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.
I got lured in by the Michelin star sign, & the welcoming abs cosy look of the restaurant from outside. The food in this place is on point. The flavor was good. The blood pudding was nice. It was as I expected. The waiter said it was a grandma recipe but for sure elevated. Beet salad is probably my favorite. Nothing special about the house bread but my husband insisted of ordering it. I wish our waiter was more attentive, at least kept our water filled.
Reservation was recommended. But you can always try your luck.
J'y suis allé pour célébrer un anniversaire. Le service & la présentation des plats étaient bien, mais les saveurs n'étaient pas au rendez-vous... Considérant le prix & le fait que le restaurant soit recommandé par le Guide Michelin 2026, c'était assez décevant.🙃
Il aurait également été agréable qu'un petit dessert d'anniversaire soit offert. Ce qui n'a évidemment pas été la cas.
We visited this restaurant & chose to sit on the terrace because we had our dog with us, & Quebec regulations do not allow dogs indoors, even small ones (unless is a service dog). We made this clear when making the reservation, & the staff confirmed a suitable time for us. However, upon arrival, another waitress informed us that the terrace was closed. Ironically, because of our dog, we were essentially the only guests seated outside. For this reason, we could not have the best atmosphere, as inside it looked much cosier.
Some dishes were excellent, while others were technically well executed but ultimately not very memorable. Coming from Europe & being very familiar with French cuisine, our expectations were naturally quite high but we do understand of course that variations do exist.
The pan brioche with truffle butter was exceptional, especially served warm. We also enjoyed their interpretation of a peanut butter & jelly pairing with foie gras & blueberry-lavender compote. That said, we could not really taste the lavender, & in our opinion the additional butter or grease on the outside was unnecessary.
The beef tongue was the absolute highlight of the meal - perfectly executed & incredibly flavorful. On the other hand, the dumpling dish was the one I enjoyed the least. While I appreciated the spicy, chewy elements & especially the squash, the dumpling dough itself lacked flavor.
I was also very happy with my wine selection. Overall, I would still recommend the restaurant. The waiter who took care of us was exceptional & genuinely friendly. I also appreciated that the names of the staff were listed at the end of the menu - it gave the restaurant a more personal & human touch.
We received a lovely welcome & service from the staff, but the quality of the food was unfortunately disappointing.
For starters, we got the buffalo-style fried oysters, the pork tongue & the homemade bread with truffle butter. The bread was the best of all of them, the butter was good but only tasted like truffle & not buttery at all. The oysters' taste was buried with the strong buffalo & cheese sauce, & the pork was veeery smoky. It wasn't bad but to me none of the dishes tasted harmonious.
As for the main dishes, we got the guinea fowl with turnips, the mackerel with smoked paprika lobster bisque & the sous-vide pork filet with celeriac. All of the proteins were dry & again, the dishes were lacking harmony. Presentation wise, I was also a little disappointed, but that's just personal preference.
It's my second time here, but the first time for dinner. I'd recommend for brunch but not for dinner.
Best & most interesting eggs Benedict I ever had. Quick service & delicious food on a beautiful street. Highly recommend! Suggest adding roasted potatoes to it so you don't waste the last bit of sauce!
Highly recommend. Visiting & we decided to try based on Reddit recommendations. Cozy atmosphere, top service from servers who clearly care about the experience & the food was both creative & flavourful. Cocktails were also amazing.
All three dishes were tasty with interesting & effective flavour profiles. The coffee was really good. Highly recommend for breakfast
The atmosphere was lively but not too loud
For the La Totale (big breakfast) the sausage was good, the jam was amazing, the potatoes were good, the ham was ok, bacon was meh & the toast half was great & half a little burned
