Alfrescos in Tendring

Alfresco’s Restaurant, Marine Parade E, Clacton-on-Sea, CO15 IPU, Essex Staying in Walton-on-Naze for a week in September was a revelation – there was the iconic Naze to the north of town to explore and those spectacular beaches both sides of the pier to enjoy. The pier itself, by contrast, was rundown and in need of some real TLC - then there was the state of the town centre. There may be a couple of new mid-size supermarkets (looking fresh, familiar and full-of-life), but the high street that once was and the line of commercial shops have … faded. Why? The place seemed stuck in the 1950s. Hadn’t anyone invested in the place since then (well, apart from Messrs. Aldi & M&S). And what has all this to do with Alfresco’s place? Well … in a roundabout way it does for Clacton when we drove over there for lunch one day was bursting with confidence, bright lights, buoyant commercial centre, pristine pier and lots of people bustling around the centre. The two towns are 13 km apart. It was this thing about contrast that came across. Sure, it’s been many (many … many) years since we were last in both places – growing up in central Essex, the coast was always within easy reach, first for those seaside holidays in the holiday camps that once were then, subsequently (amazingly), personal transport became affordable. First the motorbike/scooter then the car (and the girlfriend). What’s not to love about the NE Essex coast of those days. After parking the car in Agate Street just off Marine Parade we headed for the pier looking for a place for lunch. There was Alfesco’s place a little further down Marine Parade East and overlooking Clacton Pier; to one side of Pier Gap where the road slopes down to the pier. This is where the road-train starts/finishes its tours around the town. The restaurant was one half of a building with a ‘Food Court’ sign across the roof line; the other half was a fish&chips place. We subsequently found out that they were both owned by the same people - neatly providing for both traditional seaside foods and for those who prefer the foods that have invaded from North America and/or southern Europe in recent years. We headed into Alfresco’s Restaurant – through the outside courtyard into the snazzy-looking glass-structure that enclosed the inside dining area with the counter at the far end. Seating for around 50 inside and outside at four seat/tables and benches. We were the only people in the place and, it seemed, lunch was finished for the day and the place was about to close up. Glance at the clock - it was just after 14.30 – and mine host was amenable to a couple of jacket potatoes with side salads; ‘Easy’, he said, ‘everything is set up’. Friendly … we liked that. We were seated with our drinks and food within 10 minutes. It was, as he said: Easy. The meal was delicious too – large hot potato, cheese on the side and sufficient greens to supplement those carbohydrates. The wall above and to one side of the counter was awash with food options of all kinds – sandwiches, grills, burgers, lasagne, fish, jacket potatoes, sides, etc. – jacket potatoes were an easy (and tasty) choice for us – the second time that week. We hadn’t thought about convenience to the restaurant – it just worked out that way. Service, approach, comfortable table, good value and delicious light meal – complimenti. We paid GB£15.45 for the meal: GB£5.50 each for our meals and finishing with a pot of tea and a cappuccino. It had been a pleasant 40 minutes looking out over the surrounding courtyard and pier below – where we headed after leaving Alfresco’s for a quick tour around. The place was alive with people; the fairground activities buzzing with the vitality that only electricity can provide – light, sound, movement. Peter Steele Maldon Essex 21 October 2019

Popped I whilst passing for a drink. Asked if they did Cappuccino, "was rudely told we do what is on the board!" I looked up, saw Cappuccino. Why he could t have just said yes we do, beats me... My Husband went to sit down, we were then told we couldn't sit there as it was a table for 4 and they were primarily a restaurant. The place was virtually empty, so we had to sit by a drafty window. Really poor customer service, we will not return!

Called for breakfast Saturday morning. Not overly busy but then neither was clacton. Very prompt friendly service, great prices and value for money. Excellent food.

Visited today. Good portion and very well presented. The fish and chips were fantastic. Light crispy batter lovely chips, fresh salad and bread and butter. The kitchen was spotlessly clean. Very friendly owners. Great coffee. Thoroughly enjoyed meal. Highly recommended. Good value for money.

Good size portions freshly cooked no issues just what you’d expect from a great British sea side resort. Tables could have been a little cleaner.

Ordered two lots of 4 doughnuts today from a young girl at the counter which did not seem very experienced or with it as she just stared at me with a blank expression. To her credit she told us to sit down and she would bring them over. She brought them over and explained they aren’t shaped properly but there’s about 10 in there. These doughnuts were shocking, looked like the scraps from the end of the day. They tasted like the fat was burnt and just wasn’t very much like a doughnut at all. My mother took them back and explained the above and the lady took them away from her and continued to clean with no apology, no new bath or refund offered. This was all done with a blank expression. I went up to ask what she was willing to do regarding our order of doughnuts and shrugged her shoulders. When I asked for a refund so I can go elsewhere, she huffed and puffed and put the money in my hand AGAIN with no apology. I understand if people are new they may need to learn the ropes but no one was there to support her & she honestly lacked in customer service skills. I took my money down by the bottom of the pier and got them from there which were of better quality.

