The dazzling new restaurant on Vicar Lane is now fully booked on a Saturday night until the end of December, and it is easy to see why.
The opening of The Ivy Asia Leeds was highly anticipated, with foodies across the city waiting eagerly for the opening date.
So of course we had to try it out for ourselves and one long, leisurely lunch later, we were certainly not disappointed.
As soon as you walk through the door, you are met with an opulent and elegant atmosphere, your coat is swiftly taken to the cloak room and the warmest of welcomes is given to you as you’re promptly shown to your table.
The interior of the restaurant is nothing short of mesmerising, with a luminous green onyx flooring that is dotted with beautiful cherry blossom trees and walls adorned with captivating colourful wallpaper and opulent, bespoke artwork.
Everywhere you look, you’re met with a feast for the eyes, so much so that you might start to feel full before you’ve even glanced at the menu. But fear not, we still managed to indulge in a full three course meal.
To drink we started with the Thai Green Curry cocktail and the Ivy-exclusive Sweet Harmony cocktail. The first was tequila based and was beautifully aromatic with both sweet and savoury undertones, finished with a dash of green tabasco which gave it that invigorating spicy hit.
The latter was fruity and bright yet had a depth to it due to the woody Hibiki Harmony Whiskey. Topped with maraschino cherry liqueur, this one had me going back for more again and again.
Now onto the food. Everything at The Ivy Asia is meant to be shared and enjoyed amongst friends with the dishes arriving as and when they are ready. First to the table was the Popcorn Shrimp lathered in a spicy, creamy sauce and served in a lavish silver goblet. This was a real crowdpleaser, it stuck around throughout the whole meal and saw our chopsticks diving back in at every spare moment.
Next was the Char Siu Pork Belly skewers, and I don’t mean to sound cliche but they really were ‘melt in the mouth’. Fatty, rich, salty and delicious.
For our mains we opted for the Black Cod with miso which was coated in a gloriously sticky, savoury glaze and was so tender that it flaked away effortlessly at the poke of a chopstick.
The real star of the show though was the Smoking Barbeque Lamb Rump served on a bed of aubergine. This was cooked to absolute perfection, charred on the outside and bursting with flavour, the middle pink and tender with minimal chewing required.
It’s important to note that the mains just come as they are, so sides have to be ordered separately. The Kimchi Fried Rice was hot and fresh, with that deliciously funky flavour from the fermented cabbage shining through.
For a bit of greenery we went for the Chilli and Ginger Stir-fried Greens, surprisingly this was one of our favourite dishes. Topped with fine strips of red chilli that set your mouth alight and crispy onions which gave you that satisfying crunch.
By this point we were full to the brim, however when mochi is on the menu you simply can’t turn it down. Before you knew it your table was cleared in the blink of an eye and replaced with a gorgeous, fabric lamp which perfectly separated the different stages of your meal.
The service overall was faultless, nothing was too much of an ask and everything was done with precision, accuracy and flair. Special mention to Jacob who made us feel right at home, so much so that by the end of it we felt as though we had made a new friend.
All in all, the experience was a fantastic one and The Ivy Asia makes for a perfect spot to celebrate a special occasion. With three courses and a few cocktails averaging in around the £100 mark per person, it’s one to save as a treat, but it is worth a trip to witness the spectacle and utter wonder that lays beyond those doors on Vicar Lane.
To find out more and to book your table, take a look at their website.
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