Tim Allen's Flitch Of Bacon in Uttlesford

We’ve been visiting this restaurant since we moved to the area in 2018, it was exceptional back then as the Flitch of Bacon and had a michelin star with Tim Allen at the helm. It then became tasting menu’s (and expensive!) only and wasn’t really suitable for a casual dinner, it changed management again and the food didn’t match the price tag and we stopped going. The change of name to the Pig & Truffle along with new management caused us to try it again and we weren’t disappointed, however we invited friends to join us for Sunday lunch in October last year and it wasn’t very good at all and we didn’t return until January and I’m so glad we did - it truly is back on top form! Terry is wonderful front of house, new head chef Matt is brilliant, ably assisted by Damo and the multi talented Ellie (either in the kitchen or the restaurant) and the boys. The food, service and just the way everyone makes you feel so welcome means that we’re here fairly regularly now and long may it continue. Matt’s skill, flair and passion for his craft are evident and I look forward to seeing what Terry and the team continue to do with this gem of a restaurant.

Absolutely wonderful, food, service the whole thing. Strongly recommended this restaurant for quality service and food..

Excellent set lunch menu. The new Head Chef, Matt, came out and chatted to us as we left. Nice chap and the service team and very good too. We'll worth a visit.

Is this what the British call fine dining? The food was okay but nothing to shout from the rooftops, the 80s playlist was a total mood killer, the place itself doesn't look like much, the 50p candle on our table had no more wax, the wine glasses were mismatched, they knew 2 weeks in advance that we booked there for a special occasion (anniversary) but apparently it was just to soothe their curiosity since there wasn't even a single flower on the table... We spent 100 pounds for a shared starter and two mains, one of which was the smallest steak I've ever seen, which cost 34 pounds, had a single carrot as a side and didn't even come with a steak knife. What on earth? On the upside, staff was really nice.

The food and service was great but on a date night I don’t understand when the restaurant was half empty we were all cramped in one area .. sadly I couldn’t wait to leave as I really want to talk to my husband without having to listen to everyone else’s conversation . We left as soon as we could .

Great service but food not great- starters and main very average - dessert tried too hard - creme brûlée is my absolute favourite but they messed it about with orange sorbet and brownie and mint- ruined what is a great dessert on its own. Music was too loud- would rather have background music than 80’s disco ! Shame I had high expectations but sadly very disappointing

We do not live in the area but were looking for a lunch place after visiting Chelmsford. This unpretentious pub (from the outside) hides a refurbished very gourmet restaurant with creative options - both a set lunch is available and a la carte. Excellent service and delicious food; great wines also. A real gem...

Not stayed in rooms so unable to rate. Food and service absolutely top notch. Attentive but not over powering. Great selection of food, wines and beers. Well worth the not excessive prices. Definitely go back.

Thank you Ellie for providing such a wonderful service and for the kitchen for gorgeous food! Thoroughly recommend visiting, we enjoyed.

Visited for lunch on a rare day off. Used to be relatively regular visitors of the Flitch, and must say the food and overall experience was on the same level - delicious food, excellent service. Thank you! It was a much needed delicious lunch ☺️ Only thing I would recommend is a bell of some sort to announce “service” from the kitchen rather than shouting it (considering it’s open plan), but can’t fault anything else. See the pics - delicious! One little hint.. if you’d like to tip, I recommend tipping in cash, rather than on the bill ;) #ifyouknowyouknow

Called into the Pig & Truffle after reading the reviews onT/A. I expected something nice but our experience was fantastic the staff are so professional and the food superb, we live one hour’s drive away but can’t wait to return. Big shout out to Matt the chef he is so passionate about his cooking also to Terry for welcoming us so warmly. P. S. Try the hash browns they are incredible.

My husband booked the private dining room as a 60th surprise for me and my family. From the moment we arrived we were greeted like VIP guests. The staff were outstanding and always checking we had drinks but the Chef WOW the food was exceptional. The Chef checked on us to see if we were enjoying our food and wished me a happy birthday. All these details made my evening very special. We will certainly be back. Our visit was 2 March 2024 in the evening. Truly exceptional.

