-Pierre
Tel: (418) 694 1818.
Website: www.restaurantinitiale.com
Price: $$$$
Panache
The Auberge St-Antoine has one of the most delightful interiors in the city: a former 19th-century maritime warehouse with broad plank floors, stone walls and chunky wooden beams. The French Canadian cuisine draws on the province's abundant wealth of fresh produce - foie gras, pan-seared sweetbreads, lobster from the Iles de la Madeleine and caviar from Abitibi, for instance.
8 rue St-Antoine
Tel: (418) 692 1022 or 1 888 692 2211.
Website: www.saint-antoine.com
Price: $$$$
Le St-Amour
The name is entirely appropriate: this is one of the city's most romantic restaurants. The white tablecloth-laid tables of the elegant interior give way to a lovely winter garden - a glass-covered courtyard framed by stone walls and mirrors inlaid in art-nouveau-style panelling. The foie gras is a house speciality and provides a good introduction to a menu of finely prepared rack of lamb, pheasant, caribou and the like, accompanied by an extensive wine list, which was given Wine Spectator's Best of Award of Excellence three years in a row.
48 rue Ste-Ursule
Tel: (418) 694 0667.
Website: www.saint-amour.com
Price: $$$
Business
Café-Restaurant du Musée
The bright and airy restaurant of the Musée National des Beaux-Arts du Québec has large windows offering a panoramic vista across the National Battlefields Park, a view equally enjoyable from the terrace in season. It serves a surprisingly high standard of cuisine for its business lunch and weekend brunch, with Québécois seafood, meat and local produce gracing the menu. As a bonus, it offers the chance to squeeze in a bit of culture before or after meetings. Dinner Wednesday only (but call to reserve).
Parc des Champs-de-Bataille
Tel: (418) 646 3065.
Website: www.mnba.qc.ca
Price: $
Le 47e Parallèle - Saveurs du Monde
Popular with businessmen (it's a five-minute walk west of the convention centre), the 47th Parallel is also well-placed for culture-lovers as its large terrace faces the Grand Théâtre. Inside the dark interior, exposed concrete columns and picture windows contrast with suede-covered wooden chairs. A 300-plus list of wines complements the international standards and the ‘Tour du monde gastronomique' menu, which focuses on a different country each month.
333 rue St-Amable
Tel: (418) 692 4747.
Website: www.le47.com
Price: $$-$$$
Le Parlementaire
What better way to conduct a business lunch than to create the feeling that there is access to the corridors of power? That is literally the case at the lavish beaux-arts dining room in the National Assembly building, which serves very reasonably priced fine cuisine inspired by the province's varied regions. Open for breakfast and lunch only Monday to Friday (subject to changes due to government schedules). Access is via the visitors' entrance (door No. 3).
Hôtel du Parlement (Parliament Building), avenue Honoré-Mercier
Tel: (418) 643 6640.
Website: www.assnat.qc.ca/eng/accueil/leparlementaire.shtml
Price: $$
Trendy
Le Café du Monde
Although located next to the cruise ship terminal, this loud and brash place is popular with locals for the food as well as the views onto the St Lawrence through the massive windows or from the wrap-around terrace. A modern take on a Parisian bistro, the large, open interior contrasts exposed girders and ducts with warm, dark hardwoods, burgundy leather banquettes and traditional rattan chairs. The approach to the food matches that of the décor: expect brasserie standards (steak tartare, veal sweetbreads, mussels, confit de canard) with a modern approach.
84 rue Dalhousie
Tel: (418) 692 4455.
Website: www.lecafedumonde.com
Price: $$
Le Cosmos Café
The slightly funky edge to this popular café-bar-restaurant makes it stand out from the overly touristy joints flanking Grande Allée. Younger business types and civil servants come for burgers, salads, pastas and fancier fare as well as a ‘5 à 7' drink in the main room, dominated by a long sinuous bar and tentacle-like metal chandeliers, in one of the bucket seats in the adjacent lounge, where a DJ spins, or on the terrace. Open until midnight (until 0100 Friday and Saturday).
575 Grande Allée Est
Tel: (418) 640 0606.
