Le Lapin Sauté centers its culinary focus on regional French preparations featuring rabbit as a signature element. The menu emphasizes locally sourced ingredients transformed through classic market cooking techniques. Diners encounter dishes like rabbit confit and braised cuts that showcase depth of flavor and traditional preparation methods. The architectural space utilizes exposed stone walls and wooden beams to define the interior atmosphere. Tables occupy a rustic environment that reflects a historical regional building style. The selection of poultry and game selections provides a cohesive narrative centered on seasonal offerings and farm to table sensibilities. Every plate maintains a strict adherence to authentic regional standards by highlighting the versatility of game meat in modern kitchen applications.
Le Lapin Sauté is widely celebrated as a charming, cozy, and quintessential destination in Old Quebec City, particularly favored for its authentic rabbit and duck specialties. Many visitors praise the restaurant for its warm, welcoming staff, impeccable service, and a picturesque patio perfect for people watching in the Petit Champlain district. While the majority of diners highlight the high quality of dishes like the rabbit poutine, cassoulet, and salted honey pie, some guests have noted inconsistencies in food preparation, occasional service delays, or a preference for larger portion sizes. Despite the high demand making reservations essential, most guests consider it a must-visit venue that captures a unique, intimate atmosphere suitable for families and romantic outings alike.
During our recent visit to Québec City, we had a reservation at Le Lapin Sauté to try their signature Tout Lapin Tout Canard platter. While the ambiance & service were highlights of our evening, the execution of the main dish left something to be desired.
The restaurant itself is charming & exceptionally well-decorated. The entrance is so picturesque that it practically demands a photo. The staff were incredibly friendly & welcoming throughout our meal. When the platter arrived, it was visually stunning & beautifully plated, setting a high expectation for the food.
The duck confit was prepared well, & the duck foie gras was a highlight, pairing perfectly with the extra bread we ordered. As a restaurant specializing in rabbit, our expectations were high, particularly for the braised rabbit leg. Unfortunately, the rabbit was bland & it was quite dry, with a texture reminiscent of a Thanksgiving turkey breast that had been left in the oven far too long. The bread included with the platter arrived stale, which was disappointing. Thankfully, we decided to order the'bread on demand' separately, which was fresh & helped salvage the foie gras course.
While we truly enjoyed the beautiful setting & the warm hospitality, the inconsistency of the main course was a letdown. Québec City has a fantastic culinary scene with many high-quality dining options, & while the experience at Le Lapin Sauté was lovely in terms of atmosphere, the food did not quite reach the level we had hoped for.
ate the:
- quebec discovery: everything was really nice & new. duck magret was really great, smoked salmon was okay, kinda commercial.
- rabbit pot pie: it kinda tasted like chicken bt at the same time not really. hearty, delicious. the fruit chutney was great though so sweet & sour. i luv the chutney.
- rabbit leg:
overall, didnt blew my expectations out of the water bt i had a great time, food was good, just not exceptional. but the Amaretto & maple crème brûlée though- i didnt know creme brulee can have that flavour. i like that.
During our visit to Quebec City, we had lunch at Le Lapin Sauté, & it was easily one of the highlights of our trip. From the moment we arrived, we felt genuinely welcomed.
I ordered the rabbit poutine with mustard sauce, & it was absolutely out of this world. The rabbit was perfectly prepared, tender & flavorful, & the mustard sauce brought everything together beautifully. I also had the cassoulet with duck & sausage, & it was nothing short of spectacular-rich, hearty, & packed with deep, comforting flavors. It was one of those dishes that reminds you why classic French-Canadian cuisine is so beloved.
We also shared a salad that was fresh, beautifully prepared, & absolutely exquisite. For dessert, I tried the far Breton, which was the perfect ending to an outstanding meal-delicious, authentic, & wonderfully satisfying.
What made the experience even more memorable was the service. Our waiter was incredibly friendly, welcoming, & generous with his time. I speak French, & my partner is currently learning French, so it was especially meaningful to be able to converse with him & learn more about life in Quebec City. He made us feel comfortable, encouraged the conversation, & added a personal touch that made our visit truly special.
The food was genuinely high quality, & every dish reflected great care, skill, & attention to detail. Combined with the warm atmosphere & exceptional hospitality, Le Lapin Sauté delivered one of the best dining experiences of our trip.
Thank you to the entire team for such a wonderful afternoon. I wish you continued success & look forward to returning the next time we visit Quebec City.
The service is good. The main entree is just ok- duck meat is juicy but the rabbit meat is very dry. dessert is great. Overall, we enjoy the dinner but food is justbok for us.
A great experience but be sure to book a table if you want ensure a table. We sat outside in the warm evening but be aware you cannot reserve a table outside. We were lucky as there was a table for two free. We ordered the table d'hote which gave a discount on three courses plus tea or coffee afterwards. The meal wasn't rushed we were at our table for two hours & the food was excellent. I had the smoked herring for starters which was fabulous my wife had smoked duck. We both had rabbit for main which was substantial & some lovely vegetables with it. We both had creme brûlée for dessert which was divine. A great evening 👍
This is an amazing restaurant with incredible rabbit & duck dishes & should not be missed if you are in Quebec City! The building has a rustic cozy charm to it, the service is wonderful & the food is exceptional. Make sure to get reservations as they are always busy.
Truely a delicious little restaurant! Atmosphere was lovely & rustic, food was both unique & beautifully presented. Nearly every dish involves some form of rabbit meat, & (from what we had) was prepared simply yet tastefully.
Ordered the Tout Lapin Tout Canard which proved to be half charcuterie type meats & half duck & rabbit legs over puréed carrots & a rhubarb greens base. Was fantastic for sharing between two or three. Also pictured is the Summer salad, beautifully presented with corn sprouts & small flowers but nothing exceptional. Also ordered the fondue but would not recommend (strangely not cheesy).
Overall certainly worth stopping by for a lunch or dinner, restaurant was almost empty on Saturday afternoon. A bit pricey, but also flawlessly located. Very well presented/marketed, met expectations but didn't exceed them.
Make reservations. It's quite intimate inside & fills up quick.
Absolutely adorable. You feel like you're in a rabbit burrow. The decor is so cute. The pulled rabbit poutine was great. The small appetizer poutine was already the perfect size to share along with our smoked duck winter salad & onion soup. The only thing was that I wished the soup had more broth than cheese.
All in all, a great meal everytime.
