Aurum Restaurant in Southend-on-Sea

Best roast dinner I have ever had... need I say anymore?

What a fantastic experience! Fazel was a great server along with the other main server and the food was out of this world good. I've travelled a lot and eaten in a lot of great places but this is for sure among my top 3 meals ever. I can't recommend it highly enough!

Great food and service. Beetroot Panna Cotta was a great starter - light but depth of flavour. Halibut perfectly cooked. Steak cooked as ordered and fabulous chips! Menu was excellent with great choices - good choice and reasonably priced wine menu Attentive service and good value for money. The restaurant looks superb and is well located.

The restaurant has no ambience The staff are very efficient and almost outnumbered the costumers 8 people on a Sunday @14. 30 unusual for a 70-seater restaurant to be that empty for a Sunday Roast. Drinks 1-coffee 1-canpari & soda St a r t e r 1-bubble king prawns special dragon sauce, was ok Ma i n s 1-three course meal and 1-two course meal 1-28-day salt-aged beef 1- pork loin Yorkshire pudding, honey roasted carrots, roasted parsnips, roast potatoes, cabbage, roasted cauliflower cheese, and house gravy 1-sticky date pudding 1- baked Alaska & pistachio ice cream, Comments Beef overcooked Yorkshire pudding to thin. (The base should be squidgy and soft, and the top should be light and crispy, but not so much that they crumble or flake.) the was a big serving plate of Yorkshire on the serving hatch not the best place to keep them. The roasted parsnips, and roast potatoes, overcooked and reheated and extremely hard The Baked Alaska was to soft and sloppy. I also ordered a Peach Bellin but they did not have the ingredients. Cost £ 83.00 which is ok if the food was good, but the food is not that good and not 4-star hotel Restaurant quality food.

Booked a table for a Sunday Roast recently and was extremely impressed. Great value - 2 courses for £28 or three courses for £32. The service was great and the food delicious -- one of the best roasts we have had locally. We enjoyed it so much we went back again last night and were not disappointed. We were surprised with the generous servings of both lamb and beef with our mains (which normally a lot of eateries limit to 2-3 slices - here it was about 6!) We don't drink - and the soft drinks were a little pricey but when you're getting a great deal on your food, it's to be expected. Great service again - the waiter even recognised us from our previous and only visit! Definitely check it out!

We’ve been coming to this lovely place for years with friends and family, and what used to be food we liked has now turned into food we absolutely love. Over the past few months, this restaurant has truly outdone itself. They’ve perfected every detail, and I can see it becoming one of the top spots in Southend very soon. The food is outstanding – the flavors, the presentation – everything is spot on. Being someone who usually dines at London restaurants, I feel incredibly lucky to have such an exceptional place right on our doorstep. The service is impeccable, and the owners’ dedication shines through. They’re here every day, ensuring that every customer experiences the very best. A huge well done to the entire team – you’re creating something truly special, and I don’t think it will be long before you’re the number one restaurant in the area. Thanks for another fantastic evening! Best, Danny, Lou, and the boys

Absolutely lovely experience, wonderful food and the staff were so polite and attentive. Had a fabulous evening, I would definitely recommend this restaurant.

Very relaxed atmosphere, staff were very welcoming and friendly. Food was absolutely amazing highly recommend

My first time Dining at Aurum Restaurant this afternoon and I was extremely impressed with everything. Amazing..Food/Service/Atmosphere Overall Great Experience. We were a Group of 11 Ladies on a Baby Shower Lunch and everyone was really impressed with the food and enjoyed the afternoon. I would definitely HIGHLY recommend this Restaurant !!!! Susan 😊 (and Friends) x

Amazing birthday meal New menu was great delicious choices Only 4 stars for atmosphere as it was not business but music was perfect

Well this more than made up for our terrible experience at Tomassi's. This is a beautiful hotel, beautifully decorated and they have a separate vegan menu. The food was to die for!!! We cannot wait to go back. The staff were impeccably dressed and couldn't do enough for you. Simply stunning place!! The washrooms were equally as stunning.

The new menu is awesome. Thank you for keeping the corn fed chicken. As always great food, impeccable service, fabulous evening. Thank you.

Visit Aurum with friends for lunch, had the set menu which had a good choice and at a great price. The restaurant is beautiful and opulent, lovely views across the sea. The food was amazing, looked beautiful and tasted amazing all cooked fresh. The staff were attentive , friendly and made sure everything was okay. We stayed after lunch and sampled the cocktails which were wonderful and freshly made. We will definitely be back and would recommend to anyone. Great job everyone to provided immaculate food, drinks and service.

Very friendly management and staff. Great surroundings and view out to sea. Great service. Exceptional food - fine dining at its best. I’ll be back!

Amazing food with excellent service! The chef and kitchen staff are brilliant with the dishes they are putting out. The restaurant staff service is great too! Plenty of options if you are gluten free and very accommodating to us with having a coeliac dining with us, making her feel very safe. Will definitely eat here again

Staying locally for a few days from Kent found the restaurant by accident and we were very glad we did ! Food was first class especially the lamb dish Attentive service from Ferzal and Vikas all the time We werent rushed at all all customers were enjoying their food and atmosphere was welcoming

We booked for a family dinner for our Daughter’s birthday . Everything was perfect. The food was amazing. My son enjoyed his choice from the kids menu. The service was Top Notch. Thank you Vikas for the exceptional service and all the waiters that checked in us throughout. We be definitely coming again . I highly recommend

Had a wonderful dinner. Beautifully presented.and was DELICIOUS.

