Porterhouse Wine Bar + Kitchen in Epping Forest

Absolute gem - highly recommended

This review has been long overdue seeing that I am a very frequent customer of porterhouse. My first impression of the Porterhouse in Ongar was that it was a well decorated modern restaurant good for a lunch time bite or an evening meal. The service there is never a miss because the owner is very attentive and builds a great rapport with each customer and the staff provides you with the same VIP treatment. My lunch time go to is the steak sandwich and I swear it gets better each time I visit. The drinks are top notch and simply the best mojito I’ve tasted. The food, service and hospitality is always consistent and it shows!

What a fantastic evening tonight. From the first phone call to book the restaurant to leaving 3.5 hrs after arriving….. this is a great place to go. Staff are great, food amazing and the cocktails were on point. Thank you very much for helping my brother in law & I give our twin wife’s an amazing evening. Also need to note how fun the happy birthdays are, not like any other restaurant I have been to. Also, thank you Tina at Krazy Kids Cafe who took my request to have balloons on the table upon our arrival. Very easy to deal with and even took them to the restaurant on my behalf. Again a BIG thank you. Beautiful ballon’s with a personal touch. I look forward to returning to the Porter House early next year.(hopefully the ladies will be paying next time) 😂😂😂

This place is so good I’ve been with a friend and with the family cocktails and food are amazing service friendly and fast love it a must

Great little steak restaurant! Went for a cheeky Friday date night and it didn’t disappoint one bit! Great food, the steak was cooked as requested medium rare and the scallops to start were delicious! Would recommend and return!

Really good selection of food, well cooked and very tasty. Excellent service from Zim, very polite and attentive. Comfortable seating area with nice atmosphere. Good bar selection.

Great atmosphere, lovely food, fabulous service!

If you looking for exceptional food and exceptional service I would not go any where else. Great service always attention detail and a genuine care for customers .

Amazing service and amazing food.

Incredible meal! This was our first time visiting and it definitely wont be our last, it had a fantastic atmosphere, amazing food and perfect service. 10/10 would recommend to anyone.

Highly suggest that the team here learn and hone in on their customer service skills and basic manners. Turned us away in the middle of the afternoon for no apparent reason. We asked for 1 drink each at the bar, and despite the restaurant being wholly empty with not even a single customer present, the staff rudely turned us away- seemingly not wanting to take our money! Rude and inconsiderate staff, no basic manners and how to interact. You will not be seeing us, or our extensive circle of restaurant loving friends here ever.

Chicken shish dish did not come with rice. Nearly ALL Turkish restaurants serve their chicken shish dish with rice but this place doesn’t and it’s not exactly cheap either.

Fantastic!! Sometimes the less said the better........ but if you need just a little more "Fantastic" food; service; ambiance;: experience; and value. Great choice for our daughter's 21st and all eleven people present agreed. We'll be back. Thank you!!!

Had a lovely mixed grill in here with my wife . Really nice food with nice staff

Went out for dinner here today and I must say it's one of the best places I've been too! Services was perfect Food was amazing and hot 110% recommended! I would give it more stars if I could!

Exceptionally delicious chicken at this restaurant. The only suggestion I’d have is that it could have been served with some complimentary rice for the price charged, but overall, a lovely venue and very tasty food. Friendly staff and quick service.

I have eaten here before but this time is likely to be my last. Service was fantastic as always and we were given a lovely warm welcome. I had the mixed grill and the steak, lamb and chicken were perfectly cooked. For me the meats all tasted virtually the same because of the overpowering garlic and herbs which seemed to be the same used on the rustic potatoes. I think it is overpriced and I would rather go to Alec's Restaurant where the decor is better and there are a few dishes I could choose from for what was paid at Porterhouse.

Quite possibly the best steak I have ever had, and I have had A LOT steak!! Me and my partner went there a couple of weeks ago, and we are going again this week for a family meal as we could not recommend it enough. If you like steak, this place is a must try! A proper gem!!

