Dine About Winnipeg 2015 - Hermano's

Dine About Winnipeg started at the beginning of February. It consists of a number of host restaurants offering $18, $28, and $38 menus in an attempt to promote diners to "dine about". I appreciate it when restaurants take the time and effort to craft a menu for these events. I love it even more when they are some of the more popular Winnipeg eateries. As was the case for Hermano's. Billed as a celebration of Latin American culture and food, Hermano's is consistently one of the most talked about restaurants in town with diners praising its mixture of unique Latin American dishes to the festive atmosphere that is conducive to both a romantic night out and for a drink with friends. With reviews like that I knew I had to check it out, so let's dine about!

Hermano's is located in the heart of the Exchange district on Bannatyne avenue. As with the majority of the buildings in this area of town, the restaurant is housed in a re-purposed brick foundation. I liked the olden feel of the eatery and thought it brought a sense of class and elegance.

Most restaurants tend to feature three courses on their Dine About menus. Hermano's is no different and offers a choice of appetizer, main and dessert. I was impressed by the dishes, especially when compared to the regular menu, as they offer choice for a good value. Excellent!

Dining with a co-resident this particular night, we decided to start with a Red Sangria. This was delicious! The Sangria came light and chalk full of fresh strawberries and blackberries. The wine added a hint of sourness to the freshness of the berries. In the end, Hermano's Sangria is a delicious drink akin to juice rather than alcohol. On days of poorer restraint I would have ordered lots more!

I started off with the Grilled Queijo de Coalho (Cheese Skewers). Two large skewers of mozzarella were lightly seared and paired with a tomato sauce and a housemade chutney. The  standout here was the chutney with a mixture of fresh fruits and preserves, it lent a sweet and savoury component to the soft and smooth cheese.

Camarones al Pil-pil consists of shrimp and garlic served ala confit with grilled bread. The shrimp and soft garlic were incredibly tender in the confit. The greasiness of the dish was cut through by the addition of lime and coalesced together on the grilled bread.

Sudado de Pollo is a chicken stew served with rice and potatoes. The stew consists of chicken breast, tomatoes, red peppers and onions in a tomato base. Overall this was average: the tartness of the tomatoes overtook the dish and made it monotonous. The rice and potatoes, while adding a well needed starch component, were bland and did not contrast the sauce well. Finally I applaud them for the tasty chicken but again the flavour was lost in the sauce.

Carne Asada with Chimichurri al Merquen was the other main we had. Grilled top sirloin medium rare with a grilled vegetable skewer and served with a housemade chimichurri. This was excellent. The steak, grilled perfectly, was tender, moist and succulent and was the perfect pairing with the smooth, spicy, and salty chimicchuri. Furthermore the vegetables were nicely done and had a hint of smokiness.

Bread Pudding was my dessert of choice. Served with a caramel dulce de leche sauce, the bread pudding had the right amount of moisture and flavour. The density of the bread pudding was contrasted well with the sweet and savoury caramel sauce. Although a bit heavy to end a three course meal with, I appreciated the large portion and well thought out flavours here.

My dining companion had the Affogato. At the base was a vanilla gelato mixed with a shot of expresso and finished with a handmade biscotti. The dish was light and refreshing and resembles a coffee one would finish a meal with. The biscotti soaked up the affogato well and became a deliciously moist.

Overall Hermano's proved why it is one of the more popular restaurants in Winnipeg. Delivering solid unique cuisine I was impressed by the classy decor, the well thought out dishes and delectable drinks (hic, Sangria). Although there were some misses in the meal I have to commend them on a Dine About menu that showcases their restaurant and cuisine well. I will definitely be returning.