LE CONTINENTAL - Cuisine Française - Fruits de Mer / Homard / Steak - Flambé — Restaurant in Quebec

A Disgraceful Experience at Le Continental

Last night, my husband and I visited Restaurant Le Continental, hoping for a refined dining experience, but we were met with shockingly rude service from the moment we stepped through the door. As the first guests of the evening, just in from the cold, my husband, a true gentleman, hadn’t realized he was still wearing his hat. Rather than a warm greeting, the maitre d' sharply snapped that he remove it, immediately. Making us feel unwelcome from the start.

We were then informed that we’d have only 1.5 hours to dine if we wanted a front table. Given that we were the only guests in an empty restaurant, this felt unnecessarily rigid and impersonal. When my husband inquired about bringing a special bottle of wine—a common practice at many fine dining establishments—he was rudely informed, “We do not do that here! We sell our own wine!” Such a dismissive attitude was both surprising and disappointing.

The tipping point was when I ordered a glass of champagne, which, at $35, was flat and served from an opened bottle. (Since we were the first guests in the restaurant it was obviously from the previous day.) Serving old champagne at that price is unacceptable, and it was obvious our experience was heading downhill. We decided to leave, politely placing $40 under the glass and informing the staff we wouldn’t be staying for dinner. As we were exiting, our waiter literally chased us down to demand payment for the flat drink, which was frankly embarrassing for them and reinforced the overall lack of professionalism.

Restaurant Le Continental may boast a stellar reputation, but in our experience, it was laughable. It failed to live up to even basic standards of hospitality. This tired establishment has a staff that is out of line and out of step with what fine dining should be. I urge potential diners to reconsider their options—this place does not deserve its reputation. SAVE YOUR MONEY AND YOUR DIGNITY!

Feeling infuriated and undervalued, we found solace at the Frontenac Hotel, where we were treated with the warmth and respect you’d expect from a fine...

We recently had the privilege of dining at Le Continental, an esteemed restaurant nestled in the historic heart of Quebec City, Canada.

From the moment we entered, we were captivated by the old-world charm, accentuated by waitstaff donned in crisp white tuxedo jackets, who skillfully prepared many dishes right at our table.

The evening commenced with a classic Negroni, a harmonious blend of gin, Campari, and sweet vermouth, artfully garnished with an orange peel. Alongside it, an extra dry vodka martini provided a sophisticated start to our culinary journey.

The first act of this gastronomic ballet was the Salade Cěsar, a Caesar salad for two, prepared tableside. The spectacle of its creation was as impressive as the salad itself. The server deftly combined egg yolk, olive oil, chopped anchovies, garlic, and Worcestershire sauce, among other ingredients, to craft what might just be the finest Caesar salad I've ever tasted. Truly a masterpiece in a bowl.

Next, we delved into the Bisque de homard parfumẽe Au Cognac, a lobster bisque infused with a hint of cognac. It was a delightful departure from the traditional New England lobster bisque I'm accustomed to, offering a unique texture and flavor profile that was both surprising and satisfying.

The pièce de résistance was the Boeuf Wellington Au foie gras poêlé, duxelle de champignons et sauce Périgourdine. This dish, a symphony of seared foie gras, mushroom duxelles, and Périgourdine sauce, elevated the classic Wellington beef to new heights. We paired it with a broiled lobster tail, creating an exquisite surf and turf that was both indulgent and memorable.

Although the dessert offerings were tempting, we concluded our meal with signature cappuccinos, a perfect ending to an extraordinary dining experience.

Le Continental is more than just a restaurant; it's a culinary institution that I would highly recommend to anyone seeking fine dining excellence. Their ability to blend tradition with innovation is truly "très...

I genuinely don’t understand the hype around this place. My husband and I chose it for our last night in Quebec City, and it ended up easily being one of the worst meals we’ve ever had.

We ordered the sweetbreads, escargot, and veal medallions. The starter bread was extremely stale had no flavor. The escargot was fine. The sweetbreads themselves had potential, but were absolutely drowned in an unpleasant sauce, reminiscent of instant gravy, that completely masked their flavor. The veal medallions were shockingly bad — dry, bland, and tasted more like an overcooked pork chop than anything else and were drowned in a similar cheap tasting gravy.

Every dish came with the same sad trio of chopped carrots, asparagus, and potatoes, all of which tasted like they’d been cooked in plain vegetable oil — reminiscent of a frozen microwave meal. The potatoes in particular brought to mind a forgettable hotel continental breakfast.

The most disappointing part? This underwhelming meal cost us $150 — and that’s without ordering any alcohol. We've had far superior meals at the same price point elsewhere in Quebec City, with quality and ambiance that far exceeded this.

We even called the next day to speak with the manager about our experience. Not only did they refuse to offer a refund, but they insisted that they use only top-quality ingredients in all of their meals but claimed that the restaurant is known specifically for the “flambé experience" — not the items we ordered. That explanation made absolutely no sense to me. For a restaurant with such a revered reputation and premium price point, there should be care, consistency, and quality in every dish — not just the gimmicky tableside flambé presentations.

The manager clearly didn’t care and offered no resolution.

Overall, this place is nothing but a tourist trap — overpriced, underwhelming, and nowhere near the caliber of food or service it pretends to offer. I strongly recommend skipping it. Save your money and...