Cafe de la Paix, Quebec City

Stopped in for dinner after reading favorable ratings on various web sites. We ordered the menu complete (or however they call it), consisting of a soup or salad appetizer, a main course (one of rabbit, one of duck breast), and a dessert. We had no trouble getting a table (mid-week summer), though there was a brisk business throughout the evening - a mix, it seemed, of tourists and locals. The "menu" is quite affordable, but equally simple. My salad was fresh, and though my wife's soup was deceptively hot, as it cooled, it retained a decent taste. The main courses were served on oval plates decorated by a sprig of parsely, a leaf of chickory, and a wedge of tomato; the meats were plopped in the dish much like one's mother might do for family. No ceremony there! Vegetables arrived late and were a small plate of the same trio for both our meals (exceptionally hot, too). The duck was okay, but bland; the rabbit was mostly tender (I had an overcooked piece but my wife said it was tender), highly seasoned with rosemary (as advertised, but a bit much, and the inedible rosemary leaves were all still in the sauce), but cut uncarefully (rabbit backbone easily splinters, folks). The house wines were fine; a fair selection of wines was available. For dessert we both chose the creme caramel (they called it a flan), and my wife said it was better than what I make - hm - but mine was served poorly cut from the ramekin and slightly burnt on top. Oh, and my chair squeaked, but the evening was enjoyable. A 15% tip was added right into the bill, but service was attentive enough to warrant leaving more (for big tippers, anyway).