Kintsu in Colchester

What an amazing experience, from the decor, ambience, staff and the impeccable menu! The food was perfect, the menu well thought out, the food was seasonal and the main ingredients shone through. The staff know they’re stiff, and the chef, wow, what a master of his trade! We will def be returning, thank you for making our experience so amazing. Def worth a visit, not just for a special occasion, but to appreciate good food. Thank you and see you soon xx

We have been to Kintsu quite a few times, and we keep coming back because it is consistently excellent. This time we were a group of five for lunch. Kintsu is a tasting menu restaurant and we really enjoy this format. The whole meal is a shared experience as everyone gets to enjoy the same dishes. Having a chef curate a menu for you to enjoy feels like a real treat and you are introduced to new interesting flavour combinations that you wouldn't necessarily have ordered before. We once again really enjoyed every dish, the menu flowed well, the dishes were flavoursome and well balanced and everything was of exceptionally high quality. Once again the service was excellent throughout. The quality at Kintsu is consistently high so we would recommend this restaurant for a special occasion as it can be relied upon to deliver.

You could be forgiven for thinking a restaurant with a set menu and no choice would be a challenge but this was a truly memorable meal. Every single dish hit the mark with fantastic flavours. The starters were large bite size selections of three items , the duck liver , cherry and gingerbread was for me the highlight of the meal with three ingredients that I would normally avoid, it was sublime. We then worked our way through six main course dishes followed by two desserts , each distinctive but as a whole it was superb. The tasting menu is £80 but for what you pay in other restaurants the premium is definitely worth it . I could not fault anything ,best Colchester restaurant by a country mile

What an amazing place. Tucked away in Colchester, this is an absolute gem of a restaurant. We had the tasting menu and every course was an incredible experience. Interesting and delicious. Perfect quantities . A very talented and clever chef. So pleased to find somewhere in Essex that does food like this. What a treat - We will be back. Highly recommend

Well, where to start . . . Everything about this place was just amazing. The staff, everything perfectly timed. A well oiled machine, without doubt. We were made to feel welcome from the very start. Every course was explained. You got what was on the menu, but not necessarily in the way you would expect. Every course was so unbelievably different to what you'd expect, which made the experience so much more enjoyable. We will definitely be back again. Kintsu is a one off in Colchester and deservedly so. We wish you all the very best and can only congratulate you on your success.

Not sure where to begin - an experience we can't find anything to comment on room for improvement on! The food was absolutely delicious - we love the fact it's a set menu; you get to try out new things you might not have been keen to try if choosing (yet leave marking those as the best course, amazingly!), service was attentive yet relaxed so we never felt rushed at any point. We were made to feel welcome as soon as we arrived (and we arrived earlier than booked), a birthday card was offered, wine was recommended for the courses we had, everyone was all smiles and willing to go above and beyond. A special visit and one we won't forget. We felt spoilt throughout and can't wait to return. Lovely atmosphere and what a pleasure it is to sit and listen to some classic songs, nothing pretentious at all. Thanks for making our visit one to remember for all the right reasons!

Food and service are impeccable. This place deserves to be number one and is my favourite place to go to

What can I say? Kintsu continues to get better and better. The food is superb - with a wonderful mix of tastes and textures - and is beautifully presented. The service is impeccable and the staff are lovely. Everything about this restaurant is excellent. Long may it continue.

Excellent food with a great wine pairing - the dessert was an absolute revelation! If you haven’t eaten here yet, you should do!

We went to Kintsu for our anniversary and were not disappointed. It was an excellent tasting menu, with a really good variety of courses. Very attentive staff made the night special.

Hidden away and recommended by a friend as I haven't seen much publicity for this little gem, off the beaten track in Colchester- which hasn't seen great food for the 20 years I've been here. Chef's table 7 course taster menu was a sensory experience. Usually I'd have these sorts of treats- and find parts of the menu we could have done without- but this was expertly crafted and every item on each plate spoke for itself. Layers of flavours and surprises, and reasonably priced for the level of service, quality of dishes and the stories of each dish. Local produce (a cracking Essex wine was a surprise winner on the wine flight ) and every dish well thought out and an absolute treat. I'll be back.

