Fête at Grays Brewery Yard in Chelmsford

Had an evening meal here with my husband . Small plates menu had changed that day. Lovely waitress apologised for not knowing it. Found out answers to a couple of ingredient questions. Recommended to order 3-5 small plates. Ordered beef cheek which was lovely. Also ordered scallops with cauliflower cheese sauce which cost £16.00. There were 2 scallops in the dish. Very expensive when at other local restaurants I have had at least 3 in my starter. Ordered boulangere potatoes which came as 2 slices - just about a portion for 2 which again for £13.50 was expensive. We expected more than starter sized small plates for these prices. We shared our views with the owner so this review will not be a surprise. Compare this restaurant to other city central restaurants, Pinchos and Mowgli which offer tapas & small plates respectively, and Fete is very expensive for portion size. Quality is not up to the standard of these two restaurants. As an independent business we hope it will continue to succeed and we’re sure it will if customer comments are taken on board.

Really nice place for good food, had lunch there today with the wife, I had a beef bun, fabulous, wife had lentil curry, also fabulous. The owner even gave me a really nice pint glass. Would definitely recommend

Great food and atmosphere. Gluten free options available which are quite light so could do with a separate frier to do gluten free fries.

The food was so delicious, you can tell a lot of thought and care goes into the menu and the staff are very friendly. A real gem of a restaurant in Chelmsford

Delicious, great atmosphere.. fab service

Great little gem in the city centre. It's a bit hidden in a little cove but the vibe was really relaxed. People of all ages were there and it's even dog friendly. We went for a brunch - the 4 stars for service was because we booked for 12pm and even though we were 10mins late due to the vast amount of traffic in the area the table wasn't ready until 1230. However the food was so good! Go for their sandwiches!

The breakfast kebab was amazing!

Laura and kitty great - food and service always of a high standard

Probably the best food in Chelmsford!

We went for a birthday dinner on a Friday evening and had a fantastic evening! Thank you so much! The food was incredible, service was excellent.

Great food good service. Definitely would return and recommend .

We absolutely LOVE Fete! It is definitely our favourite restaurant in Chelmsford which is a big compliment because there are a lot of very nice places to eat in Chelmsford. We particularly love that it is an independent restaurant as the majority of restaurants in Chelmsford are chain restaurants. In my experience, restaurants with a really big menu are not so great, but this definitely isn't the case for Fete. We like to go regularly and have taken lots of friends and family, all of which have enjoyed the fantastic food off their extensive, exciting varied menu. I have chronic pancreatitis so I have to eat a very low fat diet. I often end up with incredibly boring food because restaurants are more worried about poisoning me and forget about also giving me delicious food. This is definitely not the case with Fete and I would definitely recommend Fete to anyone with complicated dietary requirements. You will get a safe and very delicious meal. The only problem with Fete is that they are incredibly popular, so if you want to eat there, you ideally need to book at least a week before. This particularly the case for brunch at the weekend or on bank holidays and all the time for larger groups. I would also like to massively thank the Fete team for accommodating my diertary requirements and for providing beauti

Really smart and classy bar. Fab drinks and lovely service.

Easily the best food in Chelmsford, superb changing menu and so friendly. Thanks for squeezing us in without a reservation today

Booking the upstairs for a Baby shower afternoon was the best idea! Reasonable to hire, great communication, great deal re drinks!. The loveliest of staff especially Alfie!! We couldn’t have asked for a better venue as we could bring our own food and having a paying bar on site and barman Alfie, we were sorted!!! Nothing was too much trouble would definitely have a function here again. The only down side was the toilets !!! as people from downstairs had to come up to use the toilets!

I had the pleasure of visiting Fête at Grays Yard for brunch, and it truly delivered on all fronts. The atmosphere is welcoming, laid-back, and perfect for anything from catching up with friends to enjoying a quiet morning meal solo. I appreciated how the decor created a cozy yet modern vibe, making it a great space to relax. The menu offers a delightful blend of international flavors with humble but well-executed dishes. I was especially impressed with the quality of the coffee – rich and perfectly brewed – which paired wonderfully with the meal. The service was friendly and attentive, enhancing the overall experience. One thing that stood out was the focus on independent, high-quality dining. The attention to detail, both in food presentation and the overall ambiance, made the visit feel special. I’ll definitely be returning to try more from the menu and perhaps catch one of their unique events like the yoga or Pilates brunches. If you’re in Chelmsford and looking for a standout brunch spot, Fête should definitely be on your list.

