Bistro à Champlain

Frommer's Review

On Lac Masson's shore is one of the most honored restaurants in the Laurentians. The 37,000-bottle cellar is the reason most people make gastronomic pilgrimages here from Montréal. In fact, it can be fairly said that the tail wags the dog -- this is a place to have some food with your wine. The vintage list is as thick as the A-to-D volume of an encyclopedia and is posted as a 120-page PDF on the restaurant's website. Everyone is invited to visit the cellar. If you're feeling giddy, try a 2-ounce pour of Château d'Yquem with a serving of seared duck foie gras for C$79 (£40). It goes without saying that waiters are readily equipped to discuss even the humblest bottles at length. The 1864 building used to be a general store, and it retains the exposed beams and original cash register. Abstract paintings and prints, some of them by prominent artists including Jean-Paul Riopelle, adorn the rough-hewn board walls.

Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.