Website: www.lecosmos.com
Price: $$
Laurie Raphaël
The designer touches in this airy, contemporary restaurant even extend to the tableware (which you can purchase in the attached gourmet boutique). The light touch pervades the Québécois market cuisine, with some notable fish and seafood dishes, or guests can place their trust in Daniel Vézina's judgement for the no-choice Chef Chef menu. The chef's passion for food gets a further outlet in the cooking lessons offered at the counter facing the open kitchen next door. The lunch menu is good value for money. Closed Sunday and Monday; no lunch Saturday.
117 rue Dalhousie
Tel: (418) 692 4555.
Website: www.laurieraphael.com
Price: $$$-$$$$
Budget
Buffet de l'Antiquaire
Not quite as old as what else is on offer on Quebec City's ‘antiques row', this traditional diner with vinyl booths and counter stools is nonetheless an old-timer. Local residents hold it close to their hearts for big, slap-up breakfasts and Québécois comfort food like poutine, cipaille (meat pie) and ragoût de boulettes (pork stew with meatballs).
95 rue St-Paul
Tel: (418) 692 2661.
Price: $
Café Krieghoff
A cosy café on a strip of good-value mid-range restaurants (and bars), this spot sees far more locals than tourists, even though it's only a 10-minute walk from the Musée National des Beaux-Arts du Québec. It's an ideal place to while away an afternoon with a hot drink, but Café Krieghoff also serves a comforting menu of burgers, quiches, salads, smoked meat sandwiches and croutons (baguette topped with garlic butter and melted cheese) and hearty breakfasts. There are B&B rooms upstairs (the hotel was completely renovated in 2006).
1091 avenue Cartier
Tel: (418) 522 3711.
Website: www.cafekrieghoff.qc.ca
Price: $
Le Cochon Dingue
Part of a local mini-chain, this branch located just off the attractive pedestrian strip of Petit-Champlain is a cheap and cosy Italian restaurant with tiled floors, chequered tablecloths and a young and friendly staff. Dependable rather than fancy, the menu includes brochettes, pasta, panini, mussels and grills such as ribs and steak-frites. There's another Cochon Dingue near avenue Cartier, at 46 boulevard René Lévesque Ouest (tel: (418) 523 2013); both have terraces.
46 boulevard Champlain
Tel: (418) 692 2013.
Website: www.cochondingue.com
Price: $$
Personal Recommendations
Conti Caffè
The sleek, modern décor might fool some passers-by that this is a lounge bar, but in fact it shares a kitchen with the adjacent gastronomic restaurant, Le Continental. Dishes are lighter but of an equally high quality, with a focus on Italian cuisine: in addition to pizza and pasta, there are seafood and grilled meats, with veal (served as escalope or medallions) a particular speciality.
32 rue St-Louis
Tel: (418) 692 4191.
Price: $$
L'Échaudé
Québec's Lower Town has a fair share of gourmet restaurants, but L'Échaudé stands out for doing so at a reasonable price. Classic and bistro dishes like salmon tartare, confit de canard and frequently changing seasonal specials are served in a brightly mirrored interior or on the terrace on the pedestrianised street. The international wine list has a variety of vintages by the glass, which change every few weeks, reflecting new finds by owner Robert Plamondon, who presents a weekly radio slot on wine.
73 rue Sault-au-Matelot
Tel: (418) 692 1299.
Website: www.echaude.com
Price: $$
Les Frères de la Côte
Despite being in tourist central, this terrific spot retains the atmosphere of a bustling neighbourhood bistro, filled with conversation and interesting knick-knacks strewn about the walls. The Italian and French bistro standards (osso bucco, thin-crust pizza, steak tartare and mussels) issuing from the open kitchen are reliably good, and the specials board is always worth checking out.
1190 rue St-Jean
Tel: (418) 692 5445.
Price: $$
The restaurants below have been grouped into four different pricing categories:
$$$$ (over C$60)
$$$ (C$40 to C$60)
$$ (C$20 to C$40)
$ (up to C$20)
These are based on an average three-course meal for one person; they do not include drinks, service charge or tax/tip.
