As I watch the news about the UK
going into lockdown again, I can’t help but reminisce about the little bit of freedom
we had over the summer. Walking into a restaurant or bar felt as exhilarating as
getting on a plane. The first time I got the chance to go out for lunch post
lockdown 1.0, my friend and I went to The Ivy Asia St Paul’s. I’ve been wanting
to go for a while as I’d heard good reviews, so jumped at the chance when we
got a table. This Asian fusion
restaurant is one of the newest in the IVY collection which specialises mostly,
but not exclusively, in Japanese and Korean cuisine. This restaurant
in St Pauls is spectacular. The emerald green floor covered in semi-precious
stones is one of the main focal points you notice as you walk in. I also loved the eye-catching
artwork, opulent fabrics, and stunning blossom tree (one you’ll notice all over
Instagram).
Once we got the temperature
check, we were walked to a table overlooking St Paul's Cathedral laid out
perfectly, with an abundance of hand sanitisers staring at us. Though it wasn’t
packed full (social distancing rules), the atmosphere was lively. Our waiter was
attentive and helpful with menu choices, particularly with the sushi. I ended
up going for the prawn tempura, spicy tuna n sesame rolls, and the steam prawn
dumplings. It was all exquisite including
my French martini and a couple of non-alcoholic cocktails (which I honestly can’t
remember the name of). Once lockdown is over, I'll definitely be going again, perhaps for dinner next time. I'd highly recommend The Ivy Asia in St Paul's if you're in the city or in London for an evening out. Prices are at the top end so I would recommend going for a special occasion.
