Deer + Almond — Restaurant in Winnipeg

A bit disappointed with this experience.

I was fully aware of the pricing beforehand, which naturally led me to expect a higher standard of both cuisine and service.

I understand that the dishes are made to order, but I still wonder whether spending over two hours on a 4-course meal is a bit too long — not to mention that the server came by a few times to apologize during the wait.

As for the food, I really enjoyed the bison tartare. It was very different from other tartares I've had before — the mix of flavors was unique and surprisingly well-balanced. I also liked the prawn salad a lot. It was refreshing, with a nice balance of sweet, sour, and savory, almost reminiscent of Thai cuisine. The black cod was fresh, and the mushrooms on the side were flavorful too.

Some dishes were less impressive. The lobster tail seemed slightly burnt — I couldn’t tell if that was intentional or a result of overcooking. I wouldn’t recommend the squid noodles to anyone sensitive to texture or raw seafood — the squid was only slightly cooked, which I personally didn’t enjoy, and the flavor was milder compared to other dishes. The mushroom lasagna and dessert were tasty, but not particularly memorable.

In terms of presentation, some dishes could have been plated with more care. I had seen photos in other reviews, so when my dishes didn’t quite match up, it felt a bit odd. I understand the staff were under pressure — the kitchen and service team were visibly busy. But like I mentioned earlier, for a restaurant at this level, I would expect consistency and attention to detail, rather than crooked or slightly collapsed plating.

One glass of wine I ordered was forgotten. They waived the charges for drinks I had ordered earlier and I really appreciate it. However while the server kindly brought over a few extra treats with the check as another gesture of goodwill, one of the chocolates had a cat hair on it. I wasn’t bothered, but it was certainly surprising.

Regarding portion sizes — they’re small. I didn’t feel “completely full” by the end, but I wasn’t hungry either.

I don’t know if I was just unlucky or if the restaurant is always this busy, but there were only three servers working the entire night. I also overheard some apologize to other tables. To be fair, I don’t blame anyone — none of the staff were slacking off; they were all doing their best. But I have to admit, the level of service did not meet my expectations.

The environment was very clean. When the sunlight came through the windows, it felt warm and beautiful. The greenery by the windows added a relaxing, comfortable touch.

To sum up — I think it was an interesting experience, but there’s a lot of room for improvement. I’m not sure it’s worth spending three hundred dollars(for two) to come back again.

All of the above reflects my PERSONAL experience...

Deer + Almond was a phenomenal restaurant that was suggested to me by several people I encountered in Winnipeg. I went with three friends for a late dinner on a Saturday night. Fortunately, we were able to be seated, albeit at the bar, right away. I'd highly recommend getting a reservation here if you're on a schedule.

Most people described this place as a Tapas-style restaurant and that for two of us, we should order 3-4 plates. I found that one entree item per person was plenty. While Deer + Almond did have several Tapas style dishes, their entree items are fantastic and I'd highly suggest getting those.

I split the "Beets and Tahini" salad and Risotto with another person. The Beets and Tahini was hands down the best salad I've ever had. The combination of flavors: roasted beets; lettuce; walnuts; oranges; sesame seeds; tahini dressing; and cinnamon work extremely well together. Each bite is different and all are phenomenal. I can't wait to make this salad at home and return to Winnipeg soon to have it again.

The Risotto was delicious as well. Risotto is a favorite meal of mine to cook at home and I was excited to see what Deer + Almond would do with theirs. The chickpeas and arugula are strong complementary additions to the rice-based dish. Like the Beets and Tahini, the Risotto gave me numerous ideas on how to improve my own dishes when cooking at home.

The bar menu includes excellent craft cocktails; all at affordable prices. The staff was helpful in guiding our decisions and everyone was pleased with their drinks.

The popcorn they served was somewhat forgettable. I like popcorn served hot and the flavoring seemed lost. I'd recommend altering the pre-dinner snack to be more of a kettle corn or something served warm. The popcorn however is a refreshing change from the default warm bread and butter option most restaurants would serve.

What I also really liked about Deer + Almond was they had a wonderful contemporary space with colorful artwork. The lighting was warm and intimate and allowed for the food, drinks, and dinner conversation to be the focal point. Some restaurants are so well designed that its almost distracting to the most important aspect of dinning out - having fun eating and drinking...

I recently dined at Deer + Almond on their first night with a new menu, and the experience was a mixed bag of delights and disappointments.

Starting with the positives, the PEI oysters were delightful, albeit marred by a piece of shell or sand in one of them. The feta saganaki was a standout dish, highly recommendable for its excellent flavor. Additionally, the steelhead trout en brioche was a culinary masterpiece, boasting a delightful crust and rich flavors, although the server's comparison to a grilled cheese felt out of place.

On the flip side, the goldeye & whitefish caviar lacked the flavor punch we anticipated, resulting in an unfinished plate. The black trumpet pierogies were decent but failed to leave a lasting impression.

The duck confit was a hit for those fond of spicy Asian cuisine, but the cold eggplant accompaniment left something to be desired. Despite this flaw, it remained a favorite dish of the evening.

Desserts provided a sweet ending to the meal, with the peanut semifreddo stealing the show with its addictive flavors. However, the cedar custard and ground cherries fell short due to overly tart cherries overpowering the dish's other delightful flavors.

The restaurant's atmosphere was lively and vibrant, contributing positively to the overall experience. However, the confusing and uncomfortable unisex bathrooms were a notable downside.

Service was a mixed bag, with a lengthy wait of one hour between the first and second courses, followed by shorter but still noticeable delays for subsequent courses.

In conclusion, while Deer + Almond is clearly experimenting with exciting new dishes, our experience highlighted both successes and areas for improvement. With time and refinement, I believe they will undoubtedly hone their menu and service to provide consistently exceptional dining...