Always a great meal here. A unique cost and romantic place with wonderful food. I always take out of town visitors here and we've never been disappointed.
This is a different place than the regular chain restaurant and is very reasonable for what you get. If your celebrating something this is a great option. Food, service and ambiance are very good.
After much anticipation I finally visited Cafe Dario Friday evening. It was everything I’d hoped it would be. My husband and I went with another couple and we all enjoyed ourselves thoroughly. Each course was delicious and beautifully presented. The atmosphere was relaxed and cozy - we were able to all have a conversation at the table and not have to shout to be heard. Our server was so friendly and attentive (and also celebrating his birthday), and just added to our overall experience.
It was a fantastic place - we all agreed we would return and recommend in the future.
Great food, 5 fabulous courses! Many gluten-free options. Creative, flavourful dishes. Friendly, attentive service. Best meal out in a long time!
I have had dinner and lunch twice now at Care Dario's, and I have never been disappointed. This has become my favourite romantic dinner date restaurant in the city; the special on Sunday, Monday, Tuesday is great (dinner for 2 with a bottle of house wine, $109). The food is exquisite here. Last night my partner had the elk ossobuco and he said it was the best meal he ever ate. I had the spicy escargot with mushrooms as an appetizer and loved early bite of it, and had the beef tenderloin with chimmichurri, and it was cooked to perfection. I love the atmosphere here, it's a small restaurant decorated with masks all over the walls. The dinner courses are brought out slowly, so be prepared to dine and have lots of time to chat with whoever you are having dinner with. Dario, the owner and head chef, came out during the meal to chat with all the patrons, he is hilarious and clearly cares about ensuring his guests have a great experience. He even took drinks orders for people and helped his waitress bus a table. All around, a great experience every time. Seriously one of Winnipeg's best restaurants.
Cafe Dario is an amazing restaurant!!. Went for a meal last night and was blown away by the delicious food .. atmosphere.. and price. The variety and beautiful presentation of each dish was fantastic. Highly recommend for the flavorful cuisine, cozy setting and friendly staff. Truly a little gem in our city!.
Highly recommend dining at Cafe Dario. Fine dining quality food in a casual and relaxed atmosphere. 5 course meal for $44 is great value for money. Good Choices of appetizer and entree. I had the escargots with Thai basil. Saucy and spicy. It was fabulous. Red pepper and tomato Soup was good. Caesar salad dressing was extra garlicky and spicy. Grilled duck was fantastic too. Desert was only average. Only the soup and desert which were average. prevented a score of 5.
Went in a group of 8.
Were seated on time.
Orders were accurately taken and served.
The lamb shank and pot pie were delicious. The beef steak is great too. Presentation was great too. Our server was attentive and proficient.
Had a great time and will be back soon.
Excellent dinner. Went for the New Year's Eve 5 course dinner and was amazed. The highlights were the soup and salad. The soup was a fantastic cream of cauliflower with caraway and saffron. So delicious, we could have stopped there. THe salad was a traditional Colombian one, with twelve grapes symbolizing each month of the year, topped with a subtle vinaigrette and toasted coconut. Unreal. The main I had was good but nothing out of the ordinary- a filet mognon topped with a house made chimichurri. But my girlfriend's salmon was the hit entree- a beautiful charbroiled fillet of salmon, topped with a Thai chile-pineapple salsa. Highly recommend this place. A hidden gem with robust flavours.
This place is magnificent. I don't think you could ever eat here and not be satisfied. The menu offers something for everyone and it tastes amazing. Usually I come for supper but I recently went for lunch. For 13$ I had a big piece of salmon with potatoes, veggies and a soup. I couldn't believe what a great deal I was getting on such awesome food. This place is a must!
My girlfriend and I went here for dinner and the experience was fantastic. Our waiter was friendly and was there to explain to us the items on the menu. For $40 you get a full course dinner with a surprise dessert in the end. The price is worth as we were treated with freshly cooked food. For appetizer, we tried the Escargot which was perfectly oozing with hot cheese. Just thinking about it makes me salivate. We also had their empanada which was flaky and filled with this delicious mixture of mushroom and spinach. I was never a salad lover, but their salad with strawberry vinaigrette just made me eat through a plate of salad without hesitation. Their cream of mushroom soup was hot and well seasoned. Lastly their main course meals looked good and flavourful. Overall, a highly recommended place for a date night.
