New (chain) Restaurants in Winnipeg

Mininari · #1 Posted **Nov 30, 2009, 4:24 PM**

So, theres been a lot of interest and speculation on what "new and exciting" retailers may be coming to Winnipeg in the near future. I, for one, am curious to know of any chain restaurants (American or Canadian) are thinking of making an entry into the Winnipeg market -- and where else better to do it than beside a shiny new Ikea, or upscale retailers?

Here are some names I wonder about:
Why is there no Swiss Chalet in Winnipeg (save the poorman's version at the airport)
East Side Mario's (too much like olive garden?)
Taco Del Mar
Chili's
others?

rrskylar · #2 Posted **Nov 30, 2009, 4:32 PM**

^ The first TGIF is coming to Winnipeg and will be located in the new airport terminal, Swiss Chalet had multiple locations in Winnipeg that all closed after customers got sick of undercooked chicken, Taco Del Mar and Chili's are both restaurants that leave nothing to write home about.

Riverman · #3 Posted **Nov 30, 2009, 4:33 PM**

East Side Marios was here too but couldn't make a go of it. One of the locations was where the gay club is now.

macca · #4 Posted **Nov 30, 2009, 4:36 PM**

I can't imagine what is appealing about a chain restaurant.

circle33 · #5 Posted **Nov 30, 2009, 4:38 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by macca

I can't imagine what is appealing about a chain restaurant.

Predictability of blandness ?

drew · #6 Posted **Nov 30, 2009, 5:04 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Riverman

East Side Marios was here too but couldn't make a go of it. One of the locations was where the gay club is now.

It wasn't that they couldn't make a go of it, it was that the whole franchise basically imploded, only to reappear in new markets about 10 years later.

I used to work at the one in St. James... The restaurant never closed. It went from East Side Marios to Pomodoris to Hooters to Wrecking Ball.

macca · #7 Posted **Nov 30, 2009, 5:56 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by circle33

Predictability of blandness ?

Whereas I prefer to be surprised by blandlness.

newflyer · #8 Posted **Nov 30, 2009, 6:38 PM**

There are many very good restaurants in Winnipeg... and I wouldn't expect less from the city which is recognized as having the most restaurants per capita in Canada.

With that many restaurants ... you end up with some really good ones.

Of course as new retail development goes up there will be new restaurants to service them. Personally I am hoping for somthing better than some second tier chain franchise, like Milestones.

Biff · #9 Posted **Nov 30, 2009, 7:18 PM**

Chili's should be entering Winnipeg in either 2010 or 2011. The franchiser from Saskatchewan is looking at Manitoba right now.

The Jabroni · #10 Posted **Nov 30, 2009, 7:25 PM**

I would love to see a Red Robin open up in Winnipeg. Their burgers are beyond awesome!

Mininari · #11 Posted **Nov 30, 2009, 7:36 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by newflyer

There are many very good restaurants in Winnipeg... and I wouldn't expect less from the city which is recognized as having the most restaurants per capita in Canada.

With that many restaurants ... you end up with some really good ones.

Of course as new retail development goes up there will be new restaurants to service them. Personally I am hoping for somthing better than some second tier chain franchise, like Milestones.

Exactly. These developments are coming, and I am merely wondering if some other chains not in the market are interested in opening a location there. Winnipeg definitely has plenty of very good independent restaurants!

I like the Red Robins suggestion, agree that milestones is overpriced crap, and would love to see White Spot make an intrusion further into the prairies : )

Boreal · #12 Posted **Nov 30, 2009, 8:33 PM**

I'm not a huge fan of chain restaurants, but I do enjoy a few of them. I wouldn't mind an East Side Mario's. I agree, it is no hell, however, sometimes you just want a boat load of pasta at a reasonable price, and would prefer an alternative to Boston Pizza at 2:00am. Hence, I see a niche.

There are two chains I'd love to have in Winnipeg, those being a Rainforest Cafe, and a Richtree. The latter of which I still maintain that I'd love to get the antiques out of the basement at The Forks and put a Richtree down there. A Rainforest Cafe would look great in Polo Park, especially the new subdivided space.

Biff · #13 Posted **Nov 30, 2009, 9:39 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boreal

I'm not a huge fan of chain restaurants, but I do enjoy a few of them. I wouldn't mind an East Side Mario's. I agree, it is no hell, however, sometimes you just want a boat load of pasta at a reasonable price, and would prefer an alternative to Boston Pizza at 2:00am. Hence, I see a niche.

There are two chains I'd love to have in Winnipeg, those being a Rainforest Cafe, and a Richtree. The latter of which I still maintain that I'd love to get the antiques out of the basement at The Forks and put a Richtree down there. A Rainforest Cafe would look great in Polo Park, especially the new subdivided space.

Rainforest Cafe's are generally parts of large tourist destinations, which i am not quite sure if Winnipeg would be able to sustain their size. They pump through a lot of people and have large capacities - I would like one here though, great for entertaining the kids.

Andy6 · #14 Posted **Nov 30, 2009, 10:31 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by newflyer

There are many very good restaurants in Winnipeg... and I wouldn't expect less from the city which is recognized as having the most restaurants per capita in Canada.

By whom?

newflyer · #15 Posted **Nov 30, 2009, 11:00 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Jabroni

I would love to see a Red Robin open up in Winnipeg. Their burgers are beyond awesome!

Yeah you are right.. they do have damn good burgers.

I used to goto one in particular in Edmonton and found it to have great service with very good food.

Speaking of Edmonton, I'd love to see Winnipeg get a Sawmill Restaurant. Absolutely one of my favorites when in the Alberta Capital.

Boreal · #16 Posted **Nov 30, 2009, 11:46 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Biff

Rainforest Cafe's are generally parts of large tourist destinations, which i am not quite sure if Winnipeg would be able to sustain their size. They pump through a lot of people and have large capacities - I would like one here though, great for entertaining the kids.

I wonder what Mrs. Asper and the Board of Directors of the CMHR would think about a little re-design of the lobby

. Kidding.

Andy6 · #17 Posted **Dec 1, 2009, 1:13 AM**

Why this obsession with chain restaurants? I'd rather Winnipeg didn't have any of them.

vid · #18 Posted **Dec 1, 2009, 2:14 AM**

East Side Mario's here recently closed after going through a few owners. The last one was really bad and service declined so much that it just failed. The one before that, his wife flipped out at construction crews when the street it was on was under construction. For two days their parking lot was inaccessible, and people had to park next door. There was a picture of her on the paper spazzing out, it was hilarious as fuck.

Do you guys have Harvey's? They're trying to open here but can't find anyone to run the place.

newflyer · #19 Posted **Dec 1, 2009, 2:23 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andy6

Why this obsession with chain restaurants? I'd rather Winnipeg didn't have any of them.

Yeah .. like Oakbank. That'd be awsome.

The fact is some chain restaurants are pretty good. I have no problem with them and I let my wallet do the voting. If they can't provide a good product then they fail.

1ajs · #20 Posted **Dec 1, 2009, 2:51 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andy6

Why this obsession with chain restaurants? I'd rather Winnipeg didn't have any of them.

agreed the chains are nice but dam why pay for junk when u can get realy good food for the same price just about anywhere in this city we are truely spoiled