The Aviary in Chelmsford

We visited The Aviary for the first time at the end of the August.It was lovely.We wondered if we had just been lucky or if such fantastic food is par for the Course. Therefore we returned in October and I can report that it was no fluke and this restaurant is really special. Since our first visit it has been refurbished and also created a separate room acting as a bar serving light food. We stayed with the beautifully appointed restaurant and chose from their special lunch menu which is very good value at £ 25 for three courses and offers a number of choices with a diverse range of options. I started with the satay chicken with peanut sauce.In common with all the courses the presentation was superb.The chicken was very moist and the sauce was excellent.My wife opted for the avocado prawn and was surprised and happy that not only did it taste nice but the serving was most generous. We both had calves liver and crispy bacon served with a jus,mashed potato and broccoli.It was perfect.Every component of the dish was clearly made with such care and creativity.The sauce was enjoyably rich with a hint of sweetness.The chef clearly cares about the food he produces and succeeds with flying colours. For dessert we could choose any from the a la carte menu.I chose to have the banana bread pudding which was very nice and bananary ! My wife had sticky toffee pudding serviced with vanilla ice cream which she thought fabulous but she said it would have tasted even better if served with custard. The waitress whose name we found out to be Egle was brilliant.She made us feel very welcome,was very efficient and helpful and also had a lovely personality.She was proof of how important a server or manager is. A restaurant close by still very good but not as good as The Aviary had a great manager but she left and her departure left a real void. The Aviary is very fortunate indeed to have such a brilliant employee. We only have one concern and that is in trying to offer changes on the lunch menu more regularly some great dishes are taken off like the Atlantic cod.No doubt the calves liver will be replaced in time which would be sad as rather surprisingly it is not offered on the a la carte menu. It so happens that both our visits have been at lunch time.We are planning to go in the evening too.The prices for the evening are certainly no higher than those for the other high end restaurants indeed maybe slightly less. All in all The Aviary is a stunning restaurant both aesthetically and with the quality of the food.It is one of those rare places where you know you are going to be a regular after the first bite of food.

Beautiful restaurant with some beautiful decor, loving the ceiling, tables and chairs too! The food was lovely, really tasty and very well presented. Service was very good too and extremely friendly and very efficient. This restaurant is definitely worth a visit and is a cut above most of the other restaurants in Hornchurch!

There's a big part of me doesn't want to write this review as this restaurant is so special we hope it stays this way. We dined here last night for our wedding anniversary, researching to find a fine dining restaurant. Well The Aviary certainly delivered. We are foodies and absolutely loved the freshly and beautifully cooked food, the lovely wine and most amazing cocktails. I have had Tiramisu Martini in 3 restaurants and this was way and above the others! The owner who was front of house and maitre de really cared and went above and beyond. Whilst it is not the cheapest restaurant, the price is fair for the quality and service. We will definitely return. Thanks for an amazing evening

First visit but not the last. The decor was pretty, welcoming and classy. No starters as was saving ourselves for the main event. Hubby had mixed roast. Beef, chicken, pork and lamb. His favourite was the pork. I had beef. Obviously I stole some of his meat... Carrots, parsnip, cabbage, cheeky pig in blanket, super stuffing and Yorkshire pudding. Fab First visit but not our last. Thank you guys. Guys working there were welcoming and lovely. Thank you Katie.

Me & my girlfriend had the best nights dinner here! We often go out for dinner or lunch but our experience here at The aviary was unreal!!! I could not fault anything from the cocktails to the food & the service was just soo good even it might sound silly but the volume of the music & the music they played was just so on point! 5 stars will be back again soon! Thank you!

WOW! Today I have had one of the best Lunches in a restaurant for a long time. I work in hospitality and have done for 15 years and must say the Aviary are doing a fantastic job. Fresh food with lots of options and everything I had today was amazing food & drink. I highly recommend the Short Rib Beef Ragu. I will be coming here again.

Amazing food and excellent service will definitely be coming back. And will be recommending to friends and family. Roasted pineapple dessert is absolutely gorgeous 😍

We tried the Aviary for our wedding anniversary after a bad experience at our usual local restaurant. Amazing food, service and value for money. The food in my words was banging. Crispy beef starter and cote de boeuf steak. It was probably the best meal we have had for many years. So good we booked the Sunday lunch for the next day.

