L'Affaire est ketchup

This was such an incredible dinning experience. All tables are sat and served at the same time, with the chefs announcing the menu items to the whole group. We sat at the bar and could watch as the meals were prepared and enjoy drinks with the staff. And our food was out of this world delicious! Highly recommend this place!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ L’Affaire est Ketchup is a truly special dining experience. You need to reserve at least three days in advance, but it’s absolutely worth it. The moment you walk in, you’re welcomed into a cozy, intimate space that feels more like a friend’s kitchen than a restaurant—small but filled with warmth and passion. The menu changes daily, based on what’s fresh and in season. At the beginning of the night, the waiter introduces the entire menu for everyone, which adds to the communal feel of the place. No printed menus—just a verbal rundown of what’s great that day. And everything is great. Every dish is cooked with care, bursting with flavor, and beautifully presented. The atmosphere is relaxed, unpretentious, and full of character. It’s clear that everyone working here loves what they do, and that energy is contagious. If you’re looking for an unforgettable meal in Quebec City, this is it. Just make sure to book ahead!

Super cool little place. Fewer than 10 tables plus three seats at the bar. Amazing food without the pretentious atmosphere. There are two seatings. 6pm and 8:30pm. Reservations are definitely recommended. Get a seat at the bar if you can. It's like sitting at a chef's table and you can watch all the drinks and food being prepared. The menu is constantly changing, based on the season and availability of ingredients.

Coming from New York and Paris, we’re a little spoilt when it comes to excellent dining experiences. So, at first we were hesitant to book L’Affaire est Ketchup as there were so many highly reviewed restaurants to choose from in Quebec. So glad we went for it!! We tried a lot of them and this was by far the best meal we had in Quebec! The ingredients, preparation and presentation were outstanding! And it didn’t cost a ridiculous arm n a leg. The restaurant and the chefs are completely unpretentious. But, don’t be put off by that…every dish was outstanding. Don’t expect a white linen experience. It is very bohemian and relaxed; like eating in someone’s kitchen. Such a relief to avoid all the BS that seems to come with “fine dining”. This is all about the food. The menu changes daily and there are only two seatings per day. So, so glad we went with our gut and booked this experience. Thank you!

Dinner was delicious. Our group tried the lamb, duck, beef and liver dishes and the sweetbreads, mozzarella and duck apps. Our server was from Lyon France and was super nice. All was amazing and tasty.

The pork belly was amazing as was the chocolate brownie dessert. Dinner is slower pace here so be prepared to make conversation with your date and/or drink more than anticipated. The vibe is unbeatable.

Nothing better than being able to cross a restaurant off your bucket list and have it exceed your expectations. I’m still thinking about that scallop ceviche. Solid wine list. Definitely recommend and I can’t wait to be back!

My husband and I were visiting from NY and wanted to check out this restaurant on Bourdain’s recommendation. From the outside, the restaurant is unassuming. The dining area is quaint but comfortable, and the staff took time to share the menu and made each table familiar with the various dishes. I have a sensitivity to onion and garlic, and the kitchen shared dishes that they could adapt to this need. I was so grateful for this! High attention and care to detail throughout the experience. The food was exceptional. From appetizers to mains and desserts, we were very pleased. Everything was excellent. If you have a moment to peek into the kitchen, do so! It is incredible the magic this restaurant is creating with so few chefs and such a modest kitchen. Highly impressive and we will absolutely return.

Fantastic find - small and unassuming place but the BEST dining experience. Definitely will visit Quebec city if only to dine here again!

This is an experience! Made reservations at 8:30pm (last seating) for L'Affaire Est Ketchup after hearing that Anthony Bourdain went and could not have foreseen the night. It's a super cozy space with a kitchen that couldn't possibly be churning out food of this quality. I mean, honestly, electric stovetops and nonstick pans? Staff first comes around to take every table's drink order before going over its chalkboard menu with everyone together for the night based on the quality of produce or items on hand. It really has a friend's kitchen vibe. We began with several appetizers including the bison arancini, scallops ceviche, foie gras (pate), and mozzarella. My favorites are in the order listed. Each dish had a simplicity to it that still highlighted those elevated French cooking nuances like richness, velvetness, or a kiss of acidity. For mains, I went with the t-bone of a piglet. The only part that I was kind of iffy about was the braised pork belly skin. I ate some but it wasn't my preferred texture. Still, I loved every other part of the dish. My friends helped explore the rest of the menu including the orange duck breast, beef filet, and seafood mix. I tried a bit of each, and the duck breast was definitely an equal star. The only other area that was iffy was the wine. Since it was chosen off a bookshelf which is consistently exposed to heat, some bottles definitely suffered as we hypothesized with our beaujolais which was very tart and almost bitter. It got a little better with time but it wasn't a good bottle. Regardless, our experience pushed us well into the later hours of the night but the staff was entertaining and we just generally had a real great time! Highly recommended!

