Aux Anciens Canadiens specializes in traditional French-Canadian cuisine featuring regional staples such as tourtière, bison, and elk. The menu highlights locally sourced ingredients prepared using classic grilling and slow-cooking techniques that reflect historical culinary practices. Patrons encounter a setting defined by authentic architecture, thick stone walls, and woodwork that creates a dense, rustic atmosphere. This establishment prioritizes rich, savory flavors through hearty meat preparations and classic vegetable pairings characteristic of the surrounding territory. Every dish aims to present the fundamental essence of regional gastronomy with precise attention to traditional seasoning and cooking methods. The consistent focus remains on authentic, robust flavors served within a structural environment that mirrors the heritage of the region through its preserved interior design and consistent, reliable preparation styles.
Aux Anciens Canadiens is widely celebrated for its charming, historic atmosphere and its dedication to traditional Québécois cuisine, with many visitors praising the authentic setting housed in one of the oldest buildings in the city. Guests frequently highlight the attentive and friendly service, particularly when enjoying the popular lunch specials, and many consider the maple syrup pie and various meat dishes to be standout offerings. While the vast majority of diners describe their experience as memorable and delicious, some reviewers note that the food quality can be inconsistent, with a few guests finding certain dishes to be overpriced or underwhelming compared to the historic reputation of the institution.
We had our Christmas dinner here yesterday & it was such a great experience! The atmosphere is so cozy & comfortable & our wonderful waiter Sam made us feel so welcome. The food is traditional & so delicious! We ordered "Grandma's Treat" which had meatballs, vegetables & the most delicious meat pie. I highly recommend if you're in the area & looking to scratch that home-cooking itch!
As everyone else has said- the lunch deal was amazing (the fact that it includes a beer is even better). The food was fantastic & we tried meals & flavors we've never had before. Highly recommend!
Do not recommend. Not worth the price at all. Very overpriced tourist trap. Food is mediocre. Maple pie was good. Since when is a fondue croquette? Bourginion was bland.
Dec 1, 2024
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I've wanted to eat at Aux Anciens ever since my first trip to Quebec City more than 30 years ago. This trip, I finally had the chance ... & I should have saved my money. The interior is lovely & cozy & everything I'd hoped for. The food & service were ... not. Our waiter was efficient enough, but the thinly veiled misogynistic "jokes" were not appreciated. I lost count of how many cracks he made about whether I "allowed" my husband to do this, that, & the other. He was not funny. Food-wise, my husband & I both had the lunchtime table d'hote. We both ordered the soup of the day, which was a lovely cream of broccoli served with warm bread. For the main, my husband had the chicken cordon bleu. It contained an almost invisible slice of ham, no cheese, & was dry. He said the boxed version you can buy at Costco was a thousand times better. His side veggies were tasteless mush. I ordered the salad with grilled goat cheese & marinated beets. Presentation was gorgeous ... the meal itself was not. The cheese was super salty (& tasted of nothing else), the beets were boiled & had maybe been shown a marinade but certainly never touched one, & if there was a dressing of any kind, it was well, well hidden. So yes, underwhelmed would be an understatement. Aux Anciens was worth neither the anticipation nor the price. We will never go back, & I cannot recommend.
Described as one of the oldest restaurants in Canada, we had the opportunity to dine here as part of our tour of Québec city. The ambience was great & it had a certain aged feel to it. The outfits of the waitress stemmed from a period past & this gave the restaurant an authentic feel. I tried duck for the first time here & I enjoyed it. It was part of my poutine. I strongly recommend this establishment.
Fabulous restaurant in Old Quebec. I believe on the outside of the building a marker plate dated it to 1675. Food & service were exceptional. Highly recommended!
Atmosphère conviviale & déco très chaleureuse. Super service de Sam. Je vous conseille d'y aller le midi, menu à 39$ avec boisson, entrée, plat, dessert. Délicieux. Un peu déçue par la crème brûlée à l'érable qui était délicieuse mais ne goûtait pas l'érable. Pleins de plats typiques québécois & réconfortant. Nous nous sommes régalé je recommande !
Enjoyed a hearty meal in this cosy restaurant recommended by friends who are frequent visitors to QC (& this establishment). A stone's throw away from Chateau Frontenac, this restaurant is worth a trek down for "Grandma's treat" & the delicious maple syrup pie!
I'd give 6 stars if I could. A superbly wonderful maiden dining experience for our family - & all thanks to ChatGPT to suggest this as one of our best options to get a true flavor of Quebec City cuisine. We went for the pre-fixed $40 lunch option. We started around 2:30 (super crowded!) & were there until about 4:30, by when most of the restaurant was empty. I highly recommend reservations. For starters - our table of 4 went for a poutine, wild meat cretons, meat pie, & the escargots. The meat cretons were very close to a pate. The escargots were delicious. The poutine & the pie were also highly appreciated at our table. I skipped the house wine & instead went with a recipe I looked up on their own recipe book that was for sale at the reception - called the Homemade Caribou, 1 oz vodka in 2 oz of Canadian sherry. It was smooth as silk, loved it! For main courses our table had Lac St-Jean meat pie (bison, deer, elk, beef, pork), Beef Wellington, The Three Tenderlions Grilled (deer, bison, & elk), & the Chef's inspiration (today it was veal pieces in a raspberry-infused sauce). I can't tell which one was the best as they were all competing with each other in freshness, taste, visual appeal. Dessert was split between the pies & the creme brulee. No bad choices here. Our 2-hour lunch never felt rushed - & we never felt ignored either. Our waitress was polite, efficient, & eager to help when we had questions about the options. A true lovely dining experience - highly recommend!