We had a family brunch here, and all really enjoyed our food. The service was very good, staff very friendly. The only down side, we wanted dessert, but it seemed there wasn't any, as there was none on the menu. I would recommend this place.

We ate here Saturday night for our anniversary and they made our evening really special by taking such good care of us. The service was spot on and the food was delicious. Lots of gluten free options, and they had marked up a menu specially for me as I have some intolerances! Never had that level of service before. Really interesting dishes.

Had a 30th party in an upstairs lounge, overall a very nice bar.

A great menu. Each plate was laden with perfect tastes and textures! The cocktails were to die for! The service was warm, efficient and delightful! Overall, a sublimely wonderful evening!

Like it alot, gave me St John vibes. I went with the beef sandwich which I thought might not touch the sides, but it was a plenty portion. I( we) visited for a late lunch and everyone very much enjoyed their meal. The French toast desert was naughty and was shared between at least 2, just so you know..a great marker of a restaurants cleanliness is the wc, I'm pleased to report they are sparkly clean, even though the guys and gals share....fear not, it's private enough that it won't be an issue. A second marker for me is, would I go again, and that's a definite yes. There's still a few dishes I'm eager to try...

Had the most amazing brunch here on Saturday, I went for the Roast Beef Strip Sandwich and it was the most amazing sandwich I've ever tried! Staff were really nice and the food was incredible, what's not to love! I've been dreaming about this Sandwich all weekend, so I'll be back again to visit very soon! :)

Our favourite restaurant in Chelmsford!

A great restaurant with incredible service. Just look at this lovely birthday candle ☺️

Definitely a 5 star for breakfast and brunch ❤️ we had Turkish eggs and egg Benedict, both of them taste amazing😍 friendly service and nice atmosphere 👍

I wasn't sure what to expect when invited to try eating dinner here as the online presence suggests it's more of a breakfast/brunch venue but I was pleasantly surprised. A lovely venue with a relaxed atmosphere and welcoming staff. The dinner options, classed as small plates are tapas like but bigger portions. The prices are on the high side, £7.50 for some foccacia to start was a bit steep. As a pair we had a bottle of wine £28.50, 4 dishes, 2 desserts plus the bread starter totalled £132 with a 10% service charge included (a huge annoyance to me with all restaurants that do this). The menu is smallish but with some very creative and appealing sounding dishes. Presentation was good and the flavours were great, however... all four dishes had a lingering overbearing salty taste, which is the only real negative I could take from the evening, hence 4 stars on food not 5 stars. I would definitely recommend this as a place to try for yourself.

Food was absolutely amazing. Service was quick, and it was incredibly busy but still got served in fantastic time! Would definitely recommend booking before going!

Been multiple times since it opened and only ever had good experiences. Food is really tasty and staff are very friendly.

If I could give the food 6 stars I would! I honestly think this is the best breakfast I’ve ever had. The food was amazing and me and my husband had a fabulous time

Absolutely love it here, food is beautiful both for brunch or dinner and staff are lovely!

My review for lunch is 5 stars, dinner 3 so I have averaged it out. Came for lunch, had one of the best chicken burgers I have ever eaten. My party of four had lovely dishes and everyone was raving about it as we left. Good amount of food, reasonably priced and exceptionally well cooked. Having had the lunch menu I had to come back and have dinner. The menu was completely different, which was a shame but not that uncommon. We had to ask the server for assistance as the menu was a little confusing. She said sure its like 'tapas', everything was 'small plates' and she recommended 5-6 small plates (at around 13-17 pounds a plate) for my party of two. As we began picking the options, we really struggled to find dishes that would complement each other. What we ended up with was a mixed bag of flavours. Each dish in isolation was delicious and well cooked, but it just didn't work together. At first I considered maybe we had just ordered really badly, but we basically ordered most of the options on offer. The roast chicken for example was basically a tiny roast dinner, after eating fried eggs and spiced meats and duck... The server did say that the bread was very popular, and I wish we had ordered it as we left the place absolutely starving. The portion sizes were laughable. For two adults we had a couple of mouthfuls of each plate. Staff were lovely, the venue is nice and the food incredibly well presented and cooked. given the rave reviews maybe I'm just a heathen who doesn't understand this high brow concept of eating gravy with my egg fried rice, or maybe this place is more for the gram than your tummy (at least for dinner).

