Off-Topic: Winnipeg

Hello all!!

I was hoping I could get some advice on what to do, where to eat, etc. while in Winnipeg for a week.

I love eating at local eateries. Does Winnipeg have any good local restaurants and the like?

What type of food are you looking for? Winnipeg has TONS of restaurants ranging from grungy to sublime.
Things to do.
Start at the Forks and the Canadian Museum for Human Rights (only national museum outside of Ottawa... and brand new)
I haven't been to the zoo for a while, but it just had a major reno including new Polar Bear habitat of which Manitoba is famous.
Art Gallery, Symphony Orchestra, Royal Winnipeg Ballet (World renowned) to name a few more off the top of my head.

I'm looking for food I can't find in Ottawa (or Ontario and Quebec, if you will).

My BF suggests we look for some Mennonite food, as his background is Mennonite.

But I'd also be interested in local diner type locations, too. Or simply something different than what is available where I live.

I'm also open to popular restaurants.


I'm definitely going to the new museum! I'm excited about that! We may end up doing the museum with my BF's son, as he loves animals.
Are there any "ghost" tours of Winnipeg?

I haven't been on the Ghost Tour, but I know there is one.
Muddy Water Tours (phone: 204 898-4678 website:http://www.muddywatertours.ca/)

When you say Mennonite, you probably mean holobchi, farmer sausage and especially perogies.
Perogies are pretty much Winnipeg. Not just Winnipeg food, but Winnipeg.
Best perogies used to be at Alycia's, but they closed a few years ago... much to the dismay of many, many people!
So... I've heard that Julia's Ukrainian Restaurant is good, but haven't tried it myself so can't vouch for it.
Good chance that you'll find perogies somewhere though.
Local Greek burger/semi-fast-food place, my fave (and lots of others) is the Red Top. Not far from downtown/forks area.
Or if you only want a burger (and fries) go to VJs right across Main St. from the forks.
Just a little shack with take out only, but best burgers in Winnipeg (order the special).
If money is no object, 529 Wellington is the place to go. Pricey, but delish.
For breakfast or lunch, try Stella's. A few locations (including right at the airport) but the Osborne St. location is the original.
Best Pizza... well, you're going to get lots of different opinions of course. Best chain would be Santa Lucia. But if you don't mind spending just a little more, try Diana's. Voted best in all of Canada by Reader's Digest. Was also on "You Gotta Eat Here".
Chinese Food. We've tried a lot of places, but our favourite (take out only) is 4 Season's (east end).
A fun place to go for pasta is The Old Spaghetti Factory which is right in the forks. But that's not just in Winnipeg so might not be what you're looking for.
Winnipeg also has a large German population, you could try Gasthaus Gutenberger. Closer to the western side of the city. Call for when they have their buffet.
Be prepared to eat there... then not eat again for a day or so.

Ice cream, Winnipeg tradition to head to the BDI (Bridge Drive Inn) when it opens for the season (open now).
Dessert, Baked Expectations on Osborne (dine in or take out). or Jenna Rae's on Academy (take out only, mostly macarons and the best cupcakes ever)

Any restaurant types that I haven't mentioned that you'd like to know about. Just ask.

But pkondzi, you haven't mentioned the slushies. I've seen your pics and I don't think we have anything like that here in Ontario...

bankr63 said:

But pkondzi, you haven't mentioned the slushies. I've seen your pics and I don't think we have anything like that here in Ontario...

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You don't have 7-11s?
Yes you do! Just... not as many perhaps.
We have 7-11s all over the place.
Winnipeg is the Slurpee capital of the world and has been for 15 straight years.

My boyfriend has definitely spoken of having Slurpees in the dead of winter. lol


Thank you SO MUCH for all the suggestions!! I'll be running them by my boyfriend and hopefully he'll even remember some! He grew up about a half hour from Winnipeg, but he went to University there.

Kogo Shuko said:

My boyfriend has definitely spoken of having Slurpees in the dead of winter. lol

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I've done this:
"Brrrr.... It's insanely cold out there! What is it -40? <slurp> (drinks from his Slurpee)"

Kogo Shuko said:

Thank you SO MUCH for all the suggestions!! I'll be running them by my boyfriend and hopefully he'll even remember some! He grew up about a half hour from Winnipeg, but he went to University there.

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You're very welcome.
Any other questions, just post here. I'll keep an eye out.
Where abouts did your BF grow up? Steinbach perhaps?

pkondz said:

Where abouts did your BF grow up? Steinbach perhaps?

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He's from Rosser.

pkondz said:

You don't have 7-11s?
Yes you do! Just... not as many perhaps.
We have 7-11s all over the place.
Winnipeg is the Slurpee capital of the world and has been for 15 straight years.

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Sure, but a 7-11 here has like 2 or 4 flavours of Slurpee. Not the wall full of flavours that seems to be the norm out your way. Maybe it's because we don't drink a lot of iced drinks in the dead of winter...

Come now, we've got Mac's! They sell about six flavours, including Mountain Dew!

I guess this means I have to go to a 7-11 to check out how many flavour options I'd have there. Hmmmmm

I showed my BF the list of food suggestions and he vehemently agreed with VJs and BDI. Apparently he used to live ridiculously close to VJs.

Kogo Shuko said:

Come now, we've got Mac's! They sell about six flavours, including Mountain Dew!

I guess this means I have to go to a 7-11 to check out how many flavour options I'd have there. Hmmmmm

I showed my BF the list of food suggestions and he vehemently agreed with VJs and BDI. Apparently he used to live ridiculously close to VJs.

Click to expand...

We don't have many Mac's left anymore. 7-11 seems to have swallowed most of 'em up.

6 flavours, huh? That's pretty good.
Not all 7-11s are equal, some have more, some have less.
The one closest to my place has... 16.

I'm kinda glad I don't live too close to VJ's... I'd be one of those people they do shows about.
"pkondz hasn't left his home in two years. They have to use a forklift to get him to the hospital. But not before a stop at VJ's."