Some restaurants are built for evenings. The Ivy works just as well in daylight.
We stopped in recently for lunch, and the midday setting suited the room surprisingly well. That signature elegance — warm without being formal — carries through perfectly in the afternoon. If anything, the natural light made it feel a little more relaxed than an evening visit might.
Service was exactly what you’d expect from The Ivy – attentive, unhurried, and genuinely warm without anyone making a performance of it. The kind of lunch where you don’t feel rushed toward the door the moment the plates are cleared.
What We Ate
Lunch here runs £34.95 for two courses or £41.95 for three — The Ivy Edition menu, developed by Group Executive Chef Mark Askew. It’s a curated mix of timeless classics and more contemporary dishes, built around careful sourcing and flavours that actually make an impression. Good value for what lands on the table.
Starters set the tone well. The Heirloom Tomatoes with sherry vinegar dressing were a natural fit for a daytime meal — fresh, clean, properly seasonal. The Robata grilled chicken skewers with peanut satay sauce were the highlight of the two. Perfectly cooked, punchy with flavour. The sort of dish that makes you wish you’d ordered a second round.
Mains held up just as well.
The Roasted Salmon Supreme — tenderstem broccoli, pink peppercorn hollandaise — was exactly right for a lunch plate. Light enough not to weigh you down for the afternoon, but rich enough to feel like a proper meal. The hollandaise complemented rather than dominated. Across the table, the Yellowfin Tuna Steak with leaf spinach and peppercorn sauce was cooked precisely as it should be. Not easy to pull off consistently. They managed it.
Both dishes were beautifully presented without any fussiness about it.
To Finish
The Paris-Brest — almond and hazelnut cream, warm chocolate sauce — was indulgent without being the kind of dessert you regret at 2pm. The cheese plate rounded things off perfectly; a savoury finish that made the whole meal feel considered rather than just assembled.
A bottle of Whispering Angel from Château d’Esclans ran through the seafood courses. Classic pairing, and a classic for good reason.
Worth Booking?
Absolutely. What The Ivy does consistently well is make a meal feel like an occasion without making you feel like you need one. The lunch service delivers exactly that — quality food, a room that earns its reputation, and staff who seem to actually enjoy the job.
We left already planning a return. If you’re considering it, check The Ivy Edition menu and book ahead. Midday or evening, it holds up.