This afternoon I had afternoon tea at Arum with my Mother. Thank you Fezal and our waiter and the kitchen crew. The restaurant is beautiful, wonderful views stretching across the Thames Estuary to Kent. The tea provided was generous and delicious. We could not eat all that was there. We will return to try the daily lunchtime menu and on Sunday for their roast dinners. Both sounded lovely and at an affordable price for excellent quality ingredients. The entire staff are so welcoming and polite, this is our new favourite place.

We did eat late (two of our group were travelling down from London) and so the restaurant wasn’t full but it was beautiful. The food was outstanding and nicely presented and the service was excellent. They really took great care over us. Fazal the restaurant manager went over and above to ensure our experience was the best !

Have been eating here for a couple years now. Have had breakfast main menu which changes every few months. And Sunday roast. Every time always five starts Usually not to busy in there. Don't think a lot of people know about the restaurant as when have mentioned it to friends they did not know was there But definitely best tasting food in Southend

We had a lovely family lunch today - really tasty food and the staff are so friendly couldn't do enough for us

Dined here whilst staying in the hotel. Food was good. Service was not so good. Although it was quiet, we were not offered water, another drink or sauces for our meals. Large empty wine glasses remained on the table till half way through. No check back was done at any stage of the visit. No one seemed bothered to have any diners in at all and whats worse is service charge was automatically added despitecus barely getting a word from anyone.

My partner took me here for my 40th Birthday and booked a private dining experience. Our host for the evening was Ashlin who was absolutely amazing and a credit to Aurum restaurant. They had decorated the room for me and made me feel very special. The food was exceptional, the service was brilliant, and the whole experience was spectacular. The night was topped off by the lovely smile and service from Ashlin. Nothing was too much trouble. Thank you so much for adding to my Birthday experience. 11/10 from me 🥳

Fantastic food, my steak was delicious and cooked exactly how I asked for it. My husband had the tandoori lamb and he loved it. Starters were superb too. Excellent service, relaxed atmosphere and the staff were really friendly and helpful. So glad we tried this restaurant will definitely go back.

Went last Sunday for roast as it was Hubby's birthday the day before. It was lovely. Probably the best I have had. We both had the Roast Beef, it was just melt in the mouth. Potatoes were cooked to perfection, as was the veg. Did not have starters, if we had doubt we'd have room for dessert. Hubby had Creme Brulee & I had Baked Alaska ( Not had for about 40 years, it was worth the wait!). We were not rushed at all, which is great, but service was attentive. I admit it was quiet and if they were busy it might have been slightly different, but I doubt it somehow. We had a lovely view, which was a bonus. I have made hubby book for my Birthday, because why should he always have the best!

Unfortunately, this was the worst piece of fillet stake I’ve ever had. Poor quality meat, over cooked and over priced.

Excellent food. Friendly staff but rather slow drinks service. The food is worth the wait

Have a set menu online went for mums 50th birthday got there and was given a menu that none of us liked apparently is the new set menu should update website to say that as wouldn’t of bothered going there if we knew that, very disappointing

Arrived 4pm (my son had moved our table back from 3pm) but staff didn’t appear to be aware so looked at us as if we had arrived an hour late. Ordered some drinks , wine got brought over a glass instead of a bottle , then when this was pointed out, the bottle, was the more expensive version was presented. Eventually what we had ordered arrived. Food Salmon no sides and wasn’t advised. So two tiny pieces of Salmon arrived and we had to order a side which arrived after the main dish was finished . My beer battered cod Fish and chips had to go back as cod batter was inedible soggy and the size childlike, literally was like it had been brought from Iceland! Turkey okay but one rock hard potato on the plate, 3 Brussels and a couple of carrots. My fish got re cooked but everyone had finished eating by then, and when I was eating they started dragging furniture about whilst mid service it was like a school canteen, not a high dining experience. My son raised the complaint as our whole ‘experience’ was definitely not 5 star and Boxing Day treat far from it! Very disappointed with the manager /owners response To our concerns, as a customer who has frequented often , the attitude that we was received with when raising concerns means this venue will not be returned to again.

Living local means we get to pop here at short notice and soak up the estuary views on a late summers day. Perfect for less tourist & crowds. We opted to sit inside and eat from the bar & terrace menu. Service was excellent. Water provided for table. Very efficient despite our waitress stating she was new to this venue. We had small plates and shared them. They included the frites, lamb kebabs, duck salad and Thai balls with dipping sauce Apart form the "crispy duck salad" which was not crispy at all and became a sodden mound quickly, everything was lovely. This dish could also do with some texture/substance, perhaps some small wraps? For the prices, i would expect just a tad better. Our food was tasty and presented well. Along with other guests, we requested the air con be turned off, our request was accommodated instantly. Looking forward to sampling their Indian tasting plates which looks like its held annually, if we can get a booking - they go so quick.

I was part of a large party of diners out for a birthday celebration. Really disappointed by the food - over cooked chips that seemed like they’d be at home in a museum and a steak that managed to be both medium rare and incredibly dry at the same time. I’m assuming it had spent several minutes too long under a heat lamp. As such it was inedible. However, the greater shock came when the bill arrived and we found that multiple other items had been added to our groups bill. 5 ciders when the group ordered one for example. Reducing the amount of the deposit we had prepaid… in all almost £300 of overcharges. A conversation with a group at another table confirmed that their bill had been inflated in a similar way. Avoid.

Staff disinterested and detached, totally flat atmosphere and characterless, for a Saturday night only 3 tables were occupied, and we were one of them. Food was reasonable but not exceptional for the price and tiny portions. Needed to eat again once home. They Need to increase portion sizes and invest in decor and furnishings. All felt very plastic and definitely not luxurious. Disappointing.

Absolutely delicious meal. Six of us ate there and all of us enjoyed each of our starters and main courses. Service very good - relaxed and friendly.

