The Ivy, Los Angeles

I love The Ivy; it’s a must visit on any Los Angels visit. I’ve been for dinner in years past, but of late, my aunt and I have made it our first stop for a late lunch after we land in town. It’s a way to immerse ourselves in an old favorite first thing before kicking off shopping shenanigans. In its prime, this was THE place to go, and you could hope to see a celebrity. I’m not sure it’s on the same level it used to be, but it’s still a hot spot. I just love the cozy atmosphere. Flowers everywhere, real flowers on the table, painted flowers on the china, flowers in the drinks…its so welcoming.  The menu is fairly eclectic: pasta, seafood, enchiladas? I loved the tasty cocktails, but I will admit the presentation is doing a lot for me. Still, I could sit outside on the patio and drink sangria all day. To start, we shared the crab cakes which were ok; I’ve had better. The lobster ravioli I had for my main course made up for that, it was wonderful. And to finish, we shared the red velvet cake. We were only going to have a bite, we polished that thing off.  The ivy is mostly about the vibes and atmosphere. It’s a truly pleasant way to while away a meal. The food is good, but can vary depending on what you have. It will remain a must visit on my LA trips.