The Ivy St Albans Brasserie in St Albans

We loved The Ivy at St Albans :) The food was really tasty - so many tempting options on the menu and the service was fantastic too! It was a meal to celebrate my birthday and the restaurant hadn’t known this until they saw me open a gift but surprised me with a chocolate profiterole dessert! Very kind. I would definitely like to visit again as we enjoyed such a pleasant evening, thank you!

I had the pleasure of dining at Ivy St Albans in October, and I can honestly say it was one of the best meals I've had in a long time. From the moment we walked in, the atmosphere was warm and inviting, lovely host lady in green jacket brought us to a table. The service was flawless—our server Anna was attentive without being forceful, offering excellent recommendations. for starter we had a roasted scallops and mozarella. The food—wow! Every dish we ordered was bursting with flavor and beautifully presented. The Peruvian chicken was a standout; the combination of quality and tastes was simply unforgettable. We also tried the Sticky Toffee Pudding, it was the best pudding I've ever had so far. I also appreciated the variety on the menu—there’s something for everyone, whether you have allergies or intolerances, or you are a foodie. The wine list was diverse, with something to pair perfectly with each course. My boyfriend had a glass of Pinoit Noir and I was staying with glass of Picpoul. I highly recommend St Albans Ivy for anyone looking for an outstanding dining experience.

Finding somewhere to eat on a Saturday lunchtime, with a group including a Vegetarian, a Coeliac and two people with serious food allergies can be an interesting proposition, but we decided to give The Ivy a try! I am so glad we did! We chose food from the main menu and the brunch menu and all found food that was really great. Recommendations would be Shepherds Pie and the Macaroni cheese, and for desert i would recommend the Nougat glace with cherries in flaming kirsh! So, the food was great, and the atmosphere was lovely, bright and relaxing, BUT i have to say a BIG thank-you to our wonderful server/waiter Drew (Andrew), who not only managed to deal with the allergies, was happy to give recommendations of what dishes to try and was also pretty handy with a chef's blow-torch! and all that with a friendly smile! Our lunch was enhanced by all the friendly staff, and we will definitely be back!

My daughter and I went for brunch , the staff were friendly, efficient and attentive. The food was good, and beautifully presented. We were given a celebration treat which was a nice surprise. Shelia was very friendly and made our visit feel special.

Fantastic dinner at the Ivy! Service was excellent, very attentive and the Peruvian chicken was delicious. We'll definitely be coming back!

Super attentive service amazing food . Love it

It was really good experience, I really enjoyed the time.The food and drinks were amazing.

Today's service was top-notch. Keep up the good work.

It was a lovely night out. Very expensive but the food was stunning. We visited for a birthday but you weren't allowed to decorate the table or to bring balloons, it's against their policy. On the website, the dress code is stated, but on the night we visited, it seemed you could turn up in jeans and trainers and still be permitted to eat?

Highly recommended. Service from Sheila was outstanding, she is a credit to the team

Lovely evening .I can't fault it. Great place. Food was delious.

Very tasty food. Went in a group with differing eating requirements / allergies and they catered well to all of us. Yummy cocktails. Good service. Can’t fault it

We visited on 06/05/24 for my husband’s birthday and were greeted by a very friendly maître d and served by the warm and attentive Sheila. There is also a very dapper young man who takes great pride in his job. As a team they have mastered the art of refined service without being stuffy, which is the perfect balance because you feel spoilt but not intimidated. Food wise, the pastry selection was absolutely stunning but my avocado was brown from oxidisation and the toast underneath it was soggy and cold. Also, the coffee isn’t really the best…I’d skip it unless you really need the caffeine. I felt like there were shortcuts being made in the kitchen on produce quality and food preparation, because the efforts on the other side of the door can compensate for the shortfalls. This creates a very confusing polarisation between the standard of the service and setting , and the food in front of you. Unfortunately on this visit, it also smelt very strongly of fresh fish, as if there had been a fishmongers delivery sitting around nearby. However, thanks to the efforts of the staff exclusively, I’ll be visiting again, but maybe for just cocktails this time…?

