If Christmas dinners were a competitive sport, the Hawksmoor Christmas feast would be the Olympian holding the Gold!

This year, break away from the conventional two or three-course Christmas lunch and dinner staples of vegetable soup, roast turkey with all the trimmings, and apple pie. Instead, dive headfirst into a gastronomic adventure filled with innovative and mouth-watering dishes that will make you salivate just by reading the menu.

When it comes to Christmas feasting, Hawksmoor’s festive feasting is all about communal dining. You are more than welcome to book a small or large table in their elegant dining room, but for a more intimate gathering, they also offer two Private Dining Rooms (PDRs) - the Tellers Room and the McLellan Room. The smaller of the two, the McLellan Room, can comfortably seat up to 13 guests around a circular table, complete with a lazy Susan to ensure easy sharing across the table.

REVIEW OF HAWKSMOOR FESTIVE FEASTING

Whether you're looking for a feast of grass-fed beef, sustainable seafood, or an array of seasonal dishes, their sharing menus are designed to make every dining experience memorable. They offer a range of prices to suit various occasions, all served family-style. The steaks are cooked to order, sliced, and served in cast-iron skillets with Hawksmoor’s legendary sides and sauces. To complete the meal, sharing puddings provide a sweet finish.

For an added touch of luxury, you can enhance your meal with additional items, such as a pre-dinner cocktail or canapé reception, after-dinner drinks, or even gifts for your guests to take home. Hawksmoor also offers a curated selection of incredible wines to perfectly accompany your feast, and if you prefer, you can bring your own wines for a corkage fee.

I recently had the pleasure of experiencing their Festive Feast, complete with accompanying wines and cocktails. The atmosphere, the flavours, and the warm hospitality all combined to make it an unforgettable festive dining experience.

We began our culinary journey with Cumbrae Rock Oysters (six for £21.00). While not officially part of the festive menu, they are available as an additional dish for those who wish to indulge. These oysters provide a light and refreshing start to the festivities, setting the perfect tone for the delightful courses that follow. Their delicate brininess and smooth texture offer a sophisticated appetiser that whets the appetite and adds a touch of elegance to the meal.

There are three Festive menus to choose from, each available as a 2 course or a 3 course:

• Moonlighter (£62/£67)

• Silvertail (£73/£78)

• Hawkbelle (£93/98)

Each menu is meant for sharing and has three starters, three charcoal-grilled steaks with alternative mains of monkfish and a vegetarian wellington, several sides and two puddings to choose from.

As we were there to sample the Festive Feast menu, we got to try an array of dishes from across all the menus.

Fillet Carpaccio with pickled mushrooms and crispy shallots offered a delicate, buttery texture with rich, savoury flavours, balanced by the tangy, earthy mushrooms and the crunchy, sweet shallots. Each bite provided a harmonious blend of flavours and textures.

Roasted Scallops with white port and garlic offered up a delicate sweetness, complemented by the rich, caramelized notes of white port. The garlic added a fragrant, savoury depth.

Yorkshire Puddings with onion gravy and Potted Beef and Bacon. The Yorkies were fluffy and golden perfect for soaking up the rich onion gravy. The wee jar of potted beef was smoky and meaty which was very satisfying.

The drinks menu was equally impressive and included a Cold Spell Cocktail on arrival, leading onto a Highweald Sparkling Rose Brut served with the Oysters. Throughout the evening we enjoyed a Finca Allende, Rioja Blanco 2020 wine, Hartenberg Cabernet Sauvignon Magnum 2020 South African wine, and a Glenfarclas 15yo whisky.

The sides offered a delightful variety, from the indulgent beef dripping chips, creamy spinach, and rich beef and bone marrow stuffing to the comforting mash with gravy and the sweet-savoury maple-glazed cows in blankets. For a lighter touch, the vegan lettuce and herb salad provided a refreshing contrast, while the Brussels sprouts with chestnuts and bacon and the creamy macaroni cheese added hearty, flavourful options to round out the meal.

This festive feast is a true celebration of steak, offering an array of succulent, perfectly seasoned, and expertly cooked cuts. Depending on your menu choice, you'll have the pleasure of indulging in some of the finest steaks available. We savoured an assortment that included the rich and tender Chateaubriand, the robust and hearty Porterhouse, and the flavourful Prime Rib. For me, the Chateaubriand stood out as the most tender, melting in the mouth with each bite, while the Prime Rib boasted the most intense, savoury flavour. The Porterhouse, with its delightful balance of textures, also provided a satisfying experience.

Each steak was cooked to perfection, capturing the essence of festive dining with every mouthful. Whether you prefer the buttery tenderness of the Chateaubriand, the flavourful richness of the Prime Rib, or the hearty satisfaction of the Porterhouse, there's a steak to suit every palate.

Which steak would you choose to make your festive feast unforgettable?

Without a doubt, Hawksmoor delivers the BEST sticky toffee pudding in Edinburgh, especially when catering to a large party of guests. This magnificent dessert comes in the form of a bundt cake, proudly sitting in a generous pool of the ultimate toffee sauce. To add to the indulgence, it’s accompanied by an extra sauce boat, allowing you to pour even more of that luscious toffee goodness over it. Each slice is served with elegant quenelles of clotted cream, adding a rich, creamy contrast to the warm, gooey pudding. The combination of the moist cake, the decadent toffee sauce, and the velvety clotted cream creates a dessert experience that is nothing short of heavenly. In a city known for its culinary delights, there can be no better pudding than this to crown your meal with a touch of festive luxury.

As your sumptuous feast draws to a close, a plate of IJ Mellis finest cheeses (additional extra charge) and oatcakes makes its grand entrance at the table. This impressive selection of artisanal cheeses, perfectly paired with traditional oatcakes, serves as a fitting finale to your meal. Drinks are polished off, and the transition to the after-dinner phase begins with the arrival of freshly brewed teas and rich, aromatic coffees. But the indulgence doesn’t stop there. Hawksmoor’s own version of ‘rolos’, affectionately named Tributes (additional extra charge), are served, adding a touch of nostalgic sweetness to end the evening. These delightful confections are the perfect blend of creamy caramel and decadent chocolate, leaving a lasting impression of your festive dining experience.

The festive feast dining experience at Hawksmoor is a celebration of exceptional culinary craftsmanship and warm, communal dining that promises to create unforgettable festive memories. With its meticulously crafted menus, luxurious private dining options, and impeccable service, booking a festive feast at Hawksmoor should be a no-brainer!

THINGS TO NOTE ABOUT HAWKSMOOR EDINBURGH

• Wheelchair accessible with w/c on ground level

• They cater for vegans, vegetarians and gluten free

• Free wi-fi

• They are not dog friendly

• They have a fully stocked bar but you can BYOB too for a corkage fee

Hawksmoor, 23 West Register Street, Edinburgh, EH2 2AA www.thehawksmoor.com/locations/edinburgh/

My Spoon Award : Gold Spoon 9/10

I was invited by Hawksmoor Edinburgh to review their menu. Food and drink were complimentary but the views are very much my own.

TartanSpoon is an Award-winning blog that brings you reviews and recommendations on the very best places to eat, drink and stay in Edinburgh, Scotland and beyond.

Adele is a writer, reviewer and judge living in Edinburgh. She sits on the Committee for the Guild of Food Writers (Scottish Events), is a Great Taste Judge for the Guild of Fine Food, Scottish Bakers, Scotland Food & Drink Excellence Awards and a Judge for the Gin Co-operative awards. Should you wish to work with, invite or collaborate with TartanSpoon, please email tartanspoon@yahoo.co.uk