Food was not to our liking but the atmosphere and service was really good and quick...attentive as well

Wow. On this trip we’ve been to London, Paris, and Berlin and this was the best meal of them all. The tandoori lamb and the pavlova were perfection. The service was great and the drinks were unique. I’m shocked this little hotel restaurant was so so so good and so well priced. Highly recommend.

This was well decirated with a nice vibe.The foid was lovely although one of our griup felt tge sauce with the salmon was overpowering and quite sour.Food ordering was quick but delivery was really slow at keast forty minute wait for foid to arrive had to feed meter again.

⭐️ Quality of the food was good but the service by the manager wasn’t what I would consider breakfast service. Far from restaurant standards. Not sure I’ll go back again sadly.

A very nice menu in a nice location. I ordered the tandoori lamb cutlets. The tandoori sauce was tasty and rich, but just too much like they were hiding something with the lamb. The other elements on the plate were just too overcooked. The chocolate cheesecake was a hot though. The starter pictured was ok

I live in London from 9 years and frankly I was really skeptical before dinner. However, believe it or not this was by far one of the best 2 course menu I've ever had in U.K. Food quality is really above the average, portions are generous and to be fair prices aren't high at all for what you actually getting. If I ever gonna come back to southend, I will definitely come back here!

Enjoyed a last minute Sunday Roast at Aurum restaurant. The beef was out of this world, melt in the mouth tender and the accompanying vegetables are everything you want in a roast dinner. Starters were also really delicious. Service was OK but could do with being a little bit more polished. I’m very frustrated by this restaurant, albeit I have not experienced the a la carte. The dining room and location as well as the lovely hotel attached have all the attributes to win awards but unfortunately it must lack the financial backing to get there. Do not promote past Michelin recommendations that no longer appear in recent guides as that says whatever was good then is no longer there. The set up at Aurum has the potential to deliver accolades but the owners must be loathe to take the risk with backing a great chef with great dishes. Equally a good Maitre’D and this place could really deliver. This is all coming from a frustrated Essex foodie that longs for a Michelin star in Essex. Wishing you all the success for the future and will see you soon for an a la carte midweek experience.

Very nice fine dining restaurant food is exceptional the steaks were perfect. The staff are brilliant too could see I was out of my depth with the food presentation and didn't know where to start so guided me the best way to sample the food.

Have eaten at this restaurant on a few occasions and it’s been OK. Yesterday the 26th of May. It’s Friday lunch time and we thought let’s try Fish n Chips at the Aurum Southend on Sea. The starter came out with the mains, great start!! Then when the starter was finished, we were not presented with a freshly cooked main course, no the fish n chips had been kept warm in the oven. Fish n chips is not a difficult dish to cook. The batter was hard as hell not light and fluffy. The chips weren’t triple fried they were carbonised more like charcoal you would use on a bbq. Tried to eat the meal but could not stomach it. When plates were picked up by the waiter we were not even asked why we had not eaten the lunch. Very poor food, served very poorly. Next time if there is a next, will definitely not go on a Friday lunch time, regards Julian JENKINS.

Staying over at The 7Seven Hotel and dined (both for the breakfast & evening service offering). The food is stunning and worthy of formal recognition being both visually pleasing as well as extremely tasty. Service is attentive and decor modern; spacious and most pleasant. Highly recommended by me folks.

The food is nice, but the service is super slow, we waited almost 2 hours for the main (had a starter also) witnessed other people having the same issue and eating separately with no concern or apology for all the delays so I can only presume that’s standard. I enjoyed the food itself and would go back as a couple when not in a rush but not as a group or for a special occasion

We had the set menu. An awful meal. I started with salt and pepper squid which came in batter balls.. I honestly couldn't tell what was in the batter, it could have been anything. I couldn't eat it so sent it back. My friend had the duck terrine, she couldn't eat hers either. She said it tasted like mashed up cardboard! The halibut was ok.. nothing special but it would have been difficult to ruin.. The deserts were strange. I had the coffee panna cotta which had a hint of coffee, but the supposed mille fuille was in fact a very hard biscuit. This was lunch time, we were the only table occupied. Not surprising.. wouldn't bother to come back.

I passed this restaurant a couple of years ago and remembered it when booking a Mothers Day lunch as it looked like somewhere nice to take my mum. They had a 4 course special menu (£42) for the day so was ideal. The outside of the hotel/restaurant needs a bit of a tidy up, there's stacked up dining furniture outside, some tables were up but seem to be strewn all over, some had full ashtrays. Not the best first impression. You walk into the hotel reception firstly which was confusing - I wasn't sure if where I had to go or who I needed to be seated by, so happened to go the right way and find the restaurant doors. The decoration is ok, it's Essex bling with decent quality, comfortable furniture. We were sat directly next to the waiting table with the menus and computer on, which felt too close. It was distracting hearing every conversation the staff were having - including swearing - not what you would want or expect from a semi-high end establishment. The menu was really good for a set one, a good amount of choice for any tastes and diets. Each course came in good time, was pretty tasty and overall good value.

Had dinner with friends here. Service was on point and food was excellent. Oysters. Steak tartare. Rack of lamb. Fillet steak. Were all great. 👍

We were recommended Aurum on the train by a fellow passenger to Southend and we were blown away by the quality of the food. The Halibut with crab risotto was just brilliant. We will for sure return.

Booked this 3 months ago for my 70th birthday celebrations. Well this place has to be the worse resaurnt anywhere. I read some reviews that were really bad and others that were good. The service was atrocious. The starters that we had were very poor. In the restaurant at 8pm still not had main course by 10pm. Other people who came in after us had had their meals. So the 8 off us walked out and had a lovely meal in the Last Post. Thank you Tim Martin. I've no idea how this place is still in buisinss!!!!

