Pearl Dragon salmon ginger and spring onion

 We have been here quite a few times over the last couple of years, and it is consistent in service and food, so it is currently our favourite Chinese restaurant for this area.

Although the interior is not new and plush, it is comfortable and, being a large restaurant with an upstairs area, it is great for large groups. Tables are nicely placed, so you have plenty of room between your neighbouring diners.

The staff are professional, albeit a little serious and they do not have conversation, but the Manager there makes up for this, as he is a very sociable man, with good customer service skills. They have plenty of repeat diners, and it is easy to see why.

Peal Dragon hot and spicy soup

Peal Dragon crispy aromatic duck

There are lots of Chinese restaurants in Southend-on-Sea, but this is definitely one of the best.

Our favourites dishes are:

Salmon with ginger and spring onion (really lovely salmon)

Hot and sour soup (full of vegetables and prawns)

Vegetable spring rolls

Crispy Aromatic Duck with pancakes

There is an extensive menu, so lots to choose from.

Restaurant name

Pearl Dragon Chinese

Date of visit

17/09/2009

Website address

www.pearldragon.co.uk

Restaurant telephone

01702 613468

Restaurant address

18-19 Eastern Esplanade, Southend-On-Sea, SS1 2ER

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?

7/10

Service Quality rating?

7/10

Food Quality rating

9/10

Kara is currently dating her ex co-star Jo Swash, which came as a surprise after she had decided not to date any more celebrity men (after her split with actor James Alexandrou who formally played Martin Fowler from Eastenders too). Kara joined ‘Eastenders’ four years ago, playing the sister of Joe’s character Mickey Miller.

Kara Louise Tointon was born on the 5th August 1983 in Basildon, Essex and lived in Southend on Sea for quite a time.

Kara is going to star alongside Joe in the pantomime production of Snow White and the Seven Dwarves in Britstol this Christmas. She has said: ‘We are starring in panto together. I love singing and dancing so it’s perfect.

When asked how she feels about leaving the soap as her character Dawn Swann, she has said “I sort of went off playing her, which is a shame after playing someone for four years.” But she is sad to leave, as she has had a great time with the soap. A short while before leaving she also said “I would definitely love to go back to EastEnders one day, being killed off would be my worst nightmare.” So, maybe she is keeping her options open…..

Kara was considered for ‘Stricly come dancing’ this year, but she has decided not to contend and concentrate on her acting career as a ‘serious actor’. It is no wonder, as she won the Sport Relief version in 2008.

She did a photo shoot for FHM this Summer, in which she looked gorgeous – what a body that girl has! She has landed new modelling assignments, and was chosen as the new face of Michelle for George lingerie at Asda. The 26-year-old actress is definitely going to be busy, even if she has left Eastenders!

Kara would like to try her hand in Costume Drama – She has said: “I loved playing Dawn. But I’d like to play someone quite different next time. My dream role would be Lizzie Bennet in Pride And Prejudice.”

More on Dating …….. She previously dated EastEnders co-star Alexandrou for a year and also was in a long relationship with Busted rocker James Bourne before that in 2004.

Filmography

• Eastenders – 2005 – 2009 – as Dawn Swann

• America or Busted -2004 – played herself

• The Fete -2004 – Lizzie

• The Football Factory- 2004) – played Shie/Tameka

• Mile High – 2004 – played the outgoing Geneveve

• Keen Eddie – 2004 – played Sarah Friedman

• Boudica (2003) – played Poppaea

• Dinotopia -2002 – 18 Year Old Le Sage

• Harry and Cash – 2002 – played Gabby

• Never play with the dead – 2001 – played Victoria

• Teachers – 2001 – Played Pauline Young

• Dream Team -1999 and also 2004-2005 – Played Gina Moliano

I saw signs for the temporary Circus in Southend that starts this week and forgot all about it until I saw it on the news this evening. I have to say, I never realised that they use animals in their acts. I, naively, thought that circuses were not allowed to use animals in ANY of their acts, but this one has five elephants (one African, 2 Indian and Two Asian), Lions, Tigers, camels, Llamas, Ponies, Reindeer and horses …. I cannot believe this is being allowed. Caging animals in Zoos is bad enough, and it gives us the option to go and view many different species, but no-one needs to see animals in a circus – there are other ways!