My first time at this wonderful restaurant with its amazing atmosphere and very friendly staff. The young lady that served us was so cheery and very attentive. The menu was vast and our choices were excellent. Simply Delicious!!! I will definitely return with family & friends and i also highly recommend the Aviary in Hornchurch.

Visited for the first time with friends. Decor is lovely, food was exceptional. Great varied menu. Was very busy, but staff were still attentive without being intrusive. Looking forward to returning with my partner.

Great lunch , we had the set menu Food was lovely, so fresh and tasty , service was spot on and the manager was very nice , will definately be going again

Having read the great reviews I decided to pop in for a light lunch. The pecorino ravioli was an absolute delight as was the service from a very polite waitress. I can see myself returning here quite often. 10/10.

This is my second time coming to this place, again, I was blown way with the food and service. I’ll definitely be coming back! Highly recommended .

The restaurant is decorated lovely, the family run business is second to none. The service was incredible and the food. TOP NOTCH so fresh. Definitely going back. Think this is our new best place to go..

We had a lovely meal at The Aviary last night with friends. The food was beautifully presented and cooked to perfection. Very friendly service, didn’t rush us and was very helpful. We loved the cocktails we had instead of dessert - my favourite was the Tiramisu Martini, a new take on the Espresso Martini. The complimentary hazelnut liqueur to finish off the evening was a lovely touch. We’ll definitely be back. It is so nice to have a really good local restaurant that we can walk to.

Friendly staff, lovely atmoshpere and Amazing food. Service from begining to end was excellent and the food was outstanding. By far the best restaurant ive been to in essex. Very nice cocktails too. Well done The Aviary! Keep it up!

Lovely food. Very well presented and great service from Ava who was very attentive, looked very smart and was very friendly but professional. Will be going again. Highly recommend.

Third visit to this gem! The owners are so friendly and the food is very good. Not the usual choices, they have put their own twist on dishes and deserts. Very nice decor and definitely a warm welcome

An amazing restaurant like no other in Hornchurch!!! Food is tasty and presented in a beautiful way. Staff and owner are friendly and helpful. Reasonable priced. I would highly recommend, easily the best restaurant in Hornchurch!!!!!

Me and my family visited The Aviary on the 30th December for lunch, we all had the festive menu it was well presented and tested delicious. Friend recommend it and will definitely be going back, good food and very attentive service.

I visited The Aviary on the 29th of December with my friend. We had king prawns and mussels followed by Argentinian fillet and the lamb cutlets we both loved it. Simply amazing we definitely be coming back.

A WONDERFUL CHRISTMAS LUNCH. FISH AND DUCK - EVERY MOUTHFUL DELICIOUS. THE VERY BEST CHEF IN THE AREA !!

This was the first time we had been here, since it became this new restuarant. It was a really lovely surprise. The food was so lovely and beautifully presented. The chef obviously knows his craft and this place is currently ( in our opinion ) a cut above any other restaurant locally. You could tell just from the taste and the attention to well sourced fresh ingredients, And the plates looked a delight to eat. Hoping it maintains this level of cuisine. And very reasonably priced. The owners are young, and this is part of a dream of theirs. We wish every them success for the future.

We had a party of 6 and had a wonderful evening. Our food was absolutely beautiful and the service was impeccable. Really really recommend. Thankyou for a wonderful night.

Visited The Aviary in Hornchurch for a meal with family in December. What a fabulous restaurant this is. The food was fantastic some of us had the Sunday roast and others chose from the Mediterranean style menu. All was delicious and served by very friendly and helpful waiting staff. The restaurant is very comfortable and beautifully decorated for Christmas and has a great ambience for all ages. Highly recommended and we will definitely be going back very soon.

Visited yesterday for our office Christmas lunch. The welcome and service was very warm and friendly, nothing was too much trouble. I would say that my meal was one of the nicest meals I have eaten in a very long time, so thank you very...

I have been to the aviary many times since it has opened with different groups who have all loved it, the food and service are always spot on! Had to go to try the roast dinner, a big group of us attended for my mums...

