Quebec Restaurant Tips by tayloretc

World soups in a café setting: Soupe & Cie

This place has one of the more interesting selections of soups you’ll find in an area with lots of soup and sandwich places. There are a dozen or so soups from around the world, most with matching side dishes (for example, the Lebanese soup has an optional side of pita chips and hummus), and large and small beef, tuna, and salmon tartars, and even desert soups with chocolate and maple. Everything I’ve tried has been quite good, with good, strong flavors. A single bowl of soup is huge, and includes rice, noodles, or whatever goes with the soup you choose. Someone else said a soup plus side wasn’t enough, but I was full after just the soup.

It’s a comfortable place, too, the kind of place you could hang out for a while. The space is long and narrow, with some unique decorations – antler racks made of wire and found objects, and the coat rack is spoons and ladles set in the exposed brick wall. Seating is a long bench with lots of pillows, most of the seats are stumps (with cushions). If you’re in Limoilou, this is a good option for lunch.

Address: 522, 3e Avenue

Comparison: less expensive than average

Phone: 418.948.8996

Price: US$11-20

Rating: 4

Theme: Eclectic/International

Website: http://www.soupecie.com/soupe-et-cie/soupe-cie-Blog/soupe-cie-Blog.html

Mai-Lan: Vietnamese-Thai

This is a small place serving basic Vietnamese and Thai. It’s not fancy, but it is cozy, and seems to be popular for a relaxed dinner. The food is good, the vegetables aren’t overcooked, and it’s not too spicy. You bring your own wine (I was told that’s what you do for all Vietnamese restaurants in Quebec). Prices include the soup of the day and some kind of spring roll.

It’s not the kind of place you’d go out of your way for, but if you’re in the area visiting the Domain de Maizarets park it’s a good option for dinner.

Open every day 5-10pm; for lunch, Mon. and Tues. 11-2.

Address: 1790 rue Champfleury

Comparison: less expensive than average

Directions: Just off Canardiere.

Phone: 418-660-5331

Price: US$11-20

Rating: 4

Theme: Pan-Asian and Pacific Rim

La Grolla: Swiss Specialities

This is a small, cozy, and friendly place specializing in Swiss fondues and raclettes. You can order either for one person, with personal pots and raclette grills, meaning with a group you can try a lot of what they offer. I had the “Authentic” raclette, with cornichons and pickled pearl onions, and a side of rösti (a lot of food, and very filling) with a small chocolate fondue for desert. Probably the best raclette/rösti I’ve had outside Switzerland, and the extra dark chocolate fondue was paired with things I wouldn’t usually think to dip in chocolate (kiwi, red grapes, cantaloupe, etc), which all worked. Not inexpensive, though – those plus a glass of wine was more than $50 before the tip.

The décor is casual and looks like the inside of a barn trying to prove it’s Swiss (dammit), with distressed panelling, cow bells, and dried corn and straw, but the landscape murals are pretty and the fireplace is warm. The hosts and servers were friendly, service was quick. The whole place was full, mostly with groups. It seems like a good place to spend a cold winter’s evening with friends. During tourist season and on weekends near Christmas you’ll need a reservation.

Address: 815 Cote d’Abraham

Comparison: more expensive than average

Phone: 418-529-8107

Price: US$31-40

Rating: 4

Theme: Other

Website: http://www.restaurantlagrolla.com