myself and my wife had lunch on sat 6th august and to be honest it was a fabulous treat .
the staff were very friendly and ran like clockwork .
this is the first time we have eaten here and it now looks like its going to be a yearly treat .
i was a little bit worried before arriving as we havent dined somewhere as nice as this but within minutes i felt relaxed so well done to the staff for that .

My friends and I treated ourselves to lunch at The Ivy 8th July 2011.
Friendly and courteous staff looked after us from the moment we walked through the door. When we were shown from the bar area to the Dining Room there was a noticeable atmosphere and buzz about the place. Our table was waited on by 2 or 3 members of staff notably Simon who was exceptionally welcoming and helpful. The food was simply amazing and we enjoyed a fabulous bottle of red wine to accompany it. Afterwards we finished up by sampling some very tasty dessert wines. We all enjoyed the experience immensely and we can't wait to go back and sample some more delicious dishes from their regularly updated menus. Only downside - Wish it could be sooner rather than later! Kathy, Glyn and Jayne

My friends and I treated ourselves to lunch at The Ivy 8th July 2011.
Friendly and courteous staff looked after us from the moment we walked through the door. When we were shown from the bar area to the Dining Room there was a noticeable atmosphere and buzz about the place. Our table was waited on by 2 or 3 members of staff notably Simon who was exceptionally welcoming and helpful. The food was simply amazing and we enjoyed a fabulous bottle of red wine to accompany it. Afterwards we finished up by sampling some very tasty dessert wines. We all enjoyed the experience immensely and we can't wait to go back and sample some more delicious dishes from their regularly updated menus. Only downside - Wish it could be sooner rather than later! Kathy, Glyn and Jayne

I have NEVER written a review before, but am so angry and disappointed by the entire experience we had at 'the Ivy', that i wanted to help prevent others from wasting their money!
I recently went to 'the Ivy' to celebrate my Mother's birthday for Sunday lunch, accompanied by my husband and my father. Having been to 'the Ivy' 2 years ago, I was very excited about going back as we had previously had exceptional food. Unfortunately, there are few words adequate to describe our disappointment.
Firstly, after we had checked our coats in, we were left loitering at the door without being greeted by anyone. We were then shown to our table and presented with some delicious sounding menus. We were then asked, ten minutes later, if we were ready to place our order, and we said yes, and were then promptly told in a non-apologetic manner, all the things that weren't available, which of course happened to be the things we wanted. Our drinks were delivered, Cosmopolitans in the smallest glasses available in western society, and 2 beers. Then .... the assault of the food began .... out of 4 starters, one was raw and cold, one was cold, one was a joke [autumnal salad ... which consisted of a 70s-esque mess of limp leaves], and an adequate smoked salmon starter which cost £13 ... must have been salmon royalty. All plonked on the plate and the starter of mushroom risotto [stone cold] looked like a dog had been sick on a plate.
The main courses, 2 roast beef, 1 pork belly and 1 partridge. Partridge was fine, pork belly was distinctly average and tepid, and the pile of fat masquerading as beef, enormous and cold wet flannel yorkshire pudding, reheated potatoes and soggy vegetables with a pile of tasteless horseradish was one of the most disgusting things i've ever been served.
The service overall was surly and unfriendly, there seemed to be a general opinion among the waiting staff that they are too good for their jobs and whoever the clientele are, they are beneath them.

My family and I walked by the Ivy on our way back from shopping, and because we had theatre tickets to a theatre not so far away, he decided to give it a whirl and try and book a table for the next night... he and my sister both went into the Ivy and came out about 10 minutes later with a dinner reservation that was perfect for when we were going to the theatre. (We didn't have to book months in advance... just the day before). We really didn't completely know all the glitzy nature of the ivy, so we all went thinking it was just a normal dinner place.. It wasn't. The service was impeccable, they were polite, and everyone moved like clockwork. I had a Caesar salad to begin with, and it wasn't the best, for the lettuce was a little wilted, but it was still enjoyable and flavorful, i then had the scallops and a strip of pork for the main course, and with the pumpkin mash, it was absolutely delicious. Some of the best scallops I've ever had. The people around us were polite and very enjoyable to talk with, and we got to spend a lot of time just lounging and talking amongst each other, the waiters, and the people sitting at other tables. The restaurant was packed (still don't know how we got reservations a day in advanced...) and most of the food was delicious. My sister had the same dish i did, my father had the crab cake and my mother had the shrimp pasta. With 4 glasses of wine, and our dinner and appetizers, the whole sum of our dinner was 125 pounds, and we had a lot of food. And 4 people.
The Service- A+
The Atmosphere- A+
The food- A
The cost- B+

I would gladly go back.

Hmm not really sure what all the fuss is about. I've been on two seperate occasions now. The food is 'OK' I've had far better pub food. The decor is umm 'OK'. I really just do not see what the fuss is about. I suppose it's worth the experience but my tip is to not go expecting anything superb!

