Harden's survey result
Summary
“In the heart of Essex, this fabulous fish restaurant” (est. 2010, and revolving around the “plush conversion of an old pub”) “offers amazing dishes and attentive service in a truly beautiful setting”. “It can be fun watching the TOWIE types amongst fellow diners”, but if that loses its appeal, divert your eyes to the “pleasant views from the terrace on a sunny day”.
Summary
“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”.
Summary
“They really understand how to cook fish” (the main event) at this fancified former pub, a local favourite – including with the TOWIE set – since its arrival in 2010, and which benefits from an airy conservatory and spacious rooms.
Summary
This “glitzy and glamorous” smartened-up pub is perhaps a little TOWIE and inspires the odd complaint about its prices, but, nevertheless, it’s fish and seafood cuisine won consistently decent ratings last year, and fans say the place is “excellent for a special occasion”.
For 33 years we've been curating reviews of the UK's most notable restaurant. In a typical year, diners submit over 50,000 reviews to create the most authoritative restaurant guide in the UK. Each year, the guide is re-written from scratch based on this survey (although for the 2021 edition, reviews are little changed from 2020 as no survey could run for that year).
Have you eaten at Alec's?
Navestock Side, Brentwood, CM14 5SD
Restaurant details
Alec's Restaurant Diner Reviews
"Return visit to check on mixed last visit It was almost as if the whole ethos had changed! We were welcomed appropriately, we arrived very early for our booking. Utilised the spotless well-appointed toilets, up a spiral staircase, but there is a disabled toilet on the ground floor. Extensive varied menu. I started with an exceptional squid dish beautifully cooked with delicious dressing. Also served with Chorizo "bites" amazingly flavoured with perfectly cooked bread. Main was a very generous roast beef sirloin Sunday lunch. Perfectly cooked beef plus all expected trimmings with well cooked Yorkshire stunningly presented plate. Owner gave us some extra potatoes and some amazing short rib as extras. Staff are brilliantly choreographed to the highest but non fussy michelin standard. Desserts were beyond description I returned to my stunning pavlova, but owner bought us an extra Royal Banoffee profiterole which gave me a huge challenge, the starter and main were very filling then to be presented with three perfect desserts left us devastated that we couldn't finish them!! So so much better than my last visit. Owner had expressed significant concern as to the detail of my last visit. This visit was frankly as good as any restaurant visit gets. Owner has a real passion and it shows in all aspects of the experience. So worth visiting, but **make sure you book**."
Prices
| Availability | 2 courses | 3 courses |  |
 |
 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lunch | £30.00 | £36.00 |  |
|
 |
| Dinner | |
|
|
||
| Pretheatre | £35.00 | £41.00 | |
|
|
Traditional European menu
| Starter | Main | Veggies | Pudding |
|---|---|---|---|
| £15.00 | £34.00 | £6.00 | £8.50 |
| Drinks |
|
|---|---|
| Wine per bottle | £25.00 |
| Filter Coffee | £3.75 |
| Extras |
|
|---|---|
| Bread | £0.00 |
| Service | 12.50% |
Navestock Side, Brentwood, CM14 5SD
Opening hours
| Monday | CLOSED |
| Tuesday | 12 pm‑4 pm, 5:30 pm‑12 am |
| Wednesday | 12 pm‑4 pm, 5:30 pm‑12 am |
| Thursday | 12 pm‑4 pm, 5:30 pm‑12 am |
| Friday | 12 pm‑4 pm, 5:30 pm‑12 am |
| Saturday | 12 pm‑4 pm, 5:30 pm‑12 am |
| Sunday | 12 pm‑7 pm |
Best British, Modern restaurants nearby
British, Modern restaurant in Ongar
British, Modern restaurant in Stock
British, Modern restaurant in Stratford
Best similarly priced restaurants nearby
Steaks & grills restaurant in North Greenwich
British, Modern restaurant in Hackney
British, Modern restaurant in Tower Hamlets