Not knowing what to expect for here I had high hopes, even more so when seeing it was the same chef from when it was grain happy days. What can I say so for one it was a very present atmosphere and you will not have a bad dining experience, the staff are all very polite and have no fault. Now the other side, this is a taster menu, nothing wrong with that at all as as mentioned all cooked very well, rhe issue is the menu did not really flow, it was nice to go from fish to meat yes, but the crab which was the best dish of the night should not have out done the sea bass which should have been pan fried not steamed as the source overpowers the taste of the dish. The big let down for me were the meat dishes, they could have taken the best from what they did before but no a bbq is that's what you can call it pork with onion, the onion being the best part and a deconstruction peking duck did not sell it at all, nice yes but not outstanding and when you look at the price per head would it be worth it in my opinion no, gold I went yes would I go again no.

We were staying in Colchester for the bank holiday weekend and booked the week before. We liked the fact there was only one menu with no choice. Nowhere to hide! The restaurant is housed in a beautiful old building and is very intimate. The kitchen is open so you get to see all the action and you can also book the chefs table ( sadly already booked when we went). The tasting menu was delicious every dish just got better and better. Not one dud! We will define be back next time we are in Essex.

Thoroughly enjoyable experience. We meandered our way through the tasting menu on a lovely sunny afternoon. The food was glorious and the flavours complimented each other always leaving a wonderful taste that flowed into the next course. The wine was delicious and we appreciated the knowledge of the team. The service was friendly and efficient and you can tell everyone is trying to build something very special here. We did not want the experience to end so finished up with cocktails and coffee on the the terrace. Special mention for the delicious tasters, perfectly cooked pollock, roast lamb and melt in your mouth beautiful chocalate dessert but it was all seriously superb. Thank you.

Once again we had a very enjoyable evening at Kintsu. Kintsu is a tasting menu restaurant and every single course we had was really delicious. This time we also had the wine pairing which added to the experience and introduced us to some new wines. The restaurant has a welcoming atmosphere and service was very good throughout. Kintsu consistently produces really high quality food and it is always a pleasure to eat there.

Pleased to return and enjoy the tasting menu at the chef’s table. Each course was unique, and we found it difficult to pick a favourite but have settled on The Chalk Stream Trout and Cucumber. The addition of playful treats in between courses a surprise that made us smile. How do you make something so elegant give just enough of a hint of the Golden Arches? Each course made for a discussion about where in the world chef had drawn his inspiration adding to the experience.

First visit to Kintsu as part of my birthday celebrations, it won’t be the last ! My partner and I sat at the Chef’s table which was a great experience as you’re served by the chefs and they explain a little more about how the...

First time at Kintsu. Julia and I were fortunate to have received a gift token for a Xmas present and today was first opportunity to check out their set lunch. Superb food and service from the team. Spent a little extra for the additional cheese...

Let down by poor customer service Yes, a great restaurant with the best food in Colchester (by far) but please don't spoil it by taking a booking reservation with Amex and then refuse to take this card when the customer pays the bill. On my...

The six course tasting menu was absolutely spot on, particularly the chicken confit dish and sirloin beef dish. The canapes were varied and packed full of flavour. Good service throughout and easily better than some Michelin starred restaurants I have been to.

We went for a family birthday celebration on Thursday 9th. There were three of us and we sat at The Chefs Table and enjoyed the taster menu with wines. And when I say enjoyed I really mean it. Obviously a menu like that is a...

Have to admit, this is my 3rd time enjoying a meal at this upmarket Colchester eatery. It’s pretty rare to have a 100% satisfaction rate anywhere these days but hand on heart this place has delivered each and every time. The quality of food is...

An honest mistake in making the booking resulting in being unable to attend is treated with disdain and a £120 cancellation charge - no attempt made to find an equitable solution leaving the customer feeling hurt and undervalued. In a service industry they surely will...

My birthday and I asked to go here. Wish I had gone cheaper if I am honest. I have had food across the world but think this is pretentious- loud- not a chilled experience. The starters and cheese were good but we paid extra for...

My wife took me here for my birthday. The food and wine was delicious. Unfortunately it was a cold evening and the restaurant was freezing. I told them a couple of times and in the end we had to put our coats on. It’s not...

We’ve been here 5 times in the last year and by far this was our favourite tasting menu! Absolutely delicious menu, the lamb cabbage, the onion starter, the cheesecake. If you haven’t been before then I 100% recommend!

