- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Coffee & Tea |
- All
Le Lapin Sauté
Category: Restaurants French French [Edit]
52 Rue Du Petit-ChamplainQuebec, QC G1K 4H4
(418) 692-5325
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 11 am - 10 pm
Fri 11 am - 11 pm
Sat 9 am - 11 pm
Sun 9 am - 10 pm
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Intimate
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
69 reviews for Le Lapin Sauté
Review Highlights
-
"Great cheese and rabbit sausages." In 47 reviews -
"...rabbit and duck confit, duck foie gras and magret, rabbit..." In 4 reviews -
"This was definitely our best meal in Quebec City." In 5 reviews
Loading...
69 reviews in English
-
Review from Seema M.
2/28/2012
During the Christmas Holidays, we were in Quebec City for a three day family getaway. I did some research to find traditional French Canadian fare and we ended up at Le Lapin Saute. The cute restaurant is nestled in the middle of the Rue de Petit-Champlain in the old part of Quebec City. Seating only 32 patrons at a time, we were lucky to fit in last minute brunch reservations for the seven of us.
The atmosphere is warming from the moment you step inside. Stone walls, large wood beams, old antiques and a fireplace bring in a nice coziness with the snowy outdoor backdrop.
Le Lapin Saute is known for their rabbit dishes (duh!) so we ordered accordingly. Their lunch menu changes daily depending on seasonal availability. Our table was a mix of breakfast and lunch eaters. I had "Our Gourmand" eggs fried in maple syrup with a crepe, bacon, ham and sausage. A modern take on the cabane à sucre brunch and it was delicious. The egg was infused with maple syrup and sat in a skillet which was perfect for dipping the crepe.
Others ordered "A Picnic for Two": Homemade rabbit "rillettes", apples and beets salad, grilled garlic, herb focaccia, croutons with tapenade and La Sauvagine cheese, smoked salmon, preserved carrots and onions.
And of course, my husband ordered rabbit poutine with cheese curds and two mustard sauces which he devoured. He is a big fan of poutine and tries to order it everywhere we go in Montreal! -
Review from Moufazal A.
Montréal, QC
2/17/2012
Wow, amazing in so many ways. The Petit-Champlain neighborhood is so beautiful, and this tiny restaurant is the perfect fit, cozy, with a very unique feel to it. We ordered the menu for 2 which includes all the house specialties: One Duck and one Rabbit Leg, rabbit sausages, completely insane magret de canard fumé, rillettes de canard, and the most perfectly prepared foie gras I have ever tasted. All that for 60$ (30$ each, a steal considering the quality and quantity). It came with a big salad and some onions and carrot confit, and some great nut bread that went perfectly with the foie gras.
I cannot recommend this enough for someone who visits Quebec city for the first time. And even if you live there, it's a total gem. Ideal for a date, still awesome for our party of 3. -
Review from Erin B.
2/6/2012 1 Check-in Here
We had an absolutely amazing experience at Le Lapin Saute! Two of us went for dinner around 7:30 on a Sunday night. The restaurant was busy but not overcrowded and we were seated immediately. The decor kept us entertained for quite a while - there are bunnies EVERYWHERE! Stuffed bunnies and wicker bunnies and bunnies holding candles and bunnies on the menu board... All those bunnies are tied together with a checked table cloth french country theme that's cozy and welcoming.
The service was great! Not even a hint of annoyance at our complete lack of French. Our server recommended a pink cider as an aperitif, and we both loved it (tangy and sweet all at once). We followed that with a bottle of house red (totally reasonably priced at $29). Our server was attentive, but not overly so, never left us sitting with empty glasses, anticipated our requests, made delicious recommendations, and was adorably charming.
We chose the lazy route for dinner and ordered the Tout Lapin et Tout Canard platter for two ($62.95). It. Was. Perfect! Leg of duck, leg of rabbit, a couple confits, beet and apple salad, local cheese, foie gras, sausages, and duck prosciutto. Everything arrived on one large platter and the stacks of meats looked perfectly delectable together. After all that meat, we passed on dessert but did try maple whiskey (made in Quebec) that was the perfect combination of sweet and boozey to wrap up our delicious evening.
Dinner for two with drinks before and after dinner as well as a bottle of wine came out to about $150, including tip. Given the prices in this highly-touristed area (sandwich for $15? run-of-the-mill pasta for $18?), it's even more delightful to find such a genuinely excellent dining experience. Should we find ourselves in Quebec City again, we will hop straight to Le Lapin Saute. So should you. -
Review from Maureen C.
