Salisbury House: Restaurant & Museum!
Though Salisbury House restaurants have been a Winnipeg icon for over 85 years, I somehow had never eaten there until a recent visit, despite having lived in Winnipeg for 14 months and visiting regularly since the early 80s. However while researching “best keep secrets” in Winnipeg for a recent visit, I found out their Portage and Pembina restaurants have mini-museums in their lobbies.
This was the catalyst I needed!
The iconic red roof of Salisbury House.
Salisbury House has always been very community oriented participating in community events like parades.
Sports & Music Museums
The Portage Avenue restaurant has several display cases with sports artifacts including hockey, football, baseball, curling and basketball. While the Pembina Highway restaurant is a mini music hall of fame that even includes Burton Cummings piano. Don’t believe me?
Here are the photos to prove it.
The walls of every Salisbury House are full of photos that document the evolution of the restaurant over the past 85+ years.
Keep reading and you will find out….
What is a nip?
Who is Alex English?
The history of Rockola?
What is Zingo?
What Winnipeg band had golden records with the titles - Furnance Room, Silent Radar and Slomotion?
Who were the Winnipeg Whips?
Who is “Big Daddy?”
Like all good restaurants Salisbury House has a signature dessert. Read on for more details and fun story about their signature dessert.
Salisbury House Sports Museum
Salisbury House Manitoba Music Museum
How many of these musicians can you name?
This piano was give to Burton Cummings by Richard Moir. While located at Burton’s residence on Landsdowne Avenue Burton composed and played many tunes. some with his buddy, Gary “Big Daddy” MacLean of MacLean & MacLean, a popular Canadian Juno nominated musical-comedy duo.
It was purchased by Earl & Cheryl Barish at a live auction at the Winnipeg Convention Centre on Friday, July 27, 2001 during a benefit evening for Gary MacLean.
Donuts & Service
In addition to the lobby displays, the walls of every Salisbury House are plastered with fun historic photos of Salisbury House’s history, making them all a fun walk back in time. Link Salisbury House History https://www.salisburyhouse.ca/history
While nobody would confuse Salisbury House with fine dining, the food is good, prices great and the service outstanding. When we asked for salad instead of french fries our waitress immediately said “Yes we can!!” No snooty look. No saying there will be a surcharge for the substitution. She was genuinely please to do it.
And when we asked about the Tyler’s Hand Dipped Chocolate Iced Donut Sundae menu item and then later realizing we were full and would have to come back another time for dessert, she brought us a smaller version to share – no charge!
That’s customer service.
Salisbury House doesn’t just pay lip service to customer service, like so many restaurants.
Indeed, the world has changed dramatically over the past 85+ years. Imagine have a cigar stand like this one in the Bus Depot at Hargrave and Graham.
In the days before iPads, family road trips involved playing games like Zingo!
Last Word
So, if you ever find yourself in Winnipeg and want a truly Winnipeg experience, definitely eat at Salisbury House preferably the one at 3315 Portage Avenue or 759 Pembina Highway. There are currently 9 fully service family restaurants, six of which are open 24 hours and five Sals Xpress restaurants.
And make sure you leave room for dessert.