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 is a Spanish speaking city area 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.

Walked in in a whim in the morning. Very Friendly, Very Clean, and Annie Was Great!! Lulu was a…read moreHoot!! Food Looked and Tasted Good. Come in and check them out!

Stopped in for breakfast mainly because the lineup was huge and we were curious. Must be good,…read moreright? Because there were only 2 of us, a table was available after about 10 mins. Coffee came right away. Waited a bit to order but no complaints, they were busy. Finally ordered. I got the eggs Benny with spinach and mushrooms. My husband ordered the pea soup and toasted western. Western was well done, he was loving it but no soup showed up. Asked the waitress who obviously forgot it but no problem. She ran in and grabbed a bowl. The home fries on my eggs Benny were great. Hollandaise on the side. Definitely not made in house. The mushrooms were excellent. The English muffin was unfortunately not toasted so ended up being a soggy mess. All in all, pretty good but if you order the eggs Benny, I suggest asking for the English muffin to be toasted.

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.

We had stopped here on our food tour and decided that we needed to come back…read more We had a Pate Chinois and a Tourtiere, plus a few mocktails for lunch. It hit the spot and we appreciated the Quebecois cuisine and the rustic atmosphere of being in a cabin. Really a high point of dining in QC.

3,5 stars The food…read moreis ok. The vibe is lively and quirky. But the price is touristy. The ham plats I was recommended was way overpriced @$70. To put that in perspective, you can get a 14 oz steak for $70 at the fancy steak joint nearby. Come here for the vibe, the $5 hand made taffy roll (that you can get for $3 in the corner store) but watch out for the waiter's upsell recommendations. If you bring the kids, may be the kids plats is the way to go as you get the Taffy included.

We had breakfast here one morning. Turns out that we arrived just in time because after we were…read moreseated, there was a line going out the door. I ordered the Me I Take ALL Brunch which was massive enough that I never needed lunch. I managed to finish 90% of it though. A nice little breakfast spot on the quieter end of the Rue St Jaques. We would easily go there again.

We had a great time at Au Petit Chalet. Upon arrival, we were asked if we would prefer to sit…read moreoutside or inside because it was a beautiful day. There was a lot to choose from on the menu and the food came quickly. I really enjoyed my goat cheese spinach Benedict. The side of potatoes was very delicious and on the table mat, it also said that we could get refills for the potatoes, but that they didn't want to have too much food waste so they didn't give a lot of of it. The table also had a QR code for wifi and the menu. Excellent service and delicious food!

We had a leisurely lunch here after exploring the city. The service was unbothered and, as we were…read moredone with our to-do list and spent from so much walking, we were served perfectly. The restaurant was packed and we were lucky to have gotten the last table. It was outdoors --- seems they do not always have the sidewalk tables set up -- and a lovely day for us to be outside, shaded by the building, gazing up at a church steeple not far down the street and listening to the native French speaker chatting away in the r neighborhood. We enjoyed 2 savory crepes : ham and sausage. We loved! 2 dessert crepes: pear and apple We recommend.

Authentic French comfort food alert! This place serves the most genuine Breton crepes I've ever…read morehad. La Billig is absolutely top-tier. All crepes are freshly cooked on traditional billig iron griddles, available in both savory and sweet flavors. I tried the duck confit with goat cheese, and it was incredible. The duck meat is tender and juicy, paired perfectly with crispy yet soft buckwheat crepe crust. Caramelized onions blend smoothly with rich cheese, bringing out such a savory and satisfying taste. Pair it with local cider or fresh Guinness draft beer, and your taste buds will be totally satisfied. A well-loved spot on Rue Saint-Jean in Old Quebec. Expect a short wait on weekends. After your brunch, you can easily wander around nearby bookstores and vintage shops for a nice stroll. Rating: 5/5

Fantastic meal! My…read moreChez Boulay experience was one of the highlights of my visit to Quebec. Quite frankly I had many excellent meals in Quebec but this was one I'll remember for a while. The "36 Hour Beef Cheeks" w/miso celeriac purée and roasted celeriac did not disappoint. The beef cheeks were incredibly tender, fork tender to be exact, beefy flavorful and filling. The miso celeriac pure was very rich dressed up with the au jus. The flat iron steak with the roasted beets, fries and veal au jus might have been better in my opinion. The flat iron was a perfect medium rare and super tender. The Salmon Carpaccio was a great starter too. I also needed refills of the sough dough bread, it was easily addictive. All the dishes did not lack in letting the key ingredient taking a lead role. The staff was outstanding. I arrived slightly early and was happily greeted and seated quickly. Service during my meal was extremely professional. The restaurant was spotless and modern. I'd come back for sure.

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.

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!

Found this gem 5 minutes walk from my hotel. Had the trio combo of soup of the day (pepper soup),…read moregrilled cheese sandwich (cochonné), and small coffee (Kenya drip coffee) for breakfast. You can even get latte for this combo if you want. Everything was delicious and I liked how I could go upstairs and sit in a quiet area to relax and people watch by the windows. I do wish I asked for my coffee later though. By itself, it's absolutely delicious... but it didn't go well with the pepper soup. And by the time I finished my sandwich and soup to work on my coffee, the coffee was cold. I could see myself coming back again if I lived here and didn't want to try other coffee shops.

Nice quiet place to get away from the crowds in the Main Street and enjoy some good food. Thank you.read more

Just stopped in for a few beers on a hot June day. Ended up talking with a couple from Texas who…read morewere in town for a convention. Was aghast that they put ketchup on their steak, but... It was nice to sit in air-conditioning and relax for an hour. Oh, and our server was excellent! Odd that the water closet was upstairs though.

Hands down one of the best breakfast spot in the city. As a traveler it seemed to be a very popular…read moreand busy restaurant, and we were fortunate enough to walk in and get seated. I must note there is also a large bar in the instance you want fast service. The beverage menu is extensive and has a drink for everyone. From cocktails, mocktails, wine/beer, smoothies, coffee, tea, etc. I would be remiss if I didn't talk about the Moka KitKat. It had arrived the exactly as the photo in the menu and was absolutely delightful. The dishes were large, and full of flavor. Our server was attentive and welcoming! Overall a great experience and a must go if you are traveling around the city!