Cantine Chez Paul

My Take

Chez Paul has almost no atmosphere. It’s a greasy diner, and honestly, that’s the appeal—the lack of charm is part of the fun. Their smoked meat sandwich is excellent, and it’s different from Taverne Alexandre in a way I like. It’s like two takes on the same idea, just as not all New York pastrami sandwiches are the same. The poutine is classic diner-style, and the gravy tastes like the standard, packaged beef gravy, which is exactly what I want from a place like this. I’m not really interested in “refined poutine.” You can make it, but that’s not the point for me. One practical tip: I’ve had trouble paying there. They don’t take American debit cards or AmEx, and I can never remember what they do accept, so I usually bring cash to avoid any hassle at the end of the meal.

Public Knowledge

A sponsored profile in Le Reflet du Lac calls Chez Paul a long-standing fry-shack institution in downtown Magog and reports that new owner Gaétan Guilbert took over from David Labrecque and Geneviève Carrier, pledging to keep the menu and affordable prices unchanged (Le Reflet du Lac). Its local profile was reinforced during the 2026 Quebec election campaign, when Liberal leader Charles Milliard stopped in to assemble a poutine (Journal de Sherbrooke). Poutine is the dominant theme in Yelp reviews, with one reviewer singling out the smoked-meat poutine and others praising friendly, quick counter service, though one found prices a bit high for the touristy main street (Yelp). Tripadvisor reviews skew positive, but a small minority are poor or terrible, including complaints about fries and staff (Tripadvisor).

Ratings — Yelp 4.2 (13 reviews) · Tripadvisor 4.2 (109 reviews) · as of October 29, 2026. Sources: Yelp · Tripadvisor

Details

Cantine Chez Paul · 283 Rue Principale O, Magog, QC J1X 2A8 · 819-843-4000