The Spotted Dog in Uttlesford

Having been freed from the Covid lock down, my Wife and I were delighted to return to our favourite local restaurant for lunch yesterday. We both chose the Deep fried brie and redcurrant jelly, Medallions of Pork Fillet with carrots, red cabbage, courgettes and potatoes, and the Coffee Panna Cotta from the Table d'Hote Menu. All very tasty and excellent value at £20 each for the 3 courses. Many thanks to Anita, Simon and Staff for their superb efforts.

It was the first time for over a year we have visited the Spotted Dog. It has always been our favourite restaurant. Today it was as good as ever and the approach to the Covid issue made us feel completely at ease. I had the fillet steak and the chocolate torte. Fantastic.

Our first evening out for a very long time, like we all had to do to keep each other safe.We came here with our Daughter's last night 24th April. We had a warm welcome from Anita the owner. Her and her Husband has made the outside space warm so cosy with the heat lamps and fairy lights and even a table light on each table, such a lovely atmosphere. Food is 5 star restaurant food. Absolutely beautiful. We all can't wait for a bigger family meal in the future. Thank you

After 3 months of lockdown, finally The Spotted Dog is back open and serving up their customary culinary delights.....forgot just HOW GOOD the food was......had the mussels followed by fillet steak followed by cheeseboard, 2 new bitters on tap......AND A WARM MARQUEE!!!!! couldn’t wish for more....well done to Simon and Anita and the team......Top night...

Outstanding meal and service, 3 course me you was fantastic value. Lovely setting and helpful friendly staff, all food arrive was very tasty.

Throughout all the very difficult times, particularly for independents like The Spotted Dog, they have maintained their standards. And, the standard is high; it always was, and still is, a cut above the basic pub fayre. It is a delightful country pub/restaurant tucked away from the madding crowd, but still only a few minutes off the major A120 road. The husband and wife team have suffered greatly during the early stages of lock down, but their service, both front of house and particularly the terrific food from the kitchen, makes us want to return and return again. Please go out of your way to support them, you will not be disappointed.

This place is a gem in the countryside it really is , 3 course meal at lunchtime £20 !!! And it’s proper food , lovely starters beautiful sea bass and puddings to die for particularly the sticky toffee pud it’s such great value for money

Under High Level status it is still possible to eat out and support our restaurants and pubs.We ate here this evening and due to misleading information from the local council and the govt the numbers of diners are down. Mixing means people from different households not sitting together at the same table. It is possible to go to a restaurant or pub now and sit at a table and be socially distanced from another table of strangers or friends and family who do not live with you. This restaurant has sanitiser, spaced out tables, staff with PPE visors, wipeable menus. Every precaution has been taken and it is Virus safe. You can register with the NHS app too. The food is superb as usual so take advantage of a chance to dine in the best restaurant in the area. Not far from Stansted airport, Bishop's Stortford, Gt Dunmow and Braintree. We will be back!

This ticks every box when it comes to dining out every time we have visited. The covid practices are all in place and yet they dont infringe on your enjoyment in any way. The staff are outstanding and the food excellent. Its very well maintained and spotless everywhere. The menu offers a good selection of fish and meat dishes too. It sets in a rural setting but only 10 minutes from a lovely small traditional town called Dunmow.

Have been here 3 times since COVID lockdown eased. Each time it’s been a really good meal. Menu does not change much but when the food is a good as it is then it goes not matter! Staff are very good at keeping things COVID secure. The only thing I could think to change would be the bread .. would be nice to have warm rolls rather than the slices of bread !

Came her for lunch and it’s a lovely pub/restaurant. Had the three course set meal for £20 and all courses were delicious. They also have good covid safety measures in place. Would definitely go back and recommend to anyone.

This was, I think, the 7th time we've been to the Spotted Dog and once again it didn't disappoint. This really is a hidden gem with simply beautifully prepared and flavoured dishes which tick all the right boxes. Service, atmosphere and sense of safety, in these difficult times were all as they should be and thus would recommend this restaurant to anyone. Thank you for another great dining experience Bill Joel

Such a lovely meal, great location, attentive service and ... the lemon Italian meringue desert was literally the most delicious thing I have ever tasted - amazing and unforgettable!

