Cucina in Southend-on-Sea

Fantastic food and atmosphere. We will be back.

Excellent experience and very busy for a Thursday evening. I will add, it's genuinely a bonus when you can get a draught beer at a restaurant - it was a perfect pint as well I may add. We entertained clients who had come up from the Cornwall border and they thoroughly enjoyed the complete experience. I can't wait to go back with the family. Thanks for having us...

First time at this great Italian Restaurant. Great food and service, but youvwill need to bookm

Lovely set menu great service lovely atmosphere great food and wine choice 😋

Visited on a Saturday evening... three couples celebrating a birthday. Superb from arrival to leaving. Very attentive friendly service and our meals were faultless. Booked for Sunday lunch in November but will definitely return for dinner before Christmas. 1st class....see you soon.!!

Lovely food I had the Monkfish which was excellent, my husband had the crayfish pasta, I had the tiramisu for pudding with hazelnut ice cream and the flavours were amazing. I also had the Passion fruit martini which was the best I have ever had !

As a resident of Leigh we are not short of restaurants, Cucina stands out as one of the best in the county another great dinner with outstanding service

The restaurant was lovely and the service was impeccable. They were very accommodating and hospitable.

Came here in July and said we would return. Had an anniversary meal here and the food was even better than we remembered the first time. Great atmosphere and the service is impeccable. This may well become our favourite restaurant to visit. Highly recommended.

Visit this little gem today for lunch I had a special tartar and venison Both very tasty And I also follow the suggestion of Francisco for the black truffle Amazing

Great Italian restaurant in Leigh on Sea. Excellent service, very lively and some good wine. Very comfortable

Cucina was absolutely lovely, had lunch there after a hike, service was quick, the garlic bread with mozzarella was absolutely stunning!! Food was so flavourful and staff were very knowledgeable

Fantastic food and service. Best restaurant in Leigh on Sea!

It's a very nice italian restaurant in Leigh on sea. I had lunch & a glass of wine. I enjoyed it. It was great to be welcomed & served by Paolo. I will definitely have to reserve a table for dinner one day :)

Excellent all-round. Thank you!

I thought the food was bland and not fresh at all, them pasta shells are from a factory/box you can't fool me. What a scam.

Very good Italian restaurant. Excellent service, very friendly and efficient. Tasty food. Will have to return to try the dessert that looked incredible and unfortunately we had made other plans for after dinner. Good excuse to return!

Cucina offers an authentic dining experience that transports you straight to Italy. The cozy ambiance, combined with a warm and welcoming staff, sets the perfect scene for a memorable meal. Their menu features a delightful array of classic Italian dishes, from perfectly al dente pasta to mouthwatering pizzas. The wine selection is extensive, complementing the menu beautifully. Whether you're celebrating a special occasion or just craving Italian cuisine, Cucina always delivers. Thank you for another great dinner

Amazing authentic Italian food. The swordfish was cooked perfectly! Came back a year later. Never disappointed with Cucina

Our meal was divine. The food, ambience and service all deserving 5 stars.

Went for my parents 67th wedding anniversary lunch lovely laid back atmosphere and food great

Just had a lovely lunch - staff and food great - would recommend 👍

Really nice food, a bit expensive but you get what you pay for

First time eating at Cucina. Very welcoming and friendly staff, choice of menu was excellent and the food was excellent. Great ambiance and will definitely be going back.

First time visiting Cucina since moving to the area and what a lovely find. We were welcomed by the lovely Francesco - the ambience was relaxed but up market and professional -we felt spoilt - food was amazing - we had pizza which was reasonably priced but wine was a little on the expensive side but a really nice choice - we will definitely be going again 😃

The food here is amazing! Really good service as well. We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.

Hands down, my favourite restaurant in Leigh-on-Sea. The perfect combination of amazing food, amazing service and AMAZING atmosphere. Special mention to Francesco who is just the best. Congrats. on your winning formula guys!

Every time i have the chance to visit this restaurant it's always amazing Fish cooked perfectly Nice bottle of Grillo Service just the best Thanks cucina Well done Francisco

We went there on the off chance, and were warmly welcomed and made to feel special. We both chose from the lunchtime special menu, and were both extremely impressed by the delicious food and the great service. The garlicky spinach was to die for!! We were only planning on a light lunch, but were tempted by the dessert menu!! Add to that a most agreeable sauvingnon Blanc, and you have a perfect Italian meal, excellent service, and fabulous ambience. Particular mention of Francesco, he made our day!! We will be back, as will our families who have heard how impressed we are.

