New neighbourhood eateries popping up

St. Vital

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 12/02/2025 (430 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Winnipeg is among the Canadian leaders in restaurants per capita and as our population grows, so does the number of restaurants. The other night I dined at the newest of the Santa Lucia’s seven Winnipeg locations, at 55 Sage Creek Boulevard. Back in the 1990s, my career with the Diners Club enRoute card was hospitality driven and this local chain, led by the Simeonidis family, was well into developing multiple locations.

This summer, Sage Creek’s newest addition, Better Burger, will open at 107 Burning Glass Road alongside the pub/bar atmosphere of Leopold’s Tavern, a chain originating in Regina. It appears “restaurant row” in Sage Creek will feature many an outdoor patio.

Neighbourhood restaurants provide connection, whether they are family-oriented cater to an after-work crowd. Sage Creek offers both. Housing more than 7,000 people with an average age of 35 years old, the neighbourhood is home to a diverse collection of eateries, including several locally owned coffee/baked goods places which attract early morning customers.

Not far from Sage Cree, Southdale recently welcomed Dave and LaVerne’s Modern Diner, in the old Pizza Hut location at 15 Lakewood Blvd. Known as a boutique brand restaurant, True Hospitality’s newest dining adventure is named for the parents of co-owner Darin Amies. The signage and architecture alone will entice you, as it’s right out of a scene from the 1970s TV hit, Laverne & Shirley. It also screams “comfort food.”

Amies, partner Chris Manalastas and culinary director Jeff Laden currently operate four local spots, including Cibo at the Waterfront and the James Avenue Pumphouse.

If I learned anything in my travels with enRoute, it’s that reservations are incredibly important to the restaurant business. Staff is hired based on the number of pre-bookings, plus some walk-in traffic. If you want your favorite booth, or wish to sit near the kitchen where the aromas of culinary adventures linger, reserve ahead of time.