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The Ivy Kensington Brasserie London Tripadvisor Reviews
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30 Reviews
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Horrible service
Sat at bar being ignored for :20 not getting drinks till :30. Our waiter was surly and rude. We had to ask for water multiple times, ask him to take empty wine glasses, ask to order….the service was the absolute worst ever.
Be the first to ReplyTerrible cold food & poor customer service
We visited The Ivy Kensington for breakfast on Mother’s Day which was terrible & completely spoiled our morning we arrived & received a warm welcome by the hosts at the front desk but it all went downhill from there. We were seated fairly near the bar & close to one of the staff till areas so could hear staff conversations constantly. We waited around 15 minutes for our host to take our drinks order when the drinks finally arrived they were cold so it was more like iced tea than hot breakfast tea the milk was missing & we had to ask 3 times for milk. we ordered our breakfast which took around 30 minutes for the first one to arrived it had one piece of bacon & again was cold the toast arrived cold, black & without butter the other 2 breakfast arrived around 10 minutes later again cold plus items missing & cold burnt toast with no butter one of the breakfasts a full English arrived with several items missing when questioned the lady who we assume was the manager was arguing that we ordered it this way due to an allergy which was not the case after a 5 minute argument she agreed to order the missing items which arrived around 20 minutes later by this stage the first half of the breakfast had been eaten & everyone else had finished their food there was no apologies at any stage & we heard the senior staff member & our host complaining about us behind us which is very unprofessional & extremely rude. When the bill arrived the items that were missing from the full English had been charged to our bill when we questioned this it was another big deal for them to correct the bill. It was a horrible experience long waits, cold food, cold tea, missing food items, terrible customer service , unprofessional staff I would not return or recommend this branch absolutely dreadful I really don’t understand how it takes so long to make cold hot drinks & food & when mistakes are made the staff want to argue then stand behind you bad mouthing you & charge you extra for their mistake customer service & food quantity need huge improvement.
Be the first to ReplyForced early morning visit to the barbers .....!
My rating is really 3.5. 2 x negative comments that in some ways spoilt a good Breakfast . 1. The online booking for Breakfast made us have to arrive at 8.30 am today .No other times where available .Ok.... we booked .Turned up and the restaurant had less than 15 people at 8.30 and no more than 26 by 9.45 am. It was very very quiet .So why not able to make a booking for later than 8.30am. Feels like the online system cheated us . 2. The manager needs to inform staff that the small till ,service area as you enter is NOT a bathroom and to see a member of staff rubbing both hands through his hair etc styling it when Leaning over food service items and then with no hesitation continue to serve customers food using his hands is not exactly nice . CCTV will show it happening I am sure and if in doubt , he has a "Kiss " tattoo on his neck . Food was fine. Staff lovely (as usual ) Coffee perfect for that time of the morning .
Be the first to ReplyNot really up to standard
When I booked our table online for four of us to dine here (to celebrate 2 big birthdays) I asked for a nice table in the notes section of the booking online. This was completely overlooked as they put us on a table which was right next to the ladies toilets, just across from the kitchens and right next to a till area where there was a constant stream of staff flapping around us. Speaking of staff, there seemed to be lots walking around but not actuallly doing much. We waited an absolute age to get our drinks and then one of them, the Bloody Mary cocktail, had so much spice and worcestershire sauce in it, it was like drinking vinegar. We sent that back and got a replacement (which again took an age) only to find that the second Bloody Mary was like drinking a glass of tomato juice, no zing, no spice at all and certainly no vodka. We all belived that somebody behind the bar was having a joke with us. We didn't want to make any more of a fuss than had already been made, this was supposed to be a celebratory meal. The food is ok. Beware that any main course you choose is most likely not to include any vegetables - so half an aubergine that is aready £18 then needs a small bucket of fries with it, another £5+ so it ends up being quite an expensive vegetarian dish! Would we go again? I doubt it.
Be the first to ReplyLunch
Really nice place. The front of the house was really Welcome and helpful. The waiter was really kind . We definitely will come back
Be the first to ReplyExcellent cocktails & a Good menu
The food never fails to satisfy & impress & the cocktails are excellent. The back terrace is wonderful for afternoon tea
Be the first to ReplyLondon weekend with family
Lovely food but service not very attentive. Had to keep asking for the wine to be poured since it was not placed adjacent to our table. Very noisy and tables packed too close together.