Hi, So this place I found on Google and just wanted somewhere different to try for steak. I looked at their website, menu, and reviews, so I decided to take my wife on a date night. The owner and the waiter were very friendly. So, I ordered the porterhouse medium rare. The wife ordered fillet mignon also medium rare. Starters and sides were really tasty, so 5 stars for that side of the food. My issue was simply the main reason why you would go to a restaurant that sells steak to have steak 😋. However, unfortunately, the steaks were very disappointing, bland, under cooked inside and over cooked outside, so they were very dry. No flavour whatsoever! I am not one for waisting food, so we did finish all the food that was on our table. However, when we relayed our feedback to the waiter, who then went back to management and nothing was done as far as anything about food quality or the way it was cooked! The waiter did apologise, but that's it! It was a very disappointing experience overall, and sadly, we will not be returning to this place! The price's on their website are all wrong, so make sure you check prices with them if you decide to check this place out for yourself.

Fantastic. Great food and great service. The three of us walked out full and extremely happy. Definitely recommend and will definitely go back.

First time visiting porterhouse and I was not disappointed at all! Fantastic service the staff were all so friendly and attentive and the food…well just delicious Great place for cocktails too Will definitely be returning and telling friends and family about the great find

This wasn’t my first visit to Porterhouse but it’s my first review as their service is always exceptional, along with the food and atmosphere so thought it deserved a review! Looking forward to many more visits 👏🏻👏🏻

The Porterhouse in Ongar is an absolute gem! From the moment you walk in, the ambiance is inviting and the service is top-notch. The food is nothing short of spectacular, with every dish bursting with flavor and cooked to perfection. The cocktails are equally impressive, crafted with care and creativity. Whether you're out for a special occasion or just a casual night out, The Porterhouse delivers an exceptional dining experience. Highly recommend! Five stars!

Great Food Great service and exceptional cocktails

What can I say other then Excellent everything.... food & service 10/10 1st time trying Porterhouse today & I will defo be going back!! Great experience all round!! All 3 of us was truly happy with everything!! Thank you!!!

Everything about this place is great.

What a disappointment. A community event from morning until 5pm. I wanted to get a drink but was not aloud in has I had tracksuit bottoms on. Which ok I took. And went across from them were I was not judged on what I had on and got fantastic service. I later needed a toilet, so went and asked if I could use there toilet. Happy to buy something for using there toilet, but got told no I couldn't has there is 3 people waiting to use it. Why I am I being judged because I'm not dressed up. That is wrong. It is the afternoon, why would I be dressed up.... If you judge me then ok I will judge you. I hope Epping Forest Council did a risk assessment with you because there was alot of glasses outside and people quite drunk that if it had kick off which would have been a massive health and safety issue. The people opposite to Porterhouse did the right thing and was serving plastic which is what should be done on big events. I will be asking Epping Forest Council why a risk assessment was not done with Porterhouse has if one was done then you would have been told that plastic glasses should be outside. Also Epping Forest Council has they had a DJ outside did they have a licence for that?????? Or is one rule for one??????

A nice restaurant on the high street. Thr service was great. The ribeye left a bit to be desired but the general consensus was very positive - the scallops and wings were highlights.

We had a lovely lunch today. The food was delicious and the staff were very friendly and provided a great service. We would definitely come back again. Thanks Albie&Caroline

Great dinner Friday night , service so friendly and food was delicious

Very nice First time trying Didn’t disappoint

What a little gem this place is. Sticky ribs, rustic potatoes, and salad, superb Voigner (highly recommended) this such a lovely place. Thanks Denise x

Food was lovely, service was amazing, music was too loud but we were placed in the corner where the speakers were situated so is what it is, but overall a lovely meal and would go again. 12.5% service charge a bit steep but not the end of the world.

No kids. Adult environment. Gentle upbeat music. Classy & limited. Good food. Personal service.

This was only our second visit to the restaurant and the first was some time ago. However, the next will be very soon as the Team of Staff could not have made us feel more welcome and the service was excellent. We ordered starters and mains and both course were fabulous and cooked and presented, to perfection. All of us had a wonderful evening and I cannot recommend this place highly enough. We will definitely be back and much sooner than this time. Enjoy Guys!

This place never disappoints! The food is delicious, the drink selection is great and the service is wonderful! You get what you pay for here ⭐️ (I’m not the best at photos 😂) Art makes a fabulous cocktail 😍

There are no better places for the ultimate dining experience. Food amazing. Service amazing. Its a must.

