The Ivy - The Quintensential LA Experience
 

Oh brother.

I never considered myself blaise, but I guess I am compared to other OC'ers. One of my best friends had to go here. I had to fly out of LAX a couple of weeks ago so we shared a room at Le Meridien and we were to go out Sat nite in LA without either of us having to drive back to OC.

She really, really wanted to go here. I couldn't imagine. Did she want to see movie stars? Did she think we would end up sitting next to one? I still don't know. Anyway, she really, really wanted to go, her husband wouldn't take her, she was bummed so, like a good friend, I agreed to go with her even though I really, really didn't want to.

Parking. We did not valet. As driver, I would not give in on this - WE are not movie stars, street parking and quarters would be fine for us plus it was only a dollar an hour. Cheap compared to OC metered parking.

The wait. An hour, so I suggested we go across the street to News Cafe, which was a DELIGHT, and had the BEST drinks and, sitting on the patio she could see everyone coming in and out of the Ivy. (I gave her the seat with the view, my back was to the place.)

The tourists and paparazzi. They park themselves directly across the street, on the sidewalk, kind of in the alcove of a bank, holding their cameras at the ready or just kind of picnicing with styrofoam containers of food and drinks, fortified for the duration. Please.

The atmosphere. Almost impossible to explain unless you've been there. I don't think there is a more pretentious place on the planet. I made her be the one to put our name in and she forgot to request patio seating (out front), so we were placed in the inside back room. There is also an inside front room. The actual place is set up like a little antique kind of shabby chic granma's house motif with all the tables jammed together as tight as possible. Half-booths line one wall in the back room. That is where we sat, and this time I took the view seat in case anyone famous came in. I didn't know if she was the type to wig out, but it seemed a possibility ...

The patrons. We did NOT see any stars, thank god. I really don't know how subtle my friend would have been. Even turning around suddenly, getting big eyes and making an audible intake of breath would have made me cringe. What we did see and sitting just to my left in my direct view across our little tables was the BEST-LOOKING MAN I have ever seen in my life. Not real dark at all, but speaking Italian (can you stand it?) with his seatmate, a nice but average-looking girl (his sister?). To my right sat an older producer-type and his extremely young, fresh-faced, pretty date. We had reason to chat a bit and they were both very nice, him joking with us. Two tables over were two girls, very young, again fresh, natural beauties, who could have easily been models. So, no famous people, but extremely beautiful people. Note: It would seem the fake hair, boobs and nails look is waaaay out. All the girls were young, natural, gorgeous. And, of course, that guy ...

The food. Not great, not even that good. And the menu was real rough. Real minimum, not alot to choose from.

The prices. A cheeseburger was 22.50. Just remember you're paying for the ambience.

Reviews. Later we went to Cafe Veneto, a wine bar on Robertson, which I recommend highly. Of course, as with practically every restaurant server in LA, our bartender was gay and, of course, he was nuturing - the new gay chic - and wonderful. We loved him. (Before we left, he said, "oh wait, let me come around the bar and give you a hug.") Anyway, we asked what he thought of the Ivy and he said, and this is a guy with good taste, "It's my dream date." So there. I don't know why, but people want to say they've been there? Even bartenders that wait on stars regularly at their own restaurant. It's not the food, it's not the prices ... maybe it's all those good-looking people :)

Well, can't speak to the food at the Ivy, but if you are are star stalking it is actually a good bet for lunch. Several stars (Drew Barrymore comes to mind) make it a regular haunt for lunch meetings. Mostly you can plan on seeing stars who have their own production companies there for business lunches.

I forgot to mention -

The drinks. Like the food, expensive for what you got. My glasses of wine were around $11 each, and it was just your basic, drinkable chard. My friend got what everybody else seemed to be drinking, a mint juliep. Hip new drink? More like good breath freshener. I noticed more time spent chewing on the liquor-infused mint leaves than actual drinking.

I didn't realize Mint Juleps are the new in thing at the Ivy. Reminds me when I lived in Florida back in the 70's and everyone drank them (not me, I was a kid) ...

