Quebec Food Exploration | A 1640s Restaurant Gem
đBistro 1640 Housed in a building dating back to 1640, this restaurant sits right across from the ChĂąteau Frontenac. During summer, it only accepts walk-ins, though reservations may be available on rare rainy or extreme weather days. We arrived around 11:40 AM, just missing breakfast service, and were told weâd need to wait 20â25 minutes for a tableâso we settled in to wait inside. The menu is bilingual (French and English), and the staff all speak English, which is super convenient! Appetizers: đ€Shrimp Mocktail (p4): Fresh and incredibly refreshing! The shrimp are plump, and theyâre served over a bed of creamy avocado chunksâsuch a light, tasty start. đ„Caesar Salad with Roasted Chicken (p1): A classic Caesar salad done well, with tender roasted chicken adding heartiness to the crisp greens. đBaked Snails (p2): Fragrant and free of any off-putting flavors! The two pieces of bread on top are fried to a golden crisp, though theyâre a touch oilyâperfect for sopping up the savory sauce, though. đ§ đ„ŁFrench Onion Soup (p5): A solid version, with rich broth and melted cheese on topâcomforting, if not the most standout dish. Mains: đ€Seafood Pasta (p1): Loaded with seafood! Plump shrimp, juicy mussels, and plenty of small shrimp make every bite feel luxurious. The linguine pasta is cooked al dente, and the sauce ties all the flavors together beautifully. đBraised Beef Jowl (p3): A huge portion with melt-in-your-mouth tender meatâour server mentioned itâs braised for 8 hours, and you can taste the care! Itâs served over creamy mashed potatoes, with asparagus, carrots đ„, and broccoli đ„Š on the side. Bonus: the broccoli still has its leaves, which adds a nice fresh touch đ€©! đClassic Burger (p9): True to its nameâstacked with ketchup, mustard, and served with fries (the fries come with mayo for dipping). Itâs simple, satisfying, and lives up to the âclassicâ label perfectly đ. We also tried a mocktail (p10) called âRecolteââone of only two mocktails they offer (the other is a mojito). It was quite sweet, so we added a splash of water to balance it out, but it was still a nice non-alcoholic option. Overall, itâs a wonderful spot with generous portions and no misses! The restaurant plays old French songs from the last century, which fits the historic vibe perfectly đ. Plus, the restrooms are spotlessly cleanâalways a win đ. #QuebecFood #CanadaEats #TravelEats #HiddenGemRestaurant #WesternCuisine #FoodieTravel #HistoricDining