Vin Polisson

One of the best wine bars I’ve been to. I had no reason to stop in this town, but this place was the only one mentioned in the Michelin guide. So I figured I’d stop by for lunch. Came in right at opening on a Friday afternoon, and the space wasn’t busy at all. A small setup like a classic wine bar, but the wine list and food were unique. I don’t go to wine bars often, but this one caught my eye. They had an entire list dedicated to Eastern European wines from places like Hungary, Germany, and Slovakia. And the French-inspired dishes were built to match. Almost zero acidity and mellow seasoning in all the dishes, which made the wines necessary complements. For food, I ordered the vegetable terrine, rainbow trout crudo, and braised cabbage. Everything looked beautiful, but the terrine and crudo were my favorites. The terrine was an even mix of egg and onion terrine, which were like soft custards. The black-garlic butter on the side was more savory than sweet, and the smoked leek ash added a dry, charcoal-mineral snap that the terrines needed. With the brittle breadsticks, it almost felt like a savory vegetable pie filled with mousse. The trout crudo (apparently the last of the season) was incredible. Mostly belly cuts, sliced into long, ribbon-like strips that almost moved like noodles. Barely seasoned, just a light touch of salt and olive oil, which allowed that cool, buttery texture to speak for itself. Definitely one of the best trout crudos I’ve had in recent memory. The glass I had, a white blend from Eastern Germany, was soft-edged with a rounded finish. Somewhere between floral and mineral. It paired really nicely with everything on the table. Not sure if they always focus on Eastern European wines, but if they do, I’d gladly detour through this town again.

Over rated and over priced for the serving size. We left the restaurant still feeling hungry ( I have a small stomach) the sauces they make are great but the plates are not that extraordinary. Could have tweaked a little the plating.

Here’s a place that’s filled with passion. Started during the pandemic they seem to have found a winning combination with a fine balance of creative food and exploratory wines. They even have their own wine importing business that gives great access to natural wines that are very hard to find. Bravo gang!!

The Michelin Recommendation is extremely well deserved. You will not be disappointed. For two people, I suggest around 5 dishes and it you want to cut down on costs, split the wine glasses in two but don't miss out on the wine because they're very special and you cannot find them at the SAQ.

We LOVED this spot. While staying nearby in our first trip to the eastern townships of Canada, we read the reviews for Vin Polisson and were not disappointed. The food was great, for both me - a vegetarian - and my husband who is not a vegetarian. We enjoyed meeting the chef Isabelle who is delightful. The owner Charlie could not have been nicer, helping us pick the best wine choices. We also bought a bottle to take to our hotel because they have the most interesting selection. We loved the atmosphere, people sitting near us were also friendly, and the service was great. All in all a wonderful experience and we cannot wait to come back to this part of Canada again. It will definitely include a visit to Vin Polisson!

Farm-to-table excellence with superior service. Natural wines chosen with care and a clear vision of choosing them from cool climate regions to complement the food.

This is probably the best and most innovative restaurant in Quebec right now. Wine selection is superb as well.

Vin Polisson lives up to the lofty reviews. I really enjoyed watching the staff prepare exquisite dishes from a limited menu in a very tight space. The dishes were unique and creative, in some cases modern touches on more classic meals. I'd love to go back. The wine selection was better than most fancy restaurants I've been to in Toronto and New York. The food was better than what one would get at a one Michelin star restaurant in a bigger city. I would not expect a world class restaurant such as this in Sherbrooke, but it turns out Sherbrooke has several of them.