The Ivy Brasserie, Belfast

This place is amazing what a beautiful job they've done converting it, especially considering it used to be a Burger King! I had the Espresso Vanilla Shakerato, really good. We had the Northern Irish Menu The Duck parfait was the Best starter I've had in a while with "black butter" which was lovely I lost count of the number of staff we encountered but everyone we encountered was friendly and helpful. Although it was Monday lunchtime so it seemed quite relaxed.

+1

We went to The Ivy Belfast for Christmas dinner and had a truly wonderful experience from start to finish. The atmosphere was absolutely fabulous — festive, elegant, and warm, making it feel really special for the occasion. The staff were outstanding: friendly, attentive, and welcoming without ever being intrusive. The food was beautiful. We started with the French onion soup, which was rich and comforting, followed by the shepherd’s pie, which was perfectly cooked and full of flavour. The Christmas desserts were gorgeous and felt like a real treat, rounding off the meal perfectly. The cocktail list was also fabulous, with plenty of choice and expertly made drinks. Overall, it was a wonderful night and a memorable Christmas dining experience. We’ll definitely be back.

+1

I take it all back. When The Ivy opened its doors some 18 months ago, the welcoming buzz around it was everywhere. We visited last year and both food and service were poor. Deciding to give it another go, we arrived unplanned on a Sunday morning around 11. We were shown to a table in the middle of the restaurant, which turned out to be a great spot for people -watching and also, we had a direct view of the well-stocked bar. There were three menus available- breakfast, brunch and Sunday roast. I opted for brunch, and from among the classics I spied a cheese soufflé. It arrived looking like a cheesy moon - large and rotund. It tasted very freshly made, using egg whites and no yokes. The effect was of a big savoury cheese marshmallow, and all the better for it. Those who avoid cheese because of the calories may want to reconsider, because this soufflé was light as a feather. From a good selection of mains we tried the Half Chicken Robatayaki with a side of creamed spinach. The chicken had been marinated in some delicious Asian spices and was served cut into chunks which made it easy to eat. Creamed spinach was a bit over- salted but that didn't stop me eating all of it.. I had the homemade peach iced tea to drink, and an espresso at the end. Service was friendly and efficient. Mention must be made of Damien the barman, who runs an amazing bar with every bottle imaginable. He talked me through the ingredients for some of the signature cocktails such as a Pear Margarita, Bloody Mary, and Aperol Spritz. His product knowledge was excellent and his demeanour relaxed and chatty. Unfortunately Damian is leaving the Ivy to set up home in another corner of Northern Ireland. There were two other barmen working today and they all looked very professional in their Ivy- patterned waist coats. Overall we enjoyed the food and ambience. We'll definitely be back.

Fantastic meal at the I've belfast on valentines day.. the restaurant is so colourful bright and beautiful.. the central bar is superb.. with a 69s cuba design. Service from Rhys was excellent.. from start to finish can't complain about anything. Starters mains and desert were all excellent.. well done Chefs... nice Guinness and donegal lager. Will be back again soon.

+4

The food and atmosphere is excellent. I’d highly recommend the duck salad to start and the champagne and pear mojito to drink. We had a lovely meal and I thought the anniversary dessert was a lovely touch. I would recommend and certainly return. It was Saturday night we went and the service was excellent at the start of our meal however, we were left waiting for a while at the end without being offered any drinks and waiting for the bill. At this point, we just wanted to leave but I imagine this would be much better on quieter evenings.

Wow! What a fabulous Valentine's dinner! Absolutely the best meal I've ever had here. Top marks to the Chef and hard working kitchen staff! To be able to produce such high quality dishes on a jam packed busy day like this was amazing! Obviously it's taken a lot of preparation and choreography to achieve this. It was so very much appreciated. The bar and waiting staff were very attentive and efficient. Overall a definite 10/10! The Valentine set menu at £55pp was a great success. This included 3 courses, 2 glasses of Champagne, a red rose and a complimentary kodak photo. Thanks for a superb evening!

+4

We came to The Ivy Belfast on July 8 to celebrate a graduation. Our server Rahema was absolutely brilliant , friendly, calm, and incredibly efficient, even during a busy time. She really made our visit special. The food was delicious, though the draft beer selection was quite limited for such a well-regarded venue. Still, we had a great time and truly appreciated the warm service.