OMG!!! Amazing ... seriously amazing.
Took my wife for our anniversary dinner to Cafe Dario and this place shocked me.
A+ for food
A+ for flavour
A+ for presentation(Not that this matters too much to a simpleton like me)
A+ for service
WOW!!!
Amazing. GO! NOW! One of our favourites. Very good quality food. Lunch is super reasonable during the week. Don't know what else to say, we clean our plates every time.
Perfect! Perfect! Perfect every single time! We come at least twice a year and see dario and his lovely food creations. For two people $39 each, it includes appetizer, entree, salad, soup and desert. It is the best bang for your buck if you want authentic food.
This place looks a bit odd given its location but my mother always said "never judge a book by its cover" I'm glad I didn't. The food was excellent, I had the duck breast and a lobster tail for my main, I started with the escargot, next was a very delish salmon chowder, desert was a blueberry/ banana mouse so good. The service was warm and inviting reminded me of being at a family members home for dinner without the screaming kids and drunk uncles. I loved this place, flat rate for 5 courses with a good selection of local and imported beers. I will most defiantly be back.
One of my West End favs . Never have had a bad meal here . The portions are just right and everything is cooked to perfection. The service is prompt and friendly
Absolutely amazing experience all around! Quaint atmosphere, friendly service and then the food was to die for. The creamy potato and beef tenderloin soup was honestly the best soup I have tasted in my life so rich and creamy and full of flavour. Then onto my beef tenderloin it was cooked to perfection and melted in my mouth. My dates meal was divine he had the chicken. Food quality was extraordinary we both left feeling full and we were shocked when the bill came around we have spent more on drive thru food. Highly recommend and can not wait to return.
First time at Cafe Dario, and enjoyed it very much. Was seated at the front where it was very dim but also had a view of the kitchen which was exciting. Food is very flavourful, and cooked to perfection. Staff is very friendly, atmosphere is relaxed and the decor keeps you entertained. When you first get in, it is a little space and seems small, but when sitting at your table you have a comfortable space. The only thing I wish was different were the portions. Portions are smaller and because I eat a lot and enjoyed the food very much I wish there was more on my plate. Haha. Thank you Cafe Dario, I will for sure be back for some more fantastic food. :)
Our second New Years Eve with Dario and once again they delivered an exceptional meal. It was packed as expected and noisy as a result but it's NYE after all.
I had the lobster corn dog appy which was great. Shitake mushroom chocolate soup which blew us away. Entrée was pastry wrapped bison filet with liver pate and it was just phenomenal. Chocolate mousse for dessert capped off a perfect meal. Service was the usual high standard. Cafe Dario is our favorite special spot.
Awesome place for lunch. Very accommodating to dietary needs and the quality of food was amazing. I had the chicken breast which was very good. The cream sauce underneath the chicken was the best part, especially mixed in with the mashed potatoes. Mmmm!! I'm not sure how they cook their beets, but everyone agreed they were VERY good. Probably the best cooked beet I've ever had. The split pea soup served before my meal was comforting and delicious. Gourmet food served perfectly and light on your wallet. Oh, and the service was great too. I'll be back, thank you Chef Dario!
Flat price for a five course meal with lots of choices for the appetizer and the main course, just the perfect amount of food at every course. Everything had a unique taste intimate atmosphere and we'll be back.
I went here for my birthday last month and had a great experience. The food was wonderful, the portions were perfect, the service was wonderful.
I would highly recommend going to Cafe Dario for a delicious dinner, great atmosphere and all around excellent dining experience.
Superb. We went there for mothers day. My mom had gone for lunch before and love it, so we made reservations for 5pm. (she's brought it up many times.) Every portion of every dish was perfection. I have many food allergies and the chef came out and talked with me about my allergies and tolerances and made sure whatever I ordered was safe for me to eat. He even said if I called in advance they could make sure to have particular items for me. Each portion came out with perfect timing, with just a bit of space between courses. The whole thing took about 2 hours which was ideal for spending time together and enjoying each course without rush or waiting. Delicious and the service was excellent, checked on and had our glasses filled whenever starting to go down. Our waiter was lovely and made the perfect wine suggestion. We will be back. New favorite.
