Too good to miss – here are the Best Winnipeg Restaurants

We ate our way around town, going (just for you!) to all the places locals say are the Best Winnipeg Restaurants to discover the not-to-be-missed gems that are simply this city's BEST.

I’ve also talked to some impressively picky diners and here is the result -- the very best of the Best Winnipeg Restaurants.

Bon Appetit!

Best Winnipeg Restaurants -- Best fish and chips

For authentic English-style fish and chips, friends from England say the only choice is Ducky’s just west of Downtown at 884 Notre Dame.

Another good option (especially if you are staying in the downtown core) is Fergies Fish N Chips at The Forks Market, where you can get generous portions of halibut, cod or pickerel for a very reasonable price.

We’re also big fans of White Rock Café’s battered cod plate – two big pieces of fish with hand-cut French fries for $8.70 in a cute and homey Ma-and-Pa in East Kildonan (also, Ma—that’s Jacquie Fuller -- makes all the desserts here. Her raisin pie is SO good!).

Open daily north of Downtown at 725 Gateway Rd.

Best Winnipeg Restaurants -- The Best Corned Beef Sandwich in town

Top choice for their thin-sliced corned beef sandwich is Nathan Detroits underground in the shopping concourse beneath One Lombard (get there by taking the elevator from The Fairmont’s lobby). They also serve an adequate all-day breakfast for under $10.

Also very good at Oscar’s Deli at 175 Hargrave St.

Best Turkey Clubhouse in Winnipeg

Tough competition in this category. I think the front-runner is The Wagon Wheel, Winnipeg's oldest restaurant at 305 Hargrave St., which sadly is about to lose its downtown location, so right now (spring 2012) its future is uncertain.

closely followed by the massive club you get at White Star Diner, a cute corner diner at 58 Albert Street in The Exchange.

Where can you find Winnipeg's best burger?

Anytime you order a “well-loaded Fatberger” in Winnipeg, you get something good (and packed with calories, salt and other unhealthy but yummy stuff) so this is one of those very competitive categories.

Locals say the winner is VJ’s at 170 Main, just steps away from Fort Garry Hotel and directly across the street from the train station.

Here, you line up to get to the counter of this absolutely tiny restaurant (there’s always been a line-up when I’ve been there), place your order, and get it in a cardboard tray to eat at picnic tables outside.

Also very good, the Louis burger at Mrs. Mike’s 286 Tache in St. Boniface and the burger at Johnny’s a little greasy spoon (but ignore that, I’ve happily eaten there dozens of times and survived). 382 Marion, also in St. Boniface.

For a beautiful burger in a fancier place, I recommend 7 1/4 Bistro, 725 Osborne Street (south of Osborne Village).

Winnipeg's best hotdog? Or smokie?

They’re not bad at several other places around town, but we think the best are the dogs offered up by street vendors you’ll find set up with carts on Portage Ave. near Main and along Broadway. You get a dog, small bag of potato chips and pop for about $5 (and as cheap as $3 from some vendors).

Such a deal! But only in summer.

When a national newspaper says one of the five best hotdogs is in Winnipeg, it’s worth giving a taste test. And the prize goes to Canada’s most venerable hot dog outlet – Skinner’s, in operation in Lockport since 1929.

This fully-loaded foot-long also comes in as most expensive in Canada’s Five Top Dogs, but consider what it’s got: homemade chili, bacon, cheese slices, white wine sauerkraut, dill pickles, raw onions, sweet relish, mustard, a foot-long European-style pork and beef weiner, all on a foot-long City Bread bun – a whole lotta dog for $11.20.

You may need to share.

Kelekis a Winnipeg institution at 1100 Main Street also serves a good hotdog and other lunch standards.

Also good here are the fish and chips and old-fashioned (from a family recipe) rice pudding.

Best Mac and Cheese

So, where to go for exaulted versions of this old kid favourite in Winnipeg?

Confusion Corner Bar & Grill

Confusion Corner at 500 Corydon serves up mac and cheese with scallops and bacon (or you can have it without the scallops).

Elements The Restaurant

Baked, with bacon, onions and cheeses, in two sizes plus a kid’s mini version (no onions). Elements, near U of W. and popular with students, is at 599 Portage Ave.

Deadfish

Here the Mac and Cheese is penne with bacon, asparagus and smoked gouda, and it’s unforgettable. Have the chocolate chip banana bread pudding for dessert.

167 Osborne St. in Osborn Village, 477-6609.

Le Garage

At 166 Provencher Blvd., for their Barbeque pulled pork mac and cheese served in a French onion soup bowl topped with melted cheese.

Best Winnipeg Restaurants -- Best Pizza

Santa Lucia Pizza 2029 Portage Ave. is another top choice in the pizza category.

