Joe Black Coffee Bar 2037 Portage Ave, 204‐415‐1660. Across the bridge from Assiniboine Park, this mod café serves up casual lunch fare and sinfully delicious desserts from Chocolate Zen Bakery. WA, LP, SP, IA, M, V, ATM Jolly Friar Café 112 Marion St, 204‐233‐4475. Housed in the Norwood Hotel, this cozy spot turns out comfort food with neighbourhood flavour like split pea soup and shepherd’ s pie. WA, LP, IA, A, M, V Kawaii Crepe 201‐99 Osborne St, 204‐415‐2833. Winnipeg’ s first Japanese crêpe joint serves freshly prepared sweet and savoury crêpes in a modern atmosphere. Clevery named combinations like“ Chickplease” and a brightly coloured dining room cater to all ages. IA, M, V
Little Maria’ s Porchetta and Meatballs 101‐77 Edmonton St, 204‐691‐2185. Slow‐roasted Italian pork and enormous juicy meatballs are the specialties at this quaint, antique‐y downtown cafe. Menu also includes sandwiches and vegetarian options. WA, IA Stella’ s Cafe & Bakery 1895 Grant Ave, 204‐488‐7810; 166 Osborne St, 204‐453‐8562; 116 Sherbrook St, 204‐477‐5556; James Armstrong Richardson International Airport, 2nd Floor, 204‐779‐1415; Plug In Gallery, 460 Portage Ave, 204‐772‐1556. Famous breakfast items like baked eggs and the Mexican breakfast alongside a vast selection of entrées, hearty soups, sandwiches and homey curries. WA, LP, SP, IA, M, V
The Tallest Poppy 103 Sherbrook St, 204‐219‐8777. Newly located in the Sherbrook Inn, this comfort food with‐a‐twist diner serves breakfast and lunch favourites like chicken and waffles with a new dinner menu. LP, IA, M, V Twist Cafe 392 Graham Ave, 204‐668‐9478. Meatloaf and vegetarian sandwiches are just some of the options offered at this colourful cafe. A wide array of hot beverages and scrumptious desserts are also available. WA, SP, A, IA, M, V The Underground Café 70 Arthur St, 204‐956‐1925. Day‐time eatery serves deli‐style fare with a veggie‐centric twist. Local favourite, the sun burger, is a secret recipe of toasted seeds, veggie protein, cheeses, rice, eggs and spices. IA, M, V Winnipeg Free Press News Cafe 237 McDermot Ave, 204‐943‐0682. Diners alongside Free Press journalists on the job can devour freshly prepared breakfast classics, soups, sandwiches and salads. LP, SP, IA, M, V bestlist
CASINO DINING
Mango’ s Restaurant 1 Ocean Dr, Off Hwy 59, Scanterbury, MB, 1‐877‐775‐8259. Canadian and tropical delights served in a 1920s‐style setting at South Beach Casino. International buffet, daily nightly dinner specials and full‐service menu offered. WA, LP, A, IA, M, V Michele’ s Restaurant 484 McPhillips St, 204‐982‐3791. Elegant recreation of a 19th‐century railroad hotel. Highlight is the buffet. Must be 18 or older to enter casino and restaurant. WA, LP, A, IA, M, V Jaguars Restaurant & Lounge 1425 Regent Ave, 204‐982‐3793. Impressive international lunch and dinner buffet inside Club Regent Casino. Must be 18 or older to enter casino and restaurant. WA, LP, A, IA, M, V
CHINESE
Dim Sum Garden 2677 Pembina Hwy, 204‐269‐7799. More than 50 types of dim sum. À la carte Szechuan and Cantonese favourites. WA, LP, A, IA, M, V Kum Koon Garden 257 King St, 204‐943‐4655. The city’ s largest restaurant is a Chinatown institution that packs in patrons for its well‐executed dim sum lunches and evening Cantonese regional specialties. WA, LP, A, IA, M, V North Garden 6‐33 University Cres, 204‐275‐2591. Innovative Cantonese and northern Chinese cuisine are the specialties. Barbequed half duck is roasted to crispy, succulent perfection. WA, LP, A, IA, M, V Sam Po Dim Sum 277 Rupert Ave, 204‐691‐1213. Bright, minimalist Chinatown space offers simple dim sum classics. Try the pork with sauteed onions and smoky hickory sauce. WA, LP, IA, M, V. Spicy Noodle House 102‐99 Osborne St, 204‐287‐2388. The honey spicy chicken and spicy eight treasure are both gems. LP, IA, M, V Sun Fortune 15‐2077 Pembina Hwy, 204‐269‐6868. Bustling Chinatown atmosphere in a south suburban shopping mall favoured by university crowd. Barbequed duck is a must. WA, LP, IA, M, V Victoria Seafood 1086 St. Mary’ s Rd, 204‐255‐0665. Seafood dim sum is a standout in this south St. Vital restaurant. WA, LP, IA, M, V
COFFEE
Young entrepreneurs have sparked a local coffee culture renaissance of single origin beans, lovely latte art, and community connections. These boutique coffee shops can make a killer cup of joe.
Cafe D’ Amour, 685 Osborne St, 204‐415‐4995; Cafe Postal, 202 Provencher Blvd, 204‐414‐3654; Cafferia 360, 1459 Corydon Ave, 204‐489‐8990; Make Coffee + Stuff, 751 Corydon Ave, 204‐414‐0101; Little Sister Coffee Maker, 470 River Ave; Parlour Coffee, 468 Main St; Stain Coffee, 4‐433 River Ave, 204‐475‐0625; Thom Bargen Coffee & Tea, 64 Sherbrook St.
COMEDY CLUB
Rumor’ s Restaurant & Comedy Club 190‐2025 Corydon Ave, 204‐488‐4520. Stand‐up comedians from around the continent; full service menu. WA, LP, A, M, V, ATM
COOKING CLASS
Several restaurants and specialty food stores offer drop-in cooking classes in the evenings or on weekends. A range of cuisines are taught. De Luca’ s Cooking Studio [ Italian ] 950 Portage Ave, 204‐774‐7617; The Food Studio [ Varied ] 3200 Roblin Blvd, 204‐888‐3663; Mary Jane’ s Cooking School [ Varied ] 252 Arlington St, 204‐775‐2522
DANISH
Bistro Dansk 63 Sherbrook St, 204‐775‐5662. This nationally‐recognized yet intimate restaurant serves European comfort food. Specialties include frikadeller, hakkebof and daily soup. WA, LP, A, M, V
DINER
Bernstein’ s Deli 1700 Corydon Ave, 204‐488‐4552. Jewish specialties and homestyle take‐out. Eat‐in menu features deli staples like bagels thickly layered with cream cheese and lox. WA, LP, A, IA, M, V Ducky’ s Fish & Chips 884 Notre Dame Ave, 204‐772‐5600. Choose your catch of the day at this British‐style café. WA, LP, AE, IA, M, V The Nook Diner 43 Sherbrook St, 204‐774‐0818. Daytime neighbourhood hangout pushes out short order favourites including the city’ s best eggs Benedict. Breakfast served all day. WA, SP, LP, V, M, IA. Red Top Drive-In 219 St. Mary’ s Rd, 204‐233‐7943. Known for their classic made‐fromscratch lean ground beef burgers, this Winnipeg staple has been dishing up hearty plates including veggie, chicken, beef and lamb gyros since 1960. WA, IA, M, V.
60 ciao! / dec / jan / two thousand fourteen