In 1917 The Ivy first opened its doors on West Street in London’s West End, and since then it's become synonymous with exceptional service and food.

I remember when I worked in London meeting with colleagues for a quick bite to eat before going on to review a West End show.
It has a sort of magic about it and you never know who you would see in there, as it was a favourite with theatre land celebrities, politicians and, in fact, the great and the good.

So it was hardly any wonder when the Ivy spread its wings and started to open outside London that there was an element of excitement.

In 2018 The Ivy opened in Leeds and became the hottest dining ticket in town, an accolade it still retains today.

Set in the Victoria Quarter with a beautifully designed terrace on Vicar Lane, this stylish establishment with its nod to the Victorian era with its décor and potted palms couldn’t be in a better place.

As you enter by the heavy wooden doors, you sense its exclusive appeal with its marble-tiled floors and eclectic mix of décor and its wonderfully choreographed tables with starched white cloths, gleaming cutlery and sparkling glassware.

Despite its large number of covers, you never feel crushed or overpowered by other diners, as the tables are expertly choreographed, giving lots of different areas whilst still retaining a feel of space and privacy.

The Ivy experience is one to be savoured and begins the moment the receptionist takes your coat and escorts you to your table.
It was a cool rainy night when we visited the Ivy, but the welcome could not have been warmer.

We opted for The Ivy Edition Menu, a carefully curated menu selected by the chefs and guided by the season which offers both a two- and three-course option.

For my starter I chose the Severn & Wye smoked salmon, which came accompanied by a very pleasant dark rye bread. The portion of salmon was large consisting of three pieces, and flavoursome, but the starter could have benefitted from a little garnish.

My colleague chose the stracciatella with black bee honey, croutons and bitter leaves, which was a very interesting vegetarian starter.

The honey was a pleasant contrast to the richness of stracciatella. The bitter leaves were dressed with a very pleasant buttery vinaigrette dressing that really impressed.

For the main, I opted for the 8oz grilled beef sirloin. The steak was cooked to perfection exactly the way I requested it. The meat was succulent and tender, and the bearnaise sauce was smooth and tasty. I loved the triple-cooked chips, which were hot and just as they should be: crispy outside and fluffy inside.

My colleague opted for the Keralan vegetable curry. It was very mild and creamy with so many different vegetables, including sweet potato, broccoli, butter beans and tomato, and all were cooked well, making the dish very tasty. The basmati rice was the perfect accompaniment to this vegetarian curry.

As we had opted for the three-course menu, our dessert choice took some deliberation.

My colleague decided on the Apple tart with Calvados caramel and vanilla ice cream. The dish was served warm and, again, was a large portion. The apple was thinly sliced, and the pastry was light and crispy, with the Calvados caramel adding a third taste dimension to the dish.

I took a voyage of dessert discovery and ordered the Paris-Brest. This was a pastry filled with almond and hazelnut cream and was just so light – it had really been made in the angels' kitchen. My heaven on a plate was topped off with a warm chocolate sauce, giving it that real Ivy magic.

The Ivy also has an à la carte menu, a lunch and breakfast menu and serves afternoon tea. It is open seven days a week, but for time of last food orders, check their website.

Mon/Tues/Wed: 8.30 to 11.30; Thurs/Fri/Sat: 8.30 to 12 midnight; Sunday 8.30 to 11pm

The Ivy Victoria Quarter, Vicar Lane, Leeds LS1 6BA
Telephone: 0113 388 6222