Bistro Le Sam in the Fairmont Frontenac is TO. DIE. FOR!!! Since it's National Poutine Week, the menu had a feature poutine with pulled pork and a herb infused sour cream - it was killer! Then we had the charcuterie with 3 meats and 2 cheeses. This is where I almost died. The attention to detail and all the other little pairings like the goose berries, pistachios, candied pecans, pickled shallots, it goes on and on and on!!! The other funny thing was that we sat by Calgary Mayor Nenshi and listened to him spin a few yarns with the Quebec mayor / good times!! This meal was definitely the highlight of my Quebec trip so far! read more

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Atmosphere was great with awesome service and, overall, people! We got the bison tartare and duck leg for appetizer which was great. I would get these starters again when I comeback. The main entree was disappointing though. I got the Flank Steak ($42) which was covered with a gravy like sauce that masked the taste of the cut of meat. Would recommend getting the sauce on the side or not getting it at all. Will come here again with loved ones for dinner later on and try a different entree! read more

Bistro le Sam - Bison Tartar (3 oz) - Canadian (New) Near Me - Quebec City, Quebec

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This is a really pretty bar located on the lobby floor of the fairmont towards the back. It is circular and has bar seating and cushions. They were really accommodating and made us Caribou ( Hot wine based drink) off the menu as that it what we were told the locals drink. Had a fun time! read more

Literally the best dinner ever. I had the flank steak. Due to my dairy allergy, they changed the sauce to a wine base. The attention and care they provided was amazing. They were able to recommend a dairy free, gluten free chocolate cake, and I ate every bite. You would never guess that it's dairy free and gluten free. I had such a lovely view of the water from the window. It had a beautiful atmosphere with low lighting. I will never forget this dinner. read more

We made reservations and showed up on time. Our party of 3 was told that there were no tables and, in no uncertain terms, that we could either dine in the waiting area on the small bar tables or not at all. On a busy Saturday night this was our only option. We were told this was because of a computer malfunction. Even though the host verified our reservation, whatever the reason, we were treated to a very unfortunate and uncomfortable dining experience. Three stars for the aforementioned as well as being fed adequate, expensive food with neither poor nor excellent service. read more

At the Fairmont, gorgeous views, relaxed, refined atmosphere, courteous staff, great escape from the snow and cold outside. One cocktail, rolls and butter, two entrees, two desserts, $97 before tip. An expensive splurge but the hotel restrooms are really nice, with tissues and hand lotion! A 2-minute walk to the funicular, says Google maps, so we'll head home next and recuperate from over eating. read more

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I had the quinoa dish. Plenty of green beans. Nice and hot and flavorful. Plenty if food for a lunch. Finishing up with their class maple syrup covered pastry - Le Quebe/Montreal. read more

Bistro le Sam - Dishes, quinoa and veggies and the dessert. - Canadian (New) Near Me - Quebec City, Quebec

