The Ivy Exeter: 1917 Heritage Menu, Birthday Lunch & Classic Ivy Theatre

We booked The Ivy in Exeter to celebrate a birthday, opting for a relaxed lunchtime visit rather than a full evening affair. Although we didn’t flag the birthday when making the reservation, The Ivy Collection is well known for its thoughtful celebratory touches, and during our visit we noticed two or three nearby tables receiving complimentary birthday desserts complete with candles, a lovely, if slightly bittersweet, reminder of the Ivy’s reputation for making occasions feel special.

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First Impressions & Setting

As expected, the interior delivers the unmistakable Ivy aesthetic. Think Roaring Twenties glamour turned up to full volume: gilded high ceilings, classic globe lighting, statement chandeliers, richly patterned botanical wallpaper, and a fully stocked bar lined with high stools. The main dining room features a mix of round tables and comfortable booth seating, creating a space that feels both grand and sociable.

Our only minor criticism is that some of the potted plants looked a little tired, and a few areas could have benefited from more greenery to fully lean into the “over-the-top” botanical theme that Ivy interiors usually excel at. That said, the overall effect remains theatrical, polished, and instantly recognisable.

Service & Atmosphere

Despite the restaurant being busy, service was efficient and friendly throughout. We were seated promptly, and while there was a short pause before our orders were taken, it actually worked in our favour, giving us time to chat, look over the menu, and settle in.

Water and drinks arrived first, followed shortly by our food. Our waiter was attentive without hovering, and everything ran smoothly from start to finish. The Ivy excels at creating a sense of occasion even during lunch service, and the room buzzed with conversation and celebration.

The 1917 Heritage Menu £19.17 for Two Courses

We chose the 1917 Heritage Menu, which offers two courses for £19.17, a price point that feels genuinely good value for a venue of this style and reputation.

Starters

We sampled three starters between us:

French Onion Soup – Served with gratinated cheese croutons and parsley, this was comforting, rich, and well balanced, with depth rather than overpowering saltiness.
Robata Grilled Chicken Skewers – Accompanied by bang bang peanut sauce, sesame, coconut, lime, and coriander, this dish delivered layered flavour without overwhelming the palate. Nicely presented and very moreish.
Salt and Pepper Calamari – Finished with a sesame and gochujang glaze and an Asian slaw, this was crisp, light, and well seasoned, with the slaw adding freshness and contrast.

Other starter options on the menu include Tamarind Beetroot and Endive Salad and Duck Liver Parfait. Across the board, presentation was polished and flavours were well judged.

Mains

For our main courses, we ordered:

The Ivy Shepherd’s Pie – Slow-braised lamb and beef topped with Cheddar mash and served with a rosemary and red wine sauce. Comforting and well constructed, though slightly saltier than we would have preferred.
Pan-fried Aegean Sea Bream – Served with shaved fennel, Granny Smith apple, chive, and white wine velouté. Fresh and well cooked, though again leaning a touch salty for our taste.
Minute Steak (£4.95 supplement) – Thinly beaten steak with peppercorn sauce, crispy onions, and triple-cooked chips. The sauce was rich but slightly over-seasoned, which became a recurring theme across the mains.

Other main options include foraged wild mushroom and truffle linguine, Scottish smoked haddock and salmon fishcake, and sweet potato and spinach curry.

Portion sizes were moderate rather than generous, but for a two-course lunch they felt just right satisfying without leaving us overly full.

Desserts – A Familiar Ivy Finale

Although dessert is an optional £4.95 supplement on the Heritage Menu, we couldn’t resist.

Between the three of us, we shared two desserts:

Flambéed Crème Brûlée – Finished table side, this classic Ivy favourite features silky vanilla custard beneath a perfectly caramelised sugar crust. Always reliable and theatrically satisfying.
The Ivy Chocolate Bombe (£2.95 supplement) – A melting chocolate dome revealing vanilla ice cream, honeycomb, and hot caramel sauce. A crowd-pleaser and a signature Ivy moment.

These weren’t our first encounters with either dessert, we’d previously enjoyed them as part of the Birthday Dessert Box at The Ivy Clifton Brasserie but consistency is one of the Ivy’s strengths.

Other dessert options include Sticky Toffee Pudding, Classic Frozen Berries, and Barber’s Mature Cheddar.

Menu Overlap & Value

Beyond the Heritage Menu, The Ivy Exeter also offers an All Day Menu and a Taste of Winter Menu, the latter available as a two- or three-course set. Several Heritage Menu dishes appear across these menus at full price, including French Onion Soup, Salt and Pepper Calamari, Shepherd’s Pie, Minute Steak, and the Chocolate Bombe, reinforcing the sense that the Heritage Menu is genuinely good value.

What Other Diners Say

Reviews from other guests echo many of our impressions. The décor and atmosphere are consistently praised, with service often singled out, particularly from staff members like Samuel and Abby, who appear frequently in glowing birthday and anniversary reviews. Complimentary celebratory desserts are a recurring highlight, even if they aren’t always guaranteed.

Food feedback is largely positive, though some diners, like us, note occasional over-seasoning or slightly dry meats. Even so, most agree that the experience, service, and setting more than compensate.

Celebration Venue and Value

The Ivy Exeter delivers exactly what you expect and largely what you hope for from an Ivy restaurant. It’s stylish, theatrical, and polished, with attentive service and a strong sense of occasion. The 1917 Heritage Menu offers solid value, especially for a celebratory lunch, and the setting makes even an ordinary weekday feel special.

While a lighter hand with seasoning on some dishes would elevate the food further, the overall experience remains enjoyable, reliable, and unmistakably Ivy. If you’re looking for a celebratory lunch, a pre-event meal, or simply a taste of classic Ivy glamour in the heart of Exeter, this is a dependable and elegant choice.

Location Information

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