The Best Restaurants in Gatineau, Québec

Modelled on an izakaya, a casual Japanese gastropub of sorts serving tapas-style small plates, Haru Izakaya opened its doors in late 2012 and has since found its niche as a haven for creative, modern cuisine. Guests can opt for a selection of hot and cold tapas – think sesame seared tuna with sweet soy drizzle and wasabi mayo or tuna tartar with quail eggs and lotus chips – alongside salads and a wide range of maki rolls, or go for soups like miso or tonkotsu ramen. Happy hour runs Monday through Thursday between 4 pm and 6 pm when diners can take advantage of half-price tapas and discounted drinks.

Founded by owner Simon Prud’homme and Pierre Louis Poulin, co-owner and executive chef, in 2013, L’Aubergiste is a laid-back gastropub serving inspired French cuisine in a cozy, historic little house dating back to 1870 boasting a modern renovation and pretty patio. Plenty of creative small plates like grilled octopus with chorizo and cauliflower couscous, carrots, corn chips, caper sauce and squid ink yoghurt are served alongside daily main courses like L’Aubergiste’s popular signature poutine (with shredded duck confit, pepper sauce, crumbled prosciutto and, of course, cheese curds). Don’t leave without trying one of its delicious homemade desserts such as maple crème brûlée with white chocolate shavings, ground cherries and blueberry jelly.

Nestled in a charming century-old property on the edges of the Gatineau River, popular steak and seafood house Sterling is the place to go into town for a surf and turf fix. A number of hot and cold appetizers (choose from tempting plates like beef carpaccio with apple and chive remoulade and parmesan shavings or Sicilian-style braised scallops with parsnip puree) kick off Sterling’s menu. Hearty mains like the 24-ounce porterhouse steak and pan-roasted salmon with creamy béarnaise sauce and wild mushroom and asparagus risotto are also offered. There is also an extensive list of French and Italian wines.

A casual and cozy little joint where the focus is on tasty vegetarian and vegan eats, health-conscious diners have been heading to Le Belle Verte since it opened its doors in 2009. Veggie-friendly salads, sandwiches, burgers and wraps make up La Belle Verte’s nutritious menu alongside steam bowls (steamed vegetables and roasted tofu with a choice of different sauces and organic brown rice or soba noodles). Plus, there are a number of raw dishes – try the raw quiche with almond and sunflower crust, ‘un-cheese’, house pesto, avocado slices, red peppers, marinated onions, kale chips and ‘un-bacon’ bits, or the raw sushi (sprouts, seasonal vegetables, avocado, onion and sauerkraut rolled in nori seaweed).

Popular brewpub Les Brasseurs du Temps – colloquially known as ‘BDT’ – offers a menu full of inspired bar bites, beers brewed on-site and a lively ambience. Mix appetizers like game pâté with cornichons and mustard or baked brie with bacon stout jam and caramelized pecans with creative poutine recipes like the Prohibition’s Poutine (topped with beer braised pork and homemade BBQ beer gravy) or entrées like duck confit with red wine and mushroom sauce. Naturally, BDT’s own brews make the perfect accompaniment to its food, but there are plenty of classic cocktails, beer cocktails, spirits and wine to try too.

Cozy, cool café-bistro Le Foubrac set up shop in Gatineau’s historic Hull district in late 2013 and has since become a neighbourhood favorite for casual afternoon and evening eats. Hearty sandwiches like Le Crackpot (with Oktoberfest sausage, Swiss cheese, lettuce, tomatoes and house-made mayonnaise) are served alongside plenty of poutines (choose from toppings like sautéed mushrooms, grilled chicken breast or jalapeño and roasted red peppers). However, the real deal at Le Foubrac is its deliciously juicy burgers – choose from tasty varieties like Le Gatineau topped with goat cheese, lettuce, tomato, caramelized onions, mushrooms and mayo.

When it comes to authentic Mexican eats in Gatineau, there’s one place that’s on every local diner’s lips – Bistro Mexicana 129, a hip hacienda dishing up traditional, authentic south-of-the-border eats that opened in Aylmer in early 2013. Tempting bites like spicy tortilla soup and Mexican-style corn on the cob are served to start, followed by familiar favourites like quesadilla, carne asada and chicken mole. There’s even a Mexican take on poutine with red hot chili, cheese curds, sour cream, cheese sauce and green onions. Classic drinks include tequila, margaritas and mojitos.

A creative modern European bistro specializing in what it calls ‘deliciously irreverent gastronomy,’ Les Vilains Garçons is the brainchild of friends Cyril Lauer and Chef Romain Riva. Unusually, there’s no set menu; rather, new dishes are created daily depending on seasonal, available ingredients and Chef Riva’s culinary whimsy that day. The real star of Les Vilains Garçons’ chalkboard menu is its delicious pintxos, with recent offerings that have included duck rillettes paired with strawberry jelly and poppadum or seared scallops with shallots, saffron and tobiko caviar.

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