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.

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.

A highly recommended, cute spot, I'm glad we chose to come here…read more We came for brunch which we all enjoyed. $2 mimosas after you purchase the first for full price, amazing deal. Love the quirky, cozy decor. Very fun and full of personality. Service was great! We had a large party and felt very taken care of and attended to. Would recommend!

It took very long (over 30 minutes) for our 4 meat pies to arrive. Two parties who arrived after us…read moregot their food first. When I asked our blond waitress to check on our order, she was annoyed and implied it was because 2 of us asked for mashed potatoes instead of salad. The $33 meat pie was too salty and nothing special. Several of us had upset stomachs afterwards. The restaurant had a cute ambiance but somewhat loud. We were very disappointed with the poor service, value and taste of the food. I would categorize this place as an over-hyped tourist trap.

Yesterday morning, before our flight back to Phoenix, we walked from the Hilton Quebec to Le Hobbit…read morefor breakfast. It was absolutely amazing. My wife ordered the Eggs Benedict (with ingredients I did not know), and I had the Big (2 egg) breakfast. My wife also ordered a side of breakfast potatoes (my breakfast came with the potatoes). Again, it was absolutely amazing. If you want breakfast, and are nearby, I cannot say just how much we enjoyed it. It could not have been better.

I went here with my sweetheart the other night on the recommendation of a friend and the Michelin…read moreguide. We were disappointed truthfully. The service was lovely. We cannot complain about that. Our server was friendly and very charming. The meal was beautifully paced. The restaurant itself is very noisy. The food itself was disappointing. On the recommendation of our server we started with the carrot doughnut. The doughnut itself was lost under a mountain of ricotta. I would not have known that it was carrot, except that she had told us. We ordered two other starters : I ordered the foie gras pate and my boyfriend ordered the fried oysters. The pate was served on a small layer of sunflower butter, which was unnecessary. The pate itself was surprisingly flavorless. Homemade bread and blueberry jam served alongside was quite good. The fried oysters were completely drowned in buffalo sauce, another green sauce and "blue cheese foam". I would not have even known they were oysters. They were served underneath some cucumbers and peppers and lettuce. For our main course, we shared the blood pudding, which, despite the crazy number of ingredients actually was delicious. It was the best thing we ate. It was served with homemade bacon, a roasted artichoke heart, and some mussels croquettes. Seriously a lot going on. For dessert we ordered the spiced orchard dacquoise. Another complex, and I thought overly complicated dish, that my boyfriend felt worked well. It was presented nicely, and I remembered to get a picture of it. All in all, it seemed like there's just way too much going on in each dish and no particular flavor stands out. Two of the dishes, the fried oysters and the carrot doughnut were just sloppy and smothered. The boudin and the dessert were both beautifully plated, and the flavors worked better as well. The foie gras appetizer was unfortunately bland, and the main ingredient did not shine. Maybe it was an off night? Maybe we didn't order the best things? Evidently, they're doing something right because they've been going for 50 years, but we just didn't see that.

Diner with a difference! This place is so cool and for some reason the REM song Shiny Happy…read morePeople enters my head. The owner is so welcoming in French or Anglaise. Small so you might need to reserve online a table or your 50's era booth or at the bar and watch the action of your meal being prepared right in front of you. Small and lively and fun. Had the delicious sweet'n' spicy Caliente burger (chicken) with the right amount of heat. Added to my sandwich/burger with a medium order of poutine which had the perfect balance of cheese curds and fries and gravy. New to the poutine thing but found very yummy. My wife had the small portion of Fish and chips which she enjoyed. Sylvan the owner was very welcoming and hats off to Chef Philip for his creativity . Wish this place was in my neighborhood in Pittsburgh as I would be a weekly regular! Sorry I was too hungry to take a photo of my plate so thought I would add a picture of the door to the bathroom. To show what a fun place this is.

What a great spot. Read about this place in Bon Apetit last year and when we decided to come to…read moreQuebec City, we knew we needed to try it out. It did not disappoint. The place is small but it adds to the funky and cool vibe. I went with my wife and two daughters and they all loved their meals. The staff were very friendly and the music list was great. My only regret is that I am leaving today and cannot go again.

Great place to visit! Good coffee and great pastry also good price too!…read more After walking around over 2 hrs it is a great place to take a coffee break

On our last morning in Quebec City, I stopped in for a mocha. It was good, though the milk frothing…read morecould have used a bit more TLC. The staff were friendly. The place was crowded, but I was getting my order to go.

