We were looking for a breakfast spot when we stumbled upon this amazing spot. I ordered a bagel…read morewith smoked salmon and it came with two delicious salads. A lightly dressed spinach and lettuce with quinoa with mango and pistachios that I could have eaten a plateful if it was available. My husband got a bagel with cream cheese. The bagels are differs from NYC bagels, but none the less delicious. Everything was fresh and tasty. The service was excellent. I'm so grateful that most people in Quebec are bi-lingual because my French is minimal. The staff was kind and attentive and I would definitely recommend this place.

We came here for brunch and the experience was lovely. Staffs were wonderful and the bagels were…read moredelicious! I love my smoked meat sandwich and organic orange-mango juice! Would recommended.

Pretty straightforward spot. Breakfast potatoes were perfectly crispy and tasty. No English menu…read morebut it was easy to decipher. Prices were very reasonable. As far as I could tell, there was just 1 flavor of bagel.

This is a very cute cafe in the cutest neighbourhood! After your brunch you can walk down to the…read moreriver for the most beautiful walk. The bagel was delicious! True Montreal style bagels...but what stood out was the vegepaté. It was made in house and very delicious. They have healthy options and good espresso.

This was my first trip to Quebec city in many years, so I asked a friend to recommend a pâtisserie…read moreshe loved. Le Croquembouche had what I was looking for. The eclairs and Paris-Brest are so delicious. The crisp choux and creamy fillings were just perfect. The quiche was rich but not heavy. I was mostly there for sweet treats to bring home, so I can't speak to the Vienniosserie or breads, but everything I got was delicious and so, so pretty!

This is one of the best patisseries that I've been to. The quality of the food is outstanding and…read moreyou can tell by the clientele. Very nice service! Smallish place limited seating. But very clean.

I HIGHLY recommended this place. The maple latte was SO delicious. But I did let it sit for a bit…read moreso the cookie dissolved into my drink. It wasn't the end of the world but if you don't want cookie bits then be sure to eat the cookie quickly! The crepes are absolutely delicious. And they are so filling! You can tell they're made with such care. The place is small so don't go with a large group unless for takeout. If we had more time I would go back and eat here again!

Crepe was good, menu is not current to what the pictures show and putting that aside the…read morecook/waiter/owner was rude. I would not visit again.

We had a nice breakfast at La Maison Smith. We enjoyed a delicious vegan sandwich and an almond…read morecroissant. Coffees were well made including a flat white and their drip coffee. Nice ambiance to enjoy a relaxing but non- fussy breakfast. Service was fast, friendly and efficient.

La Maison Smith, a cozy Escape in Old Québec…read more Stopped in for a little downtime (and a break from the freezing Québec winds), and La Maison Smith delivered exactly what I needed. Perfectly tucked into Old Québec, it's the kind of café you wander into once and immediately want to claim as "your spot." The menu has everything--coffee, tea, and even alcoholic drinks if you're feeling extra cozy. I went with a London Fog and a Maple Latte, both served in giant, soul‑warming mugs. Absolute comfort in liquid form. The space is bright and roomy with high tops, small tables, and counter seating overlooking the street--ideal for people‑watching or thawing out while pretending you're in a postcard. A lovely little refuge in the heart of the city.

This was our breakfast place of choice for 4 out of 5 days that we were in QC. Such an amazing…read morearray of pastries, plus coffees, breakfast sandwiches and more, that we were able to try something new each day. Such was the allure of Paillard that we are now craving croissants and lattes back home.

So we technically stopped in as someone wanted a iced matcha. I was going to get some unhealthy…read moredrink then my eyes spied a Nutella eclair! I've never had such a thing and just had to try it. It was delicious. The outside chocolate crush was like a candy bar while the cool cream inside was like a super soft ice cream. All together a wonderful dessert and a must try! Oh, the Matcha was okay ... But whatever, the Nutella eclair is where it's at!

The location of La Maison is pretty central - it's literally in a very touristy part of Old Quebec…read more(Petit Champlain). It also gets pretty busy. Coffee wise - I think it's okay. The latte I get had a weak taste of espresso and tasted a bit more watery than I'd like. I got a pastry in the morning. Nothing special but also nothing bad. Perhaps their other drinks are better but my latte was simply okay. Service was fast and prompt though.

My friend and I were on the hunt for coffee and pastries this morning when we stumbled upon Café La…read moreMaison Smith. We both ordered lattes and almond pastries--hands down the best coffee and pastry of the trip! The atmosphere was lovely, too. From our little stools at the bar, we could sip our lattes while people-watching in the square outside. See you tomorrow and the next day too, Café La Maison Smith!

