No more Louisiana nibbles in Village

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This article was published 16/02/2018 (3144 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

After little more than two months in business, Osborne Village’s newest eatery has closed, marking another blink-and-you-missed it restaurant venture in the iconic neighbourhood.

Those hoping to try some authentic, stick-to-your-ribs Cajun and Creole cooking at Ward 1 are out of luck, as the restaurant suddenly announced its doors are closed for good.

“Truly heartbroken. We had barely gotten our feet wet and I had so many plans for the warmer months. Love you Winnipeg, thanks for the beautiful blink of fun,” reads a message posted on two of Ward 1’s social-media accounts.

No reason was given for the closure, which was confirmed by the restaurant’s chef and a line cook.

Owned by Steve Conner of Bouchée Boucher, the restaurant had a soft opening at the end of November, before its Dec. 2 grand opening.

On Thursday night, it was announced the place was permanently closing. During its brief stint, Ward 1 served signature Louisiana classics such as gumbo, po’boys, seafood boils and biscuits and gravy. Just last Thursday, the Free Press’s restaurant critic Alison Gillmor penned a review of Ward 1, giving the eatery 31/2 stars out of five.

“The results are often tasty, but sometimes uneven… It’s not quite New Orleans, especially with a few inches of snow on the ground, but the food pulls off a few high points,” Gillmor wrote.

“And while it might be February now, the windows look out onto two outdoor seating areas, including a sheltered courtyard, which should be real draws come summertime.”

The owner and staff won’t get the opportunity to find out whether Gillmor’s prediction would have come true, as the restaurant goes the way of Black Rabbit Bistro, another eatery which had a very short stint at 135 Osborne St.

The popular Basil’s once called the location home, before closing down in 2010 after a water-main break caused more than $1 million in damages.

It was then reopened in the summer of 2011 under the name Bistrot by Basil, before closing in March 2013.

The owner of Ward 1 was not available for comment Friday.

— with files from Alison Gillmor

ryan.thorpe@freepress.mb.caTwitter: @rk_thorpe