The new Golden Summer menu at The Ivy offers Mediterranean-inspired dishes in a setting that always feels like an occasion.
Available Monday to Friday and Sundays until 4.30pm, the two-course summer inspired menu (£19.95) offers meat, fish and vegetable options with flavours for every palate.
As per usual, we struggled to decide which of the dishes to choose and so, to avoid food envy, we decided to pick different dishes and share.
To start, we ordered the Golden Fried Calamari and the Croquettes de Lapin. The calamari was a real highlight: perfectly crisp, with a spicy chilli glaze, and a refreshing cool lime crème fraîche underneath that balanced the heat beautifully. Whilst the flavours were punchy, they didn’t overwhelm the delicate calamari and set me up for a great lunch.
The rabbit croquettes were an adventurous choice for my ‘safe eating’ dining companion, but we were both pleasantly surprised. The croquettes had a satisfyingly crisp exterior, giving way to a rich, creamy confit rabbit filling. Whilst the rabbit flavour was subtle (probably for the best on this occasion), the French mustard sauce was just hot enough to complement the croquettes well. It is also always nice to have something to dip into.
For our main courses, I chose the Flamed Halloumi with Golden Grains. The halloumi itself was excellent: beautifully charred with just the right balance of crispness and softness. It has been a while since I’ve had sliced halloumi, and it did not disappoint. The warm coral lentils, toasted pine nuts and salsa verde went
well with the halloumi, although I felt there were perhaps one too many competing flavours. I also craved some crunchy bread to eat with the dish – the sourdough that our neighbouring table enjoyed probably had a lot to account for this.
Having looked at the menu again after lunch, I suspect the chicken with capers and citrus crème fraîche might have been the dish I’d have enjoyed more, but I’ll save it for my next visit.
My dining companion opted for the Tranche Steak and Chips, served with a classic peppercorn sauce. The steak carries a £6.95 supplement on the set menu, and while it certainly delivered those unmistakable summer barbecue flavours, it wasn’t quite as impressive as we’d hoped. The real stars of the plate were the chips, which were genuinely outstanding – perfectly crisp, fluffy inside and impossible to stop eating. I’m glad the portion was generous as I gratefully shared the chips, too. The rich peppercorn sauce was another standout, adding plenty of flavour to every bite and offered a fab dipping option for those awesome chips.
Although we were completely satisfied after two courses, I couldn’t help eyeing the Iced Berries and Hot White Chocolate dessert. Chilled summer berries with yoghurt ice cream and fresh lemon balm sounded like the perfect refreshing finish to a warm summer lunch, and it’s firmly on the list for next time.
Having previously visited The Ivy York for breakfast in the spring, it was lovely to return and experience the restaurant at lunchtime in the summer. This time, the atmosphere couldn’t have been more different. Rather than the peaceful breakfast service, today the restaurant was buzzing with people celebrating birthdays, weddings and summer get-togethers. This made the restaurant feel alive and vibrant – which complemented The Ivy’s iconic interiors and historic artwork.
Whilst we reviewed the menu and waited for our dishes, we enjoyed admiring the historic York-inspired paintings and decorative details throughout the restaurant – even the bathrooms are beautifully designed.
The service at The Ivy was impeccable. From the moment we arrived, we were warmly welcomed and looked after throughout our meal. Drinks and food arrived promptly despite the restaurant being busy, and every member of staff we encountered was friendly, attentive and professional.
The quality of the dishes, the lively atmosphere and the consistently excellent service made for a thoroughly enjoyable lunch.
Photography by Gemma Bridge.
Gemma’s review of The Ivy breakfast is here.
