Winnipeg | Restaurants

[TimeFadesAway]

Originally Posted by cllew

Google search comes back with permanently closed as a status for the skywalk location. Not sure how Google determined that.

I heard a rumour that esquire is actually Sergey Brin...

[Riverman]

Originally Posted by esquire

Today's WFP says that Amici and Bombolini are now closed after 30+ years in business.

No wonder. We went in March for our anniversery and they hardly had anything to serve. They were out of chicken. Out of tomatoes FFS. Trying to order was like a Monty Python cheese shop skit.

[BAKGUY]

I loved Amici's and also Bombolini.
The weird thing is, they were not much more expensive than those predictable chain places like Earl's Joey's, Moxie's etc... Just a few dollars more for real food prepared by real chef supervision and not prepared by someone in school in their late teens doing line cooking. The prices for a meal at those places is expensive for what you get.
If I go mid range I go to locally owned where I get real food and decent portions.
How sad. There are few elegant places left. Almost all have the loud sports themed tv screens blaring and I rarely want that after a hard days work or especially not for a special occasion.
I can only think of a few truly elegant places left...Velvet Glove, Bailey's, R & J, 529, Hy's. Possibly Sydney's.
We once had a couple dozen or more. We are down to just a handful.

[DavefromSt.Vital]

WFP Amici/Bombolini closed: http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/business/arrivederci-amici-409617955.html

I must admit, I had not visited in over half a decade.

Did check out Jollibee on the way to the airport today. Late afternoon and over 100 in line. No timed tickets, just tickets to get you from the line in the heated trailer in the parking lot to the actual restaurant. Already hearing from numerous jealous Toronto friends...

[SpongeG]

has the second jollibee opened now?

[esquire]

Originally Posted by BAKGUY

I loved Amici's and also Bombolini.
The weird thing is, they were not much more expensive than those predictable chain places like Earl's Joey's, Moxie's etc... Just a few dollars more for real food prepared by real chef supervision and not prepared by someone in school in their late teens doing line cooking. The prices for a meal at those places is expensive for what you get.
If I go mid range I go to locally owned where I get real food and decent portions.
How sad. There are few elegant places left. Almost all have the loud sports themed tv screens blaring and I rarely want that after a hard days work or especially not for a special occasion.
I can only think of a few truly elegant places left...Velvet Glove, Bailey's, R & J, 529, Hy's. Possibly Sydney's.
We once had a couple dozen or more. We are down to just a handful.

Well, like the article said, fine dining is not the draw that it once was. Which is funny, going to a white tablecloth place like one of the ones you listed or one of the ones that is no longer around like Dubrovnik's always felt like a real experience that the more casual joints that are popular these days can't duplicate.

How long until we start to see the inevitable fine dining resurgence?

[cllew]

Originally Posted by SpongeG

has the second jollibee opened now?

Not yet, I am sure there will be all sorts of media hype when it does open though.

[CoryB]

Originally Posted by SpongeG

has the second jollibee opened now?

If I had to guess the opening date of the second Jollibee I would say May/June. I was by there about a week ago and the building hadn't even reached the lock down (walls, doors, windows) stage yet.

[bomberjet]

I can't believe the buzz over Filipino McDonald's. It's crazy..

On a somewhat related note, I stopped in to the McD's under renovations at Ellice and St. James to grab a coffee last week. I guess they had that wicked deal going on. I couldn't get in the door. The store was packed with probably 200 or more Filipino's. It was a site to behold haha Maybe they all went to Jolibee and it was full, so decided the American McDonalds was next in line.

[BAKGUY]

Originally Posted by esquire

Well, like the article said, fine dining is not the draw that it once was. Which is funny, going to a white tablecloth place like one of the ones you listed or one of the ones that is no longer around like Dubrovnik's always felt like a real experience that the more casual joints that are popular these days can't duplicate.

How long until we start to see the inevitable fine dining resurgence?

Yeah, when? You would think now would be the time.
Yet, all kinds of other luxuries are available and people have all kinds of money to burn on other things.
Expensive spa treatments are one example.
Pet spas and many other things out there that costs plenty.

