Winnipeg's hottest restaurant opens on the frozen river

Winnipeg's river restaurant opens today and its three-week run is already sold out.

RAW:almond, the temporary tarp-and-metal-framed restaurant where youcan walk or skate to your seatis back for its third year at the frozen forks of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers.

There's a new design, some new chefs but the same popular demand that marked the first two years of the restaurant, which celebratesfood, architecture and winter in Winnipeg.

• New design revealed for on-ice restaurant in Winnipeg

"I think this year we put a lot more emphasis on the design of the space we sent it out as a competition, an international competition," said co-creator Joe Kalturnyk, the founding director ofRAW:Gallery of architecture and design.

OS31, a design firm from Sheffield, England,won the competition with an X-shaped tent for 2015.

The eventoffers multi-coursemeals from both national and local chefs, includingMandel Hitzer, the chef/owner of Winnipeg's deer + almond restaurant and one of RAW:almond.

There is also a cocktail-tasting bar each evening and brunch each weekend. The brunch, which doesn't require reservations, is afirst-come, first-served event that is often lined up.

Although theforecast callsfor extremely mild weather in the next few days, even climbing above the freezing mark, Kalturnykisn't concerned the frozen allure will be lost.

• Winnipeg deep freeze as cold as uninhabited planet

In fact, it's a welcome change from 2014, when the city was in such a prolonged deep freeze that the Manitoba Museum reported one day that Winnipeg's temperatures were actually as cold as the surface of Mars with the wind chill.

"Last year we built in -50 so this has been a real treat. I mean its been wonderful,"Kalturnyksaid, adding the ice is thick and in good condition.