Be the first to ReplyA bit of a disaster
Read a review that food arrived before pre dinner drinks, thought, oh dear, but that’s exactly what happened to us. Had to send food back so we could enjoy our drinks. Ordered desserts and cheese that just didn’t turn up. Left disappointed that the Ivy brand is becoming so debased. Was offered complimentary desserts - refused - and removed service charge from bill. On a brighter note, the shepherds pie was good.
Be the first to ReplyBirthday dinner
The restaurant has a lovely feel of Bohemian French meets Victorian, with plush seating, a great ambiance, and charming staff. The service was excellent and the food divine. Try the salted sourdough absolutely delicious. We all enjoyed our meals. The chicken Milanese is really good value. The waiter also checked if it was a special occasion at the beginning of the meal and my husband whose birthday it was brought a birthday treat of a chocolate profiterole. The restaurant is convenient to hotels in the area. We will definitely go back next time we are in London.
Be the first to ReplyWhere to begin
My dining experience was comprehensively bad except for the poor harried and untrained, but lovely staff who were trying to deal with the failings of this restaurant. To start with we ordered cocktails and the bar tender clearly did not have a clue of how to prepare a basic cocktail. The restaurant is French - it is called a brasserie - and they did not know the difference between a Kir and Kir royale - one of the most famous French drinks so I got a glass of cassis without wine. After teacing them what a kir is we finally got one- albeit with too much cassis to my liking. Subsequently every wine we ordered was ultimately unavailable - we had to change every single order of wine as it was unavailable. Each time it took alot of time to tell us that. Trainees of which there were many were completely unhelpful because they aren’t trained - they were standing around kinda just having fun with each other. Even though they are trainees they need to be told to be effective on a basic level - not just indicate they can’t do anything otherwise they should not be on the floor - they represent the restaurant so should at least be able to get help. Now to the food - we mostly ordered the special - the cod fillet. It came and was practically inedible but we did because we were so hungry. There was so much horse radish on it it took your head off and the fish completely dried out. We all got mash potatoes which we actually hadn’t ordered but thank goodness because we could mix it to take down the heat. The potatoes that came with the special were suppose to be smashed potatoes which is a specific recipe but the ones we got were simply boiled potatoes cut up. As for the mashed we got in addition the waitress confirmed they were complimentary (too right) as we hadn’t ordered them. Later when we told the poor woman (lovely woman) that the food was terrible they offered us some free desserts. Okay and we were gracious for the sake of the staff but this is a restaurant in trouble which is ruining the reputation of the overall ivy brand - I’ve gone to the main restaurant several times but I feel if this is the level of service and food in their many branches I have to believe overall standards have gone down. The branch is an expensive restaurant and should not be this terrible - a big mistake. I will never go to one again.
Be the first to ReplyA nice treat! But....
As a family we dined there on Friday night, we booked in advance and when we turned up we only had to wait for 5 mins for our table. The host/s were very pleasant at the door. The table was nice and the atmosphere overall was good. The drinks came fast and the food was really superb, I had salmon fillet and a side of spinach, it was the biggest, best cooked piece of fillet I'd had for a long time. My son and husband had the Monkfish curry and they loved that too. We couldnt fault the food. The only thing that let it down for us and our experience was our waitress. She looked rather snooty and had an attitute. She was fairly abrupt and didn't smile, She served us fast but it was like we were a pain in her rear, and she just wanted us gone! Even when we paid the bill (and reluctantly the already added tip), she didn't even make eye contact as she walked away.. no smile or thank you, just rude and unengaging. So shame..we would of enjoyed it more if we had had another waiter/ess!
Be the first to ReplySlow Service
We came the other night on a date at our reserved time and were told we had to wait at the bar until our table was ready, the girl, Jennifer, who escorted us was lovely and reassured us that as soon as a table was ready she would come get us. I could tell the staff were stressed and it took ages to get our drinks. More people were sat at the bar waiting for tables until eventually a table finally opened up and she quickly laid it out for us and took our drinks over. After that we had to wait ages again for someone to come over and take our order, even though we saw what seemed like the higher up staff standing around at the back chatting away while the rest of the staff were doing everything in mid chaos. Our food was worth the wait and we shared a very generous portion of zucchini fries which were delicious! If it wasn’t for the extremely slow service and overbooking of the place we would have enjoyed our evening much more.
Be the first to ReplyA lovely treat
Good, attentive service. Beautiful surroundings and delicious food! Thank you for being so patient with the baby too.
