The Giffnock Ivy

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The 2011/12 edition of The List's Eating & Drinking Guide is out now – only £5.95 (+p&p).

This review is taken from the current (2011) edition.

You’ll quickly forgive the city boundary cab fare it costs you to reach this Giffnock establishment as there are few Southside restaurants that offer such high quality bistro cooking. Inside the space is intimate but still retains some privacy for each table and the friendly staff create a decidedly unfussy atmosphere. The smoked Scottish salmon starter is soft and fresh, complemented by a perky little cube of bloody mary jelly and a subtle horseradish cream. Three neat stacks of seared scallop with black pudding and pea purée are offset nicely with a refreshing lemon dressing. The emphasis on locally sourced produce continues into the main courses with beautifully tender braised pork belly, served in its own cooking juices infused with star anise. The jus is rich and tasty if a little sweet. Pan-fried fillets of sea bass are nicely salty against a bed of creamed leeks. A crunchy topped crème brûlée is a well-executed classic, accompanied by a wonderful piece of home-made shortbread that proves the kitchen’s dedication to making everything from scratch.

• High point: An intimate local bistro serving intelligent seasonal dishes
• Low point: Less imaginative desserts

2. B14MKE, Newton Mearns – 7 August 2009, 12:01amThe Giffnock IvyReport

Sorry just had to add here as I've just read the blurb attached to this site and a few other sites comments. This site mentions items that are not even on the menu. Comments from 2008 all seem very favourable............ I'll leave it there.

1. B14MKE, Newton Mearns – 6 August 2009, 11:44pmThe Giffnock IvyReport

Had a family meal at The Ivy(6/8/09), been there before and thought it was fab! Went tonight and was hugely disappointed, the menu has changed since we went in February '09 as have the staff. I can't expect menus to stay the same but the current one is unimaginative and almost bland and seems to rely for its flavours on black pudding and bacon. The food was cooked reasonably as was the presentation but that's all it was. My particular complaint is that the portions were on the range of stingy to meagre. Having been previously (on several occasions) I came away replete. Not so this time. Something has changed at The Ivy. As a family we came home and had to put more food on as we were not sustained.