What a fabulous Saturday afternoon it was at The Aviary in my hometown of Hornchurch. We’d been in a couple of times before and enjoyed good food along with friendly service from Ava and the team. The restaurant is set in the heart of town...

we celebrated my wife's birthday with our children and grandson and we were all made very welcome. Lovely design in the restaurant along with friendly service. The food was 5 star so will certainly be back again

Amazing food!! The food was absolutely delicious and the staff so friendly and attentive. Lovely decorated restaurant too. Can't wait to return!

Fabulous new restaurant. Went for our Anniversary. Friendly helpful staff Food was amazing, have already recommended to friends and family. Décor beautiful.

Our third visit to the Aviary and we had another fabulous roast. Best in the area for sure. We went for chicken, pork and beef and all were delicious. Very generous portions but still managed to squeeze a dessert in. Amoronemisu and chocolate mousse both...

We decided to visit The Aviary off of the back of the great reviews we had seen. We were not disappointed, the food was gorgeous and the service friendly and attentive. This restaurant is a fantastic addition to Hornchurch offering a fine dining experience that...

Our 3rd visit to this local little gem, the new menu was amazing, particularly the Asian Surf and Turf, all cooked to perfection with amazing flavours. The staff were all friendly and attentive, and it was a lovely touch for the Chef to come to...

10/10 experience. Firstly, the interior is stunning. The attention to detail with the lighting fixtures and celling decorations are stunning! Could not fault the service, food was served quickly, cocktails were amazing. The waitress' wine knowledge was very helpful and added a lovely touch to...

We was there celebrating my birthday with 3 other friends food was great, tastefully decorated, Ava made us very welcome could not fault the service, will definitely be returning.

Visit number two to this absolute gem of a restaurant, service is second to none, and the food.. just wow! The first visit we had the a la carte menu which was amazing, a visit from the chef to talk about the desserts which were...

Lovely little restaurant quietly opened up in Hornchurch. Attractive decor, very attentive front of house, and the most gorgeous food. Some of our table had the tasting menu and the chef came out to describe each dish which was a great touch. He seemed very...

Joined a friend for lunch at this new restaurant in the high street. It was a Monday so quiet. An interesting menu. We had the lunch menu. It I shall be back to try the a la carte. We had an excellent house white and...

We had a lunch as a family yesterday .The service is unmatched. Great staff , so delicious food and well presented . Highly recommend!

Exceptional food and service. Beautifully cooked and presented food. Very interesting menu Highly recommended.

Probably the best chef in the area! Every dish we had on four occasions for lunch was superb ; imaginatively devised and immaculately prepared. A good selection of wines and delightful service from Ava and her team made each occasion exceptional. Thanks to all.

Beautiful Food. Very well presented. Staff very friendly and attentive. Will definately be going back.

Service with a smile & well presented tasty food. A truly specail expierance and exactly what hornchurch needs! Lovely lighting and atmosphere!

An outstanding meal at the Aviary Hornchurch tonight! Fresh food and friendly service from the team. Very accommodating and friendly with our children also. We can’t wait to be back. Thankyou Team!!

Me and my friend popped into the aviary last Wednesday as we had seen this restaurant had recently opened and wanted to try it out, all we of the staff were extremely helpful and friendly felt like they couldn’t do enough for you. The food...

The Aviary Hornchurch This is a new restaurant I’m my hometown of Hornchurch so we decided to give it a try on bank holiday monday. The food is Mediterranean where to begin there is a selection of small plates followed by pasta , risotto ,...

Went here for date night and was well and truly impressed. The decor is incredible and had a great atmosphere. Most importantly the food was very tasty, particularly the chocolate mousse dessert! All dishes were full of flavour and everything was cooked to perfection. Will...

We came for some lunch and I can say we were not disappointed. The experience from start to finish was excellent, greeted by the lovely young man who took us to our table, and went through the menu with us. We went for the taster...

I think the Aviary in Hornchurched has aimed slightly higher than the rest of area. The menu is small, although with an over realiance on pasta, but well thought out. For example I had spinach tart in a cheese foam and quails egg. Other dishes...

If you are looking for a fine dining experience in Hornchurch then this is the place to go! Decor is beautiful. Staff warm, friendly and efficient without being in your face. Food was amazing. We had scallops and burrata to start followed by lamb ragu...

Amazing meal! The food service and ambience was all incredible! Our waitress Layla, was so friendly and made us feel very welcome. The vegetarian options were great, all food was so tasty and well presented. The desserts were fantastic and the cocktails were impressive, both...