Bistro 7 1/4
Bistro 7 1/4 is one of my favourite Winnipeg restaurants and I have been going there for years. Usually it is at lunch with a business colleague. Tonight was the first time that I had ever been for dinner. It was also the first time that I went with my husband and the first time that I sat at the “bar” (which is the Chef’s cooking station near the front door of the restaurant). One time when I was there in the summer, there was a miniature version of Chef Alex assisting in the preparations. His son has his own Chef’s “whites” and seemed right at home.
I have not sampled very many things on the menu because I absolutely love the way they prepare moule & frites. There are a half dozen choices but I always have the Pernod and fennel. I have blathered on about the dish for so long that my husband ordered it as well. 
He also wanted to sample a starter and so we also had a “gnudi”. We had to ask what we were ordering and a gnudi is the Chef’s version of gnocchi but is lighter as it is prepared with ricotta cheese. Our selection was mixed with corn, jalapenos, shrimp and a lime wedge, then topped with a sharp cheddar. 
Before the starter a baguette that was finished in the oven and served hot and crunchy with a tomato pesto and butter and citrus salt arrived.
Everything was beautifully prepared and absolutley delicious. The skinny french fries are perfectly salted and very close to the top of my best french fry list. 
My husband and I were in Europe this fall and he had a big feed of mussels in Paris on our last night. When he offered me a taste, I said “I know that you are going to have a hard time believing this, but these are a poor substitute for what we can have back home in Winnipeg”. Tonight he agreed.
Last Dinner in Paris
On one side of us at the bar sat a couple who I think ordered buffalo and it must have been very rich as the female took home almost her entire plate. On the other side were two travellers-one from Toronto who was obviously a regular as the Chef remembered him from previous visits. He says that he likes to sit at the bar when dining alone because he doesn’t feel like a schmutz.
The place is on the small side and was packed. For an early Wednesday evening in January that is quite an accomplishment.
Mmmmmmm! Bistro 7 1/4 is one of my faves too! My husband and I LOVE sitting at the “chef’s table”.. I think I have to try their moule & frites next time too! I usually get tempted by one of the specials!
I went with you the first time and now I cannot order anything but the fennel and pernod moule and frites. I cannot imagine anything tasting better. My husband is a devotee as well. we went there for a joint birthday once and had the nicest supper I remember – and so affordable as well.