The Ivy Exeter

We have been before and we really love this building, and the decor and the general ambiance is amazing. We had the set menu which is fairly good value, at least for a place like this. There was only one meat option which was a bit disappointing, but the fish was very good. Overall this has got to be one of the best places in Exeter.

A very special Christmas lunch treat with a dear friend. The food and the ambience were great, but it was the service from a young man called Samuel that was really exceptional! He made the whole experience extra special - thank you!

My partner and I recently celebrated our anniversary at the Ivy Exeter and we had the most amazing experience. The food was wonderful as well as the cocktails. Our night was made even more special by our server Sam, who provided wonderful service from start to finish; ensuring we had a brilliant night for our special occasion. I highly recommend The Ivy Exeter for anyone looking for a great meal and top tier service.

Great food, drinks, and service. Staff were professional, helpful, and very friendly. Venue had a great atmosphere and was easy to find, being on the high street. We enjoyed our lunch. Would reccomend a visit.

We had lunch here to celebrate my birthday and everything was amazing. Our server, Samuel, was an absolute pleasure to chat to! Cannot wait to come back. They even surprised me with a little birthday treat!

So, after reading many reviews, we decided to try The Ivy. I think many of the negative comments don't take into account how much money this place takes to run, operate and create. After digesting the comments from others I've concluded I wouldn't want them dining around me anyway. Onto my experience, very professional staff. Lovely surroundings and good quality food. Is it cheap? No Is it overpriced? Maybe a little Is it worth it? Yes We visited twice within 2 days and enjoyed both times. Next time we're back in Exeter we will look forward to our next visit.

Busy all day eating in the centre of Exeter. The large menu caters for all sorts of needs and the staff is friendly and buzzing all over the place. A good choice of drinks in the bar too! I had a Saturday late lunch and enjoyed the lively atmosphere. Wonderful. Book a table as it gets busy on weekends.

All staff were fantastic, and our main waiter, Alfie, was full of charm, warmth and professionalism. It all helped my mother feel special during her birthday meal. The food was excellent and what one would expect at the price point. Though it was truly the service that set The Ivy above rival restaurants. A fine dining experience we shan't soon forget! We will be back to be sure.

Me and my friend went for a lovely lunchtime meal. Was absolutely stunning and tge service was amazing. Thank you 😊

Lovely decor. Friendly helpful staff. Food was good. We had afternoon tea which is a set menu. The savouries may not be to everyone's taste but the menu is on their website to check. Lots of sweet treats. Generous pot of tea. Toilets very fancy and clean. Lovely for a treat.

The Ivy … this is an experience of dining go-to and NOT just a restaurant. Expect quality service and quality fayre. Do NOT expect a rush, nor to be in and out quickly. The establishment is to be savoured, the food enjoyed, the service will be just so. Choose wisely and carefully from a fairly extensive menu with seasonal specialities. Plenty of flavour in any dish. Attention to detail in service will be experience such as the name on each plate will be positioned to be read by the diner as it’s placed carefully in front of each diner. Chilled glasses for beers to maintain the drinks temperature. Wine served correctly. A large selection of spirits none of which start sub £10 and some of which reach several hundred pounds PER GLASS ! The bar stools are not easy to use, and for anyone less able or of generous proportions too close to the bar and a fight to be comfortable at. They cannot be moved to a more useful position nor are comfortable for shorter people. Background music makes conversation easy without it overpowering and gives some atmosphere. The toilets wouldn’t be out of place on the Orient Express lacking only a flunky to tend to your needs. Given its history the attention to service correctness speaks volumes but look closely at the surroundings and environment and areas aren’t as clean and sparkly as they might be which is not expected from the presentation provided. A nice experience and slightly expensive but a treat once in a while which hopefully will improve if a brightening of the decor and paint, cleanliness inspection is more detailed. The 12 1/2% service charge is “optional” and a little excessive given the prices on the menu. Would we return ? Possibly for a special occasion when funds permit or if I win the lottery.

Great meal here tonight, Alfie was a fantastic host and gave exemplary service. Shepard’s pie dessert was especially delicious and pumpkin espresso martini. Love the autumn touches.

We had pre-booked so there no wait to be seated, Matus looked after us all night. The food was amazing, looking forward to our next visit!