The Best!!!! Coming from New York and Paris, we're a little spoilt when it comes to excellent dining experiences. So, at first we were hesitant to book L'Affaire est Ketchup as there were so many highly reviewed restaurants to choose from in Quebec. So glad we went for it!! We tried a lot of them and this was by far the best meal we had in Quebec! The ingredients, preparation and presentation were outstanding! And it didn't cost a ridiculous arm n a leg. The restaurant and the chefs are completely unpretentious. But, don't be put off by that...every dish was outstanding. Don't expect a white linen experience. It is very bohemian and relaxed; like eating in someone's kitchen. Such a relief to avoid all the BS that seems to come with "fine dining". This is all about the food. The menu changes daily and there are only two seatings per day. So, so glad we went with our gut and booked this experience. Thank you!

Picture a little corner storefront restaurant, maybe you think it's a cool dive. Could not be more wrong This a gem of a place staffed with a staff of culinary perfectionists. Sure they wear plaid shirts and well worn jeans BUT aside from the superficial aspects, you are in a 5 star restaurant. Blackboard menu changes every day. Reservations are booked every 2 hours. The ingredients of every dish is explained in detail. Exquisite flavors, wine selection superb Guess what it is a moderately priced for a meal you will never forget Ceviche of scallops with a bit of caviar , freshly and locally made mozzarella surrounded with a lovely caponata and homemade focaccia . Duck breast , crispy, on a a golden sauce. A platter of scallops and octopus. All local, all made on the premises It was so perfect

Surprisingly it was easy to make a reservation for 3 just a week in advance, but we were not super impressed by the experience. The service was friendly, though quite slow and the music very loud. We had white wine, ris de veau (sweetbread, aka pancreas), duck, pork, halibut, and brownie. Although the ris de veau was super small, it was the best part of our meal. It had a good caramelized exterior and the interior was the right mix of fat and gamey texture. We also scooped up all the creamy sauce to complement the thin slices of bread they provided. The pork was acceptable with a little bit of crunch from the thin skin, but overall it was not particularly juicy or tender. We have had far better in less famous restaurants. The duck also wasn't noteworthy. The halibut was not as expected. It kind of resembled a fried patty with mashed up pieces of fish instead of a fillet, which really left a sour taste in my mouth knowing how much it cost. The sauce had a nice tang to it but it didn't wow me at all. When we finally got to eat dessert, the brownie was so average. It was a disappointing end to the meal. Overall we paid around $200 for an underwhelming experience. It was worth trying but not worth going again.

tl;dr cute restaurant, amazing food, great vibe, slow service We made a reservation at this place around 1 month before our trip for a small table for 2 on a regular Saturday evening, and the only time left was 8:00pm. So plan early if you decide to come. We came a bit early and waited outside for a while before going in. This place is tiny but very intimidate and lovely. We love their music choice a lot! The waiter was super nice and explained everything on the menu in detail. The food was magnificent. Unfortunately I didn't have the taste bud for their sweet bread but my friend said it was amazing. The poisson (fish) I ordered was light and satisfying. The final dessert brownie tasted very much like the kind made at home than in a fast food restaurant. We finished everything close to 11pm so the whole meal took around 3 hours. The majority of the time was spent on waiting as both of us are fast eaters. Make sure you are not starving and very well rested before you come, and enjoy a slow night out here.

reservations are a MUST. this is an experience and an acquired taste over all. we snagged the final 2 reservations for 6 PM when they opened. they seat everyone down together and ask for a round of drink orders. they have beer and wine. roughly 8 to 15 a glass. this takes about 30 mins. during this process you can glance at the chalk board on the side to see that nights menu. it's a very small and expensive menu. a la carte. if you are a vegan or vegetarian, this place isnt for you. id say theres 2 desserts, 7 apps and 5 entree. 1 or 2 of the hosts come out and greets the whole room and goes down the menu explaining each dish. my friend got a burratta app dish and i got a salmon app dish. both were absolutely delicious and plated beautifully. i think each dish were about $15.00. we didnt want to stay for dinner so we asked for check, but everyone else stayed at the other tables. the place has about 15 tables and they were packed. apps took about 30 mins to come out. everyone gets served around the same time so its almost like a family style meal, but not really. fun experience, a one and done for me, and i appreciated the dishes, but due to my diet restrictions i can see how this can be a gamble.

