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The Hamilton Street Grill
Categories: Restaurants Steakhouses Restaurants Canadian (Traditional) Steakhouses, Canadian (Traditional) [Edit]
1009 Hamilton StVancouver, BC V6B 5T4
Neighbourhoods: Downtown, Yaletown
(604) 331-1511
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 11:30 am - 2:30 pm
Mon-Sun 5 pm - 10 pm
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
25 reviews for The Hamilton Street Grill
Review Highlights
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"steak, mashed potatoes plus seasonal veggies, all for $13." In 3 reviews -
"...dessert, we shared creme brulee and the gingerbread pudding." In 4 reviews
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"The 12 oz New York steak was grilled to perfection." In 2 reviews
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25 reviews in English
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Review from Alex R.
Vancouver, BC
12/19/2011
I liked it, although the name is not accurate, it sounds like a burger joint but they have some pretty nice gourmet dishes.
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Review from Florence C.
Vancouver, BC
4/26/2012
I tried the famous hamilton street burger and didn't wow me. Actually, I'm not used to medium rare burger but I guess it's their style. The pasta is OK too but I'd rather go to proper Italian restaurant..
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Review from Rebecca S.
10/6/2011
I ate oysters here for the first time ever.
I was really, really scared, but I was assured that we would just order six and I was only obligated to eat one.
After I agreed to the six to one ratio, the waiter accidently brought us one dozen oysters. But you know what? I didn't hate them. I kind of liked the marinara type sauce to add on top in fact, and I think I actually ate about half the plate.
Service was great, and we asked the bartender to surprise us with his favorite beer on tap, which was some dark ale that I actually liked!
Overall, this place wasn't too memorable other than losing my oyster virginity, but it was low-key and classy, unlike most of the other surrounding bars.Listed in: Vancouver, BC
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Review from Wendy Y.
11/9/2011
My girlfriend and I were supposed to come here for the Taste of Yaletown but didn't realize the offer ended on Oct 30th. We were one day too late. Not wanting to walk in our heels in the cold, we stayed to have the regular dinner menu.
There were only three tables of people eating when we arrived at 7:30pm. Seeing limited patrons on what supposedly to be a busy Halloween night only intensified my skepticism and apprehension. Needless to say reading the very-mixed Yelp reviews on this place prior to coming down here didn't help either.
Our friendly server, Dorian, took us to a booth table by the entrance. The furnishing of this place is quite romantic. One element that really stands out of this restaurant is wood (textured wooden floor, wooden tables, wooden bar top etc). The wood reminds me of Hollywood summer cottages. The accented amber lighting makes the restaurant seem warm and inviting.
My girlfriend and I were eyeing on getting chicken liver for appetizer until Dorian said one of the special items of the night was fried chicken. It was originally served as an entree but I managed to get it as an appetizer for $12. The impulsive decision of mine came from many fruitless attempts to find killer fried chicken in New York when I visited in September (due to a lack of time). So we ordered the fried chicken to share. My girlfriend ordered The Hamilton Street Burger with fries and I ordered the Pappardelle (house made pasta, slow braised short ribs, veal reduction, creme fraiche, with toasted pine nuts).
My girlfriend was nursing her glass of red when the bread came. I was impressed. The evenly cut rectangular bread slices were warm and soft. The chipotle whipped butter went well with the bread. My skepticism was begining to melt.
After a slice of bread our fried chicken came. Two pieces of fried chicken in the color of deep gold looked like your typical fried chicken. There was nothing else I can elaborate on. I torn off a piece of crust and nibbled. The crust was crunchy and very home-made. The meat was very tender, juicy, and full of flavor. This was my favorite dish of the night.
Our entrees came. I had a bite of the burger and it was very well done. You can taste that the beef patty was from a good cut and the fries were crispy (they were still crispy by the end of the meal). Dorian said they were "double fried" and hence the crispiness was maintained. Bravo.
I was not a big fan of my entree. I love the pasta sauce and the braised short ribs but it was the house made pasta that killed it. The texture of the pasta reminds me of Manchego cheese, very textured with unevenly distributed air pockets. The pasta and the sauce didn't go together.
