Winnipeg’s culinary scene continues to garner national attention, while there are always new and much-loved hidden gems that should be on every gourmand’s radar.
Here’s some sure bets for 2024 to book before you come for your next business event or conference in Winnipeg.
Nationally noted
It’s official, Winnipeg is home to several of Canada’s best new restaurants.
Landing at No. 5 on Air Canada/ enRoute’s current Canada’s Best New Restaurants list is Petit Socco, an intimate two-person operation by chef Adam Donnelly and Courtney Molaro. This tiny restaurant seats just 10 (plus an additional eight on the patio), presenting a new four-course menu every week where reservations – weeks in advance – are now even more of a must.
Petit Socco was joined by Saint-Boniface’s Bar Accanto on the Best New Restaurants long list, which sees this charming wine bar following in the footsteps of its flagship restaurant Nola, which made the list in 2022.
Both restaurants are part of Burnley Place Hospitality and connected via a hallway. At Nola, the dishes come courtesy of Top Chef Canada alum Emily Butcher, who garnered a glowing review from The Globe and Mail in May 2022. That same year in December, the publication went even further citing Nola as the best new culinary concept on the prairies, with Winnipeg’s Hoagie Boyz and Low Life Barrel House also coming in at No. 9 and 10 respectively.
Bar Accanto features a menu by Nola alum Colin Naylor, and it shines just as bright with elegant plates focused and a joyfully curated selection of natural wines.
Another spot that received a rave review in The Globe is Clementine, the city’s most celebrated brunch spot. Celebrities often gladly wait for a table here (they don’t take reservations) and NHL star Jonathan Tavares singled it out to ESPN as his favourite place to eat when he’s on the road.
Speaking of Canada’s best, the latest Canada’s 100 Best restaurant list featured both The Exchange District’s deer + almond and River Heights’ Máquè. It turned out to be a swan song for Máquè, which was closed by its chef/owner Scott Bagshaw so he and the team could expand their equally acclaimed restaurant Passero, which moved from The Forks Market to Corydon Avenue. Passero is guaranteed to impress with its selection of artfully plated Italian dishes, plus Bagshaw’s flagship wine bar Enoteca (which too has graced the Canada’s 100 list in the past) is a great choice for its elegance and beautifully composed dishes.
At deer + almond, chefs Mandel Hitzer (of Food Network’s Wall of Chefs fame) and Kris Kurus (who was the sous chef at Published on Main in Vancouver when it was awarded its Michelin star and reached #1 on the Canada’s 100 best list) are known to take delicious risks on its ever-evolving tasting menus. Should you be dining alone its bar, which offers a la carte dishes, is the best bet for high calibre dining for one in the city. Hitzer will once again be combining forces with architect Joe Kalturnyk to bring RAW:almond––a festive fine-dining on ice experience featuring some of North America’s best chefs – back to the frozen Assiniboine River in front of The Forks this winter too.
Since we’ve been talking Michelin stars, it would be remiss not to mention Cake-ology in The Exchange District, as chef/owner Austin Granados has a world of pastry chef experience––including one-star Vea in Hong Kong, three-star Noma in Copenhagen, and under the “world’s best pastry chef” Dominique Ansel in NYC––to back up his incredibly flaky creations like his signature kouign-amann.
What’s new
Winnipeg has also embraced the arrival of Italian celebrity chef Rosanna Marziale, who has created the menu for Vida Cucina Italia at The Fort Garry Hotel. Marziale’s menu is all about Southern Italian fine dining and includes a few of her dishes that won a Michelin star at her family’s restaurant Le Colonne in Campania, Italy. At Vida, you’ll find a number of prized Italian products across the menu, while local produce, house-made breads and divine desserts round out the offerings at this luxurious new addition to Winnipeg’s castle.