We dined in this restaurant in February . At first glance the restaurant looked amazing , had eaten there when it was the flitch of bacon , food then was Michelin starred , so good . We was very disappointed with this visit . Service average had to wait for ages for the bread and drinks , food very overpriced for the small amount you got and food was so overcooked . Had the scallops , well I think they were , they were so small and at £16 not good . Sea bass was so overcooked and so salty my wife could not eat it . Desert was not the standard i was hoping for again not slot for the price . I do not mind paying anything for a meal if it’s worth it but I came away feeling very disappointed . F

Visited for the first time on a Saturday evening and pleasantly surprised to see a busy restaurant as it is in a village! From the moment of arrival you are greeted with a friendly smile from well trained staff under the leadership of a very good, experienced manager, Terry. The ambience was perfect, the food first class and service discreet, calm and efficient. Prices reasonable for both food & drinks and the wine list was not over the top. The restaurant is modern but retains a very relaxed, homely feel. I would highly recommend a visit to this restaurant where you will feel relaxed, comfortable and satisfied on leaving. You will be sure to return as I, for are, will!!

My husband and I visited The Pig and Truffle this evening whilst we had a child-free night. From the moment we stepped inside, the experience was special - the welcome, the "picky bits" we shared before our meal and to the meal itself - everything was special. The service was very good, giving us enough time to choose our meals, and then giving us enough to let our main meals go down before dessert - very attentive without being "over the top". Thank you for a lovely evening, we will return.

Had a lovely Sunday dining experience at pig and truffle. Firstly very welcoming on arrival, had some really tasty bread with a delicious truffle infused butter. Our starters were phenomenal, scotch egg and a beautifully cooked and flavoured short rib. Vale of beef mains each which was cooked beautifully, melt In the mouth with all the trimmings. No room for desert as we were so satisfied. Delicious malbec really pleasant and flavoursome. The staff so friendly and attentive a credit to the establishment. An amazing experience will definitely dine again. Fully recommend the pig and truffle. Can't wait to try the a la carte menu.

Amazing food tonight and the service was perfect. Staff amazing. Lovely to meet and chat with Matthew Walker about the food and sourcing local produce. Treat yourselves ♥️

Very nice venue, good service and very enjoyable food. Particularly enjoyed the beetroot and goats cheese. We will return.

Great food. Fantastic front of house. Can't beat it.

The food was incredible. Perfectly cooked and presented. Cant wait to go back again and try somthing else. Really really great place. Lovely people, beautiful resturant. So pleased it's only 25 minutes away. Will look forward to returning. Cannot recommend enough

We have eaten in this restaurant a few times since it first opened as the Flitch of Bacon and each time have gone away underwhelmed and disappointed . But this time as the Pig & Truffle it has finally delivered. Fantastic menu which made choosing difficult and the food was all delicious and generous portions for the main courses. The wine ambience and service was also great with friendly and attentive staff. Congratulations and we look forward to eating there again and recommending to our friends and family . Let’s hope that this continues .

Very friendly and professional bar and kitchen staff. Every dish was outstanding. This was our first visit and we will definitely be back soon.

The Pig and Truffle is a small gastro pub with rooms in a pretty Essex village. The food is beautifully presented and tasty chosen from a well balanced menu. The prices are not too expensive and the wine list is well chosen. I found the service to be excellent and would return again.

Excellent Food and Service as always. New chef is certainly a step up and now the venue provides the finest dining option in Essex by far. Thankyou

We celebrated Christmas Eve at the Pig and Truffle with our family visiting from Italy and we had a fantastic time. We stayed in the private dining room which has a cosy and intimate atmosphere that was perfect for all of us (including two babies and a small child). Food was excellent, each course was superbly cooked and very tasty. Great choice in the menu of different specialties, we tried most dishes and were not disappointed. Terry was absolutely brilliant, super attentive and looked after us all evening with so much warmth that made us feel at home. We will be back for sure.

Well done Terry. Fantastic evening. Good food and the good atmosphere in the restaurant. Looking forward to another visit soon. Thoroughly recommend this to others.

I was a regular at the Flitch of Bacon and was surprised to see it under new management but was looking forward to giving it a try. I seen on Facebook they served breakfast but couldn’t find a menu anywhere… long story short…I’ve emailed them, commented on their posts but no response from anyone. Very disappointing and now honestly I don’t think I’ll ever be back.

