The Sandbar fish restaurant Leigh on sea Essex

I just have to update this review by saying that when I went back in September 2011, it was not of the same standard as I have outlined below.  The fishcakes were still good, but the plaice and chips was terrible – put it this way there is more fish in a birds eye fish finger than one of the two so called fillets of plaice that you get on this dish covered in breadcrumbs.  At £9.95, it was one of the worst value for money meals I have had in a long time, so it just goes to show, chefs and food can change in restaurants rapidly.  When I asked for more fish and told them why I got a piece so small, that when I took the fish out it was one mouthful!………OLD REVIEW AS OF MAY 2011 – We visited this restaurant for lunch in 2007 and I now have no idea why we didn’t go back as it was really good. However, in March 2011 we had an evening meal at the cosy window table in the corner. Lamps, candles and white tablecloths give this place a real relaxed feel yet it is smart and the staff professional with attention to detail.

We really loved it. As for the food, it was very good indeed. We started with a pork belly dish served on a shallot and bacon puree and a salmon fishcake on roasted creamed leeks – both original flavours and cooked to perfection. For mains, I had the dover sole with new potatoes and a brown shrimp butter, and Michael had the duck from the specials menu. This was all topped off with a crème brulee. This is a very good food and a very good venue, right in the heart of Leigh on sea. This restaurant was opened in 1998, so has plenty of years experience with listening and acting upon its customers requests.

Date of visit – March 2011

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How many dined? 2

Average price per person for 3 course meal (excluding drinks) – High (£30+)

Service charge included? no

Food – 9

Service – 8

Ambience – 8

Value for money – 8

Email:  thesandbar@btconnect.com

Phone:  01702 480 067

Website: http://www.sandbarandseafood.co.uk

71 Broadway, Leigh-on-Sea, Essex SS9 1PE

Seabass at the Roslin Hotel Restuarant Southend Essex

Hooray for this Hotel revamping its restaurant on Southend seafront as there are not many places to dine with outside seating – a strange thing since there’s a few miles of seafront with great views.

It took us a while to try it, but we visited in July, on a warm summers evening, and sat in their terrace area at the front of the Hotel. The views across the Estuary are nice from the terrace, which is protected from wind with a glass screen around its perimeter.

Unfortunately, on our visit, the service was a little haywire, between 3 waiting staff, as quite a few things were muddled up or forgotten about, but this would not stop us going back, as the food was great and I am sure this was a one off and we will certainly be back to try it again as it is virtually our ‘local’.

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I had the fishcakes to start – deliciously soft inside, with plenty of fish and crunchy outside, together with a crisp salad and home made tartare sauce. Michael had the Queen scallops in their shell on pea puree. Well cooked scallops, soft in the middle, on top of a well seasoned pea puree. For me, when trying it, I felt it needed one other flavour to give it more depth, such as pancetta or something, but Michael was more than pleased with it.

For mains, I had halibut in a creamy sauce, with new potatoes, but I felt it again just lacked a depth of flavour. Michael had the sea bass on spinach with a salsa and new potatoes, which was bursting with flavour and texture.

Unable to resist the Eton Mess, we had one to share, and glad we did as it was a huge bowlful of exactly what it should be – cream, meringue and strawberry – very nice indeed!

The interior looks very comfortable, with a relaxed atmosphere and a nice bar area which will be perfect when the weather is not as favourable.

Food – 8

Atmosphere – 8

Service – 4

Value for money – 7

10-12 Thorpe Esplanade

Thorpe Bay, Essex SS1 3BG

01702 586 375

The restaurant was small (they have since extended it into a covered outside area) but comfortable, with smart seating. Perhaps the tables were a little too close together though.

The menu was varied and had some lovely sounding dishes, so it took us a while to choose, but I opted for the whole Dover sole, which was beautifully cooked and a really good choice. Michael, however, had scallops with black pudding which was not so good. Far too much black pudding making it really rich and not one bit ‘fine dining’.

To top it all, the service from one of the girls was horrendous – rude and she even chucked our bill on the table. Not good!

To be honest, if the waitress was not there, we would go back for the food and atmosphere, so maybe we will check it out again soon.  I hope that Michael still works there as he is an asset to any restaurant!

Restaurant name

Simply Seafood

Website address

http://www.simplyseafood.co.uk

Restaurant telephone

01702 716645

Restaurant address

No.1 The Cockle Shed, High Street, Leigh-On-Sea SS9 2ER

Service Charge included?

No

Average price per person for 3 course meal, excluding drinks

moderate (£20-£30)

How many dined?

2

Value for money rating?

4/10

Atmosphere Quality rating?

6/10

Service Quality rating?

3/10

Food Quality rating

7/10