The Buvette Scott Team’s Favourite Spots in Quebec City

Since 2014, in the heart of Quebec City’s Saint-Jean-Baptiste neighbourhood, Buvette Scott has cultivated the art of small things done well in its space on rue Scott. At the helm is a trio of partners whose quiet work earned the restaurant a Michelin Guide Bib Gourmand in spring 2025, renewed in 2026. The buvette has also been on our list of Quebec City’s best restaurants since day one. Chef Jean-Philippe Lessard answered our favourites questions after consulting his two partners, so every address that follows has the whole group’s approval.

Of the three, Dave St-Yves is the only one who has been there since the very beginning, even though he doesn’t come from the restaurant world. Originally from Saguenay, he spent time in France in his youth and taught French as a second language in Ontario before building his knowledge of and passion for wine over many years at the SAQ; today he oversees the dining room and the cellar at Buvette Scott. Pier-Luc Germain, for his part, honed the art of service at places like L’Initiale, Le Pain Béni and Le Hobbit; a server from the day the buvette opened, he became a partner about a year later and shares service and administration with Dave. As for Jean-Philippe Lessard, trained at the École hôtelière de la Capitale, he spent five years gaining experience in Australia before refining his technique at Le Cercle, a true training ground where “everyone went on to become a chef, an owner or a sommelier”; he is the one behind the terroir-driven cuisine that built Buvette Scott’s reputation.

The partnership has held for about ten years on a simple balance. “Everyone found their place naturally, without us having to say it. We share the same vision, and we’re all pushing in the same direction.” — Jean-Philippe Lessard

What Is Buvette Scott?

Buvette Scott, photo credit: Alexandre Marcil

“When we opened, Buvette Scott was more of a wine bar. Today, people come to us first and foremost to eat, around small plates to share and a thoughtful wine selection.” — Jean-Philippe Lessard

“In the kitchen, we work almost exclusively with market gardeners and small local producers. It’s a cuisine of freshness and proximity that puts vegetables, fish and seafood front and centre. In summer, canning, dehydrating and freezing are added to the work so we can serve local products all winter long.”

“The wine list leans natural, over a classic backbone. We’re lucky to work with lovely small allocations, earned through long relationships with our private import agencies.”

“We want people to be served as if they were at home. It’s nothing like a white-tablecloth restaurant where you don’t quite know where to put yourself: it’s convivial, and it can get a little loud if the mood calls for it. A natural closeness develops through the service, and we want everyone to feel at ease.” — Jean-Philippe Lessard

Was There a Before and After Michelin?

Not in the reservation book: with its 30 seats, the restaurant is fully booked more often than not. The effect was felt in the dining room instead. “It created a buzz among tourists, whether from elsewhere in Quebec, Canada, the United States or Europe. People mention it to us quite a bit.” Reservations open about two months in advance. “We don’t want to create a sense of scarcity. It gives people time to plan their vacations, and it leaves us some leeway if we want to take time off.”

Buvette Scott, photo credit: Instagram

Buvette Scott Top 5 Food Spots in Quebec City?

#1 – Babeurre Délicatesses, Limoilou

Karine Jacques’s counter on 3e Avenue tops the list. “We love it. After having a child, the chef chose a different pace of life: lunch at noon, beautiful pastries, a little glass of wine, apéros on certain evenings. It’s a real neighbourhood spot. You know the food will always be excellent.”

Babeurre Délicatesses, photo credit: Instagram

#2 – Buffet Bardy, Maizerets

A resolutely old-school snack bar on avenue Maufils, where Limoilou meets Charlesbourg. The house specialty: pain à la viande, not to be confused with meatloaf. “It’s closer to a sloppy joe. It’s a cool summer spot most people don’t know about.” The fries, Jean-Philippe adds, are worth the stop on their own.

#3 – Casse-croûte Chez Micheline, Saint-Augustin-de-Desmaures

An institution on Route 138, open for decades and still true to itself. The poutine continues to carry its reputation, and everything that comes over the counter lives up to it.

