Harden's says

The Ivy brand expansion reaches Edinburgh; in the group's first Scottish venture, Eric Garnier (former co-owner London's Racine) will oversee front of house at the New Town restaurant, which will open all day and boasts a mezzanine terrace and bar as well as 130-cover dining area.

survey result

Summary

£74
  £££
1
Poor
2
Average
3
Good
* Based on a three course dinner, half a bottle of wine, coffee, cover charge, service and VAT.

As per its siblings, this offshoot of Richard Caring’s brasserie format woos diners with its “lovely surroundings” and location in a “handy spot” overlooking St Andrew’s Square; also as per its siblings, there are critics of the “disappointing food, service and ambience”, for whom this endlessly expanding empire is “a chain taken too far”.

Summary

£68
  £££
2
Average
3
Good
4
Very Good
* Based on a three course dinner, half a bottle of wine, coffee, cover charge, service and VAT.

With its attractive and convenient setting overlooking St Andrew’s Square, this iteration of the Ivy generates a reasonable number of reports but somewhat limited enthusiasm – “fairly average food which tends to be expensive for what is now a chain restaurant”.

Summary

£68
  £££
2
Average
3
Good
4
Very Good
* Based on a three course dinner, half a bottle of wine, coffee, cover charge, service and VAT.

As per its siblings, this Ivy spinoff combines a “lovely”, art-filled location (in this case overlooking St Andrew's Square), some “very good” if slightly ordinary food, and prices “on the expensive side” – but, like its siblings, no one seems to mind too much.

Summary

£61
  £££
2
Average
3
Good
4
Very Good
* Based on a three course dinner, half a bottle of wine, coffee, cover charge, service and VAT.

“Lots of ladies lunching” indicates that this branch of Richard Caring’s Ivy roll-out is hitting an important segment of its target market. With its “reliably slick service” and “stylish surroundings”, it “doesn’t let you down” on keeping up appearances, but there’s a familiar feeling that, beneath the gloss, “the food is just ordinary” – and “rather overpriced”.

For 33 years we've been curating reviews of the UK's most notable restaurant. In a typical year, diners submit over 50,000 reviews to create the most authoritative restaurant guide in the UK. Each year, the guide is re-written from scratch based on this survey (although for the 2021 edition, reviews are little changed from 2020 as no survey could run for that year).

Have you eaten at The Ivy on the Square?

Restaurant details

No dress code

Prices

Availability 2 courses 3 courses coffee included service included
Lunch £17.95 £22.95

Traditional European menu

Starter Main Veggies Pudding
£12.00 £21.90 £4.95 £7.50
Drinks  
Wine per bottle £30.00
Filter Coffee £4.25
Extras  
Service 12.50%
Opening hours
Monday8:30 am‑10 pm
Tuesday8:30 am‑10 pm
Wednesday8:30 am‑10 pm
Thursday8:30 am‑10 pm
Friday8:30 am‑10:30 pm
Saturday8:30 am‑10:30 pm
Sunday8:30 am‑10 pm

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