1/16/2012
LOVE the sauteed rabbit!
I know, that sounds cruel at 1st glance, but they manage to make it adorable and tasty instead :-)
Absolutely 100% quaint little restaurant (~8 tables inside?). I had the cassoulet de lepin, and I don't believe I would ever try anything else - it was excellent. Perfectly done rabbit, flavourful and relatively lean sausage, soft, al dente white beans..mmmmmm...perfect comfort food on a 0 degree Fahrenheit day. I did request fresh bread since I never really did embrace the rock hard toasted slices that arrive at each restaurant. They kindly did so :-)
A congenial atmosphere with kind and friendly service. Very reasonable prices for the quality of the food (especially considering you are on a well-traveled tourist part of Old Quebec).
If I ever find myself here again, Le Lapin will be my 1st spot! -
Review from Stuart W.
1/19/2012
Delicious! After reading other reviews on Yelp, I decided to head to Le Lapin Saute for dinner while I was in town. I was by myself, with no reservation, and they seated me easily (although it started filling up after I got there).
Parking was not easy for me to find, but I found a meter on the street just a block down. Although I will warn you - feed the meter! I got a parking ticket for not putting enough time on the meter.
I had the Rabbit Cassoulet, preceded by the French Onion Soup au Gratin. Both were fabulous, albeit a little too hot to eat when they were served. The soup was as good as any French Onion Soup I've had in a restaurant. The Cassoulet was very tasty, but not too large of a portion. (Cassoulet can tend to fill you up easier than it appears, and I'm a big guy. This was just the right sized portion.)
I was pleasantly satisfied, and will make it a point to stop here for dinner next time I'm in town. -
Review from Tim H.
4/10/2012
After looking for local restaurants on Yelp, I came across Le Lapin Saute. I must say, this was a remarkable find, and and I absolutely loved the experience!
My friend and I shared a bottle of wine, and the "Tout la..." duck and rabbit platter. This was amazing. The platter had rabbit sausage, rillettes, and leg confit. The platter also had duck foie gras, smoked duck breast and leg confit. In addition to the meat, there were preserved carrots and onions, a salad with beets, and bread and cheese. (This platter was meant for two).
Every item on this platter was amazing, and it was a great way of trying the diverse selection at the restaurant!
We finished off with an Apple tart which was perfect, and a delicious liquor.
The reason I didn't give this restaurant 5/5 is due to the price. I felt the price for a few items, such as the wine, was a little high. Also, this place is geared to tourists, so you are unlikely to find a local inside. While this is not a bad thing (believe me, because I'm a tourist!), it does mean the prices will be higher.
Overall, a great meal, and I would come back in an instant my next time in Quebec. -
Review from Loli L.
12/13/2011
Besides having the hugest carrot-shaped pepper mill that I've ever seen, they also have pretty good food.
For a starter, my dearest had the foie gras while we split a salad and the skillet of mushrooms. They were all good but if we could have ordered a trough of the mushrooms we would have. They were that good.
For the main I had the rabbit duet and determined that I'm in love with rabbit in mustard sauce. The other sauce was good too but the mustard kicked the other sauce in the pants just a little more. It came with veggies and a generous serving of potatoes.
The filet mignon was a okay but if you're in a place named after a rabbit, stick with the rabbit... or else just order a bunch of those mushroom skillets.
The service was excellent. Even as busy as it was, when I accidentally dropped my knife on the floor someone magically appeared with a fresh one for me.
They have a decent wine list and we found ourselves surrounded by lots of English-speaking diners. There was a Tripadvisor 2011something-or-other sticker on the door so that may have something to do with it.Listed in: Happy times in Quebec
-
Review from Neen J.
10/28/2011
Be prepared to wait ... And I promise it is worth it!
This tiny place is cute, romantic and the menu is diverse. As a party of four we enjoyed dinner that included onion soup (delicious), foie gras, rabbit duet with olive and mustard tapenade, braised lamb shank (meat fell off the bone) and possibly the most intense, sweet, crazy good apple sugar pie I have ever eaten! I could only squeeze in a mouthful of this deliciousness but it was incredible (not a gluten free choice but so worth the side effects ha ha ha).
