Pig and Whistle in Chelmsford

Highly recommended great food and service

Nice romantic little pub in rural Essex. Fantastic food, fast and friendly service.

The pork belly dish was unappealing—plated poorly and looked like it had just been slumped onto the plate. The menu was limited, with few appealing options. Service started off well at arrival, but noticeably declined once the front-of-house / managers disappeared. From there, it was slow, disorganised & poor. The food took ages to arrive, and when it finally did, it was lukewarm and mediocre at best. For a place that tries to showcase high-end dining, the food did not justify the cost. I wouldn’t recommend it, and I definitely won’t be returning.

Went for Sunday lunch for a change as normally go during the week.we had a lovely lunch asparagus with poached egg to start. Beef for me pork belly for him with all the trimmings. Followed by cheese and biscuits. Young staff were very "on the ball"with excellent service. Back again soon .

The place looks really cool and the vibes are great. However, the food and service do not reflect our expectations, nor the environment. Poor food options for vegetarian, vegans and omnivorous people. The food was very average, considering the price. Asked to tweak a couple dishes, which were noted, but not communicated in kitchen resulting to unexpected disappointment. Very slow service and unapologetic. Manager was not in sight to raise concerns. At this price point, I expect better service. As far as I’m aware, staff appeared oblivious to the fact that food was taking so long. Unfortunately, I can’t recommend. Maybe we just caught you guys on a bad day? - however, this was our experience.

So so good. From the owners, the staff, to the chef. Outstanding. You will not be disappointed. A pleasure every time. The food is superb. The atmosphere second to none.

Amazing place with so much cozy and romantic ambiance, a must visit. Brilliant service and amazing food ❤️

We had the most wonderful relaxing evening on Saturday with friends celebrating a very special birthday. The ambience in the restaurant was really good with softly playing background music and the flickering of candles galore. The food was particularly good and we all selected four courses from the A la carte menu. Starters consisted of scallops for three of us and halloumi and courgette cakes for the other one. The scallops were sweet, succulent and beautifully presented. I asked if I could change the accompaniments and this was replied with of course and suitable suggestions made. The main courses saw a selection from the menu with two of us enjoying the most delicious rare breed pork chop, with both of us agreeing that the flavour was superb. One diner had the carbonara risotto and the other having the turbot. We added additional side orders of tempura courgettes with balsamic glaze and charred baby leeks with anchovy mayonnaise. We always have the courgettes when we go as they are the lightest and most delicious flavours in a courgette dish we have ever tasted. We then were very tempted and couldn’t resist the delicious offerings on the dessert menu. Two had the chocolate creameux with honeycomb and coffee. We all had to taste it as it was so good. The other two desserts consisted of warm mini doughnuts and the banana bavoris. To end the evening we had cheeseboards and coffee. The food and service were first class with the perfect balance of attentiveness from the staff without them being overpowering or constantly fussing around the table. This made the evening more enjoyable and relaxed and was a great experience for all. Nothing was too much trouble and there were plenty of staff available if we needed anything throughout our stay.

Delicious lunch with my parents. Great menu and excellent service. I had the scallops, pork chop and donuts! The location is stunning and so is the overall experience.

Went for Mother’s Day lunch is was busy but absolutely no problem with service or food quality, been a few times now and not been disappointed, booking again for a lunch, not cheap but you get what you pay for, definitely recommend.

We took my Dad to this lovely restaurant for his 85th birthday celebration. The decor is beautiful, service outstanding and food delicious. We’ll definitely be returning!

Quaint little restaurant in the countryside with an amazing fixed price lunch special on Saturdays. The shepards pie was the best I've experienced and the knickknacks are adorable.

Food absolutely amazing. Lovely ambience in intimate small restaurant. As a coeliac I was very well looked after. Seperate allergens menu and happy to adapt anything for me. Amazing Goats cheese mousse with beetroot followed by hake and triple cooked chips with Parmesan and truffle - cooked seperately. Dessert adapted for me of peanut butter icecream which was incredible with chocolate cremo and honeycomb. Amazing waiter who was so attentive. A lovely evening Thankyou.

Can not fault. Food beautiful Service impeccable Ambience & decor 10 10 10 Absolutely wonderful

Food was below par. For mains. And over an hour wait between starter and main!!