Excellent place to get a great dinner. I was at Café Dario last night and was seated in the back room. If you go, ask for that room. It is decorated with many tribal masks from all around the world (see photo of one of the masks). They have a special on Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday where you get two, five course dinners plus a bottle of one of their house wines for $95.
My cousin ordered the "surprise" appetizer which consisted of rabbit, bison, and garlic. All were wonderful. I had the bean and shredded chicken chili which was excellent but very filling for an appetizer. We then had the Clam chowder soup. I have never had Clam chowder because I thought I would not like it, but boy was I wrong. It is now one of my favourite soups (at least at Café Dario).
For the main course I selected the 6oz beef tenderloin steak cooked to your liking and drizzled with caper chimichurri sauce. I highly recommend this as a main course. It was bursting with flavor and had some very unique flavours thanks to the chimichuri sauce which I loved. My cousin had the elk and he said he would definitely order it again.
Presentation was so interesting and the service was top notch. All in all we thoroughly enjoyed the experience and would highly recommend this restaurant. It does not look like much from the outside, but never judge a book by its cover, the same goes for restaurants. You will not regret going here.
Carolina Alves De Almeida
+4.5
Last time I went to Cafe Dario I had a terrible experience: it took 3 hours and a half to go through dinner! The service was really slow and we had issues woth extra drinks changed on the bill.
Good, but underwhelming. I was here on New Years Eve. The dishes varied from okay to pretty fantastic, but the overall verdict from my group was that they were pretty underwhelmed by the experience.The service was good, especially considering it was pretty busy; the server was quite attentive.
Appetizer:
Truffled mushroom and cheese souffle--this was pretty delicious. There was a decided lack of "light" appetizers, and knowing I had another 4 courses ahead of me I had been hoping for something a bit less filling. After eating it I was starting to feel full already, but I have no complaints with the taste. Other people at my table had the avocado stuffed with shrimp (which they said was alright but not amazing), the tamale (which was rated as "underwhelming") and the lamb pop (which was rated "good"
Soup:
Cream of almond--I've had nut soups before but never almond, and I was intrigued. I was a bit disappointed with the result: it tasted like a pretty average cream-of-soup base with almond extract--or perhaps amaretto--for flavouring. Admittedly, I wasn't sure what to expect, but this tasted less nutty and more alcoholic than I was hoping for. While it was interesting, I would not order it again.
Salad:
Mixed greens, blackberries, with a tamarind dressing. This was good but nothing special; the tamarind dressing didn't have as much character as I had expected.
Main:
Wild boar stuffed with plaintains and apricots. This was to die for. Juicy, flavourful, and interesting, I would certainly have this again. Unfortunately the rest of my party was significantly underwhelmed by their mains. Two had the steak and lobster, which they said was good but nothing special; and one had the rack of lamb, which came out much rarer than she had expected--she'd asked for medium-rare, and it came out bloody. The server was very apologetic about this, took it back and had it cooked for longer, but the bloody beginning to the dish made her lose her appetite and she couldn't finish it. I had a taste of the lamb and it was okay, but nothing special.
Dessert:
Chocolate and guava duo--this was delicious: a combination of rich brownie and light, flavourful mousse. We had it with Spanish coffees. It was the only time during the meal that the server was gone for more than a few minutes--it turns out they'd run out of brandy :). The hostess came out to warn us and even so, the server wasn't gone too long and came back with delicious coffees and our heavenly dessert.
Overall:
I'm giving this a thumbs-up considering the great service and the fantastic wild boar, but overall, I was expecting this place to knock my socks off and it didn't. The server had encouraged us to order meals we had never tried before, which was excellent advice; I was happier with the more adventurous choice of wild boar than any of my colleagues seemed to be with their more recognizeable dishes. Having said that I'm not sure I'd go back; it's a pretty steep price for a meal that more than half my party wasn't thrilled with.
It was a very nice dinner. There were 6 of us and all of us enjoyed our appis and entrees. The soup was a delicious cream of chicken and corn. The salad was the plainest, just baby greens but had an interesting banana vinagrette. The desert that night was a delicious choc/orange mousse, just not enough. The waitress/hostess was very nice. We will be back.
