When I visited: Spring 2015, January 2016

Location: London, Covent Garden

Rating in the Michelin Guide: Not in Guide (used to be recommended)

Dining Owl Hoot rating: 3/5

What to wear: Men – jeans or nice trousers and a shirt; women – jeans and a smart top or a smart dress / workwear

Ambience: Smart, busy, lots of work people

Course of the meal: Chargrilled Banham half chicken

If I could change one thing: More innovative food

Review:

I visited the Ivy Market Grill for a couple of pre-theatre meals with my partner Owl and we enjoyed the meaty food on offer, which was served promptly (it’s always annoying when pre-theatre meals aren’t and you have to rush to get to your seat at the start of the show). There were lots of other people in there after work and we overheard an amusing conversation about how it was important that Labour didn’t win the election as they didn’t understand business (hmm). The food included chicken, posh fish and chips and tasty, if standard, desserts.

I was glad to see this restaurant mentioned in the 2016 Michelin Guide – it’s a good pre-theatre choice for any of the plays, musicals, operas and ballets in the Covent Garden area.