Restaurant Review: Ivy Bar and Grill

It has been days since we went and we are still thinking about the great time we had!

Ivy Bar and Grill, located on Hell’s Kitchen, is a lively and fun filled bar that not only has some of the friendliest staff but also has some of the tastiest food around.  With nicely dimmed lighting and a killer playlist of 2000’s throwbacks with some more current pop hits, it is hard not to get a burst of energy upon first walking into this establishment and once you sit down and look at the chic décor and the energetic people around you, you know for a fact that you are going to have a good time here.

If you are looking for a bar to hang out and have a few drinks on a Friday night then Ivy Bar and Grill is the perfect choice for you because they have some of the tastiest drinks around that will surely get you going.  If you are looking for a drink that is refreshing and goes down nicely, then the Summer Splash is the drink to get.  Made with house watermelon, basil infused organic vodka, fresh lemon juice, a dash of simple syrup, and club soda, this drink is as tasty as it sounds.  You are first hit with the taste of basil and mint upon the first few sips but then it hits you with a burst of acidity and freshness all while being super bubbly from the club soda.  Another great drink to have is the Key Lime Martini made with Stoli vanilla, fresh lime juice, simple syrup, a splash of pineapple, and a graham cracker rim.  This drink tastes exactly like a key lime pie.  It’s not too sweet, has a lot of bright flavors, and with this graham cracker rim, it adds a great cinnamon note at the back of your palate when you take your first few sips.

Some of the appetizers that they serve are to die for.  The grilled pizza made with fontina cheese, asparagus, and a drizzle of truffle oil was perfect.  The pizza was grilled nicely and has a really good crunch to the crust and the cheese wasn’t too overwhelming and fatty.  And the asparagus added a really nice crunch in every bite and made this appetizer all the more savory and delicious.  Another amazing appetizer that you must check out is the truffle fries served with a black truffle aioli on the side.  These fries are everything you could ask for in fries and more.  They had a really nice crunch to it (and let’s be honest, soggy fries are the absolute worst thing ever) and was seasoned nicely with the grated parmigiano – reggiano cheese on top.  The fries were salty but not too salty which was great and paired with the black truffle aioli gives the fries that tangy and vibrant burst of flavor that takes this dish to a whole other level.

Ivy Bar and Grill is known for their burgers and sandwiches and something that the server recommended was the Ivy grilled cheese made with soft ripened brie cheese, mango chutney, avocado, and on a griddled sourdough bread and it was one of the best grilled cheeses out there.  The bread was crisp and toasted perfectly and as soon as you take that first bite you get that sharp and tangy brie cheese flavor.  But right after that cheese flavor hits you, everything mellows out with the creaminess of the avocado, and on the very last note you get the sweet and acidic mango chutney that sort of acts like a palate cleanser.  This is a sandwich that you just won’t be able to stop eating and this grilled cheese will leave a mark on you for a long time and will definitely make you want to come back to this restaurant every single time you get that strong craving for a tasty grilled cheese.

And what’s a meal without dessert?  On this particular night Ivy Bar and Grill had a signature chocolate mousse layer cake that, in all fairness, is a dessert that is fairly common to find in any restaurant.  But, this cake is every chocolate lovers dream.  The chocolate mousse was light and airy and had that bittersweet chocolate flavor to it, which was perfect because an overtly sweet chocolate mousse is practically inedible.  And the cake itself was moist and bursting with chocolatey flavor and goodness and paired with the small raspberry reduction on the plate made for a perfect flavor combo

All in all, Ivy Bar and Grill made its mark with friendly service, great food, and such a fantastic energy.  If you ever find yourself in Hell’s Kitchen and in the mood for some great food and a great time, then this place is definitely the place to be.