Restaurants & Bars

On rue Saint-Paul, across from the Old Port market, Légende is the little sister of Tanière³. Opened in 2014 by Karen Therrien, the restaurant earned a star in the very first edition of the Michelin Guide in Quebec, in 2025. In the kitchen, chef Elliot Beaudoin creates a boreal cuisine that tells the story of wild Quebec: fish from the estuary, game and local meats, plants foraged in the forest and vegetables from local producers.

The all-white, Nordic-inspired dining room leaves the spotlight to the plate, and the service manages to stay warm without ever being stiff. We had the fall tasting menu, with its wine pairing, on a Thursday evening in October: balsam fir, yarrow, cattail, fireweed and sweet clover slip into every course, like a walk in the forest from one end of the meal to the other. An address to keep for a special occasion.

You can’t leave the Adirondacks without trying a michigan, Plattsburgh’s signature dish. For our last stop before the border, we chose Gus’ Red Hots, a true local institution on Route 9 north of town, right by Cumberland Bay State Park and the ferry to Vermont.

It all started in 1951 with a small hot dog stand opened by Peter Larios and his brother-in-law, Gus Neforus. It has since grown into a real family diner serving three meals a day, with a full menu that runs from breakfast to sandwiches to Lake Champlain perch. But the michigan is what people come here for.

A michigan is a red-skinned hot dog in a steamed bun, topped with a finely ground meat sauce, mustard and onions. Every Plattsburgh stand keeps its recipe a secret, and at Gus’, it comes in a little cardboard boat. Despite the name, it’s a local creation through and through: you won’t find it in Michigan! The town is so proud of it that it made July “Michigan Month,” with a passport to get stamped at the four classic stands, Gus’ included.

The decor is far from fancy and shows its age, but that’s exactly what gives this 1950s spot its charm. Prices are reasonable, and Interstate 87 is right next door: the Lacolle border crossing is about twenty minutes away. Gus’ is open year-round, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday to Saturday and from 7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Sunday.

At 1101, rue Sainte-Catherine Est, at the corner of rue Atateken, in the heart of the Village, La Piazzetta is a well-known address among Montrealers. It belongs to a chain that Bonjour Québec describes as having revolutionized pizza in Quebec, by offering a thin, square, European-inspired pizza, made in an artisanal way, without chemical additives or preservatives.

The story of the house is simple: the very first location, on rue Bernard, offered only a few items, and it is precisely that simplicity that built its reputation. Since then, the menu has expanded a great deal. It still serves its thin, square, thin-crust pizzas, but also pastas, focaccias and Italian-style rolls (roulés), tartares, hamburgers, salads, escargots, escalopes, duck and seafood, not to mention desserts and coffee.

Lobster even has its own menu. It includes the hot terroir dip with lobster and the lobster pizza, topped with salsa verde, lobster, mushrooms, cream cheese, Parmesan, cream, lobster oil, asparagus and fresh cilantro.

Good to know: there are vegetarian, gluten-free and hypoallergenic options, a terrace and a private room. The restaurant is open year-round, and hours vary from day to day: check them before you go.

At 771, rue Saint-Joseph Est, in the heart of the Saint-Roch neighbourhood, Torii Izakaya is a Japanese buvette that has been open since July 2018. Two co-owners are its heart and soul: Alexanne Grenier, chef and driving force of the project, and Véronique Côté, who looks after the dining room, the administration and events.

The idea of an izakaya grew out of Alexanne's travels and work experiences. Is it a "real" izakaya? A little yes, a little no, and that is what makes the place interesting: the cooking draws on Japan, with French and Quebec accents. The Michelin Guide describes it as an izakaya "in the best sense of the term": a long, narrow room, semi-open kitchens, a counter bar and a few tables, designed for small plates to share.

At lunch, the menu offers bentos, dumplings, karaage and takoyaki, among other things. In the evening, the chalkboard joins the menu with a handful of market dishes featuring more refined ingredients, such as eel or bluefin tuna. Dumplings come up in nearly every review, and we tried the beef and the fish ones.

As for drinks, the house relies on a large selection of privately imported sakes and other Japanese drinks, such as umeshu, the plum "wine", along with local beers, a carefully chosen wine list and original cocktails. That is precisely what made us want to go all the way to a sake tasting.

For our evening, we chose several small plates to share, listed below, along with a sake tasting and a few glasses of wine. For us, a true favourite.

The atmosphere is also worth the detour: a dark, warm setting, where one wall bears a large street-art mural signed by the artist MC Grou, in fluorescent colours inspired by Japan. You can sit by the windows, at the long counter or at the back, near the kitchen.