Front of house customer service extremely rude

Tried to book a table through their booking system online. Unfortunately, the booking system had an error so I was unable to book from multiple devices/times etc. I called the restaurant to make them aware of the issue and see if they would be able to assist me. But unfortunately, I was greeted with a very unhelpful and rude staff member who dismissed the fact I said their system wasn’t working and said I ask someone else to book for me despite me already stating I had tried this. He then proceeded to say ok, thank you and put the phone down. Pretty disappointing service when just trying to book a table.

A very pleasant first visit to this unique and quirky restaurant for my birthday. We will definitely be back! Wonderful experience.

A very pleasant first visit to this unique and quirky restaurant for my birthday. We will definitely be back! Wonderful experience.

First time and absolutely loved it. Good choice of menu. Fantastic prices. Lovely selection of drinks/cocktails/gins. Very nice atmosphere and staff were friendly and attentive. Would book again without hesitation.

What a treat! Went on a Sunday for late lunch and it didn't disappoint! The food was excellent and I have to say the sticky toffee pudding was the best I have ever tasted. The service was really spot on. Made you feel very welcome as soon as we walked in. Nothing was too much trouble. The ambience was calm and relaxing. White table clothes which is always a plus and real candles in candelabras. Highly recommended. It's now top of my list and will be back!

Took my nan and grandad for a meal yesterday 16/02/2025 they don't like to make a scene as old school so I didn't. But the roast came out cold and the veg was hard really didn't rate the food at all. The atmosphere is nice and a nice restaurant to look at but that's about it.

Could have been a perfect score! Really nice Sunday roast with good quality ingredients - a step above most places in the area. But misses out on the extra star as it’s a shame that some of our roast dinners were not particularly well portioned with gravy, and when we asked for more, we were charged £3 for half a small pot more (125ml supposedly). Tiny portions of cauliflower cheese for £6 (three pieces of cauliflower in a ramekin, albeit with delicious cheese sauce). I felt as if they should just charge a little more for the meals rather than try to nickel and dime for sides and sauces. Really feels mean/stingy. Otherwise no complaints: Excellent service from the staff, good wine list, and quite a nice ambiance.

Great value Sunday Lunch. Looking forward to going back another time. Pity that no vegetarian option when they do a Tasting Menu

My partner and I had a wonderful experience after booking the valentines taster on the 13th Feb. The meal was 7 courses which were all a surprise. On the night we arrived to find a clue to each course which was a good talking point and we got chatting to other couples about it. We were quickly asked if we would like drinks which arrived promptly. This was our second visit here and we really rate the service. The whole experience was lovely and lasted 3 hours. The dishes included beef carpaccio, tuna tartare, wild boar and pannacotta. Highly recommend a visit here. We will be back - probably to try the roast next time!

A wonderful special evening. A 7 course taster menu. The welcome. The seating. The pre drinks service. Main service Introduction and presentation of the dishes was done with pride, knowledge and professionalism. Not sure where is better in the whole area than here Well deserved for their success, recognition and awards. Well done boys. Great business You should be very proud.

Well what can I say about this fabulous award winning restaurant that hasn't already been written about before. Two things! I had the turkey and I asked Angela (a lovely bubbly ever so helpful server) if part of the seasonal veg included Brussels as they are my favorite veg. She replied no as they didn't have any. She checked with the kitchen and said she had sourced a couple and that they were mine. The meal was tasty and delicious. For dessert my husband had the eggnogg cheesecake and because I didn't fancy anything heavy I asked if I could have a serving of the mince lie ice cream which accompanied another dessert. Just my luck they had run out by Justin found some. Cinnamon ice cream which was OMG. The staff go above and beyond for you which is so lovely and that's why we keep going back. Another triumph for all the team.

