La Petite Petanque in Southend-on-Sea

Visited for the first time , I had a voucher for afternoon tea with Prosecco. Food was delicious, service excellent, staff very welcoming and friendly. Will definitely be going back .

Popped into La Petit Petanque yesterday for a lovely lunch on a really grim rainy Monday. My cappuccino certainly made me smile! Great service & fab food as always. ❤️

Well just me and my husband had lunch at our favourite Resturant. Thank you all for such a lovely lunch and friendly lovely staff. We love it here 🥰. Hopefully see you soon with my family.

We visited the restaurant for a second time, having previously enjoyed a nice cream tea. This time, we decided to try their lunch menu for a family meal. Despite the restaurant not being busy for a Saturday, the service was very slow. We requested a kids' portion of spaghetti bolognese with penne pasta, but the chef said the spaghetti was already mixed in the sauce (this raised a red flag to us). When the food arrived, it was barely warm, as if reheated in the microwave. The prawn and crayfish sandwiches my husband and I ordered contained just over a tablespoon of filling, accompanied by five sweet potato crisps and a teaspoon of coleslaw. We then ordered a cream tea, but the waitress only brought enough for one person, despite there being four of us. Additionally, the hot drinks were not served together, so we had to wait even longer for the other scones to be heated and brought out. The total cost for the lunch was £74. Given the quality of the food and the poor service, I would not recommend this restaurant. Management needs to review all aspects of their operation, which is a shame considering the lovely location.

On arrival we seated at an outside ( in the conservatory) I requested when I booked a table inside. The chair was broken I nearly went through it. I was giving another chair when I asked. Drinks order was wrong two items forgotten. Dinner was put on the table at the wrong places. The Beef was cooked well but had the rind “ fat” left on and there was a lot of it ! Brockley was not cooked at all extremely raw, the potatoes were ok but not fully roasted, the Yorkshire pudding was the best thing about the meal and if it wasn’t for the Yorkshire pudding the score would have been a two , over priced in my opinion to unfortunately.

Went for lunch with a friend, my first time here, it was very good, the waiter Fab was fabulous, funny and extremely attentive to our needs. Highly recommend the place and can’t wait to go back..

Took my friend yesterday for lunch. It was her first visit. Apart from enjoying our food, our server was Fab in every respect. We laughed with him from start to finish. What a lovely guy! Can't wait to go back!!

We held an impromptu wedding breakfast at La Petite Petanque. With only 3 weeks notice we were able to organise a perfect afternoon tea and cocktail afternoon. The venue was perfect overlooking the bowling green on a very sunny autumnal day. The staff pulled out all the stops to make the venue look the part and our guests enjoyed lots of laughter whilst devouring the wonderful offerings presented on vintage crockery. Topped off with prosecco and cocktails ... a day to remember. Thank you La Petite Petanque!

Didn't know this place existed until I read an article in The Echo. Really pleased I did. I had the sausage and mash with onion gravy which was delicious my wife had the fish cakes again really nice. Maybe serve on hot plates? For dessert we both had jam roly poly absolutely fab. Two mains, two desserts and two large glasses of nice merlot, £60 - great value. Service is friendly and welcoming. All in all a very enjoyable meal. First time and not the last. Only reason 4 and not 5 stars is that it was a first visit sure next time it will be a 5!

Delicious afternoon tea served on bone china plates. With plenty of tea and coffee throughout the meal. Sandwiches of tuna, egg mayonnaise, cheese and pickle, prawn and crayfish and ham and mustard. Lots of cake to choose from. Would definitely recommend

Faultless! Thoroughly enjoyed our anniversary meal this lunchtime - Thankyou 👍 Will definitely be back once again.

