Winnipeg has been a beef town for a long time, and it shows in the dining rooms that have stayed open for decades alongside a newer wave of smokehouses and grills. Whether you want a white-tablecloth steak dinner or a plate of ribs eaten with your hands, the city covers both ends without much overlap.

The old guard

Rae & Jerry's, open on Portage Avenue since 1957, is the reference point for old-school Winnipeg steak: dim lighting, a piano bar, and a menu that hasn't chased trends. Hy's Steakhouse, downtown, is the other long-standing name locals point to for a classic cut of Canadian prime beef. Both are the kind of place to book ahead for, especially on a weekend.

A newer generation

529 Wellington operates out of a converted early-twentieth-century mansion in Armstrong's Point, which gives it a different feel from a typical steak dinner: high ceilings, original woodwork, and a wine list to match the room. It's a splurge, and one of the more memorable settings for a steak dinner in the city. Chop Steakhouse & Bar and the Winnipeg location of The Keg round out the more contemporary chain end of the spectrum, both dependable if you want a steak without the reservation lead time of the smaller rooms.

Barbecue and smokehouse

Winnipeg's barbecue scene leans smoked rather than grilled. Danny's Whole Hog BBQ & Smokehouse, on Ellice Avenue, is known for slow-smoked ribs and pulled pork. Smokin' Hawg BBQ is another go-to for brisket and smoked meats done low and slow. For something different, Carnaval Brazilian BBQ runs a rodizio format, servers carving skewered meats tableside until you wave them off, alongside a full salad bar for the vegetarians in the group.

Booking ahead

Most of the sit-down steakhouses take reservations, and it's worth using them on a Friday or Saturday, particularly at Rae & Jerry's and 529 Wellington where tables turn over slowly by design. The barbecue spots are more casual and generally fine to walk into, though a full smokehouse can sell out of ribs before close on a busy night.

Staying at the Corydon Airbnb: downtown's steakhouses and Danny's Whole Hog are each about a ten-minute drive, and Corydon Avenue's own Italian dining rooms are a short walk if you'd rather not go far for dinner.