After nursing her second glass of red, my girlfriend wanted some dessert. To satisfy her sweet tooth (and mine) we chose a warm ginger bread pudding with ginger & pumpkin ice cream and caramel sauce.
The gingerbread was good but the caramel sauce was WAY too sweet. With every bite of the bread pudding I needed at least a mouthful of water. This is not a very enjoyable way to indulge any dessert. The ice creams were good. The flavors were definitely intense though I find them too sweet.
My portion of the bill came to roughly $40 with taxes and tips. The food was not bad and the quantity was decent. I'd give it 7/10 or 3.5/5. Will I return? Probably not. I find the food too expensive for what I got.Listed in: West Coast Food
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Review from Amy T.
7/24/2011
The food wasn't out of this world and I wouldn't go out of my way to eat here, but I still had a good time. It might have been due to the fact that I was with my coworkers and one of them was a regular here. We received amazing service all night.
I shared the blue cheese poutine and the dozen oysters with a friend. Both were 3/5 and nothing spectacular. Oysters were fresh, no shell particals on the meat and not many ways you can screw up a dozen fresh oysters. The blue cheese poutine had non battered fries and a lot of blue cheese. I was craving a strong cheese so this hit the spot. The gravy was a little runny and salty in my opinion so I didn't eat much of it.
We sat on the patio and the heated lamps really helped. I know, it's weird that we need to use the heated lamp in the middle of July. This isn't a place for a young or hip crowd. Everyone dining here were low key and casual. If you're looking for atmosphere and eye candy, I would say go elsewhere. If you are walking by, wanted a simple no frills meal or with family, then pop in for a bite. -
Review from Samanthi G.
Vancouver, BC
1/10/2012 Seated via OpenTable
First issue: Did not receive the complementary bread to begin with although the other tables around us did. Second: the lamb shank I ordered was tough, chewy, undercooked and very bland, I can make it better. Thirdly: the chocolate moose that we ordered was so ordinary, such a waste of money. All in all was a disappointing meal and we won't be going back.
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Review from Brian F.
Vancouver, BC
11/9/2011 1 Check-in Here
Really great steaks. A classic room (newly renovated).
A savy chef, with looks...who is at the top of his game.
This is a real steakhouse and grill. Bravo for staying true. -
Review from Amanda L.
9/30/2011 1 Check-in Here
Stopped in here last night and our Server Daren was super nice and fun but not over the top.
You get a complementary bread basket with garlic butter that tasted fresh baked and almost melts in your mouth, drool! I love bread and garlic!
I got the Ravioli which was stuffed with potato, a nice change from mushroom ravioli's which I am not a huge fan of. They were quite good, although there was walnuts on it and that just seems like more of a dessert thing but I tried it anyways.
Their burger and fries come in a big portion, but they also come with a big price tag so it's suitable. Only downside was the fries had a "bottom of the bag" look to them and they were all little pieces, not lengthy fries. -
Review from Cody S.
3/1/2011
We have been here a couple of times and haven't been disappointed. I'm not that bit of a fan of steakhouses....but this is a nice place.
First of all, the service was wonderful. I really enjoyed the intuitive and accommodating service staff here. There is nothing better than feeling like you can ask anyone working somewhere (not just your server) . Thats nice.
The steaks were 'meh'....nothing too special about the quality or flavour. I did, however, enjoy it and finished everything. The bread and butter (I have a love affair with bread everywhere) was great....I'm a big fan. The overall food quality was good.
This place is classic Yaletown quality......right at average...nothing special. But, Yaletowners are easily duped into believing anyplace with good decorations and high prices will automatically have spectacular food! (sorry my friends, no one should take these things personally :p)
I do know one thing. It's good to be a businessperson here! -
Review from Monique S.
Vancouver, BC
11/26/2011
Last year's number one voted burger has turned into a Super Store frozen patty that I tasted at a community BBQ this summer! I boasted about this delicious juicy burger to all my co-workers, and they decided to try it today. You can just imagine my shock when I took the first bite of the burger today at lunch and wished I could have folded into a paper plate and discreetly tossed it in the garbage can as I did at the BBQ in the summer.