Excellent food! Service was the best we have ever had in the restaurant! Would love to come back again! Experience worth money!

Food was pretty good but as pescatarian at that price I expected more than the meat option less the meat. I didn't want the deserts but wasn't allowed to swap them for cheese course, I had to pay for both. Over £600 for 4 people...

Booked a table for my anniversary, and they call me the day after asking about allergies and dietary, great service. The location is really nice and the food served was delicious, the service 5 star. Definitely a place to visit and different from the usual...

A truly excellent meal worthy of a Michelin star- each course superbly created, cooked and served. We loved the tasting menu journey from a clearly talented chef. It's not for those who want traditional fayre and choice but if you are up for a handcrafted...

This is the second time I’ve visited Kintsu (3rd if you count a visit to the previously titled Grain) - as it’s undeniably a contender for best restaurant in Colchester in my humble opinion. The tasting menu was a delight. 6 courses of well thought...

A regular visitor to grain I had high hopes of new take on their small plates but sadly the new format of a tasting menu left me feeling underwhelmed. Firstly a tasting menu should be something offered as an alternative to an al a carte...

Six of us visited on a Saturday lunchtime and had the six course tasting menu. Alongside the six courses you also get extra little treats such as canape style snacks. We have been here many times and we are always very impressed with the standard...

I firmly believe in ‘if you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all’ … and I’ve not left a negative review on Tripadvisor before. However, I need to make an exception. A friend treated me to a very special meal to celebrate a...

If you go to Kintsu regularly, you will have noticed that James who used to be in the main kitchen with Paul, has left and Paul is working without a sous chef, but with just Ruby, the pâtissier, in support. I assume this is why...

The last time we went to this restaurant was when is was Grain, the tasting menu was very good and putting combination of food together that you would not always imagine and only using local seasonal produce. The service was very good and attentive, I...

We have been to this restaurant many times, and always enjoyed it. However the new tasting menu is a disappointment. Whilst the food was nice, the lack of choice made it a very different experience. Dare I say, it has become very pretentious, as opposed...

Our first visit to this fantastic restaurant in the centre of Colchester City after it changed its menus to a tasting offering. I could not believe it could improve but it has. A wonderful menu and an absolute delight. A fantastic collection of tastes to...

This is a really excellent restaurant, for anywhere, not just Colchester. The tasting menu is really interesting and having dined in many Michelin starred restaurants it rivals many of them quite comfortably. At our last visit they have started to offer wine flights to match...

Spontaneous meal out led to a frantic search for good restaurants around Colchester, what a little find this was. Very happy we chose to dine here, lovely setting tucked away in a quiet yard in a lovely converted building. Interior is nice, atmosphere very peaceful...

Once again an absolutely fabulous time from the moment we arrived. The food is really good and never disappoints. We had two vegetarians in our group and every one of their courses we all could have had, just amazing. Apologies as I only took a...

I’d booked for Saturday night. I’d confirmed my booking and run the bath to get ready. I get a phone call from a stranger to say my 88 year old father in law has collapsed in the middle of the woods taking my children for...

By far me and my partners favourite restaurant in Essex and probably in the UK! The food is always incredible and the menu changes often enough that we have never had the same dish twice. I’m going to keep coming back for years!

Kintsu has achieved the seemingly impossible: the food is better than ever. Everything we had was absolutely delicious - beautifully presented, and with wonderful combinations of taste and texture. To top it all off, the staff are lovely and the service is impeccable. Easily the...

Lovely night out for my better half's birthday. Menu personally adjusted to her food allergy. Locally sourced food, cooked and delivered to an exceptional standard. Recommend the taster menu, we will be back again soon.

We decided to go the full hog and have the Chef's Table experience, sitting opposite the chefs and watching them work, a fascinating experience in itself, and they cook a never-ending menu of spectacular dishes and bring them out and tell you what they are....

We have been here many times before but this was our first experience of their tasting menu. As on all previous occasions the food was excellent. This restaurant is a real pleasure to visit; there is a welcoming ambience, the service is always friendly and...

Our ‘go to’ restaurant in Colchester. By far the best the town has to offer. I always look forward to our visit.. innovative menu, perfectly cooked and friendly and efficient service.

