Bitten were recently invited along to take a look at the summer menu at The Ivy. My mum had been wanting to go there for a meal for years now, so I thought this would be a perfect time for us to play dress-up for one night and spend some time together. I’ve been aware of The Ivy’s reputation for some time and on first impression, it did not disappoint.

Walking in, my jaw dropped at how utterly beautiful the place was. The walls were plastered in quirky paintings, there was greenery artfully scattered all over the place and I’m an absolute sucker for a black and white tiled floor. The atmosphere was buzzing; families celebrating graduations, couples marking anniversaries, and people in their (i presume) early 20s making the most of an otherwise dull Tuesday night. I instantly knew we’d be in for a great night.

Our server Mollie was lovely, and bent over backwards all night to make sure we were well looked after and all our needs were catered for. I don’t think I’ve experienced such great service anywhere in a long time so props to her for outstanding hospitality. We started with a round of drinks, white wine for mum and virgin mojito for me which was refreshing and perfectly balanced, simple but artfully done, and just what I needed on this hot day.

To start, I had roasted tomato soup which was both rich and creamy, but light.

There was a real depth to the tomatoes and their sweetness was counteracted by the saltiness of the vegan feta, which eventually melted into a pool of oozing indulgence.

The toasted seeds made a nice change to stale and bland croutons, providing a satisfying crunch amongst the smooth pool of red. My mum opted for Tempura Prawns which were perfectly fried, not greasy, and retaining their integrity. Previously, I have been served Tempura swimming in the oil they were fried in, the batter becoming limp in the process. This was not the case here. A squeeze of lemon and refreshing cucumber salad rounded everything out by providing some freshness amongst the deep frying.

Now for the mains of which we ordered a plethora of things to share.

There was a sirloin steak, requested to be medium-rare and arrived as such; beautifully pink on the inside. It was not chewy or gristly, and you could taste the quality. It was cut easily with the knife and melted in the mouth, smothered in a good amount of bearnaise sauce.

There was also some tenderstem broccoli which was al dente and vivid green, a tomato salad that tasted of what can only be described as summer on a plate, some freshly cracked salt, and a light vinaigrette to complement their ripeness.

the chips were chunky, salty and crisp and were used to mop up the plate. Finally, there was an avocado and roasted red pepper cocktail, scooped up by raw pieces of endive and spooned into the mouth in (rather large) mouthfuls. The sauce was spicy and worked in equilibrium with the fattiness of the avocado. The only thing I’d like to see is a crostini or more of those seeds from the starter as once my endive had run out, the whole dish was very much one texture throughout and would benefit from something to break it up.

At this point, a round of Ivy Royales arrived.

You could really taste the hibiscus and rosewater infused into the gin, although it was not perfumey or overwhelming. The vermouth brought a lovely dryness and then the whole thing was topped with champagne; what’s not to love?

The dessert menu was accepted with open arms and big grins.

I had my eyes on the almond and blueberry panna cotta and, upon being informed by Mollie that this was her favourite, I was quickly sold. The panna cotta itself was like silk in the mouth, coated in blueberries which were doused in limoncello to counteract what could have otherwise been an overly-sweet dessert. The almond biscuit on top was so tasty and reminded me of a gingersnap you’d get around Christmas. I raved about this so much that Mollie brought me one in a Tupperware to take home, it lasted so much as the walk to the bus stop.

My mum had the chocolate bomb, which arrived with a little theatre, much to her enjoyment. The smile on her face was worth a thousand words; like a child in a sweet shop for the first time. She said it reminded her of a Mars Bar; something I don’t think she’s actually had in years. A few moments later both plates looked as though they’d seen the dishwasher.

A couple of coffees rounded out the meal and we took a rather slow walk back to the bus, both agreeing that it was indeed a night of pure indulgence and what felt like luxury.

We were made to feel so welcomed and comfortable, and the food and drinks were delicious. If you’re looking for somewhere to celebrate an occasion, or a group gathering, then I highly recommend the Ivy. They have something to cater to every taste and the staff go above and beyond to make sure they live up to their reputation of a first-class establishment.

The Ivy, Oxford
120-121 High St, Oxford OX1 4DF
theivyoxford.com

Bitten were invited along as guests of the Ivy, all views remain our own.