The Ivy Bar

Venue Review by Yasmin Ali | 15 Sep 2009

In its new more bohemian location of up-and-coming Finnieston, The Ivy finds home in a more hospitable locale than the windy inclines at Charing Cross. Formerly 54 Below, the space has been transformed to a brighter, updated bar with trademark green signage and outdoor lighting.

To start, I had a starter portion of asparagus barley risotto (£3.50), which was very wholesome and filling. My partner had one of the two options for Soup of the Day (£3); a moreish chorizo and pureed potato soup drizzled with oil, served with bread and butter to whet the appetite.

After that filling first round, we both plumped for fish as our mains; mine was pan-roasted coley with saffron mash, fine beans, and olive, capers and tomato salsa (£8.50); my partner chose the day’s special: scallops with seared ham on a bed of puy lentils with hollandaise sauce and spinach with pine nuts (£9). The coley was lightly smoked and tender and the accompanying sauce was very tangy, softened by the mash. The scallops were a delicately flavoured affair and that difficult hollandaise sauce was faultless. After some rest we managed desert; our choices from the three on the menu were the divine hot chocolate pudding with ice cream and the delicate iced strawberry parfait with fresh berries, both a very reasonable £3.50 apiece.

We rounded off with killer espresso martinis (£5 each) – a coffee and butterscotch schnapps-based twist on the Absolut classic (also available), which did well to show off the Ivy staff's bar skills. Far from a one-trick-pony, this bar has a talented chef, well-catered menu and fully-stocked drinks cabinet.The Ivy is climbing new heights with its fresh new menu in its new home.

 

The Ivy Bar, 1102-1106 Argyle Street, Glasgow, G3 7RX Tel: 0141 337 3006

http://www.ivybar.co.uk