A super nice place. Had Sunday roast and it was delicious. Our waiter Sheridan was very attentive and friendly. Thank you!

Pleasantly surprised with this restaurant. Food prices are modest for this location and beautiful ambience. Service was excellent, food delicious. We will be back.

Afternoon tea was birthday treat from my daughter. Staff lovely. Complimentary glass of champagne. No problem getting extra tea or coffee or additional sandwiches for my friend who cannot eat all the sweet stuff. A real treat.

Christmas dinner here was awesome. The food was amazing, staff super nice, and services good. Plus, I loved the live songs.

We stopped at the Ivy to have our farewell to Belfast lunch on our way to Bushmills. The decor incredible. Vibrant & alive full of color and contrast! The food was great, we all enjoyed our lunch. Ladies! You must stop by the ladies room before you leave … ohhhh my goodness, the wallpaper, the lighting, the floors… don’t miss it :)

Booked a table for four for a birthday celebration. Ordered from the taste of ireland menu where you got starter and main for £20.(Next time I think we would order from the main menu) Food was lovely and very quick and professional service from the staff. When we got the bill the manager had very kindly taken off the price of all the deserts as a birthday treat. Many thanks, such a lovely gesture.

Had a fabulous experience at the Ivy in Belfast today. Ejain was absolutely fabulous. She was not only attentive but genuinely competent, with a calm confidence that instantly put us at ease. She noticed we had a young child with us and, before we even had to ask, kindly offered to bring their breakfast out first. Such a thoughtful touch that made a huge difference. Throughout our visit she made sure we had everything we needed, anticipating rather than reacting, and always with a very pleasant, warm manner. Hospitality is truly an art, and Ejain nailed it. She turned a simple meal into a really lovely experience.

Great Christmas dinner for a group of 8. Every dish was brilliant, contrary to other recent reviews. Tonight, at least, this was definitely on a par with Ivy restaurants in London, Edinburgh and Dublin… in fact, I think this may have been my favourite Ivy trip so far. The Belfast location is amazing with the views of City Hall outstanding, especially at this time of year. Delighted we booked this from Australia and would come again for sure.

Unbelievable experience at the Ivy once again. Enjoyed our lunch as always, however credit has to be given to the bar team. Liam and Jamie genuinely made us want to book another table for dinner today never mind come back another day. The guys clearly enjoy their job and it shows. That being said can’t wait for our next visit. The whole team were fantastic!

We had a fantastic New Year’s Eve at The Ivy Brasserie Belfast. We were a table of six adults plus a toddler, and the experience was excellent from start to finish. The food was outstanding — great steak, perfectly cooked sea bass, a delicious duck salad, classic prawn cocktail, and a lovely linguine. The chocolate bomb dessert was a real highlight and went down a treat with everyone. We also had a very fussy eater in our group, and the kitchen was more than happy to accommodate with mash and a breaded chicken escalope, which was much appreciated and made the evening far more relaxed for us. The staff were genuinely attentive, friendly, and professional — especially impressive given it was New Year’s Eve and the restaurant was busy. Nothing felt rushed, and they were great with the toddler too. To top it all off, we even won a bottle of champagne! A brilliant night and a great way to bring in the New Year. We’ll definitely be back.

I’ve been here a few times for dinner but figured try it for breakfast. It was much better for breakfast they are understaffed and it’s. Very loud at dinner but perfect at 10-1030 am on a Friday. Very please and good was great Came back a second time. Updated menu. The chicken Milanese was great and the prawns. It’s definitely a been seen place food is good but your coming for the ambience

+1

The Ivy is a famous London chain of beautiful, well polished restaurants. Perfect for special occasions or a night out with friends. I was very excited to try their vegan menu! I ordered their Keralan Sweet Potato curry. This was absolutely delicious but I would have liked to have had bigger portion and some protein at this price point. I also felt that the menu was targeted mainly at vegetarians as the only other vegan option was an Asian Salad. I have seen their vegan menus in other branches which have a much bigger selection so just be aware of this before you arrive. I also had their Dark Chocolate Orange Cheesecake which was phenomenal, well put together and just delicious. The flavours across all the dishes and sides we ordered were fantastic. Overall I think the aesthetic in The Ivy is unbeatable and I can't think of a more Instagram-able interior in Belfast! The service was very attentive and we had a designated waiter who served us throughout our meal. I would definitely advise visiting but be aware of the slightly higher price point that comes with it!

