Dining at The Ivy Leeds after Restaurant Reopening

Last week we ventured out to The Ivy Leeds; our second restaurant dining experience since lockdown measures have been eased in the UK. Although we’ve eaten at The Ivy Leeds before, I knew there would be some slight changes due to the additional safety measures to make it Covid secure. We felt very safe and relaxed during the experience, so I wanted to share more in a blog post. Here’s a little roundup of our experience, to help you know what to expect when eating at The Ivy Leeds or any other restaurants in The Ivy collection.

Beautiful Blooms on Arrival

The entrance to The Ivy Leeds looked as spectacular as ever, with a wonderfully curated flower arch at the front door. I can never get a visit without getting a photo under the arch and I love that the flowers change every time I visit. It’s all part of The Ivy experience!

Temperature Checks

Before we entered the main entrance, we were greeted at the clockroom area by two friendly front of house staff. It’s here that our temperatures were taken with a contactless scanner. We simply stood in front of the screen and it was done in seconds. No fuss. Fortunately both of our temperatures were normal, but if they were high we would not have been let into the restaurant.

The Tables

We were given a wonderfully bright table on the ground floor, next to the window. I immediately noticed that there was extra spacing between all of the diners, as many of the tables were out of us. This was obvious as they had large silver vases on them. This meant that I certainly felt a safe distance from all the surrounding diners.

On each dining table there was also a hand sanitiser in a glass bottle. It’s the first time I’ve seen hand sanitiser with personalised branding and it also smelt divine! I kept spraying my hands throughout the meal.

None of the staff were wearing masks, but they did keep a good distance from us whilst serving us at our table. It's a really tough call when it comes to the masks. I appreciate wearing one for a whole shift would be extremely uncomfortable, but perhaps when serving or carrying food, it would have added extra reassurance.

Indulging in 3 Courses

We decided to indulge in 3 courses, so I opted for fairly light dishes for my starter and main. I went for the tempura prawn and squid with miso dipping sauce, followed by the fish of the day. The fish was seabass with an olive and red pesto tapenade. I also ordered a green salad and parmesan and truffle fries on the side. It all tasted incredibly flesh and flavoursome, but I wouldn't have expected anything else at The Ivy.

I was feeling incredibly satisfied after the main course but I definitely had room to sample a dessert too. I went for the white chocolate and passionfruit cheesecake, which tasted just as good as it looked. The flavours were a perfect blend of sweet and tarte and I loved that it came with additional passionfruit jus on the side. I was so happy with all of my dishes, as was Scott who chose a steak for his main.

View the current menus here.

Friendly and Attentive Service

We had one key waiter serving us throughout the experience, who was very happy to make recommendations on the menu choices and side dishes. He even took the time to chat to us and ask us about our day, which definitely didn’t go unnoticed. Nothing felt like too much trouble.

Taking Part in the 'Eat Out to Help Out' Government Scheme

The Ivy Leeds is taking part in the Eat Out to Help Out government scheme, by launching a new, affordable and bespoke set menu. Available all day from 11.30am Monday – Wednesday, guests can choose from either two courses for £30 or three for £35 before the offer is applied, and discover the delights of the brasserie’s crispy duck salad, mouth-watering roast beef fillet, or the infamous melting chocolate bombe

The Ivy Leeds
Vicar Lane,
Leeds
LS1 6BB

It was so nice to have some quality time as Jess and Scott, rather than Mum and Dad. After a full-on lockdown with a busy toddler, we appreciated this treat more than ever. We love The Ivy Leeds and will definitely return time and time again.

Have you been venturing out to eat in restaurants yet? Are you thinking of visiting The Ivy Leeds? If you enjoyed this post or have any questions, please leave a comment in the box below. Jess x 

Read more of my honest Restaurant Reviews or check out

• The Best Sushi in Leeds at Issho
• A Luxury Afternooon tea at Crafthouse Leeds

This dining experience at The Ivy Leeds was provided on a complimentary basis, but I was under no obligation to post anything or write this review. I only feature and recommend things that I truly love. All photos and words are my own.