REVIEW: Mother's day menu at The Ivy in Winchester

On Sunday, March 23, I was given the opportunity to try out the new Mother’s Day set menu at The Ivy Winchester and what better way to experience it than being accompanied by two generations - my mother and grandmother, Emma Thompson and Wendy Mewes. 

I must admit that we are no strangers to this brasserie; in fact, it has been my chosen birthday destination for four years. You just can’t fault it.

Upon arrival, we were greeted by a very friendly lady, who was quick off the mark when asking about intolerances and food allergies, before taking us to our seats (which happened to be one of the nicest spots in the restaurant). 

Collectively, we agreed that we couldn’t have asked for a better table; the atmosphere was light and airy, situated right next to a gorgeous stained-glass window with a lovely view of the high street, which was arguably made better with a cocktail in hand.

READ MORE: New chocolate cafe to open on Winchester High Street at former Hobbs shop

Delicious drinks on offer (Image: Eve Thompson) The newly introduced drinks were beautifully presented and very refreshing, with a raspberry dust on the side of the glass, counteracting the sweetness of the alcoholic cocktail, ‘Strawberry & Rose Garden’. As the designated driver, I also had a mocktail called ‘The Wild Bloom’, which was fruity and a super alcohol-free alternative.

Though the restaurant was relatively busy, the service was punctual and there was never a moment in which we were waiting to be served. Rosie Lambert, one of the supervisors, was a breath of fresh air and unwaveringly attentive to us and our needs, not to mention her timeliness with our orders.

Shortly after inhaling our drinks, we were greeted with some outstanding starters. My grandmother and I chose the ‘Ivy Classic Crispy Duck Salad’, which was warm and bursting with flavour. My mother had the “Crab and Avocado Tian’, which was a showstopper, as well as being equally as tasty and fresh.

SEE MORE: Winchester’s own ‘ARTYsan’ bakery gets a new spring window design

The dishes on offer at The Ivy (Image: Eve Thompson) For our main course, we each selected a different dish, giving us the chance to try a variety of cuisine. I opted for ‘Chargrilled Halloumi with Harissa Grains’ which was served with red peppers and courgettes, red chilli, pine nuts, and micro salad cress with herb dressing. Usually, I find halloumi to be a hit-or-miss situation, however, it was cooked perfectly and seasoned exactly to my taste.

My mother had the ‘Fillet of Sea Bass with Smoked Aubergine’ which was accompanied by asparagus, and a tomato and sherry dressing. Unfortunately, it was finished within seconds of being put on the table, so I didn’t get a look in, but that in itself speaks volumes.

As a lover of Asian cuisine, my grandmother had the ‘Korean Glazed Chicken’, which was dressed with an avocado and jalapeño sauce, citrus mayonnaise, sesame and pickled mooli. Apparently, it tasted as good as it looked, which is a huge accolade from my grandmother - a self-proclaimed critic of almost everything. 

Might I add, portion sizes for all the dishes were generous and certainly left us satiated, which we have found is a rarity when eating out these days.  

After finishing our meals and agreeing that it was a strong contender for the best we’d ever had, we thought it would be rude not to have a dessert even though we were bursting at the seams. 

READ MORE: Independent lifestyle shop to expand to Winchester city centre

The ‘Raspberry Bloom Parfait’ is like artwork. (Image: Eve Thompson) Again, we ordered one of each, and as an individual with a sweet tooth, naturally, this course was my favourite. The ‘Raspberry Bloom Parfait’ caught my eye immediately. I certainly didn’t regret my decision when it arrived. As a new dessert created especially for the occasion, I do hope it makes it onto the regular menu. 

All three desserts were spectacular, but the parfait stole the show. Not only was the presentation unlike anything I’ve ever seen before, shaped as a rose bud and garnished with edible flowers, but it was an explosion of flavour. 

It really was a remarkable dessert in every way; the effort put into it was admirable, and it wasn’t overly sweet, which I sometimes find with raspberry flavours. I’m sure the other two were equally as delicious, but again, I wasn’t fortunate enough to be offered any before they disappeared!

Overall, our experience at The Ivy was outstanding. From the service to the atmosphere to the food, we genuinely could not find fault and continued talking about the meal hours later. 

I definitely won’t be changing my birthday tradition any time soon!

(The Mother’s Day set menu is available the day before Mother’s Day, as well as the option to book. Suitable for mums of all ages, it’s not one to miss).