Winnipeg Restaurants

[Urban recluse]

Originally Posted by Wolf13

You guys suck so hard

I can only speak for myself, but, yes...yes I do

[CoryB]

Originally Posted by Wolf13

Despite knowing as much about everything as I do, I don't actually normally throw advice around. But I told him that the lunch office crowd, could, but might not come downtown for burgers from East St Paul or River Heights (they're taking their wives to Peasant or Mitchell Block etc, normally), and they would definitely order the fancy burger options. He seemed really receptive and cool about it.

One thing I know is that talk around my office about the Mexican place that was in the Tipsy Cow location was the food was great but it cost too much to make it a frequent lunch place. That location has a huge dining room and a second floor kitchen. I haven't seen the numbers but heard the rent ends up being high and unless you can get a decent lunch crowd on most days you are going to struggle with the costs of the operation long term no matter how lean and efficient your staffing is. Vicky's on Albert and White Star both have the model to follow to try and get the lunch business in the downtown area.

[Tacheguy]

Originally Posted by Urban recluse

I'm a cheap Ukrainian, so I splurge only so often LOL.

Were we married?

[Urban recluse]

LOL, still are. I didn't sign the papers.

[buzzg]

Originally Posted by CoryB

One thing I know is that talk around my office about the Mexican place that was in the Tipsy Cow location was the food was great but it cost too much to make it a frequent lunch place. That location has a huge dining room and a second floor kitchen. I haven't seen the numbers but heard the rent ends up being high and unless you can get a decent lunch crowd on most days you are going to struggle with the costs of the operation long term no matter how lean and efficient your staffing is. Vicky's on Albert and White Star both have the model to follow to try and get the lunch business in the downtown area.

The new White Star is just not the same. It doesn't have that classic, grimy diner feel. Also hate how it and Vicky's both close so early.

[Urban recluse]

Vicky's understandable since the immediate population is so low. Hopefully White Star will stay open longer if demand increases.

[CoryB]

^^ I know White Star has talked many times, even before their move, about wanting to stay open in the evening. The challenge is the sales need to be there to support it. Perhaps they will give it another try to catch some pre-game traffic when the hockey season starts up.

[biguc]

Originally Posted by Wolf13

As far as burger week, I didn't even know sous sol particpated last year! They might be my favourite spot in the city so I will make sure to visit. Burger week (and Negroni week) is easily one of my favourite weeks of the year!

Sous Sol's offering from last year:
"Certified Angus beef patty, remoulade, truffled tomato confit, pickled onion and foie gras on a brown butter toasted bun."

That tells you the burger's components but doesn't describe how they kicked the Burger Week tendency towards extravagance by turning out what was essentially a cafeteria burger, but with every part replaced by its most delicious relative. Ketchup = truffle tomato confit, for example. They even served it with a couple Sunspun ketchup packets (for the fries), nailing the presentation. It made for a wonderfully simple burger in comparison to the stacks of squid ink, pineapple, and brisket I happily waded through the rest of the week.

[esquire]

Originally Posted by Glenn99

Had lunch at Tipsy Cow on Friday. Decent burger and fries. The place was packed which resulted in waiting quite a long time for my order. So, as long as you are not in a rush check it out and go early.

I went and waited the better part of an hour for my burger. My friend said that she had a similar wait on her last visit.

What's weird is that their menu is so simple, there isn't even all that much to choose from. How it can take so long is a mystery to me, especially given that they've been at it for several weeks now. It takes less time for me to a grill up a burger at home.

The burger itself is good, it tastes like a slightly fancier version of a Wendy's burger. But as much as I enjoyed it I can't say that I'm in any rush to go back.

[Urban recluse]

Did you ask why you had to wait so long?

[esquire]

Originally Posted by Urban recluse

Did you ask why you had to wait so long?

No. I'm not that interested in the reason to be honest. But everyone was waiting... there was a group sitting at a table next to me that had been waiting even longer, and they were all kind of sitting in awkward silence that comes when you've depleted all the small talk subjects and just want your god damned lunch already

[Kronos]

Went a couple of weeks ago on a Sun afternoon (nice to see they were actually open on a Sunday). There was only one person waiting tables and it looked like she had just started the job. Hopefully they hire more staff who gain some experience, and get a better sense of scheduling to meet demand...all told to be expected when just opening up, though you'd expect improvement in the next few weeks, especially as Jets/Moose season starts up.

Food was good, and according to their website their food offerings were part of a limited initial menu...the expanded menu is pending.

[esquire]

^ It felt like day 1 in there. From what I've heard it's near full in there every day at lunch, so you'd think by now they'd know what to expect.

[horrorbro123]

Also Mentioned Chop Steakhouse & Bar Is Coming To True North Square

[no use for username]

Originally Posted by horrorbro123

Also Mentioned Chop Steakhouse & Bar Is Coming To True North Square

Makes sense. Sutton and Chop are under the same ownership group.

http://northland.ca/

[CoryB]

For clarity, Chop will be in the Sutton Hotel part of the development where the former Carlton Inn was, not the site that has actively been under construction.

[Intrepid-Poster]

Originally Posted by esquire

I went and waited the better part of an hour for my burger. My friend said that she had a similar wait on her last visit.

What's weird is that their menu is so simple, there isn't even all that much to choose from. How it can take so long is a mystery to me, especially given that they've been at it for several weeks now. It takes less time for me to a grill up a burger at home.

The burger itself is good, it tastes like a slightly fancier version of a Wendy's burger. But as much as I enjoyed it I can't say that I'm in any rush to go back.

I have been to the Tipsy Cow on two occasions for lunch. There wasn't a long wait when I went, but they were only about a 1/3 full each time. I hope your experience is the anomaly.

I was told by my server that the head chef was on holidays and would be back in about a month (this was a couple of weeks ago). The menu would then be expanded from the "soft opening" menu that was currently in place.

For those who go at lunch, be aware of the lunch specials. The portions are small. I was presented with both the lunch menu and the "regular" menu. The burger for the lunch menu is only a 4 oz patty. The regular menu features a 6 oz burger.

[Intrepid-Poster]

Originally Posted by CoryB

For clarity, Chop will be in the Sutton Hotel part of the development where the former Carlton Inn was, not the site that has actively been under construction.

Will they be closing Chop in the Sandman Hotel, or will the True North Square location become a second location?

[esquire]

Originally Posted by Intrepid-Poster

For those who go at lunch, be aware of the lunch specials. The portions are small. I was presented with both the lunch menu and the "regular" menu. The burger for the lunch menu is only a 4 oz patty. The regular menu features a 6 oz burger.

I found the lunch burger to be satisfying without being overwhelming... I ate the whole thing with soup and found it to be roughly on par with a McDonald's quarter pounder and fries in terms of how filling it is.

[cllew]

Originally Posted by Intrepid-Poster

Will they be closing Chop in the Sandman Hotel, or will the True North Square location become a second location?

The Free Press article today on the development says its a 2nd location