Au temps perdu : Café - Restaurant
I you feel the urge to get out of the tourist circuits, out of the historical district, I would lie to suggest an escape to the former city of Ste. Foy, now a borough of greater Quebec. It's actually not more that a half hour from the center of town and reachable by the No. 7 bus line. You may ask the driver to let you off at the corner of rue Myrand, a block before one of the main entrances to the Laval University campus. You cross Chemin Ste.-Foy , walk about a mile to a crossroad by a shaded park There you will find a nice café-restaurant with the suggestive name : Au temps perdu, a place where precisely you can take time and enjoy either their wide selection of beers during their happy hour (4-7 PM). You can also go there for lunch and have delicious and inexpensive meal ( more or less $12.00). The lunch menu includes various international dishes. I had the orange duck that was absolutely delicious. Their terrace is now open and you can enjoy the atmosphere of a nice residential neighbourhood while having some nachos, a sandwich, a hot dogs on French bread, or some thin crust pizza.
Although it's often full (their clientele is mostly business people and university students) it's not necessary to make reservations. But if you feel the need to do so, give them a call.
Au temps perdu
867, avenue Myrand
Quebec, Qc G1V 2V8
(418) 681-5601
Le Parlementaire
When visiting Quebec City, if you want to get off the beaten paths, why don’t you go for lunch at the National Assembly. People often forget that Quebec is the capital city of the province bearing the same name, as well as the former capital of the province of Canada between 1852 and 1856 ad later between 1859 and 1866. The national assembly building is the work of Eugène-Etienne Taché, a French-Canadian architect. It was built in 1886 in a style inspired by France’s second empire architecture. Its façade, which we will talk about at another time, tells of important people and events in the history of Quebec. The central courtyard houses a restaurant: Le parlementaire, which opened in with a sumptuous dinning room that is open to the general public by reservation. There you can have breakfast or lunch among lawmakers of the province as well as visiting dignitaries. Proper attire is recommended. Access to the restaurant is through the visitor’s entrance, (gate #3) at the extreme left when facing the main façade (corner of Grande Allée and Honoré-Mercier). Visitors must undergo a brief security check. The Beaux-Art décor is fabulous and the menu very interesting. Expect to pay around CA$15.00, a bit more if you’re having one of their select wines. For your information, weekly menus are displayed on Le Parlementaire ’s website: http://www.assnat.qc.ca/eng/accueil/LeParlementaire/index.html
Parliament Building
1045, rue des Parlementaires, Quebec City, QC, G1A 1A4, Canada
Web Site
Le Beffroi Steak House
Le Beffroi is what old French watch towers were called. The restaurant that bears this name in Quebec City overlooks the Place d’Youville, a neuralgic centre next to one of the Old City’s gateway. Yet, when you are sitting in Le Beffroi’s elegant dining room, no view, how ever interesting it may be, can take your attention away from these incredible grilled dishes that are offered. If you’ve dreamed of the finest prime cuts of beef, grilled over charcoal, dining at the Beffroi will make this dream come true. It’s a meat eater’s paradise. I had the 20oz filet mignon served with fresh vegetables: Juicy and tender, cooked to perfection. Others in our party had T-bone and rib steaks and were equally enchanted. The wine was excellent. We got to choose from an incredible selection. The bill was rather hot but, as the advertizing for a famous credit card goes: the enjoyment was «priceless». Make sure you work up an appetite before going there and get yourself in the mood to indulge in the finest American style cuisine. Le Beffroi is open every day for lunch and diner until 11:00PM. They offer a reasonably priced lunch menu on weekdays and if you are driving, the parking is free.
Le Beffroy steak HOuse is at 775 avev, Honoré Mercier in Quebec. resevaation can bemane by phone at 418-380-2638