Exeter's The Ivy is bloomin' great

It’s no secret that the hospitality sector is facing something of a recruitment crisis.

A combination of Brexit and the pandemic have led to a dearth of staff who are prepared to work unsociable hours for, very often,  little more than the minimum wage.

That has become evident at some establishments in my own experience with service levels deteriorating and kitchens, on occasions, having to close.

So, with that in mind I’m glad to say, Exeter’s The Ivy is very much bucking the trend.

From the moment we stepped through the door (greeted by not one but two members of staff) to when we left, we were treated royally.

And word has obviously got out.

We booked our table on a Thursday lunchtime expecting the place to be moderately busy. But, how wrong we were!

It was like a Saturday night… a mix of couples like us, families, groups of friends and at least two birthday parties,

And that made for a great atmosphere with lots of chatter, laughter and the occasional chorus.

This must also be one of the healthiest places to dine in Devon, for the place is crammed floor to ceiling (literally) with plants, palms and other flora and fauna.

Research has shown that indoor plants absorb harmful toxins such as formaldehyde, benzene, and trichloroethylene, which can be found in household products, paints, and cleaning supplies.

If that is the case, dining at Exeter’s The Ivy is equivalent to setting up your picnic table in one of the Eden Project’s Biomes.

So, service (tick); atmosphere (tick); environment (tick) but what about the food I hear you ask?

Well, you’ll be pleased to hear, big tick!

We chose from the All Day Dreamers menu, which features such delights as crispy Hoisin duck croquettes and Scottish mackerel rillettes to start and mains including chargrilled, thinly beaten, grass-fed, rump served with a fried egg and thin cut chips.

I opted for the duck and a roasted Norwegian salmon fillet and my dining partner went off-piste with warm asparagus spears with truffle hollandaise baby watercress (an option from the vegan/vegetarian menu) and back to the Dreamers offering for her main of chargrilled Halloumi and baby gem salad.

Testament to the great service we received was the fact that our super-efficient waitress actually asked if I wanted my fish pink or well done.

Pink or well done?! I’ve dined in Michelin-starred restaurants where that hasn’t even been an option. Bravo!

All of our dishes were uncomplicated, fresh and well cooked.

However, the dessert was the real star of the show. 

We shared a crispy Madagascan Vanilla Cloud with warm chocolate brownie,vanilla ice cream and hot yuzu caramel sauce.

The cloud bit of the description was most apt as we were in heaven from the first spoonful.

It was the perfect end to a perfect dining experience in a perfect setting.

In short Exeter’s The Ivy is ‘blooming’ brilliant. Sorry… Dad joke!