Surprised it took this long to make this category considering how obsessed (right, Lumi?) I have been over food and food photography lately. Surreal just posted his Round 3 picks of top Winnipeg eateries (Round 1; Round 2). To supplement, below are my picks:

1) FUDE – Osborne Village eatery on the 2nd floor, near Papa George’s. Best steak I’ve had in town…and we’ve eaten at Rae & Jerry’s and La Vieille Gare. Everything else on the menu and wine list is terrific, although I tend to oscillate between this dish and the Boomerang Goreng. We love this place so much that we eat here every time we visit the Peg.

2) ALYCIA’S – Great Ukrainian restaurant in West Kildonan, famous for being frequented by John Candy. The perogies are to die for. If you like goulash and borscht I think you’ll really enjoy this place.

3) WASABI – I prefer the one in Osborne Village over the hoity-toityness of the one on Broadway. Even having been back in Vancouver and eating fresh-off-the-boat sushi every week, I get cravings for Wasabi’s specialty makis and their chopped scalloped cone. Price-wise they’re much higher than what I’m used to paying in Vancouver. But definitely better bang for your buck than going to Meiji (that place is a rip-off!).

4) STELLA’S – Awesome breakfast fare at good prices. I still crave their berry jam, which they sell in jars from the Osborne village location. The other one is on Grant and Kenaston.

5) JUVIAN’S – The only place I’ve been to in Winnipeg for Filipino breakfast, but damn was it good! I had the sampler combo, which is highly rated if you’ve never tried Filipino food before. All the combos are under $6 because Filipino stuff is always cheap :) Located within the front of the Balmoral Hotel on Notre Dame.

6) RED LANTERN – Tiny little french dive in St. Boniface that has a $17 steak that tastes like $30. Still prefer Fude and La Vieille Gare but those are pricier. Rated by Frommers.

7) VJ’S DRIVE-IN – Burger joint near the Forks that is another place we frequent whenever we are in town. Try the VJ Special: I cannot believe how fantastic chili is on a burger! Milkshakes are terrific and the fries are super crunchy. Make sure to bring cash cause I don’t think they accept anything else.
8) MAGIC THAILAND – Incredible Thai place off the beaten path on Logan. My favourite is the green curry chicken soup. It is so hot that I have to order it as 1 (out of a hotness scale of 10). Perhaps it’s because it’s already using green curry, or that soups are more intensely flavoured than normal dishes.

9) IVORY – The only all-you-can-eat buffet I found in Winnipeg (about $25). Wonderful East Indian cuisine that rivals anything I’ve tasted here in Vancouver. Love love love the Beef Vindaloo!

On Surreal’s Greek pick, Niko’s — it’s unfortunately bottom-rung for me. Maybe I’ve been spoiled by growing up around authentic ethnic restaurants, and Greek is one of my favourites. (A great one in Vancouver is Paros Taverna…drool)

Niko’s was the first time I was served “greek salad” with lettuce leaves and ranch dressing. The real deal involves a whackload of cucumber, loads of tomatoes, onions, and kalamata olives, and a viniagrette. No lettuce to be found. The other strike for me was that the kalamari was called “fried squid” on the menu. (shrug) I am a food snob!

Check out my food gallery on Flickr if you haven’t yet. It’s got pics of food from local restaurants as well as what we’ve tried in our own kitchen or been served by friends and family.