The food there is extraordinary and service is also good . The food proportions were just the right amount and the waitress was kind and knowledgeable . Very good and I recommend if you are going with family or friends.the layout is very smart and modern decoration. Staff are always there to help you and fullfil your requirements. We all agreed that the steak was amazingly cooked and the complimentary chips completed the best meal we had there . Finally, the dessert was stunning and perfectly presented. We give warm thanks and kind regards to all the helpful staff who made our evening memorable

If you are dinner for a romantic date night or a meal with family and friends, then Aurum Restaurant in Southend can do well in serving your goal. The trace with a Seaview is perfect for a pre-meal drinks and warming-up chat. The inside restaurant has ideal ambience for a couple dinner or family celebration. The menu caters for meat lovers and vegiterians. The soup of the day, tomato soup was delicious and warm enough to warm our bodies after the cold drinks we had in the terrace. The main courses were also exquisitely cooked and served. Recommendation: if you try to have date, the restaurant has almost three tables by the window which can be perfect for private conversation. All you need to ask for one of those when you book.

Fantastic Experience. I'm happy to share with all of you my fantastic experience in the Westcliff Seafront. Today we're facing to enjoy a gorgeous cocktail and so, we choose Aurum Restaurant Terrace, we had visited it before a long time ago, so why not try again. And yes, yet they still serve gorgeous cocktails delivered with a fantastic service!! Once we were greeted we felt quite comfortable and pleasant being there so, we decided to try the food once again. And yes, it is quite expensive, but it is worth it to have the experience. Excellent choice of quality drinks; Vodka. Rum. Gin. Coffee available. It is ideal to enjoy a great chill-out afternoon cocktails at the Terrace or evening time in the lovely lounge bar. Or if you want to enjoy an elegant dinner at their restaurant can bring that pleasant time. Refine touch with comfortable seats and soft and beautiful lightness. The waitress is professional and attends with a lovely smile. Spotlessly clean Yes, I would be happy to recommend it Aurum Restaurant!

Excellent meal, good service, couldn't fault it. Cocktails were pretty good too!

Great service, good food. But misses 5 stars because of the cramped toilet spaces - difficult for people with mobility issues.

Worst place I have ever worked for.The treatment of the staff is appalling , always have sly comments, never get proper training. Just very poor management all together. Honestly better off working somewhere else where they will treat you way better.

Tasty vegan breakfast that we never had

Food, was amazing, service, was amazing, layout and decor is also very classy. Price is not too steep either. My only gripe is a pretty big one. They didn't update their online menu so the beef tartare is no longer on the starters and the bread and butter pudding and the apple crumble are missing from the Sunday menu. Essentially the rest of the menu is pretty good but if you have your taste buds set on some items like we did, call in advance to ensure the menu you've seen on their website is what you'll experience on your visit.

They are the worst people I have ever worked for, treat their staff appallingly, never been paid the correct wage I was owed, even when I was deemed unfit for work, sick pay wasn’t paid to the correct amount as always, never been so disrespected and objectified in my life, tips are never paid to the right amount either

Had 2 drinks,waiting at bar,£16.95,and that Inc service charge,bloody cheek,charging service charge and I was at the bar,I could hardly serve myself,flaming expensive drinks,wife had house white and soda £9.20 ,I had lager shandy £6.20 ,plus service charge,won't be going again

We experienced a stunning breakfast, for a large party of 8. Bright, clean & festive surroundings, with wonderful service, especially as we were lucky to have Nikki look after us. She was kind and patient throughout the 2 hours we spent at Aurum. The food was beautifully presented, and tasted as good as it looked. Well worth it for a special occasion..we will definitely visit again!!

Took my Mum for lunch on Christmas day. We were there for 2 and a half hours and were only served a starter, so left as it seemed the main course was never going to arrive. I was refunded my money, but for £125 a head I expected better. Ruined our Christmas lunch, won't be going back.

Liked it very much, will go again, recommended

We went for lunch today the food was absolutely shocking The food was really poor , cheap quality and had zero taste I was shocked about the extremely poor quality of food used. £100 for a lunch is fine but not when the quality is so poor, I was extremely disappointed that they would even consider serving that standard of food. Couldn’t be bothered to complain we paid and left. Waitress was lovely however that served us. Update - we re visited after being offered a complimentary meal Walked into the restaurant to see a note on the booking computer saying give him no reason to complain The waitress was lovely and that’s where the good stops The food was again undercooked , potatoes black inside , steak was like a bit of old leather and my cod raw in the middle- we left and paid our drinks bill before finishing the meal I have emailed but zero reply Beyond poor

Such gorgeous food and wonderful staff, top quality chefs! It was my Dad's 90th birthday today and I hope the most wonderful couple we met there today read this, after they left we were told they had paid for our meal! I'm stuck for words at this, it truly made my Dad's 90th even more special....

We went to Aurum very much looking forward to it. However, we left feeling rather disappointed. Firstly for our starter, the wrong food was bought over, which is fine as mistakes are made, and we did inform the waiter. For our mains, we both had steak. She asked for hers blue (weird I know) and I asked for mine medium rare. Both come looking like medium to well done. Neither of us feel comfortable with complaining so we ate it. The food did still taste good but it wasn't what we ordered. And for the expensive prices it should have been better. The staff were very friendly.

£109 for a bad experience. Royally messed up my order. Bit of background on me, I’m allergic to some fish and I ordered the duck salad for a starter. Instead I got crab cakes which when it was served the lady said it was pancakes. There was a salad on the side so I thought this was a twist on a duck salad. I was wrong. Luckily the crab cakes only had crab and potato in it so luckily I missed a hospital trip. Later on I asked for my steak to be blue (don’t judge me that’s how I like it) I got medium to well done instead and my partner got the same when he asked for medium rare. The servers (3 lady’s) where amazing. Very friendly and I hope they get paid well for dealing with all the customer complaints about the bad food. I would give this place 1 star but the girls deserved more than this. By the way the price I said at the top doesn’t include pudding.