SwizzleStyx. Our group had lunch here today and we were all happy with our meals as always at Café Dario. The beef and lentil soup was hot and delicious and our mains were salmon, pork tenderloin, osso buco and venison hot dog. All of the plates were wonderful...excellent presentation and done to perfection with loads of interesting tastes. The waiter was friendly and extremely helpful with wine and beer pairings, and the chef came out to speak to us as well, which is such a nice touch. We've eaten here many times and will continue to return!
Sept 2016 - we dined here again and had Chef Dario choose everything for us, even the wine, and what a fabulous job he did!! Everything was perfect!
Sept 2017 - The Swizzle Styx dined here again and Chef Dario did his magic yet again.
Sept 2018 - the Swizzle Styx were back here again and as always it was probably the best meal of the year!
Romantic Atmosphere. I've been to this restaurant a number of times. We liked the romantic ambiance and the service is always good. The food is different but delicious. I loved the presentation, it never fails to amaze.
By far the best place. Love the atmosphere. The chef is an absolute delight. The servers are very nice. The food has so much flavor. It's amazing. I had alligator and it wss pretty good. I tell everyone they should go here
Worth going. I have been to Dario's twice and have been pleased with the food and the service.
My last visit was New Year Eve 2014, which had an all new menu which deviated from the usual standards and my elk was out of this world.
Prices were increased almost double mind you, but the ingredients were elevated to compensate and give everyone an even better New years Eve.
For the price point ( usually around $40 for a 5 course meal ) i find Dario's a great place to take a date or have a nice night out. While the dining area is small and almost cramped at some tables, the noise level was still low enough to enjoy the atmosphere.
7 /10 on the food and service.
Stopped in for lunch to give it a try. I was very pleasantly surprised after reading some negative reviews.
Our server was extremely attentive and professional. Both the lamb and pork tenderloin we tried were done to perfection.
In a society where portion size is designed for those who live to eat instead of eat to live, this was a pleasant surprise. Enough was served to comfortably fill a person so they may be satisfied, but that's it.
A really enjoyable experience. Can't wait to return.
Best. Meal. Ever!. I went to Cafe Dario, for the first time last night. I chose the baked escargot (which I have never eaten before) and it was outstanding. The nailed the flavour with just the right amount of heat! The soup was a seafood chowder which was served piping hot and also delicious. The salad course also didn't disappoint. For my entree I chose the bacon wrapped venison and thought I had died and gone to heaven. The meat was so tender I barely had to chew and the flavours on the plate practically leave you drooling. It was all very indulgent and wonderful!! I look forward to going back again and again!
Great meal, great service! The duck was cooked perfectly, and the flavor was spot on! The steak was also perfectly medium rare. From start to finish, everything was delicious. If I had to pick something to critique, it would be that the creamed spinach soup needed a hint of salt. For the price, this restaurant is hands down the best value for a unique dining experience!
Best meal of the year. After eating at Cafe Dario during dineabout a few years back we finally returned this year for our anniversary, and we were not disappointed. We really enjoy the setting inside the restaurant and the waiter was nice, helpful and chatty. All 5 courses were delicious and left us wanting more. It was a very cold Winnipeg night, so a bowl of the cream of chicken soup was perfect. The entrees (Lamb and beef Tenderloin) were to die for. Overall it was a great night with great food and easily the best meal we had in 2013.
We had a great experience in this place with regards to the quality of the food and service. The timing was perfect and they a have wide selection of fine wines. We ordered for the 3-5 course meal which include; appetizer, main, and dessert. All were good and delicious. We'll be back!
Excellent cuisine. I've been a few times to Cafe Dario and never disappointed. The food is always fresh and delicious. It's a little converted house but very cozy and welcoming. The staff are always very friendly. I usually go for lunch because it's relatively close to my employ and have never had any problems with time. The servings are just perfect always leaving you satisfied without feeling too full.
I love this place. I've only been for lunch but I can imagine that dinner is just as amazing. Do yourself a favour and go here instead if one if those generic restaurants around Polo Park. It's just as close and I guarantee you will get a delicious freshly prepared dish for the same price if not less then what you will pay at those generic restaurants. Daily soup is made fresh and os always very unique and come with each dish. Smaller restaurant so you may want to reserve especially if you have a larger party.
