This place is a hidden gem that we found on our way to Canyon St. Anne. My fiance and I ate…read moreoutdoors on a beautiful sunny day. They had outdoor seating under umbrellas and balcony and indoor seating as well. We sat on the balcony where we were able to enjoy our meal as we listened to the peaceful music they had playing in the background. This is not a super fancy high priced place. The setting is casual, and their prices were very reasonable. My fiance ordered the Tiapia with mushroom sauce, which came with a Patee dish and coffee. I ordered my normal steak and fries special that came with a creamed carrot soup and coffee. Our plan was to order both dishes and share them so we can get an idea of how each tasted. We were not disappoionted. Our meals tasted great! That is no exageration. Our waitress was also exceptional, which made the experience all that much better. She was friendly, helpful, and attentive. If my fiance and I ever return to Quebec City, we would not hesitate to go back there again.

Enjoyed a wonderful brunch on Easter Sunday. We were a party of six and the menu catered to each…read moreof our tastes. My main dish was a Swiss rösti topped by whipped potato and onions and a nice garden salad. I was still thinking of the dish a few days later. The whole was surrounded by smoked salmon. Portions were very generous. The decor of the restaurant and ambience were very warm while the service was impeccable. Thank you for a memorable experience.

An Unexpected Gem - One of Our Best Dining Experiences Ever…read more My wife and I discovered Au Grain de Folie in Lévis, Quebec, completely by chance. We hadn't made a reservation--we just saw the great reviews and decided to take a shot. When we arrived, they told us they were fully booked and only accepted reservations. But just as we were about to leave, the staff kindly offered us a spot at the tabletop, which gave us a front-row view of the magic happening in the kitchen. That's when Chef Claudine personally stepped in, and from that moment on, we were treated to something truly special. The entire staff welcomed us with warmth, and the space was intimate, charming, and full of positive energy. We were invited to enjoy the Chef's Inspiration tasting menu with wine pairings, and we gladly placed ourselves in their hands. Each course was inventive and delicious, paired with a wine thoughtfully selected to complement the flavors--and tailored to our individual palates. Chef Claudine noticed right away that my wife and I have different tastes and curated each pairing accordingly. Before each course, she came to our table to describe the dish and the wine, creating a relaxed, engaging rhythm to the evening. From our seats, we could watch the team at work--cooking, laughing, even dancing. It was clear they loved what they were doing, and that joy came through in every plate. We've had the privilege of dining at many top-tier restaurants, but this evening stands out as one of the best. Not just because of the food and wine, but because of the warmth, care, creativity, and energy of the entire experience. Even the music--delightfully eclectic--added to the charm. If you're in Lévis, do yourself a favor--go here. It's a small space, so reservations are definitely a good idea. But however you get in, just go. We'll absolutely be back. Thank you, Chef Claudine and team, for an unforgettable night.

Through research and recommendations, I found a little out-of-the-way bistro that I chose for our…read morehighlight dinner this trip to Québec. We took the ferry across the St. Lawrence River to the town of Lévis, and then a taxi ride 20 minutes upriver to a little bistro in a quaint neighborhood beside the river. From the outside, the prospects for fine dining did not look terribly promising. But one step through the door, and I sensed we were in the right place. They remembered my telephone message in bad French making the reservation and seated us promptly. The chef-owner, Claudine, then came to the table to welcome us, and personally stepped us through the entire menu in her good but hesitant English. It's a very seasonal menu, entirely written by hand on a chalkboard on one wall of the restaurant. By good fortune, last night it featured four appetizers and four entrées, so we ordered everything on the menu! The place was small and was obviously a favorite of the locals. The kitchen was staffed by just the chef and one sous chef. The music playlist was pop songs from our childhood, and the staff was very friendly, obviously having a good time working together serving the clients. I decided to really step outside my comfort zone and order things the chef seemed especially proud of. So for an appetizer, I had the veal sweetbreads, and for my entrée I had a blood pudding made according to the chef's grandmother's recipe. Every bit of food was amazing. The blood pudding was served with Yukon Gold mashed potatoes whipped with farmers cheese, a mustard slaw, and a grilled apple. It was so rich and interestingly spiced. I enjoyed all of my unusual choices! The other appetizers were onion soup, and borszcz, a cold Ukrainian beet soup. The other entrées were ceviche, roast duck, and risotto with a halibut fillet. For dessert, we had macarons and chômeur, which is a moist bread pudding flavored with maple. The name chômeur translates as "unemployed person"! After the meal, our bartender-waiter, Jean-Phillipe, brought over a bottle of Armagnac and served us all a shot. He joined us in the drink, saying it was in part to celebrate his recent 25th birthday. After that the chef joined us outside for a group photo and hugs.