We were also delighted with the service, even though the table wait was an hour the staff recommended a cute pub around the corner we could wait (pope George's I think) and welcomed us back with enthusiasm. They had a very precise waiter in the bar (fun to watch him pour drinks and present them), a delightful server in the restaurant and a charming waiter too. 3 staff for a tiny place that maybe sits 35 people.
Highly recommend a reservation and include this charming, delicious spot on your next visit to Quebec. -
Review from Rebecca J.
Vancouver, BC
10/14/2011
Ate here a year ago on my first visit to QC and really enjoyed the experience so came back again this year with a dear pal who's getting married in a couple of days. While it's in a really touristy spot, I don't feel like it just relies on us out-of-towners for its bread and butter.
The meal was actually better than last year, I think. I had the Foie Gras to start, Sarah had the rabbit rillettes and we both had Duck Confit for our main. The rabbit was much moister than I recall last year's being, and the duck was perfect: just the right amount of crispy outside and tender inside, without tasting fatty and heavy. Mmmmm. Just writing about it makes me want to go back for more!
The service was good: friendly, knowledgeable and patient with attempts at French (Sarah's is far better than mine). We had a half litre of wine and no dessert and with tip, the bill came to about $150. A lovely evening. -
Review from Scott O.
10/13/2011
Simply WOW. We were disappointed in most dinners in Quebec (although breakfast and lunch were another story), but based off our lunch, dinner here would be a pleasure.
The staff was amazing, caring and actually pretty funny. The food (Rabbit Pie and Rabbit Cassoulet) was outstanding.
Do not miss Le Lapin Saute!! -
Review from Dave E.
1/31/2012
If you like rabbit and French cuisine then this is the place to go. My wife raved about it and while in Quebec this summer we ate here twice. The food was superb! This is a small place with a great menu. The patio is wonderful for a nice summer evening dinner and either enjoying the company of those you are with or people watching. A must eat at place when in Quebec!
-
Review from kirren h.
12/13/2011
FOOD:
we went here for brunch and were very pleased with our meal. first off, the prices seemed just a little steep for brunch, but the portion sizes are HUGE! so after we got our plates we realized the prices are completely fair. we ordered the special crepe with mushrooms and goat cheese as well as the smoked salmon eggs benedict. the crepe came with the rabbit rillette which was a big draw to why we ordered it. the rabbit was very tasty and not dry at all. all of the food was delicious, but i think the best part of the meal was actually the toast with their homemade strawberry jam. the jam was just so good, we bought 3 jars of it before we left. i wish we had time to come back here for dinner, but overall the food experience here was very nice. oh and just a note- the money they make for the jars of strawberry jam (and they also make strawberry and apple butter) all goes to some organization for children.
SERVICE:
very nice waitress who spoke english well. i think she was the only waitress on staff when we were there, and she managed everything just fine. she made us feel very comfortable.
AMBIANCE:
the whole feeling of le petit champlain is very quaint, cozy, and european feeling, and this restaurant is no exception. along with the service, the place just makes you feel so at home and it was just so darn cute! we went fairly early for brunch (around 10?) because i was afraid of catching a large crowd, but it wasn't too busy in there at all. we passed by the restaurant the night before and saw that it was crazy busy, so maybe the feel of the place changes for dinner. -
Review from John A.
7/1/2011 1 Check-in Here
A one word description of the food: meh.
They had a decent outdoor patio seating situation, and the indoor was cute and all, but the food was just ok. I also think that they have a poor gluten free selection, despite their Yelp claim to have GF options. Sure they have 4 or 5, but they are all lacking, like steak without the fries for $23. When I saw the steak portion and cut of meat for $23 I wanted to walk out. Unfortunately I am not a complete ass...Also had the rabbit pie, which was also ok.
The best part of the meal was the maple creme brule we split for dessert. -
Review from Anatoli L.
8/6/2011
Outstanding.
We really wanted to have French experience for dinner, and we got exactly what we wanted.
The menu featured many different rabbit and duck dishes, in addition to the regular items such as Filet Mignon.
We had three different appetizers - blue cheese and berries turnover, rabbit rilette and escargot (very unusual, served on the bed of creamy vegetables), all delicious.
Rabbit cassoulet was outstanding, very flavorful, was done with rabbit leg and rabbit sausage. Steak was also done very well.
The only weak point was an apple pie, but it didn't affect overall happy feeling about the meal.
Service was good and prompt.
