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Hawksworth
Category: Restaurants Restaurants [Edit]
At Rosewood Hotel Georgia801 W Georgia St
Vancouver, BC V6C 3G1
Neighbourhood: Downtown
(604) 673-7000
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Valet
- Attire:
- Dressy
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Loud
- Ambience:
- Upscale
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- Yes
53 reviews for Hawksworth
Review Highlights
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"I chose the summer tasting menu ($72) which is a five..." In 2 reviews -
"...food was tasty, especially the duck breast in a spicy broth." In 3 reviews -
"The bacon consumme was so tasty." In 3 reviews
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53 reviews in English
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Review from Tamara S.
5/15/2012
Hawksworth was recommended to me via the Chow hound chat room. I was not disappointed. By far, my lunch at Hawksworth was the best meal during my 5 day visit to Vancouver. Service and qualify of food was spectacular. The wine steward took great care in helping to pair glasses of wine with entrees for three individuals in my party. I opted instead for a house made nonalcoholic fresh beverage with pomegranate. My entree, sable fish, was perfectly cooked with a delectable Tom Yum sauce. The meal ended with scrumptious tray of six macaroons. The only negative in my opinion is the noise level. We were having a business meeting and had a hard time hearing conversation.
Note: Hawksworth is on the pricier side. Felt overall experience was completely in line with price points on menu. -
Review from Florence C.
Vancouver, BC
4/25/2012
Had girls' dress-up dining night there last week and it was wonderful experience. Very classy dining room with the crystal chandelier, european atmosphere. I was very happy with my dishes:
- Seared qualicum bay scallops, bacon, celery, chowder foam. Scallops were just right, everything blended so well and a good size for the price.
- Pacific sablefish, chantarelle, tomyum broth. Sablefish was excellent, moist and buttery. Tomyum broth was different and gave the dish a good kick. There was a potato cake that I couldn't appreciate very much. They could be add a little more chantarelle as well.
- Chocolate terrine cake. Soooo beautifully plated, and good cake. SCORE! -
Review from Caesar R.
4/7/2012
The wife and I and a friend of hers met here for dinner on our last night in Vancouver. I must say, I was impressed. The level of detail and flavors are well planned out throughout the menu.
We each got appetizers and had the winter truffle risotto as a mid course and then a main dish. The bread was pretty awesome as well. The wife got maple bacon sweetbreads and the sable fish for her dishes. I got the charred octopus salad and a special venison dish that was pretty tasty. The portions were most certainly generous for the price you are paying. They're not Texas sized, but still generous. We couldn't imagine fitting in dessert, but the petit fors at the end of the meal were delicous.
The service was really attentive as well. Never had to wait for a water refill or too long between courses. Every detail was planned out well.
This place is not for the budget conscious, but definitely worth the price. Enjoy this for a special occasion or if you just want a great meal. -
Review from Marissa G.
BC
5/13/2012
ARE YOU KIDDING ME? THEY CHARGE FOR BREAD!!!
When you have prices like they do here, (including a "special" appitizer for $50) and a reputation as one of the finest restaurants in town, how do you have the unmitigated gaul to charge for a basket of bread? NEVER have I seen such ridiculous thing!
OK, so we were hungry, we ordered the $4. bread. The young man brought the bread and pointed out "You have two pieces of baguette, two pieces of whole grain and two pieces of herbed". As he walked away, I noticed we only had five pices of bread, and three of them were identical. I asked the server "I'm sorry, this may sound tacky, but there does not appear to be six peices of bread here, and more importantly, it does not appear there is any herbed bread." He gave me a "look" and said "I'll have to check". When he finally came back about 10 minutes later he said "Yeah sorry, we are out of herbed bread" and walked away.
They actually effing charged us the $4 for the "partial" basket of bread. I won't even bother reviewing the rest of the meal as this was, without a doubt, the most classless act ever performed by any restaurant I have ever been in. You could not pay me to eat there again. -
Review from Tiffany C.
Vancouver, BC
5/15/2012
We celebrated Mother's Day at Hawksworth and the food was simply amazing! We had the 6-course seasonal tasting menu. It was $78/pax or $128/pax with wine flight. Since it was a Sunday, nobody chose the option with wine. I am sure the food experience will be even better with the wine pairing. All the courses were good but the bc spot prawn, the slow cooked pork belly and the heritage angus flatiron were especially fabulous! The service generally good except that we had to wait quite a while in between courses (I guess they timed it for those with wine pairings) and so be prepared for awkward silence if you are not there with chatty dining companions.
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Review from Jacob K.
Updated - 3/19/2012
My first foray to Hawksworth for lunch. I've heard wonderful things about the burger there but could never justify ordering it for dinner.