Great place for a high quality brunch or light lunch. Excellent gluten-free choices. Only down side is that it is pricey (£70 for 3 people - 1 dish each plus 1 drink each), but you do get very good quality food.

This was my first time and will not be my last. Had a lovely lunch sitting in the courtyard and was so impressed with the quality, value and service. An independent restaurant and it shows ..really great menu so different from the everyday and great execution. Can’t wait to visit for an evening. Hats off to the owners!

Restaurant is beautiful. Menu has a lot of interesting and appealing choices. However, for me the experience was underwhelming. Service is excruciatingly slow. The restaurant was 1/3 full. It took 30 minutes from ordering to get the food. Cappuccino took 15 minutes to arrive. And the cappuccino was half foam. I had to ask for the bill twice. Had the steak and eggs. Steak lacked flavour and the egg was quite rubbery. Food presentation is beautiful. The fries were excellent. Very crispy on the outside and fluffy inside. The toilet in the accessible toilet on the ground floor didn’t flush very well - handle was broken.

What a delight, what a glorious surprise! Upon entering, a man was exiting the establishment with a look of enraptured pleasure and transcendent joy on his face, this piqued my curiosity, could this stylish eatery be that good? The answer is a resounding yes, more than a yes, this place has everything absolutely everything right. There were plenty of customers, some sat outside in the sunshine, and many enjoying the air-conditioning inside, none of whom were looking for service or in any way seemed anything but relaxed and thoroughly enjoying themselves. The serving staff glided around the space keeping a vigilant eye on the customers without ever being intrusive, and before you knew it, your table water was refreshed or napkins appeared just when you needed them. No table was forgotten, the staff were genuinely first class. The menu was eye wateringly well constructed, with food combinations that spoke of respect to the ingredients and without an ounce of pretentiousness. Everything on that menu had been thought through with a master's skill and insight into excellent food. I was so surprised to see a menu that had excitement, and every dish sounded appealing. With the sound of expertly made cocktails being shaken in the background, and the passionate conversation of other diners, our food and drinks arrived, wow, I was blown away, presentation and execution of the dishes far surpassed expectation, and the flavours actually made me close my eyes in sheer delight. I had the slow cooked, pulled beef rib benedict, and I can safely say that you could taste everything, not a flavour was lost or hidden. I was delighted at the portion size because the food was an almost indescribable joy, and upon finishing, I most certainly felt that my monies had been spent on possibly the very best brunch I had ever eaten, I was replete and awed by the dedication to excellence that had gone into my meal. The Kitchen Staff moved with the grace and harmony of a perfectly choreographed ballet, each member of the team knew precisely what they were a part of, and goodness did it show, no raised voices, no collisions, just a team trained with the precision of a beautiful Swiss watch. I asked my wife if 'Fete' was some kind of chain restaurant, and she replied that to her knowledge this wonderful place was independent, with this my heart swelled, making me so proud to live in such a city where such quality can be found. Forget going anywhere else. Leave the chain eateries to fade into nothingness. Fete is a shining example of what can be achieved, with love, knowledge, and passion. Luke Goold. 35 years experience in the food service industry.

We booked at very short notice for brunch on Saturday. We got there as the restaurant opened and all of the staff were very welcoming. The food was fantastic, as was the service. We will definitely be going back as is still things we need to try. As we left it was really starting to get busy with a lively atmosphere. I would recommend to anyone

Comfortably the best brunch I have ever had . Absolute mustard. Highly recommend

Friendly service and great food!

