Last Updated on December 24, 2023 by Pamela MacNaughtan
Choosing the best restaurants in Quebec City is challenging as the food scene in the city is continually evolving. Montreal may have more restaurants per capita, but Quebec City is, in my opinion, one of the best food cities in Canada.
There, I said it.
After all, the best new restaurants in Canada, as chosen by the public and eRoute Magazine, have featured Quebec City in 2019, 2017, 2016, 2014,
When I sat down to share the best restaurants in Quebec City for 2022, I decided to feature the restaurants I truly love, the ones I constantly recommend to visiting friends and family. Some are Quebec City staples, others are new and exciting and scrumptious.
Every restaurant in this post serves up mouth-watering dishes that will have you planning a return trip to Quebec City. I focused on the food, obviously, but the polite staff and a great atmosphere also play a role when I choose places to recommend. This is why in this post you’ll find a mixture of places to eat in Quebec City, from diners to fine dining.
Are you ready to discover some of the must-try restaurants in Quebec City?
here are my picks for the best restaurants in quebec city, for 2022!
patente et machin
A local favourite, Patente et Machin may be a small restaurant, but it packs a culinary punch like no other. The restaurant, with its exposed brick walls, wooden tables and chairs, and eclectic décor is known for its warm atmosphere, and impressive wine list.
Led by a passionate team, the cuisine is French, and the menu changes regularly. The menu at Patente et Machin uses fresh locally sourced ingredients, like many of the restaurants on this list. The sweetbreads, when on the menu, come highly recommended. Each dish that leaves the kitchen is artfully prepared with delicate layers of flavour and pops of colour.
where: 82, rue saint-joseph ouest • neighbourhood: saint-sô (saint-sauveur) • 581-981-3999 • reservations recommended • price: mains range in price from $14–$40 CAD
arvi
Voted as the number one best new restaurant in Canada in 2019 by enRoute Magazine, Arvi is officially one of the hottest restaurants in the city. Located in the neighbourhood of Limoilou, Arvi has a rustic-chic vibe, with exposed brick and concrete walls, marble tabletops, and navy blue banquette seats.
An open kitchen concept allows diners to enjoy the beauty of watching passionate chefs prepare exquisite cuisine using locally sourced ingredients. Arvi is one of the few restaurants in Québec City offering just a tasting menu, along with a couple of add-ons such as oysters. A vegetarian tasting menu is also available, and just as delicious as their regular tasting menu! A wine pairing experience is highly recommended to elevate your dining experience further.
Price: Tasting menu is $70 CAD per person.
Neighbourhood: Limoilou | 519, Ave 3ème | 581-742-4202 | Open: Tue–Sat 6pm–10pm
battuto
Don’t let this small Italian restaurant on a quiet corner of Boulevard Langelier fool you, it is not only one of the best restaurants in Québec City but in Canada as well. The ambience is fresh and relaxing, with plenty of light, an open kitchen, and limited seating. One of the most popular restaurants in the city, tables are generally booked one-two months in advance, so plan ahead!
Led by Guillaume St-Pierre, the menu at Battuto features the best of Québec terroir, creating dishes that are flavourful, creative, and well-balanced. Begin with a couple of aperitivo dishes, then move on to antipasti, followed by freshly-made pasta. Finishing with a sweet dolci is always a good idea.
where: 527, boulevard langelier • neighbourhood: saint-roch • 418-614-4414 • reservations required • price: antipasti range from $14–$18, pasta ranges from $20–$25
le clan
Headed by famed chef Stéphane Modat (who worked at Château Frontenac‘s Champlain restaurant for 10 years), Le Clan is the newest fine dining restaurant in Old Québec City. This small restaurant can be found on rue des Jardins, next to Épicerie Richard, steps away from bustling rue Saint-Louis.
There is a choice of a 4-course or 6-course tasting menu at Le Clan, which features dishes created using ingredients indigenous to Québec. This restaurant is one of the few in the city where I loved everything I was served. If you want the enjoy the full experience, go with the 6-course tasting menu along with a wine pairing (which is curated by Master Sommelier, Pier-Alexis Soulière). *There is no à la carte menu here.
where: 44, rue des jardins • neighbourhood: old quebec (vieux-québec) • 418-692-0333 • reservations required • price: tasting menus range from $69–$99 CAD
la planque
A popular restaurant in Limoilou for many years now, La Planque is led by chef Olivier Godbout of Les Chef fame. The restaurant is warm and rich, with plush blue banquette seats, dark woods, and art deco accents. Choose to sit near the open kitchen, the mezzanine or the bar area. Each one has a slightly different vibe.
La Planque’s menu features gourmet Canadian cuisine. Dishes feature fresh locally sourced ingredients, creating a marriage of flavours and textures. The foie gras or arctic char is always a good choice. The Québec lamb can be quite good as well. Of course, oysters are always a good choice!
where: 1027, ave 3e • neighbourhood: limoilou • 418-914-8780 • reservations recommended • price: mains range in price from $25–$57 CAD
l’affaire est ketchup
A micro-restaurant in the neighbourhood of Saint-Roch, L’Affaire est Ketchup has been a local hotspot for a number of years. The restaurant’s decor is as funky and eclectic as the chefs themselves. While joining the lively locals at the tables in the front of the house, the best action is found at the bar with its view of the restaurant’s open kitchen.