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We were on a roll this trip with mostly 4 1/2-5 star restaurants. I really didn't want to break the streak with anything less, especially with such highly recommended options around but we had a long drive and honestly just wanted to explore every inch of this grand hotel we were staying in. Since the majority of the negative reviews for the Bistro were regarding slow service and we were in no rush we decided to give it a go.... First of all, the place is absolutely stunning!!! As an interior design freak, every single detail was really appreciated. The herringbone tile bar, the tufted velour lounge area, the pops of gold against the warm, bold navy, the chain metal hanging from the bar, the up-lit birch wood, the faux nail heads around the edges of the cocktail tables, the thick beveled candle holders, the classy ice buckets, the high-gloss black columns, the sleek sconces, the undulating barstool legs, the sateen bolster pillows, the pinhole chandeliers, the patterned rugs and flowing drapery, the mix of clean mid-century modern and luxurious classics... I die!!! All of the patterns and mixed textures had me "ooh-ing and ahh-ing" the entire time. It's really very well designed, uber sexy and very sleek and chic. So for that alone, hands down, 5 Stars. It was so perfectly right up my alley and I didn't even mention the views of the St Lawrence as seen from here! Wow! Our waiter Marc-Antoine greeted us with a smile and menus promptly and was very much on top of everything throughout our entire meal. He made suggestions and was very personally. No complaints about the service whatsoever. The cocktails were extremely creative, presented beautifully and were tasty. Priced around $15 or so Canadian each. We started with the signature Jam Le Sam which was Finlandia Vodka, pink pepper, cranberry jam and maple syrup. It sounded too interesting not to taste. It was delicious and garnished to perfection! So pretty I didn't want to drink it! My suggestion would be to ask for less ice as we finished it rather quickly. We then ordered the Caesar Hawaiian which is said to be the best in town. It's a tropical twist on an old classic containing spiced pineapple juice reduction with Casamigos tequila, Motts Clamato and secret spice blend. It wasn't his favorite, but did have a nice kick. For an app I ordered the red bean dip with onion confit, crispy kale and chia seeds which was served with perfectly crisp chips. The chips were remarkably good and has a great consistency, but I really wish it was served with crudité for a more calorie conscious plate. The bean dip was sweet as red beans are, but I really thought a drizzle of a chili oil or perhaps some crushed red pepper would've broken up the sweetness just right. Maybe just personal preference? Hubs had the scallop app which he liked a lot! Smaller portion, but full of flavor and cooked just right. For an entree, it was the mushroom and squash risotto which was filled with huge pieces of meaty portobello. My carnivore husband missed nothing with the vegetarian dish. He also finished every bite. Highly recommend! We would say skip dessert. The butterscotch, caramel and pecan cake was just ok. While again, the garnish was beautiful and tasty, the cake itself was said to be a tad dry. All and all, a great meal with attentive service, in a beautiful environment. We were very pleased. The menu is full of variety and offers many locally sourced ingredients. You're guaranteed to find something to suit any preference... seafood, vegetarian, fish, pork, beef or game and rare meats. If your weary, I say grab some one of their amazing signature cocktails or one of their magnificent wines and a charcuterie with the option for a sit down. ** We did not have reservations near closing time on a weekday and had no issues. read more

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Came here for an dinner to view the sunset. This restaurant, which is inside the famous Chateau Frontenac, has the most amazing views of the river and city. The food was also very good. Didn't like the onion soup (too much bread, not enough juice). But that's just my opinion. Their Cesear salad, fish and chips, and Halibut dish (was a special) were delicious. The service was also very good. Highly recommend. read more

Bistro le Sam - Views from the restaurant inside the Chateau Frontenac - Canadian (New) Near Me - Quebec City, Quebec

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Whether you're staying at the hotel or just stopping by, you need to stop at Bistro le Sam and get the hot chocolate. Ask for truffle fries and if you're lucky, they can make it for you. read more

Bistro le Sam - Hot chocolate - Canadian (New) Near Me - Quebec City, Quebec

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A 5 star hotel but 2 star restaurant - did lunch recently and was disappointed - Service was good but ordered the smoked salmon App and it was not smoked just raw salmon with few picketed onions but the real disappointment were the fries - they had obviously been under the lamp for a long time and worse they had the rancid oil taste - Server took them off. On way out I swung by the open kitchen and the old fryer oil smell was obvious - this was at noon - oil must have been in fryer since day before. Also the bar area was a disaster with huge pile of dirty glasses and dishes scattered everywhere. Place needs a manager read more

Wonderful food and wonderful service! Waiter was very attentive and passionate about their cuisine. He was willing to share recommended pairings, appetizers, and deserts. We enjoyed the experience so much that we decided to join again for a second night! Wait staff still remembered us and our drink orders. They were patient and cooperative with our French speaking as our French is very poor! Overall, great experience. read more