Highly recommended! -
Review from v i.
8/23/2011
The best part of our experience at Le Lapin Saute was our EXPECTION of a potentially phenomenal meal. The next best part was the ambiance - really lovely, in an old (though very touristy) part of Quebec city, with a nice terrace next to a little plaza. I also liked that it was kid friendly, they gave these adorable workbooks to kids to keep them entertained. So for these points, this place has earned 2 stars.
Sadly, the food was a huge disappointment. Overrated & overpriced & just plain MEH. We ordered the tout Lapin tout Canard (described in their website; for 2 people $62.95) and overall both duck & rabbit meats were dry. I haven't tried rabbit confit before, but I've certainly had much juicier and tastier duck confit in other restos. The rabbit sausage's taste was not balanced, again dry, kind of spicy?!?, didn't really like this. the local brie served was nothing special. The carrot & onion condiments were too sweet. The prosciutto-like duck breast & duck foie gras were the only elements that salvaged this dish. We also tried the smoked salmon entree, which was too oily & had a fishy aftertaste, as well as the rabbit cassoulet, which again was served with the dry rabbit leg & strange rabbit sausage, although the bean part of this dish was very tasty.
I would not recommend eating here; I would however recommend standing outside the restaurant and taking lots of photos of the place, since it IS very cute and charming.
(The owners appear to have a knack for marketing - they also own T-dingue, a souvenir shop that sells t-shirts, posters, bags etc with their restaurants' logos on them. They really should stick to design & marketing and let someone else take care of the kitchen :( -
Review from Jessica T.
8/22/2011 1 Check-in Here
Ordered the rabbit and duck set for two - CAD62.75.
The food in general is good. However, the duck leg and rabbit leg are not hot enough which is why it doesn't deserve a 5 star rating.
Unlimited refill of bread.
Service is really really good though.
Adorable decor, decent outdoor patio seating arrangement, Le Lapin Saute is definitely a nice place to relax and chill with friends. -
Review from Jennifer T.
6/15/2011 5 photos
This restaurant was absolutely adorable in decor. It wasn't very large, but it had both indoor and outdoor seating; we chose outdoor since the weather was so nice and there was a street musician playing, of all the instruments, the harp! The area the restaurant is located in is also a very cute, quaint shopping district.
My family and I speak no French, but the waiter was still very kind and accommodating. We ordered:
(1) Fish soup with 2 croutons of herbed goat cheese mousse
(2) Rabbit pie -- rabbit, potatoes, mushrooms, and shallots served with green salad and homemade fruit ketchup
(3) Marinated salmon served on a cedar plank with rice and greens
The fish soup was a little too fishy for my taste, but it was what my dad ordered, so I didn't have to drink much of it. It was my first time trying rabbit. It was in pie, so I can't really determine what it tasted like, but the texture was similar to carnitas. The fruit ketchup was very good and was a wonderful and light addition to the dish. I only had a bite of my mom's marinated salmon, which was sweet and tender.
The complimentary bread was also delicious. It's got a bit of a crust on the outside, but on the inside, it was very soft and fluffy. I would definitely recommend this place for brunch or lunch. -
Review from T Z.
5/6/2011 1 photo
4-stars for service and ambiance; it's adorable.
3-stars for taste of food. Next time, I have to taste the braised rabbit. We tried the rabbit chili with two beans. I usually like rabbit, but this dish was more about the chili sauce. I did find the salad very refreshing and liked the wine. The espresso was perfect. -
Review from Leeor J.
3/7/2011
It taste like chicken.. no seriously, it tasted like chicken! I went here to have the rabbit, their specialty. We asked the server which rabbit dishes she recommended. She said the top two were the cassoulet (made with rabbit leg confit and rabbit sausage!) and the 'two mustards' rabbit. We ordered both. I threw in a french onion soup order for myself for good measure (I have a hard time not ordering french onion soup whenever I see it on a menu).
The soup was just ok. lacked a certain acidity. Nothing to write home about. The rabbit dishes tasted exactly like chicken! In a blind taste test, I seriously do not think I would know the difference. I've had rabbit before, but not as an entree. It was always in a pate or something similar. I cannot fault the restaurant for this of course. But the rabbit dishes also suffered from the same problem as the soup; they just seemed to lack a punch, or acidity. They had too one-dimensional a flavour. the mustard sauce was surprisingly tame. Cream to mustard ratio was heavily biased in cream's favour.
