659161 Tue Oct 13 11:28:31 -0700 2009 17 22 Quebec (including Montreal) 0 5100024 We will be making our annual visit to Quebec City between Christmas and New Years. Two of our dinners are decided - L'Initiale and Toast. For the third dinner we would like something a little less formal and quite frankly, less expensive! We were considering L'Echaude. From its website/menu, it looks like a classic bistro. Any opinions would be welcome. We're aiming to spend approx. $150 including house wine. Thank you! Tue Oct 13 11:28:31 -0700 2009 263879 maxwellsmart 1 5100106 Either L'Echaude or Pain Beni should work for you. We ate at both on a recent trip and, for my two cents, I actually enjoyed Pain Beni more. L'Echaude is slightly more elegant, but I liked our meal better at Pain Beni and it was cheaper. Both have bistro-type menus and both have a choice of a sort of "market" menu and more classis bistro dishes. Tue Oct 13 11:52:14 -0700 2009 5100024 12383 Nyleve 1 5100965 L'Echaude is a good choice. I haven't eaten at Pain Beni myself, so I can't comment, but another suggestion is Le Cafe du Clocher Penche, which is casual with very good food, and should be well under $150 for two. Tue Oct 13 17:07:07 -0700 2009 5100024 19331 cherylmtl 1 5101027 Without a doubt Le Pain Béni, nice food, good service and surely under 150$. This would NOT be the case at Le Café du Clocher Penché! Also at the Pain Béni after your dinner take a walk on the terrace Dufferin or just around Place d'Armes with Christmas decorations it is like a fairy tale. Where will you be staying? Tue Oct 13 17:34:27 -0700 2009 5100024 264210 phyero 2 5101093 «This would NOT be the case at Le Café du Clocher Penché!» Why do you say that? Haven't eaten at LCCP recently but looking at their online menu -- http://clocherpenche.ca/content/menu-du-soir-0 -- the three courses I'd probably choose this evening (salad with parmesan, poached egg and lardons; cochonnet; verrine à la pomme) would come to $39. So, $80 for two or about $105 including tax and tip. That leaves $45 for some house wine or an inexpensive bottle from their excellent wine list -- quite feasible. And, if you put your mind to it, you could get away for less. Tue Oct 13 18:01:00 -0700 2009 5101027 10520 carswell 3 5101515 Three of us had full meals at LCCP a few months back - including desserts and wine pairings (for two of us) and it was under $150. For two, it's easily under $100. Tue Oct 13 21:35:22 -0700 2009 5101093 19331 cherylmtl 2 5101790 We are staying at the Auberge Saint-Antoine and due to laziness, restaurants in the Lower Town are slightly preferable although we are willing to truck up the big hill if it's worth it. I've seen many good reviews of Le Pain Beni so will definitely consider it. Thanks for the suggestion about the after-dinner walk - a good way to burn off at least a few dozen calories :) Wed Oct 14 04:38:21 -0700 2009 5101027 263879 maxwellsmart 3 5109422 Panache is surprisingly good. Great chef, warm room - plus it's in your hotel.... Don't know about house wine but their Asian sommelier knows his stuff... if l'Echaude still has bottles of Ch. Thivin on the menu then def get that over their house wine... Altho just up the hill from you is one of the most amazing restaurants on the continent: Le Continental... maybe too pricey tho! Fri Oct 16 18:35:40 -0700 2009 5101790 1116741 FoodReader 4 5109624 Went to Panache 2 months ago, tasting menu with wine pairing, one cocktail and 1porto with the cheese serving. Including taxes and tip 506.23$ The room is great and food is good but not that good. Enjoy! Fri Oct 16 20:17:20 -0700 2009 5109422 264210 phyero 4 5113926 Thanks for the suggestion of Panache. We have been there several times (we make an annual visit to Quebec City) and have enjoyed it very much (particularly the duck prepared two ways) but are looking for something a bit different this time. Interesting too - I've found if you visit 3 similar restaurants in 3 days for dinner (e.g. l'Initiale, Panache, Laurie Raphael, Toast), you definitely tend to encounter some repetition in the menus. With planned dinners this time at l'Initiale and Toast, we're looking for something a little different this time for the third dinner. Mon Oct 19 07:08:49 -0700 2009 5109422 263879 maxwellsmart 5 5116053 Continental is different have been there for 60 years, waiters in white jackets and flambées in the restaurant. Also on rue Cartier, le Graffiti, french cuisine off the beaten path and don't forget le Pain Béni (I love it)! Enjoy! Mon Oct 19 19:45:30 -0700 2009 5113926 264210 phyero 6 5116527 Thanks Phyero. We have been to Le Continental a number of years ago and loved the formal, tradtional atmosphere and food. You're right - it's very different from the modern places we usually go. For now, it will be on my list for consideration along with Le Pain Beni. Can't wait for our trip. Tue Oct 20 04:44:26 -0700 2009 5116053 263879 maxwellsmart 1 5119877 We travel to Quebec City 2-3 times per year and always try to hit up L'Echaude. More basic bistro fare than Toast or L'Initiale- and far less expensive. I personally go for the steak frites.....Last rip we went to Pain Beni based on Tripadvisor reviews and apparently are in the minority, as we found it very sub-par. Terrible service (where did she go this time?), weird ingredient combinations that just didn't work, and questionable value. The filet/shortrib dish was the tastiest, but even that consisted of about 1/3 of a filet mignon and a single-yes single- short rib, along with about a 1" square piece of potato. That's it. Personally, I'd stay in lower town where things seem a bit more authentic or even venture into the St. Roch area- heard great things about L'Utopie but haven't yet been. Wed Oct 21 09:57:04 -0700 2009 5100024 43120 weinerdog 2 5120411 I do agree with you about staying in the lower town. Most years we never even venture up the hill. There is plenty to keep us well-fed and amused in the lower town and much less touristy. Wed Oct 21 12:29:29 -0700 2009 5119877 263879 maxwellsmart 2 5126712 Maybe your where not lucky at Pain Béni I go there often and am really happy with portions and quality of food. Just read an article today in Montreal newspaper le Devoir, only in french but just saying good thing. In upper town should also try le Patriarche or St-Amour http://www.ledevoir.com/2009/10/23/272964.html Fri Oct 23 20:18:16 -0700 2009 5119877 264210 phyero 3 5157576 We will be in Quebec next week and were set to give Pain Beni another try- but I just read it is closed due to a fire!? Any other suggestions for a lower priced- but quality- meal? I have been reading good things about Le Hobbitt? Thu Nov 05 06:01:42 -0800 2009 5126712 43120 weinerdog 4 5163952 What kind of food, italian, quebec new cuisine, bistro? Where will you be staying or do you have a car? Sat Nov 07 16:02:39 -0800 2009 5157576 264210 phyero 5 5167798 I am partial to the french bistro style or open to fusion or innovative cuisine as well. We do have a car but would prefer to stay on foot or taxi and enjoy the wine as well! Mon Nov 09 12:51:05 -0800 2009 5163952 43120 weinerdog