Arkadash Bistro & Lounge
268 Portage Ave.

Winnipeg is quickly becoming known as a great place to find delicious food from across the globe, so I was eager to check out Arkadash Bistro & Lounge to see what they contribute to the diverse local food scene.

“Arkadash” is the Turkish word for “friend” and the menu offers Turkish, Middle Eastern, Moroccan, Italian and French cuisine.

The building - formerly home to The Chocolate Shop - has undergone an impressive makeover.

The décor is fresh, light and stylish while remaining comfortable.

The hostess was charming and greeted my date and I promptly, making natural conversation with us as she showed us to our seat.

Be warned - for those on a budget, Arkadash would be best saved for a special occasion. The entrees all hover around the $30 mark.

The menu was impressive in that it included a list of food suppliers, all local.

However, the appetizers aren’t described in the menu at all, not even the curiously named “toenail of a dog.”

Our waiter was friendly and knowledgeable. Based off of his suggestions we ordered a platter consisting of naan bread, patlican yoğurtlu (roasted eggplant and yogurt) and the aforementioned toenail of a dog, which turned out to be an eggplant-based dip.

The starters - though served in very small portions - were presented beautifully.

“ The appetizers aren’t described in the menu at all, not even the curiously named “toenail of a dog.”

While the bread wasn’t bad, it wasn’t a traditional naan. After mentioning that fact, we were told that others had made the same comment.

Turns out the naan is the chef’s own recipe, baked in a Turkish style. It would be helpful to include that information in the menu, perhaps prompting us to try a different dish instead.

The eggplant with yogurt was nice, but the boldly named dip was disappointingly bland.

For entrees I ordered chicken tajine while my date opted for the lamb.

A tajine is a clay pot with a dome-shaped lid meant for slow-cooking meat or vegetables with spices.

The chicken was served in my own personal tajine alongside a serving of bulgur (grain) and chickpeas. Everything on the plate was attractive and infused with satisfying flavour.

I sampled the lamb tajine but ultimately preferred the chicken, as did my date.

Unfortunately, we didn’t have time for dessert, though I’m intrigued by the concept of “pistachio cotton candy.”

Online menus are available at www.arkadashbistroandlounge.com.

The ambiance and close proximity to the MTS Centre makes it a great spot for a night out on the town.

Still, while the overall experience was pleasant, my inner Winnipegger wanted more bang for my buck.

And given the many quality options in this city for an adventurous dinner on a budget, I’m not sure I would break open my emergency piggy bank for Arkadash.

Published in Volume 67, Number 16 of The Uniter (January 16, 2013)