Great meal, again! We love this restaurant, the food is delicious and the service is always great. Lots of social distancing and sensible covid precautions in place. Can't wait to return. Certainly the best place we have visited since lockdown.

Food was amazing pub was clean roomy comfy and social distancing was not an issue i saw two staff regularly cleaning menus and water bottles we had the beef spring roll and dipping bread to start all very tasty we both had steak for mains one medium rare one medium well both absolutely melt in your mouth delicious veg and potatoes were soft and delicious just how i like them! For pudding ee had a sticky toffee pudding and a white and dark chocolate terrine everything from start to finish was fantastic although out of our normal price range bill came to £100 with a alcoholic drink each as it was our wedding anniversary we wasnt bothered and the food was worth every penny the chef has clearly been into fine dining and bought that high standard with him not a single baf thing to say highly recommend for special occasions!!

Excellent lunch, very good value for money and extremely Covid friendly . We and our two friends will be back !!

We sat outside well-spaced from neighbouring tables. Anita, along with chef and co-owner Simon, wore a visor and the menus were plastic and wipe-able. The food was just perfect as it always is.A choice of starter, main and dessert all for £20 for three courses or £18 for 2 courses is excellent value for food that is such a cut above anything else available locally for us at Braintree. Today for starters there was pate, walnut and Stilton salad, home made soup and, one of my favourites, the spherical fishcakes with a light curry sauce. Mains were sea bass, smoked haddock, roast chicken or calves liver and bacon. Deserts were sticky toffee pudding, coffee panna cotta or lemon cheesecake and all just so good and to die for.We are just so fortunate to be less than 30 minutes drive from this little jewel in the countryside outside Great Dunmow and equi-distant from Bishop's Stortford and Braintree and just two miles from the A120. We are so very pleased that this restaurant is open again. Thank you.

What a lovely find! Arrived and was very covid aware which made us feel safe. Hand sanitiser on arrival, one use menu. Not overly busy which was quite pleasant on our first trip out to eat. The food was great. Nice selection and well prepared. Staff were very attentive. Will definately be coming back.

This is the most delightful country restaurant, and a welcome return for us. We visited lunchtime today, and apart from the obvious social distancing and other safety measures, it was the same. The front-of-house landlady was as welcoming as ever and her husband still has not lost his excellent touch in the kitchen.The food is a cut above most pub restaurants, but their prices are still quite sensible.The calves liver and bacon is still the best I have ever tasted, but the whole menu is delicious, and the vege /vegan version looks very inviting too.The key to a good restaurant is .... is it consistently good ? Yes, providing we keep this duo running the show. Please support them now more than ever.Very highly recommended.

Excellent food, very calm and welcoming. Good choice on the menu. Will return soon, thank you for making our first outing so relaxed.

We have been coming to this restaurant for over 14 years now and I didn't think it could get any better. We visited again after a short time away and found the food to be even better than before. Excellent varied menu with professional, friendly staff and first class service as usual. Anita, Simon and team do an amazing job.Can't wait to return.

I went for an evening meal tonight with my family, We all had steak, it came with choice of chips, home made onion rings and mushroom. we had a cheese sauce with it and OMG it was delicious. I am so pleased we didn't order a starter as we were fit to burst when we came out. The food was delicious, the staff and service was absolutely amazing. I would hightly recommend to anyone. 5*

Eleven of us visited at lunchtime for the Mad Monday Menu to say thank you to a colleague. Excellent choice of menu and the service was superb despite the restaurant being almost full. Excellent value at £15 for three courses.. Everyone of us enjoyed our food and the chef makes some lovely sauces to accompany the dishes. Well worth a visit.

We went here for Valentine’s Day and had a lovely evening. The food is classic, but excellently presented and very tasty. We had surf and turf salad starter, duck and cod mains. The honey duck was truly excellent. The service was also very pleasant and we’ll definitely come back when it’s not a set menu to try other dishes. The only slight issue was that my partner got a bit cold - think we were just in an open area. Didn’t take away from the excellent food though. Thanks very much.

