Laurie Raphaël

About Laurie Raphaël

Daniel Vézina opened Laurie Raphaël in 1991 and named it for his two children; today his son Raphaël runs the kitchen and his daughter Laurie runs the floor. The restaurant moved to 117 Rue Dalhousie in the Vieux-Port years ago and has become the address visitors book first in Quebec City. In 2025 it earned the city's first Michelin star, renewed in 2026. The format is a tasting menu built on seasonal themes, five to eight courses, all of it pulled from Québec producers the family has worked with for decades.

The Kitchen

Raphaël Vézina cooks the menu his father built a reputation on, then pushes it. The evening offering is a tasting in five or eight courses that shifts with what arrives from Québec farms, rivers, and foragers, organized around seasonal themes rather than a fixed carte. A churned foie gras with caramelized black walnut, rhubarb compote, black garlic, and Jerusalem artichoke is the signature the kitchen returns to; the scallop crudo with fermented cream is the other plate regulars ask for by name. The wine cellar runs past 500 labels, nearly 80 percent private imports.

Expect to spend around CA$175 per person before pairings for the longer menu. The Michelin star landed in 2025 and held in 2026, the dated proof that this is the province's reference kitchen. For the surrounding scene, read the Quebec City dining guide and our best tasting menus worldwide hub. The closest rival in town is the wine-driven Arvi, and our ten best restaurants in Quebec City sets the full pecking order.

The Room

The Dalhousie dining room is contemporary and pared back, stone and warm wood, lit low enough for an occasion but bright enough to read the plate. It seats a manageable number, tables generously spaced so a business conversation stays private. Sound is conversation-easy. Service is formal without stiffness, French-Canadian and fluent in English, with a sommelier who actually guides rather than upsells. Dress is smart; a jacket suits the room without being mandatory. The restaurant opens Wednesday through Saturday evenings, 5:30 to 9.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Laurie Raphaël worth it?

Yes, especially since the 2025 Michelin star. Raphaël Vézina's tasting menu is the most polished cooking in Quebec City, rooted in Québec producers and served in a room built for an occasion. At roughly CA$175 per person it is a genuine splurge, but the sourcing, the cellar of 500-plus labels, and the service justify it for a celebration or a client dinner. For a lighter night, the family's sister room Lueur holds a Bib Gourmand.

How hard is it to book Laurie Raphaël?

Plan ahead. The restaurant serves only Wednesday through Saturday evenings and seats a limited number, so weekend tables can want two to four weeks, more in summer and during festival season. Book through the LibroReserve widget on the restaurant's site or call 418-692-4555. If you want a specific seating time or a larger party, the earlier you reserve the better; midweek is the easier ask.

What is the dress code at Laurie Raphaël?

Smart. There is no jacket-required rule, but this is a Michelin-starred dining room and most guests dress for it: a blazer or a polished smart-casual look fits the space. Quebec winters mean a coat check; dress in layers. The room is elegant without being stuffy, so you will not feel out of place in tailored clothing, and you would feel underdressed in shorts or athletic wear.

Is Laurie Raphaël good for a client dinner?

Yes. It is the strongest choice in Quebec City for impressing a client or closing a deal. Tables are well spaced for a private conversation, the tasting menu's pace suits a long negotiation, and the Michelin star signals that you picked the city's best. The sommelier can lead the wine so you focus on the guest. Read more on our best restaurants to impress clients hub.