The Ivy
05 September 2008, 11:34 PM
#1
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The Ivy
I had my 1st meal there tonight, and frankly wasn't sure why it's so hard to get a booking and why it's so expensive.
The Mrs has a business account there as she uses it via work for lunches and she said it wasn't much cop, so I wasn't expecting much.
Service: overbearing and all over you. I 'kin hate having my wine topped up every 2 seconds. Quick, though; and polite.
Food: no better than your average restaurant, and the quality of it wasn't fantastic. I had lamb, and it was overcooked and fatty. My prawn starter was pretty good though. We shared a desert of sticky toffee pudding, and that was good.
Value: prawn starter was good (as above), but £15 for 5 king prawns in a bit of sauce isn't great. My main of lamb was poor value as it came with mashed veg and the lamb was poor quality.
Wine was nice, but at £57 it should be!!
£107 a head for something I'd be happy with in my local @ £20 per head (minus vino) was a major disappointment to me. Thank **** it was free, and on the wife's company as a gift.
A major case of name and rep over delivery. My Mum's cooking on a normal school day was better if you take off the wine!!
And full of shouty people who seemed delighted they were paying £50 for a bottle of wine and slurping it. Idiots (unless they were there gratis too).
2/10
The Mrs has a business account there as she uses it via work for lunches and she said it wasn't much cop, so I wasn't expecting much.
Service: overbearing and all over you. I 'kin hate having my wine topped up every 2 seconds. Quick, though; and polite.
Food: no better than your average restaurant, and the quality of it wasn't fantastic. I had lamb, and it was overcooked and fatty. My prawn starter was pretty good though. We shared a desert of sticky toffee pudding, and that was good.
Value: prawn starter was good (as above), but £15 for 5 king prawns in a bit of sauce isn't great. My main of lamb was poor value as it came with mashed veg and the lamb was poor quality.
Wine was nice, but at £57 it should be!!
£107 a head for something I'd be happy with in my local @ £20 per head (minus vino) was a major disappointment to me. Thank **** it was free, and on the wife's company as a gift.
A major case of name and rep over delivery. My Mum's cooking on a normal school day was better if you take off the wine!!
And full of shouty people who seemed delighted they were paying £50 for a bottle of wine and slurping it. Idiots (unless they were there gratis too).
2/10
Last edited by fatherpierre; 05 September 2008 at 11:40 PM.
05 September 2008, 11:39 PM
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1 of the 2 was because I paid nothing for it!
The other mark was for the clean toilets and prompt service (minus the wine pouring).
The other mark was for the clean toilets and prompt service (minus the wine pouring).
06 September 2008, 12:26 AM
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I was quite surprised when I went to The Ivy - I was expecting it to be as you described, but I thought the service and food were pretty good and I really enjoyed it. Yes, it's expensive, but to be honest no more so than most other restaurants in that area.
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06 September 2008, 10:20 AM
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They must have been on holiday, or letting the YTS boys do their stuff then!
Either that, or I'm a a world class chef too, and just never realised it
The food was ok - I'm just surprised at its popularity as it's nowt special.
Either that, or I'm a a world class chef too, and just never realised it
The food was ok - I'm just surprised at its popularity as it's nowt special.
06 September 2008, 11:21 AM
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It's popular because of the name, and the fact that stars go there because they get pampered by the staff. Which is why I was surprised that the food was pretty decent too.
06 September 2008, 12:19 PM
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Prawns to start and they were nice - big old beasts too.
Lamb as a main, with sticky toffee pudding ot finish. Wine was good.
Lamb as a main, with sticky toffee pudding ot finish. Wine was good.
06 September 2008, 12:33 PM
#14
sounds good.
I have worked in a "few" restaurants in and around london when I was a little
younger
If you fancy trying a couple more restaurants on recommendation from a chefs POV feel free to pm me
one of my claims to fame is having a copper pan hurled at me by marco it missed luckily for me
but I have seen much worst!!! he was listening to iron maiden at the time full bore on his stereo in the kitchen! manic!!!
I have worked in a "few" restaurants in and around london when I was a little
younger
If you fancy trying a couple more restaurants on recommendation from a chefs POV feel free to pm me
one of my claims to fame is having a copper pan hurled at me by marco it missed luckily for me
but I have seen much worst!!! he was listening to iron maiden at the time full bore on his stereo in the kitchen! manic!!!
06 September 2008, 12:38 PM
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This place is more to my taste.
Highly recommended even though it's in a horrible part of London:
Spanish Restaurant London
Highly recommended even though it's in a horrible part of London:
Spanish Restaurant London
06 September 2008, 01:22 PM
#21
I used to be pretty good, I can still cook, but no where near the standard I used to be at. Simon has been around for dinner a few times so I am sure he will vouch for my culinary skills or lack of I suppose. (dont forget im handy with knives simon 
)
or lack of I suppose. (dont forget im handy with knives simon )
06 September 2008, 02:44 PM
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The IVY is famous becuase it gave the chance for famous people with no taste to eat the same food they always did but in an 'exclusive' environment. Many celebrities feel uncomfortable in very posh places so the IVY gave them the 'place to be seen' factor and simple food. They do generally cook well with good fresh ingredients and frankly £15 for five fresh king prawns is cheap. Decent fresh king prawns cost £1.30-1.80 each.
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