Top Restaurants in Winnipeg for Manitoba Regional Cuisine
Of all the restaurants in Winnipeg, those that use the bounty of Manitoba as their ingredients and inspiration have a special place in the hearts of locavores. Whether they use grass-fed bison or Lake Winnipeg caught pickerel, these restaurants in Winnipeg serve great food that is emblematic of the province’s bounty.
The Blue Marble
This airport hotel restaurant will blow you away with its fresh microgreens and pea shoots grown on site. Plenty of Manitoba staples are sourced for small plates menu of diverse tastes. Local flavours range from risotto made with locally produced cavena nuda (‘naked oat’) grains to venison carpaccio with wild rice popcorn. Chic décor and impressive presentation make The Blue Marble a destination spot.
- The Blue Marble, Winnipeg Grand Hotel, 1979 Wellington Ave, 204-594-1967, website
- Map and reviews
Prairie’s Edge
Set inside the lush greenery of Kildonan Park, this North End eatery serves local, seasonal fare inspired by the surrounding neighbourhood. Locally sourced products and prairie staples like beets, pickerel, and buckwheat honey are lovingly prepared by chef Michael Dacquisto in tributes to local kitchens. Pork schnitzel and microwave sponge cake take a cue from grandma (or Oma, Babi, or Baba), but make no mistake, baba never layered her cakes with sponge toffee, cappuccino foam, caramel crème and chocolate ganache.
- Prairie’s Edge, 2015 Main St, Kildonan Park, 204-284-7275, website
- Map and reviews
Fusion Grill
Fresh, local, organic and wild are the hallmarks of Fusion Grill, one of the city’s first champions of regional cuisine. White truffle perogies, crispy grass-fed beef dumplings and tender greens are some of the signatures found on the menu created by chef Lorna Murdoch. The cozy, contemporary restaurant is committed to its eat-local ethos; everything is made from scratch in Fusion’s kitchen. After nearly 20 years, Fusion Grill remains one of the premier restaurants in Winnipeg.
- Fusion Grill, 550 Academy Rd., 204-489-6363, website
- Map and reviews
The Gates on Roblin
Located on the banks of the Assiniboine River, this elegant country estate just west of Winnipeg has several rooms that provide a charming dining atmosphere, whether it’s at a table for two or 20. The rural beauty of The Gates’ spectacular location is perfectly complemented by the pan-Canadian menu, which leans heavily on local fish and meat.
- Gates on Roblin, 6945 Roblin Blvd., 204-224-2837, website
- Map and reviews
Pineridge Hollow
Located north of Winnipeg, on the outskirts of beautiful Birds Hill Park, this secluded country cottage restaurant embodies prairie warmth and hospitality. Wholesome, scratch-made comfort dishes—lemon ricotta pancakes, wild mushroom perogies, bison burgers, sweet potato fries—are made from with vegetables and herbs grown in the on-site garden. It doesn’t get much more local than that!
- Pineridge Hollow, 67086 Heatherdale Rd., 204-777-3880, website
- Map and reviews
Smith
Blending regional ingredients with culinary artistry and nods to nostalgia, this restaurant is a well-executed mix of Canadian comforts. Housed inside Inn at the Forks, the expansive restaurant welcomes hotel guests and curious travellers alike to a world of hunter plaid, Hudson’s Bay blanket striped banquettes, and deer antler adornments. Bison flat iron steak, finished with a subtly sweet whiskey glaze, and Manitoba-brewed beers on tap will aid diners in connecting with their inner lumberjack.
- Smith, 75 Forks Market Rd, 204-944-2445, website
- Map and reviews
The VG Restaurant
Stellar presentation and creative application of ingredients are routine at this high-standard hotel restaurant housed within The Fairmont Winnipeg. Items like tataki and togarashi pickerel check tacos point to a penchant for prairie paired with hay-infused mayonnaise point to a penchant for prairie ingredients and a focus on local eating.
- The VG Restaurant, The Fairmont, 2 Lombard Pl., 204-957-1350, website
Map and reviews