The Fairmont Le Château Frontenac is the world’s most photographed hotel, and one look and it’s no wonder tourists flock to when in Québec City. Some tourists just go for photos, others go to look around and those looking for an upscale meal can choose between one of the few restaurants the Fairmont Le Château Frontenac offers. You can go to Bar 1608 for cocktails and appetizers, for a luxury experience and full course meals there’s Champlain Restaurant and then there’s Bistro Le SAM a casual but upscale restaurant. We opted for Bistro Le SAM.
Anniversary Dinner
We got engaged in Puerto Rico, married in The Bahamas, spent our first anniversary in London and this year we were in Québec. Our trip was packed and we were tired, so we didn’t really plan where we were going to eat, we just knew we wanted a nice dinner in Québec City. What better way to spend our anniversary than eating in an upscale restaurant in the beautiful Château Frontenac? It was our last night in Québec City, so it would be the perfect end to our trip. We decided we wanted to eat at the Fairmont two days prior so we called to book a reservation and luckily they had availability.
We didn’t pack anything too fancy, but we dressed up as best as we could and headed on down to Old Québec. It was hot, so wearing thick dark pants wasn’t the best idea. We walked about 15 minutes and arrived at the Fairmont Le Château Frontenac. It wasn’t our first time walking around it, but still, like always, we could appreciate the beauty of the world’s most photographed hotel. This time though, we went inside instead of only taking photos of the outside. We walked around a bit and headed in for our dinner.
Arriving at Le Château Frontenac
The hotel is beautiful from the outside, and despite seeing it several times, its beauty never ceases to amaze me. We headed around the corner to the main entrance, which felt a bit underwhelming at first glance. However, the moment you reach the doors and are greeted by the traditionally dressed doormen and bell staff, you instantly realize why this place is such a luxury to stay at. Stepping through the polished, gold-colored revolving doors, the sense of elegance takes over. The lobby opens up to reveal a stunning mix of rich dark wood, grand marble staircases, and shimmering gold accents.
We walked around a bit, took some photos and headed over to Le SAM for our reservation.
Dinner at Bistro Le SAM
We walked past the cocktail bar, gave our name to the hostess, and walked past the people without reservations and the tourists who were just window shopping. They took our daughters stroller and served us water to begin. The service was good, but a little bit slow. Although the server was friendly and knowledgeable when answering questions and giving recommendations about the meal and which wine would pair best with it.
The menu is small but creative, serving upscale French-bistro dishes blended with classic Québecois comfort food. To start we kept it simple and ordered the Artisan Bread. The bread was fresh and deliciously paired with maple butter.
Of course, I had a locally brewed Québec beer but had to switch to wine for the main course. There was also a long list of mocktails which my wife and daughter ordered to pair with the special occasion. Despite being a bit weary, I ordered the Duck Breast and it was delicious. I’ve never had duck before, but it was excellent: tender, flavourful and tasted excellent coated with raspberry and beat puree. The peas and carrots were delicious too which is surprising, because sometimes they can be bland. My wife ordered the Filet Mignon, which was sprinkled with herbs, truffle sauce, and served with delicious potatoes and veggies. And like always, our daughter got the Fish and Chips.
The Duck Breast was the best dish but the fries and freshly made tartar sauce with the fish and chips were excellent. The steak was good, but ordering a well-done steak is never going to hit just right. But all in all, the food was great.
As for the restaurant, it was elegant and felt slightly casual and upscale at the same time. You can sit by a window with views of the Dufferin Terrace and the St. Lawrence River, but you have to book more than two days in advance.
Final Thoughts: Was it Worth it?
To finish off our special night, we took a stroll along the Dufferin Terrace right outside. The vibe at night was completely different; there were street musicians playing, we enjoyed ice cream, and the hotel looked spectacular lit up against the dark sky. It was the absolute perfect way to end our anniversary celebration.
It was a fantastic night and a good dinner. The menu was a bit small and a bit pricey, but that is expected when fine dining at the Fairmont Le Château Frontenac. With tip and tax, the meal cost just north of $300, so not bad considering the circumstances. I wouldn’t recommend it for a casual dinner in Québec City, but Bistro Le SAM was perfect for our anniversary and would be an excellent option for other special occasions.
Add comment
Comments