If you are familiar with The Ivy restaurants, you are probably already aware that they know how to do Christmas. They pride themselves on seasonal menus in stunning settings, and stepping in on a mild November evening, The Ivy Liverpool Brasserie on Castle Street in Liverpool City Centre was another perfect example of the brand doing what it does best.

My sister and I had arrived to sample their Christmas menu. While some might say November 13 is a little early, I say bah humbug! Christmas cheer can come as early as it wants if it is rich, filling and delicious. This year's theme is 'The Ivy Midnight Express', which they hope will "capture the magic of Christmas and transport guests to the ultimate festive paradise through delicious food and drink, evocative décor and exquisite dining experiences".

The Festive Set Menu is £55 for two courses or £60 for three courses (up £5 from last year), and you can choose from starters including French onion soup, duck liver parfait with cranberry chutney, and tamarind beetroot & endive salad.

Main courses feature turkey ballotine with apricot and cranberry stuffing, pan-fried sea bass with wild mushroom sauce, and a plant-based lentil & aubergine bake.

Desserts include flambéed Christmas pudding and the signature Ivy chocolate bombe.

Spoilt for choice, my sister and I browsed the menu several times, changing our minds each time before settling on the French onion soup. We both felt it was a hard thing to make at home yourself, so the perfect soup to indulge in at The Ivy.

It arrived with a melted layer of cheese on the top with croutons that had already taken on the lush, salty flavour of the soup.

Breaking into the cheese, you are able to get a spoonful of the soup-soaked croutons for a wonderful hit of the warming liquid with the caramelised onion. We had made an excellent choice.

For our mains, my sister chose the crisp sea bass fillet with wild mushroom velouté and a side of the thick cut chips, which she said was perfectly cooked, the fish flaky and moist, while the perfectly balanced velouté had a deep mushroom flavour that didn't overpower the delicate fish.

I opted for the Christmas shepherd's pie with a side of Brussels sprouts, and before my plate arrived, I was pleasantly surprised when my own personal bottle of Worcestershire sauce was placed on my table to add to the pie.

The Christmas shepherd's pie is made with tender duck, lamb and beef, topped with golden mashed potato, lightly baked sage and orange zest and served with a tangy cranberry chutney and a velvety red wine sauce.

And it is the best shepherd's pie I have ever had; deep and rich, a wintery comfort in every bite. And adding a dash of the suggested Worcestershire sauce added an incredible umami to sate even the most fussy diner.

The Brussels sprouts were a fantastic companion; their freshness and slight bitterness cut through the richness of the pie.

Then came dessert, and I had chosen the Christmas crème brûlée, a silky vanilla custard with a golden caramelised sugar crust, paired with a spiced winter berry and cinnamon compote, served alongside buttery shortbread.

While it was delicious, and the compote was delightfully tart to complement the smooth, sweet custard, I couldn't really taste the cinnamon, which I was somewhat happy about, as it is not my favourite spice; however, some may be disappointed.

This was the perfect way to end my indulgent meal, while I was tempted by The Ivy Santa, Christmas pudding and signature Ivy chocolate bombe (I have had this before and it is a chocolate lover's dream), I just knew I would not be able to fit it in.

I think the price point for the quality of food, service and surroundings is fantastic value. And if you want to mark a special evening with someone close this winter, The Ivy should be the first place you look to book.

To look at all menus, find your nearest Ivy or book a table, visit the Ivy Collection website here.