Essex Restaurant Guide

“Highly recommend for a slice of London in the heart of Essex” – the Galvin brothers’ “large gastropub” (dating from the 14th century) “in a lovely Essex village” is one of the most commented-on destinations in our annual diners’ poll. And it draws fans from across the county as well as from ‘The Smoke’ for a run-out. One “splendid lunch” included “torched mackerel fillet, a top burger, lovely wood-roasted skate wing in beurre noisette, lemon posset”, typifying the kind of superior “everyday” food that secures its fanbase, and staff who are “always friendly and helpful” is another recurring theme. Top Tip – for parents, there’s a big garden with a play area.

This “gorgeous restaurant” has “delivered style and taste” for almost 30 years, and wins high praise for the unerring consistency of its traditional service and cuisine: “never had a bad experience – always look forward to return visits”. Top Menu Tip – “individual beef Wellingtons to die for!”.

“A good-to-find culinary outpost in an area with few interesting eating spots” – this “welcoming” gastropub is well worth remembering: “a steady hand in the kitchen meets good ingredients, and if food and wine both tread a relatively safe path, it’s no less enjoyable for that”.

“Come for the food, savour the view” from the airy conservatory in this well-known converted pub which specialises in seafood – everything from jellied eels to whole lobster – and is “excellent for every occasion”.

“Simple seafood at its best” – “straight from the sea”, and sold without frills from a basic shack (so bring your own wine, bread and butter). Well known for many miles around: “it’s on an island, 65 miles from London. They don’t advertise as they don’t need to!". Top Tip – “native oysters from September to April are extraordinary”.

“A joy to eat in, whether for lunch or dinner” – this Gallic institution in a timber-framed old Sudbury property has been run for almost 20 years by Stéphane Chapotot and chef Alain Jacq, who took it over from the former’s uncle. In fact you can eat here even earlier, since the café that used to be separate was combined into the same site to economise during the pandemic. “Although not strictly vegetarian or vegan, the Secret Garden always has absolutely delicious vegetarian choices”.

This “lovely old gastropub with way above average cooking” “keeps up the standard year on year” – chef-patron James Wix and his wife Bianca have run it for almost 20 years. There’s a “lovely atmosphere and friendly staff”, and James’s “first-class cooking” has plenty of European influences.

This “delightful old village pub/restaurant” earns consistently strong ratings for its locally sourced and well cooked meals, which appeal to “locals and walkers alike”.

This delightfully Dickensian wine vault has lured knowing customers for more than 45 years, via an “almost anonymous door opening to a flight of stairs leading to an amazing basement eatery”. “The specialities are pies, which are delicious, and the wine is good as well” – it’s “well worth a visit”.

In the heart of Constable Country, this gastropub with rooms is “a busy venue with a good atmosphere and friendly service”. Foodwise, it’s praised for cooking that’s “outstanding” at the “very reasonable price”; and wine lovers are well-catered for too, with 250 bins (they also run their own merchants).

“Cracking all-you-can-eat fresh Neapolitan pizzas” is the USP at this fun venue, which celebrates its fifth year in 2023. “Pizza is brought round to you and you can choose whether to try a slice or not. You keep eating until you switch your light off! There are fabulous and unusual flavours”. “It’s good value and with great quality ingredients”. Also in Colchester.

This “lovely old pub” – a timber-fronted fifteenth-century building with brick fireplaces – has a “well deserved reputation as one of the best in Essex”, with “reliable pub grub” and a new beer garden featuring an outdoor pizza oven. “Eat in the restaurant upstairs if you can”.

“Off-the-chart pub food” – ranging from standard classics and “excellent roasts” to “fantastic, restaurant-style” European dishes – makes this 500-year-old Essex village boozer an appealing option for both locals and visitors.

“Gourmet tapas served at an open counter” from a “wonderful and very flexible choice of small plates” win praise for Paul Wendholt’s “accomplished and adventurous” venue, which occupies a “small and intimate dining room”.