St. James Hotel tavern totally transformed

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 08/08/2019 (2641 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

While it may look mostly the same on the outside, the interior of the St. James Hotel (1719 Portage Ave.) has gotten quite the facelift.

The hotel, purchased in early 2017 by Danny Swidinsky, suffered an electrical fire later that year that caused extensive damage to the building’s interior. Over the past two years, nearly $6 million has been invested in renovating the building, according to an interview Swidinsky did with the Free Press in June.

On Friday, Aug. 2, the bar formerly known as the Fox & Hounds Tavern re-opened to the public, and anyone who frequented the British-style pub will be bowled over by the changes. Barstool Pub & Eatery, the name of the new watering hole in the space, is far brighter and sunnier than the Fox & Hounds, with plenty of seating (around 200) at the tables and the incredibly long bar top.

Barstool boasts 30 brews on tap as well as 32 more in cans, including beer in both formats from 10 Winnipeg breweries. They also have a selection of wines and spirits, including some signature cocktails.

Like the decor, the food is also decidedly more modern, with a selection of burgers, sandwiches, wraps and salads — each priced at a remarkably reasonable $6.95. There are also a selection of starters as well as charcuterie plates.

For more info and for regular specials, search them up on Facebook and/or Instagram.

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As one storied watering hole re-opens its doors, a couple of newer local eateries have called it a day.

After closing in September 2018 and then re-opening in early 2019, the Sherbrook Street Delicatessen (102 Sherbrook St.) has once again shuttered its doors. The sandwich-centric deli had originally been opened as one of many projects involving restaurateur Noel Bernier, who has also had a hand in opening other local eateries such as Hermanos Restaurant & Wine Bar, Corrientes Argentine Pizzeria and Prairie 360. Bernier was most recently in the news after divesting himself of his share of the Salisbury House restaurants to former owner Earl Barish in late July.

In January 2019, Sherbrook Street Delicatessen re-opened under the direction of Bernier’s son, Riley, and his partner, Juliana Roberta. A four-star Free Press review in March lauded the deli’s focused, old-school menu of sandwiches, soups and salads. But the windows have now been papered over, the deli’s signs removed and a sign in the window indicates an eatery called Alfy’s Noodle House — which currently has a location at 840 Waverley St. focusing on creating budget-friendly noodle bowls — is opening a location in the space.

Aurora Pizzeria and Café (842 Corydon Ave.), meanwhile, announced via social media on Aug. 2 that it was also closing its doors for good. Located at the corner of Corydon Avenue and Lilac Street in the old Mise Bistro & Lounge space, the family-run Italian eatery focused on Neapolitan-style pizza and authentic Italian pasta dishes. In a February 2017 review of Aurora shortly after it opened, Free Press critic Alison Gillmor noted the restaurant’s “friendly service and fresh, unpretentious cooking,” dubbed the Neapolitan pizzas “standouts” and called the bucatini matriciana, with its “cured pork jowl and a deep, intense stewed tomato sauce,” terrific.

On Facebook and Instagram, the restaurant offered the following message: “Thank you to all of our customers who became our friends & family. Giuliano, Gino, Carla & Aurora hope to see you all again. Ci Vediamo, Ciao!” A quick peek inside through the eatery’s windows the day after the posting showed no clues as to what’s next for the space.

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thank you to all of our customers who became our friends & family. Giuliano, Gino, Carla & Aurora hope to see you all again. Ci Vediamo, Ciao! • Closed.

A post shared by Aurora Pizzeria & Cafe (@aurorapizzeriacafe) on Aug 2, 2019 at 4:30pm PDT

 

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Grey Owl Coffee (272 Main St.) wasn’t around for long — opening mid-2018 and closing its doors for good in February of this year — but it appears the space is already set to welcome a new tenant soon.

According to the sign in the window of the old Grey Owl space, Fusian Experience Desserts & Café is slated to be opening there soon. The original Fusian Experience at 612 Academy Rd. closed its doors on July 12. An outgoing message on the café’s answering machine indicates that in addition to moving into 272 Garry St. in the fall, the proprietors will also be revamping the menu at the Fusian Sushi kiosk at The Forks Market in September.

 

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Tickets are now on sale for the next instalment of Beer ’N’ Brunch at Trans Canada Brewing Co. (1290 Kenaston Blvd.).

The event, which takes place Aug. 18, will feature guest chef Jackie Hildebrand, who last year took over the helm at Hy’s Steakhouse & Cocktail Bar, becoming the company’s first female executive chef.

The brunch will feature four courses paired with brews from Trans Canada, and head brewer Morgan Wielgosz will be on hand to talk about making the beer and the pertinent food pairings.

Tickets are $60 per person, which includes all food and beer; taxes, gratuity and fees are extra. For tickets visit wfp.to/beerbrunch.

 

ben.macphee-sigurdson@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @bensigurdson