But I give this place 4 stars for the atmosphere and the overall experience. This place has to be one of the quaintest, most romantic little restaurants i've ever been to. And I can't say the food was bad. I did have it the night after going to le saint amour (read my review of that for details) so practically anything would have been a let down after that.
I think I would go back, but would order something other than rabbit. maybe a beef or pork dish. I usually like to order a meat I don't eat 5 times a week at home, and as Anthony Bourdain says, "chicken is on the menu for people who don't know what they want".
Make reservations. Its a very small place. maybe 10 tables total. -
Review from Alex A.
2/27/2011
We've been to Le Lapin Sauté at various times of year, and it's always a treat.
In the Summer, there are outdoor tables on the patio, and it's great fun to go for lunch, sip a glass of wine and watch the world go by. TIP: Order the "Picnic for Two" : Homemade rabbit rillettes, beet and apple salad, grilled garlic, herb focaccia, croûtons with tapenade and La Sauvagine
cheese, smoked salmon, preserved carrots and onions.($31.95 CAN) You can also get this with a "pot Lyonnais" of house wine, red, white or rosé for an additional $15 CAN, but there are better options by the glass.
In the Winter, hearty, homey "stick-to-your-ribs" fare is available, including Rabbit cassoulet made with confit of duck leg, sausage and white beans ($22.95 CAN) and "Le Petit-Champlain" - melted brie cheese with maple, on a cedar plank (for 2). Heaven.
There's also a terrific Kids' Menu, and Breakfast, featuring omelets, brioché , rustic bread, homemade jam and frothy, creamy Café au lait served "dans un bol"...aahhh. -
Review from M R.
8/16/2011
This place is overpriced and overrated. I ordered the steak and I was appalled at what I got. It was tough, poorly cooked, and not at all worth what I paid. The waitress made me feel awkward about dining alone. This is a tourist trap. The surroundings are pretty, but if you want a good meal, look elsewhere.
-
Review from nicole h.
9/15/2011
We had a really lovely breakfast here. If you eat on the terrace in the morning there are live performers (vocalists, harp, etc.) just steps away. It's really romantic, really European. Really huge portions too! The bruschetta omelette was fantastic. My husband really enjoyed his rillettes, which was kind of like a rabbit hash. Our two giant breakfasts included bottomless coffee. For $33 CAD plus tip (in Quebec City) that's not too bad at all by comparison...
-
Review from Joel S.
8/30/2010
Really a great spot, in the heart of the charming and ever-busy tourist area at the base of the funicular. Went at about 8pm on a Saturday, which is peak, and had 30 minute wait. Luckily, the restaurant's terrace is adjacent to a small public park with benches and (usually) musicians playing harp or accordian. Very atmospheric, and the wait passed easily.
The food was fantastic. I had the snails appetizer with goat cheese ("Les escargots au chèvre, tomates séchées et lardons") and then the rabbit pie ("Tourte«Lapini»: Lapin, pommes de terre, échalotes, champignons avec salade verte et ketchup aux fruits maison"). Absolutely delicious and a large portion -- perhaps too large, as I'd wanted to have dessert but just couldn't eat another bite.
Wonderful atmosphere on the terrasse, harpist playing in the park, excellent service. Couldn't have been improved. Highly recommended. -
Review from Ron C.
White Rock, BC
8/22/2011
In a 3 day period we went twice which is unheard off. The rabbit pie is just unbelievable. Staff friendly, service just at the right pace. I would highly recommend. Try and get the outdoor patio.
-
Review from Andy N.
4/9/2011
The Resto-Plasirs group has several restaurants in the Quebec City area. They are all good, but Le Lapin Saute is the best restaurant around. It is situated in Old Lower Quebec and has a great ambiance.
My wife and I went because they are very accommodating with gluten intolerances. The restaurant offers a gluten-free menu, which offers most of their specialties (foie gras and rabbit). I would recommend a maple creme brulee for dessert, it was a real treat! -
Review from Kris L.
11/4/2010
I went to Lapin Saute with my wife and her folks and we all had a good time. Its in the walking street shopping area at the base of the bluff below the Chateau Frontenac.
We sat outside on a cold evening but they had gas heaters and blankets for patrons which made it very comfortable for all of us. We all had rabbit dishes and very much enjoyed the food.
