Honest Bao

Happy Christmas, guys! 🎄 Time put down the chopsticks occasionally when the festive season rolls around. This week, I swapped the soy sauce for some European flair at The Ivy in Birmingham. Is The Ivy Actually "Posh" or Just Very Good at Wallpaper? I’ve been to The Ivy a few times (different branches) now. It’s the "Old Reliable" of the UK dining scene—the kind of place you take your parents when you want them to think you’ve finally made it in life. It’s decent, reasonably priced for what it is, but usually about as "groundbreaking" as a pair of socks for Christmas. Too fusion for me I was genuinely shocked by how rammed it was. I booked a Sunday slot easily enough online, but when I walked in, it was 90% full. Clearly, the Christmas spirit (or just the lack of washing up) was in full swing. One thing you can’t knock is the decor. They clearly spend a fortune on it. It’s got that high-end, "I should probably be wearing a better shirt" vibe, eve...