With their rigorous climate marked by a distinct seasonal cycle, northern territories are gifted with unique fauna and flora adapted to their extreme reality: game, fresh water fish, wild fruit, forest mushrooms, lichen… inspired by these unique elements, a rising number of chefs are exploring this once neglected exceptional culinary legacy.
In Quebec, Jean-Luc Boulay and Arnaud Marchand, supported by a passionate team, have been standing up to the challenge of inventing quebec inspired northern cuisine since 2012. Connecting the abundant proximity of boreal forests and the exceptional quality of local products, they salvage amidst french techniques to favour a true encounter of flavours. Local, healthy and inventive, the Northern cuisine from Quebec expresses within each bite the very best of our emerging culinary tradition.
Chez Boulay - Bistro boréal offers a memorable dining experience characterized by its creative, high-quality boreal cuisine that highlights fresh and local ingredients. Guests frequently praise the exceptional service, noting that the staff is knowledgeable, friendly, and attentive, often providing helpful recommendations that elevate the meal. While the atmosphere is vibrant, stylish, and welcoming, it can occasionally become busy and lively. Many visitors consider it a must-visit destination in Quebec City, highlighting signature dishes like the onion soup and beef cheek as true standouts. Overall, the restaurant consistently delivers a refined culinary experience that earns strong recommendations for anyone seeking an authentic yet modern taste of local northern cuisine.
Absolutely wonderful experience. Duck fous gras & Québec cheese plate were wonderful starters. Flat iron steak & braised beef cheeks were out of this world: tender, perfectly prepared. The PRICKLY ASH MOUSSE WITH ÎLE D'ORLÉANS BLACKCURRANT HEART
&
OUR HIVES' HONEY ICED PARFAIT, CEREAL MILK CRÈME ANGLAISE we're an excellent way to end the meal. Our server was great & explained everything to us. Highly recommend.
Excellent meal. The onion soup may have been the best I've ever had. Beef cheeks were also excellent. Very reasonably priced for the quality of the meal.
Awesome restaurant. Very friendly staff with excellent food quality. Personal favorite would be the beef cheek. The onion soup is special with the foam on top. I would highly recommend this to everyone.
May 30, 2026
on Google
🍽️
Know where to eat in Quebec before everyone else.
Get the first look at the hottest openings, secret menus, and RestoQuebec.ca's weekly top picks. Join 50,000+ foodies.
The food & service were both excellent. We had the Cheese plate as an appetizer, the selection was excellent. The beef cheek was melt in your mouth, the flat iron steak was excellent & the Halibut was something else the flavours were amazing. We had the crème brûlée & the cheesecake both of which had their own twists & were exceptional. I'd give this 6 stars if I could.
We are visiting Quebec City & so looked forward to our experience at Chez Boulay as we are staying at the Hotel Manoir Victoria. I was treating my travel companion to dinner as a thank you for planning our trip. My pre-dinner gin & tonic was flat, but I opted to not give feedback or ask for a replacement. We asked for the wine list (twice), but the wine wasn't served until after our entrees. My friend ordered the braised beef cheek & I ordered the flat iron steak. The beef cheek was dry, tough & well below warm, & very difficult to cut with a steak knife. My flat iron steak was tough & cold, as was the sauce. We decided to let the server know & my friend was served a bowl of the garlic confit mashed potatoes as a replacement (something she had requested with her beef cheek but was told they couldn't accommodate substitutions), but it was appreciated. We said no thank you to dessert, but they gifted a dessert anyway which was kind.
The service was very slow overall, but after we gave feedback on the meals service completely disappeared. They did remove the beef cheek from from the bill. The wine & fries were the very best part of the meal. Based on previous reviews, I feel we went on a bad night, but unfortunately, we can't try again as we are returning home tomorrow.
I had the venison pate en croute & duck breast: both were very good. My wife loved the onion soup & beef cheek. Atmosphere was great, & we were seated right away with a reservation.
We were seated at the chef's table, which, in my opinion, is one of the best seats in the restaurant. It set a high expectation for the meal, but unfortunately, what followed did not live up to it. We ordered the pan-seared foie gras, deer plate, & onion soup as appetizers, followed by the duck breast, beef, halibut, & carbonara as mains, with scallops on the side.
To be fair, some of it may come down to personal preference. We did not particularly enjoy the sourdough bread or the deer plate, but I can see how others might feel differently.
The onion soup was the clear highlight of the meal &, honestly, the only dish we genuinely enjoyed.
The pan-seared foie gras was disappointing. It did not feel properly seared & came across as overly oily, leaving a greasy aftertaste.
The carbonara was the biggest letdown. The pasta itself seemed freshly made, which should have been a positive, but a clump of stuck-together dough made its way into the dish & ended up in my mouth. That was very unpleasant.
The duck breast was quite chewy, & the fried cornflower (?) on the side did not leave much of an impression. The beef was acceptable, but nothing memorable. The scallops were also underwhelming & lacked flavour. Halibut was standard.
Surprisingly, the fried potato wedges were probably one of the better items: nicely fried, hot, & well served.
Overall, aside from the onion soup & potato wedges, the meal was disappointing & did not live up to the restaurant's reputation.
The restaurant Chez Boulay was a wonderful experience.
During my stay in Quebec, I wasn't specifically looking for restaurants like this, so discovering it was a great surprise. This is not your typical diner - it's a true restaurant where the product is treated with care, & where the knowledge & technique in the kitchen are evident.
I had the onion soup & the beef cheeks. The onion soup is very original, presented like a coffee, with the bread & cheese on the side resembling toast. Beyond the presentation, the flavor is excellent. The beef cheeks, on the other hand, are rich, well-balanced, & full of depth.
What truly completes the experience is the service. I'd especially like to highlight Florian, the waiter who served me, for his attentive, friendly, & highly professional approach. When the food is already outstanding, this level of service elevates everything even further.
A highly recommended restaurant for anyone looking to enjoy a genuine fine dining experience.
The cocktail was delicious & its mocktail version was also very good- a good balance of flavours that extended the Apple
The Duck, Beef cheek, & the flat iron steak were cooked appropriately to allow the flavours & textures to express themselves , the sauces for all three dishes was delicious
Delicious food! The beef cheek was tender & the sauce was so good! Also enjoyed the foie gras & the seal meatloaf. Highly recommend for high quality food at a reasonable price!