It was our first visit to the Pig & Truffle & I have to say we were unfortunately underwhelmed. When we arrived for lunch the restaurant was cold inside & my mother & wife didn't warm up. We had the Sunday roast beef, which was very fatty & wasn't tender & was difficult to cut. The vegetables & yorkshire pudding were excellent with lovely flavour. My stepfather had an American coffee without milk & we had to ask twice for it, by time it came he'd drunk it as it would have been cold. The bill came & was incorrect as they had added on our desserts even though we had a two course set meal & I finally went to the bar to pay the bill as no one had come for our payment. With over £20 added for service charge, i should have spoken up but didn't as it was a special meal for my mothers birthday. Its a very nice location and most of the food was good but it was not great service & no restaurant should be cold for its guests.

Absolutely brilliant evening in the private dining room to celebrate a special family event. Terry and his team looked after us amazingly well and each of our meals was perfectly presented and delicious. The wine list is excellent and we enjoyed our stay in the lovely rooms. Thank you for an wonderful evening.

Rang up about attending for lunch and asked if they were dog friendly and they said it was fine to bring my dog. Just arrived after driving for 40 minutes to be told they wouldn’t serve me lunch as they weren’t dog friendly after all. They didn’t even offer an outside seat. Really annoyed that they lied to me on the phone.

Might be the best pub-restaurant in the world. The chef is a genius producing outstanding quality of food with creative notes. Incredible value too. Not sure why the name was changed. Hope the staff is still the same.

We enjoyed our first dinner there and will go back to try other things on the menu. Very flavourful food, clever combinations, upscale without being pretentious or fussy. Loved the pumpkin small bites, the mango in the Scotch egg was brilliant. Beetroot risotto lovely. Parmesan courgette fries nicely done. Hope they do well and not just because we want a good local place

Fabulous food,great service,very comfortable room.What more could you ask for.

Fantastic eating experience, thoroughly enjoyed the evening and will recommend to friends for sure!

My husband had heard about the Flitch of Bacon and talked about it from time to time, so I booked for our wedding anniversary. We were not disappointed. A very relaxed atmosphere and made to feel very welcomed. Througly enjoyable tasting menu, trying new foods and very grateful we had booked to sleepover so we did not have far to venture at the end of the night before our full 'Flitch' breakfast the next morning. Keep an eye on this place as lots of new and exciting plans are in the pipeline. I'll think we will be back soon to sample Sunday lunch

This was our first time trying this restaurant and chose the five course tasting menu with the optional extra course of the flitch of bacon & scallop. The food itself was perfectly cooked and the little extras you get were really nice. The staff were very friendly and had a lot of knowledge on the food. We will definitely be back.

Amazing food, service and would definitely recommend x

Only popped I quickly. Looks like it's being refurnished

A really lovely meal. The tasting menu was executed pretty well flawlessly throughout, the cooking is great.The amuse bouche snacks were lovely, although all quite rich, I was starting to think I felt quite full just after those!We added the scallop and bacon option, it was a pretty mediocre size of scallop consider there’s only one, and it’s £20 plus £15 for a glass of wine with it; but the Thai inspired broth with it was an absolute sensation. The thing that sticks with me is the sauces. They are exquisite, rich, really well done, seems like Chef has spent some time in some very classical kitchens. But rich sauce after rich sauce left us hoping for a bit of respite and a lighter course at some stage too.The wine pairings were decent although not exactly thrilling, at £85 for the flight I was hoping for something a little more special, that only really arrived with the nyetimber blanc des blancs. I could have handled a cute little 1/3 pint tankard of the lovely beer on one course however over the tiny port thimble sized serving!4/5 is somewhere I would happily return to and recommend, I know some people put 5* as long as nothing was wrong really, but for me 4/5 is no criticism. I visited the flitch before its Michelin star, during, and now after, and I have to say this most recent visit was the best.

Fantastic food in a great environment, attentive staff who ensure you have all you need

Was taken here for Mother’s Day and what a lovely treat. The food was outstanding with beautiful fresh ingredients and presented so nicely. I was made to feel very special by the staff and the whole experience was delightful. Only criticism was music a tad too loud and rocky for me. Well done. Highly recommended for a special treat.

I don't have the words. I had probably the best eating and drinking experience i'll ever have and I didn't want it to end! The food...just...well...just go see for yourself! The paired drinks menu...equally as well matched. The staff...so good at what they do...all of them! Friendly, welcoming and knowledgeable. Not just a meal but a whole experience.