I knew of this restaurant but had never been. I went specifically to buy afternoon tea vouchers (you can’t buy online) and decided on a whim to stay for lunch. What a gorgeous gem of a place, five minutes walk from Southend high street but without the noise; you feel like you’ve been transported into another world. Overlooking a bowling green, the restaurant is adorably quaint. I had jacket potato with avocado, cheddar cheese and onion marmalade with a cheeky glass of house white on the side. Service was prompt and exceptionally friendly. Food and drink delicious. Smiles all round, be it customers or staff. It’s just idyllic and it definitely won’t be my last visit. Loved it. Thank you x

Went with friends for afternoon tea, the food was underwhelming, sandwiches very dry, just short of curling. The ingredients used were very poor. There was a plethora of halved supermarket type meat pies which were so salty nobody could eat them, and scotch eggs halved, and the latter very grainy. Some little cakes and scones with small pots of jam and cream which were OK. Tea included , no coffee which we had later and paid for separately. Afternoon tea for 6 plus about 4 beers and 2 soft drinks came to nearly £190. The company was fantastic, shame about the food. Would not recommend.

A lovely lunch, a wonderful welcome. Super main courses and it was a definite thumbs up from our sons for the Eton mess, chocolate brownies and milk shakes! We'll be back!

This was our first visit having heard good reports from friends. The restaurant has a nice outlook across the bowling green, service is excellent, staff were friendly and helpful and the food reasonably priced. We both had the traditional English breakfast which was huge, it was served quite quickly and was hot, but the quality wasn’t that great. I think it must all be cooked in advance and kept warm, bacon was over cooked and very dry, the mushrooms were also overcooked and chewy, the hash browns were the triangular frozen variety, sausages weren’t of the best quality.

First visit here (been meaning to go for a while). Food was delicious. Had two carnivores and two vegetarians in our group and the staff were great with removing meat from a dish and adding more veggies. Portions were really good and coffee was excellent. Location is lovely - decor was quirky and the setting on the bowling green delightful Can’t wait to go back.

Lovely little restaurant hidden away. Food is delicious and staff very friendly and helpful. Mdnu is not massive but enough choices.

What an amazing way to celebrate mum’s 90th birthday. A great location looking over the bowling lawn, wonderful service, beautiful food and nothing to was too much bother. Added bonus for me as a nut allergy sufferer - nine of the food contained nuts❤️. Thank you !!

Thank you to this beautiful, friendly restaurant. We both went on Saturday for lunch, it was very busy. Lots of people outside, plus more inside But the Staff were still smiling 😃. The afternoon tea looks so nice, next time.

Disappointed, i had a lovely coffee with non dairy and ordered veggie food and my salad came covered with coleslaw no tomato in my salad, just radish and bitter leaves. Didnt want to make a fuss as daughter pleased with her sandwich but got home and realised ive paid a gratuity so not happy with paying for left food :(

We came here as part of a charity fundraiser for afternoon tea. We had a 2 pm reservation and didn't get our table until 2.15, which sometimes can't be helped, however despite asking our drinks (tea) didn't arrive until 3pm with on of our party...

The confit de canard was not properly made and was more like over cooked roast duck ( it would have been correct to sous-vide the duck and heat it in the oven, then blow torch before serving - properly cooked and easy to prepare )....

Booked afternoon tea for an 80th birthday with family and friends. It was absolutely amazing. Staff were brilliant, they ensured the birthday girl had a very special time, and the welcome was just wonderful when we arrived. The sandwiches and cakes were delicious and bottomless...

Best Sunday roast I’ve had in a long time! Food piping hot, generous amount and lovely flavours. The mint aero cheesecake was absolutely delicious too!Staff all very welcoming and professional, nice to have some good service for a change. Beautiful place aswell, so much character...

A perfect spot behind the hustle and bustle of Southend pier. We spotted this quaint square with a bowls green. The tables outside all said reserved but don’t let that put you off. The staff are all extremely welcoming and friendly, the Sunday roast was...

Mixed views… Visited for first time on recommendation. Another person waiting to be seated also commented on the quality of the food. Venue very busy and the staff really positive. A quirky environment with a mishmash of decor. There is a need for a deep...