I have been to Fete many times now and it never disappoints. There are lots of different brunch options which I’m slowly working my way through and each one is delicious. Prices are reflect good quality ingredients and friendly staff

Well what can I say! Absolutely superb! We decided to try this cafe/resteraunt and so pleased we did. Four of us went for brunch. Arrives at a busy time ( it’s always busy ) but we’re seated quickly and efficiently. Very nice front of house staff who went out of their way to be professional and helpful. Once seated we had bottles of water brought to the table and drinks order taken. Espresso was excellent ( even though my husband spilt his ) and teas were lovely. Ordered our food and although there was a bit of a wait, it was so worth it. All cooked to perfection and bursting with wonderful flavours that only a talented chef could come up with. I’m not easily impressed but I was.. very much so! Will certainly be returning. This place is amazing.

Overall, really lovely, the staff were sweet and the Turkish eggs were perfection. The fish bun fillet was a little dry but still well seasoned, I would definitely come back!

Welcoming service that didn't rush you and kept the waters filled without prompt.

I am awarding 3 stars as the staff we lovely and the venue is beautiful. 2 waffles and chicken and 2 coffees for £40.00!? Only half a waffle plated up? Very tight considering you’re charging £15.00 for this small dish. Try harder.

Amazing food & service. Very rare these days where you get a restaurant serving delicious food & service is attentive, Fete has hit both. The brunch dishes are unique, we will be back very soon to try everything else on the menu!

Disappointing. After reading the positive reviews and hearing about Fete from our friends, we were really looking forward to trying it. I found the duck leg hash to be overcooked and dry, with no flavour other than the sriracha it was served with. My son had the kids fish and chips which was also overcooked, and the chips were just scraps. My partner had the BLT which he enjoyed, but overall I was expecting a lot more for the price. The staff were friendly, but food service was slow. I would have resented paying £60+ for this meal, but fortunately two dishes were taken off our bill.

Lovely little restaurant for brunch or lunch if you're feeling peckish. Food is very good and staff are really friendly and attentive. Menu has a great selection of dishes and drinks too. I'll definitely be coming back here again soon :)

This is such a lovely place! We were en route to a friend’s hen weekend and we stopped here for lunch. The food was GORGEOUS! Nice atmosphere and great service, thank you x

Fete has a lovely atmosphere, welcoming staff and absolutely delicious food. I’ve been there a lot for lunch and I’ve always had a lovely meal. Dinner is different (small plates) and even better. Highly recommend the seabass ceviche and pork bao buns.

Two brunches and dinner at this venue have all been excellent, with dinner being the star of the show. Friendly staff, excellent food and a great atmosphere therefore the slightly higher prices are absolutely worth it.

A real gem of a place to eat. Brunches, lunches, dinners. Always make you feel special. Outstanding food and service.

Easy 5*. Likely a regular now. Reasonably priced for the service and food quality. Staff were engaging and polite, but not pushy. Website is missing the evening menu.

Very relaxed coffee shop/bistro but with very nice food. Beef bun and fries was especially nice and very much above what I was expecting. Service was exceptional and incredibly friendly. Very much would go again if in the area and would recommend to anyone passing or looking for a nice chilled place with great food and drinks.

Lovely food and friendly staff. Always great and we will be back soon!

Friendly staff. Great coffee. Great cocktails - does that count as food. Great service

Food was really delicious with some different dishes on the menu. Service was slightly slow but very pleasant

We went for a meal last night and had incredible food and superb service. Will definitely be returning for more!

Everyone loves the brunch, but you’ve also got to check them out for dinner! Finest quality small plates in Chelmsford, seasonal/fresh ingredients, extremely talented chef and a lovely, welcoming team - never pretentious! Cocktails and wine are fantastic too.

Had a wonderful first experience here. Food was great we had the sausage breakfast muffin, tater tots and the lamb flatbread. For a random weekday morning all tables were full and great use of the space upstairs having a yoga class happening. We had coffees and were not rushed at all to leave so decided to have a second round of drinks after our meal. Will go back for certain!

Best grub in Chelmsford. Food is spectacular and the host is great.

