We went for pre theatre dinner…..what a disappointment! We arrived early and ordered a gin an tonic to start and waited for a very long time (considering the restaurant was nearly empty). For starters we both had prawn tempura which were soggy and tasteless. For...our main course I ordered a burger and my husband ordered a fillet steak. My burger was acceptable but my husbands steak was severely over cooked when he had requested it medium. The manager agreed and said he will replace it. When it arrived some ten minutes later it was so raw with blood oozing all over the plate, my husband asked if it could be cooked a bit more so the manager took a knife and fork and started cutting into the steak, so away it went again. By the time it arrived back I had finished my meal and my husbands side dishes were now cold. The steak was still really rare with blood all over the plate. Not what a good piece of steak does even if served rare. When we left they said we have taken one glass of red wine off of your bill. When we looked they had charged for two glasses of red wine when my husband had only had one so that was a bit of a joke too. It’s sad to see such an iconic place end up like this but I am not sure how long they can trade on their reputation and deliver sub standard food. I would have rather had a Chinese in China Town or a Five Guys burger.More

We spent £225 for two and it was nice but really has a to be treat at that price. Superb cheese souffle to start but the squid was kind of average. Had rose wines at £8 a glass. The minas are ok but very overpriced....£34.50 for black cod and £46 for lobster? Why bland fries and not proper chips too? The baked alaska for dessert was amazing, both seeing ir prepared and eating it. A must order. Have to say you can get food just as good in many Portuguese places for a third of the price in London.More

A real treat. Like stepping back in time. Really felt looked after and the food was delicious. Great selection of cocktails and wines too. The cheese soufflé starter was a particular highlight.

Visited before and arrived 30 minutes early to have a drink at the bar. It was full so we were taken to the private club (very nice). Dinner and drinks were excellent. Yes its pricey but what do you expect. Brilliant service. We had a...great starter main and shared two large desserts between 4 of us. If you drink as well (as we do) you can expect to pay £100 a head. Well worth it for a birthday celebration after the theatre. Great location with a good atmosphere in a very attractive restaurantMore

This used to be our go to 'treat' restaurant in London. Unfortunately since Covid it bears no resemblance to its pre-Covid days. When you know a restaurant better than the current management it's worrying. On entry there's no one to welcome you or to take...your jacket. I literally had to force mine into the hands of a waiter (so as not to sit on it all evening). Guests are squished up on benches - uncomfortably close. It's full of American tourists (no offence!). I don't think the theatre crowd will come here anymore. The food is subpar and bears no resemblance to its former quality. The defrosted bread was hard. The soufflé was stodgy. The risotto tasted like it had been squished out of a 'minute in the microwave' packet. We were scared to order dessert. Needless to say it was disappointing. The knickerbocker glory tasted like they'd mixed Del Monte tinned fruit with Walls ice cream. The house wine was not available, thus wines started out at £40 a bottle. Even the espresso martini, which used to be a novelty (served with mini sugar shakers), was a disappointment. The staff were friendly, but not a familiar face in sight. When they asked how things were the question was rhetorical - not a moment left for you to ask 'what happened?'. The old team has sadly jumped ship or been sacked. The bathroom was filthy when I visited before and after the meal. It hadn't been serviced during our two hour visit (sink flooded and one toilet unusable due to somebody's accident - gross)! We won't return. Luckily there are plenty of great restaurants in the area. This is sadly no longer one of them. The table next to us left after their starters. Wish we'd done the same. Some people may still enjoy the decor (the only thing left to enjoy), but anyone who knew it pre-Covid shouldn't tempt fate. You'll be disappointed and depressed. It's like seeing an old friend go downhill and there's nothing you can do or say. You just have to walk away.More

Food was lacklustre, lobster linguine broth tasteless and watery. Waitress service was terrible and rude when we tried to make payment.

The Ivy at Covent Garden has long been one of the most popular restaurants in “Theatreland.” This popularity is well justified. The location, at the top of Leicester Square, is within easy distance of the threatres and the Opera House at Covent Garden. But location...alone does not account for its popularity. The restaurant itself is a very attractive and much photographed room with stained glass windows and nice furnishings. The noise level is modest. The staff are extremely helpful and friendly. Service is both professional and prompt. As to the food, it is sold British classics----in my opinion, well prepared upscale “pub food.” Not to miss the point, the food is very, very good and sometimes, as before the theatre, only fish and chips will do! The Ivy is an extremely busy place and there is a time limit for occupancy of a table. But this time limit is extremely generous……….90 minutes for a single person and 2 hours or more for two. One never feels rushed. In summary, this really is THE place for a pre-theatre dinner or for a meal at any time.More