Swift and friendly service with delicious food all at a reasonable price. Love the decor and 50/60's atmosphere - great experience as ever (been a few times)
Grumpys Diner – Southend
Searching for a restaurant in Essex? There are lots to choose from in Harwich, Southend, Brentwood and throughout the county. With a range of cuisines from British to Italian or Indian, the variety of places to eat in Essex with its restaurants and pubs is vast. Find the right place to eat in Essex with Sugarvine.
Swift and friendly service with delicious food all at a reasonable price. Love the decor and 50/60's atmosphere - great experience as ever (been a few times)
Grumpys Diner – SouthendGreat pub. Victorian style with low ceilings and lots of character. The food was fantastic and excellent customer service too. Plenty of menu choices and caters for vegetarians. There were 11 of us at the table and all the food was served at the same time. The price of the food and drinks was very reasonable too. We were celebrating a birthday and the chef and staff made it very special. Would recommend.
The Ship Gidea Park – RomfordMy food was very overcooked and my wife had a couple of pieces of squashed chicken between some sort of flatbread. Neither were particularly appealing. We found the restaurant very hot with no fresh air and only one door open slightly by the till. Staff seemed rushed with the amount of covers they had to serve. I would say that the staff are always pleasant the times we have been there. Overall it was not a pleasant experience.
The Barn Garden Centre Cafe – ColchesterGreat choice Great food Great service
The Blue Anchor – ColchesterMy wife and I had breakfast at The Barn yesterday, something we have enjoyed frequently for several years. We have never received anything less than excellent, friendly service, good quality food and value for money. The restaurant is invariably busy so booking is advisable, but we have no hesitation in giving it a high recommendation.
The Barn Garden Centre Cafe – ColchesterGood food, the granddaughters enjoy it and nice staff
The Owl – LoughtonIt was our first visit and we had a great Sunday lunch here. The server was great, the food was lovely, the portions were on point, and it arrived in a timely manner - Will definitely be back again!
The Bakers Arms – IngatestoneI am vegan and the choice here was really good, the food was delicious and very reasonably priced, and service was excellent too! overall very impressed, will definitely go back and would recommend
The Ship Gidea Park – RomfordI wanted to share some thoughts on my recent visit to your lovely cafe, which always adds a delightful touch to the garden centre experience. During my last visit, I had a table booked for lunch, but my friend and I decided to enjoy a coffee while waiting for our meal, which was scheduled for an hour later. We approached the lady handling reservations and inquired if we could have just a coffee. Her response was quite abrupt, "it will only be a coffee", which was what we had initially asked for. This made us feel a bit uncomfortable and led us to wonder if the staff could benefit from some customer service training to communicate in a more customer-centric manner. I must add that not all the staff were like this. When we had our lunch, our waitress wasn’t rude but simply did and said what was required. However, when we ordered some cake, the younger lady was very nice, and we had a pleasant chat about the cake. Overall, I really do enjoy the café, and I believe that with some improvement in customer service, it can provide an even better experience for visitors
The Barn Garden Centre Cafe – ColchesterAlways good food and pleasant helpful staff. Relaxed atmosphere . Always so busy .
The Barn Garden Centre Cafe – ColchesterWonderful roast pork Sunday lunch
The Barn Garden Centre Cafe – ColchesterGreat Sunday lunch and wonderful atmosphere
The Dukes Head – Bishops StortfordVery good service and roast was excellent
The Ship Gidea Park – RomfordFood and service was lovely,!great atmosphere! Marie was very welcoming
The Owl – LoughtonBooked for Sunday lunch. The service was on point - friendly, not in your face but the staff made sure that the food arrived at the table with an appropriate gap between courses. Always attentive for further drinks orders, dessert etc. Also the quality of the food was excellent. Will definitely be going back.
The Bakers Arms – IngatestoneFantastic dinner with lovely service and really enjoyed my sea bass. Recommend ⭐️
The Hare and Hounds – ColchesterFabulous meal and not the first time I've experienced that here. Was for my partners birthday as a surprise by our friend group. The restaurant played their part in the surprise and staff ensured all needs were met.
The Blue Anchor – ColchesterAlways a great place for lunch and we tried breakfast which was superb. Great service and super efficient. We did book and it was busy from the moment it opened!
The Barn Garden Centre Cafe – ColchesterBuy one main course and get the second one for a quid. Offer available all day Monday-Friday from 5 January 2026.
Get a glass of Prosecco for £3 every Friday between 5pm and 7pm.