Hello Winnipeg, we are Mr. and Mrs. Restaurant. We’re passionate about food, but not about cooking. After growing tired of everyday chain restaurants, we began our search for the best hidden eateries the city has to offer. Ever wonder if that trendy new place is worth the money; or if that greasy burger joint lives up to all the hype? Just ask Mr. and Mrs. Restaurant!
IGI BBQ and Sushi Bistro
IGI BBQ and Sushi Bistro is a great alternative to your usual dining experience. An “all you can eat” set up provides for a great opportunity to try out many of their dishes, and allows you to get the full effect of their unique BBQ concept.
IGI is a smaller restaurant with a warm and inviting atmosphere. The staff was friendly, but more importantly, they were helpful considering we were first-timers at their restaurant and had a ton of questions.
[flickr style=”border:none; padding:4px; border:1px solid #BDBDBD; float:right; margin-left:5px;”]photo:7629337328[/flickr]Each table comes with its own circular grill in the centre; larger tables feature 2 to 3 grills to ensure all guests can try their hand at the cooking. This is where IGI sets itself apart from competitors; yes, you cook your own food.
The menu at IGI is extensive but not overwhelming. At $25-$30 per person, it begins like your typical Sushi restaurant featuring the usual suspects for appetizers and rolls. It quickly moves onto a variety of raw, marinated meats that are ready to barbeque. The beef short-ribs, otherwise known as Korean Barbeque, are a fan favorite and you’re sure to see a tray of it at every table. Beef tongue is an example of an option for the more adventurous diner.
So far, the experience is looking great; but how is the food? We started our meal with Gyoza, Tempura Mushrooms, Pork Udon Soup and a Philadelphia Roll. The appetizers were just as you might expect; tasty but nothing you’d run back for. We would caution you away from the Pork Udon Soup: it’s texture and smell is reminiscent of bacon fat, making it a little hard to stomach. The Phildelphia Roll, following suit, was average but let’s face it; people probably aren’t coming here for the Sushi!
[flickr style=” border:none; padding:4px; border:1px solid #BDBDBD; float:right; margin-left:5px;”]photo:7629337804[/flickr]Soon after placing our order, small stackable trays of raw meats were rushed out to us. Extremely fast delivery on the food; which is expectable considering its raw! Their thinly sliced meats cook up quickly on the personal grill, but we would suggest getting a few ready to eat appetizers so you’re not left only cooking for the first few minutes! The beef and the beef short-ribs were our favorites, their tasty marinade came through nicely and the ability to cook it ourselves allowed us to be in control of the meat’s doneness.
We give IGI BBQ and Sushi Bistro a 3 out of 5. This is because the food, stand-alone, is very good but no better than the competitor. IGI earns its points based on the experience; and we can confirm that the “cook-your-own” idea turned out to be just that; a fabulous and unique experience.
We’ll admit, at the beginning we made jokes about paying to cook our own food. But we were soon having fun with this concept and noticed our quick weeknight meal turned out to be a pleasantly longer and more involved event. Great place for groups, couples or a first date!
IGI BBQ and Sushi Bistro
10-1875 Pembina Highway
(204) 477-9909
