To think – just the previous night Julia Roberts dined here! That was about the limit of the appeal of this overrated place, which was all about people watching and serious staff attitude. We arrived on time for a 20:30 booking and were seated around 21:00. There was no bar - we were just left standing around, as were plenty of others. You can sit either out-doors or inside.
A soft-shell crab was pleasant enough but very plain, served with a bowl of “Cajun spices” on the side (11/20). A corn chowder soup was adequate but uninspiring (11/20). Grilled salmon was fair, served just with a baked potato (12/20), while a slab of tuna also turned out well from the mesquite grill, but with some appalling French fries that a low-end burger joint would have rejected.
The wine list was fairly priced e.g. Stags Leap Merlot at USD 55, but weak coffee and some cookies that came as a dessert were below shop standard. Pricey and purely for the “must-be-seen" crowd.
DAS
What an accurate review of Ivy! I have never understood why this place attracts the "A" List. It was so mediocre for the hype that I vowed never to return though I worked in the neighborhood.