Gatineau and its neighbouring areas have truly stepped up their game in the hospitality scene, offering a variety of dining experiences that rival restaurants in Ottawa. If you're wondering whether it's worth crossing the bridge for a meal, the answer is a resounding yes!
However, no one wants to make the trip only to be let down by a subpar dining experience. After all, there's nothing more frustrating than going out of your way only to wish you'd stayed closer to home.
That's why I've done the legwork for you. Here are six Gatineau restaurants that are not just worth the drive—they're almost certain to leave you satisfied.
Caméline
Price: 💸💸💸
Cuisine: Italian
Address: 51 Rue ST-Jacques Gatineau, QC
Why You Need To Go: Caméline is a new concept located just over the bridge in close proximity to Ottawa. Its focus is on Italian cookery, with an emphasis on fresh, handmade pasta dishes. In my view, there are three major reasons Caméline is worth the drive from Ottawa.
1. Aesthetic/Atmosphere: Caméline is the tale of two aesthetics. Inside their candle-lit dining room, you will experience a level of comfort, class, and romance that pairs well with the Italian theme. This restaurant is excellent for a date night or birthday celebration because the vibes just scream classy. They also have a bright, private back patio that feels like a backyard in a small Italian mountain town.
2. The food (duh): The handmade pasta dishes and everything accompanying them are worth the drive alone. Chef Simon Laroche, the co-owner and head chef of Caméline, holds himself and his team to an extremely high standard of cookery, which explains why the business is so popular in its first year.
3. Locality: By partnering with farms and other vendors in the area, the team at Caméline has been able to tap into ingredients close to home. This is always a plus in my books.
Café Palmier
Price: 💸💸
Cuisine: Coffee shop
Address: 40 Chem. Scott, Chelsea, QC
Why You Need To Go: Café Palmier is a bit further north of Gatineau in Chelsea, but for the sake of this article, anything within half an hour should count, especially since Palmier is wonderful.
With a focus on pouring beautifully made caffeinated beverages and house-made pastries, Palmier has been serving visitors of their space for years and doing so with a smile. Speaking of their space, have you seen it? It's gorgeous. Whether you're sitting in their upstairs lounge or on their wood-backed patio with a giant fire pit, you're bound to feel something special at Palmier. The vibes are like Muskoka cottage core meets small-town Europe; you feel me?
In addition to operating as a coffee shop and lounge, Café Palmier serves a tasty brunch on the weekends that is worth driving out for.
For any Ottawans who are fans of Red Door Provisions in Beechwood, this is their big sister spot!
Soif Bar à vin
Price: 💸💸💸💸
Cuisine: Wine bar
Address: 88 Rue Montcalm, Gatineau, QC
Why You Need To Go: CALLING ALL WINE LOVERS. THIS IS THE PLACE FOR YOU
Soif is something special, and we're lucky to have it in the Ottawa/Gatineau region.
The wine selection, as I'm sure you can imagine, is one of the best in the region. Whether you are a wine expert or brand new to the wonderful world of grape fermentation, the team at Soif has a level of education to match you with exactly what you need.
Chef Erik is also a master. His consistently rotating seasonal menu is a clever partnership with the beverage program at Soif, creating a harmonious experience for diners.
Bistro CoqLicorne
Price: 💸💸💸
Cuisine: Small plate/tapas
Address: 59 Rue Laval, Gatineau, QC
Why You Need To Go: I admittedly have not been to Bistro CoqLicorne, but that isn't going to stop it from being on this list. Let me tell you why.
This restaurant has a cult following that will go to war to defend it. Despite this, the chef/owner of Caméline, Simon Laroche, called CoqLicorne his most underrated restaurant in the whole Ottawa/Gatineau region. When so many people, including industry professionals, back a place, it's usually pretty good.
CoqLicorne focuses on small, shareable plates served in tapas style. The beverage program heavily emphasizes local beer and wine, with riffs on classic cocktails added.
La P'Tite Epicerie
Sandwich From La P'tite Epicerie
Price: 💸
Cuisine: Sandwiches
Address: 158 Rue Notre-Dame-de-l'île, Gatineau, QC
Why You Need To Go: Every good food list has a decent sandwich shop on it, and this is the one in Gatineau. I've been hard-pressed to find any social media or even a website for La P'Tite Epicerie, and actually, I've been pleased to find nothing.
Why? Well, this limited online presence means this is an actual word-of-mouth hole-in-the-wall spot, which is hard to come by in the age of social media.
This little white house is worth the drive for sandwich lovers across the country, let alone just from Ottawa.
Les Fougéres
Price: 💸💸💸💸
Cuisine: Seasonal Local Farm-Driven Cuisine
Address:783 Route 105, Chelsea, QC
Why You Need To Go: Out in the Gatineau Hills (in Chelsea) is a restaurant that has committed so much to locality, seasonality, and freshness that they decided to put their restaurant in the heart of it all. This country oasis restaurant is fondly known as Les Fougéres.
Located just 15 minutes from downtown Ottawa, its accessibility is not a problem for Ottawans--despite its secluded location.
As you can imagine, the menu is constantly changing, which means you can go back over and over and over again without getting bored.
Whether you're in the mood for a coffee, sandwich, or incredible date night; there is something special for all of us just on the other side of the river!
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