Harden's says
In a major departure for The Ivy group, the second floor of the new Ivy Spinningfields complex is an Asian restuarant; opulence is the key word for the decor, which includes a green floor made of semi-precious stone.
Harden's survey result
Summary
“Stunning food in a stunning setting with St Paul’s as a to-die-for backdrop…” (in EC4); “the superb atmosphere of the very colourful room sets the mood…” (in SW3): – Praise isn’t short on the ground for these maximalist pan-Asian venues. They are easy to diss, but most reporters actually feel that, OK, they’re “a bit pricey” for their hotch-potch of pan-Asian “classical dishes”; seem “slightly tasteless”; are “very noisy”; but, for all that, overall are “still a lot of fun”. There is also though, a minority of diners that loathe them for a variety of reasons; and feel that “the prostitution of the Ivy brand continues apace”. (“The western siblings are fine, but this faux-Asian set-up is a travesty – the worst sort of western cultural appropriation and arrogant corruption…”; “opulent surroundings and extravagant presentation cannot disguise overpriced and underwhelming food…”; “it’s all flashing lights and selfies. We will not be going back!”)
Summary
“It’s noisy and chaotic” at this glossy Asian-themed operation, upstairs from the Spinningfields Ivy – “but if you want to give your teens or twenty-somethings a good lunch/night out, you won’t go far wrong”. For all the glam styling of the interior – even the floor shimmers with semi-precious stones – some diners complain that the pan-Asian food can “taste a little processed”.
Summary
The Spinningfields launch-site for Richard Caring’s Asian-themed Ivy spin-off provides a “stunning setting” for a celebration, and staff “cannot do enough to ensure an enjoyable time has been had”. The glossily OTT interior is a real feast for the eyes, with a floor of green semi-precious stone and a (slightly cheesy) pagoda roof across the bar – and if some feel “the food is average”, most reporets seem happy enough with the pan-Asianish menu.
Summary
On the second floor of Spinningfields – this Asian-themed branch of Richard Caring’s ever-growing Ivy-branded empire set a new direction when it opened a couple of years ago. Fans of OTT decor find the interior “wonderful” – the green floor is made of semi-precious stone and a pagoda roof adorns the bar. Since this opened they've exported the Asian concept ‘darn sarf’, via St Paul's (in Jamie Oliver’s former Barbecoa site), Chelsea and – as of late 2021 – an upcoming Guildford site. The pan-Asian menu is more than an afterthought – generally rated quite highly – but a little beside the point.
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 Asia?
Restaurant details
Prices
 Drinks |
|
|---|---|
| Wine per bottle | £33.00 |
| Filter Coffee | £4.25 |
 Extras |
|
|---|---|
| Service | 10.00% |
Opening hours
| Monday | 5 pm‑1 am |
| Tuesday | 5 pm‑1 am |
| Wednesday | 5 pm‑1 am |
| Thursday | 5 pm‑1 am |
| Friday | 12 pm‑2 am |
| Saturday | 12 pm‑2 am |
| Sunday | 12 pm‑1 am |
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