There’s a reason why there are only two photos of my visit to the Ivy. The celeb count at the Ivy is apparently so high, that they do not allow photographs to be taken inside the restaurant. So all I have to offer you is a picture of the bread basket and the napkin. The Ivy is in an odd location, in the theatre district but down what looks like a back alley, right near L’atelier de Joel Robuchon. Outside of opening hours, the outer belies the mystery about this restaurant and why exactly it is so sought after as a place for celebrities to congregate. Getting a booking is not easy, one has to book weeks ahead to secure a table.
The doorman is a very genial fellow, designed to make your entrance way smooth and welcoming. The staff too are friendly and polite, with perhaps the exception of one waiter who although isn’t rude, is just in the wrong business. The predominant colour is of course green in various shades and there are stained glass accents and the seating is mostly one sided banquettes. We are seated at one, both of us seated at the banquette side with the table pulled out for us to slide in so that maximum “gawking” is achieved as neither of us has our back to the restaurant.
We’re handed the enormous 1 sheet menus. My sister, whilst not a regular, has been here several times and has never liked the food. However some that she has been with have so perhaps it’s extremely bad luck with food choices. And you may be surprised to learn that prices are very reasonable with some very English foods like Fish & Chips, Shepherd’s Pie £16.50 and Bangers & Mash £13.75 to more Asian fare. Having been told by my sister that the Shepherd’s Pie, the item that the waiter tells us is their signature, is in fact not great, we opt for two dishes, the Slow roasted Blythburgh Pork belly with black pudding hash £16.75 and the Salmon fishcake with sauteed spinach and sorrel sauce £15.75.
While we wait for our meals, the bread arrives with butter and it’s pretty good, the butter at the right temperature for spreading. And it’s not long after doing a subtle check around of the restaurant patrons (mixed: some “chav-like” but not quite Vicki Pollard, mostly middle class) that our mains arrive.
You’ll have to trust me about the descriptions but it seems we are in luck. Both of our meals are very good, particularly the Slow cooked Blytheburgh pork belly which is in 4 rectangles and has a delectable crackling on it. The black pudding hash complements it wonderfully.
Salmon fishcake £15.75
Similarly, the salmon fishcake is substantial for a single but thick fishcake, full of salmon and not filler. The spinach layer underneath is also substantial and the sorrel sauce delicious. The photo above is from The Ivy’s own website which is a fairly accurate representation of the dish, although I think I could’ve taken a better one 
We’re not tempted by the desserts, indeed the “star” item is the Scandinavian iced berries with white chocolate sauce looks like frozen berries with chocolate sauce poured onto it at the table. And being a good food blogger, if I can’t photograph it, I’m not as interested.
And as for celebrities? I am not familiar with English celebs but I may have seen a soccer player. Well you know the kind, someone fairly good looking with a fairly good looking girlfriend that looks like they might be famous. Speaking to the staff there, they have also been briefed to be discreet although one does reveal that they are surprised at how different they look in real life – without the hair and makeup.
The Ivy
1-5 West Street
London
WC2H 9NQ
Tel: 020 7836 4751
Fax: 020 7240 9333
Dinner: 5.30pm till 12 midnight Monday to Saturday
5.30pm till 11pm on Sunday
http://www.the-ivy.co.uk
Vegetarian options: extensive, both vegetarian and vegan (see separate menu on website)
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14 Comments | Add your own
i recommended the iced scandinavian berries to my friend’s sister-in-law based on the numerous gushing reviews i’d read of it on the internet and was really embarassed when they arrived. they tasted… well, horrible. i can imagine some disgruntled scandis filing a complaint… remember how amazing the berries were in finland? even i liked them (well, the one or two that i ended up having).
anyway, i’m not sure how i ended up going so many times even though i’ve never had an outstanding, or even very good, meal there.
and the table next to us was distinctly chavvy!
Too bad you didn’t get a chance to snap any “celebrities”
And yeah, the pictures of food on their website are pretty poor!
I had a table next to Elton John one evening, I’m ashamed to say that my dinner partner for the evening developed a bit of a rubber neck during the meal.
As is common with many of Hix’s menus – the more traditional dishes are usually the better option – there used to be a fantastic roast chicken dish that was just tainted with a little truffle butter that was fantastic.
Could you do me a HUGE favor and let me know what camera you use? Your photography is fantastic.
Oohh sounds like it should be a more special place if its so hard to book and has heaps of celebs :S but the pork belly does sound very good mmm.
Also speaking about Ivy have you been to any of the restaurants in the Ivy near Wynyard? I want to try
We ate at The Ivy in April and had a great meal. The service was efficent and attentive, very French! The food was great too – I had the Pork Belly as well and it was lovely. They also do a very good line in heritage vegetables which are worth a try. For desert we had the baked alaska, which was set fire to at our table using Cherry Kirsch and it was yummy.
Next time we’re in London i would certainly try and get a table again.
Hi blythe-Did they think they were horrible or did you? I’m just wondering because you don’t like berries at all. There’s no fruit like the fruit in Finland I have to say, it was amazing.
I think you go because everyone wants to see what it’s like and you end up dragged there. But our dishes this time were very good.
Hi Y-I know! Not that I’d necessarily know their celebs. I know, perhaps they don’t let anyone take photos there at all
Hi Wayfarer-Wow, that’s a real score, I would’ve been quite excited to see him I admit.
I can definitely recommend the pork belly and salmon cake
Hi Natalie Jane-We use a Canon EOS450D, thankyou so much
Hi Ffichiban-I think it’s quite nice inside but it’s nothing like I hoped. I expected something really “out there” and modern (just from the celeb quotient) but at times, the menu seemed almost retro
I haven’t yet! But I do want to get there soon one day…
Hi Gail-I didn’t see the heritage vegetables, it would have been interesting to try those certainly. The menu seems quite retro with some of their items.
i guess i could be persuaded to go back if there was a chance i’d see a big celeb, i have to admit.
everyone thought the berries were bad, not just me. most would not have liked them, i suspect.
i can’t understand why people get so excited to see other people who can maybe act a little, or who kick a soccer ball pretty hard, or sing well. i get more excited by food.
Hi blythe-I think Finland is pretty hard to beat for fruit and berries. Perhaps they should get their berries from there, then they were be real Scandinavian berries and it would be sublime.
Hi grace-Haha I pretty much know that if everyone else is staring at someone as if they were a celebrity but I have no idea who they are, they’re a sportsperson
Came across your blog a few weeks ago and have thoroughly enjoyed reading through your past posts – thank you!
As for celebraties sightings at the Ivy, I saw Nigella there – she had the salmon cake.
Hi Linh-Thankyou so much!
Oooh you are SO lucky, I would have probably embarrassed myself had I seen her there. And great to know what she ordered too! 
Hi there, Im going this Friday, acc to their website they were taking no bookings for 19th June for lunch or dinner but I phoned, put on my best telephone vcand got a pre theatre table.. Ill go with low expectation and hope to be pleasantly suprised
thanks for the info. x
Hi Lisa-Wonderful! I think that’s a good way to approach it. It’s nice but you might wonder why it’s the celebrity haunt if you didn’t!
You’re welcome!
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