12 Best Restaurants in Quebec City, Quebec

This is the place to go for the freshest flavors of Canadian cuisine (think seafood, terroir vegetables, game meat) without the white tablecloth fuss. Chez Rioux & Pettigrew is a casual dining experience in a convivial, inviting venue with exposed brick. Back in 1860, Narcisse Rioux ran a general store here and supplied local restaurants, inns, and hospitals; it only makes sense that the gourmet mission carries on today (complete with trinkets from that former life) in a slightly more hands-on manner. For a bit of everything, opt for their five-service tasting menu, with the wine pairing for an extra C$45. Speaking of their modest yet curated wine list, aficionados will find an interesting selection of orange/maceration wines.

A mix of businesspeople and tourists having been frequenting L'Échaudé for the past 30 years because of its location between the nearby business and antiques districts. For lunch, the flank steak with shallots is a classic, and every day there's excellent fish, tartares, and pasta on the menu. Highlights of the three-course brunch are eggs Benedict and tantalizing desserts. The mahogany lobby and green-and-beige interior are full of warmth, and service is courteous and professional. The interior is modern, with hardwood floors, a mirrored wall, and a stainless-steel bar with backlit river stones underneath; but you'll be lucky to snag a table outside in the warmer months.

Local and regional products are emphasized here, and the food is among the best gastronomical offerings in Québec. Among local celebrity chef Daniel Vézina's creations are crystallized foie gras with truffle snow, and venison tartare. The menu consists of two prix-fixe, five-services experiences; either the "personalized" at C$110 or the "gastronomic" at C$145, both served with remarkable wine pairings (largely private imports) as an option.

One hundred percent organic—that is the promise of L'Orygine, a brand-new bistro in the heart of the Lower Town. With an emphasis on freshness and local flavors, the chef prepares seasonal and shareable plates that are (almost) guilt-free, such as lobster cavatelli and a creative mix of duck and eggplant. The space is beautiful, with an all-glass wine cellar and turquoise seats.

For a respite from the shoppers on rue du Petit-Champlain, grab an outdoor table at Le Pape-Georges and cool off with a drink and creamy, tangy local cheeses and fruit. This stone-and-wood wine bar, the first of its kind in Québec City when it opened almost 35 years ago, is also nice indoors; there's music on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights.

Hearty home cooking, generous portions, and rock-bottom prices have made this no-frills, diner-style eatery in the heart of the antiques district, a Lower Town institution. It's a good place to sample traditional Québécois dishes such as pea soup and cipaille (a deep-dish layered pie using poultry, meat, or seafood), and the homemade and delicious sugar pie, crepes, and other desserts. In summer, there is a small sidewalk terrace where you can sit and watch the shoppers stroll by.

This casual and attractive café right on the corner of scenic Place Royale is a great place to stop for an afternoon pick-me-up, be it coffee or various indulgent sweets. For a light lunch, there are yummy sandwiches, quiches, and soups. There are other branches elsewhere in the city that are just as good, just not as scenic.  On sunny days, make sure to enjoy the sun-drenched patio.

At this restaurant, inside the museum-like Auberge Saint-Antoine, dishes change with the seasons, but fresh, locally sourced ingredients are at the core of the classic prix-fixe (C$85 per person) menu. The space has stone walls, attractive wooden floors, and exposed beams from the building's warehouse days, in the early 1800s. The wine list draws from a 12,000-bottle cellar, with well-chosen cuvées coming from all over the world.

Next to the cruise terminal in the Old Port, this massive, Parisian-bistro-style restaurant with etched-glass dividers and palm trees has a spectacular view. The outdoor terrace in front overlooks the St. Lawrence River, while the side verrière (glass atrium) looks onto l'Agora amphitheater and the old stone Customs House. The menu, which isn't spectacular by any means but absolutely gets the job done, includes such classics as steak frites, rotisserie chicken, calamari, and duck liver pâté with raisin jam.

The café dishes at this cheerful chain, whose name translates into the Crazy Pig, include delicious tartares, steak with fries, hearty soups, a selection of international dishes like satays and "général Dingue" chicken, as well as substantial desserts like sugar pie with vanilla cream. Sidewalk tables and indoor dining rooms artfully blend the chic and the antique; black-and-white checkerboard floors contrast with ancient stone walls. The best-kept secret in Québec City is the full breakfast, served here all week.

Set on the ground floor of the Hôtel des Coutellier, in the Old Port area, Légende is set in a large wood and stone room with plush banquettes and an elegant bar. There are a lot of sharing plates—the smartly prepared fish and seafood board (including things like salmon rillettes and welk salad) is particularly delightful. The menu is highly seasonal, and ingredients are exclusively from Québec, with local meats garnished with foraged wild mushrooms and fish with seaside herbs from the Gulf of St Lawrence. Desserts showcase bright and intense flavors of local fruit, among other things. More than 30 wines are offered by the glass, with a strong emphasis on food pairings. A C$89 tasting menu is available, with an additional C$69 for wine pairings.

The most recent project of neighboring restaurant Chez Rioux & Pettigrew is a casual oyster bar that's quickly become the place to go for happy hour or a lengthy, relaxed dinner. You can either pop in for a few oysters and a drink before going to a concert, or you can sit back and enjoy the vintage furnishings, get to know the friendly waiters, and cut your gluttony some slack by ordering another glass of wine, and perhaps even dessert. In any case, oysters (of many varieties and origins) are the star here, presented on tiered platters and with many different toppings. In autumn, the oysters au gratin are not to be missed.