Twin Oaks Country Inn - Wilmot, WI

We have dined here many times - I'm actually surprised we've never reviewed it before.

This place can be hit or miss, more hit than miss, but the misses are not bad enough to cross this restaurant off our list. Sometimes the service is slow to start, but once they get started, it's usually pretty good after that. This particular visit we had great service and they became quite busy while we were there.

We started with a crab cake appetizer, which was served with a red pepper sauce, yellow pepper sauce and a bernaise sauce. The crab was very good and the sauces went well.

For my main course I had the Pesto Chicken, which was a seared breast of chicken on top of a portobello mushroom. It was to be served with a red pepper sauce and a pesto sauce. I asked for the sauces on the side and they were both good individually, I'm just not sure how they would have been on the plate. It came with a Three Cheese Polenta Cake which was very good, I didn't really notice the cheese.

My husband had a special which was pork lightly breaded and sauteed stuffed with provolone cheese and smoked chicken served over fettucine. He loved it. I had a couple bites too and really liked the flavors together.

No complaints this visit.

The Billabong Australian Restaurant & Bar - Winnipeg, MB Canada

The restaurant was recommended to us by a woman that worked at the hotel we were staying at.  Always a bit skeptical, we did not know what to expect, but in the end we were very surprised by the quality and variety of the food.

We started our meal with:

Sydney Rocks Yum Cha (Dim Sum) - Served with ginger-chili dip.

2 Alligator and Manitoba Pickerel Pot stickers
2 Barramundi Shrimp, and Black bean Spring rolls
2 Pork, Scallop, and Shark Wontons

Wow - this was fantastic and the flavors just came together so well. I like to try different things when I go back to a restaurant, but I might have to have this again. If you were not sharing this could be a main course

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For my main course I had Barbecued Kangaroo - Barbecued Kangaroo Loin medallions served with fried quail eggs, pumpkin and sweet potato pouches, pineapple and beetroot relish, then drizzled in a carrot and horseradish cream. Once again, fantastic. The meat was moist and cooked a perfect medium rare. I think if you cooked it more it might have gotten tough. The pumpkin sweet potato pouches are a great side.

My coworker had the Barramundi Wrap - Australia’s premier native fish, steamed in a banana leaf with shitake mushroom sticky rice and lime-coconut broth. Served with seasonal vegetables. This was not only delicious it was more or less healthy, at least it looked like it. I was able to steal a taste and it reminded me of being in Hawaii.

The restaurant was slow that night, but I have a feeling they get crowded on the weekends. It is not that large of a place, so you might want to call ahead. Prices are between $20 and $30 for the main entrée, but the price seems fair for the area.

If you get stuck in Winnipeg, it is worth stopping by.

They don't have their own website, which they should remedy, but you can find them at: http://maps.google.com/maps/place?um=1&ie=UTF-8&q=billabong+winnipeg&fb=1&gl=us&hq=billabong&hnear=winnipeg&cid=12511849320540702790 or http://www.menumanitoba.com/billabong.htm

Chop Steakhouse & Bar - Winnipeg, MB, Canada

I happened to be up in Winnipeg on business and was tired of eating at the same old restaurant, so I was looking for a treat. Well, I found it at Chop!

This restaurant is by far the best place I have dined at in Winnipeg. The food was prepared perfectly and the service was exceptional. We were there on a night they were not so crowded, so maybe we got better attention.

They had a special Lobster menu when I was there so I got the lobster salad and it was fantastic. For my main course I wanted to try their lobster risotto, but they had run out, so I had the Halibut Chop which was on their regular menu. I thought it was very good, but it did have too much lemon for my liking. I do not think I would have it again.

My guest had the Beef Tenderloin Carpaccio appetizer and for his main course he had the Wasabi Crusted Ahi Tuna. He said both were exceptional. He ordered a side of Wasabi mashed potatoes and let me have a taste, make sure you order them.

Since we had been eating at less charming restaurants, it was nice to see a full wine menu. I was tired of only haveing the choice of white or red wine. The pours would good, but a little pricey, like everything else in Canada.

Winnipeg is generally very expensive when it comes to eating. The main course at Chop will run you around $30 US, so this is not really expensive. You will pay the same amount going to most chain resturants.

Next time we are in the area, we will be going back to this restaurant.

http://www.chop.ca/