The Ivy York Review – The Best Restaurants In York

Last Updated on 7th July 2023

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I’ve wanted to eat at The Ivy ever since it first came to York many months ago now, I just hadn’t gotten around to trying it out so I was incredibly excited when we headed there for dinner last Friday night.

Check out my review of The Ivy York below to see what I thought of our dining experience!

With it being a busy Friday night in York due to the York Races having a meet, we decided to book a table in advance to ensure we were able to eat there without any problems.

Once we arrived, we were very kindly greeted by the lovely members of staff who showed us to our table towards the rear of the restaurant. The ambience of the restaurant was incredibly warm and inviting and when we first arrived, the restaurant wasn’t too busy – although it very quickly filled up as the evening progressed.

The menu at The Ivy has a plethora of delicious options for you to choose from; from traditional Yorkshire pies to an abundance of fish dishes to steaks and salads aplenty – there really is something for everyone.

After perusing the menu, we both ordered our mains (deciding against a starter as we could already see that the portion sizes were pretty substantial) and I opted for a Cosmopolitan cocktail (my absolute favourite) while Matt’s mum went for a glass of red wine.

Matt’s mum opted for the fish and chips for her main which looked almost as good as it tasted.

Every dish at The Ivy was beautifully presented and this one was no different; the chips were served in a silver cup while the mushy peas were housed in an adorable mini saucepan. The fish was wonderfully cooked and the batter was crisp and light without scrimping on the flavour. Homemade, thick-cut chips paired perfectly with the meal and the side salad and a huge pot of tartare sauce complemented the meal beautifully.

I certainly wouldn’t hesitate to order the fish and chips again when I next visit The Ivy; a simple, traditional English dish was transformed into a wonderful meal by the chefs at The Ivy and it really was an absolute delight to eat.

For my main, I went for something that I wouldn’t usually go for when eating out at a restaurant; the slow-roasted lamb shoulder. I’ve never really been the biggest fan of lamb dishes but after seeing it on the menu, I decided that I wanted to branch out and give it a whirl.

And I’m so bloody glad I did.

The shoulder of lamb coated in a mustard and herb crust accompanied by a bed of garlic mashed potato and fresh, spring vegetables was one of the best meals I’d had in a very long time. The lamb was cooked wonderfully, without a trace of fat on it and the mustard and herb crust added flavour to the meat without being too overpowering.

The mashed potato was tasty and creamy and made the perfect accompaniment for the rest of the meal. I was also pleasantly surprised to discover that not only did I eat all of the spring vegetables; I actually enjoyed them. If you’ve read my food posts before, you know I’m not really the biggest fan of veggies but the ones at The Ivy were absolutely lovely.

The dish was served with a helping of rosemary-infused gravy that paired wonderfully with the meat and really helped to bring out all the flavours of the meal. I couldn’t believe just how amazing this meal was and I would 100% recommend it to anyone looking for a slightly alternative meat dish whenever they visit The Ivy.

After our incredibly filling mains, we both decided we were too full for a huge dessert… that is until we saw the mini chocolate truffles with a decadent salted caramel centre.

We ordered a portion each as we knew they were only tiny and were presented with the most adorable set of six truffles on a beautiful green glass dish. I’ve always been a huge fan of chocolate truffles so I was thoroughly impressed to find that The Ivy’s offerings lived up to my expectations.

The salted caramel centre was thick and creamy and as they’d been refrigerated, the exterior of the truffle shell was just crunchy enough without breaking your teeth. They made for the perfect after-dinner dessert as they weren’t too filling at all; they were just the right amount of indulgence to finish our meal.

The Ivy’s flagship restaurant resides in London and is known as an incredibly luxurious and elegant chain of bespoke restaurants, so naturally, I was absolutely delighted when we finally got our very own in York! The Ivy also has a beautiful restaurant in Harrogate and there’s one opening up in Leeds very soon too!

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Have you ever been to the Ivy St Helen’s Square, York? Let me know in the comments or on Twitter at @imjustagirl_16.