The News Reporter was allowed a chat with someone from the Circus, who advised and showed how good the facilities and food was for the elephants, but refused to allow photos or filming with the other animals as the ‘images would not do the facilities justice’. So, all that says to me is that the facilities are not acceptable – everyone shouts if they have something good to show, but keep secret those things that are bad.

Apparently, the elephants are used in the show, doing what is natural to them, but how can that be?

The RSPCA said that using animals was a disgrace.

Proven Animal Cruelty Update!!!  Today (22nd August) I have decided to update this post, as I have now heard that video footage has been released by an animal rights group, to the circus, showing savage beatings of 3 of the elephants by staff members of the circus.  The elephants were shown in the video crying out in pain.  The Great British Circus have said that an inquiry will be held and that one of the staff members in the video has since been dismissed.  Footage shows workers hitting the circus’s three elephants with a large metal hook and they can be seen crying out in pain.

The Animal Defenders Group has claimed the video shows a “staggeringly high level of casual abuse”.

Chief executive of the group, Jan Creamer, said: “This is not about one bad apple. This is about a culture of violence and confinement. In the name of entertainment these elephants are beaten, jabbed with hooks, chained up for hours every day, and pushed into a metal box each week where they remain for hours on end while the circus moves to another site.

The undercover video footage was taken in early May.  Next stop for the Circus is Colchester and Colchester Zoo Director, Anthony Tropeano, is urging the public not to visit the show.  He said that “animal circuses belong in the 19th Century” and that he is surprised that people still find it acceptable to see them – and I have to agree with him!!!

The Government must ban the use of animals in Circuses as abuse is too common!  Ms Creamer added “The public wants to see a ban, Parliament wants a ban, animal protection groups want a ban. Surely, it is time for the Government to take action to stop this suffering right now.”

The Department for the Environment said work was under way on whether the Government should regulate the use of wild animals in circuse. The report is due to be finished later this year.

More info on the Circus………

This is what the website – http://www.veggies.org.uk/event.php?ref=1371  had to say about the Circus………….The “Great” British Circus is in Rochford at Southend Road B1013, Nr Airport opposite the Anne Boleyn pub, Rochford, Southend, Essex, SS4 1HU. There will be an Animals in Entertainment stall the Saturday before they arrive, in Southend on Sea, plus demonstrations once the Circus arrive.  This is the only remaining circus touring the country with big cats, (tigers and lions), as well as other animals such as llamas, zebras, reindeers, goats and horses. They sadly have bred more baby tigers to live a life in captivity, with no natural contact with other so their own kind.   If you live in the area please remove illegal flyposters, and try to persuade shops not to display posters.

Some more info here: http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/southcoast/2006/08/349559.html

And see their website here: www.greatbritishcircus.co.uk

What do you think about this Circus – will you be going? Do you agree with the use of animals?

Indian Summer dansak and Peshwari Naan

Well, back in February I was saying that the Viceroy in Hadleigh, Essex, was my favourite Indian restaurant, but the Viceroy has now become my 2nd favourite, as the ‘Indian Summer’ appeared along the A13 in Westcliff-on-Sea.  I can now say that the ‘Indian summer’ is the best restaurant in Southend, and possibly Essex, as I have not had better anywhere else!

This restaurant is consistent and we have visited at least 15 times now so we have plenty of experience to go on!

Indian Summer does not offer buffets and special cheap deals, and we are glad they don’t, as they concentrate on good quality food instead. What they do offer is fantastic value for very good food. They use fresh ingredients and great seafood/meat, so everything tastes as it should without the flavours being ‘covered’ in hot spice and oil, as some Indian restaurants do. We love prawns, chicken and lamb in our curries, and it is always really nice. The naan breads are fresh and light, the raitha yoghurt is a refreshing accompaniment and the dansak actually has whole lentils in it, giving it a wonderful texture.