Recognition came in spring 2025, with a Bib Gourmand mention in the Michelin Guide, which rewards good restaurants at reasonable prices. It was renewed in the 2026 Michelin Guide Canada. Prices fall in the $$ category.

Good to know: the restaurant is open Monday to Saturday and closed on Sunday. Saturday hours differ from weekday hours, so check them before you go. Reservations are recommended, especially for groups. Telephone: 581 981-8674. Website: toriiizakaya.ca.

At 340, rue Saint-Maurice Est, right in the heart of the village of Saint-Michel-des-Saints and on the bank of the Matawin River, Au Vieux Moulin à Scie is an institution of the Haute-Matawinie. And the name isn't just for show: the building is a genuine sawmill dating from 1937, converted into a restaurant in 1975.

That's exactly what gives the place its charm. The room has kept its old-time character, with a rich collection of antiques recalling the flourishing days of logging in the region. You are literally eating inside the village's history, and the warm atmosphere takes hold the moment you walk through the doors.

The menu is deliberately varied, enough to suit a relaxed family meal as readily as a more polished evening. The house is particularly known for its table d'hôte menus, its steaks and its seafood, but you'll also find simpler dishes — burgers, poutine, moules-frites, souvlaki — and even a fine breakfast offering.

The service is attentive and the welcome frankly warm: it comes up in practically every review, and it's deserved. With a rating of 4.6 across more than 340 reviews, the place has everyone in the area agreeing.

Good to know: the restaurant is closed Mondays and Tuesdays. It opens at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, and from 8 a.m. Thursday through Sunday — so you can have breakfast or lunch there too. Nine motel rooms adjoin the restaurant, reachable from inside as well as outside, for anyone who'd rather not get back on the road after dinner. A terrace rounds things out in the warmer months.

An essential stop for anyone heading up into the Haute-Matawinie — and the kind of village address you're glad to find at the end of the road.

At 56, boulevard René-Lévesque Ouest, right in the heart of the Montcalm neighbourhood and a few steps from avenue Cartier, Le Bosquet moved into the former premises of the restaurant La Goulette in the spring of 2026. This French gastro-bistro is the project of chef and co-owner Francis Nadeau-Bourque and his partner Mack Harshaw — and it's one of the year's fine arrivals in the area.

The name wasn't chosen at random. The chef likes to see his restaurant as a "very small place, a little hidden, like a grove keeping quiet in the forest." It has to be said that the storefront doesn't jump out at you from the boulevard: "We're not necessarily the most visible restaurant on the street. We're slightly hidden, but that goes well with the idea of a discreet grove!" Keep an eye out — the greenery at the entrance will put you on the trail.

Behind the stove, a solid track record. Francis Nadeau-Bourque has spent more than 17 years in the Quebec City restaurant world: from dishwasher at Pub Saint-Patrick, he went through the kitchens of Chez Boulay, Bistro B and L'Orygine, then held the chef's post at Alphonse before launching his own project. His intention is clear: to give French cooking a fine place again in Quebec City, in a town where Italian dominates by a wide margin. Rich, flavourful cooking, learned alongside French chefs, but with a good measure of Quebec terroir.

For our part, we stuck to the apéro — and we came away won over. The signature cocktail was excellent, and that doesn't surprise us: the house mixology comes up constantly in customers' comments, often described as incredible. This is clearly a place where the bar is treated with as much care as the kitchen.

We paired it with a platter of 10 oysters, very well executed too: fresh, cleanly shucked, served with just the right accompaniments and nothing overdone. The kind of platter that shares well early in the evening, elbows on the counter.

In short, a fine find for a 5 à 7 in Montcalm, and an address we want to come back to and taste the full menu next time. Le Bosquet serves dinner Tuesday to Sunday (5 p.m. to 10 p.m.) and lunch Thursday to Saturday (11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.). Closed Monday.

Located at 88 Esplanade Street in Truro, roughly halfway between Halifax and Prince Edward Island, Murphy's Fish & Chips Eatery is a genuine Nova Scotia institution. This family restaurant claims to serve the « best English-style fish & chips in Canada » — a bold statement, but one plenty of visitors will happily confirm after a single bite!

The moment you push open the door, you're plunged into an enchanting nautical setting: colourful buoys hanging overhead, fishing nets, seashells, old woodwork… You'd think you were in a little fishing port of another era! The warm atmosphere and the friendly welcome — often from the owner himself, Mr. Anderson, who thinks nothing of coming over for a chat at your table — add all the charm of the place. One adorable detail: the meals are served on fish-shaped plates!

