Safety measures at The Ivy Montellier Brasserie, Cheltenham
So for our very first meal out after lockdown, we decided to do it in style thanks to an invite from The Ivy Montpellier Brasserie in Cheltenham to see first hand what safety measures they have in place. (Our meal was complementary but I have not been asked to write this review.)
Outside they have spots marked on the pavement to keep groups socially distant and someone is waiting outside to greet you. Once in, the first safety measure they have is a high tech scanner that brings up your image on screen and tells you your temperature. This is to record visitors for track and trace. If you get a green light, you are led through to your table by a very smartly dressed host. On the table is your own small bottle of hand sanitiser to use.
Exceptional Service at The Ivy Montpellier
The service at The Ivy Montpellier Brasserie has always been amazing, and this evening was no exception, I took my Mum for a treat and we had been understandably a little nervous about going out but we felt absolutely fine about it. We had such a friendly welcome, it’s clear that the staff are thrilled to be back and have their guests in again. There are fewer tables now, but it didn’t feel empty by any means and there was just as much atmosphere as there always was.
New Menu at The Ivy Montpellier Cheltenham
We were just going to have mains and desserts but our waiter surprised us with some nibbles to begin with, some zucchini fritti with a delicious lemon, chilli and mint yoghurt dip and the most incredible truffle arancini which were my favourite. My Mum and I are both vegetarian and The Ivy Montpellier Brasserie has a special vegetarian menu packed with choice which is lovely as often you get maybe one or two dishes to choose from, not your own menu!
Cocktails at The Ivy Cheltenham
We also enjoyed some of the virgin cocktails on offer and the non alcoholic peach bellini was absolutely delicious! We also tried one of their Sibling alcohol free gin cocktails and that was amazing too, so like the real thing, a great alternative if you’re driving.
Vegetarian Dishes at The Ivy Montpellier
The mains were also excellent and so creative, the combinations of flavours and colours make every course a total sensory experience, with plates of food visually stunning as well as delicious. We couldn’t decide on the mains and so shared a garden pea risotto served with a wedge of melty goat’s cheese and a rocket and pea shoot salad and a char-grilled halloumi dish with giant couscous, smoked aubergine, red pepper purée, toasted almonds and labnah with pomegranate seeds, honestly a complete taste sensation. We had some sides of vegetables, peas and sugar snaps which were perfectly cooked and the spouting broccoli in lemon oil and sea salt. Nothing is boring at The Ivy Montpellier!
Puddings at The Ivy Montpellier Cheltenham
Finally, (and most importantly in my opinion!) onto puddings, genuinely one of my favourite parts of a meal! My Mum opted for frozen berries with yoghurt sorbet and a warm white chocolate sauce and I chose a strawberry sundae with decadent swirls of cream and ice cream, a thick strawberry sauce to pour over, little toasted meringues and a homemade shortbread biscuit. A really triumphant end to the meal!
How safe did I feel?
I was worried about how I might feel on our first meal inside somewhere else after so long at home but I needn’t have worried. Aside from the safety measures like the temperature taking on arrival and the hand sanitiser on the tables, everything else put in place for your safety is very subtle, like the spacing between tables and the waiters keeping a distance and it felt like a normal night out. I think it was probably our best meal food wise that we have ever had, I think the chefs have spent the lockdown working on menu ideas and it certainly shows in the quality and creativity of the dishes. Each one delicious and visually works of art!
Final Thoughts
As we start to go back out and about, we are understandably going to be apprehensive but the staff at The Ivy Montpellier Cheltenham are going above and beyond to make sure their customers can enjoy a dining experience in the safest way possible. The food was exceptionally good, the service was attentive and friendly and the atmosphere was buzzing. If you are venturing out in Cheltenham and choose The Ivy Brasserie, you can be sure of a very friendly welcome, I think they have missed us as much as we have missed them.
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