We arrived 15 minutes early and thought it would not be a problem as we would have a drink at the bar. But the problem is the restaurant has no bar, and we had to wait outside in the small car park. I am glad we arrived by car as we went and sat in the car. had we arrived by Taxi we would have been standing in the car park with no wear to shelter. The the Pig and Whistle is a countryside restaurant and is well of the beaten track. the only way to get there is by car or taxi. it has limited parking we had to wait for a space. some people had to park on the road. When we did get in at the time we booked we still had to wait for our table. The Pig & Whistle Restaurant is in a 16th century building a former public house and has low doorways and steps that are not very visible. so maybe add a rug on the lower level to step down upon. the eye will note the difference in surface and people will consciously acknowledge the step. About the low doorway a brass plate with mind your head does not catch the eye as the restaurant walls are covered in bric-a-brac, maybe you do not want to compromise the aesthetics, but you do have a duty of care. The Food I had the Salt & pepper calamari with Seaweed mayonnaise which was tasteless. We had Beef sirloin roast Roast potatoes, seasonal vegetables, gravy & Yorkshire pudding And Great Garnett’s crispy pork loin roast Roast potatoes, sausage & onion stuffing, vegetables, gravy & Yorkshire but without the sausage & onion stuffing the chef forgot to put it on. so, the cost of the Cauliflower cheese at £5.00 was deducted from the bill by way of an apology. Both roast dinners were enjoyable. I had Sticky toffee pudding with crème anglaise. Nice but the only thing that I did not like was the little jug of crème anglaise was sitting in the toffee sauce. I am never sure what I should do with the empty jug? I did not want to put it on the tablecloth. I am interested to know what you think. Service was average.

Superb restaurant… I shudder to recommend as I don’t want to wait months for a table! Brendan and the front of house are fab and provide a fine dining experience that is also very relaxed. The drinks are amazing, especially Justin’s signature Toffee Apple cocktail - superbly sweet and get you nice & cozy from the feet up. As for the food from John and the team, it is delicious and occasionally surprising… we keep going back so we can try everything once or twice. Oh, and a special mention to the interior design and whoever decided that water should be served in a crystal decanter - love it! Keep it up!

Absolutely incredible meal from start to finish, service was amazing very attentive and very welcoming. The whole experience was 10/10!! Can't wait to come back with the family! Thankyou !

We had a brilliant Burns Night 7 course tasting menu here. The food was fantastic, the atmosphere was great and the service top notch. They had really thought of all the little touches that made it really special, it was such a treat of an evening. Can’t wait to come back!

Fantastic little restaurant with great food and very friendly and helpful staff! One of the nicest Sunday roasts I've had in a while, the meat was moist and tender, the roast potato's where cooked to perfection and so was the yourkshire pudding. The atmosphere is very relaxed and easy going.

A nice enough place but the food was mayo heavy (I think as everything has a mayo taste to it) and the prices are outrageous. I mean absolutely outrageous. I would value what I had at £50 not the well over £100 that it cost. Then they have the nerve to add a service charge knowing most people are too polite to remove it. The only positive is they don't allow children which is a refreshing change. Won't be back.

Service was ok the layout seemed quite strange although homely . I'll start with the food . Beetroot and goats cheese which was ok but found the dehidrated beetroot was a bit leathery and difficult to eat. The fish of the day was good and well cooked but the potatoes it was served on had a cold centre which means it was prepped before hand and possibly put in the combi oven or microwave and not checked. The desert was as advised by the waiter , I had the bread and butter pudding this came out well regretably the custard was runny and cold , although the jug it was served it was extremely hot. I found the layout quite strange as there was a segregating curtain, which obscured the waiting staff from observing dinners needs , if I was to drop a fork or needed attending this would make it quite difficult . Another peculiarity was the doorbell chime every time a customer was entering, which I also found a little strange somewhat like a convenience shops bell on a door .

Always lovely food and cosy atmosphere

What an amazing hidden gem of a restaurant this really is. Brendan was so friendly and made us feel welcome from the moment we arrived. The food delicious and the service all the way through you could not fault at all. All staff so friendly. Thank you for making my friend’s birthday so special.