We are on the area for lunch today and it is a Lovely with a great atmosphere and wonderful staff,franchesco was absolutely service And we shall be visiting again

Never tasted such authentic Italian foods in the 20 years I have been here. Please I highly recommend to go and enjoy yourself with the best of the best in both service and food. Very respectful, caring and friendly. I will come back very soon with the whole family! Thank you :)

I've been 3 times now each time excellent.

Delicious food. Polite quick service. It was fairly busy for a Saturday lunchtime. Nice atmosphere.

Fabulous and authentic food with great service. On the more expensive size, but worth paying for the quality of the food.

We recently discovered this restaurant, and have rebooted twice since. The food is excellent, with a fabulous, regularly changing menu. The staff are wonderful, friendly, helpful and very good at providing excellent recommendations for food and wine-pairing. I'm already looking forward to our next visit

A proper Italian restaurant:) recommend

Haven’t been back to my home town in many years and we were recommended by an old friend to try this place. What a find, service was absolutely fantastic, got talked out of the calzone for the special Monkfish, omg it was amazing !!! We shall be back.

The food was incredible and the service was amazing. Francesco looked after us and was so accommodating! We will be recommending Cucina to everyone we know because we cannot fault a single thing and the atmosphere was lovely. We can’t wait to go back, thank you!

Excellent friendly customer service very helpful staff.The food is cooked to perfection and delicious.

Amazing food and service, need to sort the lighting out. So many people turning on their torches on their phones to look at the menu, this is a problem! Not enough spots lights or table lighting to see on most if not all tables. Such a shame as this is a real put off for me when choosing a restaurant. Also a shame because the food and service is spot on!

What a lovely restaurant. Staff very attentive, food gorgeous. Lasagne was so nice, the profiteroles were simply lovely, just upset I couldn't eat it all

Went out for our friends birthday, couldn't have chosen a better place, food was so lovely, staff very friendly and very polite, not too long to wait for food either, booking is essential as it's a very popular place, will be going back! The tasty garlic bread I've had in a awfully long time and a lot for the price! Highly recommended

First visit although my friends locally highly recommended it. I wasn't disappointed with any part of the experience except I couldn't manage all my main course of superb Swordfish and I don't like wasting food. Great meal. Well done Cucina 👏. I'll be back. Cheers RBS

Amazing food and atmosphere. Loved it

Ate here last night, not for the first time, but food and service was absolutely fantastic

Love it here. Great food and service with a smile. Love the fact they will book a table at Bocca for you for cocktails beforehand.

Sat upstairs, really great atmosphere, very busy, so service 🙄 a little slow however was good, suggest you book to be sure of a table. Suggested to friends to try, they did and enjoyed will go again.

Lovely little restaurant - staff are just lovely - so is the restaurant its cosey and inviting - I find the food overall is of a high standard but its been hit and miss - visited alot actually find the pasta and seafood is top notch - the pizza I feel could be improved not much flavour but overall I do recommend and the staff are 5*

This restaurant is a little gem, The food, service and atmosphere is excellent. Francesco greets you like an old friend rather than a customer and would be a credit to any restaurant in the country. The quality of food (and beautiful Italian wine) is consistently high each and every time we have been here. And both my wife and myself are always happy to travel 30 miles to have lunch or dinner here. You won't regret trying Cucina, if you want to taste authentic, fresh Italian food. Highly recommended.

Excellent Italian kitchen and vibe 👌

A superb authentic Italian restaurant. An extensive menu and the food was outstanding 👌🏼. I'll be back.

The most beautiful food with the best service we have ever received from Francesco & Paolo. I couldn’t recommend this beautiful place enough. Best Italian in Leigh by far, thank you for making my birthday so special x

Lovely authentic Italian cuisine. Great professional staff, warm welcome. Relaxing clean environment.

Brilliant food and service. Our server was wonderful! I had the carbonara and it was delightful. The wine that we wanted was not in the restaurant so a server walked down to their sister-bar to get it for us. Big shoutout to her!