The burger I had today was Hawksworthy (punny, I know). A nice sized burger, and real tender and juicy. At first I thought it was a little too big - it is stacked high, with all of its fixins'.
Only five french fries, shaped like a stonehenge, made for a nice size. Just enough fries to please my pallet, without going overboard like I sometimes tend to do when I eat food I used to transport ketchup.
Price-wise, I thought the burger was fair when compared to some of its contemporaries. You should expect to pay more for a quality meal, and this is no exception. The lunch prices are very reasonable and good value for the quality of food you are receiving.
Service was good. Nothing to report on that front. A good burger, just not as good as some others I've tasted.
Hawksworth is a fantastic restaurant. I'd prefer to come back for dinner.Listed in: Best Seafood
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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1/21/2012
Hawksworth never fails to impress. With its classy design, this restaurant on West Georgia is an… Read more »
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Review from J N.
Vancouver, BC
Sometimes, you get what you pay for in life; with Tiffany it's the sparkle, with Prada, it's the quality; and with Hawksworth you get amazingly delicious food at prices that are actually quite reasonable.
For a "fun" time free of a stuffy Orange County-housewifesque crowd, (no disresepect to them of course) do sit at the bar! You might just rub shoulders with the likes of Wally Oppal et al (if that interests you at all. lol).
If you drink wine, order:
Cabernet-Californian for red and still my fave for white--the Burrowing Owl Pinot Gris. They are clever enough to sell it by the glass. Sure, you can try another as I did with the 4 oz taster (which is never free here, btw) but the best is still Burrowing Owl. And the food here is just as good as my wonderful experience at that aforementioned winery.
All beverages come with a salty seaweed stick that I didn't love, but I certainly see how it could be addicting.
To share:
1. short ribs-to die for
2. beet apple salad-crisp, delish, with tiny bits of walnuts lightly candied and not so big that they crack your teeth but large enough to taste. A definite hit!
3. pan roasted Pacific Sablefish-honestly, to die for, in a Thai like broth, none too buttery, with fresh crisp veggies and a rice stick on crack. Seriously, try it out and you'll see exactly what I mean. It was amaaaazing. But next time, I am dying to try the equally interesting sounding seabass with shrimp.
4. Duck-if you're a duck fan, you'll love this special, or so I was told.
For dessert: Macarons- delightfully delicious, and bigger than that new faddish place. Six to share: http://www.yelp.com/bi...
Black Sesame,
Dark Chocolate
Pistachio
Vanilla Bean
Rose & Raspberry
Passion Fruit
I could have eaten all chocolate and the black sesame was also a hit. Rose and raspberry were an interesting concept but not my fave. The rest were okay but we suffered through all of their awesome tastiness.
Wow, this reallly might just be my new fave in Vancouver right now. In fact, I think I'll be be back quite soon. -
Review from Alfred N.
Richmond, BC
3/27/2012
We paid a visit to Hawksworth for my birthday and we were not disappointed. We both ordered the chef's tasting menu which consisted of five courses. Each dish was delicately prepared and presentation was fantastic. The tasting menu allowed us to sample some of the highlights of the full menu including the duck which was fantastic.
The staff even added a personal touch to my dessert as it was my birthday.
Definitely will return to try the rest of the menu.
I did review the wine list and it was extensive as expected of such a venue. -
Review from Djleanne B.
Vancouver, BC
4/18/2012
Hands down one of THE most incredible dining experiences in Vancouver (if not Canada)! David Hawksworth is a culinary genius! The decor perfectly suits the beautiful, complex and rich 'chow'. Being a huge seafood fan, i would recommend anything on their fresh sheet...hell i would recommend anything on the menu! ;) Savoury at its absolute best. You MUST dine here...at least once! It will be memorable. The service? Impeccable.
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Review from Luisa D.
2/15/2012 1 Check-in Here
I'm not going to lie: this place is pricey. But oh gawd it's good! Three of us went for lunch and were glad we had a reservation. The place was hopping. The room is bright and airy with a modern feel.
We ordered a bottle of Pares Balta Cava to drink and one of us had two of their Aloe Vera drinks as she'd just flown in and was recovering from a hectic work week. Jay Whiteley served the Cava and we had a little chat. NIce guy!
Our waiter, Nathan, spoke perfect French - turns out he's from Montreal. He was great at making suggestions on his favourite dishes. Everything we ordered had us salivating. My choices were the apple beet salad chèvre, walnut, dill, caramelized honey and the roasted pacific sablefish maitake, chayote, tom yum broth. It was a tough decision as I wanted to try so many dishes but I'll just have to go back. The fact that I ordered dessert, especially at lunch, speaks to how delicious my other dishes were.Listed in: Top of the food chain baby!