It was nice meal. Small place and quite expensive for what you got.

Had a lovely time here, the food was superb but the service was even better. So thoughtful and really interested in making our dining experience excellent. Would thoroughly recommend.

Great night , food and drink excellent, lovely atmosphere, staff are delightful. We will be back

I'm sorry to say I didn't take any photos of my food as i couldn't wait another second to tuck in! You'll have to take my word for it! The best cote de boeuf I've ever had! Staff are so tentative, great wine selection, and great atmosphere. I've been many times, and the standard here is consistent 10/10 every time. Looking forward to my next steak here!

Great food, amazing service. The best place to visit in Ongar

The best steaks in Ongar. Food and drinks are amazing. Great hospitality from gzim. Always made to feel extremely welcome.

We go there as a family, also the 2 of us even take friends. Never had a complaint, food is exceptional and staff are everything you'd want them to be

Delicious steak, reasonably priced!

Service was excellent. Food was great and perfectly sized portions.

Great service food was amazing ,mojito was the best I’ve had .Very professional and knowledgeable staff. Definitely recommend it

Been here a few times now. Either for family meals in the evening, or just some pre-drinks and nibbles with my wife. In fact we make a habit of popping in even if we’re going out as it’s a great way to start the evening. Went for my son’s birthday recently. Food is excellent, starters are lovely and always enough to go round. Mains were really good. I like the mixed grill myself, my wife often has the steak pasta… it’s gorgeous. Staff are lovely, very calm and friendly.

Gzim and his team are nothing short of family. He is a great host and nothing is too much trouble. I can highly recommend the ribs, chilli ribeye or porterhouse….and of course, my favourite the coffee patron to finish! Thank you for many great days and nights with friends and family.

Outstanding food and service-highly recommend! Every dish was delicious and with individual flavours. Staff are charming and very efficient.

Great venue, on the High Street.. T-bone steak to share was very tasty, Rustic potato was yummy, crispy golden on the outside and fluffy on the inside- Mixed salad was clean and refreshing. Service was friendly, willing to please and Made sure we enjoyed our time. Highly recommended!

Perfect way to spend a birthday! Fantastic food (compliments to the chef), the most delicious cocktails, and incredibly welcoming and friendly staff. Thank you for a wonderful experience!

Very nice, enjoyed the sticky toffee pudding, would recommend

Incredible food and super nice staff. Well kept after establishment!

Very enjoyable meal, will be returning soon

Handsome restaurant and bar serving excellent food including beautifully cooked and sauced steaks. The "rustic potatos" were recommened by the waiter and were indeed truly delicious.

Absolutely brilliant afternoon drink food excellent drink and service outstanding definitely will be back especially the staff very polite and attentive

Friendly staff and nice venue but the food is awful. Chicken wings had the manky red bones that were broken and the steak was really poor quality, sirloin was possibly even worse than the tesco value ones. Very small, thin, grissly and chewy

Fantastic lunch , tasty food and great service . We had chicken wraps , burger and steak sandwich ! Stunning Food and really great service . Highly recommend

Steaks were amazing, one of the best I ever had ! We will definitely come back ☺️

Myself and my boyfriend were recommended Porterhouse for a date night and it was incredible! The food was so tasty and extremely well presented but the best part was the staff. They were extremely friendly and accommodating and you could tell they really loved their job which was very pleasant to see! 100% recommend this cozy restaurant and I cant wait to visit again to try more of the amazing menu! Thank you!

Had an absolutely delicious meal at the Porterhouse on Friday. The food was amazing and the service and the hospitality was 5*!! I am coeliac and all my questions were answered and I felt very comfortable eating there. Thank you to all at the Porterhouse!

Great friendly service. Food was excellent, always good to have a nice varied choice on the menu, which takes you a few times to decide what to have.

Great place to eat, amazing food and service Will definitely be going back

Food was excellent, service was excellent. Will visit again for sure.

