- Poutine — or french fries topped with cheese curds and gravy — is an iconic Québécois dish.
- The version at the fast-casual restaurant Le Chic Shack consistently tops lists of the best poutine in Quebec City, Canada.
- I tried both the classic version and one with mushrooms. Both are made with smashed potatoes instead of fries.
- The classic version felt a little bland to me, but the mushroom one was absolutely worth coming back for.
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Poutine — french fries topped with cheese curds and gravy — is probably the most iconic French-Canadian dish you can eat.
Having originated in snack bars in rural Quebec in the late '50s, Quebec City is teeming with variations of the hearty meal, which can be found on almost every menu, from high-end restaurants to fast-food joints. Canadian McDonald's even has its own version.
In researching the best poutine in Quebec City, one restaurant kept popping up: Le Chic Shack, which I was surprised to find is actually a burger joint. Of course, I had to see for myself what the fuss was about.
Le Chic Shack is best known for its burgers and milkshakes, but can consistently be found topping lists of the best poutine in Quebec City.
Le Chic Shack's version is often described as "gourmet" poutine.
The fast-casual spot is in the heart of Old Quebec, in the shadow of the famous Château Frontenac.
It's in the middle of the most touristy area of Quebec City.
With bright-red chairs and utensils in buckets, it had a bit of a retro vibe.
Le Chic Shack features table service, so it feels more like Five Guys than Shake Shack.
Primarily known for its burgers made with locally sourced ingredients, Le Chic Shack has three poutines on its menu. A classic version, one with mushrooms, and one with beef brisket.
Variations can be made, though, with options including onions, brisket, or chicken.
I tried the "Classique" and the "Forestière."
I ordered both without making any adjustments to stick as closely to the regular menu as possible.
The Classique version cost me around $9 (or $12 Canadian dollars), and the Forestière was close to $10 ($13 Canadian dollars).
Unlike traditional poutine, the ones at Le Chic Shack use smashed baby potatoes instead of french fries.
Both were sprinkled with fresh chives and parsley, a nice touch.
This was my first poutine ever (though I tried many more versions over the next 48 hours), so I didn't know what to expect. But I like cheese, fries, and gravy, so I was optimistic.
The Classique had me at the first bite of cheese. The curds were soft but firm, a little squeaky, and so, so good. The potatoes were crispy on the outside, but soft on the inside. The gravy was a little bit mild for my taste — good, but not super flavorful.
I thought the Classique was a solid dish, until I tried the Forestière.
The Forestière was undeniably better, in my opinion. It was the same as the Classique, but drowned in a creamy mushroom sauce that had a rich, wine-like flavor, and topped with shallots and Parmesan shavings. One bite of that and I didn't want to keep eating the Classique, which felt a little bit boring in comparison.
I loved the many different textures found in these poutines — crispy potatoes, soft cheese, creamy gravy — but overall, using potatoes instead of fries lost them a few points in my book.
I've never been a huge fan of home fries, and that's kind of what these potatoes tasted like. While I ate all of the delicious cheese and scooped up the gravy in both dishes, I barely ate half of the potatoes.
Overall, the Classique felt a little bland to me. The potato-to-gravy ratio was a little off in my opinion, and the gravy a little thin. The Forestière, however, was a winner.
While I personally wouldn't come back for the Classique, I would return for the Forestière, and try some of the other more creative variations on the menu. After trying a few more poutines at other places, I can say that I appreciated the freshness of Le Chic Shack's version, which definitely felt more gourmet than others I tried, and less like pub grub or a fast-food dish.
Le Chic Shack is also a stylish, casual place for a quick and inexpensive meal (around $10 for a meal-sized portion) in the middle of the most touristy area of Quebec City, and thus worth a visit.
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