We sampled a bunch of different menu items. The classic beef tartare, one of the listed favourites,…read morecan be divisive and not for everyone. Personally, it was a treat for me trying out something different, but I do not think everyone would appreciate its almost raw meat and liver-like texture. The Tartare comes with fries, a salad, and crouton to round up the order. We upgraded the side of fries that came with the Tartare into their Tout Cochon poutine. I was happy with that option that way I was able to sample their house poutine without needing to dedicate a full meal order for it. I can say this was among the best poutines I have had. The gravy was rich and flavourful. The poutine was also loaded with a variety of different proteins like the Gaspor farm ham and the bacon-wrapped sausage. The perron cheese curds also perfectly topped off the whole dish. Our last order was the Quebec pork chop marinated and grilled with maple and tamari. It was served with apple chutney, sweet potato mash, and seasonal vegetables. It is exactly as you would expect with the ingredient details of the dish's name. You get a lot of different flavour profiles and textures with the meal order. Some saltiness with the pork chop then some sweetness with the apple chutney. Meaty tenderness with the pork chop, mushiness with the potato mash, and then some slightly crunchiness with the seasonal vegetables. We dined on Sunday lunchtime the day before Family Day. There were people waiting to be seated by the time we arrived, but fortunately our group of only 2 people has a table spot available so did not need to wait. We were led down flights of stairs to the lower floor which was level with the street below. The whole place with its classic walls and decor exudes with classic charm.

Stopped here for lunch during our tour with about 50 minutes to eat before catching our St…read more Lawrence River cruise. After a long morning, I was starving and needed something substantial. I ordered the half rack of ribs, which was a mixed bag. The flavor was good, but several ribs were so burnt they were completely inedible--straight to the discard pile. They came with a well-dressed Caesar salad featuring seasoned croutons and delicious shaved bacon, plus sliced fried potatoes that were crispy and not greasy in the least. The thick layer of BBQ sauce wasn't quite my style--I'm a dry rub girl--but I was too hungry to care much. No photos because I devoured everything. My dining companion had a chicken sandwich she raved about. She ordered a Nordic spritz while I indulged in some Quebec cider. Honestly, I expected more pork options given the restaurant's name, but they fed us quickly and efficiently, which was exactly what we needed. No real complaints except for those burnt ribs. The interior has eclectic, cool-looking decor that's worth checking out. Our waitress provided quick and efficient service as well.

On our very first night in Québec City, we wandered into Chez Boulay Bistro Boréal looking for…read moredinner. We didn't have a reservation, but were fortunate enough to find seats at the bar--and honestly, it was perfect. For me, it was even preferable to the dining room, allowing us to watch the team at work while enjoying the warm and inviting atmosphere. We began with the Duck Foie Gras Terrine with pine forest spikenard, brioche tartine with larch and buckwheat praline, and a garnish of apples and aronia. We also added the sautéed foie gras, which elevated an already exceptional appetizer into something truly memorable. For our main courses, I chose the Québec Braised Beef Cheek with miso celeriac purée, roasted celeriac, wintergreen herb relish, and wild caraway veal jus. The beef was meltingly tender and deeply flavorful. My dining partner selected the Elzéar Venison Pâté en Croûte with balm poplar, Isle-aux-Grues plum mustard, hawthorn relish, and pimpina gel. Beautifully executed and rich with distinctly boreal flavors, it was both refined and comforting. We also shared a side of the duck breast lacquered with cranberries and schisandra, served with polenta flavored with dune pepper and braised winter lettuce. The standout for my dining partner was the polenta, formed into a crisp log with a beautifully crunchy exterior and soft center. He declared it his favorite preparation of polenta ever. From the attentive service to the inviting ambiance, everything was outstanding. Located in the heart of Old Québec on Rue Saint-Jean, Chez Boulay provided a delicious and memorable welcome to our holiday week. It was the perfect introduction to the cuisine, ingredients, and hospitality of Québec. Great food, great service, great atmosphere--simply perfection. Highly recommended. We would happily return on our next visit to Québec City.

We found Chez Boulay on Yelp. We did not have reservations but the staff were able to seat us at…read morethe bar. The restaurant was hopping and all the tables were full on a Wednesday evening. We ordered their signature beef cheeks accompanied by the house wine and the halibut offering. The beef cheeks together with the house wine were an amazing combination. The halibut was perfectly cooked, well seasoned and was accompanied by delicious kale and squash sides. The wait staff knowledgeable about the food and super-attentive in a way that enhanced our experience. Service was definitely fast, friendly and efficient.