Richard Caring continues to expand his most bankable brand, The Ivy, with two more casual café offerings. The first Ivy Café launched on the former site of Union Café (RIP) in Marylebone last year. The latest spin-off, in Wimbledon Village, opened today (1 June), with a site due in St John’s Wood on 22 June.
The Wimbledon café takes over a space previously occupied by Barclays Bank serving everything from breakfast and brunch to cream tea, lunch and dinner. The 120-cover venue also vaunts a garden dining terrace and a 20-seater private dining room.
Expect dishes such as: The Ivy Café’s shepherd’s pie – slow-braised lamb shoulder with beef and Keen’s Cheddar potato mash; chicken liver parfait – caramalised hazelnut, cherry and Szechuan pepper compote, toasted ciabatta; and lobster risotto with fennel, lemon and tomato. The menu will also feature a selection of cocktails, like: ‘The Ivy Café Royale’ – hibiscus gin, sloe infusion, rose water, Crémant and ‘London Spritz’ – earl grey gin, lemon and orange oleo sacchurum, Cocchi Americano, Prosecco, soda.
The Ivy Café in St John’s Wood takes over the former home of Megan’s Café Grill & Bar (RIP) on the High Street. The 100-cover venue includes Parisian-style, street-tables. The restaurant will open daily from 8am and feature an all-day caféstyle menu offering breakfast, elevenses, lunch, light snacks, cream tea, cocktails, weekend brunch and dinner, ensuring there is something on offer for all occasions.
Expect dishes such as: Tuna carpaccio – crushed avocado, jalapeá¹…o, coriander and lime dressing with shaved radish; chicken Milanese – brioche crumbed chicken Milanese with fried hen’s egg and black truffle; and roasted butternut squash – with grains, salad of buckwheat, chickpea, pumpkin seeds and pomegranate, with crumbled feta, harrisa, yoghurt and coriander dressing.
The menu will also feature a selection of cocktails. Top tipples include ‘Garden of the Abbey’ – Elderflower vodka, cucumber apple, lime, cider sparkle and the ‘Negroni tasting set’ – white, classic and boulevardier.
