Christmas Spirit At The Ivy, Harrogate

Our friendly server at The Ivy in Harrogate offers his observation halfway through the meal “I walk around the town and look in the other restaurants, none are as busy as we are” he says.

You can see why: when you enter The Ivy in Harrogate it really does feel like Christmas has arrived. The entrance is festively decked out, the outdoor heated terrace has Christmas trees and more festive lights than a Santa’s grotto, all tastefully done.


The menu too has been given a Christmas look. There are now 6 festive options to get you into the Christmas spirit, ranging from the Gingerbread Manhattan to the Nashi Bellini.

For your starter the Twice-baked cheese soufflé comes with gratinated mature Cheddar, Gouda and Edam cheese soufflé with cream sauce and grated black truffle. With enough cheese to give you sweet dreams I found it to be a cheese lovers delight. You could actually taste all the notes of each cheese.

My partner went for the Truffle Arancini - moist and tender with a good cheese truffle.


The menu now has a selection of luxury festive specials - the Goose shepherds pie comes with confit goose meat, pigs in blankets, creamed mashed potatoes and a cranberry sauce. Rich and very filling, you can opt for Brussels sprouts with chestnuts too as a side or parsnip and carrot baton fries.


My partner’s Veal rib-eye steak came with pommels aligot, crispy prosciutto, tomato and red pepper, sage leaves and a strong red wine sauce - a good combination to warm you up on a wintry night.

The Christmas pudding is actually set alight in front of you - a traditional recipe it had a good selection of almonds and redcurrants accompanied by a thick brandy cream.

I tried the Colston Bassett Stilton - unfortunately it was served far too cold for me instead of being served at room temperature which meant that the full flavour of the cheese was masked, or like eating with a cold.


The real treat though is The Letter To Santa, it’s meant really for younger guests but anyone young at heart will have a smile brought to their face. The idea it that it is a traditional offering to Santa and his helpers. With carrots for Santa’s reindeer, ice cream, a shortbread biscuit in the style of an Ivy leaf and one or two surprises it is a real festive treat.

Temperatures are checked upon entry, sanitizer on the tables, a rigorous cleaning regime between one set of guests dining and the next, plus exemplary service, it is all you could wish for.

You can see why The Ivy is so popular, our server was spot on in his earlier observation. Perhaps my Letter to Santa should say thank you to all the team here, they deserve it.

The Ivy, 7-9 Parliament Street, Harrogate HG1 2QU
Telephone 01423 787100
https://theivyharrogate.com/menus/