Last week, we celebrated a whole new chapter in the lockdown easing phase: indoor dining was back!!
Out of solidarity for the catering sector as well as to make up for the last few weeks when we all braved darkness, coldness, and rain when eating at a restaurant, I jumped at the chance to book a romantic lunch with my hubby!
I chose a venue that is perfect to make you feel far away from the capital and provides top-notch food and service.
Today, DOYOUSPEAKLONDON takes you to The Ivy Café, in Richmond.

The Ivy Collection Restaurants

I discovered the Ivy restaurants quickly after settling in London. I went several times to The Ivy Chelsea Garden, the Chelsea branch, which is certainly the most Instagrammable of all the Ivy venues with its stunning seasonable displays…

The first Ivy restaurant in Covent Garden celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2017. The Ivy collection is made of brasseries and cafés. The former ones offer “extensive all-day menus featuring the best of modern British dishes in a relaxed dining atmosphere” and the latter “a more informal yet still stylish experience and are located only in London neighbourhoods known for their chic village-style environs”.
Today, the collection counts 16 venues in London, 18 in the rest of England, 1 in Ireland, 2 in Scotland, and 1 in Wales.
The common things between all these venues are the unique interior design, the outstanding food, and the impeccable staff.

The Ivy Café Richmond

We got lucky with the weather and arrived in-between two rainfalls, which allowed me to admire the venue from the outside and take pictures of the perfect symmetric entrance.
What struck you most when stepping inside this place is the vibrant tropical colours everywhere.

These green, yellow, blue and orange colours from floor to ceiling completely absorb your attention and you are drawn to every piece of decoration around you.

Another unmissable component of The Ivy’s identity: the smiles on every staff member’s lips. From the start, we knew we would be in good hands!

Exquisite lunch at The Ivy Richmond

We did not have much time on this weekday, but apart from waiting a bit before the starter was served (giving us more time to peep around though!), our lunch (with a shared starter, 2 mains and a shared dessert) was quietly savoured within the time schedule and without any rush.

We chose a starter from the all-day menu: the “bang bang chicken” was just the perfect option as we really appreciated the combination of tasty chicken with the peanut dressing spiced with some chilly, and the crispy vegetables.
Then we opted for a steak tartare and a Seabream, which were both delicious and well-presented.
We had a few yummy chips to accompany these meals and really enjoyed our treats!
On the desserts menu, we had almost tried everything so far and we were looking for new sensations. This is how we ended up selecting a crème brulée (vanilla custard with a caramelised sugar crust), which I had not eaten for ages so I was pleased to reconnect with a classic of French Cuisine. And it went down very well!! The only regret was to have shared it 🙂

I hope you’ve enjoyed this post and found inspiration here. If you are planning to visit The Ivy Richmond soon, please share your experience and opinion on DOYOUSPEAKLONDON’s blog!

To go further:
The Ivy Collection restaurants website
The Ivy Chelsea Garden website
The Ivy Café Richmond: 9-11 Hill St, Richmond TW9 1SX

“Menus feature modern British dishes drawn from The Ivy’s own extensive menu and offer afternoon tea, brunches or a three-course meal.

Restaurants are open seven days a week offering a full service from breakfast through to dinner. Each restaurant also has a dedicated number of unreserved tables available throughout the day offering everyone the chance to enjoy a little taste of The Ivy’s glamour, whatever the occasion”.