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!
Colosseo Ristorante Italiano
[flickr style=”border:none; padding:4px; border:1px solid #BDBDBD; float:right; margin-left:5px;”]photo:8179313736[/flickr]When it comes to Italian cuisine, Colosseo Ristorante Italiano is one of our favorite places to go. This gem is located on Corydon Avenue and has been serving authentic, homemade Italian meals since 1973. Colosseo is the perfect place for a romantic date, or a large family meal because the cozy space is separated off well to allow for privacy while dining. The space is decorated beautifully, with a mural of the sky on the low ceiling, and old-world artwork lining the walls. In the summer months, they also have an outdoor patio for guests to enjoy. We’ve always chosen the dining room however, because they make the most of their long and skinny patio area, meaning you’ll be sitting pretty close to the table next to you.
Eggplant Rollatini, Bruschetta, Stuffed Mushrooms and salads are some of the items you’ll find on the appetizer menu. This time around, we tried the Calamari and it wasn’t as good as we had hoped; the mussels are an appetizer we highly recommend. The menu then splits off into a few different sections of main dishes; pasta, chicken, meat (mostly veal), seafood and homemade pizzas. Many of their pastas, including the Gnocchi, Lasagna and Cannelloni are entirely homemade. The Lasagna is gigantic and could easily be shared! The Fettuccini Carbonara is worth a try, because often times Carbonara dishes are simply Alfredo sauce with bacon mixed in. This is the authentic recipe with eggs, onions and soft thinly shaved bacon.
[flickr style=”border:none; padding:4px; border:1px solid #BDBDBD; float:right; margin-left:5px;”]photo:8179283091[/flickr]This time around, we went with the Chicken Parmesan and a small pizza for our meals. True to Colosseo tradition, the portions are huge and they’re generous with the sauce, cheese and toppings on both dishes! You can taste the difference in this Chicken Parmesan, the homemade sauce is rich, and light at the same time. Even though the chicken and side-pasta are covered in this sauce, it does not overwhelm the dish. Everyone has their favorite place for a great scratch-made pizza, and Colosseo would have to be ours. Their homemade dough and sauce, hand-cut toppings and very generous amounts of cheese make for pizzas that have yet to disappoint us.
The prices at Colosseo are moderate to high but considering the portion sizes, we would still say the dishes are definitely worth their price. Service has always been prompt and friendly here, with servers who really know the menu. If you have a craving for Italian food, make Colosseo your next place to try!
Colosseo Ristorante Italiano
www.colosseo.ca
670 Corydon Ave
(204) 284-4977