Went for Sunday Lunch, food and wine was lovely. The two ladies who served us were extremely helpful and accomodating! would highly recommend

On a business trip in the Chelmsford area so trusted TripAdvisor and booked the venue for dinner with a work colleague.Lovely welcome by the landlord, good selection of beers and ambiance exceptional. The food is up there with the best... nice hot plates too. Definitely worth the drive from town and great country location. Credit must go to the Chef... it’s a Yes from us.Thank you so much for making my visit so pleasant. I look forward to the next opportunity. SmoothJazzMeister

Our friend booked this on Trip Advisor comments and we were not disappointed.We all chose from the set menu. Excellent range of dishes which made it difficult to choose.Fortunately we were all happy with our selection. Everything was perfectly cooked and really pleased with the vegetables. Very generous portions and really tasty.Made to feel very welcome.

Seven of us came for lunch to celebrate a 94th birthday. Lovely warm welcome, made to feel really special. Excellent food enjoyed by everyone and a special birthday dessert. Thank you

We called in here for lunch on a Wednesday in October.The place was fairly quiet so getting a table with space for the provided high chair wasn't a problem.The food was good and the service was friendly.We'd happily eat here again if in the area.

Visited tonight for a family celebration and the staff could not have been more accommodating for my dairy allergy. A great choice for starters, mains & desserts!! All the food was delicious and for once I have really enjoyed a meal out with dessert!! Can’t visit again.

We went to the spotted dog twice over the holiday period. Both times we were looked after by the owner in restaurant and husband in the kitchen. They have a small team who must work very hard to produce such excellent food. Everything seems to be freshly made from scratch. No sign of a catering company ready meal on the menu.Rich sauces made homemade stock are a speciality. It may not be to everyone's taste. But we thoroughly enjoyed our meals. The most popular main courses are the filet steak and the roasts. Bread and butter pudding is firm favourite. A special mention for the Essex souffle. Which turned out to be their own version of a pudding more famous in its Yorkshire style. They are closed for a week for a well deserved rest after the frantic build up to Christmas and New year. Looking forward to returning when they reopen

The general ambience was good, as was the menu choice and service. the Table d'Hote offered a good selection and was good value. The waitress was a little intrusive and would benefit from a little more training

We had hosted a party on the 23rd for 30 people and wanted to have a late lunch for 8 so that there would be no cooking by any of us.

A lovely pub Food very traditional However lovely and fresh with amazing flavours Set menu was very good value Staff were friendly and accommodating Worth a visit!

Visited for the first time with friends. Very friendly staff and they couldn’t do enough for you. The restaurant was very well laid out and the table spacious. We all ordered off the set menu and ever dish was cooked to perfection. I had the liver and bacon OMG best I have ever had it was a melt in the mouth moment. The sticky toffee pudding get a 10 also. I don’t live close by but would definitely drive back there for their food. 10 out of 10 for everything. Thank you spotted Dog.

Lovely meal with two friends . We had the Christmas menu. It was all delicious and the service was faultless. I’ll will definitely return.

Positives First--Staff where excellent , ambiance of the pub was the best and very welcoming , you felt comfortable the moment you walked in.---Food ,We where there as a group for Christmas lunch--I had for my main course the traditional turkey roast with all the trimmings it was excellent and very plentiful--My first course was a pork and blackpudding terrine which I suspect as being bought in and not home made--Christmas pudding desert was acceptable . Negatives---My wifes main was salmon which was a meagre portion but she said was very nice---The cost of lunch was £24.95 way over the top really for lunch--for that price a coffee ,mince pie and a mint wouldn't have gone a miss costing less than a pound the way pubs and resturants buy food----.All in all though a good experiance and great staff.

The moment we walked into this beautiful restaurant we realised it was professionally run. We were served drinks very quickly while waiting for our friends.

Having passed the Spotted Dog on a cycle ride on many occasions, the external esthicics registered as a place to visit!

Had a a table for 8 plenty of room very friendly staff. cold outside warm inside.No rush from the staff. We took quite a bit of time with our menu choice and the waitress come up several times before we made our choice. Not a lot of choice for the 2 children but the staff told us the can choose a main course and they would split it and only charge for one.