+4

Amazing atmosphere and great service. As a vegetarian, I think the choices were low and not that appealing. And I think the quantity could have been more at least for the main course. But I loved the experience though.

Absolutely beautiful environment and the staff were very attentive. They did try to cram you next to each other a bit, but not horrendous. The food was lovely and came very quick, shame the poached eggs were slightly over done. Felt nice and fancy!

What a bussing noisy restaurant!. Staff were pleasant. Food was good. Great menu selection but missed the mushy peas with my traditional fish and chips. Decor was interesting. Washroom 3 floors up but lift was out of action 😒 Would I go back? Sorry but no.

+2

Went there for a graduation dinner, the staffs were really nice and friendly. About the food, I had the Asian Glazed Roabatayaki Half Chicken, which was decently flavourful but the chicken was a little dry and I also had the Ivy Chocolate Bombe which was really good. The drinks bar was a very nice island in the middle of the restaurant to sit and have a chat while waiting for the table.

Great service from Etain ( am ) and waiter. Gave 4 stars as no table cloth and napkins not pulled ( bit picky - but comparing to Edinburgh few years ago) Squid could gave been bigger portion( cheap product) poured our own wine and not encouraged to order sides - felt it was needed. Check backs not swift enough. - I am being very picky but I thoroughly enjoyed the restaurant. Atmosphere great and would definitely return to try Lunch or breakfast.

Typical Ivy experience, you do get treated well and the staff are very friendly and professional. The only reason I’m giving 4* (3* for service) is the poor girl looking after us had such a large section we sometimes felt ignored until the restaurant got quiet. She was fab though!! Not her fault, felt management heavy. Maybe more actual waiting staff on smaller sections for a more attentive feel. Food fabulous, although £6 for the choc truffles is a bit steep, but it’s the Ivy. The food didn’t disappoint and we left having a great evening. Cleanliness 100%, bathrooms smelt fresh and clean. Loved the live acoustic music & singer. Great atmosphere.

The restaurant has really gorgeous decor and good atmosphere. Staff are faultless, so good at their jobs, and made us all feel really welcome. Cocktails at the bar were some of the best I've had and the food in general was a really good standard with some elements standing out (amazing crispy prawns and cheese board). They also gave me a tiny congratulatory cake since we were celebrating. It's pricey and they were very skimpy on the lobster in the lobster linguine. But apart from that no complaints. If I could afford it I'd be back very soon.

There is lots to like, it's quite lovely decor, the food was very tasty and the staff were great. I find 'discretionary' service charges and a dessert we didn't order added to the bill not so good though. I always tip, and did so in cash to the server directly. Enjoy the food, staff and the ambience, but check your bill closely.

We arrived here on Sunday early lunch-time on 11th Jan. A bit disappointed when we were informed that the steak diane had sold out. My starter was Tamarind, Beetroot, Endive Salad and Candied Pecan which unfortunately, contained a small, burnt particle. While it may seem minor, it was noticeable and affected my enjoyment of the dish and left a bitter aftertaste. I didnt mention it to staff as I was embarrassed with other customers nearby. The shepherd's pie was delicious. I ordered the parmesan chips as a side, however the portion served had little to no parmesan on them, which was disappointing as this is a key part of the dish. Aside from these issues everything else was enjoyable and the service was excellent throughout.

Went for a lunchtime special menu that we booked some time back. We both had Steak Diane that was really lovely followed by a desert. Found the service to be fantastic and cannot fault the young lady who looked after us, atmosphere was great, lots of people enjoying themselves and the place was spotless. Tables were cleared quickly, toilet areas were immaculate and overall we had a very pleasant lunch. Chips were amazing too. Would definitely book again.