Very high-quality food, with friendly, attentive, informed staff. Only quibble Is the ambience - lighting was very bright, and the music was quite intrusive for this type of restaurant

I have not been to the Flitch since the new menu launch last month and it didn't disappoint. Paul has taken it up yet another level. Stunning!!

Lovely room. Great breakfast. Staff were amazing!

Food over priced steak tough wait between courses too long avoid at all costs

Pros- Tasting dishes and accompaniments were delicious and a nice surpise- Desert was good- Front of house did an excellent job. Michelin star level service IMHO. Cons- Had to wait a little longer to be acknowledged when walking in than desired- Not enough parking- Yorkshire pudding and parsnips were very over cooked- Having to pay another £35 ontop of set menu price for choosing the beef- Was hoping for more innovation on the Sunday lunch classicOverallGood. I was expecting an exceptional experience for the price I paid and it could of been there. It was only the inconsistent quality coming from the kitchen where the execution was mixed.I would consider coming again on a special occasion but I suspected that the head chef wasn't there this time. I would want to make sure he was if I went again.

Amazing food and service. Highly recommend

Overall really good . Staff were great and some excellent dishes - smoked eel tartlette , venison and the various amuse-bouche were very very good . Freshwater prawns was a bit of a mush. But overall I liked it a lot. Good wine selection. Odd to have a tasting menu whereby there were dishes needing a supplement . But dishes that felt like they were a key part ? ( The crab and the cheese ) The tasting menu should be a journey of linked dishes that the chef wants to show you … so either include them or not.

Booked for 6pm Sat 5th Feb, a Christmas gift voucher which was an amazing present! Imagine our horror at being shown to our table when the chef bursts out of the kitchen door shouting and swearing the 'c' word...2 or 3 members of staff were clearly embarrassed and said ' ssshhhhh' however he either didn't notice or didn't care and then shouted out the 'f' word! At this point I said "Tone it down chef" and he disappeared into the kitchen. This matter was not referred to again throughout the evening, nor were we offered anything by way of an apology or compensation. Obviously, when paying £75 per head for food alone, this kind of behaviour is completely inappropriate - we've eaten at Wetherspoons and received top quality, polite treatment from the staff! I have to say that the food was delicious and beautifully presented, however after filling in the feedback card and leaving a contact number and email address - after 4 days we have had no response. For this reason, despite a 9/10 rating for the food, I cannot recommend this restaurant, which is very sad as it was a present from family who all live locally!

Superb restaurant experience. The tasting menu was so good and the service matched the high standard of the food. The price reflects the quality of the experience and would definitely consider this restaurant for another special occasion. So nice to find somewhere out of London that delivers the restaurant experience to such fantastic standards.

Great Food and service , well worth a visit

We choose this place as it was our friends favourite place to eat at….. We came for the Sunday lunch….It started well with starter's it was all enjoyed….just be prepared to pay an extra supplement of £15 for 1 scallop on top of set menu price. For the mains we choose the Château (£17.50pp supplement) 1 of the Chateaus of meat was perfect, the other cut of Chateau was very fatty. They gave us a lovely portion of roast potatoes but no one could eat them as they was over cooked & dried up disappointing. There was 5 of us eating & they gave us 3 parsnips to share. They did offer to make us some more. I don’t eat Yorkshire puddings so couldn’t comment but the opinion of the other people said they was floury. & dry inedible .The vegetable selection was poor in my opinion carrots & pickled red cabbage only. So overall the mains was very disappointing & poor. The dessert went well for 1 person in the group Miso Chocolate Cremeux no supplement for this option. I didn’t order dessert so not comment from me. 2 people ordered Soufflé which looked amazing when it arrived. When they started to eat it they said it hadn’t been cooked properly, it was tasteless unless you like the taste of eggs and it looked more like liquid goo, certainly didn’t look edible. The staff at venue where lovely & very attentive. A small box of chocolates was given for disappointing dessert. Unfortunately we left very disappointed with meal and wouldn’t return as it’s defiantly off our friends list of favourite places to eat in.

