We had the dim sum basket to start which was lovely.  But it became disappointing.  Plain rice, well there’s nothing to say about that, it is what it is.   The seabass dish steamed with ginger was lovely.  Kung po king prawns I thought were bland and the prawns did not have a nice texture.  And then the so called stir fried vegetables turned out to be virtually all cabbage with a bit of brocolli and were soggy and tasteless yet we asked for them in garlic and ginger.  We were not asked mid meal if our meal was OK, but we called them to change the vegetables and they did, so that was good.  But, they came back just as soggy but at least had garlic and ginger on them.  I couldn’t eat them though and I love my vegetables. I cannot eat soggy vegetables.  I expected bok choi or something more chinese and crunchy.  The waitress/possible manageress? came over and asked us if they were OK second time and I said they were soggy and not stir fried as they had obviously been par steamed or par boiled before going into the wok.  She disagreed and said they were stir fried and that they may be different to other restaurants.  Yes they certainly are and they were horrible but I didn’t appreciate the rudeness or curtness in her attitude.  And they definitely were NOT stir fried, and wouldnt be soggy in the two minutes they took to redo them.

So, I cannot say all the food was bad because half of it was OK, but not worth the prices they charge overall.  There are far better Chinese/asian restaurants in the Southend area (as you will see from my over 100 restaurant reviews in Essex on this site) and I regret trying this one as the rudeness of service did not stop there but I will not go into it.

There are so many good restaurants in the area, of all types, so will stick to those.

Date of visit: 2^nd February 2012

Ambience out of 5: 3

Service out of 5: 0

Food out of 5: 2

Value for money out of 5: 1

http://platinumhouse.co.uk/NuAysia.aspx

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grey goose rochford essex restaurant butternut squash curry

 We visited this new restaurant/bar on 31st January 2012, just two months after it opened. The front door leads you into a bare looking bar that smells new but has no atmosphere. There are a few tables downstairs for dining, but the main restaurant is upstairs in an open plan design. The evening was admittedly very cold outside, but it wasn’t because of that that we felt far from cosy inside. There are no pictures, no flowers, no ornaments of any kinds, just a plain walled design with not the best wooden beamed ceiling in an open plan design. The lights were not particularly cosy either, as they are too bright individually although the overall restaurant was not and at least they have candles. I mention this because I believe a lot of money was spent on this new restaurant/bar and I just couldn’t see it.Down to the food, it was very disappointing, and we left hungry even after 2 courses each.

To start we had the prawn cocktail with wasabi prawns – little prawns, a load of mayonnaise with a little wasabi taste, a little bread and some lettuce, just plonked on the plate. The lemon wasn’t even trimmed with pips and pith still on it – just a messy slice basically. It was edible but not tasty.

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We also had the duck starter which was delicious! A torn up confit duck leg, on lettuce, in a carefully sliced cucumber basket, with a beautiful cooked plum sauce with crisp apple slices. A wonderful starter with the taste of the Chinese crispy aromatic duck, but better. This left us encouraged, but it was the last nice thing we tried unfortunately.

Overall, the menu is basic – steak and chips, fish and chips, lamb and veg, chicken with rice and salad, salmon. I wasn’t overally inspired, but I chose the baked butternut squash curry with coriander rice.

The curry, although a nice warm heat of spices, was too strong and lacked in any depth of flavour. The rice didn’t taste of coriander at all, and was just an overcooked slab of rice on the plate. No finesse in serving at all – you will see by the photos. It didn’t even come with a raitha, a naan, a popodum or anything and for £10.95 and being unable to eat more than half of it, it was terrible.

Michael had the Pan-fried calves liver, crispy pancetta, creamed potatoes in a red wine jus. The jus was bland and watery, there was a huge amount of liver, which is fine of course but he couldn’t eat it all. The mash was tasteless – not buttery, not seasoned, just mashed up potatoes with no creamy texture. And not enough pancetta for the liver he said. He only ate half of it which is unusual for him. The veg that arrived with it all was new potatoes, a load of cauliflower and some steamed courgette – not what you’d want with liver and mash – bland and not seasoned or buttered.

We didn’t stay for a dessert, even though we were still hungry. We went to Marks and Spencer and got a profiterole stack and ate it at home, which was nice.

The wine list is basic, but we had the Borolo which was lovely, but weren’t there long enough to even drink it all.

We were asked if we enjoyed the main once it was cleared away but not before, and we said we didn’t enjoy it and it was ‘average’ We were told that she would tell the chef to try better next time! So we didn’t bother to explain what was wrong.  Although, the service was very pleasant, so I have no issue with that.  Just that the normal process would be to ask us mid meal if we are enjoying it, but we were not asked.  Having worked in Hotel and catering, and eating out a lot, I do notice these things.

To be honest we could eat much better in a café for £5!