Tucked in a little unassuming storefront in the St-Roch neighborhood, the restaurant provides delicious options for entrées and mains, that get changed depending on the day you're going. The ris de veau is rich and succulent. The canard is cooked to perfection, while the flanc is just out of this world - my only complaint would be on the portion of the scallops dish. Service is friendly.

Amazing people and atmosphere! Unfortunately, I cannot comment on the food, because a storm cut out the electricity and we weren't able to have dinner, but I can comment on the fabulous vibe and service. Despite no electricity, we were still invited to hang out and drink wine, do shots, and have great conversation by candle light. I definitely will return and enjoy the food I've heard so much about. You'll want to make reservations weeks in advance. It's an intimate experience, accommodating about 26 people. It feels like you are in someone's home. I really enjoyed myself and I won't forget my experience here.

Easily in the top 5 restaurants i've ever been to. The "pirate" vibe plus next level food make it so. Service - is world class. If LAEK made it on your radar -- make sure you do not skip.

On our last night in QC, the entire city was preparing for the following day, St. Jean Baptiste Day.  Some were even celebrating early, so we had no expectation that there would be any spaces available at L'Affaire Est Ketchup, a recommendation from a local walking tour guide, Samuel Dubois. Placed a call to them thursday afternoon and luckily for me, the guy at the other end spoke English and had 2 last spots available at the counter/serving station.  There were 4 guys always working and keeping the food train running...everyone was energetic and passionate about the service.  Music was mostly fast paced techno with some French pop-urban mixed in.  Sylvan was managing the food train and before the service started, he presented the entire menu 1st in English to us and another English-speaking couple, then in French to the 16-17 French speakers. We started with a dumpling appetizer, which had a great filling and nice amount of hot seasoned broth.  Very satisfying! We also had the lobster appetizer, which was delicate, savory and succulent.  A delicious dish! The main course of seared scallops arrived with a slice of blood pudding atop of a type of mash...the scallops had some caramelization to the seared side!  Very enjoyable consuming this dish! Our last main course arrived consisting of a plump and tender piece of octopus on top of a seared squid steak (which was explained to be like a fish cake) accompanied by some diced tomato and greens.  A great tasting, healthy dish! For dessert we had mini creampuffs with a cognac cream, raspberries and chocolate sauce.  A nice touch to the end of our dinner! Overall, the service and food were exceptional.  The staff was very accommodating and made a regular dinner into something extra special.  Anthony Bourdain Day was June 25th and it was an honor to celebrate a couple days early in the same seat that he sat in when he last visited.

You come to this restaurant for the food and the people who are there to serve you. Dining here is an experience that you will not forget. The food is terrific and the people working there are passionate about what they do.

Very cool. Relaxing atmosphere & charismatic staff. We understood immediately why this small place has been open for 14 years and counting. The menu changes often depending on what's in season and availability of the freshest ingredients. Overall, just a fantastic meal; we had the gazpacho and giant shrimp appetizer, scallops with the octopus and the duck breast as main course. Great drinks, good smells, delicious food.

Be aware they have a sitting schedule. That means the entire restaurant needs to be emptied before the next sitting can sit. Kind of like on a cruise ship. The food is DELICIOUS!!!! the staff are great and fun. Definitely recommend.

10/10. If you go anywhere in Quebec City, come here. Incredible cocktails, appetizers, desserts, staff, everything. My wife and I eat very well, and I can't remember the last time I had a meal this good. Overlayed with Greta Van Fleet and Tool to boot.

Perfect food, warm friendly service, and cozy and homey feel. We felt so special having this dinner and will remember it for the rest of our lives. By far one of my favorite dining experiences I've ever had. This place activated all of my senses at the highest levels and I just felt so lucky to be alive and to have this memory for my husband and I.