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Review from Johnson C.
Vancouver, BC
So I showed up here completely underdressed - on the phone, I thought my friend was saying 'Oxford'... not 'Hawksworth'. So I turned swagger on maximum with my fitted cap and flannel and rolled in like a boss. But it's certainly upscale but not overly stuffy - seriously, the dude in the tuxedo and his date in the fur shawl were more out of place than I was.
Service was great but was a bit surprised they didn't stock my favourite scotch. And no, I'm not making that Johnnie Walker Blue money to afford it outside of a casino.
Anyways - the smoked trout had deep flavour and the pressed pork was really tender. Overall, was pretty impressed with everything - will be back. -
Review from Yunn A.
Updated - 3/6/2012
The ambiance of the lounge where my companion and I had drinks before dinner was just fantastic. Great service, fun and innovative drinks, buzzing atmosphere, and these fantastic in-house made (I think that goes without saying, as I think everything is) seaweed crisp snacks. I want to come back for a drink just so I can have the seaweed crisps, which is an extremely welcome substitute to standard fare of nuts and bolts.
Our server, Nathan, was just a riot. He was intense, but excellent. Always there when you need him, very entertaining, and not around when you didn't want him there.
I started with an apple beet salad. I did not expect the portion to be as big as it was, with very delicious arugula to offset the sweetness of the beets. I'm not a huge eater of goat cheese, so it was nice to have a slightly milder chevre paired. Presentation was gorgeous, and it did not disappoint. My companion had the scallops and said he enjoyed the so much, he wishes he could just have more of those.
For main, I debated between sablefish and duckbreast, and decided sablefish to try to make myself feel like I was eating healthier. Whether or not it was, the sablefish tasted and felt as decadent as duckbreast would have. Cooked to perfection with a fantastic balance of a delicious broth that was poured on it at table side, I was happy that I only ate half my salad so that I could finish the sablefish!
I have to once again commend our server, Nathan. He made some excellent drink suggestions when I left it in his hands, and provided an evening of service that was unparallel.
I'm actually getting tired of writing about the food I ate in detail, so I'm just going to say, the ambiance is fantastic, the drinks were yummy, the service was awesome, and this place is really expensive, so if anything, you pay for what you get here.
Can't wait to come back again for seaweed crisps (which came free with my expensive but delicious drink).1 Previous Review: Show all »
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12/1/2011
Impeccable service, excellent quality of food.
Will come back to write a more detailed review soon. Read more »
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Review from Arnold P.
2/25/2012
I was looking forward to going after hearing great things about this place. The place is modern and elegant. The renovations to Hotel Georgia are great.
I ordered the Fraser Valley pork belly with red quinoa and added the pan-seared foie gras. The pork belly was tender and moist.
I love foie gras! -
Review from lucinda k.
Vancouver, BC
1/14/2012
Was really looking forward to going to hawksworth with a couple of friends and had a great night but only because of the company.
The 2 stars are mostly for the apple beet salad appetizer: great dill flavour.
Unfortunately it went downhill from there. We were talking in between courses, and began to notice it seemed like it was taking quite a while for our entrees to come even though it was later in the evening and less busy (~9pm). Finally over a hour later our waitress arrived with a complimentary gnocci dish as "there was a mix up in the kitchen". The gnocci was good, and I was looking forward to my main sea bass dish.
It finally arrived and I was disappointed to get a "fishy" whiff. It did not smell fresh and tasted dry. By this time I was just happy to have something so didn't mention it to staff. I don't think I'll be back, but if I am I won't be getting the sea bass! -
Review from Sebastian A.
Vancouver, BC
2/15/2012
Hawksworth was recommended by a colleague as not to be missed...and it didn't disappoint. It is classy and elegant, but not over the top.
This was my first time inside the new Hotel Georgia and it's beautiful. The room itself is modern and beautiful. It feels luxurious and comfortable.
Our server was attentive, knowledgeable and friendly...but she gave us privacy (which I greatly appreciate). Seating is a little close together, but there are plenty of tables available that allow for private conversations. If this is important, I'm sure they can be requested.
As for the food, it was delicious. Servings are not large, but they are packed with quality and flavour. I'm a bigger guy with a big appetite and yet I found that the servings were just perfect. Enough to satiate hunger and not to feel as though I needed a post-lunch siesta.
We had the scallops and frothed chowder as an appetizer followed by the albacore tuna salad and striploin and gnochi as entrees. All perfectly prepared and layered with flavour.
