The Ivy - Dunboyne

I was here for dinner, starter, main course, dessert and a few drinks. The best part was the dessert. The menu was not good and the food wasn't any better. For example I had the beef for main course. The menu says potatoes and carrots with all this other bumf. There was steak, with a tiny bit of mash under it and something I didn't recognise as a carrot (singular) and pepercorn sauce, minimalistic came to mind. I wouldn't eat here again or would spend that kind of money to eat there again. The waitress was very friendly but it was nearly like she was on her own. There were a few people there and I understand why. I'm regularly away travelling for work and travel and it was the worst meal out I've had in a long time.

I liked the ivy restaurant pretty much, it was not to busy when we eat their during the week. You normally choose from a menu which was around 35 euros . The chooses were wide and all the food was from good quality. Good wine and beer selection complete the quite good impression of the restaurant.

We were really disappointed with the service in the Ivy Restaurant. We asked if there was GF bread and the server said of course and then I never came back to us a simple update of unfortunately you didn’t have any would have been fine but instead we were sat waiting for something that never came. The lamb shank said it would come with parsnips which it didn’t, disappointing considering the cost of the food. We were given two scoops of mash potatoes for two people to share, while the man beside us got the same portion of mash and vegetables for just him similarly disappointing considering the prices. Our water was empty before our food even arrived and was never topped up at all throughout the meal. It then took over 20 minutes for our desserts to arrive which I assume is down to my friend asking for a vegan option due to her dairy intolerance. When our bill came there were no prices on it apart from €10 supplement for steak, €4 for chips and €32 for the wine, everything else had a zero against it which we didn’t understand and so assumed they must have used the €50 credit on our room. At check out we were charged a remaining €30 and our €50 credit was used. However, we never saw a breakdown of any of the prices of the food as a result as there were no prices on the menu. In total we paid €126 for a meal (2 courses and a bottle of wine) that we felt was not value for money considering the substandard level of service for a place charging this much to give context I’m going to the Merrion for a 3 course meal that is costing €120 for two people. Happy to pay this much for food and service when it meets the quality that is expected at such prices. Breakfast was similarly disappointing no one asked us if we wanted tea/coffee and toast and it was difficult to get the attention of a server. I eventually managed to ask for tea and white toast but she came back with warm brown bread and a teapot that had come off the hinge on one side so it wouldn’t close properly. Key issue was a lack of attention to detail which is quite frustrating when you’re paying such prices.

Food: 4 Service: 4 Atmosphere: 3