There are restaurants that are your go-to for those lazy weeknights when you can't face cooking or the spots near your office that serve up a reliable lunch. When time and money are of the essence, there's no shortage in Vancouver of terrific spots.
Halibut Crudo from the lunch prix fixe menu at Hawksworth. Photo courtesy Hawksworth
So let's say you find yourself with a little bit more time and a little bit more money, and the opportunity to make your lunch a more sophisticated affair. Surprisingly, you can put one of the city's most lauded fine dining destinations on your list, because Hawksworth Restaurant has a terrific three-course lunch deal that is priced at just $28 per person (and only $44 per person to add wine pairings).
Hawksworth, the eponymous upscale restaurant run by Chef David Hawksworth inside the Rosewood Hotel Georgia, is known for their modern takes on regional cuisine, with French-inspired precision and deep artistry of presentation.
While you can easily enjoy Hawksworth's refined Pacific Northwest cuisine at lunchtime from the a la carte menu and its array of starters, mains, and desserts, if you are dining out with a keener eye on your wallet, zero in on the Lunch Prix Fixe Menu, which is available Monday to Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Charred Eggplant from the lunch prix fixe menu at Hawksworth. Photo courtesy Hawksworth
The three-course menu includes options for a starter course and a main, and is adjusted seasonally. Oh, and it's a helluva deal for a meal at a typically spendy spot.
But back to the food. Right now, for example, as we move from summer into autumn, you'll find a choice of a marinated heirloom tomato salad with miso aioli and cashew cheese or an octopus ceviche to start on the lunch prix fixe menu.
For mains, you can choose between a braised lamb cavatelli pasta with pickled vegetables and stinging nettles and a charred eggplant panisse (a sort of fried cake or fritter) with a zucchini aioli.
Lastly, the dessert - a single option - focuses on the delicate flavours of apricot, Earl Grey, almond, and honey, for a gently sweet finish to your elegant meal.
For those looking to enjoy a few sophisticated sips at the midday meal - and in particular if you're out to toast to something special or take your fine dining lunch to the next level - go with the added wine pairings. Hawksworth has a celebrated wine program, and their sommelier will have some delicious and thoughtful pours to match up with your dishes.
Related:
- This $39 three-course dinner might be Vancouver’s best-kept fine dining secret
- Beyond meat: How a Vancouver restaurant named for an animal honours every ingredient, every eater
- Dine Out Vancouver reveals their 2020 meal deal and festival dates
If you do happen to veer from the prix fixe, you'll be well-served at lunch or any other time at Hawksworth, however with starters coming in at $8-32, and mains $18-32 at lunchtime, that $28 three-course lunch stands out as a killer deal.
So go ahead and brown bag it a couple of extra days and skip "skipping the dishes" and put your lunch budget where your mouth is and treat yourself. And knock one of Vancouver's top restaurants off your must-try list.
Hawksworth is located at 801 West Georgia Street (at the Rosewood Hotel Georgia) in downtown Vancouver.