I also thought that the non-alcoholic cocktails were a nice touch. We tried the blueberry and the pomegranate/ginger beer. The blueberry was a little light on flavour, but the pomegranate/ginger beer was a highlight.
Don't miss Hawksworth. You won't be dissapointed. -
Review from Lee N.
Vancouver, BC
4/11/2012 1 Check-in Here
Very nice ambience. Great food, well most of it, one dish was almost like it came out of the fridge cool. The wine list is great, probably the best in town. The staff very professional.
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Review from Renay R.
Toronto, ON
3/3/2012
I was in Vancouver for work and had been given a recommendation for this place. I tried to come here for lunch and dinner but couldn't get in - the place was packed solid all the time. On my last day in Vancouver, I came here for breakfast just so I could experience it.
The room is quite pretty - very understated but very nice attention to details.
I ordered a coffee and they brought a nice silver carafe full of nice tasting coffee - a nice touch.
For breakfast, I had the full english - my favourite part was the baked beans as it came in they're own little pot - love it! The sausage was fantastic!
Wish I could have tried a dinner here but I'm glad that I at least experienced breakfast! -
Review from Kristen M.
Vancouver, BC
2/28/2012 1 Check-in Here
Went for a business dinner, and popped in without a reservation (our error). We were nearly laughed at at first, as it was dine-out Vancouver at the time, and they were booked solid. However a second lovely hostess who was on the phone while we were inquiring, hung up and let us know that she has just had a cancellation, we could have the table, but only for an hour or so, as there was a later reservation. So we were taken in to a lovely table by the window, and had a delicious 3 Course meal from the dine-out menu. The dessert was maybe the best dessert I have ever had, and I do hope it is on their regular menu.
Our waitress was amazing, and made sure that when our time was up at our table there was a table in the lounge waiting where we could continue our meeting.
Such great service, complemented by the fabulous food and wine made for an ideal evening. -
Review from Allen W.
2/18/2012 1 Check-in Here
Elegant (but not pretentious) restaurant that can melt away even the worst day. Food is excellent and with good portion sizes, but it's pricey.
Our server was extremely helpful and friendly. She offered to turn off the fireplace that butted up against our table ... not sure I would have put a table there to begin with, but I guess you need to squeeze in as many diners as you can.
I started with the pear salad, which was surprisingly filling. I had the sablefish for my main. The fish was thick and succulent. Perfectly cooked. There were several interesting fish dishes on the menu.
For dessert, I shared the macaroons with my partner. They were ok, not that exciting and so sugary that I could barely eat my portion of 3. -
Review from Kalina M.
North Vancouver, BC
1/3/2012
Hawksworth has it all: Great design, Great atmosphere, Great food, Great service
Great place for client lunches!
I recently took a client to lunch at Hawksworth. I had been before (another client meeting) for drinks and appies only (we had selection of local and import cheese, house-made preserves, melba) and was intrigued enough to come back for a meal.
I love the design of the rooms. Each have a different feel and yet the entire restaurant is very cohesive. It definitely deserves the write ups and articles I have read.
The food was amazing - we had:
Starter: apple beet salad
Mains: roasted chestnut orecchiette & albacore tuna salad
All the food was perfectly made and a nice portion.
Not often mentioned are the great drinks - the creative drinks both with or with out alcohol are have made my love list. Due to our new drinking laws I love that the city's Mixologists have responded. We both had a wonderfully balanced and perfectly refreshing drink that had Ginger beer and Pomegranate Juice in it. (I can't remember the name and when I find out I'll update.)
Last but not the least - I have to say I love the renos to Hotel Georgia - Valet guys are great too! All in all it was a wonderful experience for my client. Thank you! -
Review from Ellen L.
11/21/2011 ROTD 2/3/2012
This place is full of eye candy. Men in suits - nuff said. Too bad I can't do the creeper on them cuz I'm distracted by how AMAZING the Steelhead Salmon was!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ($24 I think?). I've stopped ordering cooked salmon for at least a few years now (I still heart you, salmon sashimi) because they are almost always overcooked, dry, and/or taste fishy. Well, that is a thing of the past now. Hawksworth's salmon was perfection! Crispy on the edges and juicy in the middle - I was savouring every single little bite.
Portion is fairly small, but as expected. The entree was enough for a light lunch. Appy is definitely needed for a more full meal.
Note that the vegetarian selection was pretty limited - just salad and a chestnut pasta.
At the conclusion of my foodgasm, my lunch companion whipped out the plastic - free lunch FTW!Listed in: Lunching it up Downtown
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Review from Lloyd B.
