bestlist
JAPANESE
Meiji
454 River Ave, 204-284‑3996. Swank
sushi spot offers unique house rolls like
the tropical and fashion roll. Try a fancy
drink from attached G Martini Bar. LP,
A, IA, M, V
Wasabi
105‑121 Osborne St, 204-474‑2332;
588 Broadway, 204-774-4328;
3-1360 Taylor Ave, 204‑415‑7878.
New‑school sushi is taken to new
creative heights at all locations. Take
a seat at the sushi bar and watch
the volcano roll erupt. WA, LP, SP, A,
IA, M, V
Yujiro Japanese Restaurant
1822 Grant Ave, 204-489‑9254. Edward
Lam creates stylish and flavourful
traditional rolls. Try the delicate kaisou
salad, mixed seaweed bathed in yuzu
dressing. WA, LP, IA, M, V
MEXICAN
Burrito Del Rio
433 River Ave, 204-415‑5600;
775 Corydon Ave, 204‑414‑2440. This
Tex-Mex eatery offers made-to-order
favourites, including fajitas, burritos
and quesadillas. WA, LP, SP, A, IA, M, V
La Roca
155 Smith St, 204‑615‑9605. A
refreshing new take on Mexican fare in
downtown Winnipeg. Expect the light
and fresh flavours of coastal Mexico.
WA, LP, SP, A, IA, M, V
PUB/CANTINA
Barley Brothers
655 Empress St, 204‑772‑2337; 2005
Pembina Hwy, 204- 691-3300. This
180-seat restaurant celebrates good
brews with over 65 varieties and a
menu designed with beer in mind. WA,
LP, SP, A, IA, M, V
Cornerstone
93 Osborne St, 204‑505‑7772. Smart bar
food has gained lasting popularity at
this neighbourhood hotspot. Perfectly
seared pork belly is a menu highlight.
WA, LP, IA, A, M, V
Peg Beer Co.
125 Pacific Ave, 204‑416‑2337.
Exchange District brewpub offers craft
beer alongside regional specialties.
Sharing is key, with a menu of meat and
cheese boards, flatbreads, and “large
plates”. WA, LP, IA, M, V
TeSoro Lounge
720 Corydon Ave, 204-615-5454.
New swank spot serves drinks and
Italian fare from crispy calamari
to stone fired pizzas in a sultry
atmosphere. WA, LP, IA, A, M, V
REGIONAL/CANADIAN
Chew
532 Waterloo St, 204‑667‑2439. Mod
rustic River Heights bistro focused on
in season local tastes. Truffle fries and
roasted mushrooms tempt. WA, LP, V,
M, IA
42
ciao! / june/july / two thousand sixteen
Fusion Grill
55 0 Academy Rd, 204-489‑6963.
Talented Chef Lorna Murdoch uses
fresh products sourced locally to create
stunning Manitoba regional cuisine.
The wine list is exclusively Canadian.
LP, A, IA, M, V
Gates on Roblin
6945 Roblin Blvd, 204-224‑2837.
This elegant country estate has
several rooms offering a charming,
contemporary dining atmosphere. PanCanadian menu is strong on fish and
meat. WA, LP, SP, A, IA, M, V
Pineridge Hollow
Off of Hwy 59, east on Garven Rd
[PR #213] to Pineridge Rd, follow signs
to Heatherdale, 204‑777‑3880. Located
on the outskirts of Birds Hill Park, this
beautiful restaurant also houses a tea
room and gift shop. WA, LP, SP, IA, M, V
Prairie 360
83 Garry St, 204‑505‑2681. Latest
incarnation of the revolving restaurant
offers up regional cuisine with a view.
