6 Best Restaurants in Side Trips from Quebec City, Quebec

The best of old and new blend at this restaurant in an 1840 French Canadian farmhouse, built by the owners' ancestors, which lies east of Château-Richer toward Ste-Anne-de-Beaupré. Antiques and old-fashioned woodstoves decorate the dining rooms, where you can sample traditional Québec dishes, from tourtière (meat pie) and pork hocks to maple-sugar pie. You can also opt for contemporary dishes such as the lobster sauce tagliatelle shrimp poached in a garlic and white wine sauce, or the wild boar ham braised with maple syrup and beer mustard sauce, served alongside pork rinds and carrots puree with a maple coating. Upstairs is a five-room B&B, also decorated in Canadiana; two exterior buildings hold two additional rooms.

This excellent, friendly bakery is located in the village of St-Jean's historic rectory, across the street from the church and a promenade along the river. In addition to delicious fresh croissants, pastries, and breads, La Midinette also offers pizzas and other light lunches that you can enjoy on the large covered porch in the summer.

If you're in the market for traditional French Canadian food, Les Ancêtres Auberge is highly unlikely to disappoint. With all dishes created from local ingredients, you can dine on classic Québécois fare like meatballs and pork hock ragout with root vegetables and pickled beets, or try another house specialty, the "famous" Ancêtres pea-and-ham soup. It doesn't get more Québécois than that. Another plus is the vantage point of the dining room, so while dining on the local grub you can also feast on the beautiful views of the St. Lawrence River and Montmorency Falls a little farther off in the distance. The restaurant is vegetarian friendly.

This is one of the most interesting microbreweries in the Québec City region, producing a colorful range of beers named after historical characters from Île d'Orléans. You can taste them all at the adjoining Pub Le Mitan, along with standard pub fare including burgers, pizzas, and fries. The pub's terrace is particularly pleasant, and there's a beautiful view toward the St. Lawrence River. It's a great place to take a break from a tour of the island.

You can dine inside amid old stone walls or outside on the patios at the foot of a tiny, peaceful waterfall at this restaurant, which was converted from an early-18th-century stone mill. Scrumptious snacks, such as quiche and salads, are available on the terrace, and evening dishes include local pork tenderloin and venison stew. You can stay overnight at one of the Moulin de St-Laurent's chalets—eleven available in summer; seven in winter—on the edge of the St. Lawrence. Lodging packages, which include some meals, are also available.

This lively café and bakery offers a wide variety of classic and unique pastries and breads (hello, preserved-lemon bread!), sandwiches, and quick breakfast and lunch options. It's a favorite with locals, who either eat in or take out after a quick chat with the friendly staff. It's a great resource for pâtés, cheeses, and breads to pack for your explorations of the region.