Went for afternoon tea and the food was amazing. Best tea sandwich I have ever had however the portions were too big to enjoy. There was plenty food leftover…I recommend three people tackle this tower. The tea was plainly not good. The pewter pot kept the bland tea hot for about two seconds. I recommend steeping the tea with two or even three tea bags before serving. The space was beautiful and elegant however the service was nonexistent which left the atmosphere feeling stale. Our waitress greeted us on arrival and took a good amount of time before taking our order and when she did the food took even longer to arrive. When we finished there were at least three supervisors and a large staff running around looking at tables but not paying much attention to the guests. We had to fish for our own bill which is not a problem but waiting 20-minutes with empty plates and an empty restaurant to not be approached was sort of sad given the value. I won’t write off The Ivy all together but I definitely won’t recommend this to any of my friends. A part of retaining a loyal customers base is basic service which did not happen this day.

A bit of a hit or miss. The Ivy has great atmosphere and has great things to offer. My favourite thing of the night was there "Cranberries" cocktail, which was delicious. The food was okay however, and was a bit of a let down, and did not meet expectations. This could of just been a bad night however, because other people have told me they liked the food.

The atmosphere was warm and festive, and the staff were welcoming. We tried the arancini, risotto, turkey ballotine, pigs in blankets, and crème brûlée. The dishes were well presented; however the risotto was undercooked for my taste and the arancini could have used a sauce, but everything else was very good. Service was fantastic

+3

My partner and I visited The Ivy Belfast following an evening at the Christmas markets. When we arrived, we were informed that we could not be seated without a reservation, despite several visibly empty tables in view. After checking OpenTable, we found an available reservation within fifteen minutes and, rather unexpectedly, were then shown to a table immediately upon arrival. We began with the truffle arancini, followed by the chicken Milanese and wild mushroom risotto. The food was well prepared and very filling, though not markedly distinctive in flavour or presentation. Service was polite but lacked the refinement and attentiveness described on the company’s website. What stood out most was being told by a manager that it was company policy—implemented by the CEO—not to offer takeaway boxes due to previous litigation. I found this policy unusual and somewhat at odds with the restaurant’s otherwise polished image. It also raised questions for me about how such decisions align with customer experience, especially when portions are this large. Overall, our visit to The Ivy Belfast was adequate but not exceptional, marked more by its policies and procedures than by its cuisine.

+2

I visited for the second time today. Overall, I’m left feeling like it’s not living up to the hype or expectation. We were greeted by kind staff on both occasions and promptly handed menus and served well in the initial stages. Soft drinks came with ice and lemon/lime which was definitely a nice touch but something to be wary of if it’s not your thing. As for the food. I had the Asian Glazed chicken on my first visit. I felt it was a bit lacklustre with presentation appearing to be the priority. I remember it being quite bland, with what tasted like cheaper ingredients and a toughness to the chicken, not up to expectation given its price tag. Today, I had the Ivy Cheeseburger. I worked my way through it, and realised toward the end that a struggle to chew and swallow was caused by the burger itself being overcooked. I was not asked about how I wished for it to be cooked (please also consider this if you are ordering it and would like to be specific about how it’s cooked). I also wasn’t fond of the chips which seemed like they had come from frozen and had a strange seasoning which I couldn’t get my head around. I may have been able to shout for staff but was on a work lunch and didn’t want to make a fuss in front of seniors who were accommodating me. I had better frozen chips in the Luton Spoons last week. Presentation, however, was again fabulous! At the end of the meal, we were not waited on at the same standard as the beginning. We eventually had to ask around for a bill and there was quite a wait between this to being handed the bill to the ultimate payment for it all. A sweet 12.5% charge was added on for the pleasure. Conclusion: If your standards are a touch above all I’ve mentioned, avoid and go for a similarly priced venue in the city centre. It’s expensive for the food and experience provided. As for atmosphere, be prepared for quite a busy lunchtime environment, with loud colours and fake plants to boot. Slightly on the overstimulation end for my liking but that’s personal preference.

