As I sit here on a very warm Wednesday afternoon, (yes that’s right, Edinburgh can be warm!) my thoughts drift to what I fancy for lunch. Luckily for me, I have been invited to try the new set-lunchtime menu at the renowned Hawksmoor Edinburgh.
After opening a steak restaurant in London, Hawksmoor’s excellent reputation rapidly grew. After an abundance of positive feedback from its diners and obtaining a numerous awards, they decided it was time to expand their horizons. Hawksmoor now has a number of restaurants all over London, Manchester and here in sunny Edinburgh.
Hawksmoor Edinburgh is housed in a stunning former National Bank of Scotland Banking Hall; a Grade A listed building overlooking the prestigious St Andrews Square. Its interior design echos its opulent past exuding a luxurious Art Deco vibe. The expansive space sits 185 people, serving its them with a delicious array of the best produce that Scotland has to offer.
Being a lovely summers day, I opted for a starter of heritage tomato salad. The salad was deliciously fresh and uplifting. A juicy selection of plump tomatoes was accompanied by thinly sliced crunchy fennel, herbs, scattered bread crumbs and a deliciously tangy vinaigrette.
Up next was a beautiful main dish of hake, again accompanied by heritage tomatoes and new potatoes. The fish was fresh and flaky with a crunchy skin, the perfect dish if you fancy something light and full of flavour.
For the veggies/vegans out there, you should definitely try the chargrilled courgettes with Twineham Grange dumplings and courgette fries. It’s an absolute taste sensation with an abundance of different textures. It’s been a while since I have had a vegetable dish that tastes so delicious and I cannot wait to order this again my next visit.
Last but not least was my favourite part of any meal, the dessert. I chose the absolutely scrumptious peanut butter shortbread with salted caramel ice cream and Original Beans chocolate and lets just say I wasn’t disappointed. My spoon sunk into the smooth ice cream, cracking open the shortbread to reveal a sumptuous gooey centre. The saltiness of the ice cream and the peanut butter was a perfect match against the sweetness of the chocolate and shortbread.
As many of you know, I have a very sweet tooth. Therefore I could not leave without trying their panna cotta accompanied by raspberries and lemon & elderflower granita . The sharpness of the raspberries and granita was balanced perfectly by the creamy vanilla-infused panna cotta, a match made in heaven.
I couldn’t have all that food and not try something from their delicious cocktail menu. First up was the marmalade cocktail made with a mixture of Beefeater Gin, Campari, lemon and marmalade. It was very refreshing, tangy and just the perfect size for a pre-lunch drink.
Next was a cocktail aptly named ‘the full fat old fashioned’. I’m not a huge fan of Bourbon but this delicious concoction may have just changed my mind. Made with homemade butter-infused bourbon the normal smokiness gives way to an indulgently smooth and very addictive cocktail, one that I would highly recommend.
I absolutely loved my visit to Hawksmoor Edinburgh and was very impressed with their new set-lunchtime menu. Not fancying a steak for my lunch, I was a tad worried that the menu would be a tad limited but there is definitely something to suit everyones taste. What made my visit even more special was the friendly and informative staff who not only shared their knowledge with regards to the food but also to the beautiful building in which the restaurant is located. Their passion for the restaurant really shone through. I left Hawksmoor with a full belly, a smile on my face and a mental list in my head of what I want to try when I go back.
Lunch available for reservations made Monday to Saturday 12 pm – 3 pm. 2 courses £25.00, 3 courses £28.00.
Hawksmoor Edinburgh
23 WEST REGISTER STREET
EDINBURGH EH2 2AA
0131 526 4790
Blu Blazer Guy Rating :
Location – 5/5
Customer Service – 5/5
Ambience – 3.5/5
Food – 4.5/5
Drink – 4.5/5
BLU BLAZER GUY 