Art deco glam, fancy cocktails and... mystery dishes - where else would you find all this in Romford but at the newly opened Ivy Tree pub.
Promising "the feel of Mayfair but with Romford prices", the gastropub and lounge bar in South Street has certainly filled a gap in the market for luxury dining.
After Ivy Tree impressed MP Andrew Rosindell and Havering councillors such as Cllr David Taylor at its "grand opening" last week, the Recorder went to see what all the hype was about.
The welcome from staff was professional yet friendly, and I was shown to a booth at the back, which looked more like it belonged in a 1920s speakeasy than a Romford restaurant.
All around me was glitz and glam: gilt-edged tables and chairs, neon signs, disco balls and red trees climbing the walls.
I definitely felt underdressed.
READ MORE: Ivy Tree, South Street, Romford: First photos of gastropub
As an appetiser, I ordered goat's cheese and mozzarella arancini - which the menu describes as including walnut and sultanas, and being served with spicy tomato sauce and a fresh truffle mayo.
However, what I was served was an entirely different dish (admittedly I did not realise this until later).
The unknown starter, which I now cannot find on the menu, was some sort of breaded cheese on a bed of avocado, with a blue crisp on top and what appeared to be caviar.
It was creamy, rich and delicious - but remains a mystery.
As a pescatarian, most of the main dishes from the grill were off limits to me.
But I was intrigued by the broccoli burger, priced at £13.99, and ultimately impressed by what Ivy Tree did with this humble vegetable.
It was far from bland - as I was worried about with this dish - and the flavour from the caramelised red onion and ranch sauce complemented each other unexpectedly.
With the thick cut chips this was definitely a hearty meal.
After all this I was too full for a dessert, but washed down the food with a very golden virgin mojito, priced at £8.
Ivy Tree's atmosphere, food and service can only be described as lavish and up-market, and the gastropub would be perfect for a birthday treat or an anniversary dinner.
For the dining experience you get, the prices are reasonable, but they are on the expensive side for "Romford prices".
I would definitely go back to try the breakfast and brunch menu, and some more of their cocktails - but maybe after pay day.
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