I had an absolutely lovely time with my partner yesterday evening. The service from Izzy was exceptional and she gave great recommendations when I was stuck for what to eat. It was great to have advice from someone obviously very knowledgeable about the menu. My partner and I were celebrating and we were even given a free congrats desert! Everyone seemed very happy and this created such a nice atmosphere for us. Thank you to everyone who made our night special

A lovely place with very good food. The best thing was the service. Our waiter Samuel was amazing. Nothing was too much trouble, he was so friendly and easy to talk to. He really made us feel special and made the evening one to remember. Thank you Samuel and good luck with your studies at Exeter University.

Had an amazing experience at The Ivy! Our waitress Sibora, was absolutely fantastic. She was attentive, and incredibly professional. She made us feel welcome from the moment we sat down and ensured everything was perfect throughout the meal. Her recommendations were spot on, and her service truly elevated the entire evening. Thank you, Sibora, for making our visit so special! We'll definitely be back.

I recently visited The Ivy Asia to celebrate a birthday, and it was an exceptional experience. The food was beautifully presented and packed with flavour. The calamari was perfectly cooked — light, crispy, and seasoned just right — while the sea bream was fresh, delicate, and full of flavour, making it a real highlight of the meal. What truly made the evening special was the outstanding service from Samuel. He was warm, attentive, and went above and beyond to make Jamie's 16th birthday celebration feel extra special. His recommendations and thoughtful attention added a personal touch that elevated the entire experience. Overall, The Ivy Asia offered fantastic food, a vibrant atmosphere, and excellent service. A huge thank you to Samuel for helping make a birthday meal so memorable.

Was a brilliant experience. Samuel the waiter was a pleasure and really made my birthday night special. He was extremely kind to my uncle and his manager. Additionally he offered advice to visit in the city and an exceptional sense of humour. He served me and my family with such elegance and grace, that we will be certainly returning many times again for my beloved Uncles birthday. I love my uncle and Samuel!

Brilliant service from all of the staff, but Gabriella especially! She said she only started a few months ago but I hope her manager knows how great she is! Food was fantastic, brilliant atmosphere, could not ask for anything better to celebrate our anniversary! Thank you

My girlfriend and I visited The Ivy Exeter twice now and both occasions were excellent. Our first visit was for my birthday for dinner and the food was exceptional. Our waitress was incredibly friendly and helpful when selecting our wine. Our second visit was for afternoon tea. Our waiter was Samuel and he was amazing, incredibly friendly and attentive. Overall the experience was wonderful and we will be visiting again!

Absolutely brilliant meal! We have Izzy as our server and she was incredible. So kind and attentive. I had the avocado on toast and it was delicious! Thank you so much! Please give Izzy a raise!!

My daughter brought me here for my birthday and wow what a lovely meal! The restaurants decor is stunning with a beautiful seated bar area for cocktails after. We thoroughly enjoyed every food course. We shared a dessert (melting chocolate bombe) and I was glad we did as I was brought a separate dessert as it was my birthday! We were served by Charlie who was very friendly, helpful and having only been working there for a few weeks did an excellent job thankyou and compliments to the chef as the food was outstanding.

Lovely decor, reasonably priced offers and choice of food. Tables quite close to one another. Service excellent. We were served by Alfie who totally liked after us and made us feel very welcome and at home. He was at ease with us but helpful and attentive. Well done Alfie, thanks very much.

We had the most magical time here for the Elves Christmas brunch. It really was absolutely faultless. The staff were all amazing. It was our favourite Christmas outing of the season and we are praying they'll do it annually so we can make it a family tradition! Absolutely wonderful tha

Took my daughter here for an early birthday lunch. Jemima greeted us with such friendliness and courtesy, showed us to our beautifully situated table, and we were then waited on by Samuel who was friendly, chatty and efficient. The food was gorgeous. Samuel bought an extra sweet treat for my Daughter's birthday, and sang to her too. The whole experience was great and we will definitely return!