Had an absolutely superb meal here last night. Attentive and friendly staff and great food. First time here and was very impressed. Genuinely couldn't fault the staff. Special mention for the manager who dealt so well with a grumpy table of 4 behind us.

We went there last night for a muted stag do as seemed to be the only place that had tables free where we could actually have a conversation. The food was stunning. All of us had steak (even though the menu had loads in it) and every plate was left cleaned. This was a lesson on how to cook a piece of meat properly. Far better than the steakhouses in London. Whoever cooked that meat knows exactly what they are doing - all very impressed. Service was great, setting really nice, pricing very reasonable. All in - if I'm in Southend again, I'd not hesitate to go back.

Amazing steak! Possibly the best steak in Essex. Great service. Wonderful rosé and lovely weather! 😀

Had a delicious meal at lunch, the bi folding doors were open leading out to the front terrace with views of Southend seafront. Service was great. Food was absolutely delicious. If you like a fine dining experience with a sea view in Southend I would recommend a visit.

Table of six of us on Saturday lunch time. Mix up with tables quickly remedied. Very inexperienced waiting staff, no knowledge of the menu, had to be prompted several times for drinks, missing food items & cutlery when gently prompted waiter went "gaarrgh" just super unprofessional and not what I'd expect or experienced on previous trips here. Food on the whole was good with a couple of lapses such as mini burger starters, the buns were a bit tough (probably left under hot lamps too long). All the issues were down to overburdened inexperienced staff... I'd advise anyone to give it a couple of months before visiting or go on a quiet weekday.

Went for afternoon tea. Svce good. Food good. Environment good. Will go again.

It was the 15th December the last night before the lockdown, restaurants were forced to close at short notice so we thought "Hey" let's dine out - lets help them to off load some food............... WE WISHED we hadn't bothered. We sat in an empty restaurant for which NO effort had been made in any sense of the word, not a table cloth or setting to our one and only occupied table, no effort whatsoever to make us welcome or our evening special. Not even were our coats taken but left laying on the seat beside us. Cleaning materials sat on top of tables, no Christmas decorations, no music , we sat in silence until I asked please do you have music? Lights up full on, it looked like a factory canteen. Food sadly was not best and the service was even worse. Red wine glasses given for white wine and the boss sat on a chair by the kitchen next to a pre cooked half served Turkey sitting on the service counter uncovered and cold......... Our food was - food! ...........Our bill was £133 we may as well putter money on the fire. In and out in a hour we were dazed by the whole dreadful experience. My husband wanted to walk out, I regrettably encouraged him to stay. You would have thought an effort would have been made for those willing to help out by dining out allowing them to waste less food before the shut down. Nope nothing - we wished we hadn't gone. WE ..........WILL NEVER RETURN.......Oh and in case I forget - we were handed marked dirty menus in covid times.

We are here last night with friends celebrating my sons birthday. The menu was based on “small plates” tapas type food and was amazing. There was a main meal option of burgers/fish and chips which I was a little bit disappointed with, although what we chose was good, for Southend’s classiest hotel/restaurant I would have expected something a bit more adventurous. Our waitress was top class, so friendly, really helped make the evening special. A nice touch afterwards was the chef coming out to chat with us and to make sure we enjoyed our meal. I just hope this front and back house team are not affected by the lockdown...they are a credit to the restaurant. Can’t wait to dine here again.

A must visit restaurant in Southend .Nice ambiance and delicious food.

I’ve been here a few times, always hoping they’ve upped their game.Unfortunately, with Southend being a captive audience, it’s just not happening.The food is ok, just not as good as it should be for this price point.There’s always something not right every time I’ve been.... on this occasion the “creamy” mashed potato was perhaps the worst I’ve ever had; lumpy, dry and claggy with no seasoning (literally zero seasoning). The quinoa with my scallop starter was an unpleasant texture and temperature (room temp) and bland, added nothing at all so left most of it on the plate.My fillet was ordered medium rare, but arrived medium, if not medium well and because they cook the meat over coals the outside of the steak was really dry. I’m pretty sure such a lean cut should always be moved along with some extra fat while cooking.If and when I come back I’ll remain hopeful for improvement.

Me and husband were regulars here but haven’t been in a while. All I can is the standards have dropped considerably! We came here last Friday on the 16th, we came into the restaurant to see the ‘manager’ sat in front of us with his head on the table - professional! (Not) They were clearly understaffed as all the girls were running around like headless chickens but still couldn’t do enough for us and always had a smile on their face. The main problem was the wait for food, we ended up waiting over 40 mins for our mains and got the mains at 9:50! (Baring in mind we had to be out by 10) dessert would have been nice but we were rushed out by being asked if we wanted a taxi not even half way through our mains!! It seemed to me that the manager was getting the girls to do his dirty work for him whilst he just stood and watched. No compensation or kind gestures. The waitress was really apologetic and to be honest she made our night, we really wanted to tip her but got the appalling news that the service doesn’t actually go to the waitress’ and in fact goes to the managers and hotel who appear to not do anything. WILL NOT BE RETURNING. BEWARE !!!

This is our first visit to Aurum for a while and we were so disappointed. It used to be so good and the restaurant was extremely well run with great food and service but this has changed. Service was not great and the food was mixed but a steak we ordered was overcooked and not at all good and one of the deserts was not great. I understand it is not the same given the Covid restrictions but there seems to have been a change of staff.

