The most famous western festival in Quebec is ready to welcome you, from September 6 to 15. Indeed, the St-Tite Western Festival is the best known in Quebec and makes this small town, for two weekends full of activities, one of the most popular places in the province for this time of year.
Festival-goers go there in large numbers for the wagon decorating contests, dance classes, rodeos and shows by Manon Bédard, David Jalbert, the Merle Marlow Band and the Salebarbes, among others.
Of course, all the restaurants located near the St-Tite Western Festival also put on their best cowboy hats to welcome you as they should be!
Outside of the festival, the population of St-Tite is 4,000 people. But as soon as the festival that most faithfully represents country culture in Quebec gets underway, more than 600,000 people invade the streets of the village during the ten days of festivities. In 2024, the Festival celebrates its 56th anniversary.
So many people at the same time means a lot of effort for the region's restaurateurs. We therefore want to highlight their work with the list of the best restaurants that you must visit between the rodeo and the show of your favorite artist.
Given the large crowds expected during the festival, there are some restaurants that do not take reservations. You must therefore plan fairly quickly where you will have to eat and, perhaps, change your usual routine!
Western Festival Terrace
The first restaurant on our suggestion list is located directly on the Festival website. The Western Festival Terrace is located directly on the roof of Place SAQ and offers, in addition to food and drinks, music shows in the early evening and a DJ to end the day in style.
As for dishes offered, you can enjoy burgers with homemade fries, chicken skewers, a plate of ribs or sausages
You can enjoy them at lunch and in the evening.
If you are more of a morning person, the Terrace also offers all-you-can-eat breakfasts. You can eat pancakes, baked beans and bread.
À la Fût - Microbrasserie / Resto-Pub-Saloon
Here is another place with an atmosphere worthy of the Western Festival, located in the building of the first general store in the village. At the microbrewery À la Fût, you will quickly find yourself in a restaurant-pub-saloon atmosphere. They say that the craft beers here are brewed by real cowboys! The opening hours of the microbrewery
Among the choice of beers, discover their sour, hoppy or seasonal flavors. There are more than twenty different ones. Even the most difficult microbrewery beer lover will find something to his taste!
The menu, quite varied, offers as starters homemade fries, homemade chips, onion rings served with Mékinac honey, Asian-style fried tofu cubes, breaded and fried cheese curds from Fromagerie St-Guillaume, jalapeño shrimp and nachos.
For the biggest appetites, try their trout tartare, their different poutines (with a choice of regular sauce made with their house beer “British”, hot sauce or pepper sauce), burgers (with beef from Laiterie Lampron in St-Boniface or an organic veggie ball) or their famous Truite'n'Chips, that is to say a fillet of trout from St-Alexis-des-Monts breaded with “Blonde de St-Tite” beer and served with homemade fries, salad of the day and a homemade tartar sauce.
Even if À la Fût prides itself on being a saloon, know that children are still legally accepted at all times!
Café Bistro La Belle Créole
In a totally different atmosphere, go try the new café bistro La Belle Créole, which opened its doors at the beginning of 2024 only. The kitchen is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Taste the delicious Creole cuisine, each dish of which you can accompany with the traditional Haitian Prestige beer or a good bottle of wine. The plates are colorful and filled with portions of fresh vegetables.
If this is your first time in a Creole restaurant, try the Frou Frou, a typical recipe that will allow you to live a beautiful tasting and discovery experience.
On beautiful summer days or beautiful fall evenings during the Festival, enjoy their magnificent flower-filled terrace.
Brasserie au vieux 500
Here is a place for grill lovers. This steakhouse recently changed owners, but still wants to rely on the same winning recipe: good grills, a warm atmosphere and impeccable service.
You can also enjoy the terrace during the St-Tite Western Festival. Moreover, throughout the festivities, the restaurant will welcome the host of the show “le retour à la maison country”, Mike Charlebois.
At lunchtime, on weekdays, watch for the daily menu which includes soup and the main course.
In the evening, in addition to being in a party atmosphere and taking advantage of their extended opening hours, take the opportunity to enjoy a sirloin steak, their 500 burger, their grilled salmon, shrimp salad, their wraps or the famous steak and fries.
Bistro La Vieille Banque
Finally, if you already have plans for dinner, but not for lunch, we invite you to Bistro La Vieille Banque. Here, the restaurant opens at 8 a.m. every morning, but closes just after dinner.
For breakfast, opt for omelettes (herbs, cheese, western or meat), casseroles (classic or veggie), pizzas (classic or veggie) or eggs benedict (ham, smoked salmon or deluxe).
Among the starters, the choices always include a soup of the day, an onion soup, nachos au gratin with beef or chicken and a house or Caesar salad.
Meal-sized salad options are also available (house, Caesar, garden, grilled chicken, etc.).
There are also sandwiches, such as a smoked salmon or smoked meat bagel, or burgers, including cheddar from Fromagerie St-Guillaume.
If the weather permits, ask for a seat on their terrace.