Will not return. We went as a treat, and wished we hadn’t. They need to sort the food out if they are to charge the a la carte prices they do, that is for sure.  Our bill just for 2 courses was £35.50 (JUST FOR FOOD) and it wasnt worth it.

Date of visit: 31st January 2012

Ambience out of 5: 1

Service out of 5: 3

Food out of 5: 1

Value for money out of 5: 0

www.thegreygooserochford.co.uk

7-9 East Street

Rochford

Essex

SS4 1DB

Tel: 01702 544797

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Tasty Bites Benfleet restaurant Essex Burger and chips

This is a café situated in the High Road, South Benfleet always seems to be busy whatever time of day, and it deserves to be.

They offer a fast service, freshly cooked food, and a large menu including pie mash and liquor, roast dinners on Sundays, burgers, full breakfasts and much more.

My Mum likes it too, and she is a good critic!

Date of visit – March 2011

How many dined? 2

Average price per person for 3 course meal (excluding drinks) – cheap (under £20)

Service charge included? no

Food – 7

Service – 7

Ambience – 6

Value for money – 8

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Phone:

01268 754 111

277 High Road, Benfleet, Essex SS7 5HA

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But, tonight we walked in without a booking and after looking at her paper reservation list, the manager, who I do not remember seeing before, told us that we could not sit in the restaurant as we requested as they were fully booked for the evening.  So, we sat in the bar area, although we did not want to.  I got chilly, as the bar area was not too warm and the door is located nearby.  We asked for sparkling water, ice and lemon and she left the unopened bottle on the table for us to pour, which is poor in a restaurant of that nature.

We ordered wine and our first two courses, which sounded lovely.  I got my camera out ready to photograph our food for a new up to date review I was going to write for the restaurant.  Then, three people walked in without a booking and asked if they could have a table.  Again, the manager looked at her reservation list and proceeded to seat them in the restaurant with a smile.

We decided to question her as to why she did not give us a table in the restaurant as we had asked and she had no answer or apology.  I found her attitude incredible since she is in customer services and bizarre that she had no reason to act in this way.  Michael challenged her again and paid for the bottle of wine which we’d barely touched.   She charged full restaurant price and walked off again with no explanation or apology.  We were very upset at this poor service.  And after giving them such lovely reviews in the past, and having been there so many times, it was an insult.  I know from my previous years in the hotel and restaurant industry that keeping customers happy is the key to getting paid and making money.

Those of you who know my site and my writing will know that I do not complain very often, but when I do feel the need I do so as I feel I should share the bad as well as the good and I dont like it when people are treated differently for no reason.  I still cannot believe Michael paid for the wine, because I would not have since it was her rudness that caused us to leave.  (we have since had feedback from a number of people and everyone bar one person would have left the restaurant, not paid for the wine and not gone back.   I have also since emailed the restaurant and they didnt even bother to reply or apologise – it says it all!)

Anyway it all ended very happily as I then suggested we go to one of our local favourites, the Roslin Hotel in Thorpe Bay, for dinner.  We had a fabulous meal – prawn cocktail and salmon fishcakes to start, whole grilled plaice and fish pie for main and profiteroles and apple and plum crumble for dessert, all washed down with a bottle of Sancerre – gorgeous!  The staff are so friendly there since they sorted out their staff issues a long time ago, so I knew that they would not let us down.  I took photos so will post a new review for them soon.  The Roslin and Harrions in Hockley are our current favourites local to Southend on sea, for that British/European style food and the Masa in Hadleigh and Saffron Lounge in Hamlet Court Road are favourites for indian.  For thai, I still like the Rak Chang and, of course, Irmas for a pizza.  I have so many more favourites, but I will not go on…  Apart from saying that the thai massage place in Leigh on sea is fabulous!  Overall favourites when looking further afield, it has to be the Ivy in London and Chapter one in Kent.  There are so many great restaurants in Britain and abroad, thankfully!

Sandra

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Giraffe exterior Lakeside Essex

I visited this restaurant for the first time recently, as chips and burgers and that kind of food are only an occasional treat as it’s unhealthy.

We tried the ribs, chips, corn on the cob, onion rings and chicken pieces. All was tasty and hot and pleasantly served by our waitress.

This fairly large restaurant has some nice comfy booths to relax in and the service is relaxed yet efficient.

I will visit again, when I fancy that kind of cuisine when I am shopping at Lakeside.

 Date of visit

– April 2011

Giraffe restaurant Lakeside Essex ribs and snacks

How many dined? 2

Average price per person for 3 course meal (excluding drinks) – Moderate (£20 – £30)

Service charge included? no

Food – 7

Service – 7

Ambience – 7

Value for money – 7

Phone:

01708 866 646

Website:

http://www.giraffe.net/restaurant/lakeside

The Boardwalk, Lakeside Shopping Centre, West Thurrock RM20 2ZN

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Caters grill Chateaubritand Eastwood Essex

I have been to this restaurant three times now – once with friends, once with my Mum and once with Michael. All three visits were relaxing and the food very good. The lunchtime offers are fabulous value, and the staff so friendly, they always serve with a smile and never rush you out, whether you still have a drink or food or not.

