Hamilton Street Grill

I had a lovely, straight-forward meal at a lovely, straight-forward restaurant in Yaletown. The Hamilton Street Grill (1009 Hamilton St. at Nelson, 604.331.1511) is comfortable, and I would say, pleasantly unpretentious, by Yaletown standards. No loud, funky music or irritating, trend-sodden Yaletowners being too la-di-da for their own good. Just a classically manly room, with lots of dark wood and brass - casual, without being too boisterous. It's dimly lit, with a warm yellow glow inside, and it has a bit of a patio too. I don't really have too much to say about this place, because everything was good. No complaints, decent food, and I would come back (when I've got the extra cash). It's just the type of place that would give you a nice, reliable, hearty meal with no surprises whenever you're in the mood for that kind of thing. The food was definitely well-executed. My meat was cooked just the way I requested (rare to medium-rare is what I like), and everything was very tasty. The service was fine, and friendly. Not perfection on this particularly busy time on a busy Saturday night, but Potato Salad Boy and I were walk-ins, anyway, so it didn't bother us. Our waiter apologized for the very small delays (in getting our orders, and in getting cutlery at one point), so all was good. Prices are what you might expect in Yaletown, so dinner is not going to be a bargain, but I generally came out of it feeling like we were getting our money's worth, and, being mainly a great place to get a steak, the food feels substantial and satisfying. Looking back on it, I could probably find a more inventive and exciting meal elsewhere in the same price range (spending $28 on a main course), but there's something nice about a good old-fashioned steak and potatoes meal once in a while. I can't remember the name of my girly cocktail, but I know I enjoyed it. Didn't have the appetite to try appetizers on top of our mains, but they sound nice, and I'm sure I'll get a chance on another occassion.


West Coast Mixed Grill

I really enjoyed the West Coast Mixed Grill ($28) I ordered, that included a tasty brochette of tiger prawns, a braised lamb shank, a petit filet mignon wrapped in bacon, nice seasonal veggies and roasted garlic mashed potatoes. My favourite item in that plate was the petit filet. Potato Salad Boy had the 8 oz. Grilled Sirloin ($20), also served with seasonal vegetables and roasted garlic mashed potatoes.


Grilled Sirloin

We shared the HSG's signature dessert of Warm Gingerbread Pudding in Caramel Sauce, with Ginger and Pumpkin Gelatos. This was very decadent, and I would recommend it. The warm pudding is drenched in a thick, ultra sweet caramel sauce, and the gelatos attempt to balance this heaviness with their icy, light, sorbet-like texture. There was so much, we couldn't even finish the dessert between the two of us.


Warm Gingerbread Pudding with Caramel Sauce, and Ginger and Pumpkin Gelatos

We stopped by for an easy, quick bite, and good conversation. We had a fine meal of drinks, steak, and a rich dessert in a comfortable setting. In short, we got everything that we needed.