On a snowy weekday evening, we were driving through St. Jovite with a few restaurant recommendations in hand - fortunately for us, most places were near-empty (or we wouldn't have continued on) until we drove up the hill just outside of town to L'Escalloppe--the parking lot was full! This must be THE place.

We were warmly greeted by the friendly owner, who offered us a table in "La Verriere" - the glass house (solarium) if we waited a few minutes. Perfect.

L'Escaloppe is divided into four areas. There's a small room for smokers - probably a former living room - a main dining room, a porch area, and the solarium.

This is a casual restaurant with a mix of local folks and vacationers - lots of chatter and laughing. You're immediately comfortable. The tables are covered with double plastic cloths in floral design - yuck - and the waitstaff is busy - all are biligual, friendly, and experienced.

All meals include soup or salad bar, main course, dessert, and tea or coffee. A few appetizers could be ordered a la carte (extra charge), such as escargot or fried calamari. The salad bar was endless and included even mussels and seafood salad.

Pork, chicken, or veal is prepared a number of ways over pasta, steak, and either shrimp or langutines to mix and match as a surf-and-turf entree and some "game" featured as a special.

We chose very flavorful, creamy mushroom soup and home-baked rolls to start. A special of game stew (bison, venison, caribou, and wapati) in puff pastry was very good. A heaping portion of shrimp, scallops, and lobster with cream sauce topped with cheese, surrounded by mashed potato, filled a large scallop shell - somewhat resembled the well-known French Coquille St. Jacques. A rich chocolate cake with whipped cream rounded out a very satisfying meal in a great setting - especially with the snow falling and covering the solarium ceiling.

Definitely a come-back-to restaurant - casual, affordable, friendly, comfortable, and great food. Can't wait 'til next year.