The Ivy Market Grill for Fine Pre-Theatre | London Dining

THE IVY MARKET GRILL
1 Henrietta Street
London WC2E 8PS
United Kingdom
44 20 3301 0200, https://theivymarketgrill.com/

By Scott Harrah

LONDON–The Ivy Market Grill is an upmarket institution in the theatre district of London. It’s a great place to stop for a delicious meal and fine cocktails and wine before catching a West End Show.

You will be charmed by British brasserie’s elegant ambiance and eclectic menu. One can choose to sit right outside in Covent Garden overlooking the famous piazza, but it was a typical rainy early June evening in London so we ate indoors in the simple but elegant dining room.

We started with an appetizer that was not on the pre-theatre menu: zucchini fritti, consisting of French-fried, crispy courgette (shoestring zucchini fries as we call them in the States) served with lemon, mint and chili yogurt sauce. We’re used to heavily battered vegetable tempura back in New York, but the version here is lighter, with very light breading, allowing the flavor of the zucchini to be fully enjoyed without overpowering oil.

I chose the steak tartare as a second appetizer. This consisted of hand-chopped rare beef sirloin with a Tabasco mustard dressing, cornichons, shallot, parsley, egg yolk and toasted granary bread and toasted granary bread (an English bread containing both white and whole wheat flour).

For the main course, we both chose the steak, egg and thick-cut chips from the pre-theatre menu. chose the chargrilled minute steak available on the pre-theatre menu. It is described as a “thinly beaten rump steak” with a fried egg. It tasted like a thin sirloin cut of meat, with garlic butter, thick cut chips and watercress for £3.50 supplement. It was perfectly cooked at medium rare as requested, and filling but not too heavy (a plus before heading to the theatre, when one does not want to be too full). This tender steak was great with a glass of bold wine.

For dessert, we chose the strawberry ice cream from the pre-theatre menu. It was scrumptious with pistachios and a unique white chocolate sauce. This went great with a cup of café Americano and a decadently sweet glass of Moscato wine.

The Ivy Market Grill is part of the renowned Ivy Collection of establishments and was one of our favorite pre-theatre restaurants in London. Two courses for pre-theatre dinner is £ 16.50; £ 21 for three.

If you are heading to a West End show, you cannot go wrong with this elegant establishment in the picturesque Covent Garden area of London.

Edited by Scott Harrah
Published June 30, 2019
Reviewed on June 11, 2019 in London

Steak tartare (hand-chopped rare beef sirloin with a Tabasco mustard dressing, cornichons, shallot, parsley, egg yolk) at Ivy Market Grill. Photo: Scott Harrah

Zucchini fritti, consisting of French-fried, crispy courgette. served with lemon, mint and chili yogurt sauce at Ivy Market Grill. Photo: Scott Harrah

Chargrilled minute steak, available on the pre-theatre menu at Ivy Market Grill. Photo: Scott Harrah

Ice cream served with fresh strawberries and a white chocolate sauce. Photo: Scott Harrah