The Ivy

I was reading an atrical in the Evening Standard last week about the Top Ten Restaurants in the World and how you would stand about getting a table. Only 3 were fully Sold Out. I'm not sure how far in advance the artical meant, they didnt state it, but it is true. The Ivy is one of London's most famous restaurants and indeed the proof is that it is frequented so often by the stars of stage and screen that the Papparazzi can often be seen hanging outside the entrance on West Street.

Sinead and I have for the past 9 years enjoyed our works Christmas Celebrations together but this year she had been poorly and both of us had work committments that meant that we had not had our Christmas 2007 meal in April 2008. Something had to change. So I asked Dusan if he could get us a table. Well if the Ivy is sold out and impossible to get a table I see ho harm in getting my husband to book one for me. He does work there after all.

The reservation was made and they confirmed the day before. They are so popular, you are only able to book a slot and have to vacate the table within 2.5 hours, unless you have the final sitting and want to be the last one in there.

Sinead and I met at Liverpool Street Station at 5:30 and went to the ST. Georges Public House in the Great Eastern Hotel for an apperitif before dinner. We then made our way to the Taxi Rank and jumped in a taxi asking for "The Ivy Please". Somehow you can almost smirk with satisfaction when you say that. The roads between the city and west end were grid locked and it took us about 25 minutes meaning we were about 10 minutes late for our reservation.

The doorman opened our taxi door, dressed in Top hat and tails and then held the door open as he welcomed us. We hung our jackets in the cloakroom and gave the receptonist our name. "Come right this way please", she said and we were immediately shown to our seats.

The restaurant was not full at this time, but by the time we had ordered a couple of drinks, Whiskey Sour for me and a Cosmopolitan for Sinead, all of the empty tables were about full.

We browsed the full menu. Starters, Soups, Game, Fish, Meat, Desserts. You could easily do a six course meal if you had more time.

We decided to go for a pre course of Oysters with onion Relish to begin then I took the Crab Bisque and Armanac followed by the House specialty of Cottage Pie and we shared a Baked Alaska in Kirche Liquor Cherries for dessert with Coffee, Water and a Glass of wine.

It was delishious, fabulous service buy some of the cutest waiting staff in town (I would be bias now wouldnt I?) and at a very fair price.

Of course it wouldnt be the Ivy if you didnt look around, wondering who you might spot that you know from a Film or Television and not far to our right was John Hannah from Four Weddings and a Funeral and then as I went to the bathroom there was Christopher Biggins in the Bar. When Kevin Bacon walked in it topped the night off and Sinead was in Utopia.

We had a fabulous night and what a way to spend a late Christmas Meal. Happy belated Chistmas. :-)