Bleu Marine — Restaurant in Quebec

Just a little backstory for context. We have not been to an upscale restaurant for years and we love tasting menus. I had researched the restaurant exhaustively and was looking forward to the mystery and excitement of the 6 course tasting menu with wine pairing. We were the first people there but they seemed surprised because they were still setting up. Good: The staff was pleasant and knowledgeable. The ambiance was quaint and the eclectic and the music was nice. The food was plated perfectly and it was obvious that Chef takes pride in the appearance of her food. Bad = Everything Else Wine: The wine pairings were well extremely small servings. Although they came with a delightful explanation I am pretty sure I heard the same description given for different bottles of wines at another table. One of the bottles still had the orange price sticker on it. In my mind wine pairings should come with the food but the wine came a LONG time before the food pairing at every course. We drank a bottle and a half of water because even sipping slowly the wine would not last until the food. The wine itself was not good and at times sipping was difficult. We even ordered a cocktail midway through just to have something other than water to share. Food: The food was beautiful and their were elements that were tasty but overall the flavors did not meld well and some courses were quite bland. The chef/servers came and announced the next course. Due to the language barrier it was quite difficult to understand. It would have been nice to have a printed version of the menu and wine list in any language to refer too. There were a couple elements I would like to try again but I have no idea what they were. Then at some point they just gave up. The table that came after us and we’re being served at the same time somehow outpaced us and by dessert they were up and gone before we were even served. Service: The server apologized at one point with the excuse that everyone came in at once. With a “reservation only” business model you would think that the restaurant knew when people are coming in. The timing was bad from the beginning and excuses should not have to be made. I think what some restaurants forget is that when you are selling an “experience” you are not just serving food and wine. You should be serving amazing food and wine with perfect service. Especially if you are charging just under $500 dollars Canadian for a meal. I had been so excited for so long that when we walked out sober, hungry and disappointed I almost cried. Sadly my dream of experiencing a romantic once in a lifetime meal in one of the most beautiful cities in the world was dashed. We ended up having a nightcap of gas station wine and potato chips and the whole vibe of the...

Bleu Marine is hands down one of the best dining experiences I’ve ever had. I had the chance to try their “Great Menu” on December 22nd, and wow, it completely blew me away. Everything—from the food to the wine pairings—was just spot on. If you love good food and wine, this place is an absolute must-visit.

The “Great Menu” was a five-course masterpiece. We started with the Duo of Tarts, one with salmon and the other a cauliflower tart topped with caviar. Both were just so delicate and flavorful, and honestly, the caviar added this perfect touch of luxury.

Then came the Redfish, Sea Scallop, Urchin, and Artichoke—this dish was like the ocean on a plate. The textures and flavors were so balanced, and when paired with the Rioja, Los Corrillos 2021, it just all came together. That wine? Incredible. The minerality really brought out the sweetness of the seafood.

Next up was Rillettes with Beetroots and Truffle, and oh my gosh, this dish was unreal. The earthy beets with the truffle was just perfection, and they paired it with Minéral+ 2022 from Montlouis, which had this crisp, vibrant profile that complemented the dish beautifully.

The Lamb Chop was probably my favorite. It came with chimichurri, tomato, and a hint of lavender. The lamb was cooked perfectly—like melt-in-your-mouth tender. The chimichurri added just the right amount of brightness, and the lavender was subtle but added such a unique touch. And don’t even get me started on the wine: the Rosso di Montalcino 2021 was bold and earthy, just what this dish needed.

For the grand finale, there was Vacherin Mont d’Or Fondue, followed by the most indulgent dessert: Fig, Chai, Praline, and Foie Gras. I mean, fig and foie gras in a dessert? Who thinks of that? It was so rich and delicious, and the Madeira, Sercial 10 years, was the cherry on top.

Oh, and the wine pairings—just wow. They didn’t just complement the dishes, they actually elevated them. You can tell how much thought went into each pairing, which made the whole experience feel super special.

Honestly, if you’re on the fence about trying Bleu Marine, just go. Go and order the “Great Menu.” Sometimes life gives you these moments where you need to treat yourself, and this is definitely one of those moments. And if "Great" is an option, you take it. It’s a meal you’ll be thinking about for a...

We came to Quebec City for a 4 day trip, and this was the worst restaurant experience we had the whole time. We arrived minutes after they opened and were some of the first people to arrive, and it took 4 hours for them to finish getting us the 5 course menu. Every 10 or 15 minutes we would be brought a new napkin or piece of cutlery or something to give the illusion that progress was being made; the wine pairings would come about half an hour before the food itself so they didn't really feel like "pairings" at all, although if you can ignore the drink in front of you for long enough you will find that the pairings work pretty well. 3 and a half hours into the service, we finally got the drink pairing for the dessert round, and I realized we'd been watching those final round drinks going out for at least an hour or so before ours had arrived, despite us being some of the first people in the door. By the time we finally left after about four hours, we were still hungry due to it being so little food over such a long time (very small portions), and we ended up getting nachos at a bar down the street, which we agreed was a better experience overall. I don't recommend this place, especially if you have any limitations either on...