Unfortunately, the burgers took over an hour to arrive, and we were on an hour lunch break. I suspect that the cooks were dethawing these thick rubbery frozen tasteless patties! At least the cheese masked the cheap beefy taste enough to eat the burgers.
As if making all my coworkers late to get back to work wasn't enough, I had to hear about the awful burgers all afternoon.
If you plan to talk to each other in this restaurant, good luck shouting above the loud and annoying music.
Whatever happened to that juicy burger that was voted number one? -
Review from Liza B.
Vancouver, BC
2/14/2011
Disappointing. In all honesty, the 2 stars is based on the food alone. Our server did an excellent job of managing our party of 18 single handedly. She deserved the 18% auto gratuity.
I typically don't bash restaurants, and I am not about to start. But I did have high hopes for this place. Most of us at the table agreed that our food was lackluster at best. The stuffed chicken breast was decent but not remarkable. Those that had steak found it was not cooked to order and others who had the papardelle found it tasted strongly of poultry seasoning ( it was a beef dish) and the beef itself seemed like a bad cut of stewing meat. The food in general seemed quite prefab.
Not likely to go back any time soon. -
Review from K S.
Burnaby, BC
4/1/2011
Way overcooked, burnt and salty steaks (med rare).
Else is mediocre.
My woman grills way juicier steaks - what an embarrassment. -
Review from Audralee D.
Penticton, BC
4/4/2011 1 Check-in Here
Service & food all great.
Really enjoyed the Duck special and bacon jus on the Pork Chop... could anything be better oh and the Gnocchi were like clouds. Only wish we had room left for dessert.
We had a great conversation with Owner/Chef Neil... great guy, knows his stuff is most often found in the kitchen but was working front of house so we got a good amount of his time and attention. -
Review from Folland O.
Vancouver, BC
2/17/2011 1 Check-in Here
Had a coupon from the Entertainment book and came with a friend.
We started with the fondue on recommendation from the server. It was mediocre at best and tasted like a thick mushroom soup. The server did give us extra bread before we had to ask which was nice of him.
I had the rib steak cooked Medium Rare Chicago. The chicago cost $1 extra which was not told to me beforehand so it was a little suprise on our bill. It was cooked very well but they added some crispy onions and some garlic aioli on top of it. Aioli is just a pretty word for mayonnaise, which I don't eat. I had to ask the waiter to take it back and scrape off the mayo and asked him if it had been mentioned in the menu, which it hadn't, even though he insisted it was on the menu. I double checked. It's not.
For dessert we had the mousse which was very rich and delicious, highly recommended.
The pricing is what you would expect for a Yaletown grill, too high. The atmosphere was very high end and I enjoyed it for a decent night out.
I wouldn't go out my way to recommend but it is worth a try if you have the entertainment book coupon! -
Review from Edward L.
2/17/2011
Even though Yaletown isn't normally my cup of tea (it's not ghetto enough), I decided to come check out HSG for my friend's birthday.
Since this is Yaletown we're talking about here, parking is, of course, non-existent. So I parked at my friend's office nearby and walked over.
The place is actually much larger than expected, as most of it is in the basement. Unfortunately this also naturally means that there's no outside view.
The waitress was actually pretty good, and still kept track of me even after I changed seats a couple of times.
I had a lamb chop dish (forget the name). It was actually pretty well done, but a bit dry. But based on my limited cooking experience, that probably just means they didn't soak the whole thing in butter before cooking it. So they probably saved my life.
The only complaint? It was expensive. Including my beer and no dessert, I spent almost $40. Yeah I'm cheap. The price does stop me from coming back, but if this is your cup of tea, then it's not a bad place to check out. -
Review from Karen R.
A friend's birthday led us here tonight. The service was great - our waiter was very attentive and non-intrusive (this is a theme in my reviews because nothing bugs me more than when servers interrupt you every 5 minutes). The wine list was quite nice - our options were great - I had a really nice glass of Gewürztraminer with dinner.