The restaurant and bar areas are nicely spread out into different sections, each being cosy and comfortable with many booths available which is great for a group get together. The spacious garden offers areas for outside dining, or just having a drink.

I have had seabass and a rump steak, plus the prawn dipping starters, but last time I tried the chateaubriand. It was cooked nicely (I always have medium rare) and fall apart, served with a delicious onion loaf, chips and side dishes.

I will go back to this restaurant without hesitation,

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Date of visit – April 2011

How many dined? 2

Average price per person for 3 course meal (excluding drinks) – Moderate (£20 – £30)

Service charge included? no

Food – 7

Service – 9

Ambience – 8

Value for money – 7

Phone:

01702 522 357

Website:

http://www.millerandcarter.co.uk/millerandcarterleighonsea

Steak House – Bar – Grill

629 Rayleigh Road, Eastwood, Leigh-on-Sea, SS9 5HR

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Oldhams fish and chips Essex

My Mum and Dad took me to this restaurant for fish or chicken and chips when I was little and I remember them giving me a lollipop if I finished my meal. It was only recently that I went back with my Mum to try it again, many years later.

The waitress, who has worked there for 25 years, remembered my Mum and I straight away, which was lovely, and she hardly looked any different at all! Anyway, down to food – well, it’s the best in the Southend area, that is for sure – the chips golden and not greasy at all and the batter on our plaice crispy and dry – beautiful!

Fresh crispy rolls, wine and beer on offer, and various other fish, meat and vegetarian choices, this is a great choice.

It is fairly small though, so you may have to wait for a table, but it will be worth it.

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Date of visit – April 2011

How many dined? 2

Average price per person for 3 course meal (excluding drinks) – medium (£20 – £30)

Service charge included? no

Food – 9

Service – 8

Ambience – 6

Value for money – 8

Phone: 01702 346 736

13 West Road, Westcliff-on-Sea SS0 9AU

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chicken liver pate at the Anchor Hullbridge

I have reviewed this restaurant before, based on four visits in 2010 – you can view the old review here: http://notjustanessexgirl.com/2011/the-anchor-restaurant-and-pub-hullbridge-essex-review  We went back in April 2011 to try out the new menu, which is less casual than the previous menu and focuses on quality ingredients and delicious combinations. Unfortuantely, the service has not improved.  We had the Lobster, crayfish, avocado & tomato cocktail with lobster mayonnaise and buttered chicken liver pate, toast & chutney, to start. The pate was as good as ever – smooth and not too rich, but the cocktail was served in a glass which made it difficult to mix the leaves and seafood and there was no plate underneath to capture the overflow. For our mains we ordered the pan fried corn fed chicken with fondant potato, stuffing and buttered vegetables, which, unfortunately came out whilst we still had our starter plates on our table, so the waiter walked off across the large busy restaurant with our main meals. When someone came to clear our starters, I said that I didn’t want food that is going back and forth across the restaurant and it was too quick after our starters, and we don’t like to be rushed. All that happened was that the same food, obviously, came out to us again and it wasn’t very hot when we finally got to eat it.

Unfortunately, whilst the staff were friendly, smiling and keen, the service is the issue of this restaurant for me, and it really does spoil the great food served here. It is a very large restaurant, has a large bar and large garden area, so the amount of cooking the kitchen does when it is busy is incredible, but the service staff cant seem to keep up. It is a shame.

Date of visit – April 2011

(Just been back again in May and it is just the same – they should stick to their old menu as the food is just not up to the prices now and service erratic.  Their bar food is great, but I had turbot and it was tasteless, and we also tried the scallop and paella and I couldnt eat it – ) Such a shame as it is a good venue that has gone downhill…) Personally, I wouldnt take another chance with this restaurant, not when Harrisons and the Roslin serve such great food with excellent service.  We ordered a bottle of Cliff Edge Sauvingnon Blanc and only had some so we took it home only to find that it wasnt a decent SB from New Zealand but a cheap Chilean ‘Villarica’ which I have never heard of.  Of course,we should have noticed, but because they dont present the wine and serve it properly we didnt notice.

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 How many dined? 2

Average price per person for 3 course meal (excluding drinks) – variable (£20-£40)

Service charge included? no

Food – 7

Service – 5

Ambience – 8

Value for money – 6

Email:

info@theanchorhullbridge.co.uk

Phone:

01702 230 777

Website:

http://www.theanchorhullbridge.co.uk

The Anchor Pub and Restaurant, Hullbridge, Essex SS5 6ND

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