First time here for us three. The atmosphere was a little like a reading room, and I don't much like bench seating but the toilets were comfortable and clean. We selected three brunches, a chicken kimchi arrangement, an eggs benedict and another benedict with merguez sausage and 'nduja samphire as a side. Our dishes were well presented and very tasty. Waiting staff were friendly and efficient. With hot drinks, the bill amounted to £77 - for one course each, fierce but not incendiary.

Superb food. Really different and very delicious. Fabulous, friendly service.

Overpriced. £50 for a Caesar salad and toasted cheese sandwich, two cokes and a coffee. Service charge was automatically applied.

I had a chicken club sandwich.found it very dry wasnt impressed with the bread they used.very disappointed

Friends had booked a table for us and we were sat by the kitchen hatch which had absolutely amazing smells wafting through and was interesting to watch! Lots of amazing sounding dishes to choose from on the menu but as a classic option for me, I went for a burger and chips, and a portion of the kimchi on the side! The burger was very juicy and had a lovely flavour. Chips were fine! I found the kimchi to have a lovely flavour of ginger and chilli but disappointing size and mainly consisted of carrots. The boyfriend had the Short Rib on a waffle with poached egg - looked and tasted incredible as I pinched a bit! Ordered a side of sausage based on a recommendation but I wouldn't really write home about it! The decor was very chic, the staff and service was very good! The only downside I would say is that it was noisy, and I'm not sure if that was music, the kitchen, the other patrons, or all of the above! I found it hard to converse. Overall, a nice experience and tasty food!

Fantastic place, excellent food and drinks

Fête is my fave restaurant in Chelmsford (and probably just in general to be fair). Have been for both brunch/lunch and dinner and the food has always been so good! I love that the menu is a really interesting take on "normal" food - I enjoy really good food but not overly fancy and they do it so well. I would say prices are slightly higher than average but when you get the food you can tell that quality ingredients are used and there is clearly a lot of work that goes into creating the dishes so the food is well worth what you pay! Cocktails are great too. I would say there is more atmosphere of an evening, but would happily go any time of day for their delicious food.

The best brunch I've ever had: Beef Short Rib Benedict and Duck Leg Hash. Highly recommended.

Me and my husband went there today for his birthday brunch and he received a complimentary birthday treat. The staff were so friendly and the food was great. Will visit again

Had brunch here on a Friday and it was amazing. Food, service and atmosphere all five star. New favourite place in Chelmsford.

From the moment I stepped into this restaurant, I was enveloped in an ambiance that can only be described as the perfect blend of elegance and contemporary chic. It’s the kind of place where the buzz of conversation and the clinking of glasses create a symphony that adds to the overall experience. The staff, welcoming and impeccably dressed, move with an efficiency that complements the lively spirit of the place. My choice to dine here was heavily influenced by the rave reviews about their “free-from” menu, an innovative concept catering to diverse dietary needs. The prospect of savouring dishes that were both gluten-free (GF) and dairy-free (DF) without compromising on flavour was a major draw. However, my experience was tinged with slight disappointment. The dish I selected, while presented beautifully, fell short of my dietary requirements as certain elements were missing on my plate which were neither GF nor DF, (the bread) was surprising and disheartening, given the restaurant’s reputation for catering to such needs. It’s a beautiful place that I wanted to love unreservedly, but I left with mixed feelings – captivated by its charm but let down by an essential aspect of my dining experience.

Honestly, the best place in Chelmsford for any kind of meal - breakfast, brunch or dinner. Laura and Toby have worked so hard on Fete and everyone should support a truly independent restaurant like this.

Really delicious food. Some classic brunch dishes with a twist and fab quality ingredients.

Wow what an amazing place ! Such a beautiful restaurant with such polite and friendly staff and the food is phenomenal. The best brunch around by a mile ! Cannot speak highly enough of the quality of the food, will definitely be visiting again ! Highly recommend

We love this restaurant, very nice food, super friendly staff and comfortable environment. Strongly recommend.

Such a gem! Staff were lovely, such a cute place, food was absolutely incredible. The hash brown with manchego cheese was our favorite dish by far, all the food came out quickly and was so fresh. They were able to accommodate a peanut allergy too. We’ll definitely be back to try the French toast - it looked delicious

Best brunch in Chelmsford. Good service great food and lovely atmosphere.