My partner and I like afternoon tea and I thought it would be nice to propose to her during afternoon tea at Le Château Frontenac. Booking a reservation was not a problem - I had emailed in with a few questions about dietary accommodations and the responses were very prompt. When I made the actual reservation, I mentioned that I was planning to propose during the tea service and requested to see a wine list. They emailed back with a link to a wine list, but didn't mention the proposal at all in the email (usually I will get "congrats" or something of that sort). I didn't think much of it at the time.... I wanted to do a creative proposal and thought up of a cute idea that would involve the server bringing a tea cup, that says "marry me?" inside of it, to the table. I emailed back asking if this would be possible (I would supply the tea cup, they just had to bring it to the table) and offered to pay for this extra level of service. After a week, there was no response. I gave them the benefit of the doubt, and called and left a message for the manager. I waited a week and when I received no call back, I decided to cancel my reservation. I emailed my cancellation and said that I was very disappointed that they did not have the decency to even respond to my request - if my idea was not possible, then just say so instead of ignoring my email/phone call. Within 24 hours I received an automatic cancellation and no written response to my email. The fact that they ignored my requests regarding the proposal, and then were quick to cancel my reservation, leads me to believe their poor communication was a result of discrimination. Le Château Frontenac tries to be a romantic destination for couples, but they didn't mention on the website that this only applies to heterosexual couples. UPDATE: Within hours of writing this review I received an email and a phone call. The email basically said "Sorry for the late response. If you will want to come in, we can offer you champagne." I didn't respond and received a phone call a couple hours later. They said they didn't understand my message...so it takes 2.5 weeks and a bad review for them to get back to me? read more

Great river view !! Beautiful hotel and a beautiful restaurant ! Stopped in for a snack while braving the cold / snow! Obsessed !! read more

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Words can not describe how disappointing our visit to Le Sam was. I made a reservation for 10 for dinner. The service was terrible. The waitress came by once to take drink orders, and then messed up my order. She never returned to correct it, bring another drink. We never received menus to order our food. I had to go to the bar to get a drink, and ordered the two for one drink special - which was apparently one regular-sized drink divided into two glasses, for the price of two drinks. We had made our reservation for 5:30 to enable us to eat before the parade passes by our hotel (Chateau Frontenac) but we never received menus or ever saw a wait person again. At 7:15 we gave up and left and went to eat elsewhere, as we were hungry. We entirely missed the parade. I've never had such bad service anywhere. One would think in a lovely hotel like the Frontenac that they'd have better service. I'd rate it a zero if I could. I don't know how it stays in business. read more

We dined at Le Sam while staying at the Chateau during our recent anniversary vacation, and it was the perfect locale for our celebratory dinner. We were able to get same-day reservations (we were both guests of the hotel and visiting during off-season, so worth considering), and they seated us right by the window to overlook the river while we dined. They were so polite and willing to accommodate my vegetarian diet, but I ended up ordering the vegetarian option off the menu (which was a chickpea cake), and I am so thankful that I trusted the chef's dish, as it was perfect. My husband raved about his short ribs, and the bread served with oil was also very good. Lovely décor, friendly staff, and well priced for the locale. Would definitely recommend for a romantic dinner in Quebec City or special occasion (and great excuse to visit the Chateau). read more

Bistro le Sam - Champagne and a river view at Le Sam - Canadian (New) Near Me - Quebec City, Quebec

