L'Echaude?
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!
maxwellsmart
Oct 13, 2009 11:28AM
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.
Permalink | Reply
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 $150 for two.
Permalink | Reply
Without a doubt Le Pain Béni, nice food, good service and surely under 150$. 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?
Permalink | Reply
«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-... -- 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.
Permalink | Reply
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 $100.
Permalink | Reply
We are staying at the Auberge Saint-Antoine and due to laziness, restaurants in the Lower Town are slightly preferable although we are willing to truck up the big hill if it's worth it. I've seen many good reviews of Le Pain Beni so will definitely consider it. Thanks for the suggestion about the after-dinner walk - a good way to burn off at least a few dozen calories :)
Permalink | Reply
Panache is surprisingly good. Great chef, warm room - plus it's in your hotel.... Don't know about house wine but their Asian sommelier knows his stuff... if l'Echaude still has bottles of Ch. Thivin on the menu then def get that over their house wine... Altho just up the hill from you is one of the most amazing restaurants on the continent: Le Continental... maybe too pricey tho!
Permalink | Reply
Went to Panache 2 months ago, tasting menu with wine pairing, one cocktail and 1porto with the cheese serving. Including taxes and tip 506.23$ The room is great and food is good but not that good.
Enjoy!
Permalink | Reply
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.
Permalink | Reply
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!
Permalink | Reply
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.
Permalink | Reply
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.
Permalink | Reply
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.
Permalink | Reply
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/2009/10/23/27...
Permalink | Reply
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?
Permalink | Reply
What kind of food, italian, quebec new cuisine, bistro? Where will you be staying or do you have a car?
Permalink | Reply
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!
Permalink | Reply