2016 Restaurant Reviews
Beaujena’s French Table Beaujena’s French Table is the definition of a passion project. The cozy St Boniface restaurant helmed by husband and wife duo Beaujena and Randy Reynolds clearly operates out of a love for food and an enjoyment of cooking. They serve what they want to serve—in a 7-course surprise tasting menu—open two […]
Top Tables October – November 2016
Café La Scala Neighbourhood: Corydon Address: 725 Corydon Ave Phone: 204-474-2750 Entrées: $8-$26 Recent renovations have transformed Café La Scala into a hybrid of urban cool and fine dining. This new incarnation of one of Corydon Avenue’s long-time gems melds sleek nightlife elements with elegant style, catering to the after dark crowd without sacrificing quality. […]
Top Tables August-September 2016
Colosseo Ristorante Neighbourhood: Corydon Address: 670 Corydon Ave Phone: 204-284-4977 Entrées: $19-$28 Nothing holds a candle to the basic comfort of a red sauce joint: those classic paragons of Italian cooking which actively encourage eating your weight in veal parmigiana. Of these precious old-school gems that remain in Winnipeg, Colosseo Ristorante reigns supreme. A staple […]
Top Tables June-July 2016
Sydneys At The Forks Neighbourhood: The Forks Address: 215-1 Forks Market Rd Phone: 204-942-6075 Entrées: prix fixe $48 At this point in the fine dining landscape it seems the white tablecloth may be going the way of the dodo bird. The opulent dining out fashions of yesteryear have been upended by a new wave of […]
Top Tables Apr-May 2016
RESTÖ at THERMËA Neighbourhood: Fort Richmond Address: 775 Crescent Dr. Phone: 204-284-9595 Entrees: $21-$25 Nestled beside Crescent Drive golf course amongst mature, towering trees, urban getaway Thermëa is a haven for rejuvenation. Past saunas and steamy soaking tubs, an elegant and healthful bistro provides some gastronomic therapy. The intimate 50-seat space extends to a second […]
Restaurant Review King + Bannatyne
King + Bannatyne Neighbourhood: Exchange District Address: 4-100 King St Phone: 204-691-9757 Entrees: $8-$9.50 Winnipeg is in the midst of a sandwich revival, with many eateries turning back to the old standard of meat stacked between two slices of bread. Slow-roasted meaty marvels are the hallmarks of this revolution, and King + Bannatyne is on the […]
Restaurant Review Bermax Caffé & Bistro
BerMax Caffé & Bistro Neighbourhood: River Heights Address: 4-1800 Corydon Ave Phone: 204-691-0044 Entrees: $7-$22 While the Corydon strip is lively as ever, businesses are blooming further West. One of the newest additions to the food and retail rich area is BerMax. With a mash-up of certified kosher and authentically Italian eats, this eatery pays […]
Restaurant Review Beet Happening
Beet Happening Neighbourhood: West End Address: 818 Notre Dame Ave Phone: 204-775-2338 Entrees: $8-$12 Emblazoned as it is with the mantra, “Good Food is Good”, Beet Happening makes it easy for customers to spot the underlying conceit of this new fast casual spot. Justin Ludwar eagerly brings fresh tastes, gluten free treats, and local ingredients […]
Restaurant Reviews Shawarma Khan
SHAWARMA KHAN Neighbourhood: Exchange District Address: 225 McDermot Ave Phone: 204-504-0453 Entrées: $11-$15 Former Blue Bomber Obby Khan opened Shawarma Khan in 2013 to express his passion for scratch-made healthy fare. Overstuffed wraps and a casual atmosphere keep this sunlit room, accented with blue and orange wall decor, a standout amongst most falafel spots. You […]
Restaurant Reviews Fusion Experience
FUSIAN EXPERIENCE Neighbourhood: Academy Rd Address: 612 Academy Rd Phone: 204-691-9334 Entrées: $10-$40 Fusian Experience crushes the influx of sushi joints popping up in the city. Artful dishes are executed with quality and creativity by seasoned pros. There’s no flashy exterior, but the tiny restaurant on Academy Road is dressed in chic décor. An inventive […]
