Bistro Dansk, Delicious Schnitzel

I have always been fond of the small family owned restaurants that strive to serve authentic dishes and spurred on by the enticing review by the You Gotta Eat Here TV Show, was impressed by the incredibly tasty European fare at Bistro Dansk during my first visit. And while I have continued to rave about its food for anyone in the mood for schnitzel it was due time for a revisit. And so when a fellow resident wanted to try it for the first time I could not help but oblige.

A small cozy restaurant located on the busy Sherbrook Street, Bistro Dansk would be easy to miss if it were not for the bright yellow overhangs. Once you step inside you are greeted by the incredibly friendly and knowledgable service staff who are quick to offer their suggestions and add nuanced perspectives on all the dishes. The interiors is a mix of modern elegance with an antique charm: a large chalkboard describes the daily specials and hides between pictures of eminent guests and awards the restaurant has won all interspersed with large tables and comfortable seating. The menu is the same simple two pager as I had previously had with an emphasis on the different variants of schnitzel the restaurant serves. For those not in the mood for fried pork (gasp) there is a nice range of other items including fish and chicken options.

The Borscht was a favourite of mine previously and the version here again did not disappoint. The visual of the blood red soup is a site to behold and the rich tangy flavours enticed my flavour buds. First off the tangy and tender pieces of beetroot are melt in your mouth succulent and mixed in perfectly with the rich vegetable broth. A slight creaminess is apparent which helps to hold the entire dish together while a nice herbal aroma is given off by the parsley on top. Tasty and a perfect way to whet the appetite for the meal.

My dining companion decided on the classic Chicken Schnitzel served with their famous O'Brien potatoes and sweet & sour cabbage. Schnitzel is a classic European dish using a thinly pounded meat that is breaded and pan fried to perfection. The pounding process gives the meat an incredible tenderness while maximizing the ratio of meat to surface area to allow for more breading. And indeed the treatment here is marvellous with supremely tender and juicy chicken encased in a light but crispy breading and topped with the slight sweetness and tartness of lemon. Special mention also needs to be given to the O'Brien Potatoes, a delicious mash of tender soft potatoes and eggs in a creamy mayo based dressing and topped with parsley. Not to be outdone the side cabbage is tender and has a nice sweet and sour flavour to augment the otherwise sparsely seasoned schnitzel.

Morbradbof is a pork tenderloin that is covered by sautéed mushrooms and pan fried potatoes and served with a sweet tomato sauce. Again the treatment of the meat is supremely well done with a thin but incredibly tender piece of meat. Here it is not breaded but instead roasted which allows for the flavour from the mushroom sauce to penetrate the meat. But it is the tomato sauce that is the best part of this meal. Tangy, sweet and salty all in one bite, the sauce perfectly augments the meatiness of the pork and mushrooms and ties the dish together. Only negative is the relatively boring pan fried potatoes which resembled under seasoned roast potatoes and added nothing but extra starch and calories to the dish.

Bistro Dansk is the definition of a mom and pop restaurant done right. A limited menu that caters to the strengths of the chefs and lives up to a clearly defined theme for the restaurant make this one of the best recreations of Eastern European fare in Winnipeg. An easy recommendation for anyone in the area. Just make sure to ask for a take out container as the huge portions can easily feed you for two meals!