Hawksworth Restaurant Rosewood Hotel Georgia

Chef David Hawksworth’s highly acclaimed restaurant in downtown Vancouver has taken the concept of “fine dining” — which used to mean white-gloved waiters serving diners terrified they might commit a major faux pas and use the wrong fork — and turned that rather dated idea on its head.

“I like to think this has great value, that people come here and have fun, not that ‘fine dining’ place where you bring Auntie Marge on her 60th birthday,” smiles Chef David. Although we think Auntie Marge would absolutely love it here, too.

“You can have a $9 glass of wine and a burger here, or you can have a $3,000 bottle of wine and the tasting menu,” he says about that successful way of mixing high and low. “Dining out should be fun and friendly — not stiff and uptight. People just want to enjoy themselves and eat well. I feel that I’ve hired the right people here, and we serve great food with less pretense.”