The Ivy

There's a cottage-like restaurant in L.A. that's infamous for its see-and-be-seen atmosphere; where producers and celebrities have been known to hold meetings to negotiate deals...or producers and celebrities' management, I should say. The decor is shabby-chic and punctuated by the white picket fence that separates the patio seating from the sidewalk. I've lived in L.A. my entire life and I work in the entertainment industry, but late December 2008 was my very first time dining at The Ivy.

I was with people who don't know or need to know about this blog, so I don't have any photos from the restaurant. However, I had several vegan (or veganizable) options from which to choose. To drink, I had fresh watermelon juice that was incredibly delicious. It had tiny pieces of diced watermelon in it, so it had a slushy quality and was lovely.

It wasn't apparent whether their pasta was fresh (i.e. containing eggs), so I asked the waiter. He returned with the news that several of their pasta shapes were, in fact, vegan. I ordered Rotini alla Checca; a fresh tomato, basil, olive oil, and garlic sauce. The photo above is my leftovers. The portion was huge! This is one of my favorite go-to meals to order in an omni restaurant and it hit the spot.

La piece de resistance was dessert. The Ivy serves spectacular sorbet. I had a sampler of peach, mango, coconut, and raspberry sorbets and they were easily the best I'd ever had.

While I'll never be able to afford The Ivy's hefty prices, it's good to know that, if I'm treated to a meal there, I can eat very well. It's definitely worth it to go at least once for the ambience and wonderful service.