Restaurant for Winnipeg Peeps

zelda · 02-17-2008

So, rather than hijack Bumper's non-trip trip report, I'll use a new thread to post my review of Cafe Dario, a new'ish little restaurant in Winnipeg.

The restaurant itself is located in a very unlikely place for a restaurant of its kind, on the corner of Wellington Avenue (not crescent) and Erin Street, edging a residential area (the one I live in, actually) and not-quite-industrial business area. I drive by this restaurant several times a week, and would never have thought "oh I have to try there", as it has changed hands a few times over the past 5 years, including one attempt at being called The House of Schnitzel. That in itself should tell you what kind of cuisine usually finds itself there. However, a friend of mine recommended it, calling it his new favourite restaurant... which for this person was extremely high praise.

Thus, it was my choice for my birthday dinner this year. Up to now my favourite "date" restaurant has been Star Grill, a little place with dinner entrees running at $20-$30, that blends flavours together in a way that I can't really find anywhere else. After trying Cafe Dario, I'm going to have a very hard choice when I want a "nice" dinner!

The place is small, perhaps 10 tables, though I only saw the one room I was in which had 4 tables. The style of menu is not one I've experienced anywhere (I'm sure they are out there, I just haven't have one!). It's a flat rate of $30 for a 5 course dinner. The menu changes daily, and you get a choice of appetizer and a choice of entree. The soup, salad and dessert are the same for everyone, as set by the chef. I'll describe my dinner, though that might be a bit evil since what I had may not be on the menu next time!

The chef is from Columbia, and the cuisine is Latin American inspired.

The appetizer was first. It was a choice of 4. I had Escargot Diablo... which was very diablo! and very tasty. Mr Z. had a bread topped with provolone and pear, which I didn't taste but he said was good. I remember also considering calamari and I don't remember the 4th.

Then the soup of the day... a corn chowder with jalepeno. Oh so good!

Then today's salad: mixed greens topped with an oily bean mixture. Tasty, but too oily and could have used something citrus in the dressing.

Main course was a choice of 7 entrees. I had the half lobster from Nova Scotia. The lobster small and just ok, and I now wish I had the rack of lamb which was my second choice. However, the rice side with raisins and coconut was yummmm and really made the meal for me. Mr Z had pork tenderloin rubbed in chili, with garlic mashed potatoes. It was tasty too. Other entrees I recall were a filet mignon, a salmon, and at least 2 or 3 other choices.

Finished with a perfect light dessert of 3 little treats: a mini chocolate cake, a small square of creme caramel topped with a Japanese pear, and a little cream filled crispy straw.

I would say that most often the kinds of restaurants I eat at have just one big entree. Occasionally you get a choice of soup or salad to start (rarely would I order an additional one if it didn't come with the meal); sometimes I order an appetizer; and sometimes I order a dessert; almost never would I have all those. I really loved having 5 courses. Each individual course did not have huge portions... but then there were 5 courses, so they didn't need to be! And having such a wide range of flavours and food, with leisure time in between (but not too much time!), made for a very satisfying meal. I also really liked the set price idea. I don't know about others, but the way I was raised cost is always a factor in whatever choice you make. It was liberating to not have to look at the price of anything while I was choosing what I wanted.

The price for 2, with a bottle of wine, was around $100 (plus tip), which I thought was quite reasonable for what we got, and about my price point for a nice birthday dinner.

The best part... no worries about blood alcohol levels and driving, as it's just a 10 min walk from my house!

Lil G · 02-17-2008

Sounds yummy!

**Bumper** · 02-17-2008

Sounds intriguing, Z. Mrs. B and I will give it a try when she gets home. We're always on the lookout for new spots, and with all the great choices in this town, you have to be pretty good to survive.

jmac · 02-17-2008

mmm, sounds like a place for Lady Di & me, always looking for a neat restaurant!!! Is it a supper time only place or is there lunch too

Beachteacher · 02-17-2008

Thanks for the review Zelda. Dale and I will give it a try as we are also always looking for a new place to go for our "date" nights. I like the idea of a set price as well.

zelda · 02-17-2008

They are open for lunch as well. I read somewhere that lunch is very reasonable, with the most expensive thing being $10.

Closed Mondays.

btodd · 02-19-2008

Thanks so much...........a friend of mine went for lunch. She is a vegetarian and the chef accomodated her very well..............she loved it!! We go out for dinner with this friend and her husband avery couple of months ( last month Star Grill!) Dario's will be our next choice for sure!

btodd · 2 Weeks Ago

Just home from our evening at Cafe Dario...............we loved it!! The price has gone up to $33.00 and there was no option of ordering anything except the 5 course meal.............we all had different entrees, I had the beef tenderloin in some sort of pepper medley..........polished the plate right off!! My appie was the esgargot diablo, the salad a nice mixed green with a mint dressing. The soup was a spinach and bean with a hint of curry. The dessert was fruit with creme caramel with fruit. I am allergic to strawberries so I couldn't try the dessert,. The waitress was so apologetic and explained that next time I should phone and inform them of any allergies..........I was fine with no dessert.......I was full!!
Any Winnipeg peeps would be remiss if they didn't give this excellent place a try............make sure you make a reservation, the place was packed!