As a birthday treat, I took my husband to the Flitch of Bacon in December for a meal and an overnight stay in the Sandy and Black room. Whilst it was a luxurious experience in many ways (good food and the most comfortable mattress I have ever slept on) there was a shortage of complimentary touches that I would have expected from a high end establishment. For example whilst the fresh milk in the fridge was a nice touch, there were no snacks or biscuits to accompany the hot drinks, which was a surprise for a venue that prides itself on its food offering. The single use toiletries in the bathroom were barely sufficient for 2 adults and there was no waste bin apart from a tiny bathroom caddy. Also whilst I was asked when making the booking whether it was for a special occasion there was no recognition whatsoever whilst we were there that it was for a birthday celebration, so what was the point of asking?

Well it's worth all its five stars . Nothing is shutting this place down . Well done

OK - Christmas Lunch cannot be considered a typical dining out experience and for this establishment I sincerely hope it was not. Under the circumstances surrounding Christmas 2021 the fact that lunch was even available is to be applauded, but as the bill for 4 with a couple of bottles of wine (from the lower echelons of the wine list) was unnervingly close to a grand, a decent meal is surely not too much to ask.Unfortunately it was not forthcoming. The menu struck an uncomfortable compromise between traditional and slightly edgy and missed both marks by a country mile. With the notable exception of the beef and the sauce/gravy, the traditional elements were not well-cooked and the more adventurous elements were slightly weird at best and unpalatable at worst. Particular lowlights were a lukewarm main course served on plates that were even colder than the food, and a Christmas pudding soufflé that was fundamentally 80% raw. The final ignominy was some abominably weak cafetiere coffee that would have been considered poor in the 1980s never mind the coffee-savvy 2020s. As I say - Christmas Day is a one-off, so perhaps this experience was not typical but generally speaking there is only one thing that really matters when eating out whether it's at a burger chain or a fine-dining restaurant, and that is that the venue provides tasty food that is cooked well. In this instance The Flitch of Bacon failed to do so.

very enjoyable, been here a few times now and its not cheap but good value and an evening or lunch to be remembered, our new favourite place

This restaurant has had a few chefs over the past several years but the new Chef Patron Paul Croasdale has taken a decent restaurant and made it exceptional. He will definitely regain the Michelin Star held up until last year. Some places you visit serve food that is enjoyable and meets the expectations a Star bestows but only a few of them go beyond and give you genuinely “wow” tasting food that you remember; this restaurant is the latter.Definitely worth a journey. Try the miso pork with scallop, yum.

Probably - no definitely- the best meal we have ever had. Amazing evening from start to finish. Nice touch having a little card congratulating us on our anniversary, the service was impeccable, and had the wine flight, which was excellent. Food beautifully presented and every course absolutely delicious. Courses appeared at exactly the right pace and it meant that we had a leisurely evening enjoying our dinner. Fabulous evening, a perfect anniversary dinner.

The food was extremely good. Our first visit and we were both greatly impressed. Staff were excellent throughout too. A lovely experience all round. Perhaps dim the lights slightly?? This is a quality venue and a true culinary experience. We had a taster menu that was proper restaurant food - no way to create at home. Very highly recommended.

The food was delicious and the service brilliant. I thoroughly recommend for any gathering of friends, business or family.

Had excellent meal here last night, Staff were really good and attentive, food exceptional and good value. Really nicely decorated inside with lovely seating, and the round table near the wood burner would be a great place to sit, Deffo would recommend.

Visited for Sunday lunch. Greeting was a bit confusing, seated in the bar area, didn't take a name and took an age to take a drink order, plenty of wines but not much choice of anything else. Same could be said of the main menu, unless you wanted fish or the veggie option then there was only roast beef which incurred a massive supplement charge, food was ok but nothing that blew me away for the high price and certainly missing a few things I'd expect as standard on a higher end Sunday Lunch (decent gravy!!!). Ambiance and decor felt second rate. Serving staff were great, very attentive and friendly. Glad a made the effort to try this place but in my opinion no where near good enough for the price.