The staff are polite and friendly, and the restaurant is very comfortable, cosy and modern and they play Indian music – what more could you want?

Our favourites dishes are:

• Tandoori King Prawn Jalfrezi, Korai or Madras.
• Chicken Tikka Dansa or Madras
• Garlic or Peshwari Naan
• Garlic Chilli potatoes
• Cucumber raitha
• Pilau rice

My rating for this restaurant:

Food – 9

Atmosphere – 8

Service – 8

Value for money – 10

Address: 629 London Rd, Westcliff-on-Sea, SS0 9PE

Telephone: 01702 333358

Restaurant name

Indian Summer

Restaurant address

629 London Rd, Westcliff-on-Sea, SS0 9PE

Restaurant telephone

01702 333358

Date of visit

multiple in 2009

How many dined?

2

Service Charge included?

No

Average price per person for 3 course meal, excluding drinks

inexpensive (under £20)

Value for money rating?

10/10

Atmosphere Quality rating?

8/10

Service Quality rating?

8/10

Food Quality rating

9/10

red-arrows-at-southend-air-show-sandra-m-dean

It has taken me ages to upload my photos and I am gradually doing so.  I have just added the Southend on Sea Festival of the Air Show 2009.  I went on Sunday 24th May, and it was sooooooo busy, but I got some lovely photos. 

See the PHOTOS by CLICKING HERE

Did you go?  Did you have fun?  Let me know……

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)

 

 

 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

Ruchi Indian Restaurant, Chicken tikka dansak and accompaniments

The Ruchi Indian restaurant was one of my favourites in Southend on Sea, and I stopped going as I had one disappointing meal. However, we went back in February 2009 and it was as lovely as it ever was. The staff are very nice and the food was great. Pictured here is the chicken tikka dansak (just the right amount of sweet, sour and heat), Bombay potatoes, garlic naan, cucumber raitha and a lamb Rogan Josh. Delightful!

It is comfortable and modern with bench seating and normal seating. Everything is clean and fresh.

They have, on occasion, organised themed music night as well, which we have been to.  We saw the ABBA night and the two lady singers were pretty good.  Of course, you have to have the set meal, but it is something different.

Restaurant name

Ruchi

Restaurant address

708-710 Southchurch Road, Southend On Sea, Essex SS1 2PS

Restaurant telephone

01702 611020

Date of visit

various 2008 to February 2009

How many dined?

2

Service Charge included?

No

Average price per person for 3 course meal, excluding drinks

inexpensive (under £20)

Service Quality rating?

8/10

Food Quality rating

8/10

Value for money rating?

8/10

Atmosphere Quality rating?

8/10 ]]> http://notjustanessexgirl.com/2009/ruchi-indian-restaurant-southend-on-sea-essex/feed/ 0 http://notjustanessexgirl.com/2009/gold-coast-chinese-restaurant-southend-on-sea-essex/ http://notjustanessexgirl.com/2009/gold-coast-chinese-restaurant-southend-on-sea-essex/#comments Sat, 21 Feb 2009 13:30:08 +0000 sandra http://www.notjustanessexgirl.com/?p=545 We have been to the Gold Coast in Southend on Sea a few times, but we have found the service not up to the standards of neighbouring Chinese restaurants, so we have not been here for a while.  

I did enjoy the food though, and this particular evening, we had a thai green chicken [...]

Continue reading this article Gold Coast Chinese Restaurant, Southend on Sea, Essex

frankie and bennys pizza lasagne and meatball spaghetti september 2008

(please click on the images below to enlarge and press the back button on your browser to return to the main page)

Restaurant name

Frankie and Bennys

Restaurant address

18/20 Southchurch Road, Southend On Sea, Essex SS1 2NE

Restaurant telephone

01702 460 732

Website address

www.frankieandbennys.com

Date of visit

September 2008

How many dined?

2

Average price per person for 3 course meal, excluding drinks

inexpensive (under £20)

Service Charge included?

No

Value for money rating?

8/10

Atmosphere Quality rating?

8/10

Service Quality rating?

8/10

Food Quality rating

8/10