Very nice menu, service and food, everyone was happy (not always an easy task!!).. been meaning to come back here for a couple of years and I think it is now on the list of regular lunch venues for work!! Well done Spotted Dog!

We came her after our original venue was unavailable. What a lovely place. So accommodating for my gluten free diet. I had lots of choice and the food was sublime. We both enjoyed every bite

For many years I have met an old school friend who now lives to the north west of London. It is a measure of the quality of food service and ambience that we have no hesitation in returning for our annual reunion.

Went here for dinner last night...35 of us and they got everything spot on, orders, food, service, couldn't fault the place and the food was fantastic. All very reasonably priced also. Hadn't been for a few years but will definitely be back again soon. All staff were lovely and nothing to was too much trouble, many thanks for making our gathering such a great success.

Another visit for us with every table booked but our service was still excellent throughout the evening. The menu was one of the most interesting we had seen for a long time and we eat out twice a week at new or eateries.known to us. The evening was very cold but the restaurant was warm the whole evening. We both agreed that our food was excellent.

What a fabulous find! Beautiful food, immaculate service, thank you! Clever menu, well executed. Gorgeous place.

I must say, the food served up her by the management and staff is truly superb......atmosphere great as are the staff!!!! 5/5 for everything....quality, service, atmosphere and, always importantly, not in any way overpriced!!!!! Brilliant

This is our second visit to this fabulous restaurant, and it lived up to our expectations. The food is fantastic and delicious, the menu has so many choices on it and definitely caters to everyone’s tastes. The staff are welcoming and friendly, we were the last to leave and there was no pressure for us to do so. We loved this place and will definitely be back soon.

Had a great meal here,really top notch..staff excellent,atmosphere great,very impressed with everything,not your average pub food,more high class restaurant!

Very welcoming no hassle as the six of us arrived in three cars 30 minutes apart. Menus great, wait until the end, food well presented, tasted great and good value for money.

A chance mid week lunch was a delightful surprise - we received a very warm welcome from the staff and chose from the set menu, which had a good selection & delicious puddings! Efficient service & good value for money - will certainly return soon.

came here for my daughters birthday on a friday night with a party of four when we walked in we got very warm welcome from two freindly barmaids we went straight for the mains i had the duck which was cooked to perferction and a genrous portion two of the party had the sea bass and one had the pork everybody said how delicious there meals where we all had deserts all where amazeing

I found this pub by chance and what a find it was, lovely ambiance, happy staff and absolutely outstanding food, just wished I lived closer, unfortunately I was dropping off my partner at Stansted Airport so popped to the Spotted Dog for lunch...highly recommended, high class restaurant standard.

This is the second time in as many months that I have visited, the previous time in June with my best friend for lunch. This time it was to celebrate my 60th birthday with my best friend and his family.

The Spotted Dog is primarily a restaurant but they were very happy to have us there for drinks only. It’s a small area around the bar but we made it work. Maidens Barn was our wedding venue and the Spotted Dog is very close.

Two years since I last visited and the food, service and staff is still excellent. As before, the menu has plenty to choose from and I would still highly recommend eating here. The staff are so friendly and attentive without being over the top.

My husband was out this way picking up some parts & noticed the pub so we decided to give it a try as the menu looked nice online. I would say that it is more of an eating restaurant than a pub as the bar isn't very big considering the size of the place, tables are dotted around the place so it is quite intimate & nicely laid out.

We had an evening meal at The Spotted Dog, the staff are so friendly and helpful and all the food was perfect and well presented, we could not find a fault with anything. Next time we are in the area we will return for another gorgeous meal.

Excellent. Une salle à manger claire, à la table dressée accueillante.

Visited after reading the reviews on here! Not disappointed: the service was excellent without being over the top and the food was all very good. Sat outside in the sun too. Had the black pudding terrine starter, followed by the plaice while my cousin had the pork chop (which was huge). All good. I don't do desserts, but his sticky toffee pudding was very good! And the beer was good.