Le Sam is one of the three in-house dining spots in Chateau Frontenac, with all located at the end of a mini-arcade/shopping area that goes from the check-in area at the front, all the way to the river-facing views at the back. Le Sam is the restaurant on the right, and whether it was coming in last minute for a cocktail in the evening or showing up for lunch before heading out, the folks were able to accommodate us, even on short notice. All of the servers here are quite friendly, even if the English was at times a little shaky. Despite the grandeur of the building overall, Le Sam does have a bit more of a cozy, laid-back feel to it, even with finishes that give it a touch of elegance. Make sure to get a seat (if you are visiting during daytime hours) on the slightly-elevated seating area by the windows, as you will have excellent views of the St. Lawrence. Our first visit was just about cocktails, and I have to say that the drinks here are made especially well. I really enjoyed my tequila-based cocktail on the first night, while 'Release the Kraken' (utilizing Kraken rum, unsurprisingly) was so good that my wife (not usually an alcohol imbiber) got a mocktail version made when we came back for lunch the next day. The variety of styles of cocktails is excellent, and the balance struck between the mixers/ingredients and the liquor was on point. The food, though, is perhaps even better. The cuisine tends to be more on the homier side, but everything we ate was delicious. The biggest surprise (aside from the bowl size, which eats more like a meal) was the clam chowder with cheese...it never occurred to me that this pairing could work, but the thick layer of house-cellared cheese was quite excellent with the thick, potato-y broth of the clam chowder. After that, we really enjoyed the lobster roll, which had very good meat but was also served on a pretzel roll. I enjoyed the slightly more 'bready' nature that this had, as well as the extra dash of saltiness that enhanced the flavor of the lobster. The house smoked salmon was quite delicious as well, although it stood out a little less relative to other dishes...that's how high the bar had been set. To finish off our lunch, we then got the cheese special for the week, which ended up being a chunk of lightly-fried cheese that had a pretty strong stink (in a good way, of course) to it, along with a very stringy, chewy texture. Although this was not one of the places we had initially planned on eating at, we got sold by the cocktails being so good the night before, and it is great that the food turned out to match as well. It's well worth a visit for a meal, whether or not you are staying at Chateau Frontenac. read more

Beautiful French Bistro in a very charming/old world hotel. Beautiful river views. Pricey. Delicious. Portions are relatively generous. We tried the trout tartare, and it was simply beautiful to savor. French wine and the beef tartare for main course with their hefty and delicious caesar salad. We had a beautiful, beautiful business dinner. Our servers were a little on the "clumsy/choppy" side, but it was adorably cute. Foodie - worthy meal! read more

In addition to nice river and city view, their signature burger is awesome. Crispy friend onion with special little spicy sauce that tastes like orange and lemon makes the burger blunted so well with juicy eggs in the middle of burger (surprise!!). Their side dish bread would have buttery favor. It's so fresh that I ate three of them in a roll. read more

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Funny to see all the reviews here and ours will sound much like so many other unsatisfied people's reviews. The restaurant was beautifully setup. The inside was nice and hip and the outside patio overlooking the night scene of the city and river was just magnificent. I really enjoyed the setting. We ordered a few things to enjoy as we weren't hungry for big entrees, so just a few apps and small plates : Oysters, french onion soup, salmon tartar and then as our entree 2 orders of duck wings. We waited very long to receive our drinks. When we did, we ordered. First came my oysters on their own. After I finished them someone brought bread. They took a long time to bring our next fixings, the salmon and they brought a very lukewarm soup for my husband which he complained to me about. It may have well sat out the whole time we were waiting between courses and that was quite a while. My husband didn't even finish it, we had to go so we pulled our server over to cancel the duck wings and tell him that the soup was not hot. The waiter understood and claimed the timing was part his fault. He told us he was sorry the wings never showed up. This would have been a 1 star review but the server was gracious enough at the end of meal to take his and the kitchen's mistakes off the bill and award us with a very delicious plate of desert. Had a yummy plate of berries, blueberry macron, sweet maple cream, and a tart. Highlight of the whole time. We left happy - but still wish we could have had those duck wings to try that they hyped up! read more

