GOOD FOOD, GOOD FIZZ AND A SURPRISE DOSE OF DOLLY PARTON

By Tanya Howard | Founder, The Live Review London · @glamglitzlondon | Press Invite

There is something about a visit to The Ivy that always makes me feel fancy. Maybe it’s the beautiful restaurants. Maybe it’s their reputation. Maybe it’s simply because sitting down to dine there makes me feel like I’ve got my life together a little more than I actually do. Either way, I was very happy for my second Ivy visit in a fortnight.

Our visit happened to fall on the same evening as their event, A Night With Dolly Parton. So, we got the pleasure of listening to a live vocalist singing some of Dolly’s iconic numbers during our meal. Good food, Prosecco and Dolly Parton songs? I’m struggling to think of a more Tanya friendly combination.

We were visiting The Ivy Soho Brasserie to try the Cool Britannia menu, which is an absolute bargain at £19.96 for two dishes. The price is a playful nod to 1996, with the menu bringing together some Ivy classics inspired by the era. As the self-dubbed, Prosecco Queen, we obviously had to order a bottle to pair with our meal. I mean, it would be rude not to, right?! It was a lovely choice and lasted us throughout the meal.

START AS YOU MEAN TO GO ON: WITH CHEESE

To start, I went for the Gratinated Halloumi. I was tempted by the Robata Grilled Chicken Skewers, but I was thinking chicken for the main and, whilst I love me some meat, I thought I’d mix things up a bit. I’m always slightly wary of halloumi because it can be a bit hit and miss. When it’s done right, it’s gooood. When it’s done wrong, you’re basically chewing on a rubber tyre. Thankfully, The Ivy Soho Brasserie absolute got it right.

Emma went for the Glazed Onion Soup, which you don’t see on menus all that often, so she was buzzing to see it as an option. She really enjoyed it, particularly the balance between the onion, broth, parsley and cheese croutons. I’m not an onion fan, so I wasn’t exactly fighting her for it, but I did have a spoonful of the broth with a crouton and even I had to agree with her assessment of deliciouso.

TWO CHICKEN SUPREMES, ZERO REGRETS

For our mains, we both couldn’t help but both go for the Chicken Supreme. We had contemplated the Minute Steak and 90’s Coconut and Sweet Potato Curry, but the flavour combination of the chicken caught our attention more. Emma also knew that if she ordered something else, she’d spend the rest of the meal having food FOMO over mine, so really, we saved ourselves the drama.

The chicken was lovely and moist, whilst the mashed potato was creamy and comforting. The red wine and port sauce brought plenty of flavour, and a rich addition, to the dish. It worked really well with the chicken and potatoes. My only complaint was that I would have liked more sauce, but I am forever that person. I can’t help it; I’m a saucy gal!

My preference would always be to have my food swimming in sauce, but I’m aLao aware that’s not how restaurants work. There was enough to enjoy the dish, so it didn’t take away from it, but a little extra sauce would have made my greedy little heart very happy. Surely, I’m not alone in wanting enough sauce to dip every last inch of food in it. Anyway, extended sauce chat over and out!

A CHEESY WIN AND A VERY CONFUSED SPONGE

We decided to add on dessert, which wasn’t a hard sell when Emma saw a Cheese Platter on the menu. It was quite a simple platter, but I think that worked with the whole theme and the era they were trying to capture. She enjoyed it and finished most of the plate, with only the celery left behind. Is that a regular on a cheese plate?

Her only real criticism was the apple, which was quite sweet. She thought the platter could have benefited by having something a little more tart, perhaps a pickle. But that’s also personal preference and didn’t stop her enjoying it regardless.

I was torn between the Sticky Toffee Pudding and Mango Vanilla Sponge, eventually settling on the sponge. Sadly, not the best choice. There was too much going on, with a hot rum-soaked sponge, cold mango pieces, mango puree, Chantilly cream, and lemon balm.

I tried the different elements separately and together, but I couldn’t work out what they were aiming for. I think there were just too many competing flavours, and I would have enjoyed it more if it had been a little simpler. I think if they removed an element, or two, they would have a winner here.

FEELING FANCY WITHOUT BREAKING THE BANK

Throughout the meal, all the dishes were beautifully presented and the staff were friendly, welcoming and attentive without being overbearing. They regularly checked in on us and topped up our glasses, which is always appreciated when you’ve got a bottle of Prosecco and are too busy yapping to notice the glass is empty.

The portion sizes were also great, particularly considering the price of the Cool Britannia menu. £19.96 for two courses in The Ivy feels like a pretty decent bargain, especially when you’re getting the surroundings, service and overall experience alongside it.

Would I return to The Ivy? Absolutely. The menu had a lot of hits and you can always skip dessert if none of them call to you, but the overall experience was lovely. Add in live Dolly Parton vocals, a bottle of Prosecco and the fact that I got to sit in The Ivy feeling slightly fancier than usual, and it was a bloody lovely evening.

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