We went for lunch with some friends who knew this restaurant and were certain we would enjoy it. They were right and we found it excellent in every respect. We both enjoyed the concept of small plates (we each had four) and the quality of...

Visiting for dinner on Friday evening, we experienced the 5 course tasting menu and it was amazing. Each course had a mixture of flavours, all presented exquisitely and portion size was enough to ensure we were not left hungry. Still by far the best restaurant...

We absolutely love this place and the food is unbelievable. It's a really special restaurant to visit and you could never visit and leave disappointed. The service is brilliant, there's a lovely atmosphere and we are so lucky to have a place like this in...

We’ve been to Kintsu 3 or 4 times now and they never fail to impress. The food is absolutely stunning and the service is excellent. We always find that the waiting staff know their stuff and can recommend dishes and drinks . They are always...

The ambience is relaxed and beautiful, the staff are very friendly and welcoming. And the food is amazing. My wife and I have eaten at Michelin starred restaurants in three continents. And the cuisine here was at least as good as those Michelin starred places...

Best restaurant in Colchester. Flavour combinations are stunning, lots of variety on menu and great seasonal produce! Will be returning!

Kintsu remains the most innovative place to eat in Colchester and is very deserving of the Michelin Bib Gourmand they were recently awarded. The frequently changing menu using seasonal ingredients means there is an excited anticipation every time you visit, as you never know what...

Spotted this in Essex life and having heard it recently won an award it jumped to the top of “the list” of places to visit. Ambiance was very nice. Staff super efficient explaining the taster menu etc but I was a little disappointed with the...

Very much enjoyed our evening at kintsu , booked after reading about the restaurants recent Michelin success. Tucked away off North hill the restaurant is unassuming but it’s certainly all about the food ,flavours and service here. Knowing it is a small plate tapas style...

Superb food, excellent service and a warm atmosphere. Situated in an alley off North Hill (or cut through from Fenwicks car park) this gem of a restaurant has now become my favourite place in Colchester. Several separate dining areas make it very intimate and I...

Super friendly staff and the food is just out of this world. My wife actually had tears in her eyes when the duck arrived. Each dish a taste sensation. I can't recommend Kintsu highly enough. Presentation, atmosphere and gastronomic delight awaits everyone who comes to...

We loved the former restaurant Grain and were so disappointed that it was closing but it has re-opened as Kintsu and does itself proud. This is by far our favourite restaurant in Colchester and I make sure I recommend it to anyone I know. The...

Only resteraunt worth visiting in Colchester at the moment if you don't eat meat or fish (though there is plenty of this on the menu too of you do!) Incredible flavours in the eight small plates devoured by us this evening which were all beautifully...

We dined here, as a couple, on New Year's Eve. It was wonderful. The food was superb - as good, or better, than it has ever been. Every dish was a delight to the eyes as well as to the taste buds. I cannot praise...

Christmas Eve lunch and they charged a fixed amount for a chef’s choice menu. The dishes just kept coming and tasted superb. Great flavours and innovative combinations, served as small plates/Tapas size, with some excellent wine recommendations. The service from the front of house staff...

Using a kick-start voucher we had a fantastic meal, catered really well to the various allergies and intolerance we have, team were friendly funny and professional

This is about my fifth visit to kintsu, yet I have never reviewed it. So thought it was about time I did. Tonight they absolutely exceeded my expectations! I love the place, the food is exquisite. Tonight we went for the tasting menu and so...

I chose this restaurant for lunch as although the menu isn’t huge they had some really intriguing options, and with one of our party being vegetarian I was really hoping for something better than a boring salad. Well, the chef exceeded all expectations, on all...

Top quality food and friendly service. I really enjoy the small plates sizes and therefore the opportunity to taste a range of different dishes especially given how good every single dish was. Yes a premium price, but worth every penny.

I can imagine this place already has an amazing reputation just through word of mouth, but I thought I'd write a review anyway. By far my favourite place to eat in Colchester. The food is always outstanding, as is the wine and the service. Can't...

Warm welcome, fabulous setting, attentive, professional staff - really knowledgeable of both food and wines and made great recommendations. Food is exquisite - well presented and thought out, great to not have 'obvious' flavour combinations, however everything has been carefully considered to ensure flavours/textures complement...