Excellent service, good food and great atmosphere. We loved our brunch at Petite Pétanque! It was great to find a warm place to eat. The staff were really helpful and couldn’t do enough to help us. We usually go here in the summer but wintertime...

A last minute decision to pop out for some breakfast. My husband suggested La Petite Petanque which sits in the heart of Southend's Conservation area. Been a few times but not for a while. There was only one small table left in the main restaurant,...

All good, nothing bad at this quirky and charming haunt. Surprisingly, quiet for a Boxing Day afternoon, especially as other resultants in the near vicinity, were closed. The service was friendly and welcoming, but the waitress did need reminders regarding a couple of requests from...

We had our wedding reception at LPP and it was great! From organisation through to execution we could not fault LPP whatsoever, they went above and beyond to make our day special. Food was really good and all diets were catered for (vegan + gluten-free)....

We popped in on the off chance and what a great find!!! We ordered bacon butties, full cooked breakfast, toast. Our butties had a generous amount of tasty bacon. The breakfast was huge and very tasty. Tea in a pot with cup & saucers. Coffee...

Myself and my family had such a lovely meal at La petite Petanque on sunday. Lovely staff, Roast dinner was yummy. Plus great music. We will be back. Thank you all.

We had lunch, staff lovely, food average, but resent being surrounded by badly behaved dogs barking incessantly. We had to leave when they came and sat at the next table. Won’t be back.

We were staying nearby and found La Petite petanque whilst out for a walk. We had a lovely lunch and took home a couple of generously sized slices of cake. What a gorgeous place it is - I loved the wrought Iron gates on the...

Great service and excellent food with views over the bowls green. Big improvement on previous visit. Food and service back to normal standards

Visited for a baby shower and afternoon tea,food was served before the tea…we then waited ages for tea, refills were slow coming round, all the cakes were the same, sponge with cream and a different fruit on top. We had a very late arrival and...

The restaurant has only recently started serving ‘tapas’ platters on Thursday through to Saturday evenings. My wife and I went with another couple and were the only people there. That was a shame - the word has clearly not got out. The restaurant is in...

We had our wedding reception here and it was entirely perfect. The staff are first class and made sure the whole event felt relaxed and fun. We had 30 guests and this is truly a perfect venue for smaller weddings or events (there was even...

My family visited this lovely restaurant today. You are welcome with a smile 🙂 which is a good start for me. We were taken to our table. Food is wonderful, and a good choice of wines. My family will be back soon. Thank you.

I wasn’t going to write a review but I feel it’s needed. I had my wedding reception here back in April. I paid up front for the food. I was told there’s usually so much food that afterwards we would be able to take it...

Was on one of our walks and thought we’d give it a try. Very nice space, greeted and service lovely. Menu looked good, we all had different, portion sizes were ok not very big. Food was nice big disappointed with the bubble as no flavour,...

The cakes were very disappointing four pieces of plain sponge with a dollop of cream on top and two carrot cake the scones were small and hard. Looked at pictures online later and they showed sausage rolls and chocolate brownies none of which we got....

We visited today having booked for lunch, We arrived on time and was told our table was in the conservatory and left to work out which one it was by ourselves. The menus where on the table so we quickly knew what we wanted, however...

Had to ask for cutlery after food was bought over. Pet hate of mine. Scones went rock hard very quick! Were not enough for 2 each - they were mini size. You Could no longer cut a scone with a knife after about 40 minutes...

We sat on one of the outdoor tables for lunch, gorgeous scenery. We both ordered the halloumi and aubergine burgers with fries which were absolutely delicious. Ordered some banana bread too however wasn’t too great. But overall very friendly staff, lovely food and venue, will...

We both took a burger meal for lunch plus bread and olives to start. The bread with the olives was disappointing - just white square sandwich bread due to ‘order difficulties’. We both ordered the burger which came with fries and coleslaw and it was...

