The Ivy

We arrived for Sunday lunch at 12.30 and our order did not arrive until 1.40. We had 2 starving children with us and we had to ask twice for our food.

When it did arrive everything was stone cold. My husband and I had ordered the roast beef and mine was mostly fat and not edible.

Nobody came to ask us if we had enjoyed our meal.

We also felt very uncomfortable there as we had a 2 year old with us who was definitely not welcome. He is not a badly behaved child but was playing with an empty wine bucket and just playing with the ice inside. We were given very dirty looks by two waiters and one told us to stop. (although he did bring a small bucket of ice for him to play with instead).

For the kind of restaurant they are running and the prices they are charging this experience was not acceptable.
Comment on this reader review

Joelle
Overall rating
Food 1 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 1
Monday, March 24, 2008

We visited the Ivy on Saturday 15th March as part of my 60th birthday celebrations. I had heard so much about this restaurant and how so many famous people listed it as a favourite, I was really looking forward to a wonderful meal and a really good experience. Nothing about it was as I expected. It is noisy, crowded, frantic and the food is nothing to write home about. I cannot understand why it is so difficult to get a table here, I certainly will not be returning as I am used to quality food a good ambiance and properly trained staff in the restaurants I frequent, the Ivy does not provide any of these things.
Comment on this reader review

Pauline Robson
Overall rating
Food 3 | Service 4 | Atmosphere 1 | Value for money 0
Wednesday, March 19, 2008

We visited The Ivy for the first time for lunch on the 12th March and had an excellent meal. We found the staff very polite and helpful and we had a very leisurely lunch. The food was well cooked and well presented. We enjoyed the experience and would recommend The Ivy to our friends.
Comment on this reader review

Roger & Jenny Smith
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 10
Thursday, March 13, 2008

Just returned from dining at the Ivy and was greatly disappointed. After weeks of anticipation and hype from friends could not wait to find out for myself. Everything seemed very rushed, being steak lovers we both opted for the steak cooked medium rare. It arrived at the table and i have to say it looked delicious, however after only four attempts of cutting and trying chew it, myself and partner looked at the food that had been thrown from our plates to the table and decided to give up. We both ordered a desert of which we agreed was ok. As our table was cleared and bill was given to us we decided to finish our drinks at the bar....... It was at this point I was told, that the drinks I purchased at this bar, I could not now drink at this bar, as this was for people waiting to be seated not for people who had already eaten. (Even though the bar area was in fact EMPTY) After 5 minutes of having this conversation going round in circles, it was just far less hassle, to just leave what was left of our drinks and go!
Comment on this reader review

Phil Robinson
Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 4 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 3
Wednesday, March 12, 2008

‘…like being promised a dark date with Kate Moss in a tight sleeping bag and waking up underneath Stirling Moss…’

[A.A. Gill]

‘When the adrenaline of hype disperses, the hangover of reality begins...' This could be The Ivy’s motto. Or ‘an irritating experience: poisoned, rather than ivy-league’. Even better, to get the idea, apply A.A. Gill’s unrelated but apposite quote...

The 1920’s façade of this famous gastronomically gentrified café, just around the corner from Equity's offices, is currently scaffold-shrouded. A film of green gauze bound around diffuses a dirty light within, more stagnant water than dazzling emerald.

One hour and thirty minutes is all you get, the reservation confirmed by a ‘you should be grateful’ sounding message two days earlier. It must be like running air traffic control between the varnished veneer, directing luminaries to the part leather, part rubber banquettes and bussing out the slag when the meter expires. To add insult, your momentary presence within the Harry’s Bar décor is reinforced by ironically indulgent waiter spoken niceties like “take your time.” But time doesn’t wait

Once installed at a peculiarly low table, it became clear that there were no side plates for the bread, leaving you crumby. Glorious, delicate raspberry scented ‘04 Hush Heath Rosé perked the spirits, however, even if this feintly tinted traditional method Kent fizz was served in silly flutes that splashed back in our faces.