I have always loved Cucina but I went the other night with my husband and was really disappointed. First off the food was lovely I had no issues there at all. The maitre de was the issue for us, he barely spoke to us and when he did there was no smile, nothing to make you feel welcome and yet he was friendly with other tables. We ordered the wine and he just took the menus no acknowledgment and the same when it came to ordering the food. No one asked if our meal was ok for the starter or the main and at the end of the evening even though every other table seemed to have been given a limoncello we was not offered a drink at all. We gave him the money for the bill and although we didn't want the change he didn't even come back with it and didn't say thank you. Also there were two wine stands that sitting next to our table and were constantly being moved back and fourth to different tables. This sounds like we might have been a nightmare and that's why he didn't talk to us but we was not we was just out for a nice meal and kept ourselves to ourselves. I unfortunately will no longer return

First visit to Cucina’s with friends for lunch and definitely go again. Francesco recommended the daily special monk fish and it was amazing as was all the food. Nice atmosphere, low background music was perfect.

We had a table of 7 , the service and quality of the food was second to none. Quite simply the best restaurant in Leigh , highly recommended

Francesco and the team always pleased to see you with great service to boot. The food is alway cooked amazing never had a bad time here. Garlic bread as an appetiser we had mussels in a garlic and white wine sauce and calamari as sharer starters both were delicious. My main, I fully recommend Fillet Cucina, steak in a rich but nicely spicy sauce , with saute potato’s, garlic mushroom and mixed veg in side dishes. The good lady had the Sea Bass which she really enjoyed and our company had steak the same as mine and the Sword Fish both were also very pleased with their choices. Our compliments to the Chef for such great food. Drinks come as and when you want them no pressure all in all makes a great nigh,t good atmosphere we had great company and well recommend Cucina for a great night out. I’m sure they won’t disappoint.

Great food lovely staff....very noisy but would definitely recommend.

This was my first visit to "Cucina," and the Italian restaurant had a very relaxed atmosphere. I chose the red mullet from the lunch menu, and for dessert, I had Tiramisa, which was delicious. The service was excellent, and they were very welcoming. It was difficult to park the car, but there was a car park about a 15-minute walk to the restaurant.

One of our favourite restaurants and by far the best in the area, visited on a Thursday evening (restaurant was full) with friends and once again Cucina did not let us down! The staff are very good and not over bearing with great sense of humour, the presentation is that of any top city restaurant. Thank you and see you again soon

We went for our 36th wedding Anniversary. We love Italian food and thought we would try Cucina . Unfortunately I had a caterpillar in my salad that went with my starter. I did not make a fuss but when then waiter came over to take our plates I said would you like to take this little fella with you as well. He looked at my plate and suddenly realised there was a caterpillar crawling on it. He took the plate with no comment. He then return and said our salad comes in pre washed and we wash it again. I said it’s ok just not very nice when you’ve nearly finished the starter. He walked away and made no mention of it again. We carried on with our meal. When the bill arrived we paid and left. I am still a little shocked that at no point did they say how sorry they were or have a glass of wine on us or even that the starter with the caterpillar in was taken off the bill. Everyone I have spoken to about this have been shocked at the lack of apology. Unfortunately I will not be returning.

I had a meal there on Saturday night... the service was brilliant, the steak was cooked to perfection and the lighting was perfect... I would thoroughly recommend.

Had a lovely lunch-super food, good service and reasonable price- will be going again to try more of the lunch menu

Whatever the occasion you will not be disappointed, fish dishes are a must, staff excellent, great find

The restaurant is very nice. We pocked this Italian after trying others and being very disappointed but this restaurant has bought the expectation right back up to very good food and very nice restaurant

The shape of the eating place is appropriate

Italian cuisine restaurant with truly excellent dishes cooked in true Italian style. Super recommended Italian cuisine restaurant with really good dishes cooked in true Italian style. Super recommended

Very nice place to eat Been many times and always excellent service and food

Locale di cucina italiana con davvero ottimi piatti cucinati in vero stile italiano. Super consgliato. Italian cuisine restaurant with really excellent dishes cooked in true Italian style. Super mended.

Amazing food and amazing service

First rate lunch. Food excellent. Very friendly staff. My sister arrived early on her own and warmly welcomed. Great location in trendy Leigh-on-Sea

We booked Cucina for a family birthday dinner. A good menu of pizzas, pastas, fish and steaks all of which our party sampled and enjoyed without complaint. Deposit required for large parties.