The 12 oz New York steak was grilled to perfection. I ordered it medium rare and it was medium rare the whole way through. The garlic mashed potatoes were buttery, creamy and just the right amount garlicky. Everything was super flavourful. I had a few bites of my friend's lamb shank and pasta and it was fall of the bone tender. The setting was classy, the food tasty and the service friendly. I'd recommend this for a first date or a group of people - it's versatile and great value for your money. -
Review from rosquete b.
2/7/2011
Cool, cozy, casual atmosphere w/great music
Wines by glass, half liter, or bottle
Beers by draught or bottle
Excellent Stilton salad; also, have Cobb and Roquefort salads
Nice, dense house bread
Steak was good; parpadelle was good; wild coho salmon was good
Highlight: Ginger pudding dessert - the best
Great food service -
Review from Kristina C.
Vancouver, BC
12/20/2010
This restaurant is hit-or-miss. I've been here twice: the first time was a 4 star experience, while my second time was more of a 2 star experience.
First time: We were turned away from Society down the street because we didn't think to make reservations, so our empty stomachs led us to the Hamilton Street Grill. It wasn't very busy that night, so we were seated promptly.
There was a special on for the month of June featuring an 8 oz. steak, mashed potatoes plus seasonal veggies, all for $13. There was also an a la carte menu for sides such as sauteed mushrooms, crispy onions, etc. The steak was very yummy and tender, and the mushrooms were absolutely delicious: there was something about that sauce that was just so good, and they used a variety of different mushrooms. Our server that night was great: super friendly, attentive but not overbearing, and she even brought out a free appetizer for us that the chef was experimenting with (it was breadchips/crackers with marscapone cheese and cherry tomato: soooo good).
Second time: I came back several months later for a birthday party. This time, we had a server who seemed less than thrilled with his job, or so it seemed, as he was not the friendliest guy I've ever met, and he didn't come around very often to check on us. Again, the restaurant was having another steak promotion, and since it was such a good deal, I went with that again. Our table also shared a pasta dish which was really delicious. The mushrooms this time around, however, were a disappointment.
For dessert, we shared creme brulee and the gingerbread pudding. The kitchen actually messed up their batch of creme brulee and made it with salt instead of sugar (imagine my friends' surprise when they put a spoonful of the dessert in their mouths...). When we informed the waiter, he apologized and brought it back to the kitchen. He came back and thanked us for letting them know, and asked if we'd like to substitute a different dessert for it, so we did. I personally thought he should've given us this dessert for free, however, that was not the case. The caliber of the food was not the same as it was the first time I came. -
Review from Michelle C.
Delta, BC
2/23/2010
I have always loved this restaurant! The food is always delicious no matter what I order. The wine too!
This time was a little different as it was on Saturday during the Olympic craziness...insane and amazing all at once!
There were four of us and we had gone to a few restaurants prior in the area trying to find a table, knowing that we'd have to wait. When we got to the HSG we were greated promptly and told the wait would be about 30-45 minutes, and we were more then happy to wait. The great thing was is the host took our cell number so we could continue to wander and explore the city and not have to sit awkwardly hovering over the guests that were on the patio.
The call came about 30 minutes later and we scurried back. We were sat on the patio and greated promptly by our adorable english server who showed us a wonderful time.
The food was great, the atmosphere was grand, and the experience was one I will never forget! I appriciate the cell call, that small little touch definately made our experience just that much better!
Thumbs up! -
Review from Sara C.
Vancouver, BC
6/14/2011
The menu needs a creative overhaul and also needs to match the location, and clientele in the area. I was there last night and we ended up only sharing two appetizers and then going somewhere else for real food.
The appetizers we had were poutine - soggy fries with a dried up blob of gross blue cheese on it and a side of WAY over salted wine reduction as gravy. Then we had crab cakes and well, I missed work today because I can't be far from a toilet. I can't say for sure it was because of these but they were really fishy, I should have sent them back but I hate doing that.
The other thing I was not impressed with was the service; it was friendly enough but very inattentive. My drink sat empty for about 45 minutes before we madly had to flag someone down to get another - and I needed it to save me from all the salt!
