Our “evolutionary Bistro”, whose name is inspired by the founder of Quebec, Samuel de Champlain, highlights the most recent culinary trends in an informal setting with an open concept kitchen and a creative mixology concept. Le Sam's glass roof offers an exceptional view of the St. Lawrence River.
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Our Bistro features the latest culinary trends in an informal setting with an open kitchen and a creative mixology concept.
Le SAM Bistro Évolutif is widely recognized for its stunning location within the Fairmont Le Château Frontenac, offering guests breathtaking views of the St. Lawrence River and an elegant, sophisticated atmosphere. Many diners praise the gourmet quality of the food, highlighting dishes such as the lobster roll, filet mignon, and the iconic French onion soup as standout menu items. The service is frequently described as attentive, professional, and welcoming, with many guests noting that the staff goes out of their way to ensure a memorable experience for special occasions. While some visitors find the pricing reflective of its premium setting and occasionally experience inconsistencies in service speed or food preparation, the overall consensus points to a memorable dining destination that is highly recommended for its unique ambiance and consistent attention to detail.
Amazing French Bistro in Château Frontenac. Chose to dine here during our recent hotel stay. Without any specific plans, we managed to snag a last-minute reservation for a table in the lounge area on a Saturday night. While the lounge didn't offer a view of the river, it compensated with a cozy ambiance, complete with plush couches that added to the comfortable setting. We started off our meal with three outstanding appetizers: the Gaspesian Cake, Foie Gras Parfait, & Quebec Beef Tartare. The Quebec Beef Tartare was expertly seasoned, with a mild sweetness & a hint of mustard. The Gaspésian Cake, which I tried for the first time, was also very satisfying. It was somewhat denser than other cod cakes I've tried, yet retained a soft & pillowy texture. But the true highlight was undoubtedly the Foie Gras Parfait. Perched atop a soft, mildly sweet pastry, the creamy parfait blended exquisitely with it. For the entrée, we opted for the Scallops & the Rack of Lamb. The scallops were beautifully complemented by the slight bitterness of braised endives, the rich sweetness of burnt pears, & the creaminess of Roquefort sauce. The inclusion of blood pudding was unconventional, but it proved to be a more interesting choice than the typical mashed potatoes. With a perfect amount of fat & a well-subdued lamb aroma, the Roasted Lamb was also amazing. The Herb Crust, although not a game-changer, contributed a pleasant crunch to each bite. We also couldn't resist getting the poutine. Elevated with pulled beef cheek toppings, the poutine was better than most poutines I've had in the past. Although the fries themselves were average, the combination of beef, pickles, cheese, & fries were addicting. As for the cocktails, they were a tad pricier compared to other Quebec restaurants, but they were great. Overall, Le SAM Bistro went above & beyond our expectations in every aspect, from the attentive service to the exquisite food. It might lack the ambiance of a more'local' restaurant, but if you're looking for impeccable French food, I highly recommend giving them a try.
Really disappointing dinner experience at such a luxury hotel. We were guests for one night in the Chateau & decided to have a late dinner to celebrate the start my husband's birthday weekend. The restaurant seemed short staffed, & while our server was polite, they were preoccupied with other tables & paid us little attention since we didn't order any drinks. The decor is also very beautiful with nice views of the river. However, the food does not match the ambience. We were served bread that was horribly stale & tasted as though it had been frozen before. The ceasar salad ($18) was bland & underdressed. The Chateau burger ($30) was inedible - dry, limp lettuce, & beyond overcooked, as if it had been sitting under the heat lamps for an hour. Our server tried to tell us that it's because beef has to be cooked to a certain temperature in Canada (I think that they thought that we were foreigners even though we're from Toronto), which simply isn't the case. They did take it off the bill, but we left hungry & disappointed with our experience.
The food is great, excellent quality, very delicious & very recommended, the waiter was very professional. They have a very nice view on the river. Feuilleté Chèvre very recommended
Feb 26, 2024
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Last Sunday my wife & I were at the Chateau for one night (room # 1516) & we were looking forward to having dinner at Sam's restaurant by the window overlooking St. Lawrence river but we were told that the best that they could offer was a non window table for 2, earliest 8 45pm & would call us in the unlikely event of a cancellation for an earlier seating. As there was no call, we disappointedly showed up at 8:45pm & the hostess at that time Elyse, even without having mentioned of our initial request took the trouble of finding us a table by a window & the dinner (specially the seafood casserole) was scrumptious which made our evening so perfectly romantic. So we thought it was worthy of mention as it is the hallmark of customer care. Thank you so much Elyse
Great view of the river, attentive service, & tasty well-presented food. The servings are very generous, & all items we had were satisfactory. Overall, a good dining experience. My husband & I ordered 6 oysters, a bowl of French Onion soup, a 3-cheese plate for appetizers, & we were full before the entrées. One entrée would've been enough. The soup could've been hotter, but it was tasty. The 3-cheese plate & the cheese puff with grilled veggies were my favorites. The seafood casserle was propbably overpriced. Oysters were fresh. The wines - a Barolo & a Pino noir - were also solid.
Although ask the restaurants are wonderful, this is probably the best IMHO in Chateau Frontenac. It has a spectacular view of the St Lawrence River, & the food is delicious, yet it won't break your wallet.
Bistro Le Sam is much more about the riverfront views & posh decor than the actual taste of the food. Only around half of the tables have views; you’ll want a reservation to secure those. The seafood casserole was great. Everything else was middling at best. I still recommend it for the views, but if you can’t get a table with a view then I don’t think it’s worth it.
