I came across JJacques while looking at the Canada's 100 Best Bars list and spotted it at number…read more11. Apparently, their cocktails were not the only thing that shined, as their food was also supposed to be so great that the place was a late-night chef hangout. I was wandering around Old Quebec while multitasking to find a dinner destination on my phone. I spotted a bar stool available for reservation at JJacques and spontaneously grabbed it and ran to hail a cab to the Saint Roch neighborhood. Thankfully, I had researched ahead of time to learn that the place was not the easiest to find. My cab pulled up in front of the non-descript metal door in an alleyway, and the driver had his doubts that it was actually the restaurant, but I assured him that I just had to ring the doorbell to enter. I exited the vehicle and pressed the Ring, which triggered a warm greeting from a man inside. He led me through two thick sets of curtains and into their stunning bar area. There was a very lengthy dining counter and bar with velvet stools and views of the open prep area, as well as a few large u-shaped booths. Just beyond that I caught a peak of their dining room that looked cool as well. The place was really just a vibe! The atmosphere made you feel like you were cool enough to be invited to a hidden outlet of culinary and beverage delights.
I was escorted to my seat at the bar, where the gracious Francis kept me entertained throughout the experience. Naturally, I wanted to get a drink, so I looked through their custom cocktails and their list of around 175 bottles of wine. For some reason, most of the mixed drinks did not pique my curiosity, except the Golden Nail, which included Hornitos Plata Tequila, Mezcal Del Maguey, Mais Violet, piment ancho, and cacao. The boozy concoction offered a hint of sweet chocolate and was served in a rocks glass with one large ice cube. It was a truly delicious cocktail. However, I did notice that many of the drinks used liquors that were not particularly what I would call "top shelf", such as Absolut, which I found surprising for such a renowned bar. Regardless, I was happy with my selection and even ordered a second one to enjoy with my few courses.
Speaking of my meal progression, I started with an order of the Roasted Carrots. The mini carrots included their tops and were plated into a small stack. The perfectly cooked orange points were served over a green pea purée and topped with almonds, crispy parmesan, and fresh mint. I am not typically a fan of peas, but, wow, if I could have bottled that chunky sauce, I would have. It was like a bright, earthy, non-oily chimichurri.
My entree was similarly phenomenal. Three scallops were seared to a golden brown and served over buttery mashed potatoes. The other side of the plate included a mussel bisque. A funky farmer's cheese called Alfred le Fermier and crispy breadcrumbs were sprinkled over the dish. I thought that two of the scallops could have been cooked a touch more, but the creamy, rich potatoes and sauces were just sheer decadence, offering flavors of both the earth and the sea.
While I was getting full at that point, I simply had to order the Blondie for dessert, as it included all sorts of Fall flavors that I adored. When it arrived, it was not quite what I had expected. Instead of being a square piece of chocolate chip brownie, it was actually broken chunks of a moist, plain cake plated with swirls of decadent chocolate and coffee ganache, a fresh heirloom pumpkin jam, and a dusting of autumn spices. I ordered a generic espresso martini to pair with it, and, boy, was it delicious! It was well-balanced, smooth, not too sweet, and topped with a decent portion of foam.
When I was ready to leave, Francis was even nice enough to call me a cab and make sure it actually arrived. His generosity was just another aspect that highlighted how extraordinary my JJacques experience truly was. While I adored the drinks that I ordered, I would say that the place should be even more known for their stellar cuisine.