So is Academy Pizza at 1870-A Portage Ave.

Fast and friendly Pizzaland is also a keeper. They also have delicious wings – but it's take-out only from a window around the corner from their address at 2579 Portage Ave. Orders: 885-9453.

If you want the real, deep dish wood-fired oven bistro-style pizza with such exotic toppings as fig jam, spicy lamb or clams, all served with panache in a gorgeous contemporary restaurant or on a pretty patio, go directly to snazzy Pizzaria Gusto open Mondays to Fridays for lunch and dinner, Saturdays for dinner until 11 p.m. at 404 Academy Road - they also have a very pleasant patio in summer.

Another winner in this category is Sorrento’s 529 Ellice.

Best Winnipeg Restaurants for Breakfast

On weekdays, it’s The Wagon Wheel Downtown at 305 Hargrave St.

Shanghai mades a very, very good pork-stuffed omelette, 238 King Street (Chinatown).

The bluebery and apple pancakes at Original Pancake House are more like a huge, wonderful dessert. There are three locations:

There’s also a good breakfast at Luda’s 410 Aberdeen Ave. but when you go there we think you’ll want...

Winnipeg's best massive Reuben

Two people can easily fill up on one of these from the legendary Luda’s a tiny place (just 32 seats) at 410 Aberdeen Ave., a 15 minute drive north of downtown.

Luda’s also serves divine borscht, very good perogies and a way-above-average tuna sandwich. Open for breakfast and lunch only, Monday to Saturday.

If you don’t want a trek north to Luda’s (or don't have a car), the best reuben in easy reach from Downtown attractions is served up daily (Sunday dinner only till midnight) at Bailey’s in The Exchange, 185 Lombard Ave.

Best Winnipeg Restaurants - Best Poutine

Words fail to describe it – just go. It’s one of those life experiences no one should miss.

Best Winnipeg Restaurants - Best Calzone

They also have baba ganouj and humus.

749 Ellice Ave.

Best Winnipeg Street Food

Another good choice – El Torrito Taco & BBQ Truck, the first taco truck in Winnipeg, open April to August. Chicken or beef tacos, New-York style BBQ chicken and smokies.

Usually downtown during the day, they move to set up on Henderson highway, just south of McLeod Ave. in the evening. To find out their current location, follow them on Twitter @EITorrito1

Best Winnipeg Restaurants for Italian

Amici is the much-celebrated favourite in this category, declared by local foodies to be “top of the food chain” and it is, with elegant food in elegant surroundings.

Also marvelous, Tre Visi 173 McDermot in The Exchange District. Tiny, terrific and very popular, reservations are essential here at 949-9032.

Also in the running: Mona Lisa 1697 Corydon Ave., or Paradise Restaurant at Portage and Broadway (789 Portage Ave.)

For simple Tuscan cuisine beautifully prepared and presented, it's Daquistos at 1715 Kenaston Blvd. Great choice for date night!

Definitely off the beaten path, but a favourite among Winnipeggers, Pasquale’s is a modest-looking little place in St. Boniface where the food is delicious and the ambiance intimate. Usually busy for both the appealing atmosphere and delicious food. 109 Marion St. (just before Taché).

Casa Grande is what you expect a charming little Italian restaurant to be, complete with red checkered table cloths, candles stuck in Chianti bottles, good pizza and pastas. 984 Sargent Ave. west of Downtown.

Best Winnipeg Restaurants -- Greek

Try the chicken souvlaki at Nikos and tell us if it isn’t the best you’ve ever tasted, 740 Corydon.

Another happy choice is Papa George’s in Osborne Village at 93 Osborne.

Best Winnipeg Restaurants - French

Former favourite Mirlycourtois in the Exchange has closed.

Lovely for both the ambience and the traditional French cuisine, Oui Bistro & Wine Bar 283 Bannatyne Ave.. Reservations: 989-7700.

Best Winnipeg Restaurants - German

Gasthaus Gutenberger complete with alpine décor and lots of hearty choices. The most popular meal here is Bayrische grillhaxe, which is tender pork with sauerkraut, dumplings and nippy mustard. Open daily (Saturdays for dinner only), 2583 Portage Ave.

Another great choice is Kraut King, a cozy Bavarian diner, open for lunch only at 295 Garry Street.

Best Winnipeg Restaurants - Ethiopian

Pyramid Falafel for a taste of the exotic, 510 Sargent, or Kokeb, traditional Ethiopian stews and a vegetarian buffet. Ellice Ave. at Donald St.

Best Winnipeg Restaurants -- Caribbean

More Best Winnipeg Restaurants -- for outstanding East Indian, Thai, Korean, Chinese, Dim Sum and Sushi

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