My posh Pole companion enjoyed excavating her starter of creamily Truffled Potato and Watercress Salad with bursting poached egg balloon. Critically, this is tame cooking, but nonetheless reassuringly edible. My craving for blood was fulfilled by Steak Tartare, although the plated patty looked like it had been driven over. By more than one vehicle.

To follow, a ghastly link was forged. A diner opposite embarked on an operatic sneeze as a well-fingered plate simultaneously landed on the breaded linen. This featured a deeply unappetising specimen: allegedly cod fishcake in parsley sauce. This unbalanced smoked catastrophe looked like a corpulent jellyfish's head doused in a slough of clogged painted flour. Gharish. I doubt they list this damp horror in the prominently displayed Ivy cookbook. My Eggs Benedict was predictably uninspiring, but good, although the appurtenant ‘squalls’ (ragged hash potato balls which looked like origami of moths wings) leached rancid oil.

Two glasses of robust, mineral but anonymous ‘03 Graves red from Château des Gravières, Portets (no time for a whole bottle) just about rinsed away these tough ensembles, although the distasteful memory lingers. Puddings were just too dull to mention. And there wasn’t time for coffee (in this former café). The price of indigestion? (including a glimpse of thespian Simon Callow - but so what, I prefer artistic merit on my plate): £110 (including £4 cover charge and 12.5p/c mandatory service).

Exactly 90minutes after entering, a thought occured on the damp, but thankfully non-Hedera hued street: considering celebrities ‘cling together like the ivy’, maybe the public provide them more curiosity here then the other way round...

Incidentally, the downstairs loo features a number of snide caricatures, one of which depicts a diner foisted displeasing food. The caption reads 'you'll have it boiled and like it.' How apt.
Comment on this reader review

Douglas
Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 2
Tuesday, March 11, 2008

Friends of mine booked in for the Ivy and I have to say it was fantastic! The quality of food and the atmosphere was great. So much so that I am taking my parents to London in May and plan to bring them here as well. I'm logged in just now to check for booking info.
Comment on this reader review

Darcy
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Saturday, March 08, 2008

We went to the Ivy for my Fiance's birthday on Sat 1st March. Booked a late table for 11pm. However we couldnt find parking. Finally got there at 11:40. But that was not a problem, they were ok about it. Doorman and cloakroom man so nice and friendly. Sat down for 2 mins while they set up our table and the bread was magically on the table - didnt even notice! This is the second time we've been and loved it the second time too. For starter i had the thai prawn salad which was lovely and light and fiance had the King prawns. I had the shepherds pie - it was good!!! Fiance had the 2 way duck which he loved! I had the frozen berries with melted white choc - lovely dessert!!!

Any way we were out of there at 1am!! Lovely time and lovely food. Will surely go for a third time!
Comment on this reader review

Kayzy and Sim
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Friday, March 07, 2008

Went to Ivy yesterday and have to say it did not meet my expectations. The service was friendly but the waiters have not been trained to high level service as one would expect in this type of restaurant: the three of us ordered fish and they did not bother to change the cutlery and provide us with fish knives, I had to ask for one. The food is very very average and I have to say it was the very first time in my entire life that I have been served a fish (it was sole) with its eggs still there!!!!

On the other hand the champagne and the wine were very nice and the overall experience was quite pleasant. But I do not get the fuss about this place.
Comment on this reader review

Samspit
Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 5
Friday, February 29, 2008

My wife booked the Ivy as Birthday treat for the four of us after the Ballet on the 17th. february. absolutley great lovely staff , really patient , excellent food service and true hospitality as we w treer the after theatre crowd , no hassle in being rushted to finishans urounded by celebs which made my daughters happy , I personnaly just enjoyed really good food service and generally charming ,I also felt it was is good value for money
Comment on this reader review

J. Filmer-Bennett
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Thursday, February 28, 2008

had a wonderful night at the Ivy this week, friendly efficient service, great food and wine and the doorman as below 'colin' was a delight to chat with, would definately recommend for an overlall great london experience.
Comment on this reader review

kris
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 8
Thursday, February 21, 2008