A tale of mixed feelings but tasty food. I've been looking forward to trying Pig and Whistle as you can't currently visit there with kids. So on the rare instance my partner and I got an adult night only, our first choice was to attend P&W; we were actually celebrating our anniversary. Upon arrival we were greeted by the front door and checked in nicely. The restaurant is quaint and cosy, the tables are not too closely stacked together but close enough. Our two person table was on the small side and we found an unnecessary amount of clutter in the form of taxi numbers and promotion items. No one offered to take our coat, and we didn't realise until later in the evening that there is actually coat hooks for every table by the front desk but we were totally unaware. It would be nice to make patrons aware of this so they can hang their coat in what is a fairly tight restaurant. Service was swift in asking for drinks and we were given time to select from the menu. As it was our anniversary, I wanted to order a bottle of champagne and was slightly disappointed that they only offered house. Nevertheless, we picked a bottle of house champagne and waited for it to arrive. Usually when you order a bottle of champagne it would crop up in conversation if you were celebrating, we weren't asked. Not an issue. We weren't looking for anything, but unusual maybe. I found the menu a little perplexing. The starters seem to be more Asian with the mains more traditional, but that said, the tikka masala scallops I had were excellent and the sauce was divine. My partner had the bao buns, which I didn't mind, but I found the pork a little dry. Tasty also though. For the mains ordered a fillet steak medium rare, with my wife ordering the pork belly. I had specifically asked for my steak to be medium rare but a little disappointing it was very undercooked and the onion ring was soggy. Here's where I was a little bit disappointed with my night at the restaurant. I have never been to a restaurant where a waiter or waitress has not checked in once we started the main course. At no point was I ever approached to see if my meal was going fine, if they had I would have acknowledged that my steak was undercooked. I don't mind rare steak, and for a fillet it's not a bad way to cook it, in the middle it was near blue though, and I couldn't get anyone's attention. I did particularly eat my meal slowly in the hope that I would be approached but never was. So in the end, I just finished it. My wife's pork belly was excellent and tasted really good. For dessert, we both had apple tarte tattin which we both enjoyed. Again, it took a while for the service to be cleared, we had another drink or too and was left alone. I practically had to beg someone in order to give me my bill. No one attended us after the bill was given so we left cash and left. Barely seeing a soul of staff. Someone stuck their head out of door and just shouted good night as we were half way down the carpark. Overall, the experience was nice but disappointing at the same time. And aside from an undercooked steak, which I can forgive, the food was really tasty. But underwhelming from a service point of view, or there lack of it. However, for each member of staff that did visit us at our table, everyone did so with a smile and was pleasant. It was a busy Saturday evening, but I still can't believe that no one checked in to see how our meal was going at any point. We spent £236 on the evening including the champagne and service charge.

Beautiful food great staff and stunning rooms xx

We visited the restaurant to celebrate my daughter’s graduation. The evening was perfect. The food was delicious, including a vegetarian option. Staff were welcoming, friendly and attentive. The ambience was relaxing, with a hint of festivity! Thank you so much for the complimentary prosecco to help us celebrate and the plate (dessert) with congratulations on. Our daughter was thrilled. We would highly recommend the Pig & Whistle and look forward to returning.

I can’t rate this restaurant enough we went there for a French 7 course tasting menu evening and we were hooked. The front of house Brendon and Justin are amazing and made us feel special, the staff honestly can’t do enough for you. We have been 4 times now. The food is to die for. I love this restaurant. Keep up the good work guys. See you soon. X

Lovely place to visit. I had a perfectly cooked beef roast and my partner had the gnocchi. Both delicious. Lovely venue with great service too. We will be back!

I have visited here a few times and the food and service have been good but today the food was not up to standard: the starter was heavily peppered and the roast potatoes were either kept warm or reheated. I offered polite feedback about my starter this was met with an abrupt and stand offish response making me and others feel u comfortable: the food and full service charge was billed, despite the starter being left: I feel disappointed with the attitude of the owner

I arrived last week and have not eaten here since i moved back to the area. The gentlemen that run the place are still there and have done an exceptional job, absolutely fantastic, the staff were incredible and the dishes were beautiful. I would highly recommend this beautiful place

