Le Clocher Penché represents a refined intersection of traditional French culinary techniques and modern regional influences. The kitchen prioritizes seasonal produce sourced from local growers, ensuring the menu reflects the shifting bounty of the surrounding landscape. Signature offerings frequently showcase elevated takes on bistro classics, emphasizing precise preparation and balanced flavor profiles. Diners encounter a space defined by high ceilings and exposed brickwork, fostering a focused environment conducive to concentrated appreciation of the meal. The kitchen maintains rigorous standards, crafting everything from artisanal terrines to complex sauces from scratch. Every dish serves as a testament to the versatility of core French principles adapted to the ingredients found within the province. This commitment to provenance and technique dictates the cadence of the experience, prioritizing clarity of flavor over excessive ornamentation.
Le Clocher Penché is widely regarded as a standout dining destination in Quebec City, known for its creative menu, professional service, and inviting atmosphere. Guests frequently praise the high-quality ingredients, with many highlighting the hanger steak, homemade bread with compound butter, and inventive desserts as memorable favorites. The restaurant is often noted for its warm and welcoming staff who take the time to guide diners through unique culinary offerings, making it a reliable choice for both special occasions and casual visits. While most visitors leave with high praise for the consistently excellent food and wine selections, a few noted that the intimate space can become warm during peak summer weather, and individual tastes regarding the menu's adventurous combinations can vary.
Had an excellent meal here a few weeks ago. Would be happy to be back. Every dish felt thoughtfully put together. I really enjoyed the concept of a small plate tasting menu focused on fresh ingredients, creative pairings, & excellent execution. It was a great way to experience a variety of dishes, & each course brought something different to the table.
The pork belly & lobster was the standout of the night. The richness of the pork belly, sweetness of the lobster & brightness of the gremolata all came together beautifully. The seared cod was a very close second. Perfectly cooked with crispy skin, moist flaky fish & a beurre maître d'hôtel (asparagus cream, lovage, basil) that gave the fish a fresh, vibrant,'garden-like'(?) flavor without overpowering it.
The morel mushrooms with Comté flan were another highlight. Earthy mushrooms, silky flan & crispy panko made for a great combination of flavors & textures. The pasta (Trottole al limone) was also excellent. The lemon, tarragon & hazelnuts complemented the mascarpone & parmesan beautifully, creating a dish that was both rich & refreshing.
The beef tongue was the only dish that didn't quite reach the same level as the other mains. It was tender & well executed, but compared to the rest of the menu it felt a little more one-dimensional. Monotone acidic / earthy flavors. Let's say it was a lot more'grounded' compared to everything else we had. Desserts were decent but I probably wouldn't get them again. Helped fill out the meal but nothing incredible.
What kills me about this place is the $6 charge on bread. I'm not from QC & not sure if that is a normal thing here but like cmon guys. It's generally a given any other fine dining resto I've been to in the past. Just bizzarre to be charging customers $6 for bread on a $300 bill honestly.
We were staying at a hotel across the street & found this place by accident. I will say, highly recommended. We had the Quebec cheese as a starter (think like a triple cream) & shared the fish of the day (a cod) as a main. Delicious. The service is also paced such that you can enjoy the slower evening & really have a great experience.
From the moment we walked in, we could tell this was going to be a wonderful dining experience. Beginning with a dozen freshly shucked oysters complemented with a wonderful'pepper' sauce served cleverly in a dropper. & a shaved ice Bloody Mary compote. Our second course was a halibut crudo with pickled ginger & curry. Complimenting our first two courses were wonderful cocktails. For the entrees, we shared the Black Cod which was the fish of the day & the homemade pasta of the day. We topped the evening off with the white chocolate crème broule & an espresso martini. The service was wonderful. Our server was friendly & attentive. Michelin star? No argument here.
Jul 19, 2026
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The space is beautiful, the servers are friendly & attentive, & the cocktails were wonderfully balanced (almost dangerously good!). The homemade bread & butter were delicious, & I'm glad we ordered them since none of the dishes we chose came with carbs. For example, we ordered the beef tartare & beef tongue, both of which we thought would have been even better with a carb accompaniment.
For our main, we had been looking forward to trying the fish of the day, but unfortunately it wasn't available when we visited. Since the restaurant is on the Michelin Guide, we came in with high expectations, so that was a little disappointing. The only other protein option was pork belly, which we weren't in the mood for. Overall, the meal had excellent qualities & we enjoyed the experience!
I came in on a low-appetite day & left having eaten one of the most coherent meals of my trip. The scallop crudo was the best I've ever had - & crudo is unforgiving, since there's nowhere to hide behind heat or sauce. Just precise knife work, candied orange, lemon, poppy, & a tiny kohlrabi (?) brunoise that added a bitter, radish-like crunch. Quietly brilliant.
The fish of the day, cod, confirmed it. A sour sorrel leaf & a knob of lemony maître d'hôtel butter melting over the skin - two different registers of acidity layered on one plate rather than just doubling the same note. I'd nearly written off'catch of the day' as boring; trusting it was the right call.
By dessert the pattern was unmistakable. The roussette - a lacquered spiral of caramelized pastry with candied almonds - sat on a vanilla cream made with cultured, fermented cream, so even the sweet course carried a clean tang that cut the caramel.
That's the thing about this kitchen: acidity & fermentation are its grammar, sour & bitter threaded through every course, savory & sweet alike. It's confident, grown-up cooking that never tips into cloying - & on a day I barely wanted to eat, it's exactly what kept the palate awake. Unhurried service, striking value. I'd come back.
Great dining experience with a wonderful wait staff. Everything was absolutely delicious: high marks for the Maritake starter, the Morel appetizer & the fish of the day. The cod was perfectly cooked. Will be back again whenever we're in Quebec.
I stumbled upon this restaurant on a blog & made a reservation immediately. They're not open for very long. They have Small plates that are very specialized. The cocktail I had, the Tokyo, was incredibly balanced & tasty. The food took a while to arrive but it was very good. We had the bread with butter, the foie gras (not my favorite but my parents liked it), & for main dishes we had the fish of the day, the pasta, & the lion's mane mushroom. Each dish had an incredible amount of flavor. I enjoyed that the most
We had a wonderful dining experience at Le Clocher Penché during our visit to Quebec City. The restaurant has beautiful interior design & the customer service was warm & attentive throughout the evening.
We ordered the fried mushrooms, bread with compound butter, lion's mane mushroom dish, & the fish of the day, which was halibut. The staff was incredibly accommodating with my dietary restrictions & kindly substituted the nduja sauce with a salsa verde instead. The salsa verde was fresh, vibrant, full of texture, & paired perfectly with the fish. It ended up being one of my favourite dishes from the entire trip.
We also really enjoyed the bread & compound butter along with the lion's mane dish. The fried mushrooms were good, though we felt the batter absorbed a bit too much oil & could have benefited from more crunch to better highlight the flavour of the mushrooms themselves.
For dessert, we tried both the baked Alaska & the salted crème brûlée. Although the presentation of the crème brûlée could have been a bit better, the flavour was excellent. The addition of sea salt gave it a unique twist that made it stand out from a traditional crème brûlée.
Overall, this was a memorable meal with thoughtful service, creative dishes, & a beautiful atmosphere. We would gladly return on a future visit to Quebec City.
wonderful experience. Service was attentive, the atmosphere was beautiful, warm, cozy & contemporary. Most importantly they earned their Michelin recommendation. The food was delicious, & the portions perfect. We had the moussaka & the lamb was tender & delicious, the soup, a creamy potato leek & bean was fantastic, & the fish of day, artic char was excellent. We will be back.
