The Ivy Marlow Garden
Advertisements
Quick info
About The Ivy Marlow Garden
On High Street in Marlow, The Ivy Marlow Garden is a British restaurant with a long bar and an open layout filled with plants. The menu runs through seasonal British dishes, with a duck and watermelon salad a recurring order alongside tempura prawns and steak tartare. Smoked salmon and sea bream also appear regularly, and a set lunch menu is offered alongside afternoon tea. Wine arrives in an ice bucket kept away from the table, and locally brewed beer is available at the bar. The restaurant takes walk-ins rather than reservations. A patio area provides outside seating beyond the main dining room.
Advertisements
Reviews
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention duck watermelon salad, cocktails, steak tartare and afternoon tea.
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention duck watermelon salad, cocktails, steak tartare and afternoon tea.
Customer Review Summary
Reviewers most often single out attentive service, describing waiters who kept drinks topped up, handled allergens patiently and let a group decorate the table and bring a cake for an 80th birthday. The duck salad, called a winner every time, is the dish named most, followed by large tempura prawns, steak tartare, smoked salmon and sea bream in a good portion size. Others mention the cocktails, the plants and floral smells, the peaceful outside space, a live singer and a Polaroid and rose on Valentine's Day. One reviewer found the fish goujons dry but was reimbursed, and another wanted a wider vegetarian menu. Two reviewers describe a very different visit. A party of 12 was told on the morning that its afternoon tea booking was too large, then met missing gravy, off milk, spilt coke and a service charge added after a bill reduction. A table of four waited for a first drinks order and ended up refilling its own wine. Both were told dishes had run out, roast dinners in one case and the shepherd's pie after everyone else had been served in the other.
Customer Review Summary
Reviewers most often single out attentive service, describing waiters who kept drinks topped up, handled allergens patiently and let a group decorate the table and bring a cake for an 80th birthday. The duck salad, called a winner every time, is the dish named most, followed by large tempura prawns, steak tartare, smoked salmon and sea bream in a good portion size. Others mention the cocktails, the plants and floral smells, the peaceful outside space, a live singer and a Polaroid and rose on Valentine's Day. One reviewer found the fish goujons dry but was reimbursed, and another wanted a wider vegetarian menu. Two reviewers describe a very different visit. A party of 12 was told on the morning that its afternoon tea booking was too large, then met missing gravy, off milk, spilt coke and a service charge added after a bill reduction. A table of four waited for a first drinks order and ended up refilling its own wine. Both were told dishes had run out, roast dinners in one case and the shepherd's pie after everyone else had been served in the other.
Featured reviews
- Google user
“Attended The Ivy for the first time after hearing so many good things, but unfortunately it was a really disappointing experience. There were four of us dining, and it took around 30 minutes before anyone even came to take our drinks order. We ordered a few cocktails and a bottle of wine. As is usually the case, the wine was placed in an ice bucket away from the table, which is perfectly normal, as staff would normally keep an eye on it and top up your glasses. That never happened. Our cocktails and wine were left empty, and nobody asked if we’d like another drink. In the end, one of us had to keep getting up and walking over to the wine bucket to refill our own glasses while staff watched. The service felt incredibly poor and inattentive. To make matters worse, I ordered the shepherd’s pie. It wasn’t until everyone else’s meals had already been served that I was told they had run out. I genuinely thought they were joking. When we left, nobody asked how our meal had been or even said goodbye. Overall, the service was extremely disappointing and well below what I’d expected given The Ivy’s reputation.”
- Google user
“Excellent service from all the staff you encounter, nice surroundings and atmosphere with floral smells, tasty steaks (recommend the steak tartare) & locally brewed beer available. All in all, a very enjoyable evening with the family. Well done Ivy Marlow.”
- Google user
“What was meant to be a special treat for a group of carers to celebrate my 30th Birthday/baby shower turned into an afternoon of disappointment. Booked online for afternoon tea weeks before, to then be told on the morning of there was too many of us on the booking (12 people) so they couldn't accommodate. We phoned and spoke to them but they wouldn't even make an exception for us or offer any alternative. We had to honour our booking so still went for Sunday lunch. Half of the group ordered roast dinners to then be told they had run out (at 3pm) when the roast dinners did arrive it then took another 20 minutes for the accompanying vegetables to be served. No gravy either and when coffee was later ordered the milk was off. The waiter spilt coke all over one of our group members. The manager was less than polite and simply said they would take some money off the final bill. To then be given a larger amount of service charge on top of the bill. This evening I have seen pictures on social media of a group of 11 people enjoying afternoon tea. Clearly if you have enough money they can bend the rules! Will not and have not returned. Really really poor customer care!”
- Google user
“We had a large table booked for an 80th birthday meal. The setting and decore is lovely with lots of plants. Our server Hannah was brilliant with our table. She was patient and attentive helping a member of our group with allergens. She was professional and friendly, checking in on us without rushing us. The pace of the meal service was good too with pauses between courses but no wondering when the next course would arrive. The food was delicious and good portion sizes.I especially enjoyed the Duck watermelon salad I had. They let us decorate the table and bring a cake which helped the celebration feel more special for my Mother in Law.”
- Google user
“Our waiter Alex was simply fantastic, couldn’t have done enough for us! He has a real close eye for detail, the small things matter, like drink top-ups, water, ice, notifying us when the food is expected etc he really was superb! We went for the lunch set menu and actually the value for money was really a great surprise ! The duck salad is a winner - every single time! The tempura prawns are lightly battered and large - really good value for money. The fish goujons are not something I’d recommend as they were dry. However, we were reimbursed for this so we couldn’t be disappointed! We were there on a birthday lunch, the table next to us did receive a complimentary pudding (with candle) which I thought was a lovely touch. We had hoped we’d have received the same - but again can’t be disappointed I guess! The outside space is really lovely and peaceful”
Hours
- Monday
- Tuesday
- Wednesday
- Thursday
- Friday
- Saturday
- Sunday
Good to know
“Airy, stylish spot with a long, classic bar serving seasonal British fare & afternoon tea.”
- AccessibilityWheelchair: entrance, restroom, seating
Amenities
- Wheelchair accessible entrance
Show more amenities
- Accessibility· 2
- Wheelchair accessible restroom
- Wheelchair accessible seating
Location
Restaurants near The Ivy Marlow Garden
- Lavvin4.81,1510.1 mi£40–80Outdoor seatingVegan optionsVegetarian options
sunday roast, cocktails, hot starters
- The Hand and Flowers4.32,0570.3 mi£100+Outdoor seatingVegetarian optionsWheelchair accessible
pork main course, raspberry trifle, salt cod scotch egg
- The Bull Inn Bisham4.66560.8 mi£30–70
dessert trolley, steak, tiramisu
| Place | Rating | Distance | Price | Mentioned in reviews |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Ivy Marlow GardenWheelchair accessible | 4.42,588 | — | — | duck watermelon salad, cocktails, steak tartare |
| LavvinOutdoor seating · Vegan options · Vegetarian options | 4.81,151 | 0.1 mi | £40–80 | sunday roast, cocktails, hot starters |
| The Hand and FlowersOutdoor seating · Vegetarian options · Wheelchair accessible | 4.32,057 | 0.3 mi | £100+ | pork main course, raspberry trifle, salt cod scotch egg |
| The Bull Inn Bisham | 4.6656 | 0.8 mi | £30–70 | dessert trolley, steak, tiramisu |
The 3 nearest restaurants by distance. Ratings, hours and review terms come from public business profiles.
Similar Restaurants nearby
More to explore in Marlow
Places in Marlow
See all places in Marlow