Excellent food, lovely attention. Honestly we'll recommend it

Fantastic meal and the best service I think I have ever received. Thank you very much for a wonderful evening

We just got back from this restaurant and had the most incredible time. Seriously. The food was some of the best I’ve ever had and the service was impeccable. Andre the waiter recommended wine and dishes and got everything spot on. That man deserves a rise!!

Food was very nice but waiter seemed to watch you eat the food and kept asking weather we wanting a drink ever 5 minutes. I felt rushed in and it seem they wanted to take as much money as possible in the short the time we were there. You seemed cramped in

This is a must visit! The food is 10/10 so fresh and tasty. The staff are also so friendly and welcoming. Highly recommend!

Excellent surprise find. Everything beautifully done by charming friendly staff. Even the facilities were extremely well done in all aspects. So very much enjoyed our visit.

visited this restaurant to celebrate an anniversary 05/12/22. When i emailed for a reservation, I received a very prompt reply confirming. ordered the 1kg porterhouse steak to share and OMG!! it is the best steak I have ever Tasted; I would normally have a sauce with my steak but i just couldn't do it to this beautiful cut of Steak. The gentleman who waited on us was perfect, very attentive with a big personality. the 5 stars is for perfect food and a perfect experience. we already planning another visit to try some more of the cocktails. Thanks for a lovely night.

Great food at reasonable prices not much fish on the menu though.

Good food at reasonable prices. 1st visit look forward to returning

Absolutely wonderful. Food excellent & staff really great.

Amazing find! I decided to try this place out for their steak, wings, and burgers. And it did not disappoint! We loved it so much. Definitely worth the money. We will be back! :)

Fantastic food and the staff were so helpful and friendly

Delicious food, excellent choice of wines, small but good menu, friendly and helpful staff, pleasant surroundings. Highly recommended.

Outstanding find, excellent food, wine and service. Really was the most amazing home fair, done perfectly. The wines were equally enjoyable. And it was a friendly welcome and service from all staff.

Wonderful food and excellent service.

Sensational in every way. In fact, just booked a table for tonight. Thought I’d leave a revue while I was here.

Lovely atmosphere and great service. Small menu but something for everyone.

Amazing food. Great wine. Very professional staff.

Beautiful food very nice staff. But very overpriced

This was a random Monday late late lunch and I'm so pleased we stopped here. The food was way beyond what I was expecting, so nice! The staff where friendly and attentive without crossing any boundaries. The price comparable to any pub but the quality, wow. You have to try it, if your passing.

Superb! Friendly service and delicious food. Highly recommended

Great steaks! Friendly and efficient staff what more can you ask for.

Me and a friend for lunch. Chicken wraps with halloumi as extra. Bill came and was charged £4.00 each for the haloumi. Small pots of chilli sauce we were charged £3.00! Discretionary service charge was added to the bill which then wasn’t discretionary. Bill was just under £50.00 with a beer and a half! Feel robbed.

Amazing restaurant! Got served a coke that tasted a bit funny but the staff changed it without hesitation so in summary a very good restaurant.

Amazing food, amazing cocktails, amazing service! Our favourite restaurant!

A beautiful spot that we return to again and again. Caring attentive staff and owners who really make you feel special. Reasonably priced, with a delicious menu that is frequently updated, and a great cocktail menu and wine list to boot Worth a journey to visit!

Poor service cold food and burnt

Very enjoyable afternoon. Relaxed atmosphere and very good food.

Had a lovely lunch here. Was with a friend and chatted forever and was under no pressure to leave. Looking forward to going back for a more substantial meal.

Nice drinks , nice food and great staff

Fantastic service, amazing food for a local restaurant. Definitely recommend!

Real shame. After living in Ongar 11 years. We always frequent Smiths and The Kings Head. Decided to give the Porter House a chance as it always has good reviews. My main dish costing £18 was cold! This was sent back and retuned hot. The meal was delicious second time round but I am filled with disappointment. No complementary drink, no reduction on the bill. £150 for two, we will be spending our money back with The Kings Head and Smiths in Ongar

Friendly and efficient staff and the food was superb.

Just popped in for a coffee. Nice coffee. Friendly service

Lovely lunch ! The chicken wraps were really tasty. The service was amazing would recommend it. Will definitely go back again