I would strongly urge anyone considering visiting here and spending your hard earned cash, to use the Trip Advisor filter and read the less favourable reviews over the last 12 mths or so, observe the blatantly obvious continuous issues and make your own mind up whether to risk it or not. Also note the repeatedly outrageous replies from the 2 owners. STAY AWAY or run the risk of wasting your money and coming away at best - disappointed, at worst - emotionally undone and hungry. Please note the reoccurring theme of the aggressive owners. When I have read extreme reviews in the past, I struggle with seeing it as having been that bad tbh - but in the case of this restaurant - it's absolutely true. Why the 2 male owners are in the service industry is utterly beyond me. The theme seems to be - It's alright while it's all hunky dorey, but goes rapidly down hill, at their hands, when it's not. Being asked to leave, being screamed at and aggressive behaviour is all too familiar to be ignored. Are all these customers wrong? I too was treated horrendously, suggested to we leave, made to feel physically intimidated, shouted at across the car park like others and pushed backwards out the door. As you walk in, the ambience and atmosphere is seductive and welcoming, but this is where the good stuff ends. We went from having a few minor errors in the service, to being invited to leave, very quickly. It was a bit of an unhinged reaction from the restaurant. I booked a table for 4, 2 mths ago, on the Friday before Christmas for my husbands birthday. We ordered 4 drinks incl 2 mocktails for 2 teenagers. I clarified with the server the last 2 were off the mocktail menu because he seemed very young, nervous and not really paying attention. Sure enough, they arrived and the mocktails contained alcohol. They had to be sent back. Then servers appeared and offered us plates of food that was not ours. Next, the lamp failed on our table. We alerted a member of staff who took it away but it was not replaced, leaving our corner of the room quite dull. We had to ask again for it to be replaced. We were ordering more drinks before our starters even arrived (they took a long time). When finally our order was taken - She took 3 drinks orders and walked away before I even had a chance to order mine. I thought it would appear obvious that a table of 4 with 4 empty glasses would want 4 drinks and I had not even been asked, but no. I then managed to get the attention of one of the 2 male owners as he was walking past. I tried my best to try and explain but he said quite oddly 'I can't talk to you'. I didn't know why (like he was in the middle of something or busy) but then the other male owner arrived. I again tried my best to explain very nicely and politely about the drinks and also just confirm that there were 2 mocktails on our order, mainly because of the pure waste of the last 2 but this is where it went down hill so fast, I simply couldn't understand. Basically, we were blamed for not being clear, for then complaining, then being aggressive - which we had done none of. Like a threat, he invited us to leave he we weren't happy with it (like so many other reviews). And it was said in such a way, with a look up and down, as if to say 'yeah - like you're gonna leave on the Friday before Christmas, when you've booked a birthday meal??!' So my husband saw the way I was being spoken to and decided that was it. We voted with our feet and called his bluff with the threat of leaving, and went. The same male owner, was then physically oppressive and intimidating, stepping up close and accusing us of being aggressive - shouting across the car park as we left. My teenagers were left really shaken up. I know two people who worked there and would never go back because of these owners. If they act like this in front of customers, I hate to think what goes on behind closed doors. I fully expect the same response from the P&W as others have had on this forum who have had the same experience - empty accusations, defensive talk, all the customers fault etc.

A gem! Justin and Brendan have raised this restaurant to a consistently high standard of food, service and ambiance. It does not disappoint in any respect

A gem! Justin and Brendan have raised this restaurant to a consistently high standard of food, service and ambiance. It does not disappoint in any respect

This was the most charming restaurant I've ever been to! The decor, the candles, the white table cloths... everything was absolutely beautiful. The service was excellent... friendly, attentive waiters, so accommodating without being intrusive. All of that, along with the delicious food, made this a very special event for us. Have already recommended it to friends.

This has become our go to restaurant for delicious food and amazing cocktails. Service is attentive, friendly and professional. Our only problem is that we probably eat too quickly because it’s all so scrumptious 😋

We had a wonderful birthday celebration with special friends. The food was amazing, the service was perfect, attentive, but not too much. Will definitely visit again

Great restaurant, I had the Xmas lunch menu, it was an excellent well thought out and constructed meal, well presented and served by super staff. I will visit again.

Lovely lunch.The restaurant was tastefully decorated for Christmas.Hope to return for evening meal.

The service is brilliant, they make you feel so welcome and are very attentive. The atmosphere is lovely, very comfortable and mellow. The food was delicious with great sized portions for a very reasonable price.

Absolutely perfect for proper couple dining. I expected to pay a lot, but oh my days was it worth it. Incredible food that was prepared and cooked perfectly. A level of service to be envied by even the best famous restaurants. Unassuming low key piano music in the background. An absolute gem of a fine dining restaurant.

