Hawksmoor Edinburgh – Restaurant Review

Building on the success of the first-ever Hawksmoor in London (which almost never came to fruition due to a series of unfortunate events including a dodgy Turkish restaurant lease and an AWOL chef), the Edinburgh Hawksmoor opened in 2018 and has since established a reputation as a fine choice when it comes to (steak) restaurants in the city.

Despite the many challenges founders, Will and Huw, faced the duo were determined to make their dream of celebrating British Beef and old-school cocktails a reality and that they did not just once but 13 times with restaurants in the UK and USA.

We were kindly invited to enjoy the Hawksmoor Edinburgh experience. Read on to discover more.

Setting The Scene

In keeping with the Hawksmoor approach of inconspicuous locations you’ll find the Edinburgh restaurant tucked down an alleyway running alongside a beautiful historic building that is home to luxury served apartments Cheval The Edinburgh Grand. Originally, a hotel built in the early 1800’s the site was acquired in 1848 by the National Bank of Scotland to which most of the history, and period features, that still exist today, are attributed – and what is now a handsome-looking Hawksmoor was once the banking hall of the Grade A listed ‘building of national importance’.

Arrival

It was a wet and dreich day so the warm welcome of the maître d’ who immediately whisked away my wet coat to a dry hanging space was gratefully received. My friend was waiting for me at the elegant and elongated bar (where all the cocktail magic happens!) and which also creates a natural divide between the drinking and eating areas.

The Restaurant

We were taken to our table and made ourselves comfortable in one of the banquet seating booths which line one side of the restaurant. Wood panelling, Parque flooring, dark colour palette and ambient lighting, create a slightly masculine style which is in keeping with the heritage of the building. Leather-bound menus with floor plans of the old bank are subtle signs of great attention to detail.

Menu

We visited on a lunch time so had the option of the daily express menu, specials or the standard. All looked appealing; however, we settled on the main menu with the staples that Hawksmoor is known for – beef from native-breed grass-fed cows, and sustainably sourced seafood from Britain’s plentiful waters.

To start with I chose the roasted scallops with white port and garlic. The waitress advised me that the chef is generous with the garlic, yet the plump molluscs could handle it, and I was delighted with the combo of flavours and the crunchy texture of the roast garlic crumbs.

My friend enjoyed the locally sourced salmon with crowdie and Guinness bread which was dense and a strong companion for the rich cured salmon.

To follow we couldn’t resist a good old steak, chips and salad. I opted for the sirloin (350g) and my friend the fillet (275g) we both requested them to be rare and they were cooked to perfection. The succulent chunks of meat were accompanied with dripping cooked chips – crunchy on the outside and fluffy in the centre. I could eat these by the bucket load! A buttered lettuce and herb salad refreshed the palate. My friend also had a mac n cheese side dish which he said was deliciously creamy and cheesy. It was an extremely substantial dish which was probably not needed in hindsight (but greed got the better of him!)

Although we were both quite full, greed again got the better of us and we couldn’t resist a dessert. The dessert menu was certainly up my street, with at least three dishes on my shortlist, however the sticky toffee pudding won me over and it was a great choice. Soft, warm sponge drenched in sweet toffee sauce complimented with a cold and creamy salted caramel ice-cream (I requested this instead of clotted cream) …. I was in heaven!! My friend chose the peanut butter shortbread which was served alongside a generous dollop of salted caramel ice-cream and Original Beans chocolate. This didn’t quite have the stage presence that the sticky toffee pudding had but it was still a very enjoyable dessert.

The knowledgeable waiter helped us choose our white wine and presented us with three different varieties to sample. Surprisingly the Burgundy wine, Dom Deux Roches ‘En Terre Noire’ Saint-Veran 2022, I thought I’d least like I enjoyed the most and the same case for my friend who quaffed the Austrian, Besas, Gruner Veltliner 2023.

The cocktail list is quintessentially classic with a Hawksmoor twist, and I couldn’t look beyond the Sour Cherry Negroni – one of the ‘sacred six’ A perfect blend of east London Gin, Select Aperitivo, Regal Rogue Vermouth with an ice-berg size cube upon which a sour cherry was proudly perched. The perfect way to end a real treat of a Friday lunch.

Service

Every member of the team we encountered was friendly, knowledegable and couldn’t do enough to help us. There was no rush to free our table for the next sitting and although the vibe is quite laid back it is still very professional. Each recommendation we received proved to be a good one and we felt extremely welcome and comfortable throughout our visit.

Other Points of Interest

For special occasions diners can choose from two private dining rooms – still within the main restaurant so you don’t feel too secluded.  And Sunday roasts are a weekend highlight whilst on a Monday diners can take advantage of a BYO Wine Club invitation.

Final Thoughts

Not many places achieve wide appeal, but this restaurant really does cater for every type of guest; from business lunches, groups of friends and families to a romantic evening for two. Quality ingredients prevail whilst great service and a laid-back vibe successfully come together. The premise upon which Hawksmoor was born, ‘source the very best – and let it shine’ certainly rings true in this Edinburgh restaurant.