In the kitchen, it's a real treat. Fish & chips is the undisputed specialty: cod or haddock of impeccable freshness, batter crisp but light (not too greasy!), served with fries fried to a perfect gold and a house tartar sauce to knock you over. But it was the Assiette de la mer — the famous Seafood Platter — that was our big favourite: a genuine explosion of ocean flavour, with perfectly cooked white fish, plump shrimp, meltingly tender scallops, squid and Digby clams, all of it served with fries, coleslaw and assorted sauces. A generous platter that honours the province's finest seafood.

The portions are hearty, the prices very reasonable and the service quick and attentive. To finish in style, don't miss their famous chocolate cake, which plenty of regulars describe as irresistible.

An address that embodies the Nova Scotia maritime spirit at its most authentic. An essential stop on the road between Halifax and New Brunswick!

At 2390 Robie Street, in Halifax's West End, stands the keeper of a thoroughly Nova Scotian culinary tradition: Tony's World Famous Donair. Open since 1976, this unpretentious counter is an institution in the city — and the ultimate place to taste the famous Halifax donair, a legendary sandwich officially recognized as the municipality's emblematic dish since 2015.

The Halifax donair is a story of cultural crossing. Inspired by the döner kebab, it was adapted in the 1970s by restaurateurs of Greek origin to suit local palates — and the result no longer has much to do with its Mediterranean cousin. Spiced beef roasted on a spit and thinly sliced, fresh tomatoes and onions, all wrapped in a warm pita… and above all, above all, the famous sweet sauce made from condensed milk, garlic and vinegar. Sweet, on meat, yes — it surprises you on the first bite, and by the second you understand the devotion!

At Tony's, there are no frills: snack-bar decor, a counter, fast service and frankly generous portions. The house is known for slicing its meat into real strips rather than small dry bits, and that makes all the difference. The menu runs well beyond the classic: donair platter, donair poutine, donair egg rolls, pizzas and subs. Open late in the evening, it's also the legendary refuge of Haligonian late nights.

It isn't haute cuisine, and it doesn't claim to be. It's a living piece of Halifax popular culture, served in aluminum foil — and that's exactly why you should go. A culinary experience to have at least once when you're passing through Nova Scotia!

In Saint Lunaire-Griquet, right next to the Viking RV Park and about fifteen minutes from L'Anse aux Meadows, hides one of the best places to eat in northern Newfoundland: The Daily Catch Restaurant. At 214 Main Street, this charming spot overlooks the picturesque harbour of Griquet and offers breathtaking views — with, as a bonus, the chance to watch icebergs drift through the bay while you eat!

As the name says, the house specialty is absolute freshness: the fish and seafood come straight from the wharf to the plate. Plump, juicy mussels, halibut as tender as you could want, and above all the famous fish & chips made with the day's fresh cod — considered by many the best on the whole island. The crisp batter, the fish that melts in your mouth… pure happiness. The menu also gives good room to Newfoundland classics like cod chowder, cod tongues and the lobster roll.

On the drinks side, a real favourite: their house beer, a fine craft IPA brewed on the premises, perfect alongside the seafood dishes. And to live the Newfoundland experience to the fullest, don't miss the famous Iceberg Beer from the Quidi Vidi microbrewery in St. John's — brewed with water from 20,000-year-old icebergs floating in Atlantic waters. A light, crystal-clear, refreshing lager that owes its unique taste to the exceptional purity of its glacial water.

A special mention as well for their signature cocktails: the famous Iceberg Martini (with real iceberg ice, yes, really!) and the Viking Mule — perfect for staying on theme!

One more bonus: live music every Wednesday evening, a friendly atmosphere, warm service and an unbeatable view over the harbour. Open May 1 to October 5. An address to put on your list without fail when you pass through northern Newfoundland!

Tucked into the charming residential neighbourhood of Pointe-au-Pic, in La Malbaie, the Auberge & Bistro Chez Truchon is one of the finest dining addresses in Charlevoix. Housed in a magnificent century-old stone house — a witness to 19th-century well-to-do summer life, back when Pointe-au-Pic had a golf course and a casino — it is led by chef Dominique Truchon and enjoys a recognition it takes pride in: recommended by the Michelin Guide and even mentioned in a New York Times article about Charlevoix!What makes Chez Truchon's name is its resolutely locavore cooking, in perfect harmony with the Charlevoix countryside. The chef puts the region's riches front and centre: duck from the Ferme Basque in Saint-Urbain, PGI lamb from Saint-Hilarion, smoked sturgeon from the Saint-Irénée fishery, organic vegetables from Saint-Aimé-des-Lacs, oyster mushrooms from the local mushroom farm and a  fine variety of cheeses. A genuine culinary map of Charlevoix on every plate! The cooking, modern and carefully done, blends French traditions with country recipes — like onion soup revisited with beer and local cheese, or pouding chômeur with maple cream. All of it accompanied by an evolving wine list and an intimate atmosphere, with fireplaces in winter and a terrace in summer. A little extra that makes all the difference: the inn also has a lounge restaurant that won gold at the Grands Prix du Design (L'Île Mystérieuse), a free museum space devoted to Jules Verne, an art gallery and the Boutique Charlevoix devoted to local craft, as well as a line of Truchon products for the home. In short, you can extend the dining experience well beyond the meal! Whether for a romantic dinner, a Sunday brunch or a special occasion, Chez Truchon is an address to put on your must list when passing through La Malbaie. A dining experience worthy of the beauty of Charlevoix!

