‘Classic burger joint’ opens in Kildonan Park

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This article was published 18/06/2021 (1557 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Looking to take advantage of the public health orders that have limited restaurants to takeout and delivery only, a new eatery in Kildonan Park has opened shop.

Dougie’s is a permanent burger joint connected to the existing Prairie’s Edge restaurant, next to the park’s duck pond.

Both Prairie’s Edge and Dougie’s are part of Winnipeg restaurant group WOW! Hospitality Concepts. While the former tenders a locally sourced, prairie-inspired menu, the latter specializes in classic comfort foods.

“I just wanted to (make) a timeless, classic burger joint, untouched by the current trends,” said chef Grant Danyluk.

“It’s not fussy at all. It’s just really classic burgers, fried chicken, french fries, onion rings — nothing that you haven’t heard of.”

Serving Prairie’s Edge’s elevated menu items through a takeout window while the restaurant was closed wasn’t ideal, Danyluk said. So, in spring 2020, they started offering a revised menu, which just recently became Dougie’s.

“The idea to do this wouldn’t have (come) up if it weren’t for the restrictions. But also, now that we’re doing it, it’s made us realize that it makes sense to do it this way. It will still continue to make sense even after the restrictions are lifted,” Danyluk said.

”People are always going to want to have food in the park.”

Danyluk previously worked at Peasant Cookery, another of WOW!’s restaurants, in the Exchange District, before coming to Prairie’s Edge.

He said Dougie’s has received positive response from the community and continues to gain traction.