Before I start - if you come here (and I highly recommend you do), you MUST ABSOLUTELY get the…read morehamburger du coin (this is their burger made with duck and pork) - see below for detailed explanation of why this burger is so good. We came to this place based on yelp reviews and couldn't be happier with our meal. This is snack/food bar that specializes in duck, foie gras and black garlic. The service was good and pretty quick. There's really only 3 people working - a cook in the back, a lady taking and handing out orders at the front and, I suspect, the owner who is out and about cleaning up and handling the tasting of black garlic inside a different area. The owner was particularly friendly, striking up conversations with patrons. We got 3 items: 1) foie gras poutine. Very good poutine - fries appear to be hand cut and freshly fried, gravy is tasty without being overly salty and cheese curds are perfect ( if they are not perfect in Quebec, something has gone terribly wrong). There is a small bit of arugula and on top of that sits one piece of foie gras. It's really good foie gras that goes will with the poutine but just wish there was more! We did get a small so not sure if the amount of foie gras changes. At 10$ for a small, it's somewhat pricey for what you get but then again - Foie gras. 4.5/5 2) smoked duck hot dog (hotdog canard fumee). We are told that the smoked duck is ground down to make the sausage. This is placed in a toasted hot dog bun and topped with lots of arugula. This was delicious. Really enjoyed the smoked duck flavor in the sausage and is nicely balanced against the arugula. 5/5. 3) hamburger du COIN - this is an amazing burger. I got to speak to the owner about how it was so good and he explained what goes into this hamburger. First, the bun is made of a black garlic brioche ( I just thought it was whole wheat - the black garlic is not super powerful but makes the burger more special). Next, the hamburger patty is a mixture of duck and pork which is SOUS VIDE for an hour (I can not emphasize how impressed I am that this road side food bar takes the time to sous vide their burger patties prior to grilling them). When you order, they do the final grill and serve it - no wonder why it's perfectly pink throughout the middle! Then there is the cheese which the owner says is specially brought in from a specific flock of cows which there are only 3 herds of in Quebec. Then, there is the amazing foie gras. Topped with some fresh slices of tomatoes and arugula to balance the fatty foie gras and smooth cheese. This is an amazing burger - it costs $15 which is actually really good considering what you're getting. A must try if you like duck and foie gras. Decent amount of parking at this place but we were here closer to 1:30-2pm on a Sunday so it wasn't too busy. Lots of picnic benches to sit and eat. There is a dog that likes to go around and eat scraps but he appears very calm and doesn't really bother people. They also sell black garlic and there appears to be a freezer with some duck products if you brought a cooler to take things back home. Summary: Get the hamburger du COIN for sure if you come here. And you should come here!

I had a great time! I found this place through yelp as I am on the road trip. It is a very quiet…read moreand peaceful location with good food. The lady at the cashier did not speak a lot of English but she was very sweet and I was able to order by pointing at the picture of the menu. It felt like I was out for a picnic. I hope I am able to come back again. There is also a adorable dog that (I think she belongs to the owner) that comes by your table to say hi.

Was amazing good food and service . Highly recommended coming here. Will be back next time I'm…read morethere area

Stopped in for a late lunch while traveling through the area. The lunch menu was limited to mostly…read moreburgers and pizza but the Caprese Burger with goat cheese and caramelized onions was delicious. The bun it was served on was heavily seeded and very good. The parking lot easily accommodated our 22' campervan. Definitely worth a visit.

A small place in with curious history. This inn had an all you can eat buffet with homemade food…read moreand catered to English speaking tourists back in the day. The owner, at some point in time, had a pet bear he owned and lived on premise with his large family. The history of the inn and pictures of the bear are still on the wall and in the atmosphere. Today, it's an intimate restaurant with good food and good service as well as a charming inn. We have been going there for the last few years and neither the food nor the service disappoints. I will have to say that prices are on the higher end, but so is the food. It's not easy to find good food in the area that doesn't classify as ´fast food'. Also most of the food in the area is poutine, pizza, burgers and chicken. It's nice to experience more unique options and the tasting menu is a must try. Some evening like Christmas and new year require reservations. Good lunch or dinner place. We never stayed in the inn but it looks charming as well. Ski mountain and st Anne Cathedral aren't far away. They are also famous for their Sunday brunch. That requires reservations as well. I know it's a thing but I have never tried it.

We had the most charming dinner in the restaurant here. Very Québécois, beautiful country…read moreatmosphere, food was delicious and service was wonderful.

This place is great . Took the family there for a birthday party , Wanted something nice and a…read morelittle different . This is it ! It is located on the cute little main st. so a great place to walk around afterwards . They do 2 types of cheese dinners: 1st in the Swiss Fondue , half the party ordered that it it was fantastic . They give you meats and vegetables to dip . Excellent. 2nd is the Raclette .This is with the semi hard cheese they heat and scrape off onto your plate . Again you are given an assortment of meats and vegetables ,EVERYONE loved this . We have had it in multiple restaurants before and this was as good as any . Service is very good owner is very nice and accommodating ( youngest daughter doesn't eat much so owner said no problem for her to share with my wife ) Something to note . The prices on the menu Include taxes and tip so it is much cheaper than it originally appeared . And you can bring your own wine which makes it even better.

