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.
This is going to be a long review from someone who hates restaurants. I have fairly bad social anxiety & restaurants are a trigger for me. I usually can't enter a restaurant & feel at peace. This place is perfect for me or anyone like me. It's small & about as cozy as you can make a restaurant. Unfortunately i made the mistake of going to Quebec city for the xmas markets not realising just how hectic it is so my nerves were too heightened to eat by the time i made it to the restaurant with my wife. We were seated by a very friendly man but i unfortunately forget his name because i was still in a bit of a nervous haze but he was great to deal with & i was put a little more at ease(a little scruff for a beard & long hair in a bun..shout out..) then we were greeted by our waiter named Sam, he was great. Probably the best experience ive ever had with a waiter. I did order food but i didn't manage to take more than a few bites due to my nerves but it was absolutely delicious & i did eat it all later after i took my meds & my nerves were back to normal at the hotel. Anyway so dealing with sam was absolutely fantastic & my wife who doesn't have a social anxiety issue loved her meal so much she cried because it reminded her of her recently deceased grandmothers home cooking. I think sam recognized my anxiety & when i asked for a container after only eating half a meatball he didnt make me feel bad in any way & i think he picked up on what was happening & knew not to ask me if everything was okay & just brought me two containers with a smile. So if you read this far & you or your spouse have anxiety or you just like a smaller more intimate & cozy place to eat i can't think of a better place than this. 5 stars for sure & i WILL be going back but i wont make the mistake of going to quebec city at such a popular time so i can really enjoy it next time.
This is an awesome place! We've been here twice (pictured is our second time), & we love it. It's such a unique place with a lot of history, & the food is excellent! The set meal is great value, & we're always so full by the end. We got to try so many dishes & get a peek at French-Canadian cuisine. Strongly recommend! :)
I was disappointed in my Wellington, the meat was overcooked which made it tough. The snails were very good, however they did not bring us bread until main course, should have had it with the appetizer. The service was great as was the creme brule.
We had a fantastic experience at Aux Anciens Canadiens for our first night in Québec City! The food was delicious, & Samuel our waiter was wonderful - very friendly, polite, & checked in on us regularly. His recommendations are the best! The service was well timed over the three courses, so we didn't have to wait long at all between dishes. We felt very relaxed & cosy in the restaurant. I would recommend this restaurant to friends for sure & I'll be dreaming about the Bison bourguignon with creamy blueberry wine sauce until my next visit. We did the 3 course meal with wine or beer.
A must-visit in the center of Quebec City. My party stayed in the city for 2 days, during which we dined at several traditional & First Nation restaurants. This one pleasantly surprised us. Initially, we were unsure about it because the restaurant is often advertised in hotels, which can be a negative sign. However: The staff was genuinely friendly & efficient. We opted for the lunch menu, priced at 40 Canadian dollars, which included an appetizer, main course, dessert, & a glass of wine. We chose to pay a bit more for the meats that are not easily found elsewhere, such as bison, elk, & deer. I wholeheartedly recommend it! These uncommon meats exceeded the quality we experienced at another, more expensive restaurant we visited the previous night. The puff pastry that accompanied the bison was crispy but not dry, complementing the meat perfectly. The sides served with the bison, elk, & deer dish allowed us to pair each meat with vegetables that complemented them well. & the traditional, remarkably simple & warm maple syrup pie was the perfect finishing touch! The staff was always eager to answer our questions, & once they learned that we needed to rush to the train station, they promptly brought the bill, always with a smile. Last but not least, experiencing the ambiance of the oldest restaurant in Quebec City was a remarkable part of our visit. Out of my week-long stay in Canada, this was the first & only place where I was happy to leave a (generous) tip. P.S. - food is larger & more filling than portrayed in the photos attached.