Unexpected Gem. Where you least expect it, you will find good food. This unexpected gem delivered on both food and service. I wish the ambiance was a little more quaint to match the food, but hey - can't have everything!
This is the most creative kitchen, the best quality and flavor, and the best value in town
Birthday Dinner. We were at Cafe Dario tonight for a family birthday dinner. We had an absolutely awesome meal from the apps to the desert. Fantastic app of bruschetta, soup of mushroom shrimp, and main of port tenderloin and steak.. We had some food allergy issues that were quickly accommodated by our server and Dario without hesitation. Service was outstanding and the whole family enjoyed their meal. We will definitely return. Thanks.
Wonderful. I love the intimacy of the small rooms, it provides a very romantic evening and the food was incredible. I've been here a few times and it has not failed me. It has consistently been very good.
Consistently impressed. I have been three times to Cafe Dario and have been very impressed each time. I tend to lean towards simple meat and potatoes sort of meals when preparing my own food but love trying new stuff. Each time I have been to Cafe Dario the variety of spices and flavours was nothing short of spectacular.
Prepare yourself for a treat. This place is a gem.
Best Dinner in Winnipeg Ever. If you haven't been to Cafe Dario you have been missing out.
We booked a reservation Jan 30th, 2013 and this is my new favorite restaurant in Winnipeg.
We have many good restaurants in Winnipeg, I believe Cafe Dario to be the best.
The food tasted better than any I've had, the service was fantastic, the reviewers here that say they had bad service, I don't believe it.
Prices are very, very affordable, especially compared to the gourmet meal they provide you.
Give Cafe Dario a try, you will definitely return after your first visit.
Relaxing romantic atmosphere & Great food. I liked the concept of the appetizer, entree and dessert all in one price (with exception of some like the steak) and the options of choosing which to make your entire meal. Their food is delicious, I've been there twice and each time you'd feel the need to try something different. A romantic atmosphere, a little pricey but very worth it. If you're adventurous and your tummy endure great quality food, this is the place for you! A splendid place for special occasions.
Worth it!. Went there with my Spanish class and got served in Spanish by the owner! The food was possibly the best food I've ever had. It is pricey but well worth it! The dessert was my favourite. It was chocolate mousse with cayenne peppers. Sounds weird but I was raving about it for weeks!
I've been twice now. The first time the service was bad but the food was good! This time both were fantastic! If you do not like trying new things, I do not recommend this restaurant. I had diablo Escargot to start and they were delicious. My entree was the duck. It was do tasty and juicy. The sauce had fruit undertones and was spicy and complimented it perfectly. I would definitely recommend cafe Dario!
Keisha Jieying Huang
+4.5
Amazing. This place is amazing! $35 you can get a appetizer, salad, soup , entree and dessert! The salad and the dessert was ok, but the appetizer and the entree was so amazing! South American style cooking, you can't never imagine how well the food and fruits match together. I went there in the summer time, and I just had a good appetizer by the fresh food and freshy taste! I definitely go there again! But remember always make a reservation!
This place us amazing!! Fantastic service and some of the best foods I've ever tasted. Great value too! Don't be scared to try something new here
Best food. Odd location and inconsistent service not withstanding, simply the most creative and amazing flavor creations in the city
SImply Perfect. Despite of the service is a little bit weird with the old lady always in bad mood and the guy who speaks like Lurch from Adams family. The food is just perfect, all is fresh. I tried Venison and duck both are enhanced by the combination of aromatic herbs and berries. the portions are well balanced, Definetely I will come back to try the whole menu and repeat the venison and the duck.
The Dario Treat. A rather dull and industrial-looking location hides an unexpected and interesting little gem of a restaurant, staked out in a former residence. Cafe Dario is an intriguing dining experience, because of its uncommon idea of a new menu, set weekly. Dinner patrons pay a flat fee of $35.00 for a 5 course meal consisting of an appetizer, soup, salad, entree, and dessert. You can choose your ap and entree among options, but the chef makes one soup, salad and dessert for all.
Dietary considerations are addressed if you call ahead. This vegetarian decided to spend the night vegan for the sake of simplicity, and enjoyed the adventure of being surprised, mostly pleasantly, by each course.
It was an exciting experience, having a room full of people all served at once. (You must reserve, as the room was at capacity.) The timing of such meal preparation is an art in itself. Arrive hungry. You get a lot!
