Hawksworth is a contemporary Canadian restaurant located in the Rosewood Hotel Georgia. On its website, it states that it has been voted the best upscale restaurant in Vancouver for four consecutive years. Although I was not able to find any information about this honorable mention anywhere else, it was enough to end up on my radar.
The Atmosphere
I went to Hawksworth for dinner on my birthday. I snatched a few pictures of the inside but they all turned out blurry because of the subdued lighting.
The see-through wine storage caught my eye. For the rest, it looked exactly like a hotel restaurant: fancy and very conventional.
The Food
Hawksworth doesn’t have any set menu for dinner so we went à la carte.
Rougie foie gras, Sole Food Farm Quince, Almond, Brioche ($37)
We started off with the Rougie Foie Gras. The foie gras was really well-cooked but the brioche was nothing special. All the little extras, such as the quince, really elevated this dish.
West Coast & East Coast Oysters ($4,5 each)
The Oysters were really good and fresh. For a couple of extra dollars, you can top up your oyster with some caviar and crème fraîche. I gave it a try, but the helping was not enough to make a notable difference. It was overpowered by the oyster.
Burgundy Truffle Pappardelle, Mushroom, Parmesan, Hazelnut ($38)
Quite unexpectedly, the Truffle Pappardelle was my favorite dish of the evening. This rich pasta was substantial. It had deep earthy and nutty flavors that blended very nicely together.
Ahi Tuna, Parisian Gnocchi, Yu Choy, Shimeji, Piquillo ($68)
On the other hand, the Ahi Tuna turned out to be disappointing. It was good, but it was not enough food for the price. They could definitely have been more generous with the sides. The black ink gnocchi were half the size of a cherry tomato.
Dessert
Cheese Board with Balsamic Macerated Strawberries, Caramelized Walnut, Grapes, Melba ($34)
All the desserts were tempting, but I went with the Cheese Board. This Canadian cheese platter was enjoyable.
Overall
To the question “is Hawksworth the best upscale restaurant?” the answer is simple.
“Best” is very subjective. Everything was well executed, but nothing wowed me. Personally, I like Anna Lena a lot better.
Some dishes, like the Ahi Tuna, felt overpriced considered the amount of food that was served. The service was good but I would say that Hawksworth was very conventional and lacked innovation. That being said, I think it is a solid yet pricey option that may probably satisfies older crowds.
Hawksworth
Opening hours: open every day, time varies depending on the day of the week
Website: click here
Address: 801 W Georgia St, Vancouver, BC V6C 1P7
Telephone: (604) 673-7000
Note that prices and information featured in this article are subject to change.
