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London restaurants
The Ivy
Address:
1 West Street
Covent Garden
London
WC2H 9NQ
Tel: 020 7836 4751
Rating:
(Review date: July 2007)
There has been so much hype about The Ivy that anyone visiting for the first time will have high expectations.
But the thing to remember is that this is not some mythical restaurant where the cutlery is made from gold, but just a very good, lively place to eat. The hype is borne out of its reputation as a celebrity hangout.
Its slightly run down and vaguely Parisian exterior hides a cosy and vibrant dining area which offers very good food and service together with a great atmosphere.
The tables are close together and yet you can still enjoy private conversations because of the buzz and energy of the venue, perhaps caused by the possibility of spotting an A-list celebrity or two.
Don’t be put off by everyone in the restaurant surreptitiously checking you out when you walk in. Its nothing personal, they’re just seeing if you’re famous or not.
The set lunch on Saturday (the easiest day to get in - other times are notoriously difficult) is £27.50 for three excellent courses. The a la carte ranges from £6.50 a dish upwards.
An example meal is starter: mixed sashimi with hot ginger and soy dressing (£11.75), main: loin of yellow fin tuna with spiced lentil salsa and rocket (£18.25) and pudding: seasonal fruits with sorbet (£6.50).
The Sashimi was fresh and flavoursome and combined very well with the dressing which was indeed hot, the tuna was cooked perfectly and smacked of quality and the fruit appeared to have just been picked. It was not Michelin level cuisine, but it was all extremely good and well worth the money.
The service is professional and friendly and the staff give you a warm feeling when you walk in, even if you’re not starring in the latest blockbuster.
Considering the deluge of overpriced crap food available outside of London, The Ivy offers remarkably good value in a very lively, enjoyable and famous setting.
The only criticism, and this is minor, was that there appeared to be confusion over the wine, with bottles from different tables being placed in the same cooling bucket. Aside from that the venue gets top marks.
Final note: Look out for the small request at the bottom of the a la carte menu.
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Address:
1 West Street
Covent Garden
London
WC2H 9NQ
Tel: 020 7836 4751
Rating:
(Review date: July 2007)
There has been so much hype about The Ivy that anyone visiting for the first time will have high expectations.
But the thing to remember is that this is not some mythical restaurant where the cutlery is made from gold, but just a very good, lively place to eat. The hype is borne out of its reputation as a celebrity hangout.
Its slightly run down and vaguely Parisian exterior hides a cosy and vibrant dining area which offers very good food and service together with a great atmosphere.
The tables are close together and yet you can still enjoy private conversations because of the buzz and energy of the venue, perhaps caused by the possibility of spotting an A-list celebrity or two.
Don’t be put off by everyone in the restaurant surreptitiously checking you out when you walk in. Its nothing personal, they’re just seeing if you’re famous or not.
The set lunch on Saturday (the easiest day to get in - other times are notoriously difficult) is £27.50 for three excellent courses. The a la carte ranges from £6.50 a dish upwards.
An example meal is starter: mixed sashimi with hot ginger and soy dressing (£11.75), main: loin of yellow fin tuna with spiced lentil salsa and rocket (£18.25) and pudding: seasonal fruits with sorbet (£6.50).
The Sashimi was fresh and flavoursome and combined very well with the dressing which was indeed hot, the tuna was cooked perfectly and smacked of quality and the fruit appeared to have just been picked. It was not Michelin level cuisine, but it was all extremely good and well worth the money.
The service is professional and friendly and the staff give you a warm feeling when you walk in, even if you’re not starring in the latest blockbuster.
Considering the deluge of overpriced crap food available outside of London, The Ivy offers remarkably good value in a very lively, enjoyable and famous setting.
The only criticism, and this is minor, was that there appeared to be confusion over the wine, with bottles from different tables being placed in the same cooling bucket. Aside from that the venue gets top marks.
Final note: Look out for the small request at the bottom of the a la carte menu.
» more London restaurants
» home
eatwokingham.co.uk © 2007. All rights reserved