Review on The Ivy Cafe
Having made a big impression with the Ivy Market Grill and the Ivy Chelsea Garden, Richard Caring's Caprice group opened The Ivy Cafe in the heart of Marylebone in November 2015. Occupying the former Union Café site, the restaurant is just a short walk from Bond Street station and Oxford Street shopping. Like its siblings it has been designed by Martin Brudnizki with all the hallmarks of a classic brasserie de luxe, featuring it's trademark antique pewter top bar. Vintage red leather banquettes are set against dark wood mahogany tables on geometric marble flooring, pendant lighting runs the length of the narrow room and pale blue walls are adorned with cartoon portraits.
It has rapidly become a crowd-puller thanks to its relaxed neighbourhood vibe and well executed menu. The cafe is open all day from breakfast through to elevenses, lunch, afternoon snacks, cream tea, cocktails, dinner and brunch at the weekends. Among the starters look for dishes such as spinach, avocado and bacon salad, baby spinach, avocado, cos lettuce, sourdough croutons, bacon and Parmesan dressing or Severn and Wye smoked salmon, crab and dill cream served with granary toast. Main courses usher in the Ivy Cafe's classic shepherd's pie, slow braised lamb shoulder with beef and Keens Cheddar potato mash or there's lobster risotto, Arborio rice with lobster, fennel, tomato and basil. Old favourites close the show with a dark treacle tart paired with clotted cream ice cream and Jersey pouring cream or a crème brûlée.
There's a concise wine list to complement the food, together with beers, cider and cocktails such as the Garden of the Abbey, elderflower vodka, cucumber, apple, lime and cider sparkle.
Cuisine
Modern European
Chef
Sean Burbidge
Restaurant Opening Times
Breakfast: 7.30am (8.00am Sat & 9.00am Sun) through
Lunch: until
Dinner: 11.00pm (11.30pm Sat & 10.30pm Sun)
Accepted credit cards
Visa, Master Card, American Express