plaice with pea casserole pipe of port southend

This is a candle-lit Wine Bar with mahogany tables and sawdust covered floors. It is set our like a cellar and is very cosy – an unusual find in Southend on Sea. I wouldn’t say it is over comfortable, as the wooden seating is basic, but there are booth type seats for a little more privacy and it is cosy in a way.

The wine list there is extensive and to suit all tastes, but the service was mediocre, and unfortunately the food was not fabulous.

I had a potato and leek soup to start, which was rather good, and Michael had the prawns in lemon and garlic, and he enjoyed those, although it was a small portion for the price.

For mains I had pan fried plaice with a pea casserole and new potatoes. I thoroughly enjoyed it but Michael’s pork belly and casserole was not of the same standard. The pork belly was not soft enough and the casserole lacked flavour in every way – a very bland meal that we could not recommend. However if you like fish, then the prawns and plaice were really good and I would thoroughly recommend them.

Restaurant name

Pipe of Port

Date of visit

October 2009

Website address

www.pipeofport.com

Restaurant telephone

01702 614606

Restaurant address

84, High St, Southend-On-Sea, Essex SS1 1JN

Restaurant E-mail address

info@pipeofport.com

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?

6/10

Atmosphere Quality rating?

6/10

Service Quality rating?

6/10

Food Quality rating

6/10

bread at the bell horndon on the hill essex

I just love the Bell Inn at Horndon on the Hill.  It is warm, cosy and comfortable.  They have a real fire in the bar in the Winter and you can eat in four different areas – the bar, the second bar area, the restaurant or upstairs.  The food is wholesome in quality and quantity and they use only the best ingredients.  Being meat eaters, we love the game pie when they have it, suet pudding with chicken and the terrines.  They also have fish, vegetarian and all meats on offer and a wide range of choice of meal and accompaniments which are always beautifully presented.  I have never had a bad meal there and the service is always very friendly – some staff have been there for years which is always a good sign 

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Restaurant name

The Bell Inn

 

Restaurant address

High Road, Horndon-On-The-Hill, Essex SS17 8LD

 

Restaurant telephone

 

01375 642463

 

Website address

 

www.bell-inn.co.uk

 

Date of visit

 

September 2009 and many times before (for many years)

 Value for money rating?

9/10

How many dined?

2

Average price per person for 3 course meal, excluding drinks

moderate (£20-£30)

Service Charge included?

No

Atmosphere Quality rating?

9/10

Service Quality rating?

9/10

Food Quality rating

9/10

 

 

the camden brasserie london

When in Camden, London, we generally opt for Asian cuisine, but decided to try the Camden Brasserie, as it looked like a smart restaurant with a good varied menu. We were not disappointed. The service was great, the wine list varied, and the ambience very relaxed and sophisticated even though it was busy.

We had a prawn spaghetti and a salmon penne pasta to start. The portions were very generous, and both were delicious. The belly of pork for my main was a bit disappointing but the steak that Michael had was perfectly cooked to order (medium rare), of very good quality (black Angus) and the fries were great. I have also spent more in my local restaurants in Essex for a steak that has been of inferior quality to these, so if you like steak, I would recommend it.

I would go back here when in Camden and looking for a quality British style meal.

Restaurant name

Camden Brasserie

Restaurant address

9-11 Jamestown Rd, London, NW1 7BW

Restaurant telephone

020 74822114

Website address

www.camdenbrasserie.co.uk

Date of visit

July 2008

How many dined?

2

Average price per person for 3 course meal, excluding drinks

moderate (£20-£30)

Atmosphere Quality rating?

9/10

Service Quality rating?

9/10

Food Quality rating

8/10

Value for money rating?

8/10

main meal and the restaurant zabranos leigh on sea essex

We went to Zabrano about three times, but the food and service got worse.The first meal was great – chicken Coq au vin I remember to be extremely good and their Sunday lunch was nice.Thereafter we tried two more times. The second meal we shared the 7 hours slow roasted shoulder of lamb. It was rich and tasty at the time, but for some reason we both got stomach upsets afterwards – although we did have prawns too. Undeterred, we went back again, as the dining area is actually very nice and the atmosphere is good.The falafel starter was inedible as it was so salty.The scallops were nice.The bouillabaisse had just too much cream in it and was very sickly, and my main and wine was spoilt due to the lingering salt in my mouth from the starter. We were polite about it but had a particularly rude waiter. It is first time I have been unable to leave a tip, due to the undeserving service.However, I would not put anyone off going to Zabrano, as the two meals we had previous were very nice, including the Sunday Lunch, and chefs/staff change a lot in restaurants sometimes.

Restaurant name

Zabrano

Restaurant address

127 Leigh Rd, Leigh-on-Sea, SS9 1JQ

Restaurant telephone

01702 476999

Website address

www.zabrano.co.uk

Date of visit

October 2008

How many dined?