Want to try one of the world’s best crullers? Head to Crumb Queen in Osborne Village where culinary power couple Cloe Wiebe (Crumb Queen; former pastry chef at deer + almond) and Andy Koropatnick (Oxbow Natural Wine Bar, The Roost) serve several types of those decadent doughnuts along with a sprightly selection of fresh focaccia sandwiches (they even mill their own wheat!). It’s just one of a couple notable new bakeries which also includes Friend Bakery and Pizzeria on South Osborne, the Ukrainian and Eastern European influenced Honey Bunny Bake Shop on Corydon, and the recently revamped Le Croissant on Taché Ave in Saint-Boniface.
Our Filipino food scene also expanded with two spots that made waves in 2023. Tito Boy in St. Vital has found loyal following for its all-day breakfast and its traditional family style dishes, while The Exchange Districts hip Bahay Kubo features beachy small plates, tiki drinks, live music, and specialty halo halo beers made for them from One Great City Brewing Company.
The city’s Indigenous food scene has also really taken off in the last few years. Joining the nationally celebrated Feast Café Bistro, you can now find Manoomin at the Indigenous-owned Wyndham Garden Winnipeg Airport; T Town Pizza for massive, meaty pies; Sharecuterie café for locally sourced edible gifts; and Métis-influenced farm-to-table fare at Promenade Brasserie and Bistro on Notre Dame.
Looking for a particular item? Such as…
The best burger served with beer made on-site? Nonsuch Brewery in the Exchange District has you covered (along with sides that sing) while the always busy Brazen Hall on Pembina deserves a shout-out too.
Tacos? Check out La Taqueria, BMC Market, JC’s Tacos and More, and Sargent Taco, the chef/owners of all of which come from various regions in Mexico and El Salvador.
Pizza? Oh boy, this one will land us in trouble, but at a glance if you are looking for chewy and charred pies see Vera, Pizzeria Gusto, Parcel Pizza, Red Ember Common, Santa Ana, Corrientes and Wall Street Slice.
House-made pasta? Harth Mozza & Wine Bar, Nicolino’s and Little Nana’s are always rolling doughs to be served al dente.
A neighbourhood gem? Bonfire Bistro, Bonnie Day, The Grove and Oxbow Natural Wine Bar are all great spots to meet the locals.
Neighbourhood for pho? The West End, where the Vietnamese options are endless.
Incredible vegetarian and vegan food? Check out Affinity Garden, Good Lands Café and Thyme Café.
European that’s not just French or Italian? Bistro Dansk is such a cozy spot for Danish comfort food, Tabula Rasa looks to the North Mediterranean for tapas, and Saperavi is a bread lover’s dream that serves Georgian cuisine that’s rare in Canada.
Middle Eastern? Baraka, Beaurivage Bistro, Ashur, Les Saj, Ramallah Café, Zaytoon, Danook, and Yafa Café are all waiting for you with a spit full of meat and garlic sauce galore.
Caribbean? Famena’s Famous Roti/Curry, K & S Island Grill, and D & M Caribbean Flavour all bring the spice.
Craft cocktails? See The Roost (also for gluten-free and vegan small plates that rock), Smith at Inn at The Forks, Darling Bar, Patent 5 Distillery, Solera, Amsterdam Tea Room and the brand new Passerby at The Forks all have you covered.
Japanese? Yujiro (for sushi and ramen), Dwarf no Cachette (for ramen and yoshoku), Wasabi (sushi and small plates) and Ichiban (teppanyaki).
A gorgeous setting to eat in? Gather Craft Kitchen & Bar at The Leaf looks out into the biomes; 529 Wellington is a grand old mansion with multiple dining rooms; Gusto North is super sexy and includes a huge patio; the one sixteen tap room is where you’ll find the hip set; and the Oval Room Brasserie has an enchanting setting within The Fort Garry Hotel.
French to fawn over? Sous Sol, Preservation Hall, Peasant Cookery and Resto Gare Train Bar all provide a romantic setting and sauces to savour.
Bread that rises above while using local wheat? Tall Grass Prairie, Hildegarde’s Bakery, Sleepy Owl Bread, The Pennyloaf Bakery, Eadha Bakery Worker Co-op, Cottage Bakery and Le Belle Baguette won’t leave you crusty.
