The ivy remains the best of a bad bunch of restaurants in the affluent town of Cobham Surrey. This was my fifth visit over several years and I must confess that I left disappointed with a considerable bill for a very average meal. Firstly the setting, top notch by the river , well laid out professionally designed restaurant.
The food was disappointing though . My wife and I ordered salt and pepper squid and roasted scallops. The squid was a meagre portion served in a cloth napkin with a fairly nice dipping sauce. The scallops were a generous portion with a foam and chopped green . Both dishes were served luke warm. The scallops just didn't seem freshly prepared and were as disappointing as the squid. I had a hamburger with cheddar cheese (2.50extra) the patty was of decent quality way too small for the oversized seeded bun . The cheese slice was minuscule and the burger was juicy but overcooked. Nice pickle was served on top. Disappointing for simple comfort food. My wife had a sea bass . Nice tasty but Luke warm as well.
It took 20 minutes for my desert order to be taken and a further 20 minutes for it to be brought out. Average but very mildly warm. My wife had two glasses of white wine ( Viognier )One glass was served in a stemmed wine glass the second in a beer glass!! Waiter and bar tender were unapologetic....
The bill was 136 pounds for two bland starters, a burger , sea bass , sticky toffee pudding 1 sparkling water and two glasses of wine.
The restaurant used to be packed. Now it's half empty and in dire need of a competent manager. As someone who has spent a lot of time in residential and commercial kitchens I would wager that most of the food except the burger was prepared offsite. Top it off with poor service and wine in a beer glass . A disappointing expensive evening. I do not expect to return again read more