Took my Mum to The Ivy for her 70Th birthday. It was dreadful!

The tables are so close together that you are practically elbow to elbow with your neighbours (sadly ours were drunk and foul mouthed).

The food was disgusting, what a great 70th birthday treat that turned out to be.

The rest of the food was tasteless and unremarkable! I'm truly shocked that it was so bad and that our special night was a disaster!

went for my wife's birthday treat as a pre-theatre meal.

the service was impeccable, polite helpful waiters and all staff very courteous.

the food was first class and the service was prompt too.i would recommend this provided you can afford it!

Book well in advance and unless you are expecting the Ritz or tgi Friday you won't be disappointed.

i can only think that because of the reputation of the Ivy people expect something, god knows what - perhaps they should get a life!

Steve & Cathie

Myself and afriend went to The Ivy 22.03.09 for an enjoyable lunch and all i came out with was utter disgrace.

For the whole of the meal we had a crying child all through our meal, then when somebody complained 2 other diners got very loud and decided to have their say also.

Then all of a sudden the 2 diners came in defence of the mother and child, Swearing at the couple who had complained, the management no where to be seen until 10mins into this array of bad language @ this poor couple.

To round things off the waiter splilt gravy on the table cloth and then walked away shrugging his shoulders( didnt clean it up) and when he came to serve me coffee me nearly banged it on the table!!!..As you can tell WE WILL NOT be going back again!!! Grant .london

I have just been to The Ivy with my bestfriend to celebrate our joint 40th b'day. We were very disappointed, we booked our table for 12noon and settled down to our main course. We were given the menus to choose our desserts and I said I would visit the ladies and order when I came back. On returning to our table we were then asked to leave our table as they had other guests waiting for it. The restaurant was very busy and it looked like we had been asked to move for another reason. We asked if we could finish our lunch at the table and was told no and a waiter came to remove our drinks from the table. We were asked to finish our meal in the bar area (which was not very welcoming). This is digraceful and we ended up paying £126 and left feeling like our very special lunch had been ruined. We were also told that no photographs were to be taken although the rather posh looking couple near to us were taking photos. There was also suppose to be a "no mobile phone" policy but this was also not the case! On arriving at the restaurant we were not told that our table was booked for 12noon - 1.30pm maybe if we were told we would have understood.

The Ivy certainly isn't what you expect, or maybe if I'd read these user reviews it would be! It's a good London bistro, but that's it! When we arrived for lunch, we stood by the maitre'd whilst she had a chat with colleagues for 5 mins, then decided we were worthy to serve.

The menu was OK, the was good, though the table service was poor - too many waiters working your table, resulting in the same things being offered - more water, more wine, coffees.

Worth doing so that you can 'tick it off the list' but there are far better places to eat in London - and ones that will offer a far more impressive experience!

went today for my step daughters 18th.disappointing to say the least.should have gone to pizza hut.we had a roast beef with the string still attatched.cold roast potatoes and very greasy.one burnt burger,not edible,tasted like a bonfire.that meal was excluded from the bill.chips cooked and then recooked.very greasy.cold scampi.on the plus side,waiters were very efficient,friendly and pleasant.we declined the sweet menu as the main course was so bad.would rather go to the harvester.why celebs go there is TOTALLY BEYOND ME.did see the screen legend sylvia syms though.i wouldnt bother waiting one week let alone six months for a table here.

We went to the Ivy for lunch on our wedding anniversary (27/6/08). It was fabulous. Relaxed, not stuffy atmosphere, attentive,polite service and the food was excellent.I had tried for weeks before hand to book for dinner, but despite numerous phone calls was unable.A lot of the tables are reserved for 'regulars' and 'valued' clients, so when the dates are released there are not normally many left for everyone else.That aside, we had a wonderful day. I had the Thai sea bass, wonderful!My wife had a great time celeb spotting. She noticed Cleo Roccos, some bird off the news and a fat bloke she swears discovered Charlotte Church!!!I will go there for dinner one evening.

I read some good reviews about this restaurant but this place has finally really turned me off for life. Do not even try and make a reservation as the restaurant managers are very rude over the phone- so much snobbism (it's funny when this place is not even classified as the 'creme de la creme' and you see staff with this attitude).

After finally getting the chance to dine the food was absolutely plain average with an awful service (a lot of food delays) and not suprisingly the staff were again very rude. It's just amazing to see how popular this place even is when the service they provide is not properly in place.

Do not waste your time and money. My recommendation would be for you to dine at Gordon Ramsay's Claridges and Petrus instead. My dining experience there was absolutely superb!

had a wonderful meal on 5/10/07, booked 9 weeks before we went. it was a fantastic experience, well worth the £189 bill yes it was just the two of us. would love to return very soon, excellent

I've eaten at The Ivy several times and I can see why it is such a hot spot for celebs. It's discreet, with excellent (but definitely not pompous) service and the food is absolutely delish. And whether you're an A lister or a Z lister, like me, the service is to the same standard. I really feel special eating at The Ivy - it's definitely one of my fave restaurants in the city.

