If you are looking for local restaurants to try out in Montreal and Quebec City, here are a few recommendations for you! These restaurants are mainly of Italian and French cuisines, from causal to fine dining. Bon Appétit!

Montréal

Stellina

First up in Montréal, Stellina is located in the touristic area of Old Montréal. The pasta dishes were delicious and you can tell that the pasta was freshly made, but the Burrata salad was the most memorable for me. The burrata with the sauce created the perfect balance with the salad. They also have a bar area, and the atmosphere was lovely and romantic, perfect for a date night! Their pasta dishes are around $30-40 CAD, which is a common price point amongst other similar restaurants.

The restaurant was quite packed during dinner rush, so be sure to make reservations in advance. The menu offers a small selection of appetizers, main courses and dessert. You can check out their menu here on the website.

Modavie

Modavie is a French bistro with a lively and causal atmosphere. It is also located in the touristic area of Old Montréal, just a few minutes walking from Notre-Dame Basilica.

The food and service were great, and we also enjoyed the live music there. It is a great place to stop by for a drink at the bar. The mussels and fries did not disappoint! We noticed that there are many locals dining there as well with their families. They also have a full day menu with brunch, lunch and dinner. Check out their website here for their menu.

Quebéc City

Le Lapin Sauté

Moving onto Quebec City, this is a causal French restaurant located in Rue du Petit-Champlain, the famous street just behind the foothill of Château Frontenac by Fairmont. Le Lapin Sauté, as per their name, is famous for having rabbit in their menu. But other than that, they also serve a good selection of other dishes, such as pasta, burgers, fish and sandwiches.

We went during a snowstorm for lunch so the restaurant was quiet that day! I loved the ambience of the place, and the decorations made the restaurant felt cozy and warm. The food was excellent, and the pot pie was perfect for the cold winter day we were having. The pasta was also creamy and well seasoned. The price point is also more affordable, so I could see why so many people recommend this place!

Click here to check out their website and full menu!

Il Bello Ristorante

This Italian joint was recommended to me by a local during our trip. It has a dynamic atmosphere and the dark lighting creates a great “night out” ambience. We were seated at the bar, as the restaurant was so packed! All the dishes packed great flavour, and the scallop appetizer and shrimp risotto were delicious. The portions are generous, and they have a great variety of pizzas and pastas to choose from. I highly recommend this Italian joint when you are visiting Old Quebec City!

Click here to see their website and full menu!

Champlain Restaurant – Fairmont Le Château Frontenac

Le Champlain restaurant by Fairmont is a luxury fine dining restaurant! We tried their 5 course tasting menu, as well as a caviar platter for add-on appetizer. In my opinion, the caviar was not as good as I expected, so it wasn’t worth the price for me. The tasting menu, however, was phenomenal! The flavours of each dish was perfectly balanced and well thought out. The ingredients were fresh and delicate, and the service was amazing as well. The meal came out to be around $230 per person. Overall, we loved our experience there and it’s nice to treat yourself once in a while!

Reservations are required for dining. The menu changes regularly, so click here to view their website and menu!

The view from the restaurant is amazing too, so be sure to ask for window seating if you can! Fairmont Le Château Frontenac is an iconic castle hotel with historic architecture and interesting stories, so even if you don’t end up dining here, it is definitely worth a visit!

That concludes the restaurant recommendations for Montreal and Quebec City! Have you been to any of these restaurants? Let me know in the comments below if you have other recommendations you would like to share 🙂

For more food blogs, click here to read about restaurants in Manhattan, New York!