Fyfield Rd, Ongar, CM5 0AL
Harden's survey result
Summary
This Essex institution, founded almost 70 years ago, is still “the best fish restaurant in the area”, offering “consistently great food with even better service”. It’s relatively “formal”, which befits its status as a venue which attracts generations of the county’s notables, from Rod Stewart, Denise Van Outen and Victoria & David Beckham to the TOWIE crowd.
Summary
Established in 1958, this Essex institution is well known for its “excellently cooked fish with some imaginative and well-executed dishes”, served in “generous portions” by “well-trained and extremely welcoming staff who provide great customer service”. It’s “always buzzing with a great atmosphere” – “and if you’re lucky you might spot Rod Stewart… a regular”.
Summary
“We’ve visited here and in Wapping many times and we’ve never had less than a hugely enjoyable experience!” – this big seafood brasserie (est. 1958, with its London spin-off of about a decade’s standing) is one of Essex’s brightest culinary features and as such “a regular haunt for TOWIE and other local stars!”. “Wonderful fish” is the main feature of a menu of “always first-class food”. The worst comment? “It can be a bit cramped and noisy!”.
Summary
A “fantastic fish restaurant in the heart of the Essex countryside” (est. 1958), and where “there is something for everyone, including vegetarians” . Being “big but heaving” and “populist in nature”, reporters “recommend sitting upstairs as it is quieter and more homely”. PS – if you're keen, “they have a similar branch in Wapping”.
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 Smith's Brasserie?
Owner's description
Our restaurants are located in Ongar Essex (just off the A414) and Wapping in central London (near Tower Bridge).
Both restaurants boast an extensive menu of fresh fish that we offer to cook in a variety of ways to suit every palate. We also offer locally sourced meat dishes to accommodate those who prefer their food terra firma.
Prices
| Availability | 2 courses | 3 courses |  |
 |
 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lunch | £32.00 | £37.00 |  |
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| Dinner | £37.00 | £42.00 | |
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Traditional European menu
| Starter | Main | Pudding |
|---|---|---|
| £13.00 | £35.50 | £8.00 |
| Drinks |
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|---|---|
| Wine per bottle | £30.00 |
| Filter Coffee | £3.00 |
| Extras |
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|---|---|
| Service | 10.00% |
Restaurant details
Smith's Brasserie Restaurant Diner Reviews
"This is probably the nearest of all the “better” restaurants, and the food is very well cooked and presented but we very rarely visit it because it’s atmosphere is too formal, which doesn’t suit our tastes since we prefer a much less informal atmosphere. But this is just our personal tastes and maybe the majority of those who eat very infrequently would prefer the formality of the atmosphere and the good value which the menu offers. ; "
Fyfield Rd, Ongar, CM5 0AL
| Number of Diners: | |
| Required Time: | |
Opening hours
| Monday | CLOSED |
| Tuesday | 12 pm‑4:30 pm, 6 pm‑11:30 pm |
| Wednesday | 12 pm‑4:30 pm, 6 pm‑11:30 pm |
| Thursday | 12 pm‑4:30 pm, 6 pm‑12 am |
| Friday | 12 pm‑4:30 pm, 6 pm‑12:30 am |
| Saturday | 12 pm‑4:30 pm, 6 pm‑12:30 am |
| Sunday | 12 pm‑8 pm |