We have visited Kintsu 3 times this year so far! It is blooming amazing! My favourite restaurant in Colchester, yes the plates are small but my god are they insane! Highly highly recommend Kintsu. Their food is like no other in Colchester.

This restaurant serves small plates, my wife and I decided to share ‘a la tapas’, Korean ribs with miso mayonnaise, scallops with roasted cauliflower, chicken with hay smoked carrot, and cod with a prawn green curry. Dishes were very small, flavours fought for dominance on...

This restaurant is just 10/10!! A small tasting menu but the food is mouth watering… honestly every dish was just so tasty, it was the best food I’ve had out in a while in Colchester! Me and my partner chose three dishes each and finished...

Now been four times since the relaunch as Kintsu. Maintaining, or exceeding, the high standards set at Grain using seasonal ingredients from local producers with a frequently changing menu. Can't wait for our next visit!!

So wonderful to see this fabulous place back. London standard food, just exceptional. Fabulous service and atmosphere. An amazing rebirth of old favourite Grain. I cannot recommend this enough. No better place in Colchester or anywhere nearby.

Great food, great service, great wine. Love small plate food, like tapas but with a British edge. Absolutely the best restaurant within miles of here. Well done guys!

This is our fourth visit since its reopening, yet again it didn't disappoint. All the dishes were delicious. This time we skipped the vegetable options and started with the fish so we could make it through to cheese and dessert. The portions, as you would...

Absolutely loved everything about Kintsu, the choice of food is amazing, we went for 4 small plates each, followed by dessert - this seems the perfect amount, very much like a tasting menu. Food was outstanding - enjoyed every single course and such good choice...

Hard to find any faults, only point worth noting is that the multiple menus that were given to us when we sat down were not explained so we missed the extended wine/drinks options. Mid week meal for my partners birthday, masks were optional (all staff...

Outstanding cooking and a wonderful concept. Choose 3-4 dishes per person for a sensational choice of well-presented and fabulous tasting. Good concentration of local produce too!

I was an enthusiastic fan of grain, Kintsu's predecessor, and am even more so now. I have been three times since it's opening and can not fault it. The food is unbelievably good: seasonal food, cooked by people with fantastic palates so the flavour combinations...

Unpretentious and simply a class act. The food was sublime , the menu choice excellent the price fair and excellent service from personable staff. Great place for a lunch but now want to come for dinner.

Having been fortunate to be there for opening night, and being loyal followers of Grain, we have already returned a handful of times again. Our most recent visit in July for a birthday, as with the previous visits, was exceptional. The service is spot on,...

How lucky we are to have this in our Town. Exceptional. Food was delicious. The seating/eating area has the perfect feel. The outside space looks terrific and the outside fireplace is inspired. Friendly staff and a great place to spend an evening.

The renamed restaurant has been revamped and now has the looks to match the high standard of food. It is a small plates concept but, unlike tapas, the dishes come one by one and not all together. This allows you to order 3-6 dishes, depending...

Astonishingly good food . Such talented and passionate chefs who really know how to marry flavours to perfection. Every bit as good as Michelin starred restaurants we have visited in the past. Superb value for money. Exquisitely presented dishes which all packed a punch of...

We went to Kintsu for lunch on a recommendation . Wow fantastic . Great staff friendly and helpful and knew the menu . Lots to choose was hard to whittle it down to just 6 plates . Unfortunately we missed out on dessert as we...

Food was stunning - as good, if not better, as their predecessor Grain. Choices come as “small plates” and the flavours and attention to detail are superb. The service was also flawless. Our two waitresses were friendly and knowledgeable about the dishes and gave us...

We came here after visiting its predecessor (Grain) three times. It is nice to have the option of seating upstairs, as downstairs could be quite loud from previous experience. I’ve only got two grumbles; The music at the start wasn’t appropriate. Skunk Anansie, Garbage, Catatonia...

I only really need to say Wow! then multiply this by at least 100 and you'll get an idea of how much I liked this restaurant. The dishes are just amazing. They are classed as small plates and the idea is you start at the...

Recently refurbished, looks terrific and reopened. We visited with my brother and his wife. Lovely cocktail to start in the seated area upstairs. The restaurant, people, food and wine is just so good. It’s a “must go to restaurant”. How to describe the food? Small...