Absolutely loved our visit on Saturday for my boyfriends birthday lunch. Amazing food, and the service was impeccable. Special thank you to the lady at the front desk (sorry I didn't catch your name - red lipstick hair tied up ) for making our visit amazing. We got sat in an area that had enough space for our buggy. Can't wait to come back!

I come to St Albans often and Ivy’s is the best option. One specific reason is the lady called Sheila… she is absolutely amazing… welcoming… helpful…. Exactly what you’re looking from a server in the restaurant. Thank you Sheila… I wish there are more of you out there

Enjoyable meal with fantastic service, particularly from David & Sheila.

We celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary here and it will be a memory we will never forget. The Food was excellent but what made it even better was the amazing service we were given. We were made to feel very special and can't fault any part of our evening. Thank you x

A great place to have a birthday celebration and to celebrate 30 years of service for a colleague

First time at the Ivy and it won't be the last.Had a wonderful afternoon with friends food was superb, service was excellent looking forward to the next time.

Amazing lunch today with mum to celebrate, Sheila made us feel so good, special and welcomed. Great manners, professionalism and friendliness- thank you for all that and special thanks for a surprise desert ! Will be back soon

Came here after seeing a sign in town for Sunday roast, have been several times before but never for a roast. Service was really good (although my drink order was wrong) would usually give this a 5/5, however the Sunday roast was lacking. Beef was dry, Yorkshire pudding was cold (another table complained of the same) was not asking if I’d like condiments, not much gravy and the sweet potato had a strong vinegar taste. There was a really loud group, shouting and excited. It was a warm day and no air con, door was open, there was a couple of really annoying flies that kept landing on me. I would come back as usually it’s great but not for Sunday roast, plenty of great places in town that do it better.

We were greeted so very warmly by the hostess. The waiting staff were attentive and friendly without being too overbearing . They were also very observant to the needs of diners before a hand had even been waved . E.g " Are you cold ,would you like me to pull the window too?" When a diner was seen putting her cardigan on. Comfy chairs and relaxing surroundings,timely, efficient yet friendly service from all staff that attended to us . Our food was superb, delicious,soooo good ! Only one of us had desert ( my daughter,13) who enjoyed her chocolate bomb ,which magically melted when the sauce was poured over the top. The only downside if I had to pick something would be the cost of the deserts . Just a little too expensive for me unfortunately,but I treated my daughter and she loved hers !

I love the consistency of the food in the Ivy, and we weren’t let down last night. Service was inconsistent with some real professionals mixed with less experienced staff. Service was a bit quick more time between courses would’ve been appreciated.

Just had a wonderful celebrating our 28th wedding anniversary at The Ivy in St Albans Lovely food and a great relaxed atmosphere Our waitress Anna looked after us very well and even surprised us with an anniversary dessert Many thanks

Excellent experience all round. Staff were very attentive and polite, and the food was lovely. The sirloin steak was cooked perfectly, and the chocolate bombe was exquisite. Great atmosphere all evening. Cocktails we're great, we will certainly be returning and can only recommend.

Seated at front door with no alternative given. We pre booked! slow service, drink and food order taken at same time, burger bun cold and dry, burger overcooked and dry. Honest review. Wouldn't return.

Upmarket brasserie. Food, atmosphere and service are all exactly what you'd expect from The Ivy. Worth the slight price premium on other eateries. They just do everything right. Recommended.

This is my third visit in two weeks and I always enjoy an excellent experience. The food, service and quality is outstanding. Alviya gave us an extremely warm welcome and gave us wonderful recommendations. She was friendly, informative and seemed genuinely passionate about her role at The Ivy- this is so refreshing!

Fantastic Sunday lunch, everything was just great. A very good wine list too. Perfect waiter called Rahul, a credit to the I've indeed

We had a fantastic evening at the Ivy. Back for a second visit within a month. We had the delightful Alviya serving us who gave excellent recommendations. Her positive and vibrant energy made our day. We will be back. Thank you to all the Ivy St.Albans team. Your hard work doesn’t go unnoticed. See you soon!

