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.
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.
Update Oct 25th, 2024: My parents still go here every time they are in QC. The atmosphere & decor haven't changed a bit, which is a great thing. The portions are still huge given how traditional the food is which is another way to say heavy & a lot of butter. So filling. So delicious. Original: Such a unique spot. From the architecture outside & the iconic red roof, to the slightly cramped, yet cozy decor inside, it really does stay true to it's name. Literally translated to at the ancient Canadians, it was like walking into an old world cabin decorated by everyone's favourite grandparents. The service was spectacular & the food was good. The Quebec Meat Pie had such a flaky & buttery crust & the meatball side packed such a powerful punch of flavour. The Pumpkin Soup was so light & needed a bit of salt, but overall nice & the crème brûlée was spectacular. It doesn't look caramelized, but it was & had a nice crunchy top shell.
Located in downtown Quebec City, this restaurant features traditional québécois cuisine. The house dates back to 1675, & is now a historical landmark. The exterior features a very traditional French house that is painted red & white. The interior walls are decorated with carved art pieces, & the ceiling lights shine through stained glass windows. The lunch special is a very good deal, which comes with a drink, bread & butter, a starter, a main dish, & a dessert. With extra fees you have the choice of upgraded dishes. The Lac St Jean Meat Pie is a unique dish made with bison, deer, elk, beef & pork filling. If you're down for the culinary adventure, this dish would be the perfect choice during cold days. The crust is buttery, flaky, & pairs well with the meat filling. The tomato fruit sauce on the side is homemade, & you can taste the tomato chunks along with its sweet & sour flavour profile. The maple syrup pie is another one of their signature desserts. The filling is very sweet, but the cream on top is unsweetened, which tones down the sweetness of the syrup. However, if you feel like something fruity, they also have other options such as a blueberry pie. Overall, a nice dinning experience, & the place was not super busy during a Friday late afternoon.
