The Tallest Poppy 2.0 (Photos by Robin Summerfield)
The Tallest Poppy
685 Westminster Avenue, the Sherbrook Inn (Entrance on Sherbrook Street)
204-219-8777
Neighbourhood: Wolseley
Website: none
Facebook: facebook.com/tallestpoppy
Twitter: twitter.com/thetallestpoppy
Any visit to the Tallest Poppy starts with leaving any pretensions at the door.
This homey, no-nonsense diner lives inside the main floor at The Sherbrook Inn, a decidedly no frills hotel in the heart of Wolseley. This location is the second iteration of the once popular Main Street spot owned by chef/cook Talia Syrie, a passionate Winnipegger.
Syrie closed shop last year after taking over the kitchen and catering at Neechi Common's Tansi Café. The new Wolseley location is a partnership between Syrie and her friend Steve Ackerman.
The two joined forces to resurrect the much loved 'Poppy.'
The Poppy delivers on its mantra: 'high brow meets low brow family recipes.'
Burgers, soups, sandwiches and breakfast favourites make the menu. Lunch and dinner are served Tuesday to Sunday. A la carte breakfast (unlike the former family style breakfasts on Main Street) is served Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. The restaurant is closed Mondays.
The new restaurant retains the kitschy charm of the former location. Nothing fancy tables, a circa 70s lunch counter, vinyl booths and multi-coloured ceiling tiles lend a down-home air.
On our visit, we tucked into a classic tuna melt, a pickerel cheek sammie and a slice of house made strawberry rhubarb pie.
Pillow-soft cheese and green onion bread was a wonder. The lightly spiced tuna melt was comfort between two slices. Deep fried pickerel cheeks delivered crispy morsels of the tender whitefish.
A generous slice of strawberry rhubarb pie transported us straight back to grandma's kitchen.
And, in the end, nothing screams down home like a slice of homemade pie, just like grandma used to make.
Strawberry rhubarb pie at The Tallest Poppy.
Spicy tuna melt with chips at The Tallest Poppy.
Fried pickerel cheek sandwich and chips at The Tallest Poppy.
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