Could not fault this lovely restaurant. We were a party of 6 and all agreed the food and service was amazing. The decor was great and ready for the festive season, which gave a cosy and welcoming atmosphere We will look forward to visiting again. Thanks,

Fabulous restaurant, the best roast beef I’ve eaten. Gorgeous decor, fantastic service, absolutely faultless. Can highly recommend

Our daughter enjoyed her wedding at the Pig and Whistle last Saturday. While I tend not to write reviews, I am moved to do so on this occasion, because I believe excellence should be celebrated. And that was the experience of everyone at the wedding, it was truly excellent. Justin and his team were superb, the calm way he managed everything was such a comfort. The food was amazing, the atmosphere warm and intimate, and the service brilliant! Thank you for making our daughter’s wedding such a wonderful day.

I have to say what a great place staff are fantastic and food was outstanding lovely atmosphere definitely recommend 👌

A lovely pub for Sunday lunch. Good friendly service and reasonably priced.

Sunday afternoon at the fabulous Pig & Whistle Restaurant. The wind was howling outside but inside the beautifully decorated restaurant we thoroughly enjoyed our champagne and three course lunch. We started with the best prawn, crayfish and smoked salmon starter we had ever had, delicious flavours and so many prawns. Main courses were roast beef and Gt Garnet’s roast pork. These both came with all the trimmings and the roast potatoes were deliciously crispy on the outside and fluffy inside. We both decided to have the Christmas sundae for dessert and this was a luxurious treat of all things festive. A wonderful way to spend a Sunday afternoon, first class food and service with beautiful festive decor and candles galore. Truly magical, thank you Pig & Whistle Restaurant.

Would have loved a draught ale.

A unique restaurant! Absolutely worth visiting to celebrate a special occasion, although reasonable value can be had if ordering from their set menu. Waiters were extremely polite and courteous. Food was top notch. A true 5 star experience. I'm literally trying to find anything as constructive criticism and it's basically impossible. Really well done and anybody visiting will have a lovely time.

We have eaten at the pig & whistle some years ago and the service with a smile and food was amazing but not this time. No smiles, I had scallops for starters, really bad 3 tiny over cooked for £15. I have had scallops many times and these were the worst. Main course, I chose the lamb, again stingy portion which consisted of mainly fat. I complained, the straight faced waiter removed £28 from the bill. We were a party of six and we were all disappointed. Standards have certainly gone down. Would never eat there again or recommend. Anyone who enjoys eating at the pig and whistle and loves the food, it does makes me wonder what sort of rubbish they normally eat.

Very nice ambiance about the place my meal was fine but my girlfriends meal wasent hot and only tried 10per cent and went to complain to waiter whose response was should have said something before starting it very rude and unprofessional shame because apart from that was fine

Amazing staff VERY attentive. Beautiful surroundings, great flavours and amazing new dishes 5 stars all round. We cannot wait to come again!!

First time visiting Pig & Whistle Restaurant and it definitely won’t be the last. As a party of six we had an amazing Sunday lunch. The hosts were charming and the service was impeccable. We all had two courses and then a couple of us shared desserts as we couldn’t resist even though we were totally full. We will definitely be returning to this charming eatery!

Apart from the delicious food, the ambience is very special. It is calm and intimate with an eclectic collection of objects around the room. The set menu options are very affordable and the the wine list reasonably priced with a superb house champagne and local wine. 10/10

We visited for Sunday Lunch and can honestly say it was the best Sunday lunch we’ve ever had out. The food was superb but even more so was the service, everyone was so friendly and nothing was too much. We will most definitely be returning again. Thank you for making it such a lovely experience

The perfect venue / restaurant for an intimate wedding. This venue made it possible for my dad who has since passed experience and witness our family and my husband's, officially unite. From initial contact owners - Justin, Brendan and their team were very personable, welcoming and professional. It was honestly one of the best days and felt magic from start to finish. We felt very comfortable and relaxed. The decor makes it feel very intimate and cosy and tied in perfectly with our colour scheme. The food was so delicious, the service was so attentive and supportive. All the guests commented on how lovely the venue was, the wedding breakfast food, canapes and the atmosphere of the day. The weather was unbelievable and the outside courtyard / garden, provided a lovely backdrop for photos - especially golden hour we hope you are prepared for a wave of new regular customers! 🙂 and it's great to know we have somewhere special to return to on anniversaries. Thank you so much x

Came here for a family meal for 6, make sure you book a table in advance. Really lovely atmosphere, great food, fantastic service with friendly staff. Can’t wait to come back again!

