The Ivy St Albans Brasserie

Afternoon tea, International·
££££
·

Good to know

Average Price
££££ - £30 - £49
Cuisines
Afternoon tea, International
Ambience
Cool, Cosy
Food Occasions
All day dining, Breakfast, Brunch, Dinner, Lunch
Special Features
Vegan options, Vegetarian options
Perfect for
Dates, Special occasions

About

The Hampshire edition of the Ivy Brasserie is splendidly located in the centre of St. Albans city, in close proximity to the area’s most well-known sites. The restaurant sits nestled amongst the stunning Cathedral and Abbey Church of Saint Alban and a state-of-the-art gallery, as well as the 600-year old Clock Tower. The brasserie is also near the Alban Arena, an events space that hosts concerts, exhibitions, and performances – making it a great post- or pre-show dining option.

In addition to the Ivy’s excellent location, the restaurant itself is very beautiful; it’s a sophisticated take on all-day dining with stunning interiors. The inside of the restaurant is decked out in vibrant colours, making the décor a visual feast. The main restaurant hosts breakfast through to evening cocktail services, plus there is a semi-private room which seats up to 12 people for all-day dining. The Ivy does set menus and group dining ones, to make arranging dining options easier.

The menu features many of the Ivy’s signature classics and takes on British staples such as the Shepherd’s pie and the roast chicken. Punters can also choose the fish of the day, which is selected daily, while vegans and vegetarians can choose from a dedicated menu – there’s a vegetarian shepherd’s pie.

For cocktail hour, patrons are presented with an extensive list of boozy concoctions to choose from, such as the Margarita Valencia or the Crimson Vesper, featuring Absolut Elyx vodka, Lillet Rouge, and Plymouth sloe gin. There are plenty of gin and tonics, beers and ciders, non-alcoholic drinks, and an international selection of wines too.

If you’re sticking around for dessert, which you should, you may expect the likes of crème brulee, apple tarte fine, and a decadent chocolate bombe with hot salted caramel sauce. You would do well to book your next dinner at the Ivy St. Albans.

Location

1-3 Verulam Road, St Albans, Hertfordshire, AL3 4DA

01727 615300 01727 615300

Website

Opening Times

All day
Mon 08:00-00:30
Tue 08:00-00:30
Wed 08:00-00:30
Thu 08:00-00:30
Fri 08:00-00:30
Sat 08:00-00:30
Sun 09:00-00:00

Reviews

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8 Reviews 
Food/Drink
Service
Atmosphere
Value

Roger T

22 October 2023   - Verified Diner
Food & Drink 5
Service 5
Atmosphere 5
Value 5

Barend J

26 July 2023   - Verified Diner
Food & Drink 5
Service 5
Atmosphere 5
Value 5

Barend J

26 July 2023   - Verified Diner
Food & Drink 5
Service 5
Atmosphere 5
Value 3.5

Anon

01 March 2023   - Verified Diner
Food & Drink 5
Service 5
Atmosphere 5
Value 5

The most wonderful lunch at The Ivy St Albans Brasserie (Asian crab salad and chicken with mushroom sauce). Very generous portions despite ordering from the set menu. 
Many thanks to the very attractive restaurant team for looking after us. Definitely will be back again.

Anon

01 March 2023   - Verified Diner
Food & Drink 5
Service 5
Atmosphere 5
Value 5

The most wonderful lunch at The Ivy St Albans Brasserie (Asian crab salad and chicken with mushroom sauce). Very generous portions despite ordering from the set menu. 
Many thanks to the very attractive restaurant team for looking after us. Definitely will be back again.

Susan D

09 December 2022   - Verified Diner
Food & Drink 5
Service 5
Atmosphere 5
Value 3.5
A lovely evening

A lovely evening, made better by attentive and very friendly staff, especially the very tall waiter (6' 4'')with blonde hair, who was very warm and welcoming. The food was delicious and we enjoyed the atmosphere. Thought the wine was unnecessarily expensive - £38 for a bottle of Chardonnay - but it tasted good.

Nicholas V

08 December 2022   - Verified Diner
Food & Drink 5
Service 5
Atmosphere 5
Value 5
A Great Birthday Dinner

With birthdays just before Christmas, dining out for a birthday treat has generally mean sharing the restaurant with office parties and other pre-christmas revellers.

This year, at The Ivy, we were made to feel special and very much at home. Service was first class and the food was excellent. The staff were attentive, polite and made sure we had the best time. I know where we will be going next year!

Anon

21 March 2022  
Food & Drink 3
Service 1
Atmosphere 3
Value 2.5
Disappointed

After a disappointing £4 For 5 (yes 5!) olives the rest is of the food came at good sized portions and tasted good.
However - The service was beyond poor. First we had to wait 20 minutes and remind 3 times to get the water/wine we ordered, with the wine we ordered almonds and olives while deciding on what to eat - we had to ask for the olives and almonds 3 times!
We could not get much advice or help deciding on wine-surprisingly little knowledge about the wine list!
We ordered 1 vegan main (aubergine that was divine) and 5 starters to share. This was way too much and we should have been advised that perhaps we wanted to rethink, but again no advice was given.
To make matters worse we had to wait over an hour for the food!
One waiter then started to fill our wine glasses to the top , as if we were in some mediocre pub! Simply so he didn’t have to refill again, I quote, I might as well empty the bottle now! No thank you very much I don’t drink wine like that! It’s enough that your wine glasses are very basic and does nothing to enhance  bouquet/scent/taste of the wine.
Despite ordering too much food we decided to have some desert as it was our anniversary (we had stated this at booking and it was acknowledge on arrival by the hostess)
For vegans there was only one option  - sorbet, lovely as that is
After having had the desert and 2 espresso martinis the same guy who filled our wineglasses to the top only to get rid of the bottle came out with 2 more - yeast you read that right! deserts on the house as it was our anniversary.
while this is very sweet. It was beyond too late! Who wants to havev2 deserts!
The correct thing would have been to bring out the deserts on the house when we ordered them!
Failing that they should have offered to take the deserts we had ordered off the bill or alternatively the martinis.
We can NOT recommend!

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