Grabbed a quick lunch here whilst in Clacton. Nice and clean, gave a good initial impression backed up by very pleasant and helpful manager and his staff. Food came quickly, freshly made, simple and good at reasonable cost. Not fancy dining but then you wouldn't go here expecting that. Good at what it does

Had a snack lunch here and found the service and food to be very good. We sat outside behind glass although there are tables inside. My wife had a prawn sandwich and it was in her words overflowing with prawns. I opted for a bacon sandwich which again was very good. On the last occasion we visited Clacton we ate here and again were more than happy with the food and service etc.

We ordered two large cods and waited for our food at an outside table. Five minutes later some young employees wanted us to get up so they could put the tables away. Fortunately the manager intervened and we remained seated. When the food appeared despite ordering large portions they were really small and thin (no white flakey fish here). The fish seemed more like something out of Iceland! The price was as much as I pay locally for a genuinely large piece of fish! Not recommended!

Visited May bank holiday weekend. Scampi and chips x 2. Polite quick service and the food was great only £6.95 each. Decent size with plenty of scampi. Chips, peas and salad. Couldn't fault it.

Visited this café on August bank holiday weekend & wish we hadn't bothered.Sat down with my wife for the best part of ten minutes waiting to be served despite two staff standing idle opposite.No one even acknowledged us despite being practically empty on a busy bank holiday only to be told to serve ourselves at the counter.Now we could see why.Needless to say we just walked out.Don't bother with this place.

Had a simple meal here just egg and chips with a coffee. Sat in the outside area. Nothing wrong with the food and quite cheap. Some people came in on 'mobility scooters' and the owner was somewhat patiently shifting tables around and helping them get seated. Looked like they were part of a larger group and had been equipped with them for the day without being used to them.

What you see is what you get. Alfrescos is a small restaurant on the Clacton sea front.It has inside and outside seating which is sheltered by a glass screen. You ordered from the counter .The staff are pleasant and the place is clean. If you are looking for something fancy this is not for you .But if you want a simple and quick meal at a reasonable price then this is the place.

Rude little man spoke to us like dirt. The restaurant is filthy and the food appears to reheated from Iceland. We will never darken their door again. Rude, filthy and not worth a visit. AVOID!

very expensive, £13 for a coffee. was refused water too.... service was real bad and we was going to eat but we did not win the lottery so no food.never again.

Went here for lunch with my family. The manager was rude about a member of my family. The food was nasty. Everything was horrible. I will never ever go their again.

My family were down visiting my poorly Mum and paid £13 for coffees. We're were sitting outside and planned on eating here later on after the kids had played on the rides. My Mum started choking so my dad ran in for a glass of water only to be told 'you can only have water if you eat here'. Not really believing what we had just heard my daughter went back in to explain only again to hear 'I've heard it all now... Sick nan. My daughter was fuming and called him all the names under the sun. We was then threatened with security. I went back in later after I had calmed down a bit and said that it is the law if selling alcohol then you have to provide drinking water. He replied 'it is only if you eat'. Even so if this is the case what's wrong with just handing over a glass of water. I called him 'disgusting' and left. Hope that he looses his business and goes bankrupt. Evil money grabbing waste of space. I have contacted the local council and newspaper.

We had a fantastic welcome and a delicious meal. It's the only restaurant that I have been to where the children were provided with suitably sized cutlery including a spoon which I usually have to ask for. The food was reasonably priced and tasty. The staff were very friendly. We will definitely be visiting again.

I'm very surprised by the previous reviews. The man who I assume, was the owner was demanding to know as each person walked in whether they would be ordering FULL meals or not. If not, they were turned away. I found him to be rude, short and rather stroppy. Maybe he was stressed from standing over a hot microwave all day? We ordered three FULL meals (of course!) and they were all poor. Lasagne was a luke warm, cheap microwaved, wobbly white and florecescent red bowl of slop (few lumps of gristle added for texture?) The microwaved jacket potato was cold and hard in the middle, grey/black inside in places and served completely dry with no butter etc. Lettuce was decaying at the edges...should of been thrown away not served! Perhaps if the man was nicer and made an effort to create a good atmosphere, rather than make customers feel they are burdening him by paying good money to eat something they could pick up in Icelands for a pound, then I probably wouldn't have taken the time to write this review.

Really nice owner, great food at good prices. outside seating. Right on the childrens rides with great views of the sea. Enjoyed fish and chips but was tempted by the Ribs, Gammon, and other items on the board. Everyone enjoyed what they had and other groups that were there at the time were very complimentary. Recommended for families and couples.

This restaurant is right on the pavilion and as well as a spacious inside area, also has a covered, well sheltered outside terrace which is dog friendly. The portions were a good size, the staff were friendly and the food reasonably priced. Menu had a wide selection and made a change from the usual fish and chips that usually litter these sea side resorts. My mother in law had a huge baked potato with salad, my son chicken nuggets and chips. My partner and I had the cheese and broccoli bake with salad. Great for families enjoying a day out at the sea-side.