Place is a higher class restaurant for me. But the crispy chicken is the best thing on the menu. There are STRICT on the menu. I have eaten at both locations over the years and when they were location on 40 in the Ivy house. They are a little slow on service for a group of 12. I would never go there in a small group as they are not my type of place. I only like 1 item on the menu and I do not drink alcohol so there is no reason to go here unless it is for someone else. Wife does not care for it. read more

I stopped here at a work conference in Ocala the other week. It was a spectacle to see. To start off, the movie theater across the street was airing a miniature horse movie, and the miniature horse starring in the film showed up in a limousine in a red carpet with about 50 Ocala residents waiting. The building itself is super old-school and amazing to go check out inside. My crew and I sat outside and enjoy the nice December Florida weather. Unfortunately the restaurant was super shortstaffed and our drinks and food took forever. All in all, the dinner was excellent, so I can't complain and would recommend it to anyone visiting Ocala. Seafood pasta: 9.1 Service: 7.2 Scale system 10/10 would be what I want for my last meal 9.9-9.3 driving out of my way to get this 9.2-8.0 like the place and would go back 7.9-7.0 I would come here again if it were presented and don't have anything bad to say 6.9 and below - thanks but no thanks after try one read more

Ivy on the Square - Southern Near Me - Ocala, Florida

Ocala food scene is very unexpected. Ivy at the square has a variety of tasty drinks and treats. I've not had one bad meal. The staff was very friendly and accommodating. The ambiance is like a prohibition era vibe and unique in its on way. read more

Ivy on the Square - Skirt steak - Southern Near Me - Ocala, Florida

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We always call Ivy on the square, The Ivy House, because that's what it was for the last 30 something years. This family run restaurant does a great job and strive for excellence. The Crispy Chicken dinner is exceptional and the house special. My favorite is the fried cod or fried shrimp. But anything on the menu is great. They are closed on Sunday and Monday so pay attention to this. I love the Ivy house and the family. read more

Some of the seating was set up in the waiting area. The food was bland - I got the encrusted salmon dish. Was looking forward to a happening place but it didn't have much action. read more

Went here today for lunch. Found the prices high and the plates small. I had a Thai salad with shrimp. The shrimp was the only thing that was really nice on the salad. The lettuce was too soft for me, and just overwhelmed with the dressing that they pre dressed. Server was OK. Nothing negative nothing positive. But for sure, I will not be back. read more

I discovered this restaurant on my last visit to Florida but there was a pub crawl going on the day we wanted to dine here and they were booked. Fast forward to this trip and we were able to dine here at last. It was our last family dinner before our beloved Aunt Lynn passed. The Southern food here rocks! I truly enjoyed every bite of my dinner and so dis the family. Here are the details. We started the meal with a loaded Bloody Mary and some wine. This Bloody Mary went down smoothly and had a nice kick. Next I ordered the Baked Krispy Chicken entree which included delicious, juicy chicken, homemade Mac and Cheese, fresh greens and mouth watering cornbread. I wish they would have just brought me the whole pan of cornbread as I could have easily devoured it. We also shared BBQ shrimp grits which were seasoned perfectly. The Pecan Salmon was so moist and the hazelnut butter sauce served on top was delicious. Of course we saved room for their freshly made Key Lime pie which was luscious. We had terrific service and enjoyed chatting with the table next to us. Very friendly locals which I always love. I will definitely be back for more Southern cooking when I return. read more

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Everything about this place is positive. Food amazing, the atmosphere is beautiful, the service was right on point . Every single time is a great experience read more

Great food. Amazing staff. Make a reservation during the holidays. The food is yummy.

The restaurant is beautifully decorated inside. The menu is small but the choices are good. The food was delicious. I will be back.

Came back willingly. Never disappoints. I had to keep the onion soup away from my table mates. It was truly tasty. Fried green tomatoes could have been a little more toasty but still good. The pimento balls are crunchy and gooey inside and blended perfectly with the tangy dipping sauce. The BLT had a buttery bread with all the right layers of goodness. Along with a house salad with a blue cheese dressing it transported me to a piece of Heaven. Drinks were plentiful and even some local IPA was readily on tap and refreshing. After all of the filling options, we shared a coconut cake and key lime pie. The key lime was super creamy and not overly sweet as you often find with Key Lime. Definitely make it a thing to stop in when visiting downtown Ocala. And another cute detail is the fact that the waiting staff dresses in a gangster style. Very 1940's. Enjoy! read more

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The food was good, the service was great and the ambiance in the restaurant is very nice.