It's so lovely when you find a little gem like the Flitch of Bacon. We decided to go as a family to celebrate my birthday. We decided to stay over night and enjoy the complete package. We arrived a little early and was immediately greeted by Hugo with a beaming smile and then met Josh and Paul. As we arrived early, we decided to head off the Saffron Walden for a look around and then return to freshen up and prepare for the feast ahead. We decided to go for the tasting menu and sample the selection of food on offer. This was accompanied by the flight of wine option to enjoy with each meal. The food was cooked and seasoned to perfection. Beautiful textures worked in harmony with the array of flavours each course provided. Josh ( front of house) then gave a run down on each course and informed us about it's origins etc. As mentioned, each course was accompanied by a wine. If I'm totally honest, many of the wines really didn't do the food justice and they were a little on the budget side. I think they still need to work on the wine / food balance and Perhpas look at other options. Also the quality of each wine could of been better. A good course deserves a good wine. But I suspect the restaurant has to balance opening good wine and then the further on sale and profit margin etc. But I'm afraid this needs to be done. The atmosphere is warm, friendly a cosy without being pretentious . You were given space to enjoy your dinner and conversation. The desserts were equally amazing which rounded off a superb food combination. We stayed in one of the rooms available at the Flitch. The room was very nicely decorated and clean and comfortable. However, the shower wasn't great with only lukewarm water. I did try trying to adjust the setting, but sadly to no avail. There is no telephone in the room so I called using my mobile phone to raise an issue. Unfortunately on numerous attempts the restaurant phone went to answerphone. Anyhow , in the morning the breakfast was beautifully presented and the eggs were so golden with a real depth of taste. I'm gluten free and they managed my requirements perfectly . Would I go back, yes I would most certainly, but I think we would choose a bottle of wine next time over the flight of wines. Lovely experience and genuinely nice people !

What amazing food! We had the taster menu. Being a vegetarian I wasn't too sure what to expect. However, the vegetarian option was truly delicious and exceeded all expectations. I will definitely be visiting this place again. We also had an overnight stay which made the experience absolutely wonderful.

We visited the flitch of bacon mid-week for dinner and the food was fab. All the courses were delicious, but special mention for the lobster spiced soup, bread, pollock and miso chocolate caramel. We also enjoyed a glass or two of Nyetimber as we love English wine. It is expensive but you get what you pay for and the food and service were definitely worth it. Would highly recommend.

Attended one of their Gourmet Club evenings on a Tuesday and the food was amazing, as was the service. Will definitely return for another event with friends and looking forward to our Sunday lunch we have booked in a couple of weeks.

Brilliant and imaginative tasting menu. Choices for additional courses if you are hungry! Overnight stay essential if you choose the flight of wines accompanying the tasting menu. Room well appointed for a one night stay, and bed very comfortable. Very quiet location. There appears to be a car park opposite which is not in use and on-street parking was necessary.Secure car parking would be preferable.

Over priced, OTT menue and sterile. Arrived for a drink and possibly a snack (their website says you can come for a lunch time drink). They look like a tatty pub from, the even more tatty kerbside elevation. Parking is not exactly available in any quantity. Drinks: beer, only fizy pressurised stuff and limited to two options at that. Wine, two glasses equates to the price of a reasonably priced bottle. No-one else on premises. I was giving the place a look see, as our wedding anniversary was due very soon. We didn't return and consumed 0 on the day. A wif of bleach was all that was missing to make it truly awful.

This place is a real treasure - Superb interesting food coupled with wonderful professional service. Would recommend without question.

Superb interesting food - puts many top London restaurants to shame. Wonderful attentive service - must visit - would highly recommend.

The food was truly stellar, the chef has obviously realised every part of the menu; flavours were harmonious, intense when required and presentation simple, unfussy, but every bite delicious. My lunch buddy and I often dine out in London but would be hard pressed to recall a better meal anywhere as good as our lunch. Staff were all friendly and most efficient without being intrusive. I only wished I lived a little closer (I am in south west London)

Food was very average, with poorly balanced flavours, texture and confusing ingredients. The aim of food is to obtain nutritional benefits that are flavoursome. Why add bitter contents which is a natural warning that food is bad? With not a sensible vegetable or pulse to be seen and significantly lower that 30 grams of protein in the incredibly small portions for the meal experience, it was fundamentally a nutritional joke. Wine selection especially on reds was the poorest I have ever seen at a restaurant in the UK and grossly overpriced. The dining experience was a disaster and rudely priced at £380 for two with room for an incredible culinary muddle and noisy room. The only saving grace was the staff that were polite, courteous and attentive. The room was bellow 4 star standard and priced at £88 per night on the internet with its ridiculously small TV and oversized Clock radio that looked like something out of the 70s. It was noisy too with poor sound insulation. But the biggest problem I have is the oversized bill. With a room of £65 per night on the internet and food at £65 per person, and horrible red wine grossly overpriced at £60 per bottle, I ended up with a bill of £500 pounds for two people. To be honest it was a nightmare and a total rip off. Not recommended and I am writing this to hopefully saving some other poor souls for what I can only describe as one of the worst nights for a long time.