Restaurant Reviews La Fiesta Cafecito
La fiesta cafecito Neighbourhood: St Vital Address: 730 St Anne’s Rd Phone: 204-257-7108 Entrées: $15-$20 Like many hidden gems in this restaurant city, La Fiesta Cafecito conceals its charm behind a nondescript strip mall front. In reality only a short jaunt down St Anne’s road is required to visit this outpost of El Salvador, but […]
Restaurant Reviews Maxime’s
Maxime’s Neighbourhood: St Vital Address: 1131 St. Mary’s Rd Phone: 204-257-1521 Entrées: $18-$30 Winnipeg has a select line-up of far-from-downtown fine dining spots made for a high-level experience. Maxime’s has thrived in this category for more than 30 years. The service is famously mannered, and the room among the city’s most memorable, but the nostalgic […]
Restaurant Reviews Capital Grill & Bar
Capital Grill & Bar Neighbourhood: Charleswood Address: 3116 Roblin Blvd Phone: 204-615-3116 Entrées: $12-$36 A bustling crowd chattering over drinks and plates is the surest sign of a restaurant’s status as neighbourhood go-to, and at Capital Grill and Bar, the crowd of locals is enough to necessitate week night reservations. With a sleek interior and […]
Restaurant Reviews Bombolini
Bombolini Neighbourhood: Downtown Address: 326 Broadway Ave Phone: 204-943-5066 Entrées: $16-$22 Nestled between brick buildings, this lower level spot is the casual sibling to fine dining restaurant Amici. The food is just as impeccable, and the attention to traditional Italian fare is just as detailed. For more than 25 years, Bombolini has had a reputation […]
Top Tables Feb-Mar 2016
Black Rabbit Bistro Neighbourhood: Osborne Village Address: 135 Osborne St. Phone: 204-615-1130 Entrées: $13-$28 Some of the city’s best restaurants satisfy on a basic level, with creativity, consistency and accessibility. Places where inventive cocktails, a hip crowd, and live music explain, just as much as the menu, why it’s packed every night. One such […]
Best New Restaurants 2015
THE MERCHANT KITCHEN Neighbourhood Downtown Address 314 Donald St Phone 204-615-2278 Entrées $12-$45 Fusion food is hot right now. In a time of globalization, the borders between culinary cultures have made chefs into pioneers exploring a whole new world of flavour. The Merchant Kitchen is pulling Winnipeg along on its frontier journey, taking downtown’s multicultural […]
Restaurant Reviews Top Tables Oct – Nov 2015
La Cuisson Cafe Neighbourhood: Corydon Address: 774 Corydon Ave Phone: 204-691-6046 Entrées: $7.50-$28.95 (Editor’s Note – This business is no longer open.) Beyond a really good cup of coffee or a bite to eat, La Cuisson Café serves unique delicacies with showmanship, flair, and a refreshing lack of pretension. Nestled in the space formerly occupied […]
Restaurant Reviews – Top Tables August – Sept 2015
Gohe Neighbourhood: West End Address: 533 Sargent Ave Phone: 204-414-1529 Entrées: $12-$15 The mural on the outside of Gohe restaurant – one of the West End’s many al fresco artworks – declares Ethiopia the land of “13 months of sunshine”. Inside, when served with a table-spanning platter of stews and curries, it is easy to […]
Restaurant Reviews Aug – Sep 2015
Winnipeg is a multicultural paragon, and the city’s ever-shifting demographics are indicated by a wealth of fantastic places to eat with cuisines that span the globe. Ciao! reviews always aim to broaden our readers’ repetoire of the city’s good eats. This issue ventures past chef-driven hotspots to neighbourhoods and suburbs decidedly off the trendy path. […]
East India Company
Experience the Far East in the heart of the West with the Mehra Family at East India Company. To those who believe in order to experience authentic ethnic food you must sacrifice atmosphere, we say: have you been to East India Company? The flagship restaurant of the Mehra family, operating since 1994, has managed to […]
