Nine new restaurants nab Michelin stars as guide expands into Quebec

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This article was published 15/05/2025 (501 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Nine restaurants received prestigious Michelin stars in the tastemaker’s first foray into Quebec, cementing the province’s reputation as a hot spot for culinary creativity. 

All nine of the starred restaurants announced Thursday are categorized as serving contemporary or creative fare.

At the top of the list is Tanière3 in Quebec City, which grounds experimental cooking in the historical setting of a 17th-century cellar. 

The restaurant, which keeps its 15- to 20-course tasting menu secret until each dish is served, became the second in Canada to earn two Michelin stars — a designation that signifies it is “worth a detour.”

“In what might be described as his gastronomic research laboratory, avant-garde Chef François-Emmanuel Nicol explores all the nuances to be derived from the immense terroir of Québec’s boreal zone,” Michelin’s anonymous inspectors wrote in their guide. 

“Sophisticated cooking methods, succulent sauces and a rigorous balance of flavours make this cuisine a resounding triumph.”

Other than Tanière3, there are four Quebec City restaurants on the list: Arvi, Kebec Club Privé, Laurie Raphaël and Légende, the latter of which is said to offer creative, regional fare.

“This establishment sets itself apart by using only local ingredients and eschewing exotic ingredients such as chocolate, pepper, citrus fruit and vanilla. The menu celebrates little-known indigenous ingredients, which are put to clever and creative use,” the inspectors wrote.

Montreal’s Europea, Mastard and Sabayon received one star each.

Narval, an eatery in Rimouski, in the Bas-Saint-Laurent region of eastern Quebec, rounds out the list.

“The small spot is only open three evenings a week, led by a humble chef who welcomes guests like friends – personally involving himself in the reception and service and passionate about showcasing Québec products he carefully selects,” the inspectors said.

Quebec is the third Canadian destination to receive a Michelin Guide, after Toronto and Vancouver got their lists in 2022. Toronto’s Sushi Masaki Saito is the only other Canadian eatery with two Michelin stars.

Michelin inspectors also gave 17 Quebec restaurants the Bib Gourmand distinction, which goes to eateries with “great food at a great value.”

They include Honō Izakaya and Ouroboros in Quebec City, and Le Petit Alep and Annette bar à vin in Montreal.

Losange, another Rimouski restaurant, received a Bib Gourmand too, as did Côté Est in nearby Kamouraska, Que.

The guide also includes 76 recommended restaurants that didn’t receive stars, which includes the Montreal landmark Schwartz’s Deli.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 15, 2025.