British, Modern Restaurants in Billericay
1. The Square and Compasses
British, Traditional restaurant in Fairstead
Fuller Street - CM3
Ignore the “standard pub-grub menu” at this cute 17th-century village hostelry on the Essex Way long-distance footpath, and “choose from the specials board every time” – it’s “packed with great dishes using locally sourced ingredients”.
2. The Bell Inn
British, Modern restaurant in Horndon on the Hill
High Rd - SS17
“Still our favourite local after 30+ years..” – This “delightfully olde worlde” 15th-century coaching inn has been run by the same family since 1938, with landlords Christine & John Vereker these days helped by the third generation. It remains “a lovely, vibrant old venue that trailblazed the gastropub concept back in the ’80s and is still producing wonderful food in a genuine pub atmosphere”.
3. The Windmill Chatham Green
British, Modern restaurant in Little Waltham
Chatham Green - CM3
“A real find in mid-Essex”, this dining pub showcases “beautifully presented” cooking that’s “bursting with flavour” from Tom Clarke, who trained under Raymond Blanc at Le Manoir and was head chef at L’Ortolan in Reading. He took charge two years ago with his business partner Nancy Witte, also ex-L’Ortolan, who mixes “delicious cocktails” and oversees the front of house in style.
4. Smith's Brasserie
British, Modern restaurant in Ongar
Fyfield Rd - CM5
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.
5. The Magic Mushroom
British, Modern restaurant in Billericay
Barleylands Road - CM11
2022 Review: Darren Bennett’s stalwart, serving up creative modern British cooking (including a well-regarded afternoon tea) “continues to be reliable in all respects”, whether you stop to take advantage of the set menus or its popular side act as a wedding and events venue.
6. Alec's
British, Modern restaurant in Brentwood
Navestock Side - CM14
“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”.
7. The Cuckoo
British, Modern restaurant in Radley Green
2023 Review: “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”.
8. Pig & Whistle Restaurant
British, Modern restaurant in Chelmsford
Chignal Road, Chignal Smealy - CM1
In a village a short drive outside Chelmsford, this converted sixteenth-century pub has fine countryside views and provides a traditionally comfortable destination, complete with linen tablecloths, candles and cut glass. It wins good all-round feedback (if not a huge volume of reviews) and its modern brasserie fare (with steak, beef Wellington and cote de boeuf to share a highlight) helps it regularly feature in Essex food awards. (Owners Brendan Curran & Justin Mullender are also known for the quality of their put-downs on Tripadvisor!)
9. The Lion Inn
British, Modern restaurant in Boreham
Main Rd - CM3
2021 Review: “A short drive from Chelmsford” in “the heart of Essex” – this “highly recommended” inn is large enough to host weddings and conferences, with a spacious Victorian-style conservatory for dining that has a “real vibrant buzz”, along with “decent good-value food and very friendly service”.
10. Food Leigh on Sea
British, Modern restaurant in Leigh-on-Sea
92 Leigh Road - SS9
Focused on sustainability (and to a certain extent on veganism), John Lawson’s small spot has won attention (including a recent visit with a TV crew and Michel Roux) for his “amazing” cooking, served in a tasting menu on Friday and Saturday evenings (with lunch service also available on those days and Thursday). One local fan approves “many delicious meals eaten here”.
11. The Pipe of Port
British, Traditional restaurant in Southend-on-Sea
84 High St - SS1
Sawdust floors and shelves of wine for sale add to the atmosphere of this ‘Wine Merchant & Dining Rooms’ – a Dickensian-style space that’s been a linchpin of the town’s eateries since 1976. It continues to win consistent support for its traditional fare, and is well-suited to business lunches.
12. The Hoop
British, Modern restaurant in Stock
High Street - CM4
This “lovely old Essex pub” with a white wooden facade serves food that is “well above average for pub grub” – and its popularity means it “gets overcrowded and noisy” at times. Originally three weavers’ cottages from 1460, the building was converted two centuries later using beams salvaged from naval vessels docked at Tilbury. Top Menu Tip – “the skate wing is delicious”.
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