Posto bello e romantico in stile British con personale molto gentile. Il posto sembra una casa in mezzo alla campagna inglese dell’Essex non distante dall’ aeroporto di Stansted. I piatti sono buoni e ricercati e anche la scelta dei vini è notevole. Ci sono diverse sale da pranzo disseminate tra camini e spazi comuni proprio come in una casa il cui pezzo forte è il tetto in paglia, una vera opera d’arte. Abbiamo preso un ottimo agnello al forno con patate e verdure varie. Per la zona e la qualità notati le 4 stelle sono più che meritate. Il presso di circa 45 sterline a persona è adeguato .

This was my first visit. We came for a friend’s birthday and had a very enjoyable evening. Water was brought to our table as soon as we arrived and the service was attentive but not intrusive. We ate from the set menu (£16.95 for two courses and £18.95 for three) and all our meals were delicious with the portion sizes just right. I came away feeling satisfied but not horribly full. They were also very accommodating of my friend who is gluten free, offering to substitute deserts on the main menu to ensure she still had a choice. Will definitely return.

Had lunch there today, ended up having all three courses !!! Great garlic prawns to start with, lovely Liver and Bacon with horseradish mash in a rich gravy... best I’ve had for a long time, finished off nicely with sticky toffee pudding.

Delicious lunch. No problem for two of us who are gluten free, chef even did a variation of the sea bass just to accommodate. Will be visiting again.

Came here for lunch with family and friends after going to see a wedding venue.

There are a lot of good restaurants around but this one is very good. It was 2 years since we last came and if anything it was better than last time. We have to drive from Stortford so we inevitably eat here less frequently but given the quality we should do it more often. It was a birthday dinner again and no-one was disappointed with what they had. Although we considered buying a more expensive wine, we were asked if we would like to sample the 3 red house wines and they were also very good.

welcoming surroundings, the food was exquisite - presentation was beautiful and really great service - highly recommend

Now fully open. Refurbished to a very high standard. Menu is excellent. Staff are very friendly. We visited on a quiet midweek

This pub is a bit off the beaten track but worth the drive. Local food served in a local pub. Good prices for all standard roasts, beef, lamb and chicken, also veggie options. Friendly Staff, large car park and lovely countryside all around.

The food at the Spotted Dog is delightful. Each of plateful of food is presented well and tastes as good as it looks. They also have a good range of wines and beer.

Took my wife there for her birthday today had their roasts , so nice as they always are it’s really is a hidden gem of a place

It's great to see Simon and Anita back at the Spotted Dog.

Every time I come here I absolutely love it and am never disappointed! The food is to die for and the staff are always happy to help! Can’t wait for my next visit!

Excellent food, well presented with great service in good surroundings. A fabulous evening. Not much more to say.

Always maintains the same high standards. The younger team on last night produced the same high quality of food and service as Anita and Simon, Passing on the baton perhaps? no problem. First time visit for our friends , they were very impressed and said we were very fortunate to have such a restaurant so close. Other so called "fine dining " establishments in the vicinity could take a leaf out their book regarding value / price ratio.Thanks again Spotted Dog

Been here many times and never disappointed with quality of food and prices. Staff very accommodating and cheerful

We went for lunch on the basis of the good reviews and sadly left very disappointed.

Visited last friday and we had 3 courses from the fixed price menu which was excellent value, high quality with good (not tiny, not huge, just right) portion sizes.

A faultless meal, our party of 6 had three courses and the plates returned to the kitchen empty except for half a potato and a piece of cheese rind. I rate the whole experience as excellent.

Fantastic setting out in the country really lovely pub with great atmosphere the food well !!! It’s terrific and very very good value aswell, the couple that run this really know what they are doing

Been to this this restaurant a few times now and must say both times where fantastic.

24 of us were booked for Sunday lunch last week and we couldn't have had a better time. It must have been tough for the kitchen and waiting staff to handle all of us together but we never had to wait for anything.

Arrived early with my wife and dinner and settled down for pre-dinner drinks whilst I open my cards and presents. We were shown to our table after sometime and chose our food. I had spicy fish cakes for starter and steak Diane for main which was delicious. Sweet was the huge cheese board which I shared with my wife. We came and went in a taxi so I also enjoyed a pint earlier on and a bottle of Merlot with the meal!

