Introducing the Winston!
Look out, Lower Lonsdale - An awesome new restaurant is in town - Introducing, Winston!
Well, they aren’t new EXACTLY… Winston has been around since February 2020. The restaurant opened its doors just three weeks before the pandemic forced them shut again, and Canada went into lockdown. Since then, the restaurant is back in full swing, and LoLocals can visit in the mornings for a delicious coffee and a comforting brunch, and return in the evenings for the gourmet wines and eclectic dinner menu that the Winston has on offer.
When The Winston first began, it did so with the intention to serve brunch. It wanted to be a place where people would come with their friends on a Sunday morning, have a mimosa, enjoy the atmosphere, and discuss the antics of the night prior. A key component of creating this atmosphere is by providing great service. Christian Paul has been the General Manager of The Winston since day one. You’ll find him in the restaurant most days, either coordinating staff or serving tables. He explains that Winston “focuses on trying to find exactly what people are looking for in an experience. Some people are looking for a really high energy, interactive experience with lots of information about the food. Others are on a first date and don’t want the servers to go anywhere near them - they just want some great food and to be left alone, and that’s great too!” No matter what kind of experience you’re looking for, The service staff is there to give it to you!
The brunch menu at the Winston is meant to be an elevated take on the classics. As Christian says, “Nobody wants a reinvented wheel, especially at brunch. People just want really good coffee, to catch up with their friends for an hour, and then get about their day.” The coffee selection at the Winston is a highlight of the brunch menu, and has been a priority for the restaurant since the beginning. The food menu is no slouch either. Everything you’d expect to find is there, from bennys and breakfast sandwiches to bacon and eggs and french toast. For those wanting something different, there are also options like the Billionaires Bowl (Regula, Vegetable Macedoine, Avocado, Pizza Vinaigrette), or the Beretta Beef Sandwich (House Made Sesame Bun, Tomato & Black Pepper Braised Beef, Emmental Cheese, and Miniature Potato Chips).
Hosting a dinner service was not originally the plan for The Winston, however, when the restaurant partnered with their current chef, it ended up being a must. The Dinner service is meant to challenge their patrons. Their goal is to give you something that they’ve never had before, but will still be lovely and approachable. Christian says that “Dinner is a little bit more of an interesting and adventurous experience. Our chef is really focussed on taking interesting or lesser-known components, especially vegetables, and bringing the flavours together in unique ways.” The pinnacle of this experience, and Christian’s recommendation on the menu, is the Dinner Roulette. In this experience, the chef will cook a unique, five course meal for the entire table, based loosely on the menu and whatever ingredients are available that week. The roulette is Christian’s go-to when he’s at work, stating that “I’ve been here since the beginning, and have never eaten the same thing twice… and I eat here 6 times a week”. That’s a lot of variety! And what a great way to get out of your comfort zone and have something you’ve never had before with your friends.
The Winston is an awesome restaurant in a beautiful space, located in the best part of North Van (If we do say so ourselves). If you’d like to learn more about the Winston, view their menu, or reserve a table, click the link below!