Had a fantasic night at The Ivy last Thursday with my wife, her sister and her husband.



It was a post theatre booking at 10.45pm and arrived at 10.25 to be greeted by the doorman who showed us into the bar area for drinks. Although it was busy, we easily found a table for 4 in the window to enjoy our vodkas! This was my first visit and the place definitely has a buzz about it. We were shown to our table around 10.50 - must have been the best in the house as I had a great view of what was going on.



Service and food was first rate. I had risotto to start, followed by the famous shepherd's pie and creme brulee for desert. All four of us had three courses and with 3 bottles of wine and water, the total bill was only around £250.00 which I thought was excellent value.



Oh, I nearly forgot. This is obviously a haunt for celebs and we were fortunate enough to have the one and only David Walliams (Little Britain) just a few tables away! That made my night!

I took my daughter to The Ivy as a treat whilst in London - and a treat it was! The food, ambience, attentiveness of staff were all lovely and we can't wait to go again. The Ivy is fabulous!

What can I say - nice venue... er, thats it! Food at The Ivy was awful - perhaps the worst steak I have ever had in my life. The Ivy had dry veg, very average Duck salad to start. Mediocre service, very expensive wine. Avoid.

We went to The Ivy for Sunday lunch and had stringy, tasteless beef and bland vegetables. A backstreet cafe could have produced better. The only good thing about The Ivy was the service.

The Ivy is excellent. It has top food, fantastic service, and a buzzing atmosphere. We only booked three weeks before we went so don't be afraid to give them a ring.



I would definitely go back to The Ivy. I still dream of the slow-roasted belly pork and that lovely rhubarb pie. Mmmmmmm!

My husband I have been to The Ivy several times for Sunday Lunch and it has always been perfect.

One of the waiters in The Ivy (I wish I'd got his name) is like the God of wine, he made such excellent choices to match our meal that they far outshone the food! I'd definitely recommend sampling The Ivy's wine list, though only if you've got deep pockets!

My husband took me to The Ivy for my birthday, and I think a little to make up for missing our anniversary...again! Anyway, we had a wonderful meal, the atmosphere was lovely and the service very attentive. I'd recommend a visit to the Ivy, particularly for a special occasion, it doesn't disappoint.

I had such an amazing roast in the Ivy, I was quite stunned. I've heard some very average reports on the quality of the food (particularly for the price they charge) but my lamb was delicious, I must have gone on a good day. We didn't see any celebrities when in The Ivy though, but the food made up for it.

Me and my wife go to the Ivy every now and again on a Sunday with the in-laws (they pay thankfully) and we always have excellent food in excellent company. Since going to The Ivy we've seen Ross Kemp, Nigella Lawson, Jonathan Ross and Mark Lamar.

When I went to The Ivy I sat on the table next to Gary Kemp! I couldn't talk for the whole meal in case I missed a second of him eating, talking or...breathing really. I'm such a huge Spandau Ballet fan and to see my love idol up close was more than I could handle. I have no idea what the food, atmosphere or service was like at The Ivy, I was on cloud nine and couldn't have cared less!

I'm a better cook than the one in the Ivy, though I did get to see Posh Spice sashay through the door last time I was there. It's celebs galore at The Ivy!

I didn't mind the food in The Ivy but, boy was it over priced for what it was! I've eaten more satisfying food in a little street cafe round the corner! However, what you do get at The Ivy is the celeb factor which I suppose, if that's your thing, is an attraction.

Before we went to The Ivy I anticipated that it would be pretentious and over priced, however it was neither of those things. The food at The Ivy was great and good value, the wine was amazing if not a little pricey and the service was brilliant from start to finish.

The only downside was not seeing Jordan breastfeeding, but we can't have it all can we!

The Ivy has its good points; it has very friendly service and good food. However we ordered a bottle of water, didn't get it and had to ask again, ordered two portions of spinach and got one. Then, another bad point, we ordered scallops which had two prices and they charged us for the expensive one (without asking) which we assumed was for 2 people. 5 scallops for £23! There was also a short black curly hair on one of the beans; God only knows how it got there.
Upon leaving, the cloakroom attendant pointed out that I should leave her a tip which I consider to be quite rude.
All in The Ivy was a mixed experience but not what you expect from this class of restaurant.

We went to the Ivy on 29th December at the 10.30pm sitting. It was brill! The staff were lovely, the atmosphere very relaxing and informal. The food was fab and so was the wine and champagne. It was part of my husbands 40th birthday present. We would definitely go again. My husband used to be a Gary Numan fan and we couldn't believe he was actually in the restaurant. We also saw Michael Ball and Amanda Holden. Great night out.

Had the set meal at The Ivy last weekend. To be honest, I wish I hadn't read the hype. The meal was fine (and great value). I wouldn't be prepared to wait the six months I did for this meal again though!