Ivy West End

[masaccio]

Went to the Ivy in the West End last night. Well, sort of.

The idea was to spend the £150 dining credit and since my wife has been wanting to go to the old Ivy for ages, it was a good match. We booked for 5.30 to have plenty of time for our show that started at 7.15.

There was a queue, but not a huge one and people in it were muttering about their reservations. Staff did nothing to see who had booked when and just allocated a table first come, first served. 15 minutes after our reservation (they fine you if you are late by the way) we got to speak to somebody. It was obvious we’d be waiting another 30 minutes at least.

Bolting down 150 quids worth of food in 45 minutes is not my idea of fun, so we hoofed it to the ROH and had a very good meal. Pissed off that the Ivy has ‘cost’ me £150, so sharing the nature of the zoo that is the west end Ivy

[MF176]

How strange. I spent my £150 there on a Saturday night in September, pre-theatre, so also a 5.30 or so booking. All was excellent and orderly, so I’m sorry to hear your experience was different!

[JDB]

@masaccio – a family member who was a regular there for many years and had the magic number to book stopped going a while ago as the food and service have become so poor. I’m sorry you had such an experience; it’s unfortunate that the reputation of such places survives long beyond the sell by date.

I know some people love the ready meal chain version of this original, but they should take notice of this experience!

[Tracey]

Was there recently, the staff were very good and attentive, the menu OK, atmosphere fine. Table booked for 8pm and ready for us (group of 5) by 8.10pm.

Prices about 50% more than the Ivy chain, food probably only 20% better, we did comment that the menu wasn’t as good, but that may be us.

[masaccio]

MF176 wrote:

How strange. I spent my £150 there on a Saturday night in September, pre-theatre, so also a 5.30 or so booking. All was excellent and orderly, so I’m sorry to hear your experience was different!

Christmas crowd perhaps

[SteveJ]

Did you at least buy a gift card in person so as not to ‘lose’ the £150? Or other plans by NYE?

[masaccio]

SteveJ wrote:

Did you at least buy a gift card in person so as not to ‘lose’ the £150? Or other plans by NYE?

No, we were in such a rage and thinking more about getting good food in the west end at the last minute.

[JDB]

The people who made the Ivy work were Jeremy King and Chris Corbin and, while the magic continued for a while after their departure, it has unsurprisingly turned to dust as the restaurants are now run by accountants and property people. The duo’s attention to detail, omnipresence and ability to create real atmosphere is so clearly now absent.

Chris was already stepping back but Jeremy is very much back on the scene with the Caprice shortly to be reopened (albeit under the name Arlington, as the Ivy owner has retained the Caprice name) together with a new brasserie – Park – at the top of Queensway plus a relaunch of Simpson’s in the Strand. If anyone wishes to eat well at fairish prices, enjoy buzzy, sophisticated places and be well looked after, whoever you are, these places will be more suitable than the decaying Ivy chain.

[travelersolo]

60gbp left on local dining credit so popped into an ivy this morning to purchase a voucher. It took 3 members of staff plus a phone call to another branch to figure out how to deal with a voucher purchase.

[fedemenni]

I feel your pain, yesterday I visited the ivy brasserie in soho to buy the special xmas gift card, one person was serving me, another colleague came back from lunch at that moment and suddenly she stopped because she was too tired and went on a break. I had to explain everything again to the person. Took me about 20 minutes to buy a gift card, it was madness there though.

I think unfortunately at this time of the year service is lower than usual- even at Rules where I went last Saturday night the service was bit lower quality than throughout the year, it is a shame that Rules isnt part of the dining offer though

[Richie]

I take my non-UK resident friends who enjoyed Downton Abbey to Rules when they visit, I hope they’ll take me to a restaurant location from The Gilded Age at some point.

[masaccio]

Were Rules part of the dining offer, the Ivy would not have got a look in. I’ve always enjoyed Rules.

[fedemenni]

masaccio wrote:

Were Rules part of the dining offer, the Ivy would not have got a look in. I’ve always enjoyed Rules.

no Rules is not unfortunately, i mentioned it because even there were there is excellent service during christmas period gets bit bad too