The Ivy Asia has multiple outposts across the city – in Mayfair, Chelsea and St Paul’s – each boasting incredible interiors, fancy cocktails, and premium dishes, served with a flourish. Given these locations, it’s probably no surprise that their usual price point could be considered a little high for the average Londoner (though a great spot for a treat!) However, The Ivy Asia Elements Lunch Menu? I would argue it’s better value than some of the lunch deals out there, given it’s two- to three- courses of high end dining for under 30 quid.
The menu is available each week Sunday to Friday (Sun-Wed, 11.30am-close; Thurs/Fri, 11.30am-6pm) – however, it is only running until November 3. If you want to get a taste, you’ll need to be quick; I went myself to see if it lived up to the hype.
What is included in The Ivy Asia Elements Lunch Menu?
The meal starts with a snack of deliciously crispy wontons and poppadoms, served with a tasty hot sauce, followed by a starter. I highly recommend the yellowtail tartare, served with nori and rice crackers: it was simultaneously light and refreshing, while also packing a ton of flavour and textures. I was initially worried that the truffle would overpower all the other flavours, but it was incredibly subtle.
There are three choices of main dishes included in the Elements menu, with an additional fourth option, available for an additional cost. On the table, we each opted for something different, so of course, I tried a bit of everything. My favourite was the king prawn noodles, which looked so simple, but boasted a divinely umami flavour – I couldn’t get enough. The nasi goreng was also fantastic, though beware, it packs some serious spice. However, extra cost or not, you must order the beef short rib. My goodness, it was soft, seasoned gorgeously, and even though it wasn’t what I’d ordered myself, I was fighting to finish the portion. It was a bonus that the portion sizes are rather generous.
The extras
I was pretty stuffed after the two courses, but if you fancy a third course – dessert – it’s an extra £5pp. If you didn’t indulge in the beef short rib for your main, a third course will still keep the set menu under £30. While the table-side flambeed creme brulee looked pretty good, I opted for the milk chocolate and hazelnut truffle. It was indulgent without being overly sweet, and with every spoon, a new layer appeared; I loved it.
What will take this meal’s cost over £30, though, is the drinks. Now, I could have had water, but, well… I didn’t. The strawberry and watermelon margarita had my name on it, and it didn’t disappoint, as the flavours were balanced perfectly. If you fancy something a little stronger, you can’t go wrong with the guava paloma.
Although not an extra cost, I have to shout out the venue’s decor as a great value extra. Simply sitting beneath the ornately painted dragon on the ceiling, and atop the almost-luminous, geode-looking flooring is an experience in itself. Also, the service was fantastic. Despite it being a busy afternoon, we still had dedicated service from the staff. I was accompanied by my toddler daughter, and it can sometimes feel daunting as a parent walking into a high-end venue with a child (though this really shouldn’t be the case!). The staff here made us feel so at ease, and really took the time to make the experience enjoyable for my daughter too. Shout out to Sadia and Holly – thank you.
So, is The Ivy Asia Elements Lunch Menu worth it?
The Ivy Asia Elements Lunch Menu is absolutely worth it in my opinion. I would return in a heartbeat, and I’ll be raving about the experience to anyone who will listen for a while. We got the opportunity to experience the restaurant’s beautiful setting and fine-dining dishes at an affordable price, while walking away with full stomachs. It’s a shame this menu is only available for a limited time only; this would be a great permanent offer for The Ivy Asia. If you’d like to experience it yourself before this menu is off the table, you can make a booking on The Ivy Asia website.