Sitting outside people watching and enjoying a glass of wine and some delicious rabbit was the best dining experience we had in Quebec City. -
Review from Maritza L.
Scarborough, ON
10/29/2011
Cute French restaurant that looks like French farmhouse. I had the picnic for two and it had great selection of everything theyre known for. Great cheese and rabbit sausages!
-
Review from Cindy C.
Toronto, ON
8/8/2010
This was the first time I've tried rabbit...
This place is extraordinary in it's ambiance, food and service.
We sat outside after waiting for about an hour (the wait is long, brace yourself) which overlooked this oasis garden that was simply breathtaking. The servers are well-trained and attentive, which just adds to the atmosphere of the dining - great overall, a must-do in Quebec City.
We tried the DINNER FOR TWO: a duck leg, a rabbit leg, duck Fois Gras, Duck spread (most awesome), bread, fennel salad, etc.
The eclectic blend of flavours added perfectly to the whole experience. This place is a must-go if you are in the old town!! -
Review from Santiago O.
Anjou, QC
This was by far our favourite restaurant while visiting Quebec. I would even say it is probably our favourite family friendly restaurant of all time.
As the name implies rabbit plays a big part of the menu and the dishes my wife and I had were delicious. My wife ordered. A dish with rabbit serves in two different manners including one in a delicious sauce. I had ordered the duck leg and rabbit leg confit. My dish was very, very good but I was all confit-ed out by the time I was done. In retro spec I should have ordered the dish that had the rabbit confit, rabbit sausage and rabbit in a third manner.
My daughters (6 and 9) are very picky eaters but we ordered for them a burger from the regular menu minus the sauce that they shared. The burger was very good and my daughters finished it. The burger ranked well up there with burgers I've had elsewhere. There is a kids menu that has simple kid friendly selection (eg chicken nuggets that are likely freshly made).
The decor is cute with the rabbit theme done tastefully throughout the restaurant. The restaurant is well placed in the tourist area and the service was excellent.
The restaurant also sells jams. We took one home and have been enjoying it.
Overall, this is a great restaurant for families that like to eat out at good restaurants and wonder what their young kids will eat. -
Review from Deanna D.
6/18/2010
This restaurant is very cute & the patio is lovely spot to sit on a warm summer day. We stopped in for lunch and were seated on the patio in a few minutes. The place is always busy since it's in the heart of the old city tourist area. The service was friendly and efficient.
Sadly, I was not very impressed by the food. The escargot was flavorful and delicious. The Croque-Monsieur was not very good at all; I know its simple food so they could have at least made it enjoyable. The bf liked his pie but didn't think it was anything special or amazing. The prices were reasonable but after spending $50+ on lunch for two it's sad that I wasn't impressed by the meal.
3 stars for the escargot, ambiance, and service but I would not be in a rush to go back given the plethora of great restaurants in the area.Listed in: Quebec City
-
Review from Joe J.
10/4/2010
One of the more popular "common food" restaurants in the old town, the place is always packed. It looks like a quaint stone inn and has perhaps 40 seats inside and 40 more on the terrace. Making a reservation is suggested, but even with a reservation, we waited an additional 30 minutes.
The menu is focused on local Quebecoise food, particularly rabbit (hence the name). We ordered rabbit rillettes, rabbit with two mustards, croque monsieur, maple crème brulee, le chipie beer. The rillettes were the star of the meal and were accompanied by cornichons and marinated onions. The braised rabbit was flavorful, but a little tough. Our dessert of maple crème brulee was rather sweet, but quite enjoyable. The staff is warm and friendly; prepared to explain any of the dishes in detail. -
Review from Stephanie Y.
11/3/2009
Ok so came here on my last day in QC for lunch. So delicious. I had the lunch prix fixe with a steak sandwhich and a little crepe. Delicious. The place was so adorable - right in the quartier le petit Champlain. I loved it.
I didn't have dinner here which maybe was the 5 star meal, but for lunch it was perfect.Listed in: I don't even know what street…
-
Review from chau n.
5/25/2010
i'll keep it short and sweet...very casual and chill spot, the neighborhood is very quebecois. the food is DELICIOUS, and priced very reasonably. I'm talking about duck, confit, rabbit, pate, hot chocolate (that my gf claims was the best shes ever had in her life). this is a place we will definitely come back to when we revisit quebec. it was just flat out good, decent service but still very good.
i think i used the word good once too many times in this review -
Review from Alison D.