Our last night of a 9-day trip split between Montreal and Quebec City. I've been happy with most of the meals during our vacation, and chose L'Affaire partly based on its reviews, but mostly because of the enticing charm of its exterior. The place is so unassuming, it makes you insatiably curious. It was only after the incredible meal last night that I did some Googling and discovered it's a well-established destination for gourmands like Anthony Bourdain. The experience was extraordinary. Upon arrival we were greeted at the door, our reservation confirmed, and told to sit wherever we liked. It felt like attending an intimate party at a friendly new acquaintance's home. Since there are only two seatings, everyone sits down at the same time, has their order taken at the same time, is served... you get the picture. My partner and I do not speak French. There is no menu, other than 2 chalkboards with a short, non-descriptive list of appetizers and entrees (6 of the former, 4 of the latter). We spent the first five minutes translating on our phones. The person who greeted us and got our first round of drinks addressed everyone from the center of the tiny dining room and gave a minutes-long description of each dish in French. There was a lot of laughter and smiling. We also laughed and smiled, but because we didn't understand a word. Nonetheless, based solely on the brief, translated list we'd already decided what we were having. The server finally discovered we didn't speak French and offered to go back over everything in English once she'd taken everyone else's order. We told her there was no need, and ordered sweetbreads, halibut, and sea scallops with black pudding (sweetbreads and black pudding are two of my favorite things). The only thing lost in translation, we regret that we didn't get a second appetizer. I've had sweetbreads more times than I can count. I used to work in a French restaurant in NYC in my 20s and it was on our menu. Ours was pretty basic, but always executed well. The ones last night were anything but basic. The biggest mistake made with sweetbreads, in my opinion, is that so many places bread and deep fry them. You don't really taste anything that way. These were lightly floured and pan-fried, and came with a sauce I wish now I'd heard the full description of in English. It has all the richness of something like a steak au poivre, but was as delicate as mousse. It packed the greatest possible nuance and flavor without overpowering the sweetbreads. This would become a theme of all the sauces. They were some of the best sweetbreads I've ever had. Then, entrees. My partner's halibut was fantastic. I won't go into too much detail beyond that because my entree was, no hyperbole, the best dish I've eaten in my life. There were at least 6 different perfectly executed components that worked flawlessly together in any combination. The black pudding was light, but not dry, crumbly and so flavorful the tiniest morsel brought an explosion of flavor to any bite you paired it with. The scallops were seared impeccably and each little vegetable element brought a unique and amazing flavor profile. There were 2 complimentary sauces that worked well together or apart. I'm not kidding when I say at one point I thought I shed a tear from the rush of endorphins of realizing, "this might be the best meal I'll ever have." I couldn't recommend this place more highly. I don't know if we got lucky, and the chef was in a state of Zen and could do no wrong, but I also don't really care. We'll definitely be back. I mean, we might return to Quebec City specifically to eat here again. 6 hours of driving? Beyond worth it.

I want to start by saying I wanted to give this 5 stars but can't. The vibe: this is a really cool place, intimate, you can see the kitchen and the servers are very nice. There's no physical menu so one of the team members addresses all the diners (about 20-22) in both English and French walking through the entire menu. My wife and I started with 2 appetizers: the mushroom ravioli and the sweet breads and a beer each. We nearly licked our plates clean. I can't express enough how amazing these were. I looked at my wife and told her if I was still hungry after dinner I may ask for another order of sweet breads. For mains my wife ordered the duck (they said it was cooked medium rare with crispy skin) and I ordered the beef. The duck was cooked medium but definitely didn't have crispy skin. It wasn't very tender and had a little gristle to it. With that said, the vegetables were perfectly cooked. My beef looked really good until I realized half of the portion was undercooked fat and there was a line of silver skin running through it. Not a good and or decent cut in any means, but again, the vegetables were cooked perfectly. My 2 gripes gripes: 1.) I left nearly half the steak on my plate and upon removing my plate, there were no questions asked, no "how was your steak" or "did you like your entree" as half was still there. 2.) the head server/manager was going around and making deep conversation with 3-4 tables and offering free drinks or shots or something of the sort. I think this is great, but when you're not of the the "chosen" tables it makes you feel like an outsider. Once our entree course was completed, we tried to pay and get out of there as quickly as possible. It hurts to write this because I've been looking forward to dining here for over a year, and with limited seating scarce availability for reservations, it only built up the hype more.

This is one of the best meals I have had in my 62 years of living. Visiting here is a must, but do have reservations. Prices are reasonable but food is the caliber of any 5 star restaurant!!

Go. Can't recommend it highly enough, especially if you're the type to enjoy foosball at the bar down the street.

My boyfriend and I visited on our trip and it was the most fantastic experience! The food was 10/10 and the owner and staff were gracious and amazing. The space is very intimate and unique as you can see the chef preparing your food from some seats in the restaurant. The owner gets up and describes the menu in front of guests all at once, answering any questions, and was very kind to repeat it in English to us and another couple who were not French speaking. We got the whitefish dumplings to start, the pork chop and stag as our main dishes, and a brownie for dessert. This is a must visit and somewhere we look forward to going again on our next trip.

