The Ivy Temple Row

We’re fans of The Ivy and have gone to different ones in different cities. The one in Birmingham is okay, the decor is the same gorgeous birds and nature, but service here appears slower despite there being plenty of staff. When they were actually available to serve tables, they were good. Toilets are gorgeous too but smaller than elsewhere, so perhaps space allocation was challenging at this location. Main seating is split across a ground and mezzanine. Great location on a corner of Temple Row though.

Came here for my birthday lunch. The service was great, friendly and attentive. However the food was ok, a bit underwhelming. We ordered the Salt & Pepper Squid and Roasted Queen Scallops. The Squid was dry and the scallops quite small. For mains we had the Fillet Steak and Lobster Risotto. They kindly offered a complimentary dessert to celebrate my birthday. Would come back but choose different items.

This is a slick and well organised restaurant from the host upon arrival to the attentive service from the waiters and bar staff. Food was excellent and I thought was good value considering the size of the portions and the quality ingredients on them (saffron, etc). Wine selection was also good in terms of quality, if a little pricey, but to be expected. It was a mid week lunchtime and the place was fairly full of business people in groups, some afternoon teas and various couples. Noise levels was quite high as a result so perhaps not best for a romantic liaison but am sure a quieter corner could be found if requested. One star deducted because the bill arrived with an optional (but clearly mandatory unless you have the confidence to say so) service charge of 20% which is a ridiculous level of tip, this is not the USA, employees get minimum wage and whilst I would have tipped big like I always do when service is great, I prefer to tip individual staff and not see the tip go to corporate who then decide who gets what.

Came here for a corporate dinner - it’s a decent food spot. The food was delicious, the presentation for the crab and avocado tian was interesting (the silver crab). The fish cake however was absolutely delicious but minus points because unfortunately the poached egg was closer to boiled! Overall though, a delight

We visited The Ivy Temple Row to celebrate my mother’s 70th birthday, and the experience was nothing short of perfection from start to finish. ​The Atmosphere & Welcome ​The moment we stepped through the doors, we were greeted with a hugely warm welcome. Despite the bustling energy of Birmingham, the staff made us feel like the only people in the room, seating us immediately. The restaurant itself is fantastically decorated—a vibrant, art-deco oasis that felt exactly right for such a special landmark occasion. ​The Culinary Highlights ​The food was the absolute star of the show, presented with the kind of flair you only expect from The Ivy. ​To Start: We shared the Whiskey Smoked Salmon and the Steak Tartare. Both were incredibly fresh, balanced, and set a very high bar for the rest of the meal. ​The Mains: I opted for the classic Fish & Chips, which was elevated to a gourmet standard. My mother thoroughly enjoyed the Shepherd’s Pie—rich, comforting, and seasoned to perfection. ​The Sweet Finale: To round off the celebration, we had the Birthday Box dessert. The kitchen even surprised us with a lovely little birthday treat, adding that extra layer of magic to her big day. ​The Service ​What truly made the afternoon was the service. The staff were attentive, brilliant, and genuinely engaged in making sure my mum felt celebrated. They struck the perfect balance of being professional yet personable. ​Verdict: If you’re looking for a venue in Birmingham that combines stunning aesthetics with top-tier service and delicious British classics, The Ivy Temple Row is unbeatable. Thank you for making a 70th birthday so special!