Ivory Bar & Grill

Bury New Road, Whitefield

A brand new, innovative restaurant has opened in the centre of Whitefield. Located on Bury New Road in the old haunt of The China Lounge, Ivory Bar & Grill is the new business venture from Scott Murray, who was previously the managing director of The Buddha Lounge on Radcliffe New Road. Confused already? Well, The Buddha Lounge and The China Lounge have, in fact, merged to form this new eatery. But it doesn’t stop there, as Ivory Bar & Grill has welcomed chefs from The Grill On The Alley and Burger & Lobster in Manchester City Centre. It’s a winning combination. The result is a spectacular, original and modern new restaurant and bar.

When you walk into Ivory Bar & Grill, you immediately become immersed in the fresh, modern and stylish interior. The main restaurant area has a Bistro feel, with painted, bare brick walls and chic, sofa-style seating. The booth in which we were seated has got to be one of the most comfortable seats I’ve ever sat in whilst eating a meal. It has a relaxed and tranquil atmosphere, which doesn’t change no matter how busy it gets. The open-kitchen is partitioned from diners by a floor-to-ceiling glass wall, which is effective as it prevents the noise and heat travelling from the kitchen and causing disruption whilst you’re having your meal. 

When it comes to food, Ivory Bar & Grill stays true to its roots, continuing to offer a selection of Cantonese and Thai dishes, but this is now just a small part of a vast menu. As the name suggests, there is also a wide selection of grilled meats, including burgers and steaks, plus fish dishes, lamb, salads and vegetarian options. The choice is overwhelming. If you’re anything like me, you’ll find browsing the menu quite stressful, as I’m incredibly indecisive. They also offer a Lunch Menu every day between 12 noon and 5.00 pm, which gives you the opportunity to indulge in one, two or three courses for set prices. Set price menus can sometimes be limited, but this one offers plenty of choice and a wide selection of different dishes.

We opted for the three course lunch for £16.95. To start, I had Dim Sum, steamed parcels of meat and fish served in a traditional basket. The dumplings were flavoursome and tasted very authentic, which is always an achievement when not being cooked by a Cantonese chef.

Dim Sum

There was something for everybody in the Main Course selection, from the Cantonese classic Sweet and Sour Chicken to burgers and Caesar salad. I had flat iron sirloin steak, which I requested to be cooked medium-rare. I’m not normally a steak person, but given the fact I was eating here for the first time and the mixture of cuisines was such a unique concept, I wanted something different, hoping to make the occasion memorable. The medium-rare steak arrived, practically breathing on my plate; it was so pink it was almost cerise in tone. As I’m not a steak connoisseur, I wasn’t sure if this was how ‘medium-rare’ was supposed to look, and it put me off immediately. However, I’m far too British to even think about complaining to a member of staff, so I tried it. I’m so glad I did, as the succulent meat melted into my tongue. The chips were cooked to perfection: crispy, with the skin on, and served in a modern silver bucket. The plate was completed with a decorative array of rocket topped with mushrooms and caramelised onions.

Flat Iron Sirloin Steak (8 oz), aged 7 days

My only complaint was that it was a small portion for a big appetite such as mine. I appreciate how expensive steak is, therefore realise that it would simply not be viable to provide a huge cut of meat as part of a meal where you’re paying less than £16 for three courses, but I believe it should have been bulked out with some seasonal vegetables. 

Desserts normally let down a set price menu. I’ve lost count of the number of Italian restaurants at which I’ve been offered either Tiramisu or Ice Cream for my pudding. I can’t stomach coffee, therefore tiramisu is not an option and ice cream is, in my opinion, merely an accompaniment to a dessert rather than a dessert itself, so I always find it to be a bit of a cop-out. Therefore, I was most impressed to be offered the choice of anything on the normal dessert menu. ‘Cake of the Day’ was Apple Pie, served with ice cream, one of my all-time favourites. This made the decision very easy.

The size of my pudding definitely made up for the quantity-lacking main course. This was a unique take on the classic dessert: a pastry case filled with large chunks of juicy apple, followed by a soft, spongy meringue and topped with crunchy crumble. The meringue made a welcome addition to the apple pie, with the sharpness of the flavour complementing the sweet apples exceptionally well. Couple this with a large dollop of vanilla ice cream made for a deliciously satisfying dessert to round off an excellent meal.

Apple Pie and Vanilla Ice Cream

Whatever kind of cuisine you’re in the mood for, you are guaranteed to find something to satisfy your palette at Ivory Bar & Grill. I’m already excited to return for a second visit, especially to try the Sunday Roast that they have on offer. The hearty dinners looked exquisite as I saw the plates, piled high, being carried out from the kitchen. I’d also be interested to see how the venue transforms after dark. With the cocktail bar adjacent to the restaurant and a ‘late longue’, complete with a DJ, on a Friday and Saturday night, it would even be suitable for a night out.

Overall, I was mightily impressed with Ivory Bar & Grill and it has certainly kick-started the rejuvenation of Whitefield, bring international cuisine to the local area.