Hawker

Phil★★★★★★★★★★5.0a month ago

Such an incredible experience and also the best food I've had in my decade of being vegan. I rarely leave reviews but you deserve to eat here. I was visiting Toronto (from NYC) with my partner and we both agreed that this was best spot we ate at. We tried 2 other restaurants with tasting menus and neither came close. Our server was incredibly well-informed on the preparation of the dishes, attentive, and personable which elevated the whole experience. The restaurant was quiet enough for an intimate date night but still oozing with conviviality. The food was both inventive and tasty. I had not tried many of the ingredients in the dishes before but the chef has a great sense for flavor pairings and the food is so thoughtfully planned. I tried taking pictures of each course we had, but we got so excited we started eating one before remembering to take the photo. 11/10.

Monica Strazzabosco★★★★★★★★★★4.08 months ago

I was worried about a couple reviews that mentioned they left hungry, so my hungry table of three immediately ordered the entire 10 plate menu to split. Every dish was beautifully presented, thoughtful, artistic, interesting, and different enough that you dont feel like there are mushrooms in every dish, as some vegan places tend to do. They also dont try to replicate meat, because they dont have to. Everything was delicious on its own. Service was great, kind and respectful staff, knowledgeable server who was excited to share details on the wines. By the 7th plate, we asked to tap out, as it was more than enough food! Standout dishes include the oyster mushrooms, the brussel sprouts with grapes, and the parsnips dish. Oh and the bread is a MUST try. They only lost a star on atmosphere because the patio in the back is beautiful, but they really could have cleaned up what looks like a garbage/recycling dump directly the other side of the low wooden fence bordering the tables. Oh and kudos to playing lovely music that you dont have to scream over to have a conversation!

Gillian D'Alleva★★★★★★★★★★5.06 months ago

We did the 6-course tasting menu for dinner and overall the experience was excellent. Pacing / tasting menu experience: My partner normally won’t do tasting menus because the wait between courses can be slow, but when we mentioned this, our server said they could move things along. My partner requested about 5 minutes between each course, and they genuinely delivered on that—honestly, I was shocked (in the best way). Atmosphere: It’s a quieter restaurant, which we really enjoyed. The dining room only seats about sixteen people, so it feels intimate and relaxed. Depending on where you sit, you can also see into the kitchen while they prepare the food, which is a cool touch. Food / value: It’s definitely on the pricier side, but it didn’t feel overpriced—more like a high-quality, unique experience that matches the cost. Portions are small (as expected with a tasting menu), but the focus is clearly on creative flavors and quality ingredients. We hadn’t eaten lunch and were still hungry afterward, so we each ordered an additional dish beyond the tasting menu. The food was excellent and unique. Service: Customer service was excellent from the moment we walked in. They asked whether we’d prefer they take our coats or if we wanted to keep them—small thing, but it made us feel comfortable right away. Throughout the meal, they brought clean plates and utensils for each course, and the servers were attentive without hovering. Overall: a special experience, great service, and impressively fast pacing for a tasting menu.

Kathleen Wildman★★★★★★★★★★5.03 months ago

I love it when chefs find a way to make a unique flavour that surprises me. It’s very hard to do these days with so much cuisine available but Hawker managed to do it. The Restaurant was inviting. The staff was lovely. We had a wonderful time.

MBee★★★★★★★★★★2.04 months ago

I went in expecting a simple, enjoyable vegan meal, but the experience was disappointing overall. Upon arrival, we were asked if we had a reservation and told to wait to see if there is any table available, even though the restaurant was largely empty the entire time we were there. Once seated, the server suggested ordering the menu in multiple rounds (essentially the whole menu), which felt excessive given that each dish was priced between $16–$21. We ordered three dishes. Portions were extremely small for the price, and unfortunately, two of the three lacked flavor. Only the final dish stood out. For the cost, the food did not feel satisfying or well-balanced. What stood out most was the service. After we declined ordering more food, we were immediately asked if we wanted the bill — which was dropped on the table while I was still eating. This made us feel rushed and unwelcome, as though the goal was to clear the table rather than allow us to enjoy the meal. This was especially confusing since the restaurant remained mostly empty throughout our visit. Needless to say, we were still hungry afterward and ended up going to Film Cafe to order food to actually finish our night. I appreciate creative vegan concepts, but between the pricing, portion sizes, and rushed service, the experience didn’t match expectations.