Simply astounding food! The place is quite small so reservation is a must. We got seated right away. The menu changes periodically and menu for the day was explained by Sylvan (hope I spelled it right) in front of everyone. The food was quite slow (though the place wasn't full), we waited an hour & a half for it to come. But the wait was worth it because everything was delicious. I may not have understood all the details whilst being explained this is what we had: scallops, salmon, surf n turf, deer, cod. A bottle of red complimented all our dishes. Very happy tummy!

Ugh. I had high hopes for this place. Alas it turned out the food was not up to expectations. I had the deer. I've had deer many times in the past and this was the first time I've had a piece so tough. It was so tough that I was trying to cut it as thin as possible so I'd be able to eat it. Even then it was chewy as all heck. I had some sort of pasta dumpling with a filling. I like my pasta al dente, but this pasta was dry and tasted like cardboard. The filling was also dry. My wife had the scallops. They're supposed to be seared and not too well cooked. Well these were overcooked, which makes them chewy. Honestly I could turn out something superior in my own kitchen. Not recommended.

Super fun solo dining night. Call for a reservation; they'll speak with you in English so don't be intimidated. Great way to get out of the old city and see a lively locals neighborhood. Really enjoyed my food and sitting at the bar was perfect for watching the crew cook. No formal cocktail list but they can make you whatever you'd like. Great wine recommendations - by the glass or bottle. I wanted to bundle up this team and take them home with me!

Small unassuming restaurant turns out amazing dishes cooked in the tiniest kitchen! Space is small and busy but cozy and friendly.

Love everything about this place. Its incredibly casual and the staff is warm and funny and welcoming. Almost feels like you're eating in a friends house. And the music is also fantastic. Better yet, even without the service and ambience, the food is excellent. The steak and halibut were both excellent. And the croquette appetizer and sweat bread were delicious. I would say the sweet bread stood out - it was really mind blowing.

The service was good but the place is very small and when all 8 tables are full, it is painfully loud. This place came highly recommended by a friend but it was our least favorite place in Quebec City. The halibut was dry, the lobster appetizer was just ok. Granted the beef item and scallops we saw at other tables looked very good. Sadly, we went with the halibut since our server said it was in season. Big mistake.

Really unique and solid experience. Coming from Toronto I haven't come across a restaurant such as this which feels very intimate. Menu will be explained to entire restaurant in one go (sounds like a lot but they were only seating 10 people roughly during covid). I suspect under normal conditions it's not much more because it is a small restaurant. Pretty much everything is done by 2 people from waiting tables to cooking. Food quality is excellent and great value overall. Not expensive. Portion size on smaller side so be sure to order appetizers and most likely some dessert. Enjoyed all the food here and it was the most fancy casual dining experience I've had if that makes sense. They managed to mesh the both together somehow.

It's true only 2 seatings each evening. They fill up the place - about 8-9 tables - and it feels like a group dining experience with everyone. We were Seated in the bay window so we're on display but also we view the Canadian Hipsters strolling along the sidewalks. Interesting crowd. Server announces the menu to whole place at once, similar to a performance art piece on food. Everyone claps when he finishes. Appetizer- Calmars- "omg these taste like ravioli" "Tender like they were cooked so softly" Served with a spice forward, zesty sauce light on the tomato and giving a little kick at the finish. Really it's just cooked perfectly - usually when you eat calamari there's that over flexible, maybe even rubbery texture. But not these - no rubbery texture. They're almost like a cooked scallop tenderness. Bread and butter - seemed locally made - great crisp crust- airy and light with just a hint of sour. Dipping this bread in the calmars sauce is a very smart choice. Surlonge de Bison - a rich, meaty flavor the juices oozed out of the meat which had a nice bark on it. Magret de Canard - the rice bed mixture was an interesting take on wild rice but much better with textures of bitty veggies. The duck breast was cooked crispy on the fat side and bit well done but still juicy. This was a good sized portion of duck too. Desserts were a deconstructed cheese cake with marscapone and basil with strawberries for him. And a light, buttery pound cake with caramel sauce and roasted pecans. Believe the hype. This was THE best dining experience we've had in a long time.

Simple and amazing. One of the best meals I have ever enjoyed. Would sell my plasma to a Mexican clinic to buy a ticket to travel for a full day in the last row in coach on a sketchy airline to experience this again. Would wash dishes here for scraps. Currently plotting a full oceans 11 scheme to get the recipes. Left my eldest child behind as an excuse to go back. Would happily share the road with Quebec drivers for a shot at a reservation. Do it.

