Finding a great restaurant in Quebec City is not difficult. Restaurants are everywhere, lining every street. The daunting challenge is finding an affordable place to eat. Although, I was not particularly successful in saving the drain on my wallet, I did manage to steer clear of the ridiculously priced establishments (albeit, probably the very best), and find some really great middle-of-the-road places serving good local fare. Here were my picks:
BREAKFAST
Le Cochon Dingues. A charming bistro with a really nice breakfast menu. It is here that I had my first bowl-o-coffee! Portions are large and can easily be split among more moderate appetites.
Casse-Crepe Breton. A small creperie with a wide range of fillings. I enjoyed a crepe filled with scrambled egg, bacon and mozzarella. It gets crowded and the line can trail down the street, so go early.
LUNCH
Le Lapin Saute (pictured above). Seemingly popular with the locals even though it is in the center of a very touristy street. The lunch specials are reasonably priced and quite filling. I had a shredded rabbit salad that was quite interesting, and quite good!
L'omelette. A bistro-sort of restaurant with a little of everything on the menu. I settled on moules and frites (mussels and fries) that were satisfying (not the best, but not bad). The most memorable part of lunch was the lighthearted monsieur who entertained and made jokes with his patrons.
DINNER
Cafe Bistro du Cap. A very small bistro with only 6-8 tables and run by a husband and wife team. The monsieur cooks while madam runs the floor and serves. Madam is most congenial and very helpful in making menu and drink recommendations. My seafood chowder was one of the best I've ever eaten! At madam's suggestion, I ended my meal with a glass (or two, but who's counting?) of Cremant de Pomme, a wonderful locally made dessert wine.
Le Patriarche. A beautiful restaurant donned with a fireplace and stone walls. The chef believes in doing things in threes, calling it "Local Trilogy." Each course is served in three styles. For example, the Scallop appetizer consists of one marinated scallop sandwiched between a cuttlefish ink macaroon, mango scallop pie, and a caramelized scallop with quinoa and smoked bacon salad. It was heaven for this foodie, and quite fun!