Be the first to ReplyDisappointing experience
We booked well in advance for a birthday meal but the reception was as if we were unexpected. Given a table right at the rear of the room near the toilets. Service was initially prompt but tailed off into non existence as the meal progressed. The food was a bright spot - good curry and blackened cod. Unable to have a dessert as the slow service meat that we were in danger of missing our train.
Be the first to ReplyAppalling experience
I was not going to bother to add a review but reading about the other awful experiences written here made me change my mind. We arrived at The Ivy Kensington late Sunday afternoon. The music was extremely loud and we asked if it could be turned down. The waiter informed us very stiffly that it was at the normal level. I then said in that case I didn't think we would stay. Instead of trying to offer another seat in a quieter location or even just apologising and behaving pleasantly the waiter stared at me coldly, snapped: "Well, do you what you want," and then immediately turned on his heel. In all my years of eating at The Ivy, or of eating in any restaurant I have never experienced such repellant behaviour. It seems to tie in with the other reports here. I shall certainly never be going to The Ivy again.
Be the first to ReplyDreadful experience
I came there on my way home after waiting for my husband to come out of surgery for 5 hours, was craving a good steak with a glass of red wine. Asked for a cocktail before my meal. The cocktail came together with my steak which tasted like a meat cooked two days before and warmed in a microwave, and cost just under £30. Once I finished my steak the waiter asked politely if I wanted my wine now, somehow I refused. I asked for a cheese selection menu, waited for about 15 minutes, and decided that enough was enough. Now, my husband who frequented the Ivy for business lunches for years is not coming back, neither is my son. I'll make sure that all my friends are informed accordingly.
Be the first to ReplyTremendous service
Eight of us had the most enjoyable evening as we had exceptional service and delicious food.The service was extremely efficient and quick .Mikele was very attentive but also discreet so that we could speak without interruptions. It was a great success.
Be the first to ReplyVegetarians avoid !
I have just left the ivy after an extremely disappointing meal . I have been a vegetarian for 30 years , I was happy to have a great choice of food at the Ivy . I chose an Asian salad for starter which was lovely , i then chose a Malaysian curry for my main course . I started to eat the curry , after several mouthfuls I found a big piece of fish in the curry , on further examination I realised there were several large pieces of fish in the “vegetarian “ curry . Returned food , staff apologetic but the damage was done and unfortunately ruined the evening. I’ve read reviews below and see that this has unfortunately happened before . It seems that the ivy need to train their staff more on basic food prep ! Disappointing in any restaurant but shocking in somewhere like the ivy . Will not be visiting again !
Be the first to ReplyBuzzing
Vibrant atmosphere, slick and cheerful staff serving a most enjoyable meal at a reasonable cost. Will certainly visit here again
Be the first to ReplyAvoid if you are a vegetarian
I visited the Kensington branch with my family for an early dinner and ordered the Keralan Sweet Potato Curry. The service was slow, and when our meals eventually arrived a plate was put in front of me that was clearly not sweet potato curry. It appeared to be a curry containing fillets of grey meat. I immediately told the waiter that there had been a mistake and this was not what I ordered, emphasising that I am vegetarian. His reaction was quite bizarre. Rather than taking the plate away immediately and apologising as I would expect, he said "it is the right meal". I then said, okay, please explain where in the description of this curry on your menu which includes sweet potato, choy sum, broccoli and coriander is this substance, he shrugged and said he didn't know, but it definitely wasn't meat. Again, we asked, if it's not meat, what is it? And he had no idea. Eventually after this exchange went on for much longer than it should have he went to find a colleague - and I stress this - leaving the plate of meat in front of me, despite me telling him I'm vegetarian. His colleague appeared, was equally vague but at least removed the dish and said he would re-order for me. The rest of my party ate their meals, I sat there waiting, then eventually the waiter appeared again and put a plate in front of me. I'm sure you can image my indignation when I looked down to see it was, once again, the fillets of grey meat. Once again, we had to ask for it to be removed, once again the waiting staff appeared totally baffled - as if it had not been them themselves who had taken the order, entered it into the till, and carried it from the kitchen to our table - twice. I did not expect to have to have a long conversation with the waiting staff explaining the difference between a sweet potato and a fillet of meat (which eventually transpired to be duck) and I certainly didn't expect to have to wait over an hour to eventually be served the meal I ordered. The unapologetic nature of the waiting staff really was something to behold. As our original waiter finally took away the second plate of meat he said "What are the chances?" From the look of things, fairly high, if you work in a restaurant and don't know what a sweet potato is. It's one thing to be served a plate of meat when you've ordered a vegetarian meal. It's another to then be accused by the staff of not knowing what meat is with a suggestion I should be quiet and eat what I'm given. It is quite another for this to happen twice. Having been a vegetarian for 30 years I appreciate that mistakes happen. In all my years of eating out, I have never witnessed such an appalling display of customer service - and this includes at institutions who are not charging £16 for a curry. I would have thought that The Ivy would provide its staff with some basic training, say, the content of the menus, or for example, what meat is. Clearly not. I contacted the restaurant to complain about my experience and they ignored my email. I then chased this and they again ignored my email. Terrible experience and customer service all around - avoid!
