9 Best Restaurants in Side Trips from Montreal, Quebec

For a true Québécois treat, stop by this rustic cabin for breakfast or lunch. Founded in 1945, it's a big draw with tourists and locals alike. Meat pies, maple-smoked ham, egg dishes, homemade chutneys, and the restaurant's famous country bread (also homemade) are all on the menu. The gift shop at the front sells many of its popular dishes—and you will want to take some home.

Wonderful homemade pastries such as pear-and-almond tarts, lemon-curd doughnuts, and chai scones have brought renown to this little place (only 11 seats), but there's more to it than that. Breakfast and lunch are always busy, and weekend brunch, served until 2 pm, brings a line out the door. Favorite dishes include the Dutch baby pancake topped with aged cheddar, pork belly, and maple syrup, and potatoes in brown butter. For lunch, try the paninis, soups, and salads. Note that Edgar may close for a week or more in summer.

Five minutes from the ski slopes and right on Lac Moore, this rustic restaurant, which opens onto a terrace during the summer months, looks a bit shabby from the outside but has garnered much praise for its Italian dishes. These include tried-and-true favorites such as veal marsala and veal fiorentina (cooked with spinach and cheese). Hosts Nino and Kay are reputed to be some of the friendliest folks you'll ever meet.

Auguste placed Sherbrooke on the foodie map when it opened in 2008, and it continues to impress. Local ingredients take pride of place in this minimalist bistro-style restaurant, which features dishes like mushroom risotto or sweet potato ravioli. An absolute must is the pouding chômeur (poor man's pudding), a classic French Canadian dessert in which maple syrup or caramel is poured over cake and served warm. The short—but guaranteed to please—children's menu is free Sunday to Wednesday from 5 to 7 pm.

If you're looking for elegant dining keep on going, but if you're after a bit of local color, a cold beer, a good burger, a steamie (hot dog), or maybe a sample of Québec's famed poutine, then La Belle Bédaine (which translates as "the happy belly") is just the place. Its good and basic menu comes with a terrace overlooking the river.

In what is basically a one-street town, this restaurant's reputation for serving outstanding food at affordable prices stands out, and the knowledgeable, personable waitstaff does, too. Though the cuisine is primarily Italian, some Mediterranean, French, and Québécois influences are also in evidence, backed up by a fairly extensive and reasonably priced wine list. In the warmer seasons, you can eat out on the covered terrace, while the fireplaces inside makes those colder, harsher evenings downright cozy. Lunch is only available in the summer.

Massawippi pale and brown ales and a vast selection of microbrews and imports are all on tap here. Pub food is served both in the upstairs dining room and in the tavern. There are three terraces at this waterfront restaurant, so you'll be sure to enjoy the fantastic view of the Massawippi River. It's a popular place and can get busy at lunch and on warm summer evenings, so try to get there early.