Whiskey lounge two floors down offers
premium pours. WA, LP, A, IA, M, V
Ripe
842 Corydon Ave, 204‑284‑7916.
Skillfully blending regional and
heritage mainstays, chef Thomas
Pitt has created an inventive menu
that includes pickerel, bannock, and
kielbassa. LP, WA, SP, A, IA, M, V
Smith
75 Forks Market Rd, 204‑944‑2445.
Touches of Canadiana offer a backdrop
to scratch-made regional cuisine. The
pan bagnat ups the ante on tuna salad
with tuna steak, egg, and marinated
vegetables. WA, LP, A, IA, M, V
The VG Restaurant
The Fairmont Hotel, 2 Lombard Pl,
204‑985‑6255. Chef Eraj Jayawickreme
wows with stellar presentation,
meticulously thoughtful dishes, and
unique applications of local flavours.
WA, LP, A, IA, M, V
SOUTH AMERICAN/
SPANISH
Carnaval
270 Waterfront Drive, 204‑505‑0945
Winnipeg’s only Brazilian barbeque has
carved out a carnivore’s paradise in the
Exchange District. Juicy cuts of beef,
lamb, chicken and pork are carved by
gauchos tableside. WA, LP, A, IA, M, V.
Corrientes Argentine Pizzeria
137 Bannatyne Ave, 204‑219‑5398.
Argentinean-style pizza boutique
serves up pies with unique toppings
and empanadas in a historic Exchange
District location. SP, LP, V, M, IA.
Café Dario
1390 Erin St, 204‑783‑2813. Colombiaborn Chef Dario Pineda‑Gutierrez
prepares Nuevo Latino cuisine—North
American ingredients fused with Latin
American spices. Outstanding fivecourse dinners for $39 prix fixe. LP, SP,
A, IA, M, V
Deseo Bistro
696 Osborne, 204‑452‑2561. South
Osborne hotspot for flavour-punched,
Spanish-influenced sharing plates.
Divine housemade mac and cheese
with chorizo is an addictive menu
standard. LP, IA, M, V
Hermanos Restaurant & Wine Bar
179 Bannatyne Ave, 204-947-5434. This
rustic Latin eatery is the perfect place to
nibble on tapas or enjoy colourful mains
such as the steak topped with crab
chèvre cream and zippy chimichurri.
WA, LP, SP, A, IA, M, V
Segovia
484 Stradbrook Ave, 204‑477‑6500.
This trendy tapas restaurant features
tastes of Spain in Chef Adam Donnelly’s
creative shareables. Supple ricotta
gnudi with sage, Pecorino and butter is
sublime. WA, LP, SP, IA, M, V
STEAK & SEAFOOD
Chop Steakhouse & Bar
1750 Sargent Ave, 204‑788‑2015. The
Shades-of-grey interior in this stylish
and swanky steakhouse oozes sex
appeal. Boasts in-house butcher and
pastry chef. WA, LP, A, IA, M, V
529 Wellington Steakhouse
529 Wellington Cres, 204-487‑8325. A
renovated historic mansion offers grand
style along with top Canadian prime
beef. Over 800 wine list selections. WA,
LP, SP, A, IA, M, V
THAI
Bangkok Thai
100 Osborne St, 2nd floor, 204-474‑0908.
Located within the beautiful courtyard
at the corner of Osborne and River,
this sunlit room creates the perfect
setting for exotic Thai dishes served on
elaborately decorated silver tableware.
LP, IA, M, V
Sabai Thai Eatery
1113 Corydon Ave, 204‑888‑6508. The
menu at this neighbourhood hot spot
includes contemporary house specials
like pickerel cheeks in rich peanutsesame sauce. WA, LP, SP, IA, M, V
Sukhothai
191 Osborne St, 204-633‑6907. The
comfortable modern interior is a good
counterpoint to classic Thai cuisine.
Perfect hot and sour soup and fresh fruit
frozen drinks keep fans returning. WA,
LP, IA, M, V
VIETNAMESE
Pho-Yo
513-B St. Mary’s Rd, 204-615-0234.
This cozy noodle house serves
Vietnamese specialities like meaty
hlepings of pho and a warm vermicelli
bowl. WA, LP, IA, M, V
Viva
505 Sargent Ave, 204-772‑3167. West
End hot spot. Traditional favourites
like deluxe vermicelli and bánh mì are
highlights. Savoury stewed basa also
gets top marks. WA, LP, A, IA, M, V