We had Brunch. Wonderful food. Very well looked after from the moment we arrived until we departed. Thank you so much. We will back very soon

I have already visited The Ivy in Manchester and York so was looking forward to seeing how they compared. The decor is lovely and not quite as OTT as the others. As expected the service from the minute we arrived was excellent. I chose to have poached eggs on sourdough toast and they were perfectly cooked. My friend had granola and danish pastries. Was a nice change to have breakfast out and it was a very enjoyable visit. Thanks to the staff who we reminisced about Dallas with. Made our visit more enjoyable.

Alvyia was brilliant, manager in the making for sure!

We recently celebrated my brother in law engagement at Ivy, and it was an unforgettable experience. From the moment we arrived, the staff made us feel incredibly special. We were welcomed with complimentary glass of champagne, setting the perfect tone for our lunch. The team went above and beyond to ensure that every aspect of our dining experience was flawless. The service was impeccable—warm, attentive, and genuinely caring. The food was outstanding, with each dish beautifully presented and bursting with flavor. The menu offered a delightful range of options, catering to various tastes, and every bite reflected the quality and creativity of the kitchen. What truly set Ivy Restaurant apart was the personalized touch. The staff made a point to congratulate us on the engagement, and their thoughtfulness added a layer of joy to our celebration. It's clear that they take great pride in making special moments even more memorable. I can't recommend Ivy Restaurant enough for any special occasion. We left with full hearts and a desire to return again soon.

What a fabulous evening we had last Saturday at The Ivy St Albans. Having only ever visited The Ivy in Covent Garden, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. Fear not , this branch is every bit as good as the London branch. Fantastic food, gorgeous wine and amazing service from Rahul. He was charming, very efficient but still had time to make sure we all had everything we needed. We will definitely be back.

Delightful cream tea in a cozy and upscale atmosphere. Service was exceptional and prices were very reasonable. Definitely recommend.

I cannot fault 'The Ivy' the food is divine, the service second to none and delightful atmosphere.

Had a lovely breakfast at the Ivy today. The thing that really stood out was the wonderful service from Sheila who couldn't do enough to look after me and made sure everything was perfect.

We were with my family last week at the Ivy Brasserie St Albans. What I would like to mention first of all is the lovely ladies at the host, they greeted us very nicely, took us to a nice table in the centre of the restaurant, the atmosphere was amazing, very friendly and comfortable staff. We were served by waitress Anna, service at the highest level. What I would like to mention from the food was the Shepherd's Pie, but the top thing was the chocolate bomb. Overall 10/10 would definitely come back here again.

Having never been to The Ivy before my husband and I were lucky to get a table for lunch on tuesday as they were very busy. Our server Sheila was delightful and although she was extremely busy she made our lunch a pleasure by her efficient and personable manner. We both had the 2 course set lunch menu at £19.17 we selected bang bang chicken salad starter followed by haddock and salmon fishcake which was topped by a perfect poached egg for mains, both courses were delightful so we opted for the extra dessert course at an additional £5 and we were glad we did, chocolate mousse and also the berries and hazelnut sundae, delicious. We will definitely return next time we are in St Albans

Very great service, quick, easy and will be coming back in the future. Andrea was very friendly as she helped get us situated right away. Our server Alviya was splendid. Very nice, attentive and always made sure we were good. Sunday roast was delicious.

We had breakfast at the Ivy St Albans. I can say that the atmosphere was perfect and the food outstanding. I also want to say how amazing Sheila was who served us. She was kind, attentive and engaging. A thoroughly pleasant experience all around and I would recommend to anyone in the area.

Had a wonderful dinner at the Ivy. We were served by a wonderful and attentive Alviya who made our night extra special. The food was delicious, and the ambience exceptional. Would definitely visit again.