My daughter and I travelled to Southend on sea for one night to see a show at the Cliffs Pavilion. It was a bit of a last-minute booking, we stayed over one night. It was Mothering Sunday, my daughter had tried to book a Mother’s...

Best Sunday lunch we've had in a long while. Beef and lamb cooked to perfection, fresh beautifully cooked vegetables and proper roasties. Nice touch to have freshly chopped mint with the lamb. Attentive service and nice atmosphere. Loved it and will be back again.

Booked a table for breakfast treat, food was lovely, would have like jugs of table water as It was much needed. My only complaint is that 10% service charge was added to our bill & I like to tip by choice not compulsory. I would...

Had a fabulous ladies that lunch just before Christmas. Due to the COVID situation the restaurant was extremely quiet but every health protocol was clearly met. Excellent choice of both snacks, set menu or patisserie. Bottle of Prosecco very reasonably priced and we loved the...

My husband and were coming into Southend unexpectedly, so looked for a place to have lunch as it was our anniversary. La Petite Petanque had good reviews. We booked and were not disappointed. The interior is unusual in many ways and has a uniqueness about...

Made a trip to Southend, found the restaurant on Trip Advisor. What an amazing lunch we had. The service was top notch and the food was presented beautifully and tasted as good as it looks. Made for a very memorable trip.

A perfect place to enjoy good food on a cold,damp winter’s morning. We had three perfectly cooked breakfasts, along with a warm welcome and attentive staff. Quirky cafe with lots of charm.

The food was excellent but I was upset to be charged £1.50 for extra gravy I have been coming to this restaurant since it opened and missed being serve by Lynn today she always looked after me and my family and my family from America...

I visited for lunch and we chose an autumn salad main course and vegetable jacket. It quite a long time to arrive so expected freshly prepared and cooked food. The salad was the smallest portion possible not even equal to a side salad. The baked...

I had a group booking for afternoon tea which was for my baby shower. The staff was very friendly and really welcoming, they was also very accommodating to everyone’s needs i.e having options for vegetarians and allowing us to choose the fillings within the sandwiches...

We tried the restaurant today for the first time and ordered a takeaway roast. Earlier in the day we phoned the order through and collected it in the afternoon. Past experiences of getting a roast to takeaway have been pretty bad from other local restaurants...

I came here with my family for lunch for my birthday. We all chose roast dinners but I plan to return to experience the breakfast and afternoon tea as the menus look lovely. Great atmosphere, Very friendly and the service was excellent. The food was...

5 Stars ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Wow what can I say about today’s amazing experience. We were a large party celebrating a 70th birthday party & we had left everything to the last minute to arrange. The staff at La Petite pétanque were so accommodating and nothing...

We really enjoyed our breakfasts here and would recommend to anyone as everything was delicious. Well worth going out of your way and a fantastic start to our day off. We will be back for the afternoon tea at some point soon and look forward...

Decided to go and have breakfast at this lovely restaurant on a whim. Have gone there many many times over the years. Breakfast was good and well cooked but not a patch on years gone by. They have changed plate sizes and have changed the...

We came here for the afternoon tea, I phoned and asked if we could have it at 1 even though they start it at 2 as my nan had a hospital appointment and they were more than happy to do that for us. Waitresses were...

We visited for Sunday lunch on 5.9.21. The restaurant was busy but did not feel crowded and the staff were very attentive to us throughout our visit. There is a wide choice of starters, mains, desserts and drinks. The portions were great, the food beautifully...

Petite Petanque hosted our drinks reception the day after our wedding in August. Calin and Clare were so helpful and flexible throughout the whole planning process - we had a number of date changes due to covid but they were always accommodating. On the day...

Lovely setting but disappointed with food. My prawn sandwich was pitiful-distinct lack of prawns ,lack of butter and the side salad was limp.We have lovely tea rooms etc in this borough and I have come to expect more on a plate for the price.There were...

