Tosca: A Taste of Tuscany in the Gaspé, Overlooking the Baie-des-Chaleurs

In Carleton-sur-Mer, on boulevard Perron as it runs along the Baie-des-Chaleurs, Tosca serves Italian cooking where the flavours of Tuscany meet the Gaspesian terroir. The result is a welcoming table that celebrates the culinary traditions of Italy as much as the richness of the region’s products.

Where Tuscany Meets the Gaspé Coast

At the helm of Tosca, co-owner Julien Martin Sorsi and chef Matteo Dabbene share one clear idea: cook authentic Italian food while putting local ingredients forward. Traditional Tuscan recipes meet the fish, seafood and products of the Gaspé, and the two regions hold a balanced conversation on the plate. The cooking stays faithful to the chef’s roots while remaining anchored in its surroundings — Italy by way of the Baie-des-Chaleurs.

A Glass Pavilion Open to the Bay

The room shifts its mood to match the occasion. The dining room is elegant and hushed, an invitation to slow down, while the bar counter is where you ease into the evening over a glass. The real showpiece, though, is the glass pavilion: flooded with light and open onto the Baie-des-Chaleurs. Come summer, the terrace quickly becomes one of the finest places to sit down in Carleton-sur-Mer. The warm setting suits big celebrations and quiet dinners for two alike.

Antipasti, Seafood Linguine and Veal Piccata

The menu leans on the great Italian classics. You will likely begin with a few antipasti — a caprese salad, or melanzane alla parmigiana, eggplant layered under tomato sauce and parmesan.

Pasta is a house strength, starting with the seafood linguine that puts regional shrimp and scallops in the spotlight. Among the mains, the veal escalope comes two ways: piccata, bright with lemon, or scaloppini. Pizza lovers are looked after too, from the classic margherita to a range of other creations for every taste.

For a sweet finish, the kitchen turns out Italian staples: tiramisu, panna cotta, crisp cannoli and chocolate cake. For those who want the full experience, Tosca also offers a multi-course tasting menu ($89), with an optional wine pairing ($32).

A Cellar Sourced From Vintners He Knows

Wine holds real weight at Tosca. The list, carefully built by Julien Martin Sorsi, favours producers who share the kitchen’s philosophy: bottles that express their terroir honestly. Julien also runs his own import agency, Importations Tosca, which lets him hand-pick wines from growers he knows personally — a through-line that runs all the way from the vineyard to your glass.

The Verdict

You come to Tosca as much for the sweeping view over the Baie-des-Chaleurs as for generous Italian cooking carried by the flavours of the Gaspé. It is an address where Tuscany and the Gaspesian terroir meet without forcing it, for the length of one memorable meal.

Written by Jean-Philippe Tastet
Photography by Alison Slattery

Updated on July 22, 2026

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