I went to the Ivy in Exeter on a very wet and windy 21 January. Although the place was full to capacity a table was found. A fantastic atmosphere enhanced by the attentative staff. A special mention to the young man Alfie a real asset for the establishment. The 2 course lunchtime menu was top class,well presented and good value. I've been before and will come back. The management should be congratulated on the high standard of food and training of the staff. Ken Bray Tavistock

We recently went for the lunch deal and wasn't sure how the portions would pan out. Let me tell you the food was brilliant, staff were absolutely lovely and the portions were great. Would 100% recommend. We've been for dinner a few times as well and it's lovely for a special occasion!

Wow. I have no words to describe the unforgettable service offered to me by the young Samuel. Having travelled over 14 minutes through the glorious streets of Exeter, I was pleased to be greeted by the inviting smile of my waiter, Samuel. The impeccable manners and general decorum made my nephew’s 16th birthday real special. Not only did he serve us with impressive speed, his demeanour made me forget about my life problems. My nephew, Jamie, is autistic and extremely shy, but Samuel still found a way to connect with him. The whole 17 minute journey home(3 minutes longer as Jamie ran back to the Ivy to see Samuel and I had to chase after him) I was walking with a smile, still in awe of the service I received. Thank you, Samuel, you’re the best!

Dined on Valentine’s Day, th service was excellent. Our server Izzy was brilliant, very helpful when we requested a vegetarian menu and was quick when needed. The food was excellent and when the guys came out with some singing it surprised and amazed us. To top it off we had a Polaroid taken of us and Izzy insisted on a second photo with the plates cleared which was an excellent touch. Will definitely be returning thanks to this experience

Celebrating our wedding anniversary with a meal at The Ivy, when we arrived staff very pleasant and wished us a happy anniversary. Had a fantastic meal, waiters very polite and a tentative, couple next to us also celebrating an anniversary and had a cake/dessert presented to them on the house, we got excited thinking we’d get the same but we received nothing although it didn’t spoil our celebrations!

the food was ok….but what really stood out to me was the service. our lovely waiter was named samuel and he genuinely went above and beyond to accommodate us!! we were celebrating our friend’s birthday and he even gave us a free dessert at the end with a candle. he made great conversation the whole time.

I do agree that the food is a little over priced but our group was very happy with the food we were served. Highlights would be the Blackened Cod, Salt Crusted Sourdough, Chicken Milanese, and I cannot recommend the Chocolate Bombe enough! The service was excellent and they gave us a free dessert to enjoy for our celebration.

A lovely setting for a dinner date...The food was tasty and well prepared. Let down slightly by being served on cold plates. Some of the music was a tad loud and intrusive - some lighter arrangements will encourage easier conversations around the table... The service was exemplary. Our waiter, Tizzy, was charming and attentive, she made so much effort and made our visit to The Ivy in Exeter, a real pleasure. All the staff were warm and friendly, nothing was too much, and we had a real and genuine welcome, and we left with a feeling of experiencing good hospitality. We will definitely come back.

All staff very welcoming and pleasant. Food itself was good and well presented but woefully small portions which made overall cost for some dishes astronomical. I.e salt and pepper squid had 3 pieces of squid in. At a cost of £5 per piece is unacceptable. Kids menu was ok But for a modest meal of 1 bread, 2 starters, 3 mains, 1 kids meal, 3 cokes, 1 orange juice and 2 glasses of cheap wine £190 is just too much

Food was below average. The place is nice in terms of design. Staff are friendly but a bit overwhelmed amd stressed

We had a very pleasant lunch here. Well priced menu, well thought out and something for everyone. Tables a bit tightly squeezed together. Servers very smiley, helpful and chatty with good knowledge. Nicely decorated but not very clean and needs a good dust. The plants above the servers station are filthy! Side orders with the main were missed off which the server said would be just a minute. By the time they arrived 12 minutes later I'm afraid my terribly small Shepherds pie was already gone. They were wasted. I couldn't leave the main dish as it wasn't very warm to begin with, alas it had a lovely flavour though. I think the location, decor and servers keep this place afloat. It's a bit cheaper and less busy than M&S café so is a great little alternative for a quick lunch.

