Shirley’s Restaurant Review: Cozy Vibes & Unique Flavours

After trying BabyBaby in mid-November this year, I’d been looking forward to checking out its neighbour, Shirley Restaurant & Gourmet Grocery. The two restaurants sit side by side in Osborne Village and have had a big year—both made it onto Air Canada’s 2025 Best New Restaurants finalist list this September. Needless to say, my expectations were high before I even walked in.

Opened in March 2025, Shirley’s is cozy, seating around 35 people. We booked the first dinner slot at 5 pm, and the place was already half full when we arrived. Clearly, people in Peg City know what’s good.

What We Ordered

1. Beef Tartare

This came with pizza fritta, anchovy cream, and chives. The pizza fritta instantly reminded me of a donut—but lighter, airier, and much less guilty. I loved the texture, and the combination with the tartare made the whole dish feel both playful and elegant. A beautiful start to the meal.

2. The Very Nice Salad 2.0

The name is bold, but it earns it. Made with bitter greens, walnut granola, Merlot Bellavitano, ricotta salata, and an orange cordial vinaigrette, the portion is generous and the whole thing is super refreshing and delicious. It’s the kind of salad that makes you think, “Maybe I actually can be a salad person.”

3. Dirty Martini Shrimp

Served with salsa verde, celery, capers, Castelvetrano olives, and lemon. This one had a lovely blend of flavours—bright, light, and fresh. If the classic dirty martini had a summer vacation, it would taste like this. The shrimp were perfectly cooked.

4. Chicken Milanese

Topped with mortadella, arugula, taleggio fonduta, and Dijon. The chicken was tender, and the toppings added a great sense of balance—creamy, salty, peppery, all working together without stealing the spotlight from the actual chicken. A satisfying dish.

5. Tiramisu

When the dessert arrived in a glass, my friends did a collective double-take. They were fully expecting the traditional cake version. Some of them also didn’t love the chunks of salt on top of the chocolate, which made for some funny reactions—but honestly, it added to the entertainment value of the meal. 😂

Final Thoughts

Overall, it was a fantastic dining experience. Shirley’s has a charming, intimate vibe and dishes that are thoughtful without trying too hard. It’s great to see Osborne Village gain not just one but two solid new spots for good eats this year. The neighbourhood feels livelier for it—and I’m definitely going back.

📍135 Osborne St, Winnipeg, MB
🌐 https://www.welcometoshirleys.com/
🚗 There’s a parking lot beside BabyBaby, but the only entrance is from Osborne Street heading southbound. You can also find street parking in the neighbourhood, including on Stradbrook Ave.