2

Average price per person for 3 course meal, excluding drinks

moderate (£20-£30)

Service Charge included?

No

Food Quality rating

6/10

Service Quality rating?

4/10

Atmosphere Quality rating?

7/10

Value for money rating?

5/10 ]]> http://notjustanessexgirl.com/2009/zabrano-leigh-on-sea-essex/feed/ 0 http://notjustanessexgirl.com/2009/san-fairie-ann-now-bacchus/ http://notjustanessexgirl.com/2009/san-fairie-ann-now-bacchus/#comments Sat, 21 Feb 2009 17:47:28 +0000 sandra http://www.notjustanessexgirl.com/?p=577

sept 08 san fairie ann sunday lunch

(this restaurant is now the Bacchus, and the link below links to my January 2010 review of Bacchus)

I used to go San Fairie Ann when it was the Glasshouse, and I preferred it in those days.  I have found, since turning into San Fairie Ann, with its new menu and chefs, that [...]

Continue reading this article San Fairie Ann (now Bacchus), Southend on Sea, Essex

 

 

sept 08 san fairie ann sunday lunch

(this restaurant is now the Bacchus, and the link below links to my January 2010 review of Bacchus)

I used to go San Fairie Ann when it was the Glasshouse, and I preferred it in those days.  I have found, since turning into San Fairie Ann, with its new menu and chefs, that the level of food and choice has not been consistent.  I just don’t get why someone would want ham, egg and chips for dinner with wine in the evening?  They are very nice ham, egg and chips as I have had them for lunch there, but I prefer steaks, pork or fish for dinner.  I think they went just a little far with the ‘trying to be different’.  I have not been since September 2008, so I don’t know what it is like right now, but the chefs and staff changing was affecting their food.  Generally, the food we had previous was fantastic and we had many a Sunday Lunch there until the name changed and the price of our favourite bottle of Italian went up £10 from £40 to £50!  Now we like good wine, but not at that hike!  We did question it, but nothing was said, so we stopped going for Sunday lunch and now go to the Toulouse or the Rococo– we like to be looked after as frequent guests of a restaurant – maybe that’s too much to ask in todays modern world? 

(This restaurant is now called ‘Bacchus’  It is still Sonia running, but has had yet another name change. (please click HERE to see my up to date review of Bacchus of January 2010)

 

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 Restaurant name

 

 

San Fairie Ann (previously the Glasshouse, and now the Bacchus)

 

Restaurant address

 

43, Alexandra St, Southend-On-Sea, Essex SS1 1BW

 

Restaurant telephone

 

01702 348088

 

Website address

 

www.sanfairieann.com

 

Date of visit

 

various and last September 2008

 

How many dined?

 

2

 

Average price per person for 3 course meal, excluding drinks

 

moderate (£20-£30)

 

Service Charge included?

 

No

 

Service Quality rating?

 

5/10

 

Atmosphere Quality rating?

 

8/10

 

Value for money rating?

 

5/10

 

Food Quality rating

 

6/10

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cosy starters cafe rococo november 2008

The interior of Café Rococo is an elegant setting and very comfortable, with a professional service and a lovely wine list. 

 Food is exquisite and a mix of France meets Britain with some unusual and tasty items on the menu. 

 My seabass plate was the nicest dish I have ever had with this kind of fish – absolutely lovely and I would highly recommend this restaurant for special nights out in Leigh on Sea.

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Restaurant name

Cafe Rococo

Restaurant telephone

01702 711 141

Restaurant address

34-36 Elm Road, Leigh on Sea, Essex SS9 1SN

Website

www.rococoleigh.co.uk

Date of visit

November 2008

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?

8/10

Atmosphere Quality rating?

8/10

Service Quality rating?

8/10

Food Quality rating

8/10

The Bushel roast dinner Feb 08

The Bushel is a nice pub in Bury St Edmunds, and we were there for Sunday Lunch as a walk in.  The roast was a good portion of Pork and accompaniments, but I think the batter puddings and roast potatoes were from frozen.  Vegetables were sweet corn, cabbage, carrots, leeks, broccoli and peas, so good if you like lots of different vegetables.  Very good value as it was well priced but it is nothing special as far as a roast goes. 

angel hotel lavenham suffolk september 2008

The Angel Hotel in Lavenham has a traditional country style restaurant and bar area, with rustic wooden seating. The food is superb and service very good. We had a fresh soup and pate to start – both excellent. The menu is varied and very British, yet there are plenty of specials on the board too, so choosing is difficult! I had the beef pie – pastty delightful and beef rich and tender. The vegetables were cooked perfectly. Michael had lamb with dumplings which was equally as tasty. We had to share a dessert due to the hearty portions of food they serve, and we chose a chocolate brownie, which was great. Richard and Judy were dining there that day, so I guess it must be a favourite for many to come from further afield like us.

For full review click on ‘More’