Kintsu in Colchester

I’ve been a fan of Paul’s creative cooking since the start of Grain, Kintsu’s predecessor. Sadly it’s too expensive for anything other than a rare visit but this time it was a special occasion so we splashed out for the full tasting menu. I’m so glad we did as it was exquisite, every bite a delightful surprise. The tiny portion of black pudding was the only element I couldn’t eat, evening else was delicious.

Exceptional! Delicious and creative food, wonderful wine pairings and knowledgeable and friendly staff. Highly recommend!

We tried this out with friends. I really liked the idea of not seeing the menu until the end. You maintained an open mind all the way through as each dish was presented. We went for the wine pairing, and each worked exquisitely with the dishes. Our waitress was friendly and explained each dish / wine competently. Would definitely recommend a visit.

Paul produced yet another fantastic tasting menu. The mushroom 'soup' was so full of flavour, the scallop perfect in fact you couldn't find fault with any of the courses. This really is the best place in Colchester to eat.

Quite wonderful. No-choice tasting menu: divine amuse-bouche and plenty of them, perfect delicate cod on a marbled green sauce, scallop crisply caramelised, pork and mustard, pre-duck titbits, duck with liquorice, exceptional goat cheese, muscovado choux bun with Madeira. Portion size perfect. Wine flight carefully chosen and introduced by charming helpful server. It's all about the food, the restaurant is comfortable but not over fussy. Not busy Thursday evening. I believe this is the best restaurant in the area, at least as good as places with celebrity chefs. Can't wait to return.

Oh my goodness ... what can I say. Although Colchester was my home town, I am a tourist these days having left many years ago, so when I started to look for a decent 'treat' restaurant to eat at and discovered Kintsu, I was excited before I got there. From walking in the door we were looked after by Agape, I had the wine flight and there was nothing we could ask about the food or the wine that she didn't know. The food was amazing, there was nothing that wasn't perfect (and the wine was excellent as well). Fantastic evening, can't find the words to praise this place enough

We have been to Kintsu twice before and had been to its predecessor - Grain, 3 times too. This was our first tasting menu here, but not our first tasting menu, and so we’re looking forward to the experience. Kintsu have definitely fixed their sound issue. The restaurant could get quite loud and noisy, but they have put in acoustic measures to improve this, and so it is a much more pleasant space now. All of the food was well presented, and the majority was tasty. I have to say that the pork dish wasn’t as good as I would have expected - flavoursome, but not the best texture. Kintsu likely has aspirations on its first Michelin star, and it will probably get there, but with a few small tweaks to ensure consistency. I wouldn’t not recommend it, and I’ll probably go back at some point in the future. One thing I would hope for is an online menu so that diners can choose if it meets their preferences, as although the surprise element is just that, it doesn’t work if a diner has a thing they don’t like. Alternatively (as with other tasting menus) there should be a degree of choice of dishes.

Maybe it is me but the reviews I have read do not mirror my thoughts .Firstly the atmosphere and surroundings are great , much improved.. the sound much more subdued and conducive to talking to your guests in what was a previously loud environment ……this is the fifth time to the restaurant following it.s history when it started life as Grain. …. First experience of the tasting menu. I appreciate the purpose of a tasting menu but I do feel that certain dishes were a little lost on their way. For me discerning ,clever flavours are everything and some dishes in this seasonal menu were lacking .The pork I had was very fatty , seems to have been sous vide .. and the texture not right ..nor the flavours , disappointing to eat ….. The lamb again nothing special .The chicken tempura tasty but mine had gristle in ..not pleasant or expected- So for me hit and miss ..service great , venue good but it is an expensive evening and I came away not having a meal that I felt in parts was very mediocre and that I would not remember for the right reasons .. but to always end on a positive for cooking is an art and everyone can have a bad day …the sourdough breadcrumbs fried in butter that dressed the ice - cream were very good ..they had flavour that was recognisable and the little salad tomatoes great flavour .. so that proves there is the ability ..maybe a little re think on some of the dishes ……

Amazing taste menu experience. Great staff, multitude of flavours in each course. Hats off to the chef. Will be back soon ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This was an interesting experience. My wife, myself and a friend went on a Thursday night at 6pm and by the time we left three hours later no other customers had visited. Given Thursday is meant to be the new Friday etc, this was a bit of a surprise although Kintsu is a little off the beaten track. Having said that, the food was lovely. It was an eight-course tasting menu with the stars being chalk stream river trout, cod loin, and a fabulous pea valoute. Pork and duck dishes also featured and although very tasty were quite rich on top of the other dishes. Service was excellent - it should be if there are only three diners, but there was a genuine enthusiasm in the description of the dishes and their ingredients. We had one bottle of wine and two additional glasses so hardly a "heavy" night but this was far from a cheap venture. Would I return? Yes, which is the proof of the pudding but I would hope for a much-improved environment.