**Bumper** · 2 Weeks Ago

8 of us local Peeps are booked in there for Friday, May 9. We're looking forward to it.

jmac · 2 Weeks Ago

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bumper

8 of us local Peeps are booked in there for Friday, May 9. We're looking forward to it.

I'm not one of them

**Bumper** · 2 Weeks Ago

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmac

I'm not one of them

But you can be, m'dear, you can be. You'd be most welcome to join us. Reservation is under Dawson for 8:30. Can't think of anything we'd like better than to have you and Glenn, and anyone else who's interested, come along. I understand it's a pretty small place though, so don't know if they'll have more room or not. We reserved a couple of weeks ago. Right now, it's YWG Don & Deb, Eva & Victor (Sunco), Lori & Bram (Zelda & Mr. Z), and Jackie and I. Give 'em a call, if it strikes your fancy.

btodd · 2 Weeks Ago

You will have great meal and I am sure a great time, you will take over the joint!!!

YWGDon&Deb · 2 Weeks Ago

I'm pretty sure this will be our first Prix Fixé experience as well. We're really looking forward to it, along with the great company, of course!!

There are a few other Prix Fixé establishments around the city (Sydney's, Gluttons, Provence Bistro?

) but we haven't tried them.

jmac · 2 Weeks Ago

K, after I shamelessly whined & the amazing Bumper invited us, I did phone & make reservations. We haven't seen Eva & Victor for about a year & a half, the others we've seen more recently but not recently enough, so I shamelessly whined

so I can see all of ya!!!! Glenn should be feeling better by then, been having problems with the dosage being screwed up on his chemo but it WILL be straightened out in the next day or so. I can't wait!!!

YWGDon&Deb · 2 Weeks Ago

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmac

K, after I shamelessly whined & the amazing Bumper invited us, I did phone & make reservations. We haven't seen Eva & Victor for about a year & a half, the others we've seen more recently but not recently enough, so I shamelessly whined

so I can see all of ya!!!! Glenn should be feeling better by then, been having problems with the dosage being screwed up on his chemo but it WILL be straightened out in the next day or so. I can't wait!!!

If I can speak for all of us.

Looking forward to it for sure!!

02-17-2008	#1 (permalink)
zelda way into it Join Date: May 2004 Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba Posts: 238	Restaurant for Winnipeg Peeps So, rather than hijack Bumper's non-trip trip report, I'll use a new thread to post my review of Cafe Dario, a new'ish little restaurant in Winnipeg. The restaurant itself is located in a very unlikely place for a restaurant of its kind, on the corner of Wellington Avenue (not crescent) and Erin Street, edging a residential area (the one I live in, actually) and not-quite-industrial business area. I drive by this restaurant several times a week, and would never have thought "oh I have to try there", as it has changed hands a few times over the past 5 years, including one attempt at being called The House of Schnitzel. That in itself should tell you what kind of cuisine usually finds itself there. However, a friend of mine recommended it, calling it his new favourite restaurant... which for this person was extremely high praise. Thus, it was my choice for my birthday dinner this year. Up to now my favourite "date" restaurant has been Star Grill, a little place with dinner entrees running at $20-$30, that blends flavours together in a way that I can't really find anywhere else. After trying Cafe Dario, I'm going to have a very hard choice when I want a "nice" dinner! The place is small, perhaps 10 tables, though I only saw the one room I was in which had 4 tables. The style of menu is not one I've experienced anywhere (I'm sure they are out there, I just haven't have one!). It's a flat rate of $30 for a 5 course dinner. The menu changes daily, and you get a choice of appetizer and a choice of entree. The soup, salad and dessert are the same for everyone, as set by the chef. I'll describe my dinner, though that might be a bit evil since what I had may not be on the menu next time! The chef is from Columbia, and the cuisine is Latin American inspired. The appetizer was first. It was a choice of 4. I had Escargot Diablo... which was very diablo! and very tasty. Mr Z. had a bread topped with provolone and pear, which I didn't taste but he said was good. I remember also considering calamari and I don't remember the 4th. Then the soup of the day... a corn chowder with jalepeno. Oh so good! Then today's salad: mixed greens topped with an oily bean mixture. Tasty, but too oily and could have used something citrus in the dressing. Main course was a choice of 7 entrees. I had the half lobster from Nova Scotia. The lobster small and just ok, and I now wish I had the rack of lamb which was my second choice. However, the rice side with raisins and coconut was yummmm and really made the meal for me. Mr Z had pork tenderloin rubbed in chili, with garlic mashed potatoes. It was tasty too. Other entrees I recall were a filet mignon, a salmon, and at least 2 or 3 other choices. Finished with a perfect light dessert of 3 little treats: a mini chocolate cake, a small square of creme caramel topped with a Japanese pear, and a little cream filled crispy straw. I would say that most often the kinds of restaurants I eat at have just one big entree. Occasionally you get a choice of soup or salad to start (rarely would I order an additional one if it didn't come with the meal); sometimes I order an appetizer; and sometimes I order a dessert; almost never would I have all those. I really loved having 5 courses. Each individual course did not have huge portions... but then there were 5 courses, so they didn't need to be! And having such a wide range of flavours and food, with leisure time in between (but not too much time!), made for a very satisfying meal. I also really liked the set price idea. I don't know about others, but the way I was raised cost is always a factor in whatever choice you make. It was liberating to not have to look at the price of anything while I was choosing what I wanted. The price for 2, with a bottle of wine, was around $100 (plus tip), which I thought was quite reasonable for what we got, and about my price point for a nice birthday dinner. The best part... no worries about blood alcohol levels and driving, as it's just a 10 min walk from my house! __________________ Be the change you want to see... - Mahatma Gandhi