Absolutely beautiful restaurant. Prohibition style, staff is wearing peaky blinder attire, which i thought was fun and cool. I had read some good reviews, so i wanted to try it out, and i absolutely fell in love with my drinks and food. 1st, the flapper drink is so delicious it was a perfect start to my birthday weekend celebration. I ordered the steak, which was cooked perfectly and a side of grits. Let me just tell you i wish i lived closer because i would be in daily for those grits. They were amazing. My best friend had the seafood platter, which she raved about, so much food we had leftovers. The scallop appetizer was delicious and a perfect portion. The ambiance and decor was beautiful. Friendly and attentive staff. Definitely recommend. read more

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I have heard a lot of hype about this place. Upon entering, it has a very trendy southern chic decor. The staff was friendly. We did call ahead seating and still waited 45 min with only one couple ahead of us. We were expecting delicous southern food. I am not a person who adds salt to my food. This food although looked delicous badly needed salt. The filet was ordered medium and was served well done without any pink at all. Unfortunately we paid $38 for it. Our server did a good job keeping our cups filled. Over the best thing on our plates was the cornbread. read more

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Crispy salad with delicious salmon made for a perfect lunch for a good friend and birthday celebration! The Best!!!

The food is Awesome. Very nice ambiance... The Service is Always Great here. Whether we have gone with 2 people or 10. Love the Coffee Bar!! Nice Touch. I Always recommend Ivy on the Square to my Friends and Business Associates. read more

Beautiful restaurant and bar. The baked chicken was juicy with fresh vegies and THE BEST EVER cornbread! Carmello was attentive and made some great suggestions about the menu. Our glasses were never empty. The portions were big, Salmon and salads were delish. Will be back. What a nice place for dinner read more

We decided to go here for my birthday since it had decent reviews. I love Margaritas so I asked the bartender for the ingredients he usually mixes into them. I asked him to used the best ingredients and make sure to use lime instead of fake syrups but I don't think he understood that part. Anyway he gave us two extremely sour and strong Margaritas that we ended up leaving half glass full (they were that bad). Anyways make sure to order something from their drinks menu. We also ordered two appetizers, they took a long time to take our order and we were sitting at the bar. We had the bacon wrapped dates and some mozzarela little sandwiches. The dates were good, a little over cooked but flavor was great, the tiny grilled cheese sandwiches were too salty and nothing special about them. The decor was like prohibition era with some fancy chandeliers. Noise level was average and busy like any other restaurant in that area. read more

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Ivy on the Square has always been my mainstay for a good burger when I'm in this town. The decor is a little bit overdone but nonetheless it's very comfortable. It appears that the decor/ambiance appeals to mostly women ... that's what I mostly see as patrons when I'm at this restaurant. read more

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We came here for my mom's 80th birthday. Fastastic service by David! The ambiance is really nice and the place was full but yet it wasn't noisy which was nice. Our food came out timely after our appetizers. The bacon wrapped dates were amazing, also the caprese salad was excellent. My mom enjoyed the fried green tomatoes. We also had the pimento cheese fritters which my daughter enjoyed. The appetizers were all great. The burgers and fried cod wasn't up to our liking. We ordered moscato wine and it was excellent. They give you a 9 ounce pour which is amazing. read more

Always great lunch and be sure to try the homemade desserts. Wait staff and eating at bar always friendly and service oriented. A Ocala spot not to be missed. Weather allowing nic outdoor dining too!! read more

Ambiance and service good. Appetizers and drinks were good. Main course dishes were not. For appetizers we had the pimento cheese fritters and fried green tomatoes. They were both tasty. For main course, the crispy chicken was dry, and the baked potato wasn't done. For the shrimp creole the grits and the overall flavor was fine, but the vegetables weren't cook properly so we're still crunchy, and the shrimp tasted like frozen shrimp that had been boiled forever - couldn't even cut it with a fork, had to use a knife to cut a shrimp in half. The shrimp also didn't have any flavor whatsoever. I didn't end up eating them. So go, enjoy the other pants, hang out with friends get appetizers but beware of the main courses. Oh, and they also charge you extra if you use a credit card, so bring cash if you don't want to be charged. read more

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While visiting Ocala one Saturday with a friend we stumbled upon Ivy On The Square while exploring downtown. The ambiance inside is what could be considered a modern take on classic elegance. It was a popular place on a Saturday afternoon but we got a table immediately. I haven't had such a hard time choosing from a menu in a long time - everything sounded great! I settled on the shrimp po boy, served on a sourdough hoagie, that came with a heaping portion of cheese grits. Crispy shrimp and cheesy grits, you can't go wrong. I also ordered their Southern Stuffed Bloody Mary and it was one of the best bloody marys I've had anywhere: garnished with a stick of celery, three chilled shrimp, blue cheese-stuffed olives, pickled okra, and bacon. Incredible. Our server was friendly and attentive, and there is actually a boutique inside the restaurant if you need some retail therapy along with your lunch. The only negative about this place is some of their menus are so old and worn down that they are literally difficult to read. Nevertheless, this was a great find in Ocala and I'm already looking forward to going back soon. read more