We visited for lunch on Sunday. No problem with the service, other than we were not asked if we would like mint sauce etc. BUT, one of us had the roast and it was served warm, rather than hot. And, the boiled eggs served with...

We bought friends here, who were up for the weekend from Kent. We wanted to show them the conservation area and a nice spot for lunch. We were not disappointed, having ordered the fish finger sandwiches and prawn sandwiches for lunch, followed by cake. The...

Took my family for Sunday lunch. The service was slow and we had to keep asking for things. The food was cold and when my wife asked for extra gravy to try and heat up the dry food they charged £1.50. This used to be...

We visited here today for Sunday lunch with my sister. The food was excellent, well presented and with good sized portions. The staff of several young ladies were very professional and attentive without being overpowering. Highly recommended for good food and service.

Visited this restaurant and ordered the roast dinner, what a disappointment. Frozen potatoes deep fried, veg that was nearly raw and frozen Yorkshire pudding. Expensive mistake as at these prices I expected a lot better. Really going downhill at an alarming rate.

Visited here with 5 friends for lunch. Drinks took about 40 minutes to arrive. Food took even longer and then they didn’t bring accompanying side orders. Eventually got the side orders when we finished our main dish. Chips had obviously been sitting waiting to be...

Visitied many a time prior to the pandemic and always had a pleasant experience. Decided to visit today as a first time after shielding, thinking this would be a place we could trust. Not to be, shockingly not one menber of staff wore a mask,...

Came here a couple of times in April (when we were only allowed takeaway) when the weather was nice and it was soooo lovely. There are benches around the bowling green so they come and serve you there (well bring your food over - this...

One of the best English breakfasts I’ve had. Everything perfect. Beautiful setting and friendly staff. The food is generally very good value.

We had the afternoon tea. The staff were fantastic but the afternoon tea was, at best, OK. We used to come here a lot for breakfasts and Sunday lunches and have never had a bad word to say about the place. I thought the owner...

Played a game of bowls stopped for lunch and a glass of wine. Really tasty, had the fish finger sandwich fabulous. Such a lovely place to eat, would highly recommend.

Came here for brunch on Bank Holiday Monday with friends. It was a lovely warm day and we sat on well spaced out tables on the grass around the bowling green. This provided the perfect backdrop for our full English breakfasts (and a jug of...

Popped in for breakfast. Was sat on a tiny little table that was much too low for the chairs we had. The table was in the gangway between the main building and the outside. A lady with parasols kept pushing past making us lean over...

Went there for the first time on my birthday, Monday 17th May and I thought it was a beautiful place . Great food , didn't have to wait long for it. Staff were so lovely too. Special mention to staff member Kerry who was so...

We were regular (almost weekly) visitors here pre Covid and when it was up for sale a couple of years back, seriously considered buying it. However the change of ownership has seen the place change its rustic feel to one of trying to contend with...

Having made a reservation and several phone calls about taking our own cake the day was completely ruined after waiting 1 hour for 4 of our party of 8 to get their starters and asking numerous times where tbe others would be coming out which...

We have just enjoyed a delicious Sunday roast dinner from LPP's take away service. It was such a treat. The staff were friendly and helpful, the food was plentiful, delicious and ready on time. All very COVID safe, outside pick-up and plenty of sanitizer available....

In these times off lock down and wet cold winter days. We can only be thankful the La Petite Pétanque is still providing excellent food and service with there take out service. In normal times we never miss our visit to this most delightful restaurant...

We met for lunch with friends who we hadn't seen for some time. A thoroughly good time was had by all. The food was excellent as was the service, The restaurant was Covid safe , We enjoyed it so much that we returned two weeks...

BEST RESTAURANT IN ESSEX .... we love it here , so friendly with impeccable service and food is lovely. Don’t miss out on the experience , great setting too .

Just returned from a fabulous evening at Petit Pétanque. This is our third visit for their special Friday night supper evenings and each time we’ve loved it. Kerry, our waitress, was charming and couldn’t have been more helpful. The food was delicious and we loved...

