Anyone acquainted with The Ivy restaurants will know they excel at Christmas celebrations. Upon entering The Ivy Liverpool Brasserie on Castle Street, the brand's expertise was evident once again. My sister and I came to experience their Christmas menu, and despite the November date, the festive spirit was in full swing.
The Festive Set Menu costs £55 for two courses or £60 for three courses, offering starters like French onion soup, duck liver parfait, and tamarind beetroot salad. Main dishes include turkey ballotine, pan-fried sea bass, and a plant-based bake. Puddings feature flambéed Christmas pudding and the signature Ivy chocolate bombe.
For starter, we chose the French onion soup, topped with melted cheese and croutons that had soaked up the rich, salty broth. It was a delightful burst of warm, caramelised onion flavour. For main, my sister opted for the crispy sea bass fillet with wild mushroom velouté, praising the perfectly cooked fish.
I chose the Christmas shepherd's pie, which came with Brussels sprouts. Before my meal arrived, a personal bottle of Worcestershire sauce was brought to my table—the secret ingredient. The pie consisted of tender duck, lamb and beef, crowned with golden mashed potato, baked sage and orange zest, served with cranberry chutney and red wine sauce. It was the best shepherd's pie I've ever tasted; the Worcestershire sauce added incredible umami.
For dessert, I had Christmas crème brûlée, a silky vanilla custard with caramelised sugar crust, spiced berry compote, and buttery shortbread. It was scrumptious, though I couldn't detect the cinnamon. The meal was indulgent, and considering the quality, service, and surroundings, the price offers fantastic value.