Mount Pleasant, Vancouver, BC
4/1/2012
Really liked this place. Pricey but excellent. In our group all three starters and mains were spectacular. Wine choices were excellent as was service and atmosphere.
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Review from Priscilla L.
Edmonton, AB
12/22/2011
This restaurant definitely has that pretentious feel but please don't let the smell of swank deter you. The room is beautifully designed and decorated. The service was pleasant although the waiters were not as engaging as I had expected them to be.
The food.... The food was amazing. A month ago I had chosen to try another restaurant in Vancouver recommended by Air Canada's 2011 10 Best in Canada last month and it was unfortunately sub-par. Hawksworth is the polar opposite.
We had opted for the tasting menu. The yellowfin tuna tartar was fresh and divine. The sea bass was cooked to perfection and the parsnip ravioli was creamy and delectable. The slow cooked lamb was savory and tender and the chocolate fondant was decadent. I thoroughly enjoyed every dish I had and the wine pairing suited each dish perfectly. This is a restaurant I will look forward to dining at again in the near future. -
Review from Jeff S.
Vancouver, BC
3/19/2012
OK, the food is good. But after 5 or 6 visits, I have never received decent service, so I give up. An the hotel put on a very mediocre event for me and my 120 guests. I know that Hawksworth and the hotel are different owners/management, but there is a pattern here.......
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Review from Siri W.
9/11/2011
Sometimes when my mother is in town, I, a poor starving Arts student am treated to the high life. The KD/ghetto pizza/ramen noodle diet is left to the side for the night, and I am treated to food - real food! And people - it doesn't get more real than this. All joking aside, for someone who appreciates (and yet cannot often afford) the finer things in life, I found myself floored by this place. For me, this is dining on a whole other plane of existence.
First off - the Rosewood is one of the most gorgeous hotels I have ever had the pleasure of visiting - it's been so beautifully restored that you feel as if you are in an entirely different era upon entering.
The restaurant itself - equally beautiful and packed to the brim on a Thursday night. The first thing that struck me was how noisy it was - definitely not the place for a quiet dinner. The second was the sheer volume of the wait staff. They were present in record numbers but I guess, for a business like this, that's what it takes to keep things running smoothly. It was kind of funny at times though. Like the girl whose job it apparently was to put your fork and knife back parallel to one another on the plate if you had moved them and to re-fold your napkin into a triangle if you went to the bathroom.
Our waiter was beyond fabulous and adorable. I could have put him in my pocket and carried him home with me, he was so freaking cute, and very attentive. The menu is just as high caliber as you would expect - and a lot of it sounded delicious. My mum and I split the scallops to start - so fresh, so flavourful - my only wish is that there had been about a thousand more.
For my main I had the salmon with the eggplant caviar and it was unbelievably good. The salmon was perfectly cooked, the sauce was beyond incredible - all of it to die for.
And to end the night, we split the cherry pistachio desert. The cherry flavour was so rich and intense - a perfect way to end the summer.
I dine out a lot in Vancouver (even when I probably shouldn't!) and this place for me is unparalleled in terms of glitz, presentation and style. The food was delicious - but I have had just as good. I believe the setting helps elevate it even more. However, considering food, service, presentation, decor etc. all together, this place really is a standout in Vancouver.
Go for a special occasion, you won't regret it! -
Review from Justin L.
9/18/2011
We were originally drawn in to Hawksworth since I actually spent a summer long ago during the late 80s working at Hotel Georgia. After walking in and being seated, we were immediately impressed with the upscale swanky decor of this place. Stylish but not over the top.
For brunch, we sampled the Pulled Pork Eggs Benedict and the pancakes. Both were excellent...especially the benedict. Service throughout the meal was also superb.
Throwing my own personal nostalgia aside, we really enjoyed our dining experience at Hawksworth and plan to check it out again.Listed in: Oh Canada :)
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Review from Gigi L.
Vancouver, BC
11/26/2011
For a top chef experiences, we got the good & bad at the same night.
We highly recommended steak (perfect quality), forget about the seafood. (over cooked).
It's a great place for a cocktail / drinks and hanging out with friends.
The wine manager is very knowledgeable.
We are coffee's drinker and lover. It was the worst espresso ever. -
Review from Raffy E.
Vancouver, BC
10/7/2011 1 Check-in Here
The brunch menu here is pretty impressive. I had the corned beef hash with what I think were balsamic vinegar-soaked "home fries", all topped with over-medium eggs. A friend and I also shared a serving of their french toast brioche with a lavender honey glaze. Both were excellent! I especially appreciated the french toast, which had a light sweetness, almost dessert-like quality rather than the usual, more savory flavor I typically expect from french toast.