Gastronomic
Initiale
High-backed fabric chairs, heavy dark beams and soft grey earth tones provide a subdued backdrop that doesn't draw attention away from the superb cuisine here. The classic French cooking is tempered by a seasonal approach to local produce, so this cuisine du terroir might include magret de canard confit, herbed blue fin tuna or locally sourced lamb. There are also three smaller salons for private dining for groups.
54 rue St-Pierre
Tel: (418) 694 1818.
Website: www.restaurantinitiale.com
Price: $$$$
Panache
The Auberge St-Antoine has one of the most delightful interiors in the city: a former 19th-century maritime warehouse with broad plank floors, stone walls and chunky wooden beams. The French Canadian cuisine draws on the province's abundant wealth of fresh produce - foie gras, pan-seared sweetbreads, lobster from the Iles de la Madeleine and caviar from Abitibi, for instance.
8 rue St-Antoine
Tel: (418) 692 1022 or 1 888 692 2211.
Website: www.saint-antoine.com
Price: $$$$
Le St-Amour
The name is entirely appropriate: this is one of the city's most romantic restaurants. The white tablecloth-laid tables of the elegant interior give way to a lovely winter garden - a glass-covered courtyard framed by stone walls and mirrors inlaid in art-nouveau-style panelling. The foie gras is a house speciality and provides a good introduction to a menu of finely prepared rack of lamb, pheasant, caribou and the like, accompanied by an extensive wine list, which was given Wine Spectator's Best of Award of Excellence three years in a row.
48 rue Ste-Ursule
Tel: (418) 694 0667.
Website: www.saint-amour.com
Price: $$$
Business
Café-Restaurant du Musée
The bright and airy restaurant of the Musée National des Beaux-Arts du Québec has large windows offering a panoramic vista across the National Battlefields Park, a view equally enjoyable from the terrace in season. It serves a surprisingly high standard of cuisine for its business lunch and weekend brunch, with Québécois seafood, meat and local produce gracing the menu. As a bonus, it offers the chance to squeeze in a bit of culture before or after meetings. Dinner Wednesday only (but call to reserve).
Parc des Champs-de-Bataille
Tel: (418) 646 3065.
Website: www.mnba.qc.ca
Price: $
Le 47e Parallèle - Saveurs du Monde
Popular with businessmen (it's a five-minute walk west of the convention centre), the 47th Parallel is also well-placed for culture-lovers as its large terrace faces the Grand Théâtre. Inside the dark interior, exposed concrete columns and picture windows contrast with suede-covered wooden chairs. A 300-plus list of wines complements the international standards and the ‘Tour du monde gastronomique' menu, which focuses on a different country each month.
333 rue St-Amable
Tel: (418) 692 4747.
Website: www.le47.com
Price: $$-$$$
Le Parlementaire
What better way to conduct a business lunch than to create the feeling that there is access to the corridors of power? That is literally the case at the lavish beaux-arts dining room in the National Assembly building, which serves very reasonably priced fine cuisine inspired by the province's varied regions. Open for breakfast and lunch only Monday to Friday (subject to changes due to government schedules). Access is via the visitors' entrance (door No. 3).
Hôtel du Parlement (Parliament Building), avenue Honoré-Mercier
Tel: (418) 643 6640.
Website: www.assnat.qc.ca/eng/accueil/leparlementaire.shtml
Price: $$
Trendy
Le Café du Monde
Although located next to the cruise ship terminal, this loud and brash place is popular with locals for the food as well as the views onto the St Lawrence through the massive windows or from the wrap-around terrace. A modern take on a Parisian bistro, the large, open interior contrasts exposed girders and ducts with warm, dark hardwoods, burgundy leather banquettes and traditional rattan chairs. The approach to the food matches that of the décor: expect brasserie standards (steak tartare, veal sweetbreads, mussels, confit de canard) with a modern approach.
84 rue Dalhousie
Tel: (418) 692 4455.
Website: www.lecafedumonde.com
Price: $$
Le Cosmos Café
The slightly funky edge to this popular café-bar-restaurant makes it stand out from the overly touristy joints flanking Grande Allée. Younger business types and civil servants come for burgers, salads, pastas and fancier fare as well as a ‘5 à 7' drink in the main room, dominated by a long sinuous bar and tentacle-like metal chandeliers, in one of the bucket seats in the adjacent lounge, where a DJ spins, or on the terrace. Open until midnight (until 0100 Friday and Saturday).
