From the outside, it’s hard to believe that The Ivy has been here since 1917. The Art Deco signage and modest front make it an unlikely celebrity hot spot, but the paparazzi hanging around the door in the evenings know better. Go for the later sitting, and The Ivy will reward you with West End stars and media faces who have just come off stage, and the close-packed tables mean you’ll be rubbing elbows with them, literally. Inside, the décor is like an old-fashioned club; the stained glass windows give a rather subdued feel, and on first impressions the room seems small.  Of course, first you have to get a table, and at weekends that can entail booking a ridiculous three months in advance. You are far more likely to get a table for lunch, and at $40 for the set menu, it’s better value, too. The menu offers great British cooking, including “comfort food” favorites such as shepherd’s pie and fish and chips. You can be sure if you choose any of these traditional dishes, they’ll be well prepared, and usually delicious to boot. Leave the fancy exotic stuff to others, this is what The Ivy is good at.