Everything was presented so beautifully, and with great attention to detail. My appetizer had a dipping sauce with a tasty bite, but was not a meal favourite. Soup was coconut carrot ginger, which could have been more flavourful. The salad was exceptional in its simplicity and taste, with fancy lettuce so fresh, that it could have just been clipped from the garden. Greens were wrapped in a ribbon of cucumber, and complemented by a delicious dressing.
The vegan main course consisted of a filling fabulous epinada--excuse spelling ;-) packed with roasted vegetables, while the artfully garnished sides included sliced carrots, and a tasty beet puree.
My alternative vegan dessert was a refreshing watermellon sorbet served in a martini glass. The chef's dessert was a beautifully presented square of mouth-watering rich mint brownie, reminiscent of Laura Secord's delicious French Mint chocolate bar. Decorated with a dollop of whipped cream and a strawberry, it was heaven!
It appears from other reviews that the lunch menu is priced much lower. The set dinner cost is however more than reasonable considering that the number of courses you get would be much more expensive ordered separately elsewhere, and also the sheer amount of food you receive.
Cafe Dario in quaint and cozy. There is little separation between rooms and tables, so it can get a bit noisy, but it is a real dining experience that is definitely worth it.
7 out of 10. Good place and the food was pretty good. The service was not so good. They should really address the service issue. I know its a family business and they would like to keep it in the family, but this place could potentially do even better from a profit perspective. Put a little more consideration towards the service aspect of the restaurant!
Beautiful food. The plating is lovely, and the food is scrumptious. I had the pepper crusted pan seared salmon for lunch. So yummy. And so affordable. Will be back soon. I love that your meal comes with savory soup.
Scrumptious. This is such a great restaurant. I love how the menu changes every month and is a mix of cultural food. Very affordable for the quality...it's 5 star quality for an average price. Wish it was closer to home so that I could go more often!
Delicious! Beef tostada an lamb shank were perfect. Will definitely go back
Lovely. Food is great, serving staff could be friendlier. Dario think about hiring some nicer servers.
Forget the Ambiance: it's all about the food!. It's crowded. And sometimes noisy. And the decor of heavy dining furniture stuffed together in a tiny room with walls covered with a mish mash of bizarre "art"--some hung crookedly, and most of which needs a good dusting!--is not my ideal environment. But that's not why I come to Cafe Dario: it's all about the food.
In my opinion, it's the best place in Winnipeg to get a top-notch four course lunch for a truly reasonable price. I can't believe that people pay as much, or more than this, to go to a crappy chain restaurant like Boston Pizza or the like....
Definitely go for the set lunch menu, which will get you an appetizer, soup, main course and dessert for $35--are you kidding me!! My most recent visit was with 5 girlfriends, and they had crammed a bunch of furniture together to try and create a table for six, but which left two of us completely trapped in our chairs for the duration of the meal. This mild discomfort was immediately forgotten once we received our food: everything everyone had was tasty, wonderful, exciting and perfectly prepared, right down to the amazing chocolate brownie with raspberry and mandarin orange inside. I can't believe we ate every crumb, but it was so delicious, there was no option. Even the coffee is excellent.
Interestingly, I've never been here for dinner! But for a treat, this is the place to go with friends for an excellent lunch, always a surprise based on what's available--and always good.
Good lunch. We have been to Cafe Dario several times, but never for lunch. the waitress, Jill was bright and bubbly. I am not a fish lover but the cornmeal crusted haddock sounded yummy. and it more than met my expectations! the fish was tender and cooked just right. My husband had the brined pork loin chop and didn't even offer me any! Our whole party left feeling full and happy. The chef, Matthew, really does a good job!
Exceptional Food!. When I visit Winnipeg, Cafe Dario is the one place I must go. I visited yesterday with friends for lunch and was more impressed than ever. My starter was the E=escargot "el diablo" Rarely does restaurant food deliver the heat but this dish was an exception.The soup - a beef and vegetable, was a surprise. It sounded so boring I was slightly disappointed - until I tasted it. The broth was so unbelievably rich! I am not a fan of mushrooms, but this soup nearly changed my tune For my entree. I had the House Brined Pork Chop with Spicy Bacon gravy on recommendation fromafriend. The description said "juicy" and it did not disappoint. The only time I've had a pork dish so succulent and flavourful was at Mesa Grill in Las Vegas (and I paid 4 times the price) . This restaurant is spectacular. Compliments to the chef!