The service here is fantastic as well. Our server chatted us up the right amount--she didn't talk our ears off but she didn't just come up, grab our orders, and give us the usual "is there anything else I can help you with?" line--and I was pleasantly surprised that she also offered to change my white table napkin to black because I was wearing a black sweater to keep the lint from showing. The bench seats also have soft throw pillows that sort of give the experience of eating breakfast/brunch in bed.
The portion sizes are more gourmet than what you'd get at another excellent brunch spot like Twisted Fork (i.e. way smaller), but that's about the only minor quibble I have since the food is so tasty anyhow. The french toast is totally share-sized though. -
Review from Carmel B.
Vancouver, BC
1/10/2012
In a word: disappointing.
Much has been made of how fabulous the food is at Hawksworth, so I was very much looking forward to our meal and expected to be blown away by the food. I was not. While it was good, it was not anything remarkable. I had the sablefish, which was adequate and for dessert a delicious chocolate fondant slice with orange. My father had lamb which he didn't like as he felt the lamb flavour was buried under whatever was put on the meat. The waitress graciously didn't charge him for his entree or dessert - a very nice gesture. My boyfriend had beef tenderloin and was very happy with his entree.
There was also a very large party in the dining room celebrating something and the noise was pretty dreadful. If Hawksworth doesn' t have a private room for large parties, they shouldn't book them into the main dining rooms, which are already very loud.
Our meal was adequate but not fabulous. -
Review from Katie G.
7/12/2011
Have been to Hawksworth for cocktails twice in the last week. I am visiting Vancouver (home) from London and my mom and her fun, young at heart ladies who lunch friends come here a lot. The restaurant is gorgeous and has a very swanky look to it.
The cocktail selection is diverse and detailed. Would highly recommend their signature Hotel Georgia cocktail, made with gin, frothy eggwhite and numeg (and I assume more). Somewhat girly but a guy could enjoy it.
The actual bar itself is quite small (maybe 6 small stools across). Unless you are just with one other person it would be tough to get comfortable sitting at the bar. Best seats would be the couches right by the window which are really good for people watching. I have not eaten in the dining room yet so I have no opinion on that. My main complaint would be that the bar is totally separate from the restaurant (separated by a wall) and you can't people watch within the whole restaurant.
Foodwise, I have shared the pizza, the chicken and tuna rolls. The food was good enough but I assume just a sideshow to the main event of full meals. Am looking forward to trying a full meal there in the near future. -
Review from Katie F.
7/18/2011
3.5 stars
I'm a huge Hawksworth fan from his years at West and was saving this for a special date since it opened this year, so hubby and I came here for our anniversary dinner.
Pros:
- Great decor, comfy chairs
- Interesting menu with unique pairings, good presentation and taste
- Decent service
- Small recognition for a special date
Cons:
- Bread service is NOT included! It's 4 bucks!!! Seriously Mr. Hawksworth, I'd rather you pad my bill elsewhere than put a separate fee item for a bread basket!
- Hostess at the door could use a bit of improvement when handling multiple guests arriving at the same time
- DIRTY menus. This was a total turn-off. My main menu had water stains on it and both of our dessert menus had chocolate/other stains. For a "fine dining" restaurant, you should really have some extras printed and replace the dirty pages
Overall the food is good... I loved my 48 hour shortribs starter (melt-in-your mouth) with some nice spice on the sides, and my halibut was very unique, with a thin chorizo sausage wrapped around the halibut pieces. I went with the chocolate, sweet potato and maple dessert since it sounded very unique, but it turned out to be essentially chocolate crumbles with some sweet potato ice cream - tasty, but not quite what I was expecting based on the description. Hubby had the sweetbreads and the tenderloin - both nicely done, but nothing memorable.
Prices are fine for a higher end retaurant for both a la carte and the prix fixe menu, which is reasonable at $70-ish pp pre-tax/tip/drinks.
It's a nice restaurant but the turn-offs are pretty big considering its competitors. Considering how much I love West, I was disappointed with Hawksworth's new venture.Listed in: Making the most of your…
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Review from Patricia L.
Vancouver, BC
9/12/2011
Reading around at a lot of reviews for this place and they seem to be getting slammed pretty hard. In terms of fine dining establishments in Vancouver, I thought they did a pretty decent job.
True it may not be comparable to 3-star Michelin restaurants in Paris, NYC and the like, but that's because it simply is not. Where Hawksworth falls short is when they try too hard to be like their big city counterparts and they kill themselves trying to attain those levels.
Where patrons and critics get upset is when they're comparing every little detail of this place to all the hoity-toity high-end restaurants in the world. Where's the fun in that? I'm just here for the food!
