8 of the best fine dining restaurants in Essex

From Epping to Colchester, Essex Life picks out our favourite fine dining restaurants in the county...

1. Galvin Green Man, Chelmsford

With a Bib Gourmand Menu set lunch or dinner on offer for £25 (two courses) and £28 (three courses), it’s ideal for enjoying great, West End-quality food that won’t break your budget.

Address: Main Road, Howe Street, Chelmsford CM3 1BG

Phone: 01245 408 820

 Website: galvinrestaurants.com

2. Alec’s Restaurant, Brentwood

Essex Life Food & Drink Awards 2019 Restaurant of the Year winner, Alec’s has an excellent reputation for great food and great service. Dishes include the likes of soft-shell crab with seaweed mayonnaise, slow-roasted pork belly with wonderfully crisp crackling and butternut squash and cider sauce.

Address: Navestock Side, Brentwood CM14 5SD

Phone: 01277 375696

Website: alecsrestaurant.co.uk

READ MORE: Restaurant review: Alec’s Restaurant, Brentwood

3. The Creek, Colchester

Indulge in Happy Hour Cocktails from Wednesday to Friday with two for £10 between 6pm and 7pm. You can also enjoy two courses for £25.50 or three courses for just £32.

Address: Flag Hill, Great Bentley, Colchester CO7 8RE

Phone: 01255 317950

Website: thecreekgreatbentley.co.uk

4. Le Talbooth at Maison Talbooth, Dedham

With an idyllic riverside setting in the heart of the Constable countryside, Le Talbooth, established in 1952, has a long history of producing stunning food. Enjoy locally sourced, meticulously prepared dishes such as hand dived scallops, Thetford forest venison and dry-aged Dedham beef. Grab a seat on the terrace in view of the River Stour.

Address: Gun Hill, Dedham, Colchester CO7 6HP

Phone: 01206 323150

Website: milsomhotels.com

5. Wivenhoe House, Colchester

With a lunch set menu (£17.50) as well as an evening set menu (£27.50) and a Sunday set menu (£17.50), you're bound to get a feast at Wivenhoe House whenever you dine. There's also a list of pizzas and a separate kids menu for the little ones.

Address: Wivenhoe Park, Colchester CO4 3SQ

Phone: 01206 863666

Website: wivenhoehouse.co.uk

6. The Hoop, Stock

This 15th century, traditional pub in the pretty village of Stock offers real ales and popular pub classics, but looks can be deceiving, as it also has a fine dining room on the first floor. Husband and wife team Phil and Michelle Utz run The Hoop together, with Phil as head chef and Michelle front of house.

Address: 21 High Street, Stock, Ingatestone CM4 9BD

Phone:  01277 841137

Website: thehoop.co.uk

7. Haywards Restaurant, Epping

Haywards, situated on the edge of Epping Forest, is all about quality. Head Chef Jahdre Hayward uses all of his skill to bring to bring together the freshest ingredients to create elegant, delicious dishes worthy of a spot in the Michelin Guide and three AA Rosettes. The restaurant garden grows most of the fruit, vegetables and herbs used in the dishes, and they even cultivate their own bee colonies for local honey!

Address: 111 Bell Common, Epping CM16 4DZ

Phone: 01992 577350

Website: haywardsrestaurant.co.uk

8. Pig & Whistle, Chelmsford

Based in the beautiful Chelmsford countryside, the Pig & Whistle’s 16th century building oozes rustic charm with glowing tiffany lamps and beautiful vintage furniture. They serve fantastic home-cooked dishes using the best local ingredients from honey marinated duck breast to sweet potato and peanut curry and lamb rump tagine. Plus, the sun-soaked terrace is a lovely spot to savour a glass of fine wine.

Address: Chignal Road, Chignal Smealey, Chelmsford CM1 4SZ

Phone: 01245 443186

Website: pigandwhistlechelmsford.uk

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READ MORE:

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20 charming places for afternoon tea in Essex 

5 of the best tapas restaurants in Essex