For some reason when looking into new restaurants to try, Gatineau has often been overlooked in my search for exciting gastronomy options which is why I’m happy that I took the time to finally explore Gatineau and some of the culinary options available. Les Vilains Garcons is a mix of various culinary influences including French and Spanish and specializes in small tapas.
Les Vilains Garcons focuses on using local ingredients with most of the produce and proteins being sourced in Ripon Quebec. The beer and wine menu also focus on highlighting local with most of the beers coming from Quebec micro breweries including Brewers of Time, Gainsbourg Brewery and Duhamel Hole.
Just like the drinks menu, the food menu is also on a large chalkboard and changes daily to reflect seasonal produce. There are several larger entree options, but the focus is on small tapas. One dish costs $6 or you can get 3 for $15, and 5 dishes for $25.
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For lunch, I opted for a 3 dishes which was the perfect amount of food for a meal. When I visited there were 6 small plates to pick from, and I selected the duck prosciutto, horse tartare with taro chips and the goat cheese mouse with grapefruit and plantain chips. Each of the dishes I had was outstanding and perfect for summer, but the highlight had to be the grapefruit paired with the goat cheese which was a surprising pairing that I found very refreshing for summer.
If you are looking to visit Les Vilains Garcons it is very easy to find as you can follow the Gatineau Culture Trail which is a 3km route marked by a red line and the restaurant happens to be on the line. Starting from the Canadian Museum of History it is a short 10 minute walking following the red line path where you will also walk by lots of other restaurants, galleries, and cafes too.