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.
Harden's survey result
Summary
Abu Dhabi royal Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed al-Nahyan was – as of mid 2025 – rumoured to be on the verge of buying a £1 billion stake in Richard Caring’s restaurant empire, of which this famous brasserie chain is the crown jewel. Presumably, he’s more interested in ‘rolling out’ the brand in The Gulf and beyond rather than dropping by for a Salmon Fishcake and ‘Ivy Chocolate Bombe’, but if he’d asked the opinion of our annual diners’ poll, we’re not sure that he’d sign on the dotted line. “How can a restaurant with this heritage produce such uninspired, tick-box food?” is a question merited by its poor ratings, ditto what explains the “very slow and disinterested service”? The answer may be that “you don’t come here for the food, obviously” but for the “gorgeous” interior design and “picturesque” locations that continue to underpin their appeal. Let’s hope for the Sheikh’s sake that the middle classes of the Arab World are as undiscerning as those from the UK!
Summary
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
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”.
For 34 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
Prices
| Availability | 2 courses | 3 courses |  |
 |
 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lunch | £19.17 |  |
|
|
Traditional European menu
| Starter | Main | Pudding |
|---|---|---|
| £11.20 | £26.50 | £8.75 |
| Drinks |
|
|---|---|
| Wine per bottle | £33.00 |
| Filter Coffee | £4.25 |
| Extras |
|
|---|---|
| Service | 12.50% |
Opening hours
| Monday | 8:30 am‑12 am |
| Tuesday | 8:30 am‑12 am |
| Wednesday | 8:30 am‑12 am |
| Thursday | 8:30 am‑12 am |
| Friday | 8:30 am‑1 am |
| Saturday | 8:30 am‑1 am |
| Sunday | 8:30 am‑12 am |
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