Restaurant Reviews – Top Tables June – July 2015
Table Sweet Potatoe Ravioli Neighbourhood: Downtown Address: 300 Memorial Blvd Phone: 204-948-0085 Entrees: $12-$16 Floor-to-ceiling windows look out to the Modernist design of the rooftop sculpture garden, creating one of the city’s most picture-perfect views, an idyllic backdrop for a Mediterranean meal. The minimal interior, set with black tables and chairs, lets the food do […]
Restaurant Reviews – April – May 2015
Era Bistro Neighbourhood: The Forks Manitoba Lamb Loin Address: 85 Israel Asper Way Phone: 204‑289‑2190 Entrees: $19-$33 Located in the newly opened Canadian Museum for Human Rights, Era Bistro offers a space to commune and connect. The restaurant reflects the beauty of the space, while taking up the museum’s mandate with a focus on sustainability, equality, […]
Top Tables – Feb-Mar 2015 Reviews
A turn towards comforting, playful pub food swept the city in 2014, with modern twists on comfort food classics typically defining this new order of gastropub. We lead with the fanciest, but all our eating was highly rewarding. The Blue Marble Neighbourhood: Airport […]
Restaurant Review Enoteca
Enoteca Neighbourhood: River Heights Address: 1670 Corydon Ave Phone: 204-487-1529 Entrees: $5-$18 (2014 review) Tapas are trending. Small plates have gone viral in a big way, from corner bars in Spain to slick New York hotspots, and Winnipeg is no exception. But with sophisticated flavours, brilliant presentation, and a bustling, intimate atmosphere, Enoteca has us […]
Oct-Nov 2014 Reviews
295 York Neighbourhood: Downtown Lamb Duo Address: 295 York Ave Phone: 204-986-7275 Entrees: $24-$43 The menu bills 295 York as a “modern steakhouse”, a perfectly fitting description for the stylish downtown spot. Those looking for classic fare will not be disappointed by a selection of cuts including filet mignon and New York Strip Loin with […]
Naru Sushi
Neighbourhood: Osborne Village Address: 159 Osborne St Phone: 204-888-0028 Entrees: $4.50-$18 (2014 review) You’d be hard-pressed to find the selection at Naru Sushi among traditional Japanese fare. Under Korean ownership and located in the heart of the prairies, Naru is a world away from the origins of that bite-sized vehicle for rice and fish. Here, […]
Pho Kim Tuong
Neighbourhood: West End Address: 856 Ellice Ave Phone: 204-661-8888 Entrees: $8-$14 (2014 review) Though many family-run Vietnamese eateries populate the city’s West End, Pho Kim Tuong sets itself apart with a charismatic attitude, stylish decor, and exquisite flavour. The restaurant’s recently renovated dining room features modern grey brick and warm pendant lighting accented by bamboo […]
Bonfire Bistro
Neighbourhood: River Heights Address: 1433 Corydon Ave Phone: 204-487-4440 Entrees: $13-$23 Bonfire Bistro, on a quiet section of Corydon in the middle of River Heights, has achieved ambient perfection. The atmosphere is so comfortable that guests table-hop regularly, and staff address the majority of patrons by name. Since owner Duncan Grant opened it six years […]
casa grande pizzeria
Neighbourhood: West End Address: 984 Sargent Ave Phone: 204-783-6231 Entrees: $10-$24 All senses are engaged as the red-and-white checkered curtain rises on a dining experience at Casa Grande Pizzeria. This bustling restaurant has been three decades in the making and is cinematic in its reproduction of a Lady-and-the-Tramp-style dining atmosphere. Tony Grande’s business is booming, […]
Baked Expectations
Neighbourhood: Osborne Village Address: 161 Osborne Street Phone: 204-452-5176 Entrees: $7-$12 When Baked Expectations opened a quarter-century ago, dessert cafes were uncharted territory in Winnipeg. A precocious concept at the time, this Osborne Village hotspot has garnered a cult-like devotion and is still, in spite of increased competition, the definitive destination for the city’s sweet […]