At 8-10 rue du Major Martin, a few steps from the place des Terreaux, stands one of the most emblematic places of Lyon's culinary heritage: the Café des Fédérations. Open since 1872 — that is, for more than 150 years — this genuine institution is considered one of the oldest bouchons in Lyon, and above all one of the most authentic! It has in fact been voted Best Authentic Lyonnais Bouchon several times, including in 2019-2020 and 2024.

Welcome to the Café des Fédérations, the authentic Lyonnais bouchon of the "capital of the Gones." The moment you push the door open, you are plunged into a warm, festive atmosphere worthy of the bouchons of old: red-and-white gingham tablecloths, woodwork weathered by the decades, walls papered with posters, sausages hanging from the ceiling, the convivial hubbub of neighbouring tables… Every detail carries you instantly into the working-class Lyon of the 19th century. As the house itself puts it so well, it is a genuine "theatre of life where conviviality and flavour reign."

In the kitchen, novelty is not on the program — and that is exactly why you come! The menu is a festival of Lyonnais tradition: salade lyonnaise, herring with potatoes in oil, pike quenelle with sauce Nantua, andouillette Bobosse, tablier de sapeur, sausage cooked in wine, warm pistachio sausage… and to crown it all, the unmissable tarte à la praline rose, the absolute symbol of the city. At the helm, Jean-Luc Plasse and Bruno Boutareaud carry on the tradition with passion, revisiting the great classics with absolute respect for Lyonnais know-how.

The portions are generous (as they should be in a real bouchon!) and the service, carried by waiters with a thoroughly Lyonnais gift of the gab, never lacks flavour. A word of advice: come with an empty stomach and a smile on your face — you will need both!

The Café des Fédérations is far more than a simple restaurant: it is a living piece of Lyonnais heritage, a full immersion in the city's culinary soul. An essential address for anyone who really wants to taste Lyon at its truest. As they say up in the Croix-Rousse: "Entre une fenotte et un bon mâchon, n'hésites pas gone, n'hésites pas!"

Tucked in at 36 ½, rue Saint-Pierre, steps from Place Royale, in the Maison Leber in Old Quebec, le Vieux Carré is one of the finest stylish addresses to open in the old city in recent years. A « speakeasy »-style bar named in honour of the great cocktail classic, it also nods to the French Quarter of New Orleans. A lovely cultural wink that sets the mood right away! This new gem is the latest from Groupe La Tanière (Tanière³, Légende, L'Orygine), opened on May 23, 2024. A signature that says plenty on its own about the quality of the experience. As the house puts it so well: the bar and the table come together in a refined, relaxed world, where exceptional cocktails and inventive cooking talk to each other to create unique, festive moments. The place has everything it takes to charm you. With its 22 indoor seats and its elegant, timeless speakeasy atmosphere, le Vieux Carré carries visitors to the heart of Louisiana, into a jazz and Cajun mood. And the showstopper? Its large terrace with a panoramic view over the Place de Paris and the majestic St. Lawrence River — a real favourite for a late-day summer drink. On the drinks side, you'll find a selection of 20 signature cocktails and mocktails created exclusively by the creative team of bartenders, along with a broad selection of liquors, beers, ciders and spirits that showcase many Quebec products. Under the direction of Philippe Veilleux, the focus is on hospitality and the art of classic cocktails executed with precision and a local touch. To accompany this liquid journey, chef Sabrina Lemay (also a co-owner of L'Orygine) has put together a sharing menu that highlights local ingredients and simple but flavourful recipes: fresh oysters, caviar, light salads, venison tartares, mezze such as labneh and marinated feta, mackerel escabeche and a fine cubano sandwich. A signature extra: the mezze are adapted with local ingredients — the muhammara is made with pumpkin seeds instead of walnuts, and the labneh is made in house with yogurt from here. In short, le Vieux Carré is a refined pause in a breathtaking setting, an intimate atmosphere worthy of the great speakeasies, creative cooking and cocktails made with a jeweller's care — everything you need to turn a simple outing into a memorable evening in Old Quebec!