Six at our table, visiting Quebec and Chateau Frontenac from North Carolina, and one had the…read morebrilliant idea some weeks ago that we should get an afternoon tea while we're in town. Best. idea. ever. It gave us plenty of time to chat with each other, graze our way through pots of tea and three tiers of awesomeness, plus every spare inch of space on the table was filled with "additional" desserts. We compared favorites at the end and a few things rose above the crowd, but even our "meh" items within this extensive list would have been pretty darn good on any other list, it's just that the bar was set so high, and still the superlatives were surprisingly topped. The only thing that would make this better would be a printout of what was on the table once everything was served, because even though the servers explained everything, there was so much, we had to repeated ask them on their return loops what some of the items were. (There's a tea house near home that does that consistently and it makes our lives better.) When all's said and done, two of us liked the lavender-citrus dessert best UNTIL trying the strawberry shortcake dessert and then both changed their favorite to that. Two of us liked the smoked salmon best, but dealt with it differently -- it was on the bottom layer with the savories, so we both tried it first, but one ate it all up right away and the other saved it after the first bit and finished it last, after the sweets. One liked her pot of tea best -- she'd gone with #3, the Grand Bazaar Spice, which has cardamom, cloves, and anise, and which actually 3 at the table chose for their tea. (The other ones picked were Creamy Earl Grey, Imperial Breakfast, and Ontario Ice Wine.) And the final favorite was the hazelnut cream puff. The scones were also truly delightful, and I need to remember more often to indulge in orange marmalade. Also, the opening sparkling tea? So much better than sparkling cider!

Went here for high tea. Great experience. Tables were a little crowded for the amount of food…read moreprovided. I think the serving was heavy on sweets. The tea was great options. Service was kind and quick.

Food was excellent though a bit over priced for the portions but it has a Michelin honor so i can…read moresee the pricing. Great wine list, especially the champagne. Service people extremely knowledgeable about the food and the wine. Never have i had someone know intimitely about the wines i was deciding on and that really impressed me. All the food was prepared with precision. It was all perfect. We had oysters with a tomato ice of sorts and i really loved this. It was surprising simple and delicious. I will try to make at home. A dirty martini paired perfectly with it. Comte flan with morels rich and strikingly complimentary to the flan. Fried mushrooms in a type of rice flour tempura (maybe?) were good with the sauce. Looked like the sauce would be spicy but it was not. The star, though, was the beef tongue. If you are eating at this restaurant you probably already eat, and love, organ meats. If not, now is your chance because this is the tastiest, most tender piece of meat we've ever eaten. In a demi-glace sauce that was perfect. The pork belly and lobster was so good we ate it even though we were getting pretty full. Just so delicious, and, again, both lobster and pork so perfectly cooked and a perfectly made sauce as well. So we were so full after that we....... OF course we had dessert! All 3 items. A crueller with creme (anglaise?) sauce, a baked Alaska and a creme brulee with a few candied orange zests. I wish there were more zests! Just fab with that brulee. All 3 were fabulous but the creme brulee was my fave. All in all a great experience we won't forget and hopefully will return to at a later date.

The ambience is great, exposed kitchen to see the masters at work, both low and high top seating…read moreoptions....and tastefully decorated. The food was absolutely delicious, I had "the fish of the day" (halibut) and my wife had the pasta w/meat sauce option. My fish had the perfect skin on paired with veggies and pine nuts. Both the cocktails we selected were well balanced and matched what we wanted. As for the service, this is where they lost a star. The staff were helpful and courteous, but I made a specific note for this reservation, clearly telling them that my wife and I were celebrating our wedding anniversary (it was the actual day of), there was no acknowledgment of any kind. This is probably due to a lack of communication between host and wait staff. (The night before we visited another restaurant that was not on the Michelin guide. They give us a dessert, that was not even on the menu, for free and a personalized card signed by the staff congratulating us on our anniversary)

The staff were absolutely lovely. The server was gracious and helped us determine what of their…read morecraft beers and insiders. We would enjoy most. We highly recommend.

Went for a beer and some apps on a chilly winter day. We…read morehad an IPA and a white beer called Fly Girl/ both made in house! Served perfectly chilled. Their menu shows alcohol content and their notes. Appetizers only before 5pm, which is what we had. We had the chili appetizer and the French onion soup, and potato wedges with in-house mayo. Chili app was served more on the solid side and served with nacho chips and fixins. Think not of traditional chili soups, but rather chips and dip! French onion soup was rich in flavor, topped with crusted bread and cheese. Our potato wedges were broiled and their mayo was good. Service was friendly and efficient and fast. Interior is casual, clean and comfortable. Would recommend giving this place a shot for a quick drink!

The restaurant was clean and the service was excellent. The food was good. The servings were large…read more The crepe was tender and as a whole was very good, even though there was no sauce inside. The Croque Madame was good. The bechamel sauce was okay. The egg was perfectly cooked and the fruit with the chocolate as well as the salad was fresh. Would definitely return to try other items on the menu.

It was ok but not my favorite, staff was nice. I would probably try it again... clean place...read more