Fantastic meal at The Spotted Dog recently. Group of six of us ate from the Christmas Menu and all were very impressed with the food, service and value. Friendly, well presented staff looked after us very well all night. Will be back again for sure.

Enjoyed a lovely traditionally English lunch in comfy warm pub with friends yesterday. Service was good and food was lovely. We all had the set 2 course meal deal. Reasonably priced including a drink.

12 of us visited as a group last night. We all chose the set Christmas menu which was great value for money with excellent food and service.

Came across this place by chance. It was a busy Friday night and got the last available table. Booking is recommended. The food was excellent, the settiing/decor was wonderful. It was on the pricey side but great for a date night, I wouldn’t bring the kids here.

The restaurant is tastefully decorated and furnished in a way that gives a very nice atmosphere to sit in. The staff were brilliant, very friendly but also polite and efficient. The food was superb; a lovely selection to choose from, beautifully cooked and presented with plenty of fresh vegetables to accompany the main courses. The small touches like proper linen nakpins, a large complimentary bottle of water for the table, the glasses being changed for drinking red wine all added to the feeling of being properly 'served'. All in all a very enjoyable evening.

Visited here with my family for mam’s Birthday. Dinner was excellent. Calves liver was cooked to perfection! Service was professional and received food in a timely manner.

fantastic value for money , v v nice food , staff are terrific aswell , well off beaten track but worth a 40 mins drive for us

We dined here regularly on a Saturday for 3 years after visiting my Mother in the Moat House Care Home at Great Easton, but in 2016, she died aged 103, and then, the journey was too far from our home for regular visits just for lunch. However, when I asked my Wife where she would like to have lunch on our Wedding Anniversary, I was delighted when she said “The Spotted Dog”.

We like this restaurant. The food is consistently good with plenty of choice from both the set menu (excellent value) and the A La Carte. Service is always polite, efficient and friendly.

Nice atmosphere; good food, reasonable price, friendly service. But be careful where you sit - some tables are poorly lit in the evening and it can be hard to see what you are actually eating!

Went there with friends for New year had a lovely meal, was the first time we had been and would return

I had the pleasure of being treated to a birthday meal here at lunch time and must say I cannot wait to go back! This is a beautifully set out restaurant with a lovely ambience, great service and utterly AMAZING food. Such a friendly atmosphere here and staff cannot do enough to help. There is a large car park. No steps which makes access easy for people who have difficulty with them.

Excellent food and service Set menu either two or three courses is excellent quality and value Would highly recommend

Very last minute booking for 14 of us food great service fantastic thank you after being let down at another local restaurant we went to the spotted dog where they catered for us brilliantly everyone's food was great and the service could not be faulted

Visited last night, restaurant not overly busy but the garden area to the front was. We were seated rather promptly inside. Given the weather we are having at the moment it was very warm, but opted for a table next to the window.

We were recommended to go here by customers we know. We eat out a lot! It was not busy when we arrived (or when we left) but we like it that way. After a while (maybe 20 minutes) we eventually ordered. Waitress service was very slow as only one other table in there. But as we were not in a huge hurry it was not a problem. I ordered the brie which was meant to be with a cranberry compote but was served with Raspberry coulis - strange. We both ordered medallions of beef fillet. As the waitress did not ask, we asked how it will be cooked. she replied how ever you want. We both ordered Medium Rare. When it arrived there were 3 pieces of steak on the plate so thin that the chef couldn't possibly of cooked it to our liking. It was well done, to be honest it looked like Roast beef that had been sliced and pan fried to reheat covered in a mushroom sauce. My husband left most of his. We did not have desserts. I felt the bill was expensive for what we had had. Saw a notice that they are now closed 3 days a week. only opening Thursday - Sunday. Probably wouldn't go again.

From a morning internet search chose The Spotted Dog for a first visit. What we have been missing for years! Warm welcome and first class food. We had melt in the mouth calves liver with a balsamic sauce.