TANIERE 3 RESTAURANT - Quebec City
La Tanière is an exceptional gastronomic experience that is not for all budgets. To reserve a table here, you must be ready to experience an extraordinary culinary adventure, where the menu is kept secret until your arrival. The only options offered are “discovery” or “prestige” alcohol. There is no wine list or à la carte menu. La Tanière invites you to go with the flow and savor the experience, although the bill can be substantial. Are you still with us? Perfect, because if you can afford this experience, it's a trip worth every penny.
La Tanière is distinguished by its theatrical aspect. The team not only serves you exquisite dishes, they also take you into the history of the restaurant, the historic building it is housed in and the local producers who supply the ingredients. At one point, you are invited to open a drawer under the table to discover its contents... but we won't say more. It's an immersive approach that might feel heavy in other contexts, but here everything is perfectly balanced and only enriches the experience.
La Tanière remains discreet. After your reservation, they send you the address and a code to open the door. Once inside, you go down a barely lit stone corridor to a first vault where the butler awaits you. La Tanière is housed in a series of interconnected underground vaults dating from the French era (17th century). As the evening progresses, you are invited to move from vault to vault, like during a museum visit.
The meal begins with six small bites served in three courses, accompanied by two cocktails. Even if molecular cuisine is not our cup of tea, these appetizers were delicious and perfectly made, with a strong influence of Quebec terroir.
On our way to the next service, we passed through the archway where the seats at the chef's counter are located. The design of this room is simply stunning. Please note that to be seated at this table, you must make a specific reservation via the restaurant's website. Once we arrived at the vault which will be ours for the next hour and a half, we were presented with no less than 7 dishes, and believe us, you will be amazed... and your taste buds will be delighted . Everything was delicious, made with flawless precision and originality. What followed were lobster, tender scallops, herring and asparagus, arctic char, seaweed-fed lamb, wagyu beef, and duck. Each course was accompanied by a thoughtful choice of wine and, although we chose the discovery series rather than prestige, it seemed like we were being served with great wines. All ingredients are local. You will also be given a map with the location of the suppliers at the end of the meal. Nothing is missing. We were amazed each time by the harmony of flavors and the delicacy of the arrangements.
The only downside of the evening was that when the desserts arrived, we were already quite full. However, this did not prevent us from enjoying the desserts made with rhubarb and lovage, as well as the five mignardises that followed.
La Tanière is a true gastronomic festival. As you exit the restaurant through another dark corridor, take the time to wander around to digest this rich and memorable taste experience.
Congratulations to Tanière3 voted one of the best restaurants in 2023 according to Canada’s 100 Best.
