To the shock and horror of many excited first-years and returning students, Ibby’s was closed when Washington University returned for the 2023 school year. The restaurant was undergoing recently finished renovations, with a revamped space and menu. But what is it cooking up? What does it look like now? 

Luckily for you, two inquisitive investigative reporters (and their managing editor Avi) decided to check out the new restaurant on a fateful Tuesday night. Here’s the review that everyone asked for. 

Renovations:

Ibby’s is known for its “traditional” fancy-restaurant vibe that was perfect for a celebratory occasion, a nice catch-up with a friend, or even splurging on a date (have you ever paid for someone else’s food using meal points on a date?). However, this has been completely overhauled. 

The chairs, walls, and other decor fit a bright-blue theme, and a butterfly motif has also been added to the restaurant. The floor is now wooden with some stone parts supporting the tables. The plates and bowls are now blue, and the overall vibe is cuter and much more upbeat.

Menu:

The greatest moment of our Ibby’s experience, excluding the joy of quality time with friends, was the complimentary bread. No feeling is as exhilarating as when a waiter brings out a basket full of warm, yeasty treats. The excitement was delightful. The bread was pretty good, too. 

After indulging in our bread and butter, we examined the new menu. It’s smaller than it used to be, featuring a few salad options, a few small plates, and a handful of entrees. The prices are also fairly steep, so we agreed that Ibby’s can’t be a staple in our meal rotations but that it can be fun for special occasions. 

There are a handful of vegetarian options across the menu, especially if you count the salads and small plates. However, the entrees are largely centered around meat. 

Addendum: It seems that the menu we got on the first day was a smaller version of the current menu (as of the date that this article was published). There are now more handhelds and vegetarian options, along with more options on the menu in general.

Food Reviews:

I (Lily) got the salad with arugula, beets, cheese, and pepitas (which are essentially pumpkin seeds). Points for fancy seeds. It was fairly small, but quite tasty. I’m not sure where else on campus I would be able to get beets, so more points for a niche, special-occasion ingredient. 

I (Zach) got the seared scallops, which were a basic but good entree. Like Lily mentioned, I don’t know where else I would be able to get scallops on campus, and the risotto underneath the scallops was also quite good. It wasn’t a huge portion, so getting a side to split with a friend is a good idea if you’re looking for a big meal.

To finish our nice dinner, we shared the flourless chocolate cake. It was served with blueberries and a dollop of bourbon creme. The cake had a consistency similar to a brownie, which pleasantly surprised us. There was not a crumb nor a drop left on this plate (thank you, Avi). 

The Consensus:

Would we go again? Maybe. Probably. Depends on who’s paying (this time, it was Zach). Go try it for yourself!