We're lucky in Vancouver in that we have so many great ingredients to work with and we've got a handful of great chefs who know how to cook great food and love doing so.
We're not Spain or Paris or New York, but we can all get back to basics and just enjoy good food when it's sincerely being presented to us just to sit back and enjoy. Hawksworth is at the very least able to let us do that much.
We all had the Tasting menu and everything was well presented, well constructed and more importantly everything tasted good. I'll admit I've had better meals in my lifetime, but this was one of the better meals I've enjoyed in Vancouver in a long while.
Tasting Menu:
-chef's amuse bouche
-maple ridge farms veal carpaccio, remesco, crispy bread, parmesan
-slow cooked halibut cheek, sunchoke, corn, lobster emulsion
-fraser valley pork belly, chorizo, turmeric, pea tendrils
-bacon wrapped elk loin, parisienne gnocchi, fava beans, saskatoon berry jus
-peaches blackberries, bitter almond
It's definitely worth a try. From their cocktails to their wine list to the massive crystal chandelier in the main dining lounge, it's all pretty fun if you let yourself have some!Listed in: I HEART Food!
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Review from Vicky B.
Vancouver, BC
6/28/2011
I went to Hawksworth's recently as part of the Visa Infinite dining series. I had been to West years ago and had good memories of my dinner there.
There were about 40 or 50 people at the dinner and we had all paid $160 per person.
The food was tasty, especially the duck breast in a spicy broth. However the portions were tiny considering the price tag. I've been to many high end restaurants and I'm not expecting huge portions but these were a bit too small.
The hostess for the evening spoke to us in a very arrogant and condescending manner. She was pretty annoying. Also the wine servings were a JOKE! They were microscopic. I've had larger glasses of wine at free wine tasting than the sizes they were serving there. It wasn't as if they were serving Chateau Petrus or Latour either. The majority were nothing but minor unknown wines from California. However we still only got about 2 tablespoons of each. Many people were surprised by this.
Chef Hawsworth came out and gave us a brief talk at the end. He appeared friendly and appreciative so that's why I gave this place two stars instead of one. If he wants his restaurant to succeed I would suggest that he takes greater care of the events that are held there.
I may go back some day....... -
Review from Andrew L.
Port Moody, BC
7/6/2011
Having seen David Hawksworth judging the Top Chef Canada competition, I HAD to pop in. I have been to the Hotel Georgia Bar and Grille a ton of times, and it is TOTALLY gone! I couldn't recognize a thing from its previous incarnation.
What does remain is the view out onto West Georgia with the whole city strolling by - a pretty cool view!
I sat in the lounge, had a few glasses of wine, enjoyed the uber professional staff. If you are a cocktail person, the bartender made some amazing drinks, one after the other. I ended up trying the Bar Burger at $18 - best burger I've ever had, but juicy and messy!
My $38 tab is not representative of what people would spend for dinner there, but i really enjoyed it.
They have a 7 course menu with each course accompanied by a wine pairing for a bit over $100 per person, so you can easily spend quite a bit more!
Loved it! -
Review from Herman E.
10/20/2011
Went here a while ago, just after they opened, but have not put up a review until now. To describe it in one word, "excellent", for lunch at least. I don't know about the dinner service. The crowd is older, or maybe a better word is "mature". It is not like the crowd that you would find at more 'downtown professional hipster' establishments such as the Glowbal Group of restaurants.
Pricey is the one warning that I have for some of you out there, but you get what you pay for. Service was very attentive, and this is what you're paying for as well as the food, IMHO. This is for the monied crowd for sure.
The yellow fin tuna starter was very tasty. The burger is good, but you can rarely go wrong with a standard like this. Roasted sable fish was only OK, however, the caveat is that I am biased. I am not a fan of Asian fusion. I tend to find almost all Asian fusion dishes under seasoned, and lacking any punch in terms of taste. I am used to Asian dishes tasting a certain way, or I have a certain 'expectation'. I will get off my soapbox now.
All in all, still a good recommendation for a place to visit at least once. -
Review from Philip W.
New Westminster, BC
7/13/2011
Went for dinner on a Tuesday night. The restaurant was reasonably busy, but service was generally crisp and attentive. For starters we had scallops and sweet breads, both of which were well presented and tasty.
Mains consisted of sturgeon, halibut and duck breast, all served in shallow bowls with broth added table-side. Reviews on the fish dishes were generally positive but the duck was somewhat overcooked. I also had an added piece of foie gras with my duck which was slightly too firm or undercooked. The wine list had a well-rounded collection of wines from a variety of regions throughout the world.
Overall, the food was good but not great and the presentation seemed somewhat dated and a bit precious, like something from the 90's.
