Bistro Hortus — Restaurant in Quebec

The pinot noir was screw-cap, $14 for a small pour. Some gin cocktail had whole peppercorns in it, and became too spicy as they dissolved. The special appetizer single salmon sans-rice arancini was still frozen, and was kept on the tab after being returned. The smoked salmon was cooked perfectly, but the sauce was sour and the dish appeared to have no salt (there was no table salt). The burger was pre-formed, clean-tasting beef, ordered rare, served medium well, perhaps quarter-pound, and was unexpectedly plated with luke-warm dry unseasoned fries. They offered a dessert in place of the appetizer, which we declined on principal. We tipped ~20CAD, roughly 20%. We would not recommend. Table was for 2. Presentation was good. The line cooks and bartenders are beholden to the chef and other management, who are in turn likely beholden to hotel managers, none of whose jobs are easy. Waitress and host were pleasant, though the staffmember who gave us our food wasn't in the best of ways, whom I hope things do turn around for. The manager rebuffed the waitress when the waitress inquired about the frozen sans-rice salmon arancini seasonal 'inspiration', which is how I know the waitstaff simply takes it on the chin for higher-ups. Pretty furnishings, nice atmosphere. It's a shame that this industry is so challenging, while government leeches a block away mulct these dedicated taxpayers to shuffle papers, doll out fines, get paid holidays, take vacations, work hybrid, get sick leave, soak up disability and pensions, and all the while get paid at present more than hard-working service industry staff. I hope, in the future, I will have another night in Quebec City to experience the cuisine so many others have spoken highly of. It would have been better to eat dinner at the creperie up the block, instead of grabbing a late reservation, simply because the first restaurant we walked into (Chez Temporel) was booked out. Pub St. Alexandre had a nice live guitarist and filling looking burgers, which we left for Bistro, but definitely should have gotten one of those burgers, instead. Bistro Horrus feels like buying something at Nordstrom, just to find something way better at TJ Maxx in...

We enjoyed lunch here today. Lovely ambiance and location! Professional staff who were warm and friendly.

There are a few things they do very well!

We both really liked the home made bread ( mine a baguette and his gluten free). We also really liked the green pea soup which tasted just like fresh peas. The seasoning was spare so you could really taste the peas.

My salad beet/goat cheese/chicken was good - a large size with a variety of nice fresh greens. I would have preferred soft goat cheese but the hard cheese had a nice flavour and the crisp chicken skin on top was creative and tasty. The pieces of chicken were chopped quite small though - I would have preferred bigger bite options.

Jim’s fish & chips were a little bland but the rock salt that sat in a little jar on the table really helped. He said they were cooked perfectly and it was nice for him to have gluten free without worry as they take allergies seriously here.

The creme brûlée we shared was phenomenal topped with house made honey from the bees kept on their roof. Be sure to sample the honeycomb at the entrance... very cool!

They need richer coffee as it was a little thin for my taste and cream would have been appreciated instead of milk.

All in all a nice...

I saw the good reviews and decided to try. What a disappointment! Worst food I have ever had in Quebec.

I paid nearly CAD$100.00 for a poorly presented sloppy salad, a poutine in which most of the cheese was not melted, an ounce of baileys, and minuscule pea soup as a starter.

The salad description said it was a "goat cheese" salad. The goat cheese was less than a table spoon. The "croutons" was just a piece of reheated toast, super hard, and impossible to eat. Leaves were the common cheapest mesclun. Some leaves were soggy, and the dressing was very acidic and very salty.

The salad alone was almost CAD30.00. My son's poutine was a portion of refried fries, a piece of beef shoulder (mostly fat), and cheese around that didn't get any gravy, so it didn't even melt. This mess was also almost CAD30.00.

The tiny soups were served in tiny plant pots and came to CAD$22.00.

I'm very upset to have wasted nearly CAD$100.00 on what looked like sloppy chow.

When I complained to the waiter, politely, he had the nerve to suggest the restaurant was somewhat special and did things differently (as if it were above us).

I am fair when critiquing food and hospitality. I prefer to give 5 stars if I can. Unfortunately, this...