The joy of eating out again! Eat your way to helping local restaurants…
The first time I ate out since lockdown was at the Ivy Café in Richmond. After so many months at home, it was odd to be walking through their doors. And odder still, to stand in front of a machine that scanned my face and took my temperature and be asked to sanitise my hands before I moved into the restaurant. Now precautions are the norm (well, maybe not the face scan for most restaurants) and it would be feel odd not to go for the sanitiser as you walk in.
For the Ivy, social distancing is probably easier than for other local eateries. There are wide, sumptuous booths making it easy to sit apart from other diners. And the regular tables can easily be spaced out in such a large room. The staff assiduously bring you your cutlery held in napkins. But apart from that, everything seemed pretty normal and pretty wonderful.
To celebrate my first meal out in nearly five months, I had a Margarita, despite it being lunchtime. I swear it was the best Margarita I’ve ever had. It might have been the excitement of eating out with a friend I hadn’t seen for ages, or just eating out, but it was fabulous.
I started with the crispy duck salad (£7.95) – a wonderful mound of warm, crispy duck, toasted cashews, watermelon, beansprouts and ginger. Almost a meal in itself, it combined the sweetness of the nuts and duck with the edginess of the ginger. My friend, Helen, opted for the Yellowfin tuna carpaccio (£9.95) and, much as I loved mine, I loved hers more. Wafer thin tuna, with jalapeno and avocado sauce.
As usual, the staff were wonderfully attentive, without hovering around too much. Helen went on to have the sirloin steak (£24.95), which was perfectly cooked, being tender and juicy. Such a contrast to the following week, when we went to Browns in Bristol. The steak arrived on the plate looking grey and was so chewy I only ate half of it and the waiter couldn’t even be bothered to return our goodbyes as we left. Sad when you know these restaurants are desperate for our business.
For my mains at the Ivy, I had the chargrilled halloumi (£13.25), which came with giant couscous, smoked aubergine, pomegranate and labneh. Simple, but beautifully put together and perfect for lunch.
After a slow start for restaurants and cafes, according to a recent survey by statista.com, seated restaurants were up by 70% than this time last year in mid-August. Great news, although it looks like some, such as the vegetarian Oliveira in East Sheen remain closed. Other favourites since lockdown have been Fanoos in Sheen – a feast of Persian grilled meats, salads and mezes. Haweli in Barnes for really great Indian food, although admittedly, we tend to opt for take away rather than eat in. And Thai Elephant in Richmond, by the bus station, is also great, with good size portions.
Do keep eating out – it is a great way to support a local business.
Book for the Ivy Cafe Richmond
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