Be the first to ReplyLovely lunch!
We had an excellent lunch at Ivy Brasserie Kensington!. Good choices on set menu andgreat value. Very busy vibe but service was excellent throughout!
Be the first to ReplyBirthday lunch
I was taken out for lunch today for my birthday in this restaurant that I’ve never been to before. I’ve only been to the Ivy in Covent Garden and the Ivy Asia in St Paul’s; both being so much better than this. Initially the service taking the order was very good but when it came to getting the food it took a very long time for it to arrive when it did arrive the tender stem broccoli was ice cold the Bernaise sauce had a skin on it and the steak was cold too. The sourdough bread that was ordered by my friend as a starter to go with her bang bang chicken didn’t arrive until we questioned it and arrived with the main course. No one bothered to check up on us and see if we need any more drinks or anything else, they were too busy and I assume not enough staff. We initially thought that the length of time it took for the food to come was so that people drink more but we couldn’t even get hold of a member of staff to actually order the drinks. We didn’t bother with the desserts as didn’t want to wait an excessive period of time for them so ended up getting deserts elsewhere. I did tell the manager on the way out but what are you gonna do. He said thanks for telling him but not rushing back here. I am unsure if all Ivy restaurants are this bad but this experience has put me off wanting to find out. Birthday lunch ruined!
Be the first to ReplyObnoxious hostess and rude staff - stay away
Had a horrible experience there today for Mothers Day. Obnoxious two women on the front door. Was struggling to get my elderly parents in through the heavy front doors as the two young women stood there watching on, laughing and gossiping among themselves. They put our table in the corner where my elderly mother could not access at all. We were told to 'live with it as it busy due to mothers day'. Awful staff. It is clearly ageist - they do not want any elderly folks to go to dine there. It was clear they wanted us to move elsewhere. Horrible people.
Be the first to ReplyDon’t have the set meal
As with other reviewers we asked to be moved from the entrance as you get customers and staff constantly brushing past you which is irritating, noisy and cold.
We did get moved thankfully. We ordered set lunch comprising of Goats Cheese starter followed by Salmon. Here we see the results of extreme portion control! Goats cheese was less than 1cm thick with a few blobs of something and the bread looked like it was shaved off a loaf it was so thin. The small salmon fillet came with a few bits of some kind of vegetable but again very small amount. There were no carbs at all. A potato might have been nice but obviously way too expensive!
I came to this restaurant last summer and the difference is remarkable and not in a good way! I will not be back.
DO NOT book the set meal if you want to feel satisfied. It’s a complete rip-off!
Lovely restaurant, poor service
Visited for first time ever whilst in London with my daughter and had always wanted to visit one of the Ivy restauraunts.
We arrived 30 mins early and asked if we could just have a drink first but we were directed straight to our table. We prdered a coctail each which were delicious but my vodka based pear one was tiny..served in a small martini glass and waiter spilled some so it was literally just a few ounces of drink making it extremely expensive.
We asked to just have bread with our drinks and order main course later but waiter wanted to take our order so we impressed upon him that we did not want our meal yet however just 10 mins later it arrived!
The food was really lovely and well presented, the vintage style of the restaurant was charming but we felt our waiter who once he realised we were not spending a fortune totally lost interest and his behaviour bordered on rude.
The restaurant manager was extremely charming and polite, the hostesses also polite and pleasant. It was only our waiter who had clearly decided that we were not the kind of customers he wanted. After decling dessert we were totally ignored but the whole experience of ordering and eating took 45 mins max which was way too fast in this kind od establishment. Maybe if we had felt more welcome we would have stayed and purchased more drinks or a dessert. Lovely meal but overally experience no so much.