Beer lovers are well served with the Festibière de Québec, an event that emphasizes the products of local microbreweries. So, in the middle of August, it is very pleasant to pass through Quebec City to taste the best beers of the moment. And why not take the opportunity to discover a new restaurant, after having had a few small glasses of fresh hops? This is precisely what we offer you with our list of restaurants where to go eat after a visit to the Festibière de Québec.
There are several restaurants located near the Festibière de Québec site and you can take advantage of our top 5, to discover below, to make your choice when planning your visit to the Old Capital.
So, like all hop lovers, the Festibière tour begins at the Quais de l’Espace 400e. On site, you can visit the booths of more than fifty exhibitors and attend musical performances.
The event has existed for over 12 years and offers entertainment, a showcase for Quebec microbreweries and local producers of all kinds.
Recently, it has been possible to pay for your drink in cash, instead of the tokens used previously.
Once your tour is complete, it is time to leave the site to enjoy a good meal in one of the nearby restaurants. Here are our suggestions.
Laurie Raphaël
Let's start with one of the most renowned restaurants in Quebec City, Laurie Raphaël, founded in 1991 by a well-known chef, Daniel Vézina, in honor of his children. Today, they are now very involved in the family business.
In fact, his son Raphaël manages the Lueur bar-kitchen, located right next door, and offering bites and cocktails at the bar.
Let's go back to the restaurant, where intimate world-class gastronomy, showcasing local products, coming from these often forgotten workers, awaits you.
It is possible to choose the gastronomic experience or the personalized menu, all changing according to the seasons.
Chez Temporel
Another classic in Quebec City, established since 1974 in the Old Port area, is Chez Temporel, with its authentic French cuisine. Now with a bistro-style decor, the atmosphere is at its best and the menu gives pride of place to seasonal arrivals.
You can also start the day with a visit to Chez Temporel, which serves breakfast and dinner from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Why not a chocolatine, a ham and cheese croissant, the brunch plate (frittata of the day, ham, potatoes, homemade jam, fruit and bread) or the duck confit salad (with mesclun, vegetables and homemade vinaigrette).
In the evening, the menu is just as varied: Gazpacho, onion soup, Nordic shrimp guédille, scallop crudo (sea buckthorn marinade, radish petals, whistling cucumbers and marinated mushrooms), beef tartare or the burger (brioche bun, bacon purée, pickles and homemade mustard, all accompanied by salad).
A children's menu is also available.
Louise Taverne & Bar à vin
For smaller appetites, but for those who still want to have a drink or two, we invite you to cross over to the Louise Taverne et bar à vin, because, on the bar side, you can once again enjoy beers, wines and cocktails, but also eat fun bites, tartars and charcuterie.
On the tavern side, the goal is to revive the European origins of a gourmet tavern with a full meal and comforting and tasty dishes.
On the menu of the Tavern, discover the Fish & Chips (Icelandic cod, fries, salad and tartar sauce), the tartars (salmon or beef), the beef burger (with brioche bun, cheddar, bacon, pickle, chef's sauce, fries and salad), the black pudding with bacon, a vegetarian dish, the fish of the day, the beef scoter (with Montecarlo potato, salad and Bordeaux sauce) or the grilled octopus with veal cheek.
The Tavern is located in the Hotel Port-Royal. In the summer, a large terrace with nearly 100 seats awaits you. The restaurant is also open for lunch and dinner.
Bistro St-Malo
Still in the Old Port, Bistro St-Malo is the new name of Café St-Malo, which was a monument and a staple of Quebec City's restaurants for 30 years. It was a change of owners that led to this name change.
So, with this new gang at the helm, the Bistro has rejuvenated its menu, while retaining its roots as a French bistro, but also wanting to take you on a journey to the Mediterranean, all via local producers.
For example, the sous-vide and pan-fried steak frites (with salad with homemade marinated vegetables, basil vinaigrette and fries), the sweetbreads from the forest (with mash, vegetables and creamy mushroom sauce), the sea ragout (i.e. scallops, Nordic shrimp, lobster, cod, pollock, tuna and a bisque) or the cassoulet (a ragout of white beans cooked for 10 hours, a confit duck leg and a Toulouse sausage).
On Wednesdays, mussels are all you can eat and, on Thursdays, four specific dishes and a glass of wine or beer are offered at a low price.
Le Don
Finally, with this visit to Le Don, we offer you a completely vegan option. This is also where the first entirely vegan experience was offered in Quebec City.
And even if you are not vegan, it is not a problem: the chefs will know how to seduce you. Get ready for a great discovery.
On the evening menu, discover as a starter the beet or faux-mon tartare, with croutons and green salad or the panko cauliflower and the DONplings (with soy protein, shiitakes, peppers and carrots).
For your main course, opt for the Caesar Bolognese Duo (Caesar salad, spaghetti Bolognese and almond ricotta), the Impossible Wac (topped with pickles, Wac mayonnaise, lettuce, onions and faux-cheese with green salad), the Impossible Burger (topped with arugula, tomatoes, cucumbers, pickled onions, faux-cheese and spicy mayonnaise with green salad), the burrito bowl (with jackfruit, pico de gallo, onions, almond queso fresco, mango, cilantro, corn chips and avocado) or finally the creamy gnocchi (with cashew sauce, tofu bacon, green onions and candied onions).
You can go to Don for lunch or dinner, with your significant other, friends or colleagues. On Saturdays and Sundays, breakfast is also served starting at 10 a.m.
Cocktails with or without alcohol are also available.