DINING: The Ivy Temple Row Review

DINING: The Ivy Temple Row Review

“The Ivy” conjures up an image of celebrity and style in our capital city of London, where the cool and famous come to dine in an elegant fashion. So that’s why the arrival of The Ivy was the most eagerly-anticipated restaurant opening in the Second City this
year writes DLUXE Dining correspondent Anita Champaneri .

Created by the group behind the world famous celebrity haunt, this brasserie model has been rolled out to other major cities around the UK.

The Ivy is a fabulous new 155-seat, threefloor restaurant on Temple Row. It has a stunning Art Deco vibe which oozes style, and sophistication, with leather banquettes in a dreamy shade of burnt orange mix with plenty of green leafy hues to match. It’s a real stunner and the public have been flocking to see it. Everything is picture perfect.

It’s convivial dining; food we all want to eat but in a sophisticated setting. All your classics are on the menu like prawn cocktail, steak and chips and even Shepherds Pie although thankfully there are a few surprises in there like an Oriental style duck curry.

We headed there on a busy Tuesday night and the staff were friendly and attentive, looking perfect in their crisp white blouses. The bartender chose a couple of cocktails for us, the Lychee Martinis, which were so sweet, even for me and my super sweet tooth!

For starters I, unusually for me, went for the prawn cocktail. Towered high with crisp baby gem lettuce, avocado, cherry tomatoes and plump prawns in a delicately flavoured Marie Rose sauce. It looked impressive – and it was; a simple dish executed well. Hubby had the scallops in a pea puree which was set off with lemon zest, sea cress and crispy shallots: faultless.

For mains, hubby and I went straight for comfort food! I enjoyed a good sized portion of slow-roasted lamb shoulder with just the right hint of mustard and herbs. Served on a cushion of creamed potato, garlic, spring vegetables and a rosemary sauce, I so wanted to love it but was a tad on the dry side.

Hubby’s fish and chips looked lovely. Traditional battered cod served with mashed peas, thick cut chips and tartare sauce. It’s a brasserie classic served in that brasserie way … pea puree in a mini copper saucepan and the chips displayed like flowers in a vase.

Every new restaurant now has to have a ‘piece de resistance’ or something instagrammable for the millenials. So the Chocolate bombe was a must. Served with a vanilla ice cream and honeycomb centre, its melted at your table with a hot salted caramel sauce.
Undeniably divine I think my tastebuds were having a party in my mouth!

And then we had the Apple Tarte served with a Calvados flambé.
Strong, sticky and sweet, it left us wanting more.

So, thankfully, The Ivy lives up to its name and it’s reputation offering sophisticated, relaxed dining and serving a classic every day style menu. Its bound to be full everday for many months to come so get your table booked!

TO RESERVE A TABLE AT THE IVY TEMPLE ROW CALL 0121 725 2110.
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