With its glamorous surroundings, elegant dining room and relaxed atmosphere, The Ivy has always been a restaurant that understands the importance of making a meal feel like an occasion. Its Golden Summer menu embraces that philosophy, bringing a distinctly Mediterranean feel to the table with plenty of fresh, colourful flavours.
Available for two courses for £19.95, the menu is designed for leisurely lunches and offers a surprisingly generous selection for the price. The Ivy describes it as a celebration of Mediterranean cuisine, with sun-drenched classics given its familiar polished treatment.
The menu immediately sets the tone with tempting starters such as the heirloom tomato and watermelon salad, combining sweet, juicy fruit with plant-based cream, pistachios and Nocellara olives. It is exactly the kind of dish that makes sense in summer: light, colourful and refreshing without sacrificing flavour.
For something a little more indulgent, the Golden Fried Calamari provides plenty of crunch, while the Velouté de Petits Pois offers a softer, more comforting alternative. There is a pleasing balance throughout the choices, ensuring that the menu doesn’t become weighed down by rich sauces and heavy accompaniments.
The mains continue the Mediterranean theme. Pan-seared Mediterranean bass is a particularly appealing choice, bringing delicate fish and summery flavours together in a dish that feels both elegant and satisfying. The brioche-crumbed chicken escalope offers something more substantial, while the wider menu gives diners enough variety to make the experience feel like a proper à la carte selection rather than a restrictive set menu.
I started off with the Salt-crusted Sourdough Bread that came with salted butter – the warm bread was an excuse to nibble away as I observed my fellow diners, including a wedding reception who were on their way to the private dining room upstairs.
The Veloute de Petits Pois summer pea soup was thick and was ideal for dipping my sourdough bread into – even if I was in the grand setting of The Ivy I am sure no one would have minded.
A real French touch was the Tranche Steak and Chips accompanied by a classic French peppercorn sauce. If I closed my eyes I could have been eating the dish back in my favourite Parisian bistro. There is a small supplement for this main, though it was worth the extra £6.95.
My dessert of Iced Berries and Hot White Chocolate was served with a refreshing yoghurt ice cream and torn lemon balm. This very refreshing dessert was a brilliant way to end what had been an excellent dining experience.
The only slight drawback is that dessert comes at an additional £8.95, meaning diners looking for a full three-course experience will need to factor that into the final bill. But for two courses at £19.95, the Golden Summer offering represents an attractive way to experience The Ivy without committing to the prices of the full menu
And then there are the little touches that make The Ivy what it is. From the presentation to the polished service and the restaurant’s unmistakable sense of occasion, there is a theatrical quality to dining here without it ever becoming stuffy.
Ultimately, this is a summer menu that gets the important things right. It is fresh without being fussy, sophisticated without feeling overly formal and, most importantly, enjoyable.
The Ivy in York has created a menu that feels perfectly matched to the season. Add a sunny afternoon, a chilled drink and good company, and it becomes easy to see why this is the sort of lunch that can stretch well beyond the final mouthful.
The Ivy Golden Summer Menu is available Monday to Friday and Sunday until 4.30pm.
The Ivy, St. Helen’s Square, York YO1 8QP
If you missed the summer menu there is still plenty on offer!
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