Restaurants in Quebec City and Montreal
Jun 23rd, 2011, 05:53 AM
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Restaurants in Quebec City and Montreal
Going to these two cities two nights each for my birthday in July. Planning on staying at the Courtyard in Quebec and at Hyatt Regency in Montreal (great deal for a club room).
I'm thinking Aix au Cuisine du Terroir in Montreal for my birthday dinner, drinks on the rooftop first. Comments?
Am not looking to spend a fortune, and I'm surprised when I look at restaurants particularly in Quebec that seem outrageously priced, yet reviews seem very mixed and often negative. It would be nice to keep meals at around $150 or so for two with a nice bottle of wine. And we are really into "atmosphere" as well as food. We'll have a car, but walking distance would be nice so we don't need a designated driver!
I'm thinking Aix au Cuisine du Terroir in Montreal for my birthday dinner, drinks on the rooftop first. Comments?
Am not looking to spend a fortune, and I'm surprised when I look at restaurants particularly in Quebec that seem outrageously priced, yet reviews seem very mixed and often negative. It would be nice to keep meals at around $150 or so for two with a nice bottle of wine. And we are really into "atmosphere" as well as food. We'll have a car, but walking distance would be nice so we don't need a designated driver!
Jun 23rd, 2011, 07:09 AM
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You're right about restaurant prices in Québec City. The top restaurants there are all well above your maximum. One place you might consider is Aux Anciens Canadiens in one of the oldest buildings in town (ca. 1625). It has tons of "atmosphere". If you really want a bargain, the lunch menu goes until 5:45 but is a bit limited. After that with judicious choices you could likely manage for $150.
http://www.auxancienscanadiens.qc.ca/home.php
One restaurant I like very much is La Crémaillère. I think it's just as good as some of the more expensive places such as Le Saint-Amour. With the table d'hôte you can probably dine within your budget.
http://www.cremaillere.qc.ca/quebec-...out/menu.shtml
Poutine is best bought from a chip wagon late at night (that is unless you go for Normand Laprise's version with fois gras at Toqué in Montreal--but of course the prices there are stratospheric).
http://www.auxancienscanadiens.qc.ca/home.php
One restaurant I like very much is La Crémaillère. I think it's just as good as some of the more expensive places such as Le Saint-Amour. With the table d'hôte you can probably dine within your budget.
http://www.cremaillere.qc.ca/quebec-...out/menu.shtml
Poutine is best bought from a chip wagon late at night (that is unless you go for Normand Laprise's version with fois gras at Toqué in Montreal--but of course the prices there are stratospheric).
Jun 23rd, 2011, 09:54 AM
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I am also planning a trip to Quebec City, Patrick, so it is too early for me to make suggestions..other than, check the Trip Advisor forum for Quebec City. It is very active and there are a number of interesting suggestions there.
Be sure and do a trip report.
Be sure and do a trip report.
Jun 23rd, 2011, 10:50 AM
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Hi, Patrick!
Happy Birthday!
My favorite Montreal restaurant is Il Cortile, on Sherbrooke, just West of Peel, especially in July when you can sit in the outdoor courtyard. It is near the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts where there is a Jean Paul Gauthier "guided tour" on July 16 ( I just did a random search of events at the Museum...when is your birthday?)
Il Cortile, 1442 Rue Sherbrooke, (514)843-8230.
I cannot comment on Aix au Cuisine du Terroir b/c I have never had dinner there.
Enjoy Montreal! And, Quebec City!
Ocean
Happy Birthday!
My favorite Montreal restaurant is Il Cortile, on Sherbrooke, just West of Peel, especially in July when you can sit in the outdoor courtyard. It is near the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts where there is a Jean Paul Gauthier "guided tour" on July 16 ( I just did a random search of events at the Museum...when is your birthday?)
Il Cortile, 1442 Rue Sherbrooke, (514)843-8230.
I cannot comment on Aix au Cuisine du Terroir b/c I have never had dinner there.
Enjoy Montreal! And, Quebec City!
Ocean
Jun 25th, 2011, 01:39 AM
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Skip Aux Anciens Canadiens in Quebec City. It is tourist trap. There are many moderate restaurants in Quebec City. Check out SSS, Le Lapin Sauté, Cafe Conti, Le Pain Beni, Le Clocher Penche, to name just a few. If you want authentic crepes then venture down the Rue St. Jean to Le Billig-very casual and informal with a neighborhood feel. It is about 6 minutes walk from your hotel. There are also many high end restaurants in Quebec City, but it does not sound like that is what you are looking for. If you want to splurge, Panache is a good option as is l'Initiale and Toast. You can also grab very nice high end take out (or eat in if you wish) at Paillard, inside the city walls on Rue St. Jean. Chez Ashton have excellent and cheap poutine. Enjoy!