2/17/2010
It was one of the weekends of the winter carnival and we didn't have a reservation for Saturday night. We were lucky and got the last available table. The waitress was very nice, but said we cold only take the table if we were finished by 8pm. That gave us a little over an hour, so it was fine. We seemed to get priority to ensure that this happened, so it was totally fine. We got the Duck and Rabbit Platter for two and it was AMAZING. There was pate, roasted meat, cheese, fresh bread and lots more.
It is an adorable little restaurant in a great location. The food was an A+ and was a reasonable price. If you plan to go on the weekend though, make a reservation so you don't miss out! I'm not sure you could find better food elsewhere..... it's that good. -
Review from Chrystina Z.
6/30/2011
Adorable and in a prime spot in the lower city. We ordered the picnic for two, since we wanted something light. Perfect meal that includes smoked salmon, sweetened carrots, garlic soaked in some sort of sweet wine, braised rabbit, Brie, mushrooms atop bruscetta, cole slaw, and bread. Even though this place looks cliche (sort of a Disneyworld resort), I do like this place. The kir fraises was also great (sweet raspberry).
-
Review from Lisa C.
11/28/2010
Only great things to say about this small restaurant. We had one lunch, one breakfast, and one dinner here at Le Lapin Saute during our 4-day stay in Quebec City. The place is small, located in a "touristy" area, seats less than 25 people inside and is very busy.
There is a patio outside for dining but it was not set up during our visits in late October this year.
The service was good, and our wait staff was attentive and speaks very good English so don't worry if you don't speak French. And we thought the price of the food was extremely reasonable for the good quality. And the mode of dress is casual.
The focus of the menu is on rabbit. That said, I can still taste my dinner of a wonderful rabbit lasagna with creamy camembert sauce and those wonderful roasted tomatoes (maybe cherries?? they were so sweet...). And you know they've made it from scratch when you find a rabbit bone -- no issues there for me! My husband had the "rabbit pie" which was huge and full of rabbit, potatoes, carrots, etc, in a flaky pie crust. We drank the house red wine which comes in an unlabeled glass decanter and was very good for a "basic" wine. I had onion soup as my course prior to the lasagna and that was good as well.
Another day, for lunch, we both had a special of very good rabbit rillettes on baguette with honey and dijon, accompanied with potato fries and a small green salad with dijon vinagrette. We enjoyed that very much. Also, as part of the lunch special, we had a small appetizer of blood sausage (another treat!) on a bed of pureed beans/veggies. Wonderful. We finished with espresso and cappuccino which were outstanding. What a great end to a great lunch! The local mailman sat at the table next to us (we'd seen him delivering mail to a number of shops on our way to the restaurant), and enjoyed a nice lunch while speaking with the proprietor/manager. You know it's a good place when the locals dine there.
For breakfast I had a scrambled egg mixture with a medallion of fresh goat cheese and mushrooms in a crepe that was quite tasty. It came with grilled potatoes and fruit and I forget what else and was really a huge plateful of food for breakfast. And I ordered the hot chocolate which was good and chocolatey and not at all like the American "sweet stuff" that I've grown to despise. My husband had the rabbit omelette which he thought was "ok" but he did enjoy the coffee.
This restaurant is part of a local chain (sister restaurant Le Cochon Dingue is across the street and has great food as well), but do NOT let that deter you. Quality is high, and worth any wait you may encounter. Also the restaurant's website (http://www.lapinsaute.com) is not available most of the time so that might be an issue if you like to check out the menu beforehand.
Also, we made reservations for breakfast and dinner. Since we were there out-of-season, it didn't make much of a difference since we were eating at early seatings. If you are trying the restaurant during the busy tourist season in the spring/summer/fall, you should make reservations. The wait seemed to be 30 minutes for most patrons once the restaurant was full.
The restaurant sells jars of its jams and fruit butters which is a nice item to take back home to friends. And the decor is cute.
We will definitely return to this restaurant when we return to Quebec City. We thought about just picking up and moving to Quebec City based on all the great restaurant experiences...but not sure I want to brave the winters. :-) -
Review from Brien M.
7/26/2009 1 photo
Before a long birthday weekend in Quebec City, I had sought out a restaurant that would be unusual, charming, and delicious. Le Lapin Sauté jumped out at me from several reviews and photos. I've had only one other chance to eat rabbit and I was a boy (a long, long time ago).