Hit and miss. The service wasn't good but the food was very nice. Visited on a snowy Tuesday in January and the restaurant was packed. We had to wait at the uncomfortable bar while they reset our table. The seats are too close to the bar, and to each other and they are fixed to the floor so you can't move them. The bar staff were off-hand and seemed uninterested in serving us. When asked if they had any Guinness 0 the answer was 'just what's on the menu' which felt rude and dismissive and created a poor first impression. She walked away at that point and on returning corrected my husband when he asked for the German alcohol free larger saying they don't have any any German af beer (it's actually 0.5%) until he had to ask for it by name. At no point did she offer any guidance (or even a smile). My prosecco didn't arrive for another five minutes after we went to our table. The food was good. I ordered from the set lunch menu which was great value, tasty and generous. I had the duck croquette starter (it wasn't warm enough, and was maybe a little burned), Shepherds Pie main (wonderful), and Sticky Toffee Pudding dessert (an absolute treat). My partner enjoyed his arancini, fish cake and chocolate mousse and seemed pleased with it all. The wine I ordered took ages to arrive. The wait staff were clearly under pressure. The man sitting next to me tried to attract their attention several times to get his bill and was completely overlooked or maybe ignored. The woman who came after him asked for a variation on her afternoon tea and was told there were no changes permitted to the menu. The room itself was pretty, but cold. There was a real draft where we were seated. And it was busy. They're turning the tables a lot, so it feels more functional than relaxed and the staff are stretched to cope. It shows. I don't know how to summarise the Ivy Belfast experience. I expected it to be more indulgent, to feel more like a treat, so I was a bit disappointed. But the people watching is interesting and I enjoyed observing how The Ivy is approaching Belfast, and how Belfast is engaging with The Ivy. It's one of those 'you have to' destinations for now, and they know it. So they can get away with being a wee bit lax on the service but I think they need to step up. Staff training in customer service skills would go a long way to making the experience more comfortable and pleasant.

+6

Beautiful setup. Furniture awesome. But having a reception with no love and feeling like you are visiting a post office. Bar was solid and I would give them 5 stars. Cocktails made with precision and love. Bartender took extra steps for service. We got seated 20 minutes after our reservation time no big deal. We had 1 cocktail ordered one more and got seated. Seated next to a table leaving. That table wasn’t cleared until after we left. Food was average / good. Black cod is not like Nobu or Zuma so don’t bother. Wine list was young and ok. If this is a top Opentable restaurant then Belfast needs some love.

Visited this restaurant about a month ago. The atmosphere and ambience were really nice, and the service was good too. I went there for the nice atmosphere. Personally, the food wasn’t to my taste, but that doesn’t mean others won’t enjoy it. Definitely a pleasant place to try if you want a nice dining experience. 🌟

A friend had the roast chicken dinner with inedible carrots and roast potatoes. I had the starter of salmon from the taste of Ireland menu which had too much salt. The steak Diane was less than lukewarm warm and had to be send back. However everyone enjoyed the shepherd's pie, and the beetroot salad and onion soup. Sheridans service was outstanding, attention to detail and some of the best customer service I have received ever and I can’t thank her enough.

No spoons for soup, no water on table, forgot about fries on main course. The soup was barely warm. Steak was only warm and of low quality - 12.5% of service.

Visited today and had the Sunday lunch of John Stone 21 day aged sirloin steak. The server asked whether we wanted our steak pink or cooked through...we chose cooked through. We waited with much anticipation looking forward to our sirloin steaks however we were extremely disappointed, to say the least, to receive 2 slices of wafer thin fatty roast beef which looked like something which could be purchased from the budget section in any food store. We did challenge the waiter thinking we had been given the wrong meal however he assured us it was the sirloin steak. So, to anyone thinking they are ordering a sirloin steak, please think again as you will be disappointed.

We went yesterday in the ivy in belfast and i find the receptionist and other staff are a bit of racist for people in color. She head to toe us upon exiting the place. More than that The food is good and the ambiance was lovely and great!

The place is looking pretty nice which is the only positive point. Service was OK but the place was very noisy and took a while to get served. The rest is a disaster: We took the Christmas set which was not only overpriced but of poor quality. Frozen shrimps still releasing some water, under cooked or cold meat we had to get back to the kitchen. For the wine it was even worst. At >50£ you can expect some decent wine but both the Pinot Griggio and the Rioja Reserva were just not worth it... I hope it was a bad day and this will improve. For now, i do not recommend this place.