A fabulous dinner in a charming spot. This is one of the few "apporter votre vin" (bring your own…read morewine) restaurants on the main street in Baie St Paul. Also open for lunch, it serves dishes that creatively feature local Charlevoix dairy products. We required a reservation for our Saturday dinner - the place was "complet" - sold out. Nicholas and his wife not only cook and serve, they greet customers and passersby on the street from the outdoor patio. Finally we had a truly great meal in Baie St Paul. Not to be missed by anyone who truly respects the palate!

From the owner: Pour un arrêt gourmand à Saint-Jean-Port-Joli, rendez-vous au Bistro OK! Ce restaurant coquet vous…read moreaccueille dans une ambiance chaleureuse et fringante pour vous laisser déguster un menu du terroir sur le bord du fleuve St-Laurent.

Darn you Canada! Darn you and your insane good ability to have foods made better than in the Yay…read moreArea! Ha ha ha! You'll know why I'll type this in a bit. Cochon Dingue, The Crazy Pig in French, is a chain of Quebec Provence French restaurants that according to their site combines bistro refinement with the feel of a local laid back atmosphere. It just so happens that I'm typing a review for the original location on Quebec City's Champlain and Traversiers intersection. Of course, you'll see both English and French on the menus, and I felt bad that my French is horrible as I visited Quebec City and Montreal, but remember. San Jose and the Bay Area as a whole are Spanish speaking areas given its history, not French, and while I'm at it, Tagalog and Spanish are way more similar than Tagalog and French. It is nice that the Toronto cousin driving us around can still speak it to a point though. Before I forget, do realize that though there are two entryways, only one of them is really walkable, as the other's closed off. As I insert the old "Yes guys, the ladies are cute" and "Yes ladies, the guys are cute" statements pair, I notice how the place has that simple old school French charm, and I get that hospitality that will always stick with me. I wish I can remember what drink I had as it is pretty, but I do remember ordering a Quebec City pork sandwich (I need to coordinate after all as Mr. John Witherspoon would have wanted) and a pavlova dessert along with the group ordering a deluxe poutine. Oh, remember the "Darn you and your insane good ability to have foods made better than in the Yay Area!" statement I typed up, the second statement of this review? This is in regards of the pavlova. So, the first time I had a pavlova was at an Oakland/Berkeley Japanese restaurant called Iyasare (which I actually reviewed). I told our server that I had a pavlova in/near Oakland, and she asked me to see if theirs is better. Normally, I don't like nuts of some sort with berries in desserts, but this place made me actually like the format because a pavolva isn't so much of a guilt dessert, and with this in mind, I developed now the fondness of nuts with fruits with low guilt/guilt free desserts. I still don't like nuts with fruits in desserts, but that now only applies to guilty desserts. Our server went back to our table and asked if she and everyone else at Cochon made a better pavlova than the one at Iyasare. Seeing that I couldn't lie because Canada, I told her yes, which had her giddy. Go be giddy young lady! Yay Canada getting another food victory! The flaw. Seeing that "They made a better pavlova than my fellow Yay Area residents!" isn't a legit flaw, though my one visit was and is memorable, the one flaw the various locations have in general if I should even call it one is that they add Swiss cheese to their Philly cheesesteak sandwiches. I get that it's to have a healthy cheese, and French is spoken in Switzerland, but adding Swiss to the sandwich is a Philadelphia no-no. Cochon Dingue is quite a fabulous place. If it weren't for the perfect score Toronto places I reviewed, Fran's and Makilala (as Tsujiri is shown all over Canada, which is why I didn't type it up), this would have been my favorite Canadian restaurant. To Canadian residents not in Toronto, I'm sorry that none of your beloved restaurants will ever be my top Canadian spot, but remember. Toronto has the most Filipinos of all of your cities, and of course, I'll have that attachment like they do. At least you can hang your hat on how you have a place that makes a better pavlova than my fellow Bay Area residents! So, for people not from Canada, go check the place out, as it's that good! +/Cochon Dingue is cleverly divine for having some of the best hospitality I experienced, the simple old French charm and really good food. -/"You can't put Swiss cheese in Philly's classic sandwich, everyone!"

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.

One of the best meals we had in Quebec was at Mouton Noir. Excellent service with great wait…read morestaff. The food is prepared with high quality ingredients. Lobster pasta was fresh and herby, slow roasted lamb was dense with layered flavors.

Went her with my special lady and had a great meal. We both gad the duck and, wow! Service was…read moregreat. Wine paring perfect and the property was quaint. You can go simple or elegant. Highly recommended.