There are certainly other Quebec City restaurants that are more highly rated for a gourmet experience, but I'm not interested in spending $100 per person with another $300 for wine.
The menu is varied to cover a range of tastes and budgets except I thought the wine list was high. On the other hand, as I looked over online menus from other restaurants, that seemed to be the trend here. Well, we ended up with a "pot Lyonnais" which is a wine bottle with a thick false bottom so that you end up with something like half a bottle. It was enough for the two of us. By the way, this bottle is actually used in Lyon. We've experienced it first hand.
The atmosphere was just what I wanted - it truly was charming. I thought it had a continental feel but my wife thought it had the charm of the old waterfront. Either way, we were both happy. Be sure to make a reservation because the interior seats a small/intimate number of diners although there is a heated patio.
We both had crostinis with mushrooms, blue cheese, and nuts, but due to a gluten intolerance one was served on escarole rather than toast. Very good but I'm not sure I detected the blue cheese. The greens on the side were fresh as can be and had the most wonderful, delicate olive oil dressing I've ever had.
My rabbit pie was a treat due to my search for something different, but I didn't think it was savory enough. I've never had rabbit pie before so I don't know what it should be like. My wife's filet mignon topped with goat cheese was incredible.
Crème brûlée with maple syrup was good "but not magical" per my wife. I chose apple-sugar pie in an attempt to have a local treat and it was very good.
In summary, the dining ranged from incredible to very good, service was patient and friendly (despite our poor attempts at French), and the atmosphere was perfect in my quest for charm.
For those with celiac disease, this is the first restaurant that had a "sans gluten" menu and actually knew an appropriate response to our special need. -
Review from K.C. K.
9/7/2010
This was definitely our best meal in Quebec City. Although it is in the middle of the most touristy area of the city the ambiance is lovely and the food is top-notch. I started with the duck foie gras and took the recommendation of our excellent waiter to get the 2 oz. wine pairing -- fabulous! I also had two glasses of an excellent Chilean Cabernet (don't bother with the Quebecois wine -- AWFUL). My husband started with the caesar salad that came with lardons...delicious.
I had the filet as a main course and it was done perfectly. Rich's rabbit was unfortunately full of tiny bones so he really didn't enjoy his meal, though he did enjoy the apple sugar pie dessert. I would have ordered the cheese plate for dessert but you only get one type of cheese -- a selection would be nicer. The pots de creme were okay but not as good as the other courses. Still, we really liked the restaurant and will return the next time we're in Quebec. -
Review from Mark M.
2/5/2010 1 photo
Wonderful atmosphere- very bistro-like, with the bar dominating the small dining room, which seats perhaps 25-30. We made a lunch reservation (which I recommend,as people were constantly stopping in during the time we were there). The staff could not have been nicer when we made our reservation initially, and then had to call saying we would be late due to car trouble, and then showed up half an hour early. (In other words, your typical ugly American performance).
But they took it all in stride, as we sat down for what was, hands down, the best meal of our weekend, and one of the best lunch meals we've ever had. We had the Picnic for Two with a demi- carafe (500ml) of the house red wine. This is composed of a lot of small portions, including tapenade, homemade cheese, rabbit pate, caramelized onions, preserved carrots, smoked salmon, all around salad greens. Everything was delicious, but the sweetness of the carrots, the mellow warmth of the onions, and the pate were outstanding.
We did have Onion Soup to start, which was also very good, as was the bread that came our way. By the time the leisurely lunch was finished, we had to pass on dessert.
A memorable meal. -
Review from Wen-fai F.
8/9/2010
I'm a complete cheap-skate but also a sucker for great food that's worth the money. The dinner for two, with tax, came out to $67 + tip. It was worth every penny.
Some notes:
-got here LATE on a Friday evening (~9p) and they had both indoor and outdoor tables available. NO wait!
-they will bring you as much delicious bread as you want
-rabbit tastes very much like chicken, so expect that.
-for the dinner for 2, everything comes on one platter so don't order it if you aren't comfortable with your date. :)
-it was like being in Europe again! the restaurant is beautiful and cutesy, the service is that of a fun, fine-dining restaurant.
And finally, I was NOT hungry at the end of the night!
As a tourist, I'd say this is not a tourist trap, but a genuine no-fail dinner spot to go in Quebec City. It is the only fancy dinner we did the entire weekend, and it was the meal I most remember!
