Subway in Tendring

Absolutely rude. When asked for the meat fresh of the spit the man is moaning he had meat already cut in the tin which I said I didn’t like. Then continued to then try charge me extra because I didn’t want my chilli sauce on my kebab and wanted it separate. Very rude and terrible customer service don’t even deserve this 1* in my opinion. Service doesn’t cost anything

Pleasant staff Short wait while my cod & chips were freshly cooked Light and crispy batter tasty chips Old world charm well worth the walk to the end of the pier

Alfresco’s Restaurant, Marine Parade E, Clacton-on-Sea, CO15 IPU, Essex Staying in Walton-on-Naze for a week in September was a revelation – there was the iconic Naze to the north of town to explore and those spectacular beaches both sides of the pier to enjoy. The pier itself, by contrast, was rundown and in need of some real TLC - then there was the state of the town centre. There may be a couple of new mid-size supermarkets (looking fresh, familiar and full-of-life), but the high street that once was and the line of commercial shops have … faded. Why? The place seemed stuck in the 1950s. Hadn’t anyone invested in the place since then (well, apart from Messrs. Aldi & M&S). And what has all this to do with Alfresco’s place? Well … in a roundabout way it does for Clacton when we drove over there for lunch one day was bursting with confidence, bright lights, buoyant commercial centre, pristine pier and lots of people bustling around the centre. The two towns are 13 km apart. It was this thing about contrast that came across. Sure, it’s been many (many … many) years since we were last in both places – growing up in central Essex, the coast was always within easy reach, first for those seaside holidays in the holiday camps that once were then, subsequently (amazingly), personal transport became affordable. First the motorbike/scooter then the car (and the girlfriend). What’s not to love about the NE Essex coast of those days. After parking the car in Agate Street just off Marine Parade we headed for the pier looking for a place for lunch. There was Alfesco’s place a little further down Marine Parade East and overlooking Clacton Pier; to one side of Pier Gap where the road slopes down to the pier. This is where the road-train starts/finishes its tours around the town. The restaurant was one half of a building with a ‘Food Court’ sign across the roof line; the other half was a fish&chips place. We subsequently found out that they were both owned by the same people - neatly providing for both traditional seaside foods and for those who prefer the foods that have invaded from North America and/or southern Europe in recent years. We headed into Alfresco’s Restaurant – through the outside courtyard into the snazzy-looking glass-structure that enclosed the inside dining area with the counter at the far end. Seating for around 50 inside and outside at four seat/tables and benches. We were the only people in the place and, it seemed, lunch was finished for the day and the place was about to close up. Glance at the clock - it was just after 14.30 – and mine host was amenable to a couple of jacket potatoes with side salads; ‘Easy’, he said, ‘everything is set up’. Friendly … we liked that. We were seated with our drinks and food within 10 minutes. It was, as he said: Easy. The meal was delicious too – large hot potato, cheese on the side and sufficient greens to supplement those carbohydrates. The wall above and to one side of the counter was awash with food options of all kinds – sandwiches, grills, burgers, lasagne, fish, jacket potatoes, sides, etc. – jacket potatoes were an easy (and tasty) choice for us – the second time that week. We hadn’t thought about convenience to the restaurant – it just worked out that way. Service, approach, comfortable table, good value and delicious light meal – complimenti. We paid GB£15.45 for the meal: GB£5.50 each for our meals and finishing with a pot of tea and a cappuccino. It had been a pleasant 40 minutes looking out over the surrounding courtyard and pier below – where we headed after leaving Alfresco’s for a quick tour around. The place was alive with people; the fairground activities buzzing with the vitality that only electricity can provide – light, sound, movement. Peter Steele Maldon Essex 21 October 2019

Food was absolutely awful. And we bought a variety. The jacket potatoes were old and dry and inedible. Rock solid on the bottom and impossible to cut with even the sharpest knife. The Tuna wasn't even mixed with mayo, they just squirted a bit over the top. The pizza was complete cardboard and flavourless, one slice and it went straight in the bin. Chips seemed refried? Again inedible. Cheesy jalapeño bites were OK but clearly just basic frozen Iceland food. Never again. Also trying to contact the restaurant was odd. I called probably 9 times with no answer and when eventually I did get an answer, the guy didn't know what was going on. Didn't appear to know what was happening at the restaurant. He sounded in bed or half asleep. He gave me two different numbers to get hold of restaurant both of which were not in service?

Kebab was missing any salad and sauce after asking for it and the meat was so undercooked after trying a bite or two I binned it. Shocking and they couldn't care less