Ivy on the Square - Southern Stuffed Bloody Mary - Southern Near Me - Ocala, Florida

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Came here for brunch and it was packed. While we were able to be seated immediately, service afterwards was quite slow. We got a bloody mary, which was very salty (barely finished ¼ of it) and a mimosa, which was good. I loved how it came with a mini bottle of champagne so you can refill on your own. I got the baked crispy chicken and my husband got the mahi mahi sandwich. Hubby thought the fish was overcooked, parts of it were burnt. My chicken was rather dry and flavorless, had to dunk it in my salad dressing to make it more edible. I'm not sure if we ordered the wrong things or maybe they had an off day, but would probably try somewhere else for brunch next time. read more

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What is the perfect cure for dreary, drab day? Dinner at Ivy on the Square seemed like a good answer. Low lights, exposed brick walls, jazzy piano music and the fancy (my daughter said) southern style of a bygone era made for a great dining atmosphere. We started with fried green tomatoes and southern fried mozzarella and our drinks. Both choices were tasty and wonderfully prepared. But the main dishes! Wow! Just great food. We ordered both Salmon dishes (baked and pecan encrusted) and our daughters both had the chicken Cesar salads. The quinoa/spinach bed under my salmon was outstanding! The mixed veggies with the baked almond was perfect (I did get a couple green beans). Definitely a great place to enjoy a fine dining experience. Caylan definitely took care of us! read more

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The service was excellent. We were seated outside at the table we requested upon walking in. It was our first time and we mainly wanted cocktails. We ordered off the cocktail menu and it was all great. We tried several appetizers. The waiter suggested the fried shrimp and it was delicious! It was the best fried shrimp I've ever had. The breading was light. We will definitely be returning again. read more

Ivy on the Square - The view from my patio seat. - Southern Near Me - Ocala, Florida

Food Amazing! Service Amazing! Visiting Ocala and decided to go to the farmers market downtown! This place did not disappoint! We started with bacon wrapped dates that were yummy! Thai inspired salad and turkey croissant were our main courses! Both were delicious! Their cornbread melts in your mouth! What a little gem of a place! We will be back!! read more

Ivy on the Square - Ivy on the Square - Southern Near Me - Ocala, Florida

This is a darling place with excellent food. I highly recommend having a reservation. Always great service provided by an excellent staff. Well worth it. read more

The restaurant was adorable but the food was cold and flavorless. (Especially for the price point). On top of all of it ... the fire alarm was going off the entire meal. They were awaiting a fire dept inspection and could not simply replace a battery. It was rather annoying . I personally will not return. Everything was rather mediocre . Sad, as it's a cute place in a great location .... read more

This restaurant is Beautiful, perfect for a Southern girl like me! The décor is elegant with a true Southern Charm, while the menu reminds you of home. They are known for their southern menu and sweet treats. We ordered (and shared which was plenty for two) the "Signature Platter" which included: · Baked Krispy Chicken and Fried Shrimp served with Mimi's homemade macaroni and cheese, vegetable of the day, a fresh garden salad, corny cornbread and a yeast roll Their fried chicken is unique, as it is baked and coated in corn flakes, it was good but not my favorite. My favorite was the fried shrimp, as they were battered in corn meal and fried golden, and I loved that they split each shrimp down the middle turning one shrimp into two crunchy delicious bites. The corny cornbread and yeast roll were both amazing, and I was surprised how tasty the yeast roll was as it was soft and full of flavor. The Mac N Cheese was tasty as well and the veggies were great too. This dish definitely reminded me of a southern meal, so if you missing home it will bring some great memories. For dessert, HOLY MOLY please get the "Pecan Tulipe": · Vanilla bean ice cream, chocolate ganache and whipped cream served in a homemade Parline shell, topped with a fruit garnish. I was also told it has a bourbon cream sauce. This desert was amazing and full of flavor! Although you will want to eat it all, it's enough to share with 4 people and we did haha. I will definitely get this again, even if I just go for dessert next time hehe... Lastly, be sure to get a Strawberry Mimosa, they add strawberry puree to Rosé champagne and its sooo good! Best Mimosa ever, and I'm pretty sure I'm qualified to say that haha. I love that they also give you the rest of the champagne in your mini champagne bottle allowing you to refill you glass for a 2nd time. :)) They offer indoor and outdoor seating. Indoor you will find a Beautiful bar area with some high top seating and in the dining room you will find tables that have both couch and chair seating making for a comfy dining experience. Outside they have table seating, along the front of the restaurant, for those beautiful sunny days. Oh but if you just want dessert, walk in an find a seat in the back of the dining room where they have a bar for Sweet Treats. I really love this place, and definitely look forward to going back and trying some other menu items! If you ever nearby definitely check them out. read more

