X-Cues' Cafe & Lounge

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Bibban Rekhi

1/5 Stars – Disappointing for a Fine Dining Experience I visited Deer & Almond expecting a memorable fine dining experience, but it fell short in several ways. Upon arrival, the hostess, Jenna, made us feel profiled by directing us to a far-end table. Worthy to mention that most tables remained empty throughout.She could have given us a better option , then her immediate mention of the $90 four-course set menu felt pushy and unwelcoming, which set a poor tone. The decor was decent but underwhelming for a fine dining venue—nothing particularly elegant or noteworthy. The seating was a major issue: the wooden chairs and benches were uncomfortable for a 2.5-hour meal, which detracted significantly from the experience. The menu itself was limited, making it difficult to select appealing dishes for each course. Thankfully, the food was a highlight—well-prepared and flavorful—and the cocktails were equally enjoyable, which saved the evening to some extent. However, our table faced the washroom, and every time someone exited, the door was left open, giving us an unpleasant view of the toilet. This was a major oversight for a restaurant aiming for sophistication. While Jenna’s attitude remained off-putting, her colleague provided excellent service, explaining each course thoroughly and professionally, which we appreciated. Overall, Deer & Almond needs significant improvements in ambiance, seating comfort, and staff approach to justify its fine dining claim. Wouldn’t recommend unless these issues are addressed.

Francis B.

Mandel Hitzer and his team are brilliant. Yes, it's not the cheapest place to eat at, but I am quite tired of paying a hundred dollar for a forgettable meal. This is everything but forgettable. Every piece of the tasting menu was delicate, and intricate and perfect. Mandel delivered each meal with heartfelt explanations. He told me that it's not only about creating a perfect meal, it's about making it consistently. Nailed it. Bravo.

Hien Le

The 4-course menu was decent, but I probably won’t come back given the steep price. Salmon, albacore tuna and steelhead trout were the highlights. Other dishes were just OK. Another highlight was the pottery plates and utensil holder. We were so intrigued that we looked up the artist online.

Jean-Michel

First time visit. Have been excited about coming, for a long time. We had a reservation. The ambiance was nice, the restaurant was busy. I loved the serving ware. The pottery drinking mugs were my favourite. The service was very good. Parking was easy. The bathrooms are not labeled. I incorrectly assumed they were gender neutral, and (as a male) thought it was great to have early accessible feminine hygiene products…. but I later found out the bathroom on the left was men’s (urinals!) and I had incorrectly gone into the women’s. Oops. My visit started poorly, but ended in an almost great way. I ordered a El Niño, which is zero proof. It was also zero taste. Pretty much a flavoured water on ice. Raw Venison and Grilled Strawberries. This was a miss. The venison itself was quite good, but the presentation was not appetizing. The fiddleheads were crunchy but boring. Everything had an overpowering smoked flavour. Albacore Tuna. Melt in your mouth. This was really nice. Manitoba Green Back Pickerel. I’m not sure why I picked two seafood dishes. The pickerel had a similar melt in your mouth quality as the tuna, which was surprising. Unfortunately the dish lacked depth and was boring after 1-2 bites. My spouse had the chicken - it was fantastic. Peanut butter Icecream Sandwich. So close… The icecream was amazing. The salted candied nuts were so good. But the sandwich itself was a tasteless breading that could have been so much more. A simple crunchy cookie? Overall mediocre. For the price, I won’t be back. In my opinion, there are better options for great food in Winnipeg.