We loved the food and the service was excellent. Thank you for making my boyfriend's birthday so special.

Ivy is a staple, we have always had good service. The seasonal menu has been delicious and loved the salmon burger. It honestly needs to be a regular dish. Eggs benedict for breakfast is also another favourite.

The IVY St Albans offered us an excellent service with a welcoming atmosphere, attentive staff, and delicious food. A wonderful dining experience that I highly recommend for any occasion.

Great dinner. Enjoyed all the food and friendly service.

Great experience. Tasty food, great decor, the best service we had in a very long time

We had a super experience. We booked for a Sunday lunch and ordered three courses and bottles of a local IPA. The service was superb. We had not told the staff that we were celebrating a birthday but our waiter overheard us talking and after the meal he presented us with a large and delicious birthday chocolate profiterole! All our courses lived up to expectations. If you have the appetite and a sweet tooth, the chocolate bombe is superb!

Food and atmosphere was lovely Alviya was fantastic ❤️

Wonderful evening at The Ivy, beautiful atmosphere and food was delicious. A special thank you to our server Alviya who was super friendly and attentive, really made our night!

Went for lunch with friends. Lovely restaurant, great food and service.

A harm welcome with an amazing food and service. Highly recommend

Nice restaurant shame that they got the bill so badly wrong

The Ivy St Albans is my favourite place to have a special evening. My sister was in town and I wanted to take her a place where the food was always good and the welcome from all the staff Is outstanding Everytime I visit this very special place I am always impressed by the staff, despite it being a busy Tuesday night, we were looked after by the kindest and friendliest people Alviya and Rahul were always smiling and friendly, and remembered us from our last visit; you made my sister feel very special. Last but by no means least is the amazing David, Portugal best ever export, this guy was super busy all night but was always checking we were ok and made sure out drinks and food arrived when we wanted You are a great credit to The Ivy David, your energy and humour and joyful personality made our evening Thank you all The Ivy, St Albans 10/10 everytime!! :)))

Ethan at the Ivy has the worst customer service in the world! At least the worst I've experienced in many years!!!

Lovely birthday treat for my sons 21st today

Fantastic food and exceptional service provided by David, made my Mum’s 70th very memorable. Thank you for a wonderful evening!

We had a very relaxed breakfast meeting here. Very accommodating and friendly.

We had some expectation on food quality because we tried another branch before. This time, the classic crispy duck salad was not crispy but was hard instead 😅 the raddish was bitter…Luckily the crab and scallop linguine and chicken Milanese was of normal quality. Service was good, cozy environment, good for family.

The food was nice, but it was so loud that I couldn't hear the people I was with. It's expensive so, not what I expected.

The best service I think I’ve ever had at a restaurant. All the staff couldn’t have been more attentive especially with my 3 year. Food was delicious. 10/10 will definitely return

We booked early through the app for a table of four. Unfortunately, due to traffic on the M25 we had to cancel and then re-book within a short window. We highlighted this on arrival and the waiting staff were very accommodating to the situation. We selected the £19.17 menu when booking on the app; the food doesn’t disappoint! We had the fried zucchini and fried fish balls for the table as we waited. They were a big hit! Super service and very attentive waiting staff! The food is delicious and the drinks of the highest standards. Thank you - we’ll be back!

We booked breakfast for our wedding anniversary and it was fantastic. Sheila was our waitress and she was amazing, she was very knowledgeable, helpful and kind. The food was great value for money and they even surprised us with a little sweet treat for our anniversary. I would highly recommend going, if you get Shelia as your server, your going to have a great experience.

3 diners, and all the food was great - in that it was consistent- tasty, the right temperature and s service was excellent.

We had a lovely evening celebrating an engagement. The food was excellent, not a single complaint. Our waiter Guillermo was very professional and attentive paying particular attention to a food allergy in our group. Highly recommended.