Visited Cucina on a Friday evening with some friends who are regulars. Very impressed with the quality and presentation of the food. There were 4 of us and everything was excellent. The service was also very good . Highly recommend

Visited with 4 friends, starters sent back twice due to them being stone cold in the middle. In the end we skipped it. The main course was very nice however the portion size was a joke for £18, very big plate with a small bowl in it, more like the starter we didn’t have. The bill came out without the starter included (which we didn’t have) but otherwise no apology. Not overly impressed. Ended up getting a chicken shish on the way home as I was still hungry.

Great service. Excellent food. Real professionals

Rude staff spoiled whole experience. Won't be coming back again

Very tasty food, the service is at a very high level, the atmosphere and setting in the restaurant are wonderful, I recommend it.

Wonderful reception. Remembered after eating here a year ago. Fantastic fish specials. Patiently listened to my bad Italian. Meal ended with perfect dippio espresso and Strega.

We have visited this restaurant several times for lunch eating off the set menu which has always been fantastic but decided to see how an evening would be. The ambiance was lovely and service exceptional even though it was a busy Saturday night. An extensive...

A nice experience, service nicely paced and not overbearing. Food well presented and menu had a good range along with the specials so plenty to choose from.

This restaurant is brilliant.Food is amazing.Francesco is an excellent Manager and has brilliant staff make you really welcome from the time you arrive until you leave.We go at least once a fortnight never had a bad meal.Like to thank Francesco for a change of music...

CUCINA RISTORANTE ITALIANO was recommended to me, and it seemed like a good place to celebrate my sister’s birthday. During the course of booking a table for lunch I requested several specific points concerning the table. On the day, we were warmly welcomed and taken...

Visited Cucina Friday night with my partner and once again what a wonderful dinner we had, the service was very good and not over intrusive we both had a starter and main course off the specials. I had the halibut which was obvious it was...

This is one of our favourite restaurants. We are not from the area but nearly every time we come into Leigh we head to Cucina for great food, excellent service and a wonderful Primitivo red wine. We often choose from the Lunch time menu, which...

Another FANTASTIC meal in Cucina. The food is amazing. My husband is a Coeliac + nothing is too much trouble for them. Francesco and all the staff looked after us SO well. Cucina is our "go to" restaurant! 😃

Our first visit to Cucina - certainly will not be our last. We went with friends to celebrate a birthday - the service was second to none as was the food - absolutely fabulous - particular thanks to Francesco who made a good visit perfect...

Easily the best restaurant in Leigh. Food is always superb. A specials menu that varies, but is always excellent + a great standard menu. Wine choices are superb, and fantastic staff. Always worth visiting

My favourite Italian with fantastic staff and food.

This is our third time to this restaurant. In fact last time I even wrote a good review on TripAdvisor. Whereas the food and service were as always good we were disappointed by the attitude when it come to our bill. The first bill we...

Our 1st visit which won't be our last. We had the halibut and skate wing, both were delicious and perfectly cooked. (The skate was huge!) Very friendly and efficient service and buzzy atmosphere. We would definitely recommend it.

Delicious authentic Italian pasta and great customer service

Really great food but service too fast especially when you have specifically requested a break between starter and main. New residents to the area and you have rushed us out despite not being busy and you have lost out on revenue. When people request a...

Excellent food. Great portion size & super service. Good price point given the quality. Would recommend highly. Had lunch menu.

Second visit here for us, equally as great as the first. Spicy Butterfly Prawns to start and then a lovely fillet steak . Fantastic

A very nice Italian restaurant, as expensive or cheap as you like. Nice atmosphere and good wine. Very nice meal.

Visited my favourite Italian restaurant again tonight. We took our daughter Abbie and her boyfriend Adam for a treat and introduced them to the great food here on their first visit. Being a young couple might be in the expensive side for them but Adam...

Perfect restaurant for Italian food

From the moment we sat down, we knew this place was good. Great service and ambience but most importantly the food was outstanding. My fiance and I shared a couple delicious starters but the pasta was better than what I had in Rome. The crab and crayfish linguine was out of this world and the truffled mushroom pasta was delicious. Service was fast and alert never waiting or wanting for anything could not recommend this place more. My only disappointment was they don't allow you to tip via card, you have to do it by cash, which is not is problem apart from the fact I had no cash which I felt bad about (that goes for most of Leigh-on-Sea). Either way they completely understood and had no issue. We will be back!

Great atmosphere. Francesco was very good. Food was excellent and did not have to wait long. Good value for money. 👍