Last year we started a tradition of taking the family to the IVY in Leeds and we love it. The place is beautiful and the service and food are excellent. We even had the same server as last year, Rogene., who remembered us the second we arrived!
Drinks here are fund and I ordered the Bloodflowers Margarita which has a blood flower in it and is made with Olmeca Altos Plata Tequila, St. Germain Elderflower, blood orange and lime. I was surprised when it came with a sugared rim, but Rogene fixed that real fast. The Mango Coladas were a hit as were an Aperol Spritz and Chocolate Espresso Martini.
Our white wine was a Vermentino 2020 Funtana Liras from Sardinia and we had the same red as last year(different vintage) 2020 Douro Tinto from Quinttado Vallado in Portugal as we loved it so much.
The Ivy makes an awesome Steak Tartare, a beautiful Prawn Cocktail and a wonderful Crispy Duck Salad with 5 spice dressing, toasted cashews, watermelon, bean sprouts and more. Starters always win here.
The Korean Glazed Chicken came with pickled mooli, sesame avocade and jalapeno sauce as well as citrus mayo. The Shepherd's Pie is a beautiful creation of lamb & beef with red wine sauce and cheddar mash on top, while the Chicken Milanese is a brioche-crumbed breast with a fried egg on top and a truffle cream sauce that was divine, even if the chicken was a tad dry. The steak was a 21-day Himalayan salt-aged sirloin and it was fatty and gristly and got sent back -- we were not charged. Again, great service!
Creme Brulee here is excellent with Almond & Blueberry Panna Cotta in a Limoncello Sauce also making a nice impression. The Pedro Ximinez Bodega Alvear "Solera 1927" is a nice dessert wine if you want one--and we do.
We were super happy, save for the steak, and that was rectifying with no issue.
The Ivy will se us back again next year for sure, and there was a real cute waiter who was flirting with us as well, we returned the flirt--always appreciate that.
