Resto Gare
Address: 630 Des Meurons Street
Phone Number: 204-237-7072
Website: http://restogare.com
Neighbourhood: St. Boniface (French Quarter)
With its heavy wood beams, neo-industrial touches and leather banquettes, Resto Gare exudes the atmosphere of a timeless gentlemen's club.
But that masculine ambiance ends abruptly at your plate, where the elegant touch of French cooking takes precedence.
The seafood crepes with scallops and prawns, with a velvety chardonnay velouté and a thin canopy of melted gruyere, are delicate but not wimpy. The sauce is rich, yes, but it doesn't overpower the nuggets of seafood within.
A classic chicken Waldorf sandwich was served on grilled focaccia which delivered an extra element of charred smokiness to this favourite. Chunks of roasted chicken intermingled with chopped celery, green apples, walnuts and raisins. The whole works were bound together with a touch of mayonnaise. We sensed some citrus in the mix too but couldn't pin it down. A house salad with vinaigrette offered bites of vivid and crunchy ribbons of carrot and beets.
You can also dive into robust stomach pleasers like traditional beef bourguignon and filet mignon, rack of lamb, and Chateaubriand. Manitoba regional favourites include parmesan-crusted pickerel and grilled bone-in pork chops.
There's so much fun stuff to try on this menu. It's worth repeated visits back.
Resto Gare, it must be noted, is an historical gem in Winnipeg. It's located in a 100-year-old train station. It's easy to spot from the street, given there's also a train car attached to the old station too. Jutting from the side of the building, the train car has been transformed into an elegant dining room, resplendent in royal blues and robust reds and gilded gold touches throughout. For history and food lovers this is a must-see and must-try in Winnipeg.
All aboard!