Excellent .... very friendly and welcoming, food was awesome, Caramelised Onion & Goats cheese tart is probably the best I have tasted. Will be back

What a great experience. From start to finish we really felt looked after. Food was high quality and plentiful. Such a great feeling about the place. Such a rarity to find places like this. Keep it up! We’ll be back.

Roast is good but let down because only got 2 very small roast potatoes that were possibly reheated a few times, also very disappointed with the starters, mushroom starter was nice but only got 2 mushrooms cut in half, yes that’s right 2 mushrooms, ham hock and chicken terrine slice was about half a centimetre thick, felt like they had run out of food.

The other reviews support everything we found when we visited. Good food, nice atmosphere, lovely staff. So what makes the difference to similar venues. 1) Not short staffed, 2) Staff and Managers dressed smartly, and were polite. 3) Selected menu, means that each dish is nicely presented, cooked well with good ingredients. We will be back.

Went last week for lunch , the food was very good and the service was friendly and efficient . We have been a number of times in the past, and although we will return ,for some strange reason the toilets have now been changed to unisex , which both my partner and I are uncomfortable with .

This place is probably the best independent restaurant I have ever been in the UK! I cannot explain in words how good this food was. Recommend all day, every day. Both me and my girlfriend were so impressed. This was our 2 year anniversary dinner date and couldn’t have picked a better place! Will come back ASAP!

We absolutely adore this restaurant. The cosy decadence (white tablecloths and table lamps!), exquisite food, slick staff, moreish wine, countryside views… I could rant about this place for a long while! Our favourite place to eat hands down, we find any excuse to go there… roll on Christmas!

Brendan, Justin and the whole team go that extra mile to make each and every customer feel at home and comfortable. Taking to Justin in regards to his styling of the interior reflects their personality and makes the experience so enjoyable. All this is before you even start to enjoy the wonderful food and quality wines on offer combined with excellent levels of service by a young but well trained staff and a exceptional Chef and kitchen team. This restaurant is a great example on how people who are passionate and care about their customers work so hard, thank you.

First time at the Pig and Whistle. Went for lunch. Atmosphere is lovely, very intimate and warm. Service was excellent. Food was delicious. I look forward to another visit.

Could not fault this place. Food was excellent, atmosphere was very cosy, a real old English pub turned restaurant. Reasonable prices, staff were excellent.

Not quite sure how to describe the decor but it is definitely not the run of the mill, nice to see table clothes. Great set menu at a reasonable price. Service and cooking both excellent well worth a visit. The pub is set in a very rural location making this a very pleasant venue.

Absolutely love this wonderful restaurant. Beef wellington and sole were stunning . Staff are very friendly . I can see why , the owners watch them with a clear eye . One of the owners is ex first class crew from a high end airline . Love that the toilets are unisex . A lovely modern sigh of the times . Booked in for Christmas . Two rosette . Well done .

Maybe the restaurant could be called "The Middle & Upper Class Restaurant." Considering the sum we paid, the food was of extremely poor quality. I wouldn't have mind if there had been excellent food served. You expect the cuisine at restaurants like this to be very good for the prices they are demanding, especially in light of the current crisis in the cost of living. For three people, we paid £250 for three courses and three rounds of drinks.  Regarding the cost of living crisis, I'm positive the owners are either ignorant of it or not aware of it. I'm pretty sure that the middle and upper classes are the target market for their rates, even with their outstanding service; they would be willing to pay these kind of prices for mediocre or average meals. Restaurants like these must be more inclusive.

We went for Sunday lunch and in general the food was very good. My 20 year old son joked while looking at the menu about the minute steak whether it was actually “minute” as in small , we said no it was just the type of streak it was . It was in fact the smallest adult meal I’ve ever seen served in any restaurant. The plate was no bigger than 6 or 7 inches in diameter, and it was literally steak and chips, no salad or any other vegetables . My mother also had the steak so we were left feeling a bit short changed when the bill came up at 230 for 4. Oh well you live and learn, if you visit and you’re hungry try one of the roasts !!!