Le Sam is a great addition to the Chateau Frontenac. Although it seems a but too sleek and modern for the Victorian hotel, Le Sam is a fun, high-end bar and bistro. The bartenders are extremely talented and professional. They make inspired cocktails without any showiness or spectacle. They explained the different liquors and mixers to us as they worked. Really great drinks. They have a Gin that is distilled in the Charlevoix region of Quebec, and they make their own beer (outstanding) and tonic syrup (best I have ever had). Real juniper berries in their gin and tonics. The terrace has some of the best views of the St. Lawrence River, Levis and Petit Champlain in the city. I look forward to many return visits. read more

This restaurant is worth the trip, which is inside the beautiful Fairmont Le Château Frontenac. Great selection of unique cocktails. We especially enjoyed our bison tar tar and chowder for appetizer. The duck and lamb shank were delicious as well. The wait staff was very polite and attentive. The atmosphere is very cozy and chic yet casual. Highly recommend for a date night you can't go wrong! read more

Went for high tea on a Sunday recently and was disappointed. The room and views were great but the high tea itself for the price was disappointing. I e done high tea many times and this was one of the most expensive. The offerings were fancy but some missed the mark. Also the other guests were so casual that it took away from the experience. The servers were attentive though at least. I guess my expectations were set higher due to the setting and price tag. read more

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We stayed at the Chateau Frontenac for spring break and this restaurant was one of the highlights of our stay. Kids younger than 5 eat for free and they have an excellent and affordable menu for kids. Kids meals were $11 so having one kid under 5 and another over 5, we got 2 meals for $11! And the adult courses were jus amazing! We had the lobster roll, the duck wings, the tartares and crab cakes. They were all delicious. Their wine selection is excellent and service was great. Overall great value for your money, keep it up! read more

Stopped in here for a bite to eat after a driving tour of Quebec City and the Island of Orleans. Started the night with a Bees Knees cocktail! I loved the respect of calling out the bees so I had to get something from the customized Bee menu! I could have drank the Bees Knees all night! I stopped myself as I don't typically drink a lot of gin. Cheeseboard was deluxe and had I known how much was on it probably would not have ordered a main dish. We had the club sandwich with frites and a customized version of the salmon for myself as they could prepare it without allium. Salmon was delicious, and accompanied by a sweet potato puree. We sat at the bar as we like the buzz that goes along with, our bartender was fantastic, will certainly go back when in Quebec City! read more

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Wow... our Anniversary dinner, blown! I requested a table in the quieter dining room area, preferably by the window but not an absolute must. We were seated in the bar area, right beside the DJ, spinning tunes. And any other night, that might have been okay but not our Anniversary! We wouldn't have mind it as background music but we were front and center in the brightly lite bar! Unacceptable! I then asked if we could be moved into the other room since that's what we had requested... clearly, pretending to try to work something out, she came back and said, sorry but we are booked. REALLY!!! Because I too, had "booked" us in there. We even offered to wait until a table became available but she said there wasn't going to be anything for the rest of the night and that it was completely booked. If overbooked in the dining room, who decides who should get those tables verses not?!?! Being it was our Anniversary and we would like to have a little conversation, we decided to leave. Very disappointing. read more

I had a few drinks at the bar- the "Hotel Georgia" is a DELICIOUS cocktail. Very kind staff. Overall this place is over-priced with tacky interior design and gross popcorn. read more

I sat at the bar and had friendly service, incredible drinks, and a pretty dang good onion soup. They make great dining easy. The decor is hip and unique. read more

My first visit in Christmas to Quebec. What a fine place. The staff are incredibly polite, attentive and more important they pleased the customer. Love the food and the drink. read more

Bistro le Sam - Canadian (New) Near Me - Quebec City, Quebec

Many of their tables on patio with view are empty from the time we came till the time we left, we made reservations ahead of time, but they insist on having us sit inside because those tables outside are 'reserved' no matter how I asked them. And when I asked how can I reserve a table on the patio they said 'we cannot guarantee you will just have to reserve ahead of time'. Awful! read more

Great Food, ask for Jonathen our waiter was amazing. Chips and bacon sour cream, oyster Rockefeller, sea scallops and shrimp risotto were incredibly good!! read more

The inside is decorated beautifully. I had the best drink, The white cosmo. The bartender was so nice and friendly. Food was decent. Definitely recommend stopping in for a few drinks! read more

Bistro le Sam - Canadian (New) Near Me - Quebec City, Quebec

Food and cocktails were really delicious. Enjoyed a great cheese dish, with a burger (delicious meat) and their signature cocktail.

