Bistro Café Summum - La Baie

We were fortunate to be staying in La Baie on the day this restaurant reopened after the Covid lockdown. For the next couple of weeks they are only open for breakfast at weekends. The staff are amazing, friendly and so obliging, they even went out of their way to accommodate two English guests who have forgotten our schooldays French. Food was excellent, recommendations are the latte’s, avocado on toast, pancakes and the granola. Prices seemed to be on a par with other places in Quebec province. It is so good that we returned on Sunday. Well done to all of the wonderful staff.

On our first trip to the Saugenay region my wife and I were unsure of where to go eat on our first night. The woman who owns the Inn we were staying at said we should head into La Baie and in particular where the cruise ships would dock if it weren't for the current Covid travel restrictions. We took her advice and my wife found this place had some good reviews so we decided to give it a try. So glad we did. The food was amazing. We started with the beef tartare. It was great. It is made with chorizo sausage mixed in with the beef just enough to give it that extra flavour but not to overpower the entire dish. The entree portion which we shared came with a little salad, some shoestring fries (best way to describe them but so much better) and what looked to be toasted mini bagette for the tartare. The presentation was lovely and we ate everything as even the salad, made with fresh ingredients, was topped with a lovely dressing. Next my wife took the sea scallops and risotto. Normally it comes with blood sausage which my wife is not a fan of but our server said it could come just with the scallops. My wife said the entire dish was amazing and the scallops were cooked to perfection. I took the meat of the day which was a veal bavette with red grelot potatoes and mixed veggies in a demi glace sauce. It was fantastic. Our server, who spoke perfect english, was great. She helped explain the menu and checked on us to ensure everything was just right. Great food and excellent service, you could not ask for anything more. Now we were fortunate not to need a reservation but I would recommend them, especially when the cruise ships return.

A short walk away from where the bus that picked us up from where our Holland America line cruise ship docked in Quebec City dropped us off, we lunched at this excellent bistro. Our food was very good, the Bistro was quaint and very clean and the wait staff was fun and very attentive. We look forward to our next visit.

I love Saguenay. As anyone who has stepped off a cruise ship that docked there will testify, you get the warmest welcome of all your ports of call. And no more than 150 yards from the ship is the Bistro Café SumMum. This is a good place to start – or end – your day in Saguenay. Busy, noisy, hot and friendly, it’s where the locals go and a great place to enjoy a ‘Belle Guele’ lager and the kind of freshly cooked French-Canadian food you won’t find on the ship. The prices are good, too: Shell of Seafood, $22, beef burgers with cheese and bacon, or a chicken salad, both $18 – with a cup of coffee included. A good way to end a day in Saguenay, particularly after seeing that well-named fabulous show, ‘La Fabuleuse’.

We enjoyed a great lunch here. We were most cordially welcomed and seated immediately at a table. A bit crowded but good atmosphere and friendly people. We ordered of the special lunch menu, and enjoyed the local draft beer (the Belle Gueule blonde); excellent burgers; and good desserts (blueberry tortelette). Place was full of customers and hopping. Our waitress was most welcoming, very pleasant, and patient with us, as we are not fluent in French. We paid in Canadian dollars for ease of transaction and to show respect to our Canadian neighbors. If you want a delicious lunch with good local draft beer, this is the place for you.