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First time staying in Ocala and was pleasantly surprised with the downtown square. A lot of options for drinks and dinner. We stumbled on Ivy and it ws a gem. We ate at the bar and Brian was great. Had a martini and started with the bacon wrapped dates, which were the best i've ever had. Bacon was cook just right and the dates moist / sweet. We then split a pasta dish that was great. My only complaint was the shrimp in the pasta was a little tough. I also felt the prices were reasonable. read more

The food is very good and well prepared and I love the atmosphere. The service is amazing The staff is very friendly and attentive. read more

Ivy on the Square - Turkey sandwich with a cranberry sauce on the side - Southern Near Me - Ocala, Florida

The food and the service are on point. Our waiter made sure that the kitchen got my order correctly. I explained to him I was doing Keto and he even suggested the substitution. You have to order the fried green tomatoes and the pimiento cheese balls. read more

Ambiance is very nice and relaxing. Nicely decorated with a various lighting fixtures and decor. Good food at affordable price. Nice dinner date place. For a special Occasion. read more

This restaurant is such a treat in downtown Ocala! The atmosphere, the laid back feel and of course the food all lead to a lovely night on the town. We have not had a bad meal here and the staff is always attentive to our needs! We started with the Southern Grilled Mozzarella, which are a version of tasty grilled cheese sandwiches. The moved on the the Shrimp and Cheesy Grits. I went with the BBQ version over the Creole version and was very happy with my choice! My wife opted for their fried shrimp...always a crowed pleaser with green beans and carrots and a baked potato. They give you time between courses to let you chat, so please allow for some extra time for your meal! Relax and enjoy! read more

A charming dining option in the heart of downtown Ocala. Character and ambience galore. Outdoor seating available with outstanding service. Definitely a Southern menu with north Florida roots. Our entrees included Pecan Crusted Salmon and the Baked Krispy Chicken. The Mac & Cheese and homemade Cornbread as sides, were out of this world. All entrees served with a salad. No matter what, try the Fried Green Tomatoes appetizer. I really liked the cocktail menu. You can't go wrong with the Chocolate Martini, or Rum Smuggler if you like your citrus. Both prepped our palate for a slice of the Coconut Cake. read more

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We stopped for lunch on our way back home based on the Yelp reviews we read. We wanted to sit outside, but the inside is so unique with the silver colors/decorations that I wish I was comfortable eating inside restaurants because it looked very cool. The outside area has about 10 tables and it's nicely decorated. The menu is a variety of sandwiches, salads and hamburgers. Our server was very sweet and got our iced tea quickly. My husband and I couldn't decide if we wanted the krispy chicken sandwich or the French Dip, so we got both and shared them. The sandwiches are served with potato wedges. Our food came quickly and everything looked yummy. I started with the Krispy Chicken, which had tomato, lettuce and mayonnaise on a brioche bun. The chicken was tasty, the Mayo had a great flavor and the bun was fresh. The potato wedges were like puffy French fries. I thoroughly enjoyed the sandwich and the potatoes. I then had to try the French Dip. It was served with a small bowl of au jus, which unfortunately the person that brought our food had spilled at least half on the plate. The beef was tender and the grilled baguette was fresh. I liked the chicken sandwich better because I felt the French dip had too much bread for the amount of prime rib. We have been having great service lately, up until it's time to get our check, and this place was exactly the same. So weird. She finally did come back and apologized for the delay. She brought us two iced teas to go, which was great as we had a 2 hour drive home. Great stop and I would definitely return when in the area. read more

Amazing food, atmosphere, and service. it's been a while since my wife have been to Ivy, but I can remember how good the food was and the excellent service we received. The only disappointment we had, was there was no Pecan Tulipe and I was looking forward to that more then what I had ordered, which I forgot, lol I have every intention on going back to Ivy on The Square with some friends. read more

Ivy on the Square - Southern Near Me - Ocala, Florida

Nice outside tables... Upscale inside. Upscale patrons Nice bar The food was very good. Servers were very friendly Management was professional Reminded me of something you would find in Winter Park, Fl on Park Ave. Go take a look... read more

Clumsy slow absent minded service to dirty uncomfortable low couches that are either shot and need replacement or never were comfortable and need replacement. Moderate noise level. Interesting menu marred by a slow kitchen that can't get 6 meals to a table at the same time, all with the same level of heat. Good food, but nothing special. Table clearing in between courses is optional. Small mostly California wine list that was upsold. Stocky wine glasses that one could bowl with and not get a spare, with 2 balls. Perhaps someone from Des Moines would be impressed. I doubt it. Ivy won't kill anyone, but unlikely that you'll be back. read more