About four years ago, I was in L.A. on business, meeting with a movie producer involved in litigation over a really bad action movie filmed in Canada. (The lawsuit involved whether the film would qualify for Canadian tax credits). Nonchalantly, he suggested that we have lunch at the Ivy. There were four of us altogether. We got an outside table with no problem. (I assume the guy has some pull although he is essentially not a well-known producer). I don't remember seeing anyone famous. The atmosphere was nice. I do remember a kind of heady, Hollywood feeling to it. And the mint drink--which wasn't a mint julep but something different--was delicious.

All in all, a pretty cool L.A. experience--and work paid the bill!

UPDATE -

It turns out this place shows up regularly on Celebrities Uncensored, this E channel-type tv show, and one of the paparazzi on the show said that anytime a celebrity wants some publicity they just show up at The Ivy and they are sure to get their picture taken. They are very much aware of the paparazzi stationed across the street. So, she was totally expecting that at least one celebrity, of all of them out there, if not a whole bunch of them, with waning or whatever popularity, I guess, would be there trying to get some publicity.

The patio is very pretty, but food definitely so-so. Bloody Marys pretty good and the scones with homemade raspberry jam extrordinary - could have made a meal of just them! Had the Crab Benedict, which was pitiful - tasteless English muffin, no discernable crab taste, just not good at all - oh well. Hash browns good, though. Excellent, friendly service - prrobably because my brother is always mistaken for George Cloony! We didn't see anyone, as we were there the day of the Oscars, along with all the other nobodys who had nothing better to do! Guess we missed Sean Penn by a few minutes, though - story of my life! It's something you gotta do once, but that may be enough!

brendamc, forget about Sean Penn, is your brother single?! :eek:

Mojito
 

The mint drink was most likely the Cuban drink Mojito. They are VERY popular right now in LA with many different versions. Even though they are trendy they are tasty (I drink them at the Cuban restaurant by my home).

Wing - You're right! Not a Mint Juliep. Just called my friend and she got this drink because it had some foriegn vodka in it that she wanted (Swedish or Norweigan?). It was called an Ivy Gimlet - am I spelling it right?. It also had crushed ice and sugar. I thought the menu showed a Mint Juliep and that is what her drink looked like to me :confused: Perhaps this is the Ivy's version of a Mojito? Anyway, she liked it.

Pictures!
 

I guess J.Lo goes there alot -
http://www.bellalopez.com/cndd-ivy01.htm

Basically they are the same thing. Gimlets are gin, lime, sugar and I guess the Ivy adds mint and uses vodka not gin and a Mojito is lime, sugar, mint, rum and soda.

5 to Try: Classic Cocktails
By Citysearch Editors, Los Angeles

5 to Try

The Ivy
113 N Robertson Blvd, Los Angeles, CA
Even Hollywood's heaviest hitters have been rendered powerless by this cafe's pure and potent classic vodka gimlet

Musso & Frank Grill
6667 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA
Veteran bartenders create classic martinis by pouring an arc of Beefeater gin and a whisper of vermouth, half into a pedestal glass, half into a tiny carafe.


Bar Marmont
8171 W Sunset Blvd, West Hollywood, CA
Smooth, dark Maker's Mark Manhattans give this low-lit lounge an even sultrier vibe.


Polo Lounge at the Beverly Hills Hotel
9641 Sunset Blvd, Beverly Hills, CA
A Tom Collins puts a cherry on the top of any poolside rendezvous at Beverly Hills' historic hotel.


The Dresden Room
1760 N Vermont Ave, Los Angeles, CA
Lounge legends Marty and Elayne provide the soundtrack to the pitch-perfect sugar-rimmed sidecar.


http://losangeles.citysearch.com/rou...ome_2_1_bullet

If one goes to a Cuban restaurant, a mojito is a for sure, at least for me anyways.

Other than seeing stars ( I actually sat near Ringo Starr there once!!!) there is NO reason to go to The Ivy. The food is overpriced & average & the place is dripping with "attitude". If you're a "nobody", they treat you like you're taking up space that a more important person could be using.

Maybe next time Rudi is in town we can drag him here - if he hasn't already been.