The great story of a small bistro... Like a treasure buried in the heart of Faubourg St-Jean, a really well-kept secret ... the story of The Hobbit. This small, unpretentious bistro, is a reflection of the character of Tolkien, it carries with it the greatness of a story whose echo is still heard today at the cafe. Over time, it became the place where culinary delights come together in an ambiance worthy of a warm and cozy home. But beware, behind that familiar face, between the stones of this old house lurk ghosts that give The Hobbit that "je ne sais quoi" and make it a place apart from all others.
Le Hobbit is widely regarded as a charming and atmospheric destination in Quebec City, celebrated for its creative and flavorful approach to traditional and local cuisine. Many visitors praise the restaurant for its innovative menus, standout brunch offerings, and beautifully presented dishes, with highlights often including the unique foie gras preparations, fresh seafood, and inventive dessert combinations. While the service is frequently described as friendly, enthusiastic, and professional, some guests have noted occasional inconsistencies in pacing or attention. Despite varying opinions on pricing and portion sizes, the majority of diners characterize their experience as memorable and highly recommend the establishment for its cozy ambiance and high quality, making it a must-visit location for many exploring the area.
Je déconseille le tartare de saumon. Celui qu'on m'a servi était noyé d'une mayonnaise liquide. Je n'ai pas pu le manger. On m'a fait un rabais de 50% sur ce plat ce qui était un geste appréciable. Toutefois je suis reparti avec la faim. Les plats des autres convives ont tous été très apprécié. Le service était de qualité. L'accueil chaleureux.
Randomly decided to go here for breakfast on our trip to Quebec City. It's only day 2 here but this restaurant may actually be the highlight of our trip haha. On Saturday the road is pedestrians only. After breakfast we spent the whole afternoon walking the road, shopping at all the shops. 10/10 go here.
Service long que se soit la commande ou l'arrivée des boissons & des plats & peu énergique. Nourriture plutôt bonne mais il n'y a pas écrit tous les allergènes comme le lactose. Pas tellement convaincu
Both were amazing, & they complimented each other so well.
Our server, Sebastian, was also super lovely & we could see that he was working so hard to serve us as well as all the tables around us & on the patio. We felt really bad because we could see that the restaurant was understaffed with servers, as they were constantly attending to all the guests/tables but we still had a very long wait. We wanted to order the donut for dessert, but ended up waiting over half an hour after we finished our main courses & ended up asking for the bill & leaving since we didn't want to extend our stay even longer. Again, it was not at all on Sebastian but rather management, as we could see that they would have benefitted from just one more server on the floor.
Food, service, ambiance were all fantastic. Management could do better with scheduling for a 5* dining experience. I would expect that from a Michelin guide restaurant too.
The food is good in general, & very reasonably priced, but the service is not up to the standard for a Michelin recommended restaurant. Waitstaff are friendly but everything is so extremely slow. After they took me to my table, it took another 5+ minute for them to bring the menu & water. They served my soup without giving me a spoon. I have to ask for the check multiple times as if they kept forgetting. These details make a difference.
The food at Le Hobbit is absolutely, without question delicious. Some of the best I have ever had with unique & adventurous flavours at a very fair price without any feelings of pretension or stuffiness.
I *almost* want to give it a glowing review & blanket recommendation, but the service, while very friendly, was glacially slow. We had waited for about 50 minutes at our table of 2 (with reservation at a not totally busy time) to just get drink orders, waiting a full hour before anyone asked us if we wanted to order something to eat.
All in all, dinner took two & a half hours from seating to bill which feels frustratingly excessive. Especially *because* the food is so good. Frankly, I still recommend it. I think we were a one off & got unlucky with a poor service, & even then I would say that the food was probably worth the wait. But I was not expecting such a wait going in, & sadly that soured the experience a tad.
