The Ivy Cardiff

Had a delicious meal here with friends. Attentive service although occasionally waiting to get waiters eye , when it wasn’t busy really. I found the venue a little echoey. So may be a little difficult for any hearing impaired.The environment was lovely. Clean and fresh. Would visit again

visited today for my birthday & what an experience! Have visited The Ivy many times all over the country, including several trips to the Cardiff restaurant but this just exceeded all expectations! The meal, as always was delicious, service was outstanding but the birthday dessert box was next level! Ammar made us feel very special and is a great asset to your team. You’re lucky to have him. Thank you for making my birthday special!

As soon as we entered the ivy We were greeted by a warm smile By staff and immediately felt at home and like part of the family. It was our 1st visit to the ivy and certainly won't be the last. The staff and customer service we received was 1st class , and they did everything they could to make sure that everything was right for us. The food came out quite quickly even though the restaurant was busy with a great atmosphere. The meal sizes were generous The food was tasty and delicious. And definitely worth the price we paid

I like the Ivy. I don’t know why I’ve not been to the Cardiff one before. I’ve been to the Ivy Asia several times. Oh well, rectified that on this trip. Big premises situated on the side of Saint David’s shopping centre, in the former Jamie’s Italian unit. No sign of the latter in what they’ve done though, and the interior is the usual sumptuous Ivy offering, with lots of colours and a riot to the senses. Nice big bar in the centre, big dragon on top. There’s a couple of floors inside – although I didn’t go up there, the upstairs looks pretty big. Booked, but it wasn’t too busy (Wednesday) so no wait for a table. One of those odd corner tables, but they’re fine when it’s not too busy. Lots of the usual chopped cushions on the benches. As you’d expect. Service was good and efficient, although they have so many different staff all wearing slightly different things I don’t know how they keep track... A system in play no doubt. The beer was a craft pilsner – decent and served in a frosted mug. Robata chicken skewers to start – I love these with their peanutty goodness and subtle flavours. Three of them but I could eat 10. Tried the fishcake to start, salmon and haddock – I liked this, it was similar to but much better than Wheeler’s fishcake from Marco Pierre White’s chain – served on a crushed pea and herb puree with a poached egg perched on top. All very tasty. For dessert it had to be the sticky toffee pudding, served under a smoky dome with a generous helping of clotted cream. Such a rich pudding. So very tasty. The smoky dome was real, by the way, and not a metaphor. Overall an excellent meal and to the standards you’d expect. Not particularly cheap, but then that’s not why you come to the Ivy, is it. Reasonable for the circumstances certainly. Would certainly come here again.

Special & “an Experience” - there is no other way to describe it except to say good value too. The decor is amazing and the service formal but in a wonderful way. It’s not somewhere to dash in and dash out. Rather it’s somewhere to relax and soak up the experience. Arguably, other places can sell better perhaps but none will rival will rival the range of menu options or the experience. The central bar island is a work of art and the venue loaded with wonderfully tended plants and interesting art. Where else can you have Champagne for breakfast?

As a solo diner I thought I might feel a bit weird, but the staff were very friendly and the food was delicious. Beautiful decor as you would expect. Will definitely return.

We spent New Year’s Eve at the Ivy and had a great time. Although a busy evening for the restaurant, the staff were excellent in looking after us and the other customers around us. The food was delicious and the overall experience made for a memorable celebration, with the live music adding to the atmosphere. A great evening, with special thanks to the staff

Not just dining but a true dining experience. From the way you're greeted to the service at the table, from the main room decor to the very plush toilets, everything is an experience. The Ivy Cardiff is probably one of the slightly more expensive places to eat in the city, but, for a special occasion, it is honestly worth trying. Eating there on a Saturday, it was the main menu only, and to be fair, the drinks are what will probably push your bill up. They do have a very nice looking 2-course set menu for certain days which could be a winner in terms of value, if you're being a bit more cost conscious, I'll happily return to test that out. Fantastic food, table water without even asking (something I always ask for), service was brilliant, and you weren't rushed at all, which added to the experience. We booked in advance, so didn't wait for a table. There may be a wait if you just turn up. Oh, and if it's your birthday (as it was for me!) make sure to mention it as they might give you a little treat (see pictures).