Chalk and cheese between the hotel. I have eaten in some amazing restaurants and this is up there. The flavours are perfect, well thought of dishes. Waiting staff were very attentive and made you comfortable, didnt have to wait long. The only problem.i found with the whole meal was that my pork didnt have crackling when it was meant too. Tasted incredible though so all is well. Drinks prices were very reasonable, the menu is pricey but i have no issue spending this money with this level of quality. Id eat there again in a heartbeat.

I must admit I’m a bit disappointed to be doing the review like this. Especially as we frequent this place on a regular occurrence for their outstanding cocktails! With a view to die for, fantastic decor, and a mixologist who could use the finest cocktails, it makes it an obvious choice to have a drink for those who like the finer things in life...However, we’ve never eaten there, but we couldn’t get dinner reservation because of the eat out scheme. But what could go wrong, a lovely afternoon lunch with views over the estuary…?!Actually, if I’m very honest, there was nothing wrong. It was all just very underwhelming. The only options we had for food all came fried. That being said the food was cooked absolutely perfectly. I think I was just expecting a bit more having heard so much about the wonderful dinner food - especially their steaks and sea food options. The lunchtime menu was more like jazzy bar options that you would find in London. And expensive too. Thank goodness we got £20 off otherwise it would have been too expensive.We will go back, as we absolutely love sitting outside and having a cocktail. But we will be going back for lunch? No. But we will definitely go back and try dinner!

Great hotel and loved our dinner at the restaurant.amazing decor, attentive service especially with our food requests and allergies. Definitely our most favourite date night spot in Southend.

£16 for fish and chips. 1 elongated Fish finger and 7 chips. All very well cooked however....... It’s not even about value for money it’s the ruddy principal of it.

The restaurant is beautiful, staff were very nice, but unfortunately the afternoon tea was dissapointing. The sandwiches were very bland and not much choice, the sausages rolls were ok, but you don't get much at all (a couple of us didn't get any), we were all still hungry. The cakes on the other hand were very nice but far too many, no way you could eat that much sugar in one go... It needed a much better balance between the sweet and savory. We had to remind the staff about the tea also which took a while. We all had a couple of glasses of Prosecco each and it came to about £45 per person... We didn't find it very good value for money.

Thank you for our window table. Great views, wonderful food but frankly very poor service. Today's lunch was a triumph of kitchen over service with excellent food but casual and indifferent front of house. There were numerous mistakes and an overall lack of professionalism: come on folks you need to do better.On arrival one of the owners was talking loudly on his mobile in the bar area. There were several other staff in and around reception yet not one of them approached or acknowledged me until I said, 'excuse me'. I explained I had a booking and ordered a drink in the bar whilst I wait for my guests. The same waitress then served my drink and bought me the bar snack menu, with cutlery plus napkins for three to order bar lunches. I was treating two friends from London for lunch and I had booked a table but felt quite uncomfortable and embarrassed.The food was sublime from the soft and smooth smokey ham croquetes, the silky celeriac soup with salsa, the fish'n chips (but why did I have to ask for tartar sauce when it appears on the menu as an integral component), venison which we were told was not available today yet it appeared bizarrely with ox tail on the side, and I am told the chocolate & peanut butter cake was nice and my cheeseboard was OK. If I was the chef, I would walk away now.An order was taken for fish pie before we were told it was "not on today". It reality felt as if our waitress was on her first day of work experience with no supervision. Other staff came and went from the table like pawns on a chessboard, service was chaotic and slow despite our table of three being the only lunchtime diners. There was one other table having drinks and another, sandwiches & cakes. When I ordered a bottle of wine No 21 she asked me what it is and when I produced cash to pay the final bill (which I had not actually requested, making us feel unwelcome) she went off and brought back the electronic card machine.I will revisit but if this restaurant wants to build on and retain customers then it needs to up the game, talking of which the venison, like the fish pie should be in the kitchen, if it is on the menu. I dislike posting negative reviews but had this been my first visit I doubt I would revisit. The view is amazing but I can enjoy the view without visiting Aurum: a sobering thought. I'm really sorry but 3 people, one bottle of wine at £32 and a bill of over £180 is expensive for Southend-on-Sea, particularly with such dreadfully poor service. I paid the 10% service charge but for what?

Been here a few times now for dinners and lunch etc. Service is always friendly and hospitable. Nice decor and on par with places you go in London. On the outset you’d think they’re catering for high end dining, but you get a nice family vibe in there with the way you’re treated. Always rated the food quite well on every visit. Love the presentation of the food too! Had lobster today, wasn’t the best I’ve ever had but great for Southend. Will recommend for any occasion. Oh, and I had the cheesecake for afters - really impressed with it, cream and biscuits base was sooo good!

Our starters arrived almost exactly an hour after our order was taken. We both had venison as our main course, and though the vegetables were OK, the venison was dry and overcooked. We complained about the venison and the late arrival of the starters to the waiters, but no one came to speak to us, and there was no adjustment to the bill. For obvious reasons Valentine's Night is one occasion which you do not want to spoil by arguing about food or service, so o the following day I e-mailed the restaurant with my complaint. I have still not received a reply so I am forced to conclude the management is not really interested in responding to customer's concerns. Its a shame, because our previous visits to Aurum have been enjoyable. Every restaurant is entitled to an off day, but the unwillingness to acknowledge the problem means that we will not go back.