Well, where do I start? Honestly one of the best dining experiences my wife and I have ever had. Cozy friendly unassuming clean and warm establishment. Reservations highly recommended. Friendly waiter with no problem translating the chalkboard menu into English for us. Started off with fresh mozzarella, and duck pate appetizers. Had bison and duck breast for mains. Finished off with maple cheesecake. All of it was outstanding. Amazing how this little place with electric ovens can produce food of this quality. I have a feeling some of it may be prepared offsite and brought in or perhaps the sauces and sides are prepared much earlier in the day and ready to go. Nonetheless the mains are prepared as ordered and tasted perfectly fresh. If you have a chance to sit at the bar would recommend. You will get to watch the kitchen show first hand. Loved it. And yes Anthony Bourdain once ate here...

hat an incredible and unique dining experience! This restaurant is in a hip neighborhood with few tourists and mainly locals. It seems like there are two seatings. One at 6:00 and one at 8:30. It's a small, intimate restaurant with about 10 tables. They have an extensive wine list and their bartender creates balanced cocktails. It was such a unique experience in the way that the whole restaurant seems to be ran by two people. They will greet you in at your seating time and offer you a drink. Then, one of the gentlemen gets your attention, and they go over and explain each of the menu items in detail to the whole restaurant, both in French and in English. Then they come around and take your order. Their menu varies from day today based on what is available at their markets. Everything we had was incredible. I highly recommend going for a lovely evening.

This place is super fun. We came hear because of the feature in Anthony Bourdain's series. The fun environment did not disappoint - the group of talented young chefs working around 2 small electric stoves was epic. The quality of the food didn't quite live up to the Bourdain special. It was good, but not great. We ordered 4 things: Asparagus 5/5 - Very fresh, very tasty with all the citrus incorporated into the salad. The vinaigrette was perfectly balanced - not too sharp or sweet. Scallops 3/5 - scallops were at the perfect doneness - seared on one side, then just lightly touched on the other, with a ton of butter. Unfortunately not all the scallops were seared well, some looked like they were boiled. The vegetables tasted like an afterthought - they were cold and unappetizing. Demi-poulet 2/5 - the chicken was dry. The skin was nice and crisp, and the flavour was great, but it was hard to reconcile with the stringy meat. This was a let down, especially since the waiter said it was cooked "sous-vide" prior to putting into the oven - we were anticipating a very juicy, perfectly cooked bird. Again, the vegetables tasted like an afterthought. Brownie 5/5 - YUM. Warm dark chocolate brownie topped with chilled Bailey's whipped cream. This was so delicious, and worth every cent.

Delicious. Good-sized portions. Accommodating of non-French speakers. Friendly staff. Fun environment. Every dish we ordered was excellent. And the bread... Oh my. A small establishment with a talented and hardworking staff. The 2 seatings/evening arrangement seems to work well for them. Three different people recommended that we dine here. That was great advice. Based on our visit, I can not imagine anyone having a less than stellar experience.

What a fantastic dining experience. As others have mentioned, the staff here are incredibly welcoming and genuinely look like they have a great time. I love the small, intimate environment; you can't help but feel cozy. The food was fantastic. We had two entrees: the mushrooms and the clams. Both were delicious, but I have never loved mushrooms so much in my life. For our mains, I had the scallops and my husband had the hanger steak. We ended up splitting them both and couldn't decide which was better. The only near miss was the brownie dessert. It was more of a seared brownie batter, which I actually don't mind because I'm 100% in favor of raw brownie batter, but overall it was a little bitter and didn't live up to our high expectations from the rest of the meal.

For a city that speaks primarily French, this place is very friendly to English speaking visitors for French food. There is no English menu, and you might need reservations (we went on a Tuesday so lucky us), but the waiters were very friendly and knowledge about the menu to help is out. The food is a bit more on the pricey side, but if you feel like splurging a bit, and had enough poutine, this place is the place to go. Felt at home and was definitely full :)

I think I oversold this place :( First course of mushrooms in brown butter was perfect.. Textures and flavors were a klydescope of sensory bliss. We were talked into the venison which was a nice piece of meat but the potatoes were burnt... Giving the entire dish an acrid taste of cancer. The scallops were well prepared but our mouths were poisoned by a burnt aftertaste that ruined our palates. The waiter seemed unconcerned by the charred potatoes.. And did little more than shrug when I let him know of the poor preparation. A real let down.

We've been eating our way through this lovely city for the last 4 nights, and this was by far the most outstanding meal of our trip. Everything was just fantastic, but if I had to pick one dish to eat again and again and again, it would be the sweetbread!! Absolute props to the 3 chefs/owners for the amazing service and lovely food! Food aside, this was a completely unique dining experience. It was completely unpretentious... like we were in these guys' living room, kicking back and drinking beer while listening to their kickass records. They're doing something right here.