Written on a chalkboard, the menu at l’Affaire est Ketchup changes with the seasons and the mood of the chefs. The cuisine is French, and the dishes are hearty and a party for the mouth. Put yourself into the hands of the chefs and you are sure to have a memorable dining experience.
where: 46, rue saint-joseph est • neighbourhood: saint-roch • 418-529-9020 • reservations recommended • price: mains range in price from $18–$35 CAD
le fin gourmet
I will remember the grilled morels with tarragon cream sauce for the rest of my life. Honestly, every dish at Le Fin Gourmet was delicious, but the morels were next-level good. This small bistro, run by a mother-daughter team is tucked away in a quiet corner of the Saint-Sô neighbourhood and has been open since 1996. In summer, there is a little patio outside.
The menu features small dishes, tapas, and sides, all of which include locally sourced ingredients. Try the morels if they are available. The sweetbreads, I’m told, are good here as well. The duck gravlax is tender and flavourful. The menu does change from time to time. The wine list is impressive, and I recommend asking for pairing recommendations. Order three or more dishes and share, it’s the best way.
women-owned • where: 774, rue raol-jobin • neighbourhood: saint-sô (saint-sauveur) • 418-682-5849 • reservations recommended • price: mains range in price from $21–$26 CAD, tapas and sides are $4-$13 CAD.
buvette scott
A local favourite, Buvette Scott is one of a handful of micro-restaurants in Québec City which consistently serve food that is not only visually pleasing but delicious as well. The restaurant itself is unpretentious, with diner-style tables and chalkboard menus hanging on the walls. The ambience is relaxed, with charming waitstaff ready to guide you through an evening filled with good wine and even better food.
The menu, which changes regularly, highlights Québec terroir. Dishes are creative and abounding with a mixture of deep and delicate flavours. If you’re dining with friends, order a few dishes and eat family-style. Honestly, Buvette Scott hits a home run almost every time.
where: 821, rue Saint-Jean • neighbourhood: saint-jean-baptiste • 581-741-4464 • reservations recommended
tapas & liège
A striking restaurant on Avenue Maguire in Sillery, this tapas restaurant has been one of the best restaurants in Québec City since it opened its doors. Tapas et Liège’s décor is sophisticated and fun, with beige leather button-back banquettes, a fun cork wall, and large windows. A large bar sits in the centre with green wine bottles hanging from the ceiling.
Led by chef Alexandra Romero, Tapas et Liège is open for both lunch and dinner. The lunch menu is prix fixe, but the dinner menu is where the restaurant truly shines. Bring friends and choose several small plates; burrata is highly recommended, and the crevette adobo, mahi-mahi, and hummus with lime and jalapeno are also quite good.
where: 1297, ave maguire • neighbourhood: sillery • 418-653-2727 • reservations recommended • price: tapas range in price from $4–$25
restaurant ophelia
A stunning restaurant on Montcalm’s vibrant Grande-Allée, Restaurant Ophelia has a white tiled bar with a marble top, exposed brick and stone walls, and a variety of banquette seating. The atmosphere is sophisticated and fun.
Ophelia’s menu is a seafood lover’s dream. The mains feature dishes such as mussels & frites, boudin noir with scallops, and grilled octopus & pork flank. The starters are a little smaller and perfect for sampling everything from octopus carpaccio and clam chowder to bluefin tuna tartare.
where: 634, grande allée est • neighbourhood: montcalm • 418-524-8228 • reservations recommended • price: mains range from $21–$42 CAD
bo cuisine d’asie
Opening in June 2021, BŌ cuisine d’Asie is a gorgeous restaurant located at Le Diamant performing arts theatre. White veils ripple across the ceiling, marine blue walls and velvet seating, a brushed gold bar, and curved walls give this restaurant space a calming vibe.
The menu is inspired by foods and flavours found in the monsoon regions of Asia, as well as Québec terroir. Order the chef’s tasting menu or try a few dishes from the à la carte. The Lac Brome lacquered duck (Kaoya) is quite popular, as well as the pork belly on puréed carrots and ginger (Kou Rou).
lgbtqia2s+ safe space • where: 954, rue saint-jean • neighbourhood: old quebec (vieux-québec) • 418-694-1199 • reservations recommended • price: mains range from $30–$45 CAD, mains for 2 ppl are $74–$84
faite à l’os
Tucked away on Grande Allée is one of the best restaurants in Québec City for southern BBQ. Faite à l’os is a small restaurant, with a dark earthy interior, charming staff, and a menu filled with southern BBQ and traditional Québec dishes. A smokey sweetness permeates throughout the space, which will have the tastebuds watering upon arrival, and the music is a blend of 90s and early aughts hip hop.
The brisket is one of the most popular dishes on the menu, but their ribs are tender and packed with flavour. As a starter, consider the pork belly, which will almost melt in the mouth or try the tartiflette. There is a vegetarian burger, as well as vegetarian chicken and waffles on the menu.
where: 637, grande allée est • neighbourhood: montcalm • 418-977-98889 • reservations recommended • price: mains are $21 – $33 CAD
**All prices in this article (and on this website) are in Canadian Dollars (CAD, and are subject to change. **