Boggles the mind.. Money is out there for certain things...
Many of the places to eat that are busy and popular are noisy and not cheap at all.
Also, going to Cineplex Odeon McGillivray & VIP Cinemas and paying plenty to eat food in the VIP theatres or $50.00 for a special experience with leather seats and special effects.
If I had the choice, for $50.00 plus much more for a meal at a cinema, I would rather go to live theatre or fine dinner then a basic movie.

[BAKGUY]

Originally Posted by bomberjet

I can't believe the buzz over Filipino McDonald's. It's crazy..

On a somewhat related note, I stopped in to the McD's under renovations at Ellice and St. James to grab a coffee last week. I guess they had that wicked deal going on. I couldn't get in the door. The store was packed with probably 200 or more Filipino's. It was a site to behold haha Maybe they all went to Jolibee and it was full, so decided the American McDonalds was next in line.

Exactly.
I work near there and McDonalds is getting the overflow from Jollibee and many eat there before a few hours pass for the Jollibee food to be available.

[CoryB]

I felt bad for Mongo's Grill that is basically off the corner of the Jollibee. My family likes to go there and made a visit after Christmas and the place was dead. Not overly surprised when the parking lot is overflowing because of Jollibee. Was surprised to see a W.K. Chan jeweler had opened up further south in the same development.

[drew]

Originally Posted by BAKGUY

I loved Amici's and also Bombolini.
The weird thing is, they were not much more expensive than those predictable chain places like Earl's Joey's, Moxie's etc... Just a few dollars more for real food prepared by real chef supervision and not prepared by someone in school in their late teens doing line cooking. The prices for a meal at those places is expensive for what you get.
If I go mid range I go to locally owned where I get real food and decent portions.

Can't speak for Moxie's, but the food at Earl's and Joey's is almost exclusively prepared from scratch, and each restaurant employs trained chefs to run the kitchens.

Actually, I can't imagine the kitchen at Amici's would be run much differently than Earl's. Prepare food during the day, and quickly assemble it for the meal rushes (and even Amici's would have teenagers/students doing the heavy lifting line cooking during meal times).

I get that Earl's/Joey's may not be to everyone's taste - but you certainly get quality food for the price points (consider they are roughly equivalent for meal costs to Montanas, Applebees, etc. etc. ).

[cheswick]

Originally Posted by bomberjet

I can't believe the buzz over Filipino McDonald's. It's crazy..

On a somewhat related note, I stopped in to the McD's under renovations at Ellice and St. James to grab a coffee last week. I guess they had that wicked deal going on. I couldn't get in the door. The store was packed with probably 200 or more Filipino's. It was a site to behold haha Maybe they all went to Jolibee and it was full, so decided the American McDonalds was next in line.

They had a revonvation celebration sale (or really a jollibee opening next door sale). Big Macs and a bunch of other items were on for $2.

[bomberjet]

When leaving, I noticed the sales posted on the trailer outside. It was weird though, almost everyone was Filipino inside. Huge, huge majority. Not that it's a big deal or anything.

[wags_in_the_peg]

Yuki Sushi (horrible name) in the McLaren Hotel on Main s for sale, wondering what that will become

[Urban recluse]

I know what I want the entire building to become...

[bomberjet]

Originally Posted by Urban recluse

I know what I want the entire building to become...

Renovated? haha She's a grand ole dame.

[Urban recluse]

Exactly.

[biguc]

Originally Posted by wags_in_the_peg

Yuki Sushi (horrible name) in the McLaren Hotel on Main s for sale, wondering what that will become

I used to like going there when it opened, 8 or so years ago. It was funny to watch people from the VLT lounge wander in through the interior door, look confused for a moment, and back out. It was also the perfect yardstick for dates: a decent sushi spot that would gently test a person's tolerance for weird.

Anyway, it came in as part of the grassroots revival of Main st that was happening at the time, along with the OG Tallest Poppy, The Occidental renovation, the Neon Factory, and a couple other places. It was seen as quite a coup for the area. Naturally, Centre Venture couldn't let that stand and let its wrecking balls fly, leaving us with the current situation, halfway between boring and a mess.