Delicious food and lovely ambience

We were gifted a voucher for this restaurant by our daughter. I’m so glad that she did this. The Pig & Whistle is a hidden gem just outside of Chelmsford. My husband chose off the Al La Carte and I the Fixed Price Menu. We both thoroughly enjoyed our starters, mine monkfish cheeks, his Salt & Pink Pepper Prawns. Mains, a rib-eye steak for him. Minute steak with a delicious peppercorn sauce for me. Desert of pineapple with banana & passionfruit sorbet ( he didn’t want desert but got a spoon when he saw mine) was delicious. Service is very professional and unhurried. We’ll be back

We were greeted by a lovely gentleman with a friendly manner.Once we were seated he left us to look at the menu we didn’t feel rushed and was very relaxed. We ordered the Lemon Sole which was beautifully cooked my husband said it was the nicest fish he has had in a very long time. We will definitely be back again.

Went here for lunch with friends. Had the set lunch deal. Excellent value and food was perfect. Lovely surroundings with great service to match.

First time ever for us in this local pub and where do we start the place was full of people enjoying the ambiance the food was fantastic the staff were brilliant . We will re book

Lovely restaurant in the heart of the Essex countryside. Charming location and atmosphere and very welcoming owners and staff. Service was great and the food amazing. I would definitely recommend and will be back soon. 💜

Found a hair in my food and the staff were not very apologetic and rude and quite racist towards me. Made me cry the way they spoke to me never again would I go there again the way they treated me

A lovely quaint country restaurant with relaxed vibes, brilliant service and excellent food. Would highly recommend.

This place is amazing, food is delicious and freshly cooked, atmosphere & views are excellent. 10/10 for the staff and there hard work. A hidden gem in the countryside. You need to try.

Beautiful place and lovely food. Friendly and efficient service. Certainly recommend it!

Adult only restaurant, for discerning diners with a penchant for top quality beautifully presented great food and service. We will be making regular visits to this establishment. Best you book well in advance!

Advertised and priced as fine dinning, sorry but the chips served in a bucket and not cooked properly was not fine dinning, my skate wing had no flavour same as my prawn starter, my partner had scallops wrapped in bacon, well bacon rind that was so chewy and didn’t look cooked properly it was inedible, he had the tandoori halibut on top of some potatoes it was dry needed a sauce to go with it really also black patches in potatoes, he then ordered a tiramisu cheese cake which tasted like a plain cheese cake with choc sprinkles on again tasteless, it’s a shame as the pub was cozy staff was lovely we topped up our own wine so I feel they need to up there game to match the lovely website and as Google describes fine dining £180 for 2 people, I would of expected better tbh

Wow, what wonderful intimate restaurant, stumbled apon when looking for a place to celebrate our anniversary, superb food, fantastic service, staff are wonderful, chef does amazing food. Perfect for a romantic meal out. Will definitely recommend.

Enjoyed a Sunday Lunch here today with my dad and stepmum for Father’s Day - it is one of our local favourites. Cosy atmosphere, fantastic service, and lovely food. I had the scallops starter followed by the skate wing for my main. Both delicious but I was unable to finish the fish as the portion sizes were very generous! I was then torn between two desserts and asked the server to help me choose between two - I ended up with the tiramisu cheesecake served with espresso ice cream and it was one of the best desserts I’ve ever had. Fellow guests also very happy with their meals. The owners are wonderful and make sure to check in on every table when they are around (which is frequently!). It’s unusual for restaurant owners to be so involved in their business so absolutely love that about them. They have parking available, unisex toilets, and no kids under 10 are allowed.

Absolutely fantastic restaurant - amazing service and even better food. Not too terribly expensive. The owners of the restaurant even stopped by to say hello and make sure we were content. The absolute best place to eat in Essex.

We celebrated our wedding at this wonderful venue last week. Everything went beautifully, the atmosphere was brilliant,as was the food. All our guests enjoyed themselves, and said they would be back again. What's not to love about The Pig & Whistle. X

Great country pub. Warm welcoming with great food.