11 of the best restaurants in Winnipeg

Annabelle Schweineberg

As Assist. Marketing & Communications Manager Annabelle knows the concept of Le Petit Chef like no other. If you have any questions, she is the right person to contact.

Winnipeg, the “Gateway to the West”, a transportation and railway hub, the city of big festivals, outdoor sports, surrounded and named by the world’s 11th largest freshwater lake, Lake Winnipeg. Canada’s foodie spot is home of many local and Indie eateries, a hub location when it comes to a great diversity of restaurants. We are providing a guide to the best restaurants and unique dining experiences in Winnipeg, in the capital of Manitoba, Canada.

Tip #1: Resto Gare

The, since 1983 family owned restaurant, Resto Gare has been serving French cuisine in the St. Boniface French Quarter of Winnipeg. Located in the St. Boniface train station, you can dine in a 19th century refurbished rail station and attached rail car, with historic elements of dark wood framing and elegant upholstery. The restaurant is providing an authentic French experience with bilingual staff and Montreal francophone music.

The fine dining restaurant and patio holds 50 guests and features live jazz music every Wednesday. The traditional French dishes use fresh and local ingredients for their French Classics, but also updated versions of classic bistro menu dishes. The large wine menu, selected by a certified sommelier, features wine from new wineries, as well as classic and traditional wines. Resto Gare is certainly one of the best places to eat in Winnipeg.

5 Reasons Why You Need to Visit Le Petit Chef

Continue reading to find out how Le Petit Chef will turn your next evening into an extraordinary experience you’ll be talking about for years to come.

Tip #2: King + Bannatyne

King + Bannatyne is the sandwich shop on the corner. Located in the Exchange District, Winnipeg’s premium sandwich shop is serving house-made, hand crafted sandwiches. Mike del Buono opened the sandwich shop in 2014 and since then, they are very well known for their slow roasted meat and vegetarian sandwiches.

Inside a Romanesque revival-style heritage building, the very industrial and modern space shows off the current menu on a chalkboard, featuring classic sandwiches alongside weekly specials. The River City brisket and Reuben, the smoked buffalo chicken and Carolina BBQ braised beef, satisfy meat lovers. The jalapeno pineapple BBQ JackFruit and roast sweet potato and hummus, pleases vegetarian and vegan guests.

Tip #3: Chosabi (King)

Home of the sushi burrito – is how Chosabi advertises it’s famous Asian style meal. Owner Cho Venevongsa serves not only a huge variety of rice burritos, but also ramen, rice and poké bowls. Chosabi strives to source sustainable ingredients like certified Ocean Wise fish.

Owner Cho is not only a chef, but also a general contractor and built his own restaurant. He even found the spot in the Exchange District, after having lunch there with his three daughters. The restaurant menu offers build your own burrito or poké bowl options, with regular or brown sushi rice, a variety of proteins, vegetables, toppings, crunches and sauces. It also has classic bowls and burritos on the menu.

Tip #4: Falafel place

Since 1986 Ami Hassan has catered to Winnipeg with marvelous Mediterranean food. Falafel for breakfast, Falafel for lunch, Falafel all the time. Falafel place in Winnipeg makes this possible. The traditional falafel breakfast contains two eggs, eight falafel, tahini, hummus and hash browns. Everything is made from scratch in the eatery, which seats 65 people.

Baba Ganoush, shawarma, blintzes, nine different styles of falafel and a good variety of dishes for Vegetarians and Vegans, are on the Falafel place menu. Kids will get excited over the Mickey Mouse pancakes, a young people’s breakfast or soup and French Toast. Canola oil is used for deep frying and grilling and can be replaced with olive oil.

Tip #5: Baked Expectations

The Winnipeg icon is located in the heart of Osborne and has been serving beautiful treats for over 40 years. Over thirty desserts, from cakes to torte and cheesecake, fancy, fun and delicious. Traditional Pavlova, Key Lime Pie, Dark Chocolate cheesecake with chocolate covered strawberries, Hazelnut Meringue – there is almost nothing you can’t expect at Baked Expectations. Even gluten-free cakes and treats are a topic.

Owner Beth Grubert is responsible for many birthday, wedding and milestone cakes in Winnipeg. In a retro chic ambience, with wall-to-wall chalkboard menus, you can start out with sandwiches, burgers, fries and pasta, but the most important part of the meal is definitely the dessert. That’s what Baked Expectations is known for.

5 Reasons Why You Need to Visit Le Petit Chef

Continue reading to find out how Le Petit Chef will turn your next evening into an extraordinary experience you’ll be talking about for years to come.

Tip #6: VJ’s Drive Inn

VJ’s Drive Inn is definitely not your fancy foodie spot, but it has it’s fans, actually far over the borders of Winnipeg. Folks are lining up for burger&fries at the old fashioned burger stand. Their legendary fat boys are loved by young and old. The restaurant opened as Juniors in 1958, the name changed to VJ’s in 1980.