The poutine at Casse-Croûte Chez Micheline, photo credit: Chez Micheline

#4 – La Casa Panatoni, Cap-Rouge

On rue Saint-Félix in Cap-Rouge, this little pizza and sub counter has been running for about 30 years. The chef’s order: the double roast beef sub with extra garlic mayo. A detail that says it all: the place closes for several months every winter while the owners head south to surf. “You grab a sandwich, cross over to Plage Saint-Laurent, sit facing the river and eat your sub right there. It’s fantastic.”

#5 – Giacomo et Tania, Saint-Sauveur

Opened in 2025, Giacomo et Tania is an Italian fine-food shop run by a couple on rue Saint-Joseph Ouest, at the edge of Saint-Roch. You’ll find quality pasta, excellent charcuterie, stracciatella lunch sandwiches, cannoli, tiramisu and, in March, zeppole for St. Joseph’s Day. “You walk in and everyone’s speaking Italian. In Montreal, you find this kind of place on every corner of Little Italy; in Quebec City, it barely exists.” On his first visit, the particularly friendly owner even offered him cannoli; the chef confirms the enthusiasm for this very pleasant spot.

Giacomo et Tania, photo credit: Maude Bond Lussier

Where Do You Go to Celebrate a Special Occasion?

The trio agrees: the reflex would be to name the tables everyone already names (hello to the Battuto and Melba crews!). Jean-Philippe Lessard suggests Verre Pickl’ in Sillery instead, where he recently celebrated a birthday around a big table. At the helm is a couple of chef-partners: Mexican-born Alexandra Romero Bayardo and Jérôme Gilpin, whose tasting menu, marrying French techniques and Mexican traditions, has no equivalent in Quebec City. The concept: a single large communal table and one seating per night; book with a big group and you have the room to yourselves. “They asked us what music we wanted to hear. By the end of the night, everyone was dancing!” Hard to imagine a better place to turn a special occasion into a real party.

Verre Pickl’, photo credit: Ludovic Gauthier

And for a Date?

The chef hasn’t tried it yet, but his two partners sing its praises: Bar Artefact, tucked inside Auberge Saint-Antoine in Old Quebec. The name comes from the archaeological digs carried out during the inn’s construction work: hundreds of unearthed objects are displayed in showcases, and 18th-century remains are built into the décor. A well-crafted cocktail list, the river before you, and a fireplace in winter for romance. “I’ve heard a lot of good things about it. It’s on my list for next time.”

The décor at Bar Artefact, photo credit: Auberge Saint-Antoine

Your Best-Kept Secret in Quebec City?

Le Mexicain, in Charlesbourg, is a restaurant-grocery set up behind a gas station, in a small building you won’t spot unless you’re looking for it. Run by a Mexican team, it lets you eat in or leave with ready-made food, for next to nothing.

Le Mexicain, photo credit: Mikael Lebleu

Best Quick Lunch?

Le Chouchou, in Limoilou, opened in spring 2026 by the La Planque crew. “The cheeseburger is completely wild, and the katsu sando, the Japanese sandwich with a fried pork cutlet, is reason enough to go back. It’s generous, and there’s soft-serve ice cream in summer too.”

The sandwiches at Chouchou Limoilou, photo credit: Instagram

One Thing You Absolutely Have to Do in Quebec City?

Nothing complicated: walk along the Saint-Charles River. “You can go pretty far, there are lots of parks and nice places to stop, and it costs absolutely nothing. Tourists go see the St. Lawrence, but they don’t head into Saint-Sauveur to stroll along the river.” The route takes you from one neighbourhood to the next, from Saint-Sauveur to Limoilou, and since their revitalization, the riverbanks are more inviting than ever.

The Saint-Charles River, photo credit: DQC

Someone’s Visiting Quebec City for the First Time: Where Do You Take Them First?

Straight to Promenade Samuel-De Champlain, by bike. Since the boulevard was redeveloped, parks and trails line the river all the way to the bridges, with a beach, a swimming basin and free public barbecues. And while you’re by the water, a round trip on the ferry to Lévis is a must: “Seeing the city from the river is really worth it.”

Promenade Samuel-De Champlain, photo credit: DQC

How Would You Describe Quebec City in One Word?

“Neighbourly. People really take an interest: where are you from, what do you do? You don’t feel like just a number. People feel welcome; you sense a sincere warmth.” — Jean-Philippe Lessard

Written by Jean-Philippe Tastet
Photography by Alison Slattery