We were booked on Friday night, five of us for a birthday dinner. On arrival one of our party had organised a personalised (expensive £30!) balloon which the waiter took from her (despite her warning him about the very obvious spikes on the ceiling) and proceeded to tear open the bag and release the balloon straight onto said spikes (no more balloon). Manager came over and offered 3 free cocktails (there were 5 of us!). Went down from there, reception wouldn’t take my coat but told me to go into the restaurant who promptly sent me back to reception. Front of house guy very pompous and full of his own self importance, my starter was very good, some of the set menu meals were very poor and the a la carte fish and chips was revolting and removed from the bill. At the point the head chef came over to apologise for the terrible service and apologise overall for our experience that night, peacock maitre d had decided just to go home at this point. Also not One table around us was being served drinks, dry glasses all round! I feel very sorry for the head chef as he was on a day off but was in to oversee kitchen staff. Such a shame as this restaurant could be so much more than it is but sadly failing on so many levels. This is the opinion of many of my friends locally. There are many many better restaurants locally and we won’t be coming back to this one.

This was our 3rd visit over the last 18 months.We arrived early so we could have drink in the bar we were lucky enough to get a table, following a 10 minute wait for cocktails these were enjoyed in the bar area. At the time of our reservation (21:30) we moved to the front entrance where we waited to be seen with several restaurant staff passing us without acknowledgement, Finally someone took our coats however informed us as our table was not ready. After a further wait we questioned the same person again that took our coats, he responded that our table was ready and pointed us to a waitress who we then followed to what we thought was our table we was then questioned why was following her as the table was not ready. So we came back to the top of restaurant to be met by a very rude older gentleman who was very condescending and said the table would be 2mins. There was a younger much more intuitive man at the front of the pass who asked if we were ok and followed up with the older gentleman who again was very rude to the staff member. Once sat down we’re offered complimentary cocktails by the man at the pass who clearly had a greater grasp and understanding of service. The food was of a good standard, cooked well, portion size and presentation reflected what you would expect.Our main waitress did her job adequately, was polite and friendly.However whilst we were eating the table next to us was being cleaned with strong spray products which we felt didn’t need to be done at the precise moment. When it came to paying we requested the bill 3 times prior to getting a card machine.It was clear that the owners were sat at the front table talking for the duration of our sitting, potentially all evening. Had I of been on a table in close proximity I would find this not in keeping with a romantic evening or what I would expect from a restaurant that would consider themselves to be a high end establishment in the local area. Especially when we heard of other not being happy and at no point did they make any attempt to address the raised concerns and left this to waiting staff who tried their best to resolve the situation.If you are going to make a visible presence as owners then support you team and interact with guests otherwise stay at home.We eat out on a regular basis to a varied level of restaurant from Michelin star to local family run and this unfortunately has gone from bad to worse, which is a real shame as clearly with a few certain staff member tweaks would be a great experience.

Visited this restaurant for the first time yesterday evening. Received a friendly welcome when we arrived and our coats were taken and we were immediately taken to our table. Lovely booth table with plenty of room for our party of 5. Drinks arrived quickly after ordering. The starters were tasty, crab cakes were delicious. Nibbles arrived at the same time as the starters which was a little odd and should have arrived before the starters. Main courses arrived but did take a while to arrive which were great and the filet steak was tender and perfectly cooked. My husband ordered the sirloin steak which should have been served with a peppercorn sauce but the sauce was definitely the same as the one on my filet steak and it was filet not sirloin. Deserts were nice. Service was very good. They did try to charge us for one of the nibbles which was included in the menu and the server did take this off the bill once I Pointed out their error.

Food at this restaurant is so good, not to be missed.The fillet steak is to die for as are the duck fat chips, try the broccoli with garlic and chilli to compliment.Chocolate and peanut cake, plum and pear crumble, are great desserts to try.The views over the estuary overlooking the pier is worth looking at.Much more choice on the menu to try, so will be going back again and again.Also looking forward to the Summertime, the views will be sensational.On this visit the service was very slow, even though there were not many in the restaurant. Doesn’t put me off, sure it will be up to scratch next time, can’t fault the service, just the speed.

We have enjoyed cocktails and snacks on the front part of the hotel so many times during the Summer months and contrary to other reviews, Jonathan has always looked after us wonderfully.This was the first occasion we were treating ourselves to dinner and the evening started well. Cocktails in the bar were delicious and Jonathan welcomed us like long lost friends and we were given a lovely table. More cocktails to start the evening off with a bang and this is where the alarm bells should have started to ring. They took 25 minutes to arrive but Frederico explained the bar was very busy but he would get them to us as quickly as possible.We were with friends and enjoying each other’s company so time was not too important. We had entered the restaurant at 7.45pm and had until 10.30 when our taxi was booked for.Our Starters were delicious but were eaten by 8.30pm. Our main courses had not arrived by 9.30pm which was when I got up (having seen much later diners than us being served) and walked to the kitchen area to chat with our anxious waiter.A few minutes later, the Head Chef appeared at our table to apologise for a mix up - what he actually meant but did not actually say it, was that our order had been lost.We were then brought a small snack and our meals arrived at 9.45pm. Three were of the highest standard - mine was far from it. My steak ordered the same was as my partners was dry and cold, as were the chips but by this stage, the offer by Frederico to choose something else, was all too late.Desserts seemed pointless as by this stage, our cab was almost on its way.Our bill arrived, my main course had been taken off and Frederico escorted us beautifully to the front door and what was so amazing, it was a fight to get him to take a cash gratuity - he really did not want to. Such a pleasure to have been looked after under difficult circumstances by this young man - a real credit to the hotel.My main gripe here is that with two bottles of wine, cocktails and food and my meal not being charged, our bill was still about £300. This is a lot of money - where was Jonathan? We were told he had gone off duty. Where was the Owner? Well he was sitting in the restaurant with friends or family and indeed the head chef who could not be bothered to apologise for the badly cooked steak was sitting with them.We eat out regularly but with this type of contempt for customers (we have your money now) and could not care less attitude, why would we return to spend this type of money?