First time trying the Ivy.and we both enjoyed it.my boyfriend loves my shepards pie.but today iam second he loved it.the flavour .potato he said was so smooth.had the escolope with fried egg .beans and admonds. And the croqutote for if flavour .everything was good.service good .was a friday late afternoon we both went . Toilets were very clean. We had wine and water.

Excellent food and great service

Best Restaurants in St Alban's!

We’ve been here a few times now and every visit has been excellent. The food and especially the service are top notch. We forgot our metal straws and they called us straightaway after we left and had them clean and ready for us. They were great with my kids too - little things like that go a long way. Highly recommend!

We’ve been to the ivy St Albans on numerous times and it has always been fabulous sadly it seems to have gone downhill . We went for an anniversary dinner and myself and my daughter went with the burger option, the burgers were awful, I’m assuming frozen, tasteless and overdone. Even the burger buns were hard, myself and my daughter left most of the burger and the whole bun as it was that bad. the waitress didn’t even ask why we hadn’t eaten it!! Also the bar staff bought us the wrong tea, no milk and forgot our drinks order which again happens but to be charged £15 for service when the whole meal was shabby and orders not correct is laughable. We did receive a free anniversary dessert which was a nice touch but sadly will not be returning.

Had a great time celebrating my sister in law’s 21st birthday here. The staff are quick, efficient and polite. The food was so good, but I felt the main came up a little small (but that’s just my opinion). Food was well presented. The atmosphere is great, lovely decor and the bathrooms smelled lovely. Staff brought out a birthday cake and candle for the birthday girl which was lovely. The restaurant was quite loud so it wasn’t easy listening to conversations if in a big group. Would definitely return!

Always a fabulous experience; staff, ambience, drinks and food are all always spot on.

I had an amazing evening with great food and nice drinks. The ambient is outstanding and the staff is great. I will be back soon with my parents, my mum will love the atmosphere and the decor for sure.

Main courses are reasonably priced but the rest is not.

Had a really great experience here at the Ivy St Alban's. The food was great, the service was excellent as was the ambience. Very reasonably priced considering the high standard of food! Will definitely be recommending to my friends and will be booking a table for me and my family for father's day.

Amazing experience!! Staff was friendly with excellent service! Food was very good also! Cheese soufle was so nice!!😊

Lovely resturant. Top class service. Food very tasty.

Not a place for a steak. My ribeye was tough and tasteless. Looked like it had been microwaved before put on the grill. Shame as rest of the evening was very good

Everything nicely arranged, great service. 😉

First time at this branch of the famous eatery. Gift for my 60th which was very much enjoyed by me and the wife. Food up to usual high standard impeccable service and lovely art deco vibe in heart of old St Albans. Will be back. Oh and birthday treat for dessert. Pleasant surprise.

Great atmosphere.The service was wonderful and the food was delicious.I will definitely be back!

We made a reservation for a family event and the service we received was unparalleled: the food was lovely, the location was beautiful but most importantly, the service was exceptional. On multiple occasions, the staff as a whole made careful accommodations to ensure a slightly overwhelmed baby was comfortable(!) Sheila was especially kind - her upbeat attitude, attention to detail and initiative were especially appreciated. If you have a special event, I would recommend booking The Ivy in St Albans.

St Albans Ivy is a nice place to eat. The fish and chips had and excellent, crispy and non oil batter to it. Service was good and the atmosphere was funky. Jazz funk was played over the airwaves, was fun

Birthday treat! Lush! Such a pretty place lovely staff great atmosphere. Birthday cake n candle!!

Always good. High standard of food, service and decor/comfort. Recommended.

Relaxing restaurant for a drink. We didn't try the food however did see some plates coming from the kitchen and they looked very good. Tried the west end hold up cocktail and it was fruity and really good. Well worth the prices

The food was nice however the price was slightly increased from previous times. The set menu is equal in terms or quality and I would recommend over the À la carte. The waiter was great but food was slow as we waited nearly an hour for our main course.

Loved steak and desserts. You can never go wrong with this place. Always top quality food and service.

Everything about our visit was excellent. All the staff were very attentive . We are going again tomorrow!!

