Ivy At The Shore
The Ivy at the Shore is a perennial favorite of many Southern Californians including Harriet and me. Located in Santa Monica just across from the very famous Santa Monica Pier, it has been a staple in the area for decades. It is a bit pricey, but we were celebrating our dear friend Pam's departure for her new home in Minneapolis so we decided to splurge.
There are certain aspects of The Ivy at the Shore that are truly unique. The decor is beach inspired, very eclectic and always filled with the most extraordinary roses you have ever seen. The Ivy at the Shore is the "little sister" of the very famous Ivy restaurant in West Hollywood and the roses are the trademark for both eateries.
They also have a terrific cocktail list: Harriet selected a raspberry and champagne concoction while I selected an Aperol Spritz. A perfect beginning to a Sunday at the beach.
We were expecting eleven of Pam's closest friends for our brunch celebration so as we waited, we explored some of the interesting decor. As I mentioned, the restaurant is unique in design with interesting and unexpected treasures everywhere you look. This just adds to the ambiance and funky vibe that permeates The Ivy at the Shore. It's one of the things we love about the place.
After everyone arrived we were seated in the main dining room. Although there is a lovely patio, our preference is always to sit inside. We began with one of the brunch specialties: Scones. They seriously are delicious and very hard to resist; we didn't!
The Ivy at the Shore has menu favorites that we order again and again. One of those favorites is the Grilled Vegetable Salad topped with shrimp, chicken or whatever you chose. It has been on the menu forever but it is still hard to resist.
Of course there is a vast assortment of amazing dishes for brunch: Chilaquiles, French Toast, Crab Cakes, amazing omelettes and Benedicts....the list goes on and on. It was just a great time: eating, catching up and celebrating Pam's new adventure.
When it comes to dessert, The Ivy at the Shore doesn't disappoint. This group really went for it: Key Lime pie, Ivy Sundae, and the Banana Split. It was definitely a food fest!
Sadly it was finally time to say good-bye. It was a glorious day so a stroll along the beach is just what was needed after the scrumptious but very fattening brunch
