Location: 944 8th Avenue @ 56th Street New York, NY 10019
Cuisine: Nuevo American
Items: 2 Appetizers, 3 cocktails, 1 sandwich, 2 entrees, 1 dessert
Best Dish: It is hard to choose the very best but the appetizer course was incredibly flavorful. The shrimp sliders and steakhouse spring rolls are instantly addictive!
Overall: Comfortable atmosphere and super chic decor, a great after work or casual date night space.
Having a great meal shouldn’t always require a suit and tie. You also shouldn’t have to endure terrible service and inflated prices when giving yourself a little treat. The Ivy is a little slice of heaven near Hell’s Kitchen. The beautifully decorated space reminds us of a great apartment or lodge. The energy is light and casual but the food has a gourmet-quality that goes well beyond the usual bar fare. The space is easily one of NYC’s most fashionable new eateries. The location is just a few short blocks from Columbus Circle and Time Square and is quickly becoming a favorite among the area’s happy hour crowd. The Ivy is one of the few restaurants in the city with a happy hour 7 days a week. The happy hour specials are subject to change so you may want to call ahead and see what they are offering. I met a great friend there one Thursday evening for cocktails and dinner. I arrived just in time to taste his first beverage of the evening the “Kiss and Tell” which features the sweet-tart flavor of Stoli Razz and fresh Blueberry puree.
I ordered the white cosmopolitan and was pleasantly surprised at it fragrant citrus flavor. The taste is mild and slightly bitter like pink grapefruit juice, simply delicious.
We started our meal with a round of appetizers. First up were the “Shrimp Sliders”, three flavor-packed sandwiches served on the softest buttery rolls with just enough sauce. The sweet and savory morsels were amazing. I warn you these will be hard to share and even harder to forget.
Next up were the “Steakhouse Spring rolls”. Tender beef smoothes creamed spinach and mashed potatoes are rolled into a flaky crispy spring roll dough and served with 3 sauces.
After the appetizers, we were more than ready for the Crunch burger. At the Ivy the burgers are made with a unique combination of La Frieda beef and as such the meat is tender juicy and flavorful.
Though burgers and other finger foods are offered at this casual dining establishment there are more sophisticated items as well. Items such as the mixed seafood grill which has fresh scallops, succulent shrimp, and mahi-mahi served with grilled polenta and whipped tomato pesto for added zest.
For those watching their refined carbohydrates, the Ivy offers salads as well as a delicious whole wheat Penne dish made with fresh vegetables and grilled chicken.
As with all great meals we ended on a sweet note with a divine chocolate mousse pie, incredible!
The Ivy is a great foodie bar. The service is impeccable, the prices are more than reasonable and the food is excellent. The well laid out space is comfortable and inviting with a menu that will make you want to try every single dish.
Check out their new website at Ivybarnyc.com
