From Fairmont Le Château Frontenac Best Nearby French (Restaurants) (10 Overall Closest) Metro: Québec City, QC Restaurant Gambrinus (Restaurants - French) 15, rue du Fort, Québec  QC  G1R 3W9 • 418-692-5144 • 418-692-5145 Distance: ~14 m User Rating: 10 / 10         Description: VIEUX QUEBEC. Close enough to kiss the Château Frontenac, this popular restaurant is consistently recommended by locals for simple, authentic Italian dishes with a touch of French influence. Main courses include steak, local game, fresh seafood and veal. Auberge du Trésor (Restaurants - French) 20, rue Ste-Anne, Québec  QC  G1R 3X2 • 418-694-1876 • 800-566-1876 Distance: ~42 m         Description: VIEUX QUEBEC. The oldest inn in North America, with 21 charming guest rooms, has an equally charming dining room that's a favorite for special occasions and dates. Indeed, the menu offers several "romantic dinner for two" options that might include stuffed quail, chateaubriand, beef Wellington, or rabbit with mustard sauce. Other good options are the pastry-wrapped duck confit and the peppered breast of duck with gooseberry sauce. The pastry chef offers simple traditional desserts such as crêpes Suzette, crème brûlée and elegant poached pears with Pernod, as well as more elaborate tortes and soufflés. Le Champlain (Restaurants - French) 1, rue des Carrieres Fairmont Le Château Frontenac, Québec  QC  G1R 4P5 • 418-266-3905 Distance: ~104 m         Description: VIEUX QUEBEC. Located in the historic Château Fontenac, this fine dining restaurant offers French and local cuisine. Traditional Continental ingredients join with local produce and game to create dishes that represent the best of two worlds. To complete the atmosphere, staff members don traditional 17th century dress. One of the most popular times to visit Le Champlain is for afternoon tea, when finger sandwiches, delectable pastries and stunning desserts are almost too much to bear. In the evening, before you dine on traditional Québec favorites, you'll most assuredly want to examine the wine list, which is among the best in the city. Chez Rabelais (Restaurants - French) 2, rue du Petit-Champlain, Québec  QC  G1K 4H4 • 418-694-9460 Distance: ~142 m         Description: VIEUX QUEBEC. Chez Rabelais has an enviable location, right on the l'escalier Casse-Cou (Breakneck Stairs) – the terrace here is an ideal spot to people watch! The ambience is bustling but friendly and relaxed. Food is traditional French and Italian – top dishes include steak frites and mussels prepared several different ways. Fries are crispy and satisfying, served with a side of mayonnaise, and the salads are lovely. If you prefer, dine in the bistro, which has an abbreviated menu and a slightly more casual atmosphere. Le Marie-Clarisse (Restaurants - French) 12, rue du Petit-Champlain, Québec  QC  G1K 4H4 • 418-692-0857 Distance: ~146 m User Rating: 7.25 / 10         Description: VIEUX QUEBEC. Not just your usual tourist spot, Le Marie-Clarisse offers the option of outdoor terrace seating or indoor seating by a romantic fireplace. If it's nice out, opt for the terrace, which offers an unparalleled view of Rue du Petit-Champlain. The place is known locally for having some of the best seafood in Québec, and the chef / owner personally selects the fish. House specialties include shrimp perfumed with anise and bouillabaisse. Le Continental (Restaurants - French) 26, rue St-Louis, Québec  QC  G1R 3Y9 • 418-694-9995 Distance: ~172 m User Rating: 9.9166 / 10         Description: VIEUX QUEBEC. Reminiscent of an Uptown New York restaurant in the '50s, Le Continental offers a certain air of sophistication, from tuxedoed waiters preparing last minute tableside touches to make your evening unforgettable to the innovative menu. A flambé here, cherries jubilee there – it all adds up to elegant dining in its purest sense. Most of the menu is Continental, including duck a l'orange, sweetbreads or châteaubriand for two, seasoned and seared to perfection. Crêperie le Petit Château (Restaurants - French) 5, rue St-Louis, Québec  QC  G1R 3Y8 • 418-694-1616 Distance: ~189 m         Description: VIEUX QUEBEC. In the shadow of the Château Frontenac, Crêperie le Petit Château serves light, airy crêpes all day long. However, breakfast is a special time, to be sure. Since a crêpe is really a thin pancake, try any of the 58 varieties available for breakfast – stuffed with sausage, ham or bacon. And don't forget the maple syrup! In the warmer months a patio area is open, and the Petit Château often features live music. Le Lapin Sauté (Restaurants - French) 52, rue du Petit-Champlain, Québec  QC  G1K 4H4 • 418-692-5325 Distance: ~221 m User Rating: 9.75 / 10         Description: VIEUX QUEBEC. Located in the heart of the Quartier Petit Champlain, this lovely country-style restaurant specializes in tasty rabbit dishes (rabbit is "lapin" in French); though, gratin savoyard and rosemary chicken offer fine alternatives. If you've got something a little lighter in mind, try delicious sun-dried tomato pizza or even a warm baguette. Take note: the best time to dine here is on a warm summer afternoon, when their shaded patio provides a charming respite from the rigors of shopping. Café de la Paix (Restaurants - French) 44, rue des Jardins, Québec  QC  G1R 4L7 • 418-692-1430 Distance: ~231 m         Description: VIEUX QUEBEC. Locals flock to this tasteful café and experience French cuisine at its finest – simple dishes of game and fresh seafood become true culinary delights. Located just off the busy rue St-Louis, Cafe de la Paix offers a safe haven of sorts for those wanting to escape the busy Vieux-Québec area. The delicious table d'hote often features such delights as guinea fowl, or you can opt for one of the standards – salmon tartare is highly recommended. L'Initiale (Restaurants - French) 54, rue St-Pierre, Québec  QC  G1K 4A1 • 418-694-1818 Distance: ~234 m User Rating: 9.5 / 10         Description: VIEUX QUEBEC. Watch the ships come and go as you enjoy fine French cuisine at this elegant restaurant, located in Québec's Vieux Port area. L'Initiale, which has been honored by the Chaine de Rotisseurs gastronomy society, offers an interesting juxtaposition in terms of décor and architecture: although the restaurant is housed in one of the Old Port's beautifully preserved, century-old buildings, its interior is marked by soft lighting, light colors, large windows offering spectacular river views, and intimate tables that offer ample privacy. Head chef Yvan Lebrun has impressed the Québec dining scene with his innovative dishes, from calf sweetbreads and wild game to smoked salmon and roast guinea hen. A meal here is bound to impress that important client or special somebody! Copyright ©2001 10Best Inc. All rights reserved.