Italian Restaurants in Québec City

Battuto is pure culinary poetry. With a strong Italian influence and a trio of talented Quebecers at its helm, the restaurant has garnered a stellar reputation at home and beyond. The portions are modest, the flavours subtle, and the presentation, a thing of supreme precision. Although the pasta—especially the gnocchi—is a must, the housemade charcuterie, tomato arancini, and lemon gnudi steal the show. The dessert menu features playful takes on tiramisu and cannoli. A sophisticated wine and alcohol list rounds out the performance.

The secret to Il Matto’s success is in the quality and simplicity of the fare. Chef and owner Rocco Cortina pays tribute to his mama’s cooking, serving up an inspired blend of past and present that features local and imported seasonal ingredients and comforting classics like risotto and veal scaloppini.

The team behind Nina Pizza’s two booming locations has mastered the art of making flavourful pizzas with just 4 ingredients each. The pizzas are baked for a mere 90 seconds in a traditional oven imported straight from Naples. Now that’s attention to detail! Diners share burrata, dig into pizzas baked in a wood-fired oven (if you’re at the Saint-Roch location), and wash it down with a delightful selection of natural wines.

This cozy Italian restaurant harkens back to simpler times and celebrates life’s simple pleasures. It’s an unabashedly romantic place where you can enjoy a dish of fresh pasta to the sound of live piano music or even opera singing. Be sure to try their famous flaming penne à la Mario.

This family business is a culinary mainstay of Québec City’s Montcalm neighbourhood. Stepping inside, you’ll feel like you’ve landed in a little shop in an Italian village. Morena is five experiences in one: specialty foods (some local and some imported from Italy), kitchen essentials, takeout and prepared meals, a little dining area with an osteria-style counter and a fine selection of private-import wine, and a catering service.

Tonino is for Anthony (Travaglini), the restaurant’s chef and owner. With its ornate woodwork and white tablecloths, the old-fashioned dining room is like a scene out of The Godfather. It may be cliché, but it’s also quite lovely and, more importantly, very good. In the kitchen, the cooks serve up classic dishes from the Old Country with flair and brio: pasta, fish, and braised meats that are deeply satisfying, full of flavour, and fun to share. Insider tip: save room for the bread pudding.

The fullness and depth of Italian flavours meet the culinary savvy of chef and owner Laurent Godbout at Fiorella. The Italian eatery is located in Sainte-Foy’s District Gourmet, an exciting new venture that brings you the distinctive service of restaurant dining in an open-air venue with multiple restaurateurs, like an upscale food court. Take a seat at the counter and watch chef Godbout and his kitchen team work their magic.