Second time I've been. Had the two course table d'hote menu @ £24 Friday afternoon. Easy to book by quickly answered phone, pleasant welcome on arrival. Lovely attentive and helpful waitress; I asked about wine ABVs and she kindly came back with two bottles from which I chose one. Ordered, and asked for no rush to be served. There was also no rush between courses (I asked to call my own main, and that was fine....unless you ask these days, courses are brought out on a practical conveyor belt, may as well have it all in one go in some places!). Wine glass was topped-up by waitress. Good to see the owners there observing too. The manager, David organised an event professionally in the dining room and arranged a seat for me in the bar area on the conclusion of my meal. Starter was pork terrine with pickled vegetable - tasty with two discs of moist and flavoursome pork. Main was lamb and vegetable, which I had with mashed potato (to die for - better than Marcus Waring's !!), again, very nice indeed, all cooked properly with an unctuous jus. All in all, great value and very tasty. Look forward to the next visit.

The customer service was atrocious. The food was less than average, cold and overpriced. Not an experience I would wish on anyone. There are many places in Southend that provide a warmer welcome, quality food and a nicer atmosphere. I would give this one a very wide berth if I were you.

Visited Aurum Restaurant at Hotel 7 Seven today for the mother's birthday. Short verion: Do not recommend. AVOID! Summary BELOW. Upon arrival we were left lingering in the doorway upon arrival as the staff had dressed the table incorrectly, no apology, no offer to sort drinks at the bar. Just stand here and get in everyone's way (party of 7). Upon taking our seats we noticed the glasses were stained, some with lipstick. Delightful, but let's not allow it to ruin lunch, these things happen. Having ordered and received half of the drinks order, we found ourselves having to chase for the other half of the order as they appeared to have been forgotten.We then waited 90 minutes for just 1 course (the restaurant wasn't even at 50% capacity).When the food did arrive it came out peacemeal, with at least 10 minutes between the first and last plate, and in some cases the food was cold upon arrival.I ordered the lobster having not eaten all day, so it wouldn't take much to please me. It was flavourless. Others complained their meal tasted similar to that when you have food cooked in an oven desperate for a clean. Disgusting. When asked how everything was, and to be told it was average, the waiter shrugged his shoulders and walked off. Following that interaction he had someone else serve us and take our request for the bill. Appalling 'service'.I then overhear our waiter (same person who 'greeted' us and served us for the duration of our stay) mocking how some customers choose to decorate their tables for occasions.. With another table of guests! - Even though I had taken the time to politely request this ahead of our visit to ensure there were no concerns, there were none.The headwaiter - Jonathan, who served us throughout our stay - (who claims to be the General Manager) is pompous and rude and didn't so much as wish my mother a happy birthday (even though it was abundantly clear from the balloon and table decorations - which he did take the opportunity to mock).This visit was an opportunity to see if the place had been potential for valentines. Safe to say, it does not. What's most disappointing is that this was a special occasion and whilst most average restaurants will offer a candle and cake just to take the opportunity to wish you a happy birthday on your special day, this restaurant couldn't even bring themselves to mutter the words. It's a well-dressed average restaurant, trying to pass as something a little more upmarket - and failing miserably.Average service, average food, average atmosphere. That's as polite as I can be about our visit and quite frankly, Jonathan should be embarrassed about his behaviour today.Needless to say, we will not be returning.

Went for dinner here for the first time over the weekend. Food,cocktails and service were fantastic, we have already made another reservation.

As I hoped, my second visit was better than the first time. The Steaks we ordered were cooked perfectly this time round. The service was fantastic again. The atmosphere and vibe was cool and chilled even though the place was almost full. The rest of the food ordered was lovely and the 4 of us had an absolutely lovely evening. Keep up the great work guys

Well where do I start ? Do I start with the arrogant French man or do I start with the poor wine choice and bland food! I’ll start with the arrogant French man ! First of all scruffy secondly rude thirdly not a clue. We arrived to a lovely little bar that was very busy and waited for 20 minutes to get our first drinks at the bar ( over priced ) we then asked about our table as our booking time had already past and was told buy a scruffy French man “ your table is nearly ready “ who later we find out was the manager shocking, he looked like he had just walked in to work after a night out no sleep and dirty shirt. Finally we get to the table and wow it was like being at adventure island the table had more movement then a ride and the table was sticky and dirty. My friend asked is this all the wine you have and we was told “ I’m sure there is something you like “ well no we wouldn’t ask if we liked the wine on the list ! We knew then that this was going to be a poor experience, so we just went straight to the food and ordered a couple of shorts for drinks. The food come out after a long wait, food was bland, service was poor and when we brought this to the attention of the manager he listened and then walked away flapping his arms and clearly talking to other members of staff about us .. All in all a very very poor experience and the owners really need to send their manager on a shopping trip and a training cause as he has no people skills and if he is responsible for the wine list then he needs to be banned from wine ordering in the future. I would avoid

Booked this whole restaurant out on 30th dec for my dads 60th party and I am so glad we chose this restaurant. Amazing decor and amazing food and service. What an amazing night from start to finish ! Fabulous DJ aswell!The staff was all wonderful and helpful! Always checking to make sure everything was ok for us. Wonderful set menu aswell and theChicken tikka starter was a hit with our guests! Thank you to Sadiq and his father for allowing us to have the restaurant for that evening and making sure everything was running smooth. Would highly recommend this restaurantTo all my friends!!

Amazing evening!!I’d been wanting to visit this restaurant for some time so we decided to treat ourselves after a low key Christmas and we’re pleased we did. All of the staff were very welcoming and friendly. The actual food was amazing and very tasty as well as presented nicely. The restaurant did have several large tables seated however this did not affect the service provided. It did get a little noisy towards the end of the meal but otherwise the atmosphere was good. We’ve decided that we will definitely visit again !