SOHO KITCHEN + WINE
Neighbourhood. Exchange District Address................ 100 King St Phone.............. 431-588-3077 Entrées..................... $ 17- $ 25
Italian restaurants are hardly in short supply in Winnipeg, but SOHO Kitchen + Wine arrives with a proposition that feels distinctly of the moment: take the easygoing spirit of a neighbourhood café, add European bistro sensibilities, and send considerably more ambitious food to the table.
The Exchange District newcomer is the creation of a Ukrainian-born family, with chef-owner Alexandr Bohdan bringing experience from a Michelin-starred kitchen in Italy to the Manitoba prairie. The result is an intriguing cultural mash-up rooted in the people behind it. ciao! reviews
The room is bright and casual with concrete floors, relaxed furnishings and colourful art. A mural of Italian landmarks adds personality. It is an easy fit for office workers and Exchange District creatives grabbing lunch.
The menu delivers. SOHO serves espresso alongside wine, cocktails and mocktails, while its all-day kitchen moves from breakfast favourites to Italian pasta and comfortfood mains. Familiar dishes arrive with the refinement of a pedigreed chef. Spinach-and-salmon pancakes, topped with cream cheese, smoked salmon and Grana Padano, are almost too pretty to disturb, finished with parsley oil, arugula and tomatoes. Chicken-and-mushroom crêpes lean Eastern European, their silky gravy bringing the flavours of a chicken pot pie to the plate.
The beef arancini are crisp and indulgent, while the chicken lasagna,
layered with white sauce, mozzarella and Parmesan, stays in comfort-food territory. The crispy fried potatoes with garlic may be the table’ s most dangerous side: deeply golden outside, tender within and difficult to stop eating.
Dessert gets attention, with a menu ranging from matcha-custard pancakes to an espresso-fuelled tiramisu affogato, a finale that brings coffee and dessert together.
Across the menu, presentation is anything but casual: plates are carefully composed, often ringed with basil-infused oil like edible artwork.
Service is brisk and efficient, keeping pace with the restaurant’ s practical daytime rhythm.
SOHO’ s real distinction is the way it brings together café culture, European bistro sensibility and Italianinfluenced comfort food for a fresh interpretation of what a midday meal can be.
Middle Eastern Flavours, Made for Sharing
Make your next gathering memorable with delicious Middle Eastern cuisine. From intimate celebrations to large events, we cater for groups of 15 – 300 guests.
• Corporate events • Family celebrations • Special occasions • Holiday parties
325 Pembina Hwy 204-615-5535
108-1111 Munroe Ave 204-560-5220
190-1600 Kenaston Blvd 204-615-5545
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34 ciao! / oct / nov / two thousand twenty-six