The Ivy St Albans Brasserie

A nice venue with good atmosphere. That is the good part. However I found the service to be fairly average and quite lacking in any personal way. Too many jacketed staff rushing about and not enough care taken with the table guests. To begin with the food is ok, and I mean ok, a large starter of bread whilst I wait for my actual starter. As it happened I could have waited all day as it was not delivered at all leaving me to just try and graze on my sour dough bread and increase my gluten content. When our mains arrived I reminded the staff that I was still waiting for my starter. The reply was apologetic and I could have it asap ( after my main course). Rather disappointing for a restaurant that trades highly on its name and reputation. The food when it came was ok, although my wife’s steak was chewy and not well cooked. The bright spot was the dessert. Overall I am extremely disappointed having eaten a few times in the Asia version with fantastic food and service each time. What was supposed to be a celebratory meal was really very average and not worth the money paid. I left the restaurant full of sour dough bread and a feeling that I could have spent much less for much better food and service at a gastro pub.

Service was very good but had to go on-line to view the gluten free menu but that was not very succesful with bad wifi