I’ve got to say the best roast I’ve had , loved it so much have been there 3 sundays in a row Always a table if 6 recommending and bring friends and family the 1 st two had live music and that’s what brought us...

Booked in for Afternoon tea this afternoon, NEVER AGAIN! Be warned, DO NOT BOOK THIS PLACE!!!!! Booked for 5 people and paid a deposit of £10 each. The deposit was non refundable which I accepted when I booked. Only 3 people could make it which...

Had lunch here yesterday, it was all just lovely. The food was excellent, all five of us enjoyed our meals. You are made to feel so welcome, it can’t be faulted.

First time back since all the new Covid restrictions and was pleasantly surprised how little impact they had on the enjoyment of the meal. It’s the first Restuarant I’ve been to where felt Covid guidelines properly followed , track and trace, space between tables ,...

I bought my wife a voucher for Afternoon Tea which we recently used, from start to finish we had brilliant service, wonderful food and all set in the most lovliest of surroundings. A real gem off the beaten track and one which should be sought...

Rang up and was told inside is booked but outside available. Drove 20 miles to get here . Girl then told us we can’t have a table as they are short staffed . She then run after us to say be could wait but it...

Having been recommended by a friend and only a 25 minute walk from my partners house we decided to give it a try on Sunday for breakfast. Set in a beautiful (yes really) part of Southend, surrounded by Georgian houses and tree lined streets it’s...

Visited yesterday for brunch. Four of us had the full English and it was very good. We were celebrating two birthdays and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Have been many times before but because of covid it was a little different with the staff wearing masks...

Having not visited La Petite Petanque for a few years, I went for lunch with a friend. We both chose the fish and chips, then tart of the day, from the Eay out to Help Menu. It was all perfectly cooked and presented, and was...

My husband and I booked this lovely venue for our wedding lunch and we definitely made the right choice! When planning our lunch, Amber and Clare stayed in contact and were always available to speak about the details of our visit. They went out of their way to make it as straightforward and easy as possible. On the actual day, Amber was also absolutely fantastic. Nothing was too much trouble, the service was impeccable and the atmosphere relaxing and homely. We were so well looked after and all our guests commented on what an excellent choice we had made! The food was gorgeous and we loved the special little touches- our theme was vintage and Clare had ordered little bunches of wildflowers that matched my bouquet for us and the puddings were served in little vintage teacups. So a massive thank you for making our day so special. Aside from the gorgeous meal and beautiful setting, the team were so friendly and helpful and all seemed like genuinely nice people. Can’t wait to go back!

We were lucky to get a table as a family had booked and not turned up. It was a really lovely breakfast. Good quality food and service. Lovely atmosphere in this unique building and well worth a visit.

It's a couple of years since we last visited this restaurant & sorry to say the standard has dropped at the same time as the prices have soared. The service was good & the food fair enough but choice very limited & Gluten Free option poor. Disappointing birthday treat - won't be hurrying back

I was told about this bistro by a friend and had not managed to visit until today. It is a quirky and charming venue in a pavilion type building next to a bowling green with a little outside terrace. Since this visit was post Covid lockdown I was happy to find that appropriate precautions were being observed including hand sanitizer on every table, contact detail forms to complete and well spaced tables. There was a limited choice on the set menu but the food we had was very tasty and good value. Our waitress was friendly and efficient. We both had fish cakes to start which were freshly prepared and extremely tasty. Our main course choice was fish and chips which was in a crispy batter and the fish was delicious. The accompanying chips were nicely fried and the amount was just right so that they didn't overpower the plate. The soft drinks were included in the menu price which made the cost very reasonable. If you want a place to eat away from the seafront but in a beautiful setting I am happy to recommend La Petite Petanque.

Had a huge full English in a lovely setting. Friendly, patient service, despite a grumpy customer who was unnecessarily rude on arrival.