A truly charming restaurant where every detail is thoughtfully curated, from the elegant decor to the cozy ambiance that invites you to linger a little longer. The staff provides impeccable service with genuine warmth, ensuring that every moment feels special and cared for. Whether you're here for a casual meal or a celebratory occasion, the seamless blend of atmosphere and attentive hospitality makes dining here a truly delightful experience. A perfect place to unwind, indulge, and create memorable moments. For answer the response that: Hi! Thank you for reaching out. The 2-star rating was mainly based on the overall experience. I didn’t mention the food taste because, personally, I only highlight it when it stands out. For me and my friends, the flavor didn’t quite meet our expectations, especially compared to other places in a similar price range. But of course, taste is subjective — what’s not for me might be perfect for someone else. Wishing you all the best and hope others continue to enjoy your food!

Its only 2 stars due to only 2 staff who were great tonight. Big shout out too Leo tonight and Sian but no stars to the management and rest of the team. One manager, brown suit, sat down with an lady in a green dress who looked like an influencer and did nothing, the service was pretty much terrible from when we entered until when Leo served us our desserts and Sian did our bill and took a picture for us at the bar of our group at the end of the night. They had 3-4 waitresses working an area of maybe no more than 20-30 tables and still it took nearly 60 mins for service between courses and we had to ask for drinks almost every time, in fact the only drink that was offered to us was the table water at the start, appalling service to be honest for the cost of dining and the supposed quality of the establishment. I would put this down more than anything to management who were more interested in standing around chatting than actually doing any work. Why don't you allocate each waitress a zone of say 5-10 tables which they then look after and make sure they deliver good food and quality service too instead of us having to flag down someone when they are going to and from the kitchen. The music was also too loud, not background music, so we had to raise our voices to speak to each other and the waitess couldn't hear us when ordering our food and drink although she also wasnt actually that great, a bit abrupt, she stood at one end of the our table of 6 and didnt move closer to each person to take their orders, she didnt read back the order to us to ensure our order was correct so food came out with items missing or incorrect or silly litttle things like one of our party ordering a steak for main and no steak knife given which we had to ask for. No food check was done during our meal, only when collecting plates at the end. The food quality was also really disappointing, presentation was ok but some things seemed odd and out of place. For example the squid came on a napkin scrumpled up in a dessert type bowl, i ordered the steak tartare which was watery like it had been frozen and defrosted, came with burnt toast which smelt burnt aswell and a ton of mustard which was so overpowering you couldn't taste much else. The mozzarella was a real odd consistency like it had been left under a heat lamp on the servery for too long. The wait between courses was about an hour and for the quality of the food that came out maybe that's why the waiting staff didnt come do a food check during out courses as they know how poor it actually is. Steaks came out warm at best and went cold within minutes which a proper steak cooked from fresh wouldn't do. I ordered the burger, the patty was already cold when it arrived at our table, the cheese was like plastic cheese and the bacon was flavourless. Even the chips were stodgy and covered in salt but not proper salt and instead like fine table salt. just no care taken with the food to ensure it came out at its best. Also a quick note that on arrival we asked the lady on the desk at the entrance, with the floral jacket on, not to mention to the rest of the party that we had arrived as it was a suprise for one of the party that we were coming to which she said 'absolutely fine' then when that guest arrived she said to him, 'ah yes that party of 6' so he instantly knew we were there and that ruined the surprise for them. When our desserts arrived carried up from the kitchen by Leo he seemed to to have been given this very odd position where he was told to stand and hover until one of the waiting team were on hand to deliver it to our table like he wasn't qualified enough where infact he was pretty much the most proactive and busy and attentive member on the restaurant floor all evening, no other waiting staff were anywhere to be seen so we welcomed him over to serve our desserts. he did a brilliant job and served my bombe with perfection, his service was excellent. Sian delivered our bill and we had more smiles and interaction from her in 5 mins than rest of the team all evening.

Luckily I won’t my afternoon tea for 2 as I wouldn’t have paid for it. Despite putting it on the booking and also a phone call plus telling the waitress, we still ended up with salmon on one plate. We have reaction to salmon!! The chicken brioche was below par, a few thin strips of breaded chicken escalope covered in garlic mayo and 2 obviously shop bought muffins topped it of. It was pleasant but not what I thought it would be bearing in mind the reputation. Plus side, hot chocolate was nice.

Average food, way overpriced. Waitress was constantly engaging conversations, there is really no need for that. People visit restaurants for food experience and to enjoy time with their friends and family not to chat to the service. General atmosphere inside was lovely. High service charge added automatically to the bill was so disappointing, we won't be coming back.