Ivy

AllenBarton
AllenBarton
First Reviewer
4 out of 5
Avg. Member Rating
2
Reviews
1
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Editor Pick

The Ivy

  • April 8, 2006
  • Rated 4 of 5 by artslover from Calgary, Alberta
The Ivy

In 2004, the Ivy was voted the most popular restaurant in London. It means you need to get a reservation well in advance. The Ivy is also reputed to be a good spot for celebrity spotting but when we were there, we did not recognize anyone, but then, how many British celebrities do we know?

 

The Ivy is located in Covent Garden making it very convenient for a pre or post theatre meal. When we went, it was obvious it is very popular. The restaurant, which is reasonably large, was very crowded with a well lighted, busy, noisy atmosphere. A lot of tables with large groups and a number of them with children.

 

The staff seemed to be moving very quickly and service was very efficient and attentive.

 

The menu has to be the most eclectic one I have seen anywhere. Starters ranged from sushi to foie gras. Main courses range from British traditional, to Italian, to east Asian. The menu seems to have something for everyone. We had a vegetarian soup, duck and watercress salad, bang bang chicken and spinach salad to start. For mains, we had shepherd's pie, gnocchi, hamburger and chicken masala. Given the wide range of cuisine, everything is quite good although not brilliant. For sweets, crème brulée, rhubarb pudding and chocolate truffles were all very good. The wine selection is extensive just like the menu.

 

The place is obviously a crowd pleaser and I can see why it is so popular - lots of good food for every different kind of preference. The main courses are between £10 - 15, fairly reasonable for the quality and service.

From journal 3 Days in London

Editor Pick

The Ivy

  • August 29, 2002
  • Rated 4 of 5 by AllenBarton from London, United Kingdom
The Ivy is one of those restaurants that critics usually describe as a 'gastronomic treat'. To you or I, that simply means good food and not overly expensive (though £175 caviar for starter can certainly put a dent in the average bill).

The restaurant is situated in a quiet street just a few blocks from Leicester Square. Once inside, you will quickly adjust to the busy atmosphere, created by a contented patrons enjoying their food. The Ivy is known to be a hangout for celebrities, although I've never seen anyone remotely famous there.

The service is excellent, and the food is top drawer - its modern British, with a European influence. That means you can still get fish and chips, or a burger, as well as your posh French nosh. As with most restaurants, it has a menu outside the door. For desert, though, I must recommend the Baked Alaska - warm meringue on the outside, with cold ice cream on the inside ... delicious!

To get an evening table at an exact time, you generally have to book months in advance; but if you can be flexible, and particularly if you can make a lunchtime at a weekend, you shouldn't have any problem.

It's a great restaurant, one of London's finest, and is worth going to for a treat.

From journal London local writes ...

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