Meet them at The Heights

St. James-Assiniboia

When it comes to nailing down the recipe for success, it appears there are several winning ingredients.

Silver Heights Restaurant and Lounge — a legendary local landmark that’s located at 2169 Portage Ave. — has been a fixture in St. James since 1957, when it was started by Anthony Siwicki Sr. and his partners.

Siwicki Sr. bought out his partners in 1964, and his three sons — Jimmy, Dave and Allan — grew and developed the business. Some 62 years on, Jimmy and his wife, Maureen, have grown the business with their children, and “the Heights”, as it’s known in the neighbourhood, is now in its fourth generation of family involvement.

On Feb. 19, Jimmy was one of three people inducted to the 2026 Manitoba Restaurant Hall of Fame at a gala event at the Metropolitan Entertainment Centre in downtown Winnipeg. The other two were Richard Enright (a longtime Boston Pizza franchisee) and the late Oscar Grubert.

“It was a pretty neat night,” Jimmy, 76, said at the restaurant early this month. “It was kind of a big deal – everyone was shaking hands, taking pictures, sending letters and texts, calling, and coming into the restaurant. It’s been flattering.”

“Life goes on… the next day, and the next day… I don’t feel I’ve been here this long,” he added.

Jimmy’s eldest son, Tony, said the restaurant’s clientele is around 80 per cent regular customers, another 10 per cent are guests of regulars and 10 per cent are walk-ins.

The restaurant is also a popular spot for birthdays, weddings and retirement parties, not to mention the regular round of sporting events that are broadcast throughout the day and night.

Tony, 49, said the eatery prides itself on using the finest fare, such as premium Angus beef.

“Always buy quality, and the rest will follow suit,” he said.

“We take pride in our staff, who are treated like family.”

“There are always smiles in the building,” Tony added.

Barbecue ribs, prime ribs, and wings are among the most popular items on the menu.

When the conversation switches back to the recent gala, Tony said it was a fantastic occasion enjoyed by family and friends.

“The hall of fame was created to honour those giants that helped build the industry,” he said, noting his pride that his dad was recognized as an independent restaurateur.

“There are lots of little guys that don’t get recognized for all their hard work. The best thing about the night was dad’s surprise – lots of suppliers and restaurant owners in Winnipeg attended.

“Restaurants are the backbone of every community.”

Boston Pizza co-founder and former Dragons’ Den star Jim Treliving even made an appearance.

Jimmy’s younger son, J.C., said the restaurant regularly participates in annual promotions such as Le Burger Week, and will be hosting a St. Patrick’s Day bash on March 17. The lounge regularly hosts Saturday afternoon jazz sessions in the fall and winter months.

J.C., 47, noted that folks working in the restaurant business are constantly learning, as things can change quickly and there are so many moving parts.

“Rules and regulations change – today you might be able to something, and tomorrow you can’t,” he said.

The family matriarch, Maureen, said she’s proud of what the family has achieved over the last seven decades.

“I’ve very proud of Jimmy and my boys,” Maureen, 76, praising their focus on continuing to run the business successfully.

Tony said his parents have a lifelong connection — they went to kindergarten and elementary school together, before parting ways, and then Maureen came back into Jimmy’s life when she applied for a job at the restaurant in 1974.

Ralph Carter, a longtime customer and family friend, said the restaurant has developed strong ties with many in the nearby community, including 17 Wing Winnipeg, Deer Lodge Centre, Grace Hospital, and local schools.

“Next year, they’ll be celebrating their 70th year,” Carter said, noting it was probably one of the first sports bars in Winnipeg. “It’s a bit like (the TV show) Cheers — if you’ve been there, you’ll know people say ‘hello.’”

“I think longevity and good ownership are a big part of its success — and you can’t have a good restaurant without good food. And their back ribs have won awards. It’s close to home for me, and a good neighbourhood spot.”

Carter added the Siwickis “support local baseball teams, hockey, soccer and help with numerous fundraisers” in the community.

He said in honour of Jimmy’s induction into the hall, regular customers Diane and April Quigley made a donation to the Winnipeg Police Service Canine Fund to help purchase a protective vest for a police dog. Carter has also proudly donated to this cause, which is close to his heart.

Visit www.silverheightsrestaurant.ca for more information.