Ivanhoe of Manly

Editorial Review

The Ivanhoe might be one of the few venues in the world to charge cakeage. That's not a misspelling. Should you want to spend your birthday party here, this classy establishment will not only allow you to bring your own cake (they don't do cakes themselves), but will charge you $3.00 per person to cut the thing. No other food of your own permitted. Happy birthday from the Ivanhoe!

Cakeage aside, this is a glamorous, post-modern venue over several levels - a lot of chrome and steel, teak, leather and the ubiquitous pouffe in all its squishy abundance. The dress code is strict - surfers and backpackers are welcome, but only when at least half-clad. The menu is geared towards, shall we say, ravenous, red-blooded carnivores and doesn't really strike any chords, certainly not with vegetarians (the staple token pasta with red sauce makes a familiar appearance) and isn't quite as cheap as it makes out to be. And it's probably best not to ask for cake …

The Ivanhoe is doing its level best to be all things to all people - sport, functions, dining, music, bottle shop, indoor/outdoor seating and standing - but as such it's a little lacking in recognizable identity. This isn't to say that it's not busy most of the time; it is. But then so is the rest of Manly. Given time, it may settle down and find its place in the grand scheme of things, and the patina of character may adhere to its shiny surfaces. One hopes so. And let's cut the cakeage, shall we?
Austin Harrison, June 2008

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