Quebec City is known for excellent restaurants, and foodies could spend weeks discovering all of its gastronomic treasures. But if you look closer, you'll find equally delicious comfort food for when you're craving something simpler. And what could be more comforting than a good greasy spoon breakfast?
The café that time forgot might be retro in its décor (black and white floor tiles, exposed brick walls, red patio umbrellas), but its breakfast menu flawlessly combines old and new. In addition to the traditional full egg breakfast aptly named "The Traditional," Le Café au Temps Perdu also offers breakfast pizzas and grilled cheese sandwiches. Their breakfast poutine is just the thing after a night out.
Fromagerie Victoria serves up delicious diner food with a twist – everything on the menu is homemade, right down to the cheese. Breakfast choices are simple but hearty, and feature the Fromagerie's cheeses prominently. You can choose to eat in the dining room or at the fast food counter, or get your breakfast to go from the drive-through window. The menu may look like that of your typical takeout joints, but there's a reason why people come from far and wide to eat here.
Setting foot inside Café au Bonnet d'Âne (The Donkey's Bonnet) is like stepping into a black and white photograph from the 1950s. The wood-panelled walls, the long dining counter and the tin ceilings are retro and cozy. Breakfast is served until 11:30 a.m. on weekdays and until 2:00 p.m. on the weekends. Dishes are accompanied by generous portions of bacon, ham, baked beans and head cheese. The eggs Benedict and the French toast are local favourites.
Casse-Croute Pierrot has been a Quebec City institution since 1972. Breakfast is served daily from 5 a.m. to 11 a.m. and consists of satisfying plates of bacon and eggs, hash browns, toast and great coffee. It's the epitome of the greasy spoon breakfast. The restaurant is small, so be prepared to wait for a seat on weekend mornings.
Le Chic Shack is a greasy spoon in Old Quebec that serves gourmet burgers on brown paper-lined platters at long communal tables during the day, and the most wonderful breakfasts in the morning. Their breakfast sandwiches, served on homemade brioche, are phenomenal, as is the breakfast poutine. Wash it all down with a mug of gourmet hot chocolate.
If you're looking for something a little different, Pub Galway serves up a greasy spoon breakfast with an Irish twist, inviting you to tour Ireland from the heart of Quebec City. The food is delicious and the portions are generous. If you're feeling adventurous, try the Celtic Mimosa.