Overall, it's not terrible for a less experienced diner, it looks nice from the outside. It's the little details though that this place is missing.
I went there to reserve seats at the bar to watch a game, I told the manager that it was so I could get a clear view of the TVs from the bar and then he sat us right behind the beer taps so one of us actually had to stand the whole time. That's just ignorant. -
Review from Janice F.
Updated - 6/27/2009
Hum, well this was disappointing. Went there for their 8 oz $12 steak special running throughout June and ordered the truffled mash substitution. Took one look at it when it arrived and asked "Is this the truffled mash?" Waitress "Yes." Took a bite of it and no, it definitely was NOT. Waitress took it away went to the kitchen for a bit, and came back saying "It DEFINITELY is the truffled mash but they just added more truffle oil on it for you"
Well, well .. don't I feel like an idiot for not knowing what I'm eating. Geeeez.. It wasn't the first time I ordered, but it will be the last. Boo.
I also found a piece of a clamshell in my Stilton salad - not impressed. Good thing I didn't bite into it, but you'd think they'd offer a little bit more than a "I'll let the kitchen know about it".
Sigh.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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3/10/2009
An Entertainment coupon oldie but goldie, it looks like it's missing from this year's edition!… Read more »
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Review from Chantelle J.
Vancouver, BC
7/3/2011
Ok, I actually wrote this review about Hamilton Street Grill back in 2008, I thought I'll post my 2008 experience here, and also why I haven't been back since...
I went there with a friend, the restaurant was very quite. We ordered some appetizers and for my main course I ordered a tenderloin, the overall flavor for the food was good (here goes the 1 star), but my tenderloin was very undercooked (I asked for medium rare when we ordered). I mentioned to a waiter to have it re-cooked again because it was way too blue and bloody, a different waiter brought out the same plate in about 5 mins and only the outside was seared a bit but the whole meat was still very bloody. He wasn't really bothered to check with me to see if it was still undercooked, he put down the plate and said "OK!?" (with a big attitude) and walked away.
So our bill came at around $150 for 2 people, unfortunately, I was a little sick from the undercooked tenderloin the next day... Although the waiter that took my plate back to the kitchen seemed to be nice (the 2nd star), I don't have the desire to return to this restaurant any time soon. For $150 I can go somewhere else that servers better food with no server attitude. -
Review from Natasha L.
12/21/2008
Great for group meal, with a glowy atmosphere... The decor is intimate yet not overcrowded... I would give a 4 star for the decor and the ambiance .. the food is the problem .. my halibut came overcooked and the sauce was tasteless... overcooked fish is just unacceptable in Vancouver and that kind of price range .. the onion ring tastes greasy, although they are crispy and came with yummy sauce.. the Ribeye is ok, also overcooked and too salty .. I think they can do better .. especially if steak is their main specialty .. I think Hamilton should have better quality control for their food
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Review from Sarah G.
Vancouver, BC
7/28/2011
If you like burgers, go and order their burger today!! It's the best I've had in the city and I have no hesitation making that claim. Oh and their other food is good too. Nice private patio feels more intimate than the usual Yaletown offering.
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Review from Christine H.
11/30/2008
It's just a whole restaurant of yummy goodness!
We were in Vancouver over Thanksgiving week (because our families are here in the Bay Area), and wanted to celebrate the gastronomical holiday with a nice dinner. Chances were slim we would find anyone serving a traditional dinner anywhere in BC, so we settled for the next best thing, a grill with good beer and GREAT desserts.
We shared the ahi appetizer and agreed it was the best app we have had in awhile. For dinner I had the fish and my partner had the steak wrapped in bacon. Both were excellent.
Now for the reason I am writing a review at all...the dessert. I had heard about the desserts from other Yelpers and thought I might try one if I had room. I now believe it might be a crime to visit Yaletown in Vancouver and not visit Hamilton Street Grill for the Gingerbread bread pudding. This might be one of the best desserts I have ever tried. Its amazing! We actually pushed aside the fairly decent chocolate mousse we ordered to make room for the pudding. Yummy!
