OUR REVIEWER WAS SO BOWLED OVER BY THE IVY THAT SHE BOOKED IT FOR HER BIRTHDAY

IN all the years I've been writing about food and drink I've never witnessed such excitement about a restaurant opening in Nottingham.

- By LYNETTE PINCHESS

Such is the reputation of The Ivy.

With a 46-strong chain around the country, a sizeable percentage of food lovers have already had The Ivy experience but, for me, it’s the first time.

I've read both good and bad reviews about other sites and, with a menu that has fish and chips and shepherd’s pie, what's all the fuss about anyway?

Visiting the new restaurant in Bridlesmith Gate for an exclusive look at the stunning forest-like surroundings, my initial reaction was “wow”. But is it all smoke and mirrors?

It's usually me who gets the invites to new openings but in this case I was the plus-one as it was my husband, who works for a law firm, who was among those invited to The Ivy's trial runs over the weekend before it officially opened this week.

The experience begins as soon as you step through the door, with frosted stained glass, a replica of the glass in the original Ivy - the celebrity haunt, which opened in London’s West End in 1917. We're greeted at reception by staff dressed in eye-catching pink and yellow floral waistcoats, before being led to our table.

The managers and the waiters look incredibly smart.

A young woman called Jasmine delivers our drinks, The Ivy's own-label craft lager with an ice-cold glass from the fridge and a Soft Bellini mocktail for me, a mix of pomegranate and spiced pear with alcohol-free sparkling wine.

I’m a sucker when I see scallops on a menu. At £15.95, the roasted queen scallops are the most expensive starter, so I'm expecting great things. A small portion it wasn’t, but a flamboyant display of three fanned shells served in a bowl with seaweed.