In LA, a good rule of thumb is that if a restaurant has been in existence for over a decade, you can be fairly sure that it’s good. If a restaurant has been around even longer than a decade, you know it’s not just good but that it’s a must-visit.

The Ivy located on trendy Robertson Boulevard in the Beverly Grove neighborhood is one of those restaurants. 

Opened in 1983, the Ivy has long been a favorite haunt of celebrities. It serves high-end American cuisine that is sometimes described as “Nouvelle American”. Meals start with a goat cheese garlic bread on a crusty sourdough. The menu offers a wide array of salads, pizzas, pastas, and mesquite grilled meats. Desserts are made with baked goods baked in-house. The Ivy also is open for brunch.

Although American cuisine is emphasized, there is enough menu diversity to keep large parties with divergent tastes satisfied. It’s why I characterize the Ivy as a perfect birthday and celebration restaurant.

This is true right down to its bright, colorful, and distinctive décor, which I can best describe as camp or classic Americana. The multiple rooms of the restaurant are decorated with antiques, colorful furniture, and wall mountings. Even the plates and napkins that one dines off of are decorative. There is both dining indoors and outdoors on its patio. Simply put, the restaurant is just fun. And its colorful décor and consistently good food have kept customers coming back for decades. I recommend a visit.