Loved this place great food and will recommend to all

Good food and excellent service from Sheila, who looked after all our needs and individual requests, with positivity and a genuine smile. Nothing was too much for her. Nice touch to receive an unexpected sweet treat from the company for my birthday

I had linguine with courgettes and a baby gem lettuce salad. Shared Asian salad and courgette fries. Lots for vegetarians. Staff are wonderful. Always enjoy going to the Ivy in St Albans.

Our family of 6 had lunch at The Ivy on Sunday. It was our first visit but we were not disappointed. We were greeted as we arrived. The atmosphere was just perfect. Not rushed at any time and served and spoken too with respect. RAHUL was polite and cheerful and is a credit to The Ivy. Well done to those who just helped make our first visit memorable. The food was delicious, hence 5 stars all round..

In all honestly what made our experience in the Ivy at St Albans was the staff. Every single one that served us or even spoke to us were fantastic. Even though we were the only ones sat outside, we weren’t forgotten or felt needing anything. Unfortunately we did not manage to get everyone’s names but do remember David, who attended on us, very fondly. They really made the experience what it was.

For the money I found it a bit poncy and underwhelming considering the brand is so well known. Dinner for 2 last night was £124 for a burger and chips, a cod and chips, bottle of red and 2 expresso martini's. Cheapest bottle of red plonk was £30! Place was full though so people are obviously happy to pay through the nose to say they ate at THE IVY, but really just get what felt like a Wetherspoons pub meal.

Wonderful brunch celebrating a friends birthday today exceptional service from the assistant manager from Bulgaria. Thank you we would definitely recommend you all and we look forwarding to visiting you again very soon.

It was a lovely experience, food was amazing and service was splendid :)

The food quality in a restaurant is always important, but what really makes the difference is the service. I’ve never received such caring service before. Beck at The Ivy Brasserie in St Albans is the kind of waiter who makes you feel like family. From his welcoming smile to his thoughtful menu suggestions, he turned our lunch into an unforgettable experience. He took the time to understand our preferences and made us feel genuinely cared for, even in a busy restaurant. Beck's warmth and attentiveness was honestly impressive. Both my sister and I can't wait to come back for more of his genuine hospitality.

We had booked a table for afternoon tea to celebrate a friend's birthday. We traveled all the way from Berkshire to St Albans, expecting a delightful afternoon surprise, only to be met with a series of unfortunate events that marred what was supposed to be a joyous occasion. Upon arrival, it became apparent that there was a significant discrepancy between what was advertised on your website and what was actually offered. Despite booking specifically for afternoon tea, we were informed that only cream tea was available. This was not only misleading but also a great disappointment as we were eagerly anticipating the full afternoon tea experience, as clearly stated on your website. Furthermore, when we expressed our desire to explore a different menu, specifically the 1917 menu, we were told by our waiter that it was unavailable due to a lack of ingredients. This was surprising and frankly unacceptable for a reputed high-end restaurant such as yours. The inability to provide a requested menu option reflects poorly on the management of your establishment and raises questions about the overall quality of service and preparation. In our attempt to address these issues, we requested to speak with the manager. However, rather than demonstrating empathy and understanding towards our predicament, the manager seemed dismissive and unaccommodating. Instead of offering a solution or attempting to rectify the situation, we were met with a refusal to provide any form of compensation or alternative arrangement. This lack of concern for customer satisfaction was deeply disheartening and left us feeling undervalued and disregarded. To exacerbate matters, the resolution process took an exorbitant amount of time, with over an hour spent in discussions with the manager. This prolonged delay only served to further exacerbate our frustration and disappointment, making what should have been a memorable celebration into a regrettable experience. From this encounter, it is evident that there are significant shortcomings in the level of service and professionalism exhibited by your staff and management. As loyal patrons of Ivy Restaurant, we expected better treatment and a higher standard of service. Unfortunately, this experience has left us feeling upset, disillusioned, and hesitant to return in the future.