The Ivy On The Square has been a firm favourite of Hidden Edinburgh’s since it first arrived on St Andrew Square in 2017, and when we were kindly asked along to sample their set menu which is running along side the Government’s Eat out to Help out Scheme, how could we say no! Read on to discover more about how The Ivy on the Square has created the perfect post-lockdown dining experience in Edinburgh.
Covid 19 and Hygiene
Upon arrival at the restaurant’s reception desk, your temperature is scanned using a futuristic looking electronic thermometer. It takes a picture of you and up flashes your temperature. We passed the check!
All staff wear a stylish black cotton face mask, tables have been arranged to offer diners plenty of space and bottles of sanitiser (which I must add are very gentle on your skin) are located on every table.
Menu
The restaurant continues to offer a great choice of delicious dishes, you can pick from their full daily à la carte, or their Monday to Friday set menu, but if you are looking for unbelievable value for money, their We Are Taking Part menu cannot be beaten!
The We’re Taking Part menu is running throughout August – Monday to Wednesday from 11.30am till Close. It costs £30 for two courses and £35 for three courses – and the £10 off government discount is applied automatically, taking two courses down to £20 and three to £25!!
The Menu is concise with three starters, four mains and three desserts and includes vegetarian options too.
Starters
We opted for the Yellowfin Tuna Carpaccio and the Laverstoke Park Farm Buffallo Mozzarella. The Tuna is served in thin slices that melt in the mouth, and is presented with a sprinkling of chopped cucumber and apple and mounds of spicy jalapeño and avocado sauce.
And the Mozzarella, which is almost like burrata – it was so soft and creamy. It’s dressed with grapes, chopped parsley, hazelnuts and mint, which balances the cheese beautifully.
Mains
For main course it was a simple choice! The Lobster Linguine and the Fillet Steak. The Beef Fillet comes cooked exactly as you request, with a crispy potato rosti, watercress and a gravy boat of fresh gravy. While the famous Ivy Lobster Linguine is a generous sized portion of pasta complete with lobster claws.
Dessert
Dessert was another show stopper, we picked the Chocolate Bombe, which comes as a round hollow ball of chocolate and theatrically your waiter will drizzle over salted caramel sauce over it which melts the chocolate and reveals the honeycomb centre. If you have a sweet tooth this is the dessert for you.
The Apple Tart is also theatrically dressed at your table with a burning Calvados flambe, which melts the ice cream slightly.
Drinks
The restaurant have a fantastic range of cocktails and wine and we opted for a couple of classic serves to start the evening followed by a bottle of their dry white.
Final Thoughts
We love The Ivy as a brand and this experience just reinforced how to do things right! They have taken many precautions to make the restaurant safe, it still has a great atmosphere and the food is wonderful and offers exceptional value with their current Eat Out To Help Out offer.
You can book in online using the link below.
Address: 6 St Andrew Square, Edinburgh EH2 2BD
Web: https://theivyedinburgh.com/