Must visit!. One of the most unique and tasty dining experiences in Winnipeg!
Colombian born chef Dario makes imaginative use of the flavors of south America in a converted house in Winnipeg's west end.
It,s hard to review Dario because month to month the chef offers a different selection of dishes. For the incredibly reasonable prix fixe price of $35, you will, however get a choice of several appetizers and mains that riff on recent selections with soup, salad and dessert being the chef's choice.
Hearty Bison Chili with Chilean Corn Crust has been a featured appy over my last few visits and I wouldn't hesitate to order it again.
You'll also find dishes like oysters three ways-a classic mignonette sauce, lemon and hot sauce. Last time I opted for Alligator Empanadas with roasted tomato salsa. Everything was delcious but the gator did have a rubbery and overly assertive fish flavor unlike other preparations of it I've had at The Billabong for instance.
Sometimes subtle, other times bold, Dario excels at marrying sweet and heat, acidity with savory. Take a perennial favourite, Pork tenderloin crusted with a chili lemon rub. It's somehow stuffed with roast pineapple and expertly cooked. It's not an easy technique to prevent the tenderizing enzymes of the pineapple from making mush out of the pork.
Duck breast drizzled with a smoky hot Ancho chili sauce was perfectly cooked, a little bit rare in the middle.
Expertly presented in artistic arrangements, most mains are served with ridiculously good garlic and herb mashed potatoes, and more often than not a medley of carrots, zucchini and beets. If you're lucky you' also get a dab of pickled tomato salsa. Dario's signature garnish is a hot chilli pepper and sprig of deep fried pasta. Both are abundantly edible, but a word of caution. The chilli is so hot it will obliterate your palate and rob you of the enjoyment of the rest of meal.
Soup, salad and dessert are chefs choice and while that's might be a wildcard that disturbs some diners, have no fear...Dario has never disappointed. I will point out however that the sweets are not a house specialty. They're small, somewhat unimaginative and simply presented, but ultimately enough to satisfy a sweet tooth.
My boyfriend and I were there for his Birthday. Food was amazing. Well, the portion for appetizer and dessert is so small but the main food was awesome. I brought his Birthday cake over there and asked them to bring it after dinner and they surprised me with sparkles and my boyfriend was so happy. Their staff are friendly.
A completely mellow atmosphere at lunch on a Thursday in late May. Be aware, the outdoor patio can get warm, but it's a very nice space that continues the decor of the interior. We had the good fortune to have had Dario himself waiting today, so the interactions were lively and very engaging. He is a master of the light hearted tease. The food as always was a fusion of flavors that meld into a most enjoyable gastronomic experience. The spicy pork tenderloin with mango, lives up to it's spicy name, but is well worth a try. The presentation is whimsical, as always. Without question a reliable place to find delicious fare.
I got the cheapest off the lunch menu thinking it might be subpar... I couldn't be more wrong! This stuffed chicken breast is absolutely fantastic. Might be too much to say this dish is life changing, but it is fair to say this is the best chicken breast dish I ever tasted! Found this place because of my gluten intolerant friend, and while it sounded wrong, today I thank him for that.
Second picture entrees is a beef tenderloin, so good!
What a great restaurant! Dishes are presented beautifully and are flavourful. The chef (Dario) comes out of the kitchen and explains dishes or just has fun with his guests.
I highly recommend this spot.
Tranquil & interesting atmosphere. Superb appetizer and entree choices. Excellent value for the 5⭐ 5 course meal, with bread basket also. Great to take that special someone or a guest from out of town; to impress! Serving friendly and timely. Fine wine list!
Dishes were solid, and the value can not be beat. They had a server no show the night we were there, but Dario never missed a beat. He may be happier in the kitchen, but our service was as full of laughs and we never lacked for attention. Great night had by all!
Great restaurant, we were greeted by the owner. Very cozy and homie feeling. Food is Latin American- Colombian. Price is great and includes one appetizer, soup, salad, entree and dessert for $55 each. Great selection of wine and great environment.
I had the lam chops and they were amazing. My girlfriend got the salmon and it was very tasty as well.
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