Local fan celebrates return of lunch menu at storied steak house

It was only lunch, but to Candace Hodgins it was also a rite of passage.

About 15 years ago, Hodgins’ dad, Winston, took her for a celebratory lunch at Rae and Jerry’s Steak House to mark her first step into the financial career she is still in. Now she is thrilled to be able to return the favour.

That’s because, for the first time in four years, lunch will be back on the menu at the iconic Portage Avenue restaurant starting May 1.

“It was very impactful for me as a young professional,” Hodgins said. “It was so wonderful and so thoughtful.

“Now it is pretty wonderful to now take my dad there and share that memory with him.”

Adam Rodin, who bought the restaurant in January from long-time owner Steve Hrousalas, said the doors will open for lunch on Wednesdays to Fridays starting May 1 at 11 a.m.

It’s the first time the restaurant has been open for lunch since health mandates forced it to shut down early in the COVID-19 pandemic, Rodin said. The restaurant later reopened, but only for dinner starting at 4 p.m.

“The first day is very booked up already,” he said.

“Since I bought the restaurant people have been clamouring for this. People in business said they would be back. I’m glad we could do this for them.”

Rodin said there will be daily specials with pot roast and gravy on Wednesdays, roast Manitoba hot turkey sandwich on Thursdays, and — what else? — English fish and chips on Fridays.

“Hot turkey sandwiches were on another day of the week we’re not opening for lunch on, but it was one of our most popular so we moved it to Thursdays. We roast a whole turkey for it,” he said.

Once the doors open on those days at 11 a.m. they will remain open until they close at the end of the evening, Rodin said.

“So people can come at 1 p.m., or they can come for an early dinner at 3 p.m.,” he said, adding the 4 p.m. opening time remains on Monday, Tuesday and Saturday, while it opens on Sunday at 4:30 p.m.

They will be honouring Hrousalas at the first Thursday lunch on May 2, Rodin said.

As for what Rodin has learned during his first few months of ownership of a restaurant which has been a Winnipeg institution for decades, he said it’s not on the menu.

“For me, I’ve just seen it is more than anything as a people business,” he said.

“It is an investment in your people and your customers. When your team is happy, your customers are happy.”

Hodgins said she not only is happy the restaurant is offering lunch again — she is already looking into the future.

“My two children are toddlers, but before they know it they will be part of the tradition my dad did for me,” she said.

“When my family enters the workforce, I will continue that tradition. It’s nice we will be able to do that.”

kevin.rollason@freepress.mb.ca