I never give 5 stars but this place deserves every single one of them. It's a small place with a tiny kitchen and you need a reservation. The reservations are at specific times. They start by reading you a short menu that changes night to night. Everything sounds amazing it's so hard to pick. Service: the servers are very helpful with recommendations and repeating the menu since it's in French and on a chalk board. They are all very knowledgeable and kind. Food: the food is spectacular. My boyfriend got the scallops which were awesome. I got duck breast which was perfect. For an appetizer we got risotto with octopus which was absolutely amazing. Price: although on the pricier side it was well worth it. Tip: expect to eat about an hr after your reservation because of the nature of the restaurant so don't go hungry or in a rush as you may be there 2 hrs.

This is a wonderful little bistro. It looks pretty bad from the outside, and inside is very small and kind of ran down, but their cooking and service are wonderful. They have a menu that changes everyday depending on what ingredients are available, and everything has a gourmet touch. We had a roasted eggplant that was wonderful, Halibut fish prepared with capers and lemon (outstanding), and scallops prepared in a citrus sauce with a very light masked potato side and wonderful roasted vegetables. The Restaurant only has 8 tables, so it fills up very quickly and therefore reservations are needed. If you are in town and looking for some gourmet food in a different setting, I highly recommend this place.

Perfect for all occasions- this is a favorite among chefs and "restaurant snob" locals like my family and friends.

Excellent choice for a meal. I've been here twice including just last night for a super satisfying dinner with my boyfriend. The nightly menu is on a chalkboard and just listening to Julien describe all the dishes put a huge smile on my face. We had beautiful stuffed calamari, and a shrimp, fish and potato dish to start. For mains we ordered bison in a foie gras sauce, which was good, and a lamb shank in a cream sauce that was out of this world delicious. They made excellent cocktails and suggested a great Quebec beer to go with dinner. The vibe I relaxed and I was surprised to hear about half the clientele speaking English. One of the servers said they get a lot of hotels sending guests their way. He said many people come after seeing the restaurant on Anthony Bourdain's show, even though the episode is about five years old. Long story short, the vibe is great and the food is terrific. Go! still Bourdain visited, its still the reason many people visit.

The tiny restaurant (only 7 tables) is truly a rare gem. Quaint and friendly, the ambience is most welcoming. Start with the wines. There is a wall of wine where you select a bottle. Most seems to be priced around $50ish. Neat concept. That way you take your time. See, reach, touch the bottles before you decide. For the food, I would say that the portions are reasonably sized - so don't hesitate to order an appetizer too. We tried the sweetbread as well as the wild mushrooms. Both were excellent. For the main course, the duck was the best "canard" so far on my Quebec trip. For dessert, the brownie was yummy. Not too sweet, with the right bit of chocolate bitterness. Overall an enjoyable meal throughout.

My boyfriend and I came here to close out our great Canadian vacation. The waiters were very friendly, boisterous, knowledgeable, and bilingual...but after I dropped my fork, it was kind of hard to get their attention for a replacement and the beer that my boyfriend ordered never came. The champignons (mushrooms) were sublime. I could have doubled that dish and eaten it for my entree and been perfectly happy. My boyfriend ordered the scallops with celery, cauliflower purée, and seasonal vegetables. The scallops were disappointing in flavor and the dish as a whole was pretty one dimensional. Rather squishy and bland. I had the crispy duck breast with strawberry sauce and seasonal vegetables (same veggies as my boyfriend) and I loved it. How does the cook make beets taste so good?? May have been the best duck I've had all year (and I order duck a lot). Brownie with whipped cream was very underwhelming. Would definitely skip dessert next time. Before we left, my boyfriend caught a glimpse of the kitchen and was astounded that the kitchen mostly consisted of a two burner electric stove. The how and why are truly perplexing. Tip: plan to spend at least 2 hours there! Plenty of free parking after 9 pm.

I can't recommend this enough. Everything we ordered exceeded our expectations. See the photos I posted. This restaurant gem must be on everyone's list when visiting Quebec City. When you are in this city, don't forget to call and make a reservation. Their kitchen is small and comprised of two standard home stove. They only have enough to serve the guests with reservation. Walk-ins are only available at the bar( and that is limited). It was a great dining experience.

