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.
My wife Fran & I were visiting Old Quebec City with friends & found this little gem slightly off the main strip. The staff were very friendly & the service was excellent! We enjoyed our meal & wine. The blueberry pie dessert was delicious. You will not be disappointed. I highly recommend this restaurant.
Thought we would try this restaurant for our final night in Quebec but it wasn't great. My seafood starter was good but my wife's Quebec meat pie didn't taste nice at all. Ah well.
Next was the red wine. Undrinkable. I had to send it back but there was no wine replacement as we were having the fixed menu so I had to have a beer. Ah well.
I had the duck confit salad which, though colourful, was nothing special. My wife's pork dish was nothing special either. When it came to dessert I noticed they served it with that aerosol cream which I don't like so I asked if I could have my dessert with ice cream. No I couldn't. They have ice cream on the menu so I couldn't understand why not. My maple syrup tart was fine but my wife's dessert was heavy. Ah well.
So, when the bill came at $190 I wasn't minded to give a tip. The waitress made a public display about the fact that I hand't left a tip & I pointed out that if I had received good service, she would have got the tip. However, she argued that she did give good service & should therefore have a tip & got quite angry about it.
Not surprisingly, we wouldn't go back.
We've dined here now 3 times, & over the years, this wonderful spot has retained its charm & quality of cuisine. The food is piping hot, & the ingredients used are of exceptional quality. The price is very reasonable - today we had the daily special; glass of house wine, soup, main course (Filet Mignon), & Apple Crumble dessert - $40. Fantastic lunch, the staff is very friendly, & the ambience is straight out of Europe. There is a lot of competition for your dining dollar in Quebec City, but this one is a gem.
Feb 13, 2025
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Wanted a true Quebec food experience & they delivered. They also have an incredible lunch prix fixe menu that lasts until 5:00 pm. Includes wine or beer with meal & is authentic. The waiter & waitress were charming & full of life.
We heard about this restaurant on our old Quebec Walking Tour & from a friend. It is a unique restaurant featuring an excellent 3 Course Meal & glass of wine or beer for $64.99 (Canadian $). These are full servings. A lot if delicious food. Their white wine & dark beer were each very good. The Pumpkin & Pea Soups were tasty & especially good on this cool day. Entrees of the Meat Pie & the Pork Tenderloin were each delicious. Finishing with the tantalizing desserts of Maple Bread Pudding & Blueberry Pie was terrific. The upstairs is a nice setting for couples.
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!
Great old house decorations as well. Definitely one of the best sports to eat local dishes other than poutine. They have a well curated menu & some special dishes. The house wine paired perfect & the dessert I recommend maple bread pudding
Best food & wine that we have had in Canada. Maitre'd was personable & very accommodating, & our waiter, Sandrine, was helpful, efficient, & a delight. We were very happy to see the extensive wine list. We loved the Bison Bourguignon & the three grilled tenderloins, & very much appreciated the host of veggies that came with them. The maple Crème Brulee was to die for!
