Le Conti Caffe: the flavours of italy, without pretension
Once upon a time, an upscale restaurant fancied having a laid-back, unpretentious little brother. That is how Le Conti came about, around 2005, in the premises next door to the Continental on Saint-Louis Street in Vieux-Québec.
When Mathieu Pettigrew and his partners at the time took over in 2010, they quickly realized that the Italian bistro would fill a niche that complemented its big brother. The warmth of its dazzling urban decor and the delights of its very trendy Italian cuisine invite you to discover the flavours and colours of today’s Italy, in a subdued, urban and thoroughly inclusive atmosphere.
Alex Boyer, director of Le Conti, makes sure that guests feel the place’s easy camaraderie, whether they come for lunch, dinner or a cocktail at the end of the day, and enjoy moments of relaxation and pleasure.
Mathieu Pettigrew wanted to create a quality, laid-back place for people who don’t want to sit down for two hours over a meal but still expect all the attention you typically find at the good places in the area. In summer, the place is bathed in light, its windows open onto the street on two sides, giving the impression of a terrace. Year-round, though, guests appreciate the old brick walls, which create a warm atmosphere, as well as the lighting, which encourages good conversation.
The wine cellar impresses with its large selection, made up mainly of French, Italian and American wines. It offers 5,000 bottles across more than 400 varieties, from the most affordable to the great classified growths.
Locals and visitors both appreciate this spot just steps from Château Frontenac. The Italian touch starts with the name and carries through to the menu. Le Conti revisits the classics: risotto, penne and linguine with flavourful sauces. For a more refined meal, go for veal, osso buco, salmon fillet or beef tenderloin. The antipasti platter pairs perfectly with a glass of wine during happy hour.
In short, at Conti Caffe you can count on a warm welcome, attention to detail, and attentive service. Not to mention the unique Italian-style dishes, which recall the Sgobba brothers, Angelo and Luigi, who created the forerunner of this restaurant.
Open daily for lunch and dinner. You can reserve or order online.
Conti Caffe
conticaffe.com
32, rue Saint-Louis
Québec (QC) G1R 3Y9
(418) 692-4191