Nice place to celebrate an event.

Fresh and delicious. Friendly waiters Highly recommended

Extortionate! I paid £60 for four coffees, avo on toast and a breakfast wrap.tbe place is chaotic,the service is mediocre and the food is nothing special. I feel absolutely ripped off. Will not be returning,ever.

Visited Fete for dinner recently and had a really lovely evening, the food was amazing and the service was brilliant. My mum has severe allergies and Fete really helped us find suitable meals on the menu - my mum commented that she hadn’t eaten such nice food out at a restaurant in years! So thank you Fete!

What a gem! Came for lunch on a Friday and was thoroughly impressed! We hadn't booked, which I would recommend doing as it was busy, we just got lucky. The food was EXCELLENT. Honestly, the chicken kimchi waffle was so tasty. Was a bit of a wild card option, but I was not disappointed! There is a cocktail bar upstairs, which I imagine, in the evening, is great.

Great food, great service - what more could you want. The small plates are amazing in the evening and lots of veggie options. We were told to have 3-5 dishes between two of us and this worked out really well.

Had a lovely brunch here with friends. Interesting menu, very tasty and very well presented.

Why would you go anywhere else ? If you are nearby and surrounded by chain restaurants churning out generic food you should try here ! Brilliant service, open kitchen (so you can see everything being prepared ) and quality food !

Wow! Amazing food, excellent friendly waiting staff who had knowledge about the ingredients, preparation and explanation of their exquisite menu. We had the 5 course tasting menu which was perfection, every course was delicious and beautifully presented. Thank you for hospitality and great food.

A great place we found for lite bites. I really enjoyed the scrambled egg & marmite mayonnaise lunch....

A good place to visit in terms of atmosphere. We especially enjoyed their nutella toast and club sandwich. However, their hollandaise was a bit lumpy for the eggs Benedict although tasty, and their steak, eggs and samphire with bread was a bit too oily and unimpressive in terms of overall flavour and combinations. I would definitely visit again for their club sandwich, rich in flavour and a good portion!

I love Fete! The food and service is amazing - I have never left unhappy or unsatisfied. So when it come to organising an event I knew there was only one place I wanted to host it!! Staff were as friendly and helpful as ever. Can't wait for our next visit!

Enjoyed a fabulous course producing an ox-eyed daisy at Fete with lovely food and caring service.

Yet again a lovely tasty experience, great brunch in a nice cool restaurant, when it was sooo hot yesterday!!

This is hands down the best place to eat in Chelmsford. Be it for brunch or dinner. The food is just sooooo good! Amazing drinks. Lovely wine list. Service is perfect. They’re doing everything very right!

Went here in July, great food, nice surroundings, but the crown was the service, Joseph, Laura and others made me feel welcome, appreciated and funny which is always nice and the toilets made me smile (you will have to go to find out why)

Flipping love this restaurant, chilled vibes but with excellent service and attention to detail. My favourite place to take people for coffee, brunch or lunch! The food is incredible, such great flavour and options. Well done Laura and all the team!

Loved this place. The food was really good. A friendly atmosphere. Looking forward to another visit.

Fabulous food - courgette flowers were amazing 🤩 staff attentive and friendly . Cocktails made it expensive but they were delicious so worth it

Essex - The best restaurant. I’ve been eating here since 2021, easily 40+ times. Don’t think twice Fete is a safe bet, that will over deliver. It’s so good with the service, food and drink

Best place in Essex and further. Michelin star!!

Our meal here is one of my top 10 restaurant meals. Food was absolutely delicious. It’s all small plates to share. Had crispy chicken which was fantastic and an interesting marmite butter on focaccia. Highly recommend this place for food. Only thing is that it is a little expensive so would be a once every few months treat or less frequent

Went to Fete last night and the food was absolutely delicious, 10/10. Fantastic atmosphere and amazing customer service. I would 100% recommend

Nice place with some very good food...Little expensive...but not bad for a 1 off treat. Had the full breakfast and was stuffed. The flatbed dipped into the runny egg was fab!