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search
Rate This Thread
Rate This Thread:

02-17-2008	#2 (permalink)
Lil G añejo Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 1,644	Sounds yummy!

02-17-2008	#3 (permalink)
Bumper Class Clown Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Winnipeg, Canada Posts: 8,880	Sounds intriguing, Z. Mrs. B and I will give it a try when she gets home. We're always on the lookout for new spots, and with all the great choices in this town, you have to be pretty good to survive.

02-17-2008	#4 (permalink)
jmac beachaholic Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Manitoba Posts: 422	mmm, sounds like a place for Lady Di & me, always looking for a neat restaurant!!! Is it a supper time only place or is there lunch too

02-17-2008	#5 (permalink)
Beachteacher toe in water Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: winnpeg,manitoba Posts: 45	Thanks for the review Zelda. Dale and I will give it a try as we are also always looking for a new place to go for our "date" nights. I like the idea of a set price as well.

02-17-2008	#6 (permalink)
zelda way into it Join Date: May 2004 Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba Posts: 238	They are open for lunch as well. I read somewhere that lunch is very reasonable, with the most expensive thing being $10. Closed Mondays.

02-19-2008	#7 (permalink)
btodd reposado Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada Posts: 1,227	Thanks so much...........a friend of mine went for lunch. She is a vegetarian and the chef accomodated her very well..............she loved it!! We go out for dinner with this friend and her husband avery couple of months ( last month Star Grill!) Dario's will be our next choice for sure!

2 Weeks Ago	#8 (permalink)
btodd reposado Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada Posts: 1,227	Just home from our evening at Cafe Dario...............we loved it!! The price has gone up to $33.00 and there was no option of ordering anything except the 5 course meal.............we all had different entrees, I had the beef tenderloin in some sort of pepper medley..........polished the plate right off!! My appie was the esgargot diablo, the salad a nice mixed green with a mint dressing. The soup was a spinach and bean with a hint of curry. The dessert was fruit with creme caramel with fruit. I am allergic to strawberries so I couldn't try the dessert,. The waitress was so apologetic and explained that next time I should phone and inform them of any allergies..........I was fine with no dessert.......I was full!! Any Winnipeg peeps would be remiss if they didn't give this excellent place a try............make sure you make a reservation, the place was packed!

2 Weeks Ago	#9 (permalink)
Bumper Class Clown Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Winnipeg, Canada Posts: 8,880	8 of us local Peeps are booked in there for Friday, May 9. We're looking forward to it.

2 Weeks Ago	#12 (permalink)
btodd reposado Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada Posts: 1,227	You will have great meal and I am sure a great time, you will take over the joint!!!

2 Weeks Ago	#13 (permalink)
YWGDon&Deb life=playa Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba Posts: 556	I'm pretty sure this will be our first Prix Fixé experience as well. We're really looking forward to it, along with the great company, of course!! There are a few other Prix Fixé establishments around the city (Sydney's, Gluttons, Provence Bistro? ) but we haven't tried them.

register to remove these adverts

2 Weeks Ago	#14 (permalink)
jmac beachaholic Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Manitoba Posts: 422	K, after I shamelessly whined & the amazing Bumper invited us, I did phone & make reservations. We haven't seen Eva & Victor for about a year & a half, the others we've seen more recently but not recently enough, so I shamelessly whined so I can see all of ya!!!! Glenn should be feeling better by then, been having problems with the dosage being screwed up on his chemo but it WILL be straightened out in the next day or so. I can't wait!!!