VJ’s is famous for their homemade patties and in fact, their special is a burger featuring a juicy patty, topped with chili, pickles, mustard and onion. The foot long hotdogs and crispy fries are a perfect meal and go very well with the old fashioned milkshakes. VJ’s is Winnipeg’s classic burger and fries experience. It’s a great location to eat and one of the best restaurants in Winnipeg.

Tip #7: Sous Sol

This is your upscale French-Canadian eatery. Very well hidden in a basement in Osborne District. It’s worth looking for and finding it. Because you enter an experience, not only a restaurant. Antique chairs, persian rugs, candlelight interior, drinking from golden rimmed glasses, all of this paired with a fantastic foodie experience.

Famous for their cocktails and a beautiful to read menu with beef tenderloin with red wine braised mushrooms, truffle butter and potatoes dauphinoise. Oysters and Fromache, Duck and Beef Tartare, oh, and don’t miss out on the vegetarian and vegan dishes, like roasted kale salad with caper & garlic vinaigrette or warm smoked olives in a herb marinade.

The drinks short&boozy, citrusy&refreshing, but also low alcohol&zero proof, are an experience, so is the rum hut, you can add fire for fun.

Tip #8: East India Company

It’s a Bollywood dream, right in Downtown Winnipeg. East India Company is a Winnipeg institution, feeding Winnipeg bellies for over 30 years and a culinary journey to the country of spices and flavors. Every day over 25 hot entrees get featured on the buffet, from mild to very hot, something for every taste. The Mehra family, who owns the restaurant, serves a wide range of curries and beautifully spiced biryani.

The vegetarian menu is long and exciting and ranges from different paneer options, over the traditional Dhal Makhani, to some Ghobi options, with a good assortment of naan variations. Handcrafted samosas and pakoras, but also different combo meals, complement the menu. As a vegan, you find many options to savor.

Mo – Fri: Lunch: 11.30am – 3pm, Dinner: 4.30pm – 9.30pm
Sat: Lunch: Closed, Dinner: 4.30pm – 9.30pm
Sun: Lunch: 12pm – 3pm, Dinner: 4.30pm – 9pm
349 York Avenue
Winnipeg Manitoba
R3C 3S9
Canada
+1 204 947 3097
nitinkmehra@eastindiaco.com

Tip #9: Bernstein’s Deli

The traditional deli in the South End of Winnipeg makes old fashioned, homemade comfort food. The Bernstein family opened the deli 1985 and still cooks up old family recipes in their kitchen. These days often with a modern twist, to cater to Vegetarians and Vegans as well, gluten-free options not to forget. Head chef Michael Fardoe offers a big variety of deli sandwiches on his menu, but also salads, soups and bowls.

Founder Marla’s chicken matzo ball soup is famous, so are the signature creations, the Latke Stackers, the warm corned beef sandwich, or the grilled chicken cesar sandwich. Classic cold deli sandwiches feature salmon salad, roast beef, pastrami, corned beef and egg salad. Another special is their “The Illegal Curve Sandwich”, named after the hockey show on youtube. Chicken schnitzel, with grilled salami, fried onions and cheddar, on buttered thick rye toast is, what you get, when you order it.

Tip #10: BDI

The Bridge Drive Inn, also known as BDI, is located at the foot of the historic Elm Park Bridge and serves soft serve for over 60 years. Lots of Winnipeg residents visited the institution when they were kids and still do. Not a lot has changed, BDI still works with the old recipes for soft-serve mix, milkshakes, handmade toppings and syrups. They added some vegan options, other than that, it still tastes like childhood.

Eleven flavors of soft serve ice creams are available. Their special is the “Goog”, which is a blueberry upside down shake, topped with sliced bananas and layered with a signature hot fudge sundae, topped with whipped cream and garnished with a cherry and optional peanuts.

Speciality cones are an option as well and include the “The Saltzberg”, a nutella lined waffle cone with vanilla soft serve, dipped in chocolate, drizzled with sea salted caramel and topped with whipped cream. The “So much S’more”, a marshmallow lined waffle cone with vanilla soft serve, dipped in chocolate, rolled in a s’mores mix is the other special. Yes, it’s as crazy as it sounds!

Tip #11: Amsterdam Tea Room and Bar

It’s not just a tea room, it’s way more! Amsterdam Tea Room is a unique cocktail bar in the heart of Exchange District. It’s very well known for the tea infused cocktails, but also for the small plate style food, perfect for sharing.

Their food menu is small but upscale and features soup, Beef Tartare, Mussels&Bread or Brussels&Potatoes. With a steak sandwich, or roasted pepper sandwich, they cater to meat lovers and vegans as well. The desserts are tea infused and so are the cocktails. The menu is Dutch cuisine with a local twist.

Their house favorite teas go into the cocktails via infusions, or mixing with over steeped strong teas. Tea cocktail flights are available as well. Tea shooters and Whiskey flights are on the menu for fun nights at the Tea Bar. You can choose from 74 different teas, coffee, beers and other drinks. All their teas are available for purchase in store.

Our selection of restaurants is based, among other things, on the editorial team’s individual preferences and on reviews on the internet. Please contact the respective provider directly for information on reservations and prices. The pictures come from the restaurants listed. All Information is provided without guarantee!