Jun 27th, 2011, 03:46 AM
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We enjoyed meals at Le Lapin Sauté (nice terrace), and Le Pain Beni mentioned in the last post. Friends have also recommended the Restaurant Café St-Malo on rue St.-Paul in the Lower Town in your price range. Some of the more expensive restaurants have good deals at lunch.
The restaurants in the Lower Town would be a fairly long walk but certainly doable. We walked back and forth to a B&B not too far away on Rue Ste-Anne. You could get quite close to your hotel by taking the ecolobus.
The restaurants in the Lower Town would be a fairly long walk but certainly doable. We walked back and forth to a B&B not too far away on Rue Ste-Anne. You could get quite close to your hotel by taking the ecolobus.
Jun 27th, 2011, 04:00 AM
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several strong recommendations for Café du Clocher Penché on this thread
http://www.fodors.com/community/cana...-favorites.cfm
http://www.fodors.com/community/cana...-favorites.cfm
Jun 27th, 2011, 06:08 AM
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I ate at Aix au Cuisine du Terroir this past March and very much enjoyed it. I'd recommend it.
I also ate at Bar et Boeuf (B&B) and really enjoyed that too. Its a little dark (low lighting) but you get used to it once there for a few minutes. Best of all, our food was fantastic. Creative, carefully plated and down right delicious.
There are lots of fantastic restos in Montreal. Toque, as someone mentioned above has a long standing reputation with a price list to match. I've eaten there on company dime and enjoyed it but not sure I'd spend that kind of money unless it was a really special occasion.
Verses Restaurant located in the boutique Hotel Nelligan in the heart of cobbled-streeted Old Montreal is also a good place for a very nice dinner for one of your other nights in Montreal.
If I think of any others I'll let you know.
I also ate at Bar et Boeuf (B&B) and really enjoyed that too. Its a little dark (low lighting) but you get used to it once there for a few minutes. Best of all, our food was fantastic. Creative, carefully plated and down right delicious.
There are lots of fantastic restos in Montreal. Toque, as someone mentioned above has a long standing reputation with a price list to match. I've eaten there on company dime and enjoyed it but not sure I'd spend that kind of money unless it was a really special occasion.
Verses Restaurant located in the boutique Hotel Nelligan in the heart of cobbled-streeted Old Montreal is also a good place for a very nice dinner for one of your other nights in Montreal.
If I think of any others I'll let you know.
Jun 27th, 2011, 06:15 AM
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Forgot to mention that I don't think you'd be less than $150.00 for two with wine at any of the restaurants mentioned in my above post unless you opted for their prix-fixe menus or specials (which could also be very good). You'd likely be below $200.00 though. Its the wine that would do you in, but many restaurants in the province of Quebec allow you to bring your own wine and only charge you a corkage fee, if at all. Its not considered gauche either.
Jun 27th, 2011, 11:00 AM
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If budget is a constraint, check out Prince Arthur street. All of the restaurants allow you to "Apportez votre vin" (bring your own wine) with no corkage fees. Food is Ok, nothing fancy, but a fun party atmosphere.
For fast food, get a couple of steamies at Retaurant La Belle Province, a provincial icon. The dogs plus a plate of poutine and a pepsi is a very authentic experience.
For fast food, get a couple of steamies at Retaurant La Belle Province, a provincial icon. The dogs plus a plate of poutine and a pepsi is a very authentic experience.
Jun 28th, 2011, 04:44 AM
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Great suggestions. I'm now having trouble making up my mind. So is that really true about taking your own wine? We're in New Jersey and I love the local concept of BYOB restaurants, but only those that don't have a license themselves. My partner has a really nice cellar here with some outstanding bottles -- and we'd love to take along our own wine especially for my birthday dinner -- something we couldn't even think about buying from a wine list. I'll look -- I guess we can drive into Canada with a couple bottles of wine?
But not comfortable if it gets us shrugged shoulders or raised eyebrows at a nice restaurant that has a decent wine list.
I made a reservation for Cafe Cloche Penche' but for 8:30 as that's the earliest (other than super early) available. And I think we'd love the rabbit and duck for two at Le Lapin Saute.
I have now also made a reservation at Aix au Cuisine du Terroir on Sunday for my birthday. On Saturday we're seeing Cirque du Soleil at 5, so would like to do something near there afterwards.
And while poutrine sounds like a disgusting cholesterol insult -- I think we must do that in QC -- especially at Chez Ashton (since that's my last name -- and my home kitchen is often referred to with that name -- hopefully they have some sort of souveniers!)