Amazing food and service, the flavours were incredible! Can’t wait to go back. Next time we will book a room so we can also sample the wine 🍷🙌

We celebrated my mums birthday here. We were a party with a mixture of ages from 7 to 70. The chef was incredibly good with our needs and adapted our menu so everyone was happy, which I was so grateful for. The staff were incredibly kind, fun, knowledgeable and welcoming. The food was absolutely delicious. We really loved it. Only thing that people should be aware of is that parking is limited so arrive a little early because of that. Also the head chef is visible (and audible) from certain areas of the restaurant and a passionate chap! He swore a couple of times which we heard from our seats. Most of my party found this brilliant - particularly my two boys - who felt that they’d had a Ramsey-esque Hell’s Kitchen experience and have told everyone enthusiastically about it ever since. One older member of our table however didn’t like it so much. Overall really great experience. Thank you so much :-)

Had the taster menu with all optional extras. Absolutely stunning! The courses are perfectly balanced and timed, and its more of an experience that just a meal. The staff were welcoming and knowledgeable about the all aspects of the food, from source to plate. The restaurant has a laid back vibe and you can chill for a few hours enjoying the most amazing food and expertly selected drinks. "The End" came with an apple sticky toffee pudding which was the perfect finale. It was out wedding anniversary and it absolutely made our day. Can't speak too highly enough of this place and look forward to visiting again.

An excellent meal. Perfect in every regard. Hope to be back soon. Value for money and the portion size was just right.

We last visited when The Flitch’s kitchen was headed by Tim Allen and we wondered how it might have changed under Paul Croasdale. We needn’t have had any concerns. We booked in for the tasting menu for two, and I took the accompanying wine flight. My non-drinking wife was persuaded by the idea of a nettle cordial, made in-house by waiter Josh. Our individual menus (adjustments had been made for intolerances) were at the table when we arrived - so far, so good. Dinner was to be six courses plus and optional seventh course of Flitch of Bacon - how could we refuse? It turns out, the were a couple of additions before the first course, a variety of amuses bouches, and a light broth: delicious. The first “proper” course, lobster and tomatoes in a lightly spiced tom yum broth was amazing. The spices in the broth were so balanced and light, and yet very much there. What chilli was there seemed to be the tiniest amount of a really strong variety, like a solid punch through a velvet pillow. Brilliant. Hugo, barman and sommelier, served each wine (and one beer) choice, explaining the provenance and profile of each, and seemed genuinely interested in how each has gone. In fact, this was a theme: we sat close to the kitchen and chef Paul was also keeping a keen eye on how it was going and seeking feedback - no complaints from us. These were all superbly crafted courses. Case in point, the pollock with flavours that shouldn’t go together but, when you combine them on your fork at the same time, so do! The salt aged duck was stunning. It all was. And the curated wine choices only made a memorable meal even better. If you’re look for a traditional three course meal, with meat and two veg, this place may not appeal. The good news is, there are tons of places that can do that wonderfully and for a lot less money. What the flitch is trying to do is a lot more rare, especially in this part of England: take stunning local seasonal ingredients, some foraged locally, and combine them in ways that just make them sing in a setting that lacks pretence and formality and where the staff are truly enthusiastic about what they produce. It must only be a matter of time before they get that star back. It’s not cheap, but we won’t forget the experience in a hurry and will certainly be back when we can.

Had a fantastic lunch. We had the tasting menu which was superb. Staff were very attentive throughout. Not the cheapest of places but just the place to go for that special occasion.

We had a lovely visit on a Friday lunchtime which meant it was very quiet, with only a couple of other diners there. We opted for the tasting menu which was very rich. I'm really glad the waiter persuaded me to have the dessert as it was on the tasting menu rather than changing it for an alternative as it was nothing like I imagined and one of my favourite dishes on the menu! The other stand out dish was the mackerel, I could eat the coleslaw it was served with for days.

Fantastic Food and the Wine pairing was perfect. the Staff were helpful even though struggling as lