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!
Resto Gare Bistro and Train Bar
Resto Gare Bistro is said to be one of the most authentic French restaurants in St. Boniface, so we knew we had to check it out! This family owned restaurant had been in business under the name La Vieille Gare for nearly 30 years before they gave their space a facelift and changed the name to Resto Gare Bistro. Luckily, their authenticity and tradition were not washed away during this overhaul; they remain 100% bilingual and the 99 year old building they operate out of has kept many of its historic elements.
[flickr style=”border:none; padding:4px; border:1px solid #BDBDBD; float:right; margin-left:5px;”]photo:7823070048[/flickr]This beautiful location makes Resto Gare a great place for romantic dinners, and they even host small weddings or other functions upon request. Their site is a former train station that was built in 1913, and a replica train car, built in 1914, sits in front of the main building. A cozy outdoor patio area is nestled in between the two and it features live jazz music every Thursday in the summer months. In an attempt to get the full experience of their historic location, we chose to sit in the train car. We felt perfectly tucked away in this quaint dining room since it had fewer tables and plenty of old-world style.
Resto Gare’s menu is a good size with plenty of choices and we were happy to see that their French meal titles were accompanied by English descriptions. Appetizer choices seem endless; Escargots, Mussels, Foie Gras, soups, breads, artisan cheeses and even Poutine to name a few! We started our meals off with the Mussels and the savory sauce that they were bathed in truly made this dish. The Casear Salad was good, but very authentic (made with anchovies), so beware if you’re not a fan of the fishy after-taste. We’ll admit we were tempted to order the Poutine and French Onion Soup; after having these dishes at so many chain or fast-food restaurants, we wanted to see how different they would be coming from a true French cook!
[flickr style=”border:none; padding:4px; border:1px solid #BDBDBD; float:right; margin-left:5px;”]photo:7823069692[/flickr]Some of the entrée choices include; Crepe Saint-Jacques (crepes, scallops, mushroom sauce, gruyere cheese), Beef Bourguignonne (classic braised beef dish), Mac & Cheese (option to add chicken, vegetables, lobster or ham), French Canadian Meat Pie, Rack of Lamb, Filet de Salmon and of course, Filet Mignon. We chose the Filet Mignon, with an added creamy peppercorn sauce and the Lobster Mac & Cheese as our mains. The Filet Mignon was amazing, perfectly cooked and wonderfully seasoned. The Lobster Mac & Cheese was good, but after the melted-cheese top layer; you’re left wishing for a bit more flavor and lobster pieces in the layers underneath. That being said, the macaroni was homemade, the portion was generous and it was still satisfying.
Resto Gare Bistro is an established restaurant that knows what they’re doing. Good service, great menu items and an even better atmosphere makes Resto Gare a great place for any night out. The former train station’s unique set-up and historic décor make it an even better place for a romantic date!
Resto Gare Bistro and Train Bar
http://restogare.com/
630 Des Meurons Rue
(204) 237-7072