We stopped in here on a frigid Friday in November for dessert and coffee. The service is spectacular, as is the tarte tatin. I had the maple "Quebec-Montréal," Which is kind of like a super sugary maple cookie with crême Anglaise as a filling. Great view of the St. Lawrence and across to Lévis. No trip to QC is complete without a gawking tour through the Château Frontenac. read more

The restaurant is beautiful, the staff friendly, and they were very nice in accommodating our request for a seat near the window; the view is spectacular. But the food was just ok. There are many places in Quebec City that have better food. The appetizers we had were good - the onion soup, the chowder, and salmon. But the main dishes (flank steak, filet mignon, lobster roll) were just meh. read more

Delicious desserts and tea inside the Chateau Frontenac with a gorgeous view of the canal & the city. We had this Quebec style - maple flavored dessert that is definitely a must to try!!! Looking forward to visit this place again in the future. :D read more

Bistro le Sam - Canadian (New) Near Me - Quebec City, Quebec

Worst service I've experienced in a decade. Asked for bread twice--no bread. Received water--once. Waiter stood chatting with neighboring table for what felt like an eternity, during which he once moved one foot towards our table, looked over his shoulder asking "do you need anything?" When eventually he came to process our credit card he said "I'm sorry I wish I could have given you more attention, but I was so busy tonight". It was not a busy night. Great view and the food was fine. Will not return to this place. read more

This was a big disappointment. The food and service were both marginal. Poutinecwas cold and needed to be sent back. When it came back the cheese on it was cold. Soups were salty and served lukewarm. Although the restaurant is very pretty with beautiful views, it is not worth coming here. It is way overpriced. Too bad since I was really looking forward to eating here. read more

Above & beyond! I've been traveling in Montreal and Quebec City for the past 6 days. I like to eat healthy...which is hard to find at the restaurants in theses cities. And by healthy I mean no dairy, simple meals like chicken and veggies. But simple and healthy was not to be found. My last night here I went to a pub I had been to a couple times in past years and they wouldn't plate up chicken & veggies. This was the 10th restaurant that refused to serve me something healthy throughout the week, even though their menu contained the ingredients in separate dishes. Anyway...on to Le Sam. I ordered off the menu at the pub and it was terrible, pretty much a bowl of cheese. So I came back to my hotel just praying to get something green, went into the bar at Le Sam and asked for a bowl of arugula and olive oil. They didn't bat an eyelash, didn't look at me funny, just said yes, of course!! I've never been so happy to see greens on a plate without a hassle! And I saved some to eat for breakfast. This may be a little thing to some, but to me it was huge because it was the first place willing to go above and beyond and be very accommodating! All you other restaurants out there, take note...it's not a big deal for you to please your customers if your kitchen already has the ingredients, but it's a big deal to your customer wanting to make healthy choices and they'll always appreciate it. And you'd get return customers! I'll be back here for sure and I'll recommend it to everyone I know coming to QC for a visit. Thank you Le Sam...you made my night!! read more

I am focusing this review specifically on the bar. Let's start here, I am not a drinker. I don't like the taste of alcohol (Although I doubt anyone else does). When I am drinking I generally will never have more than one drink and will likely spend time drinking the same drink the whole night. That was not the case here by any stretch of the imagination. The signature drinks at the bar are all incredible to a point where I was drinking 3-4 in a single night. Additionally, all of the bartenders, are willing to try things that are a little different and off the beaten path. I would definitely make sure to go back there any time I'm in the city. read more