Simply divine. I came here because it was featured on Anthony Bourdain's Parts Unknown, and I had very high expectations. They were blown out of the water. The restaurant is in a trendy area of Quebec City and is so small that the meals are made on two stove-top ovens that you'd expect to see in an older home. The staff is friendly and helpful. The wine selection is eclectic and you just walk up and point at the bottle that you'd like to try. The menu changes frequently and is written on a chalkboard. We started out splitting the octopus and foie gras appetizers. Both were delicious. I had the beef wagyu for my main course, and it surpassed the wagyu I had eaten in Kobe, Japan the prior year. I could ramble on and on about the food but you really have to try it to believe it. If you're in Quebec City, this is a must visit.

Finding myself heading to Quebec City for a weekend course, my wife and I decided to make it a weekend trip. I learn, she skis and then we enjoy old Quebec which I hadn't visited for.... 15 years!? Yeah I was overdue. As I was thinking about where I would like to go for a nice meal in the city, I thought back to an old Parts Unknown episode where Anthony Bourdain was in Quebec and visited L'Affaire est Ketchup - a unique restaurant that seemed to be doing very cool stuff. I always kept it on my list after that so this seemed like a good opportunity to finally try them out. L'Affaire est Ketchup bills themselves as a "Pirate Restaurant" and that is really the unique thing about it. The space looks like an old apartment - you can only fit about 25 people in the space and the kitchen is really just the old kitchen tucked in the back of the apartment open for all to see. The chairs and tables are simple and worn out. The decor is not very consistent or fancy. The coat rack is in the stairwell to the "cellar" downstairs. The red wine "wine list" is the cabinet by the old fireplace with all bottles laid out for you to see. All of their cooking is using an old electric stove and oven! No fancy high end equipment here and that's the thing to think about when you see the dishes - how they create very high end comfort fare using the most basic of space. It's pretty cool. The menu is small - 7 options for both appetizers and mains - and it is ever-changing although some items are apparently pretty consistent. First up, I went with the veal sweetbreads - poached in white vermouth and cream, seared and served with a sauce reduced from the poaching liquid. I love a good sweetbread and this is a great sweetbread. Great crisp on the outside but with keeping the tender richness within. A cream sauce is of course a great pairing with this level of fattiness. The vermouth comes through for a slight kick. Excellent starter. My wife went with the cobia salad. Cobia is a white flaky fish which was poached in olive oil and served over a kimchi-like preparation of fresh and fermented green cabbage and with a avocado dressing. We had never had cobia before - very nice fresh flavour. I enjoyed the kimchi-like cabbage - it had some nice heat to it although my wife found it to finish a little too salty for her liking. As a main, I went with the seared bison served over mashed potatoes, a mushroom cream sauce and some veggies. The bison was cooked perfectly medium rare with a great sear to it. Very flavourful and the sauce had a nice earthy richness to it. The mash and the roasted vegetables were excellent as well. My wife went with the seared scallops served with pork belly, a parsnip purée and veggies. The scallops were beautiful - very tender and flavourful. The sear was excellent. The pairing of that with the fatty pork belly worked very well. The parsnip brought some extra creaminess and earthiness as well. Very enjoyable all around. Finally for dessert, we decided to share the chocolate brownie served with whipped cream. Simple but well executed. Strong chocolate flavour with a nice texture to the brownie. Good finish to a solid meal. L'Affaire est Ketchup is an unique and excellent experience in Quebec City. It is amazing the quality of food they can create out of such a small and basic kitchen. The service was excellent throughout the night making for a fun evening all around. Anthony Bourdain definitely didn't steer us wrong. Now I need to make sure I don't wait 15 years to visit the city again.... Cheers!

I was dying to come here on my first trip to Quebec. I made reservations 2 months in advance. There are only two seatings per night: 6:30 PM and 8:30 PM. No walk-ins! The place is tiny. Kitchen is tiny tiny! It's basically just a tiny converted house-turned-restaurant. Their menu changes often. So, when we showed up, of course none of the items I had scoped out before were on the menu ): FOOD: Sweetbreads - the adventurous dish! Pancreas of some animal... pig? cow? I couldn't tell you. It was something I enjoyed but would not order again. Too much mental stuff for me going on! Scallops - cooked to perfection with the veggies, but I really didn't like the salsa-like sauce that came with them. I would drooling over all the other stuff being brought out to the other tables!! I would be back really only to try new things from the menu.

By far one of the best spots in Quebec to get unbelievably delicious and exquisite French food with a modern twist. The menu does change based on seasons and availability (this is quite a popular restaurant so they can run out of dishes on their menu depending on the time you go). Reservations are highly recommended, although my party and I were accommodated without them. The staff were extremely hospitable and super fun! There were numerous items I wanted to try on the menu but I finally opted for the osso bucco. It came atop fresh made pasta in a lobster bisque. Didn't want the meal or evening to end.