A note on ambiance - the dining spaces are bright with one wall of mostly glass, but tend to be fairly noisy and may not be the best place for an intimate meal. Most of the crowd during on the Tuesday we were there seemed to be businessmen with a few tourists sprinkled in. -
Review from Rebecca C.
Vancouver, BC
10/27/2011
I went here recently for lunch with my dad. It's a perfect place for dining with relatives or coworkers -- fancy enough to feel like a genuine special occasion spot, but only slightly intimidating.
The dining room was full, so we sat at a coffee table in the lounge, which was slightly physically awkward, but pleasant nonetheless. We ordered tomato salad, roasted sablefish in tom yum broth, and rockfish in coconut curry. Oh, and chocolate mousse.
The salad was a highlight, juicy and perfectly complemented by strips of speck (a type pf prosciutto). The two fish dishes were presented in a kind of similar fashion, as both were surrounded by southeast Asian sauces. They were both really good -- not the most amazing fish I've ever had, but definitely up there. And the mousse -- what can I say -- it was pure indulgence, beautifully presented with passionfruit foam.
My experience at Hawksworth was several weeks ago. I'm not sure how I'd feel dining there today, with the Occupy Vancouver protesters across the street (let's face it, Hawksworth is basically a "1%" establishment), but for their overall quality and use of local ingredients, this is a good place for a special treat. -
Review from Vincci L.
Swanky, glitzy, all the works.
Came here for late night drinks in their lounge. It was busy, and we had to wait a while to get some service.
I ordered a Twenty Four Flowers cocktail which was very good. A great cocktail menu, and there's a good selection of mint juleps if you like those.
The lounge is not too big, it could get very busy on the weekends, given its location. Considering trying out their regular menu and see what they have to offer in terms of food. -
Review from Betty L.
6/30/2011
I had a lovely dinner at Hawksworth with my family on a Sunday night. It was pretty quiet that night, only a few tables throughout the night. When Davide Hawksworth was the chef at West, I found the food to be too salty. As a result I had to send it back a few times. Needless to say, I was worried that it would happnen at his restaurant. Yet my dining experience was pretty good.
I love the decore of it. It had white walls with floral motifs and dark brown crown mouldings. It gave out a really refined elegance. Although my brother found the long crystal chandlier to be a bit tacky and over the top. The servers were friendly and informative. I particuarliy enjoyed chatting with the sommelier. He invited me to the wine reoom to check out the wines because I was gawking at amazing wines and room.
The food was pretty good although it could be a bit hotter. The prices on the menu were reasonable. We enjoyed the following dishes:
1)Yellowfin tuna carpaccio - it came with charred avocado(I couldn't taste the char flavour), cucumber, asian pear, yuzu and puffed rice. The dish tasted pretty fresh and light. Personally I'd like a bit more tartness to combat the richness of the avocado.
2)Grilled sturgeon - eventhough it was a farmed fish, it still had a lot of flavour and grilled perfectly. The bacon consumme was so tasty. The flavours were intense yet it wasn't greasy. Along with the mushrooms, it brought a richness to the dish.
3)Slow cooked hailibut - I had the chance to eat the dish because my mom didn't want to eat another tomato based dish. I really like it. The fish was moist, the artichokes were young and tender. It was a pretty light and fresh dish with echoes of basil.
Since it's centrally located, prices are reasonable, and the food and service were pretty good, Hawksworth will be around for a very long time. A good place for special occassions or a fun gathering. -
Review from Christine K.
Vancouver, BC
8/26/2011 7 photos
OK - it was ok. Went for lunch today. The food was good but it was not exciting. It was expensive too, in my opinion. Look at my pix of the short rib appy (I hate that paint brush plating on it too). That was $16 for three bites of short rib??? No thanks. This was highly recommended from our waiter. It tasted fine but certainly no WOW factor to it. The meal really had zero value "overall". I'll just add that my impression of Hawksworth on Top Chef Canada was that he was a douche.
This place is perfect if you have a small appetite and large wallet. That's ok if the food makes you smile to ear to ear, maybe drool and think about it for hours later. This didn't. It was just OK. I doubt I'll even return for a second go. Not interested to try again. I thought the cheese plate was worth $16. The halibut tempura was really tasty but not worth the price tag. The short ribs and tempura for $37 did not fill me up and it doesn't take a lot to fill me up. $4 for a bread basket? Thank goodness we had the cheese plate too as I was ok after that, certainly not stuffed but not hungry still.
I will say that service was good (not perfect by any means) and what you would expect dining in a place like this. And one more thing to add, is it's LOUD!!!! You have to get your voice on!
