Ivy on the Square: A Unique Southern Dining Experience in Ocala

AMAZING food!! I have been twice now & can't wait for another trip back to Ocala to go again! The Krispy Chicken is what I had last time which was delicious. Today I had the Thai salad with chicken and that also was excellent. The chicken was perfectly crispy with just the right amount of seasoning. Most of the dishes come with a yeast roll and a piece of creamy, cheesy cornbread with a crispy crusty top. My sister had the Creole Shrimp and cheesy grits which she described as heavenly. My Aunt has the fried cod and for dessert the coconut cake which she said was some of the best she has ever eaten. Definitely a place worthy of driving to. The manager sat down with us as well and we chatted about planning trip routes around places to eat when traveling, and let's just say, he is quite easy on the eyes.

I went on a Thursday night with 10 other people. I tried the prime rib special ($48) and it was just ok. I ordered it medium but it was more medium well. The server later said that they cut the prime rib, then dunk it into the hot au jus, thus cooking it a bit more. Everything else was great, including my chocolate martini ($15).

Ate at Ivy on the Square downtown and it’s the kind of place you go when you want real Southern comfort food, but in a nicer setting. The dining room feels cozy and a little “special,” and the menu has those classic, filling plates that taste like someone actually cooked them (not just reheated). We started with a couple small things, then got entrees—everything was seasoned well and came out hot.

Good food and great service! I had Small order if fried shrimp, cornbread (made with corn), potato wedges, and a breadroll. There was mac and cheese on the side. I would say its not the traditional Mac and cheese some may like it and others not so much. The seating reminded me of being at home sharing a meal. I love that u can fit in whether you're dressed up with a heel or shorts and sandals

My family and I came here after my sister in laws graduation. The food was absolutely amazing! The bacon wrapped dates are so good, but there aren’t enough of them for the price. Everyone enjoyed their meal. We went in a Thursday and the prime rib was the special of the day. I loved my creole shrimp and grits, I was expecting it to be spicy but it wasn’t at all. The croissants are so buttery and flaky. We were a party of 6 and our server had a hard time keeping up with our drink refills. They also really need to get some new menues!!! They are so old and scratched we had to look the menu up online. Other than that everything was amazing!

The food was good, can't complain too much really. If you like fried green tomatoes, they are an absolute must! The rolls (while not fluffy) and cornbread were excellent. The rest of the meal needed more flavor. Service: the server had us wait for each person because she had to "write everything down" pertaining to our order. Steak still came out nearly raw when ordering medium and specifically hot pink center. They did offer to cook more, declined due to following comment. Had to ask 4 times for extra butter due to only getting 2 pats for 2 baked potatoes and 4 rolls each time. Atmosphere: wonderful, well decorated with plenty of seating options. I don't want this to seem like a negative review but I do expect higher quality for a meal that is over $50/person.

One of my favorite places. The ambiance is perfect, cozy, low lighting, beautiful decor. Customer Service is on point, friendly, accommodating, & just enough attention. The food is always delicious & beautifully plated. My last lunch, I took a friend & she was pleasantly surprised.

My mom and I were in Ocala for a doctor’s appointment and this was the first place that popped up when I searched for food. I’m so glad it was because not only was the food great but the atmosphere and service was top tier too. The amount of food was crazy for the price and we had so much left over to take home. The cornbread had to be one of our favorites on the plate. We really enjoyed the pimento cheese balls and even my Caesar salad was so good it needs to be mentioned. I can’t wait to bring my husband back next time we are down from north Florida.