But not comfortable if it gets us shrugged shoulders or raised eyebrows at a nice restaurant that has a decent wine list.
I made a reservation for Cafe Cloche Penche' but for 8:30 as that's the earliest (other than super early) available. And I think we'd love the rabbit and duck for two at Le Lapin Saute.
I have now also made a reservation at Aix au Cuisine du Terroir on Sunday for my birthday. On Saturday we're seeing Cirque du Soleil at 5, so would like to do something near there afterwards.
And while poutrine sounds like a disgusting cholesterol insult -- I think we must do that in QC -- especially at Chez Ashton (since that's my last name -- and my home kitchen is often referred to with that name -- hopefully they have some sort of souveniers!)
Jun 28th, 2011, 05:34 AM
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Just returned from a conference in Quebec city. Ate at an amazing restaurant in the old city. It was Panache. It was expensive but AMAZING!!!! We were there on a a Thursday night and had the chef table, 4 courses with wine pairings. I think dinner was about $60 each without wine but definitely call and find out
Jun 28th, 2011, 11:47 AM
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You must check with the restaurant first before you take your own wine as not all restaurants allow this, but many do. If their website doesn't make this clear, call them and ask. I don't believe that Aix allows you to bring your own wine but check and see before showing up with bottles in tow to avoid any embarrassment.
If you tell us where your Cirque show is playing (address) we might be able to give nearby restaurant suggestions.
Poutine is either ghastly or delicious but you cannot leave Quebec without eating it once. And you're likely to return for more. Often best bought from a street truck.
If you tell us where your Cirque show is playing (address) we might be able to give nearby restaurant suggestions.
Poutine is either ghastly or delicious but you cannot leave Quebec without eating it once. And you're likely to return for more. Often best bought from a street truck.
Jun 28th, 2011, 12:23 PM
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Gee, I've been to Quebec several times, but have never had poutine -- does that make me abnormal? More abnormal than also admitting I grew up in the 50's and 60's in the midwest of the US and have never eaten a big plate of chili cheese fries either?
Cirque is at the port in Old town -- "Sous le Grand Chapiteau, Les Quais du Vieux Port de Montreal".
Deebers, I had looked at Panache on Trip Advisor. While I have to read the reviews there with a huge grain of salt, I had eliminated Panache based on a few dozen very negative (but believable} comments. While there are a number of raves like yours, there are way too many specific nightmare stories about the service, food prepared or delivered wrong or even cold, waiting for hours, and on and on.
Cirque is at the port in Old town -- "Sous le Grand Chapiteau, Les Quais du Vieux Port de Montreal".
Deebers, I had looked at Panache on Trip Advisor. While I have to read the reviews there with a huge grain of salt, I had eliminated Panache based on a few dozen very negative (but believable} comments. While there are a number of raves like yours, there are way too many specific nightmare stories about the service, food prepared or delivered wrong or even cold, waiting for hours, and on and on.
Jun 29th, 2011, 02:50 PM
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there are also many BYOB restaurants on Duluth in the Plateau neighborhood of MOntreal.
Restaurant Julien is a good bistro in your price range
I have been to Quebec many times without having poutine.
Restaurant Julien is a good bistro in your price range
I have been to Quebec many times without having poutine.
Jul 6th, 2011, 07:32 AM
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I did send an email to Aix au Cuisine du Terroir about bringing our own wine for a special occasion. (I was thinking of a rare bottle worth a couple hundred dollars for my birthday dinner), and would gladly pay a corkage fee to do so, but I guess they don't like that.
This was their reply -- "We do not accept wine from outside.
We have a really nice wine liste. See attached."
The idea wasn't just about saving money and I'm not really interested in taking wine to a more casual typical BYOB restaurant for a special dinner. So I get the idea that Quebec really isn't so different from the US in the idea of BYOB, in fact perhaps more restrictive as I can't imagine most fine restaurants in the US not stating that we could bring our own special wine for a corkage fee.
This was their reply -- "We do not accept wine from outside.
We have a really nice wine liste. See attached."
The idea wasn't just about saving money and I'm not really interested in taking wine to a more casual typical BYOB restaurant for a special dinner. So I get the idea that Quebec really isn't so different from the US in the idea of BYOB, in fact perhaps more restrictive as I can't imagine most fine restaurants in the US not stating that we could bring our own special wine for a corkage fee.
Jul 6th, 2011, 07:41 AM
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I think one difference is some of the BYOB places are not casual but actually "special occasion" type places; the restaurants Le P'tit Plateau and le Poisson Rouge in Montreal come to mind in this category, but there are others. However, I have noticed that if a place is not BYOB, they are often quite rigid about that policy.
