As you try different restaurants, it is normal that sometimes you are disappointed. But I love discovery too much to have my regular addresses. However, if I want a safe bet, while allowing myself to be surprised, I turn to the restaurants of the gang behind L’Affaire and Ketchup and Patente [and Whip]. So it was towards the Kraken Cru that I headed on an early winter Friday evening where I wanted comfort.
Without reservation
This was not my first attempt to try this little restaurant on rue Saint-Vallier in Quebec. Since the place does not take reservations, I had failed several times to get a seat and ended up letting the time pass. That night, luck was finally smiling on me and we were taken to the basement of the cramped restaurant. Since the main dining room is essentially a large bar, additional seating has been erected on the lower level since the pandemic to allow for social distancing.
With its distinctive stone walls from Old Quebec, its wooden beams and its small, almost clandestine bar, the place set the table for an evening that would be out of the ordinary.
At the aperitif
Why the name Kraken Cru? Simply because the place is an oyster bar and it specializes in seafood. Needless to say, it was towards this entrance that I turned, sipping a microbrewery beer from the Griendel, set up across the street. Tasty, plump, and drizzled with lemon and shallot red wine vinegar, the oysters were a treat. A novelty was also enthroned in the plateau so as not to lose my sense of discovery and wallow in the routine. So I chose to order the sea urchin. With its repulsive, spiky appearance, the sea urchin had never met my taste buds. Here we were treated to a stuffed sea urchin, beautifully presented and topped with radishes. Interesting, but will sea urchins become one of my favorite seafood? The experience has not convinced me.
Slate
Like the other establishments in the strip, the Kraken Cru offers a slate menu, varying with the seasons and arrivals. Presented in a shared format, we are recommended two dishes per guest. The fish and seafood being the undisputed stars of the place, I find myself leaning towards the pork belly as the first plate. To accompany it, I select the tuna tataki.
Our pretty plates, decorated with care arrive; I prick the fork in a potato first, strewing it under the thin slices of pork. I slip it into my mouth and… time stands still. An exposure occurs. Literally. Am I really raving about potatoes? I can't explain it to myself, but these little roasted and mashed potatoes are the most divine I've ever had. I take a second bite, a bit confused, this time accompanied by the delicate charcuterie and mashed eggplant, but I'm amazed yet again. Delectable!
Poor tataki, the bar is now high, now that I've finished my first plate making sure I don't leave any crumbs! Inviting and colorful, the second course also wins my favor. Delicate, generous, sweet with a little tangy finish, the plate is succulent.
The final touch
With the two plates completely empty, I am happy not to feel completely full. There will be room for a dessert that we share with joy: a chocolate cake and candied cherries, drizzled with Chartreuse and topped with fir whipped cream. Not trivial. Soft, not too sweet and well balanced, it ends the evening in style.
A perfect match.
Note: 10/10
What struck me the most about my visit: Mashed potatoes
The house specialty: Oysters
The most expensive main meal on the menu: Monkfish, $23
The cheapest main meal on the menu: Pork belly, $16
Do I recommend this restaurant: Yes
What time of day did I visit: Diner
Pros:
- Service
- Simplicity of the dishes
- freshness
- Dishes to share
Cons :
- The dining room could be tidier, but that's the charm of the place.