575 Grande Allée Est
Tel: (418) 640 0606.
Website: www.lecosmos.com
Price: $$
Laurie Raphaël
The designer touches in this airy, contemporary restaurant even extend to the tableware (which you can purchase in the attached gourmet boutique). The light touch pervades the Québécois market cuisine, with some notable fish and seafood dishes, or guests can place their trust in Daniel Vézina's judgement for the no-choice Chef Chef menu. The chef's passion for food gets a further outlet in the cooking lessons offered at the counter facing the open kitchen next door. The lunch menu is good value for money. Closed Sunday and Monday; no lunch Saturday.
117 rue Dalhousie
Tel: (418) 692 4555.
Website: www.laurieraphael.com
Price: $$$-$$$$
Budget
Buffet de l'Antiquaire
Not quite as old as what else is on offer on Quebec City's ‘antiques row', this traditional diner with vinyl booths and counter stools is nonetheless an old-timer. Local residents hold it close to their hearts for big, slap-up breakfasts and Québécois comfort food like poutine, cipaille (meat pie) and ragoût de boulettes (pork stew with meatballs).
95 rue St-Paul
Tel: (418) 692 2661.
Price: $
Café Krieghoff
A cosy café on a strip of good-value mid-range restaurants (and bars), this spot sees far more locals than tourists, even though it's only a 10-minute walk from the Musée National des Beaux-Arts du Québec. It's an ideal place to while away an afternoon with a hot drink, but Café Krieghoff also serves a comforting menu of burgers, quiches, salads, smoked meat sandwiches and croutons (baguette topped with garlic butter and melted cheese) and hearty breakfasts. There are B&B rooms upstairs (the hotel was completely renovated in 2006).
1091 avenue Cartier
Tel: (418) 522 3711.
Website: www.cafekrieghoff.qc.ca
Price: $
Le Cochon Dingue
Part of a local mini-chain, this branch located just off the attractive pedestrian strip of Petit-Champlain is a cheap and cosy Italian restaurant with tiled floors, chequered tablecloths and a young and friendly staff. Dependable rather than fancy, the menu includes brochettes, pasta, panini, mussels and grills such as ribs and steak-frites. There's another Cochon Dingue near avenue Cartier, at 46 boulevard René Lévesque Ouest (tel: (418) 523 2013); both have terraces.
46 boulevard Champlain
Tel: (418) 692 2013.
Website: www.cochondingue.com
Price: $$
Personal Recommendations
Conti Caffè
The sleek, modern décor might fool some passers-by that this is a lounge bar, but in fact it shares a kitchen with the adjacent gastronomic restaurant, Le Continental. Dishes are lighter but of an equally high quality, with a focus on Italian cuisine: in addition to pizza and pasta, there are seafood and grilled meats, with veal (served as escalope or medallions) a particular speciality.
32 rue St-Louis
Tel: (418) 692 4191.
Price: $$
L'Échaudé
Québec's Lower Town has a fair share of gourmet restaurants, but L'Échaudé stands out for doing so at a reasonable price. Classic and bistro dishes like salmon tartare, confit de canard and frequently changing seasonal specials are served in a brightly mirrored interior or on the terrace on the pedestrianised street. The international wine list has a variety of vintages by the glass, which change every few weeks, reflecting new finds by owner Robert Plamondon, who presents a weekly radio slot on wine.
73 rue Sault-au-Matelot
Tel: (418) 692 1299.
Website: www.echaude.com
Price: $$
Les Frères de la Côte
Despite being in tourist central, this terrific spot retains the atmosphere of a bustling neighbourhood bistro, filled with conversation and interesting knick-knacks strewn about the walls. The Italian and French bistro standards (osso bucco, thin-crust pizza, steak tartare and mussels) issuing from the open kitchen are reliably good, and the specials board is always worth checking out.
1190 rue St-Jean
Tel: (418) 692 5445.
Price: $$
