1640 Bistro

Li

5.0

Delicious food! Really enjoyed the burrata & seafood pasta. The duck confit pasta was delicious too, made with an orange sauce I'd never had before. Very charming interior & great atmosphere for a gathering with friends & family. Joly was our server & she was a delight, attentive & so helpful & friendly - she made our night!

Jefferson

1.0

Unfortunately, this was the only restaurant during our week-long trip in Quebec that I felt deserved a negative review.

We ate at 17 restaurants during this trip. I left 6 positive reviews & didn't review the other 10. This is the only negative one - & it is not because of the price. In fact, most of the restaurants we visited were more expensive than this one.

The biggest issue was the combination of poor service, poor value, & an impatient attitude from the staff.

We asked for a high chair for our child. It was brought over exactly as shown in the photo - folded/unassembled - & simply left there for us to figure out ourselves. Throughout the meal, there was very little service, & the attitude we received felt impatient & unwelcoming.

We ordered a very small bowl of plain butter pasta for our toddler - no meat, no vegetables, just pasta & butter - & were charged $18. I understand restaurants are free to set their own prices, but even at some of the fine-dining restaurants we visited, a children's pasta was around $12-15.

We also ordered the seafood pasta, which was around $40. The shrimp in it were extremely tiny - some were barely larger than a sunflower seed. For the portion, ingredients, & overall quality, the price felt very difficult to justify.

Again, my issue is not simply that this restaurant is expensive. Its location near the square is excellent, & I understand that comes at a premium. The problem is that the value & service were, without question, the worst of the 17 restaurants we visited during our week in Quebec.

With such a good location, the restaurant will probably continue to get plenty of walk-in customers regardless of reviews. But I still think this review is necessary, because restaurants that genuinely put effort into their food, hospitality, & service deserve to be recognized & supported.

Unfortunately, based on our experience, I would not recommend this restaurant.

Carol

3.0

The seafood pasta was just okay, but the prawns were fresh.

Richard

5.0

We stopped in for sparkling water & stayed for excellent gin & tonics. Gin was Canadian 12. So smooth. Stayed for lunch. Pasta pesto & bolognese were superb. Service was excellent.

Luciya

5.0

The flavors were insane!! We ordered the braised duck, beef cheek, & the chicken & shrimp pasta - every single dish had its own thing going on. The way they used spices was just on point, & everything paired so well together with so much depth. We just finished lunch & we're already planning to come back for dinner!

Farouk

5.0

We had a fantastic experience dining at Bistro 1640 while exploring Old Quebec. The atmosphere was lovely, creating a welcoming & comfortable vibe from the moment we sat down.
The service was remarkably quick & attentive throughout our meal. For my main, I ordered the Pesto Chicken & Shrimps pasta (Pesto Volaille & Crevettes). The dish was incredible, featuring perfectly cooked tagliatelle tossed in a rich, creamy pesto sauce with generous portions of tender chicken, sweet nordic shrimp, fresh tomatoes, spinach, & toasted pine nuts. Every element tasted fresh & balanced.
If you are looking for top notch food & efficient service in a great setting, this place is well worth a visit!

Kristin

5.0

We ended up at Bistro 1640 one night during our 20th anniversary trip, & loved it so much that we went back the next night with our entire family! The service was friendly & accommodating. The atmosphere is great because you can sit on the outdoor patio & people watch while listening to the talented street performers! I loved the chicken caesar salad, the burrata tomato salad, the pasta dishes, & the burgers! My son & I both agreed that they have the best burger we've ever had - & we've had a LOT of burgers. ha! Oh! & I had the tastiest lemonade I've ever had in my life. It was their housemate fruit lemonade & came with a gooseberry on top. I can't even describe how heavenly this tasted & smelled. My entire family was envious. I can't recommend this place enough!! It's a must!

Razieh

5.0

We ordered the pesto pasta with chicken & shrimp, along with a beef cheek dish. Both were perfectly cooked & full of flavor, & we really enjoyed them.

Veronica

5.0

Everything was amazing. Very very very good. For sure will visit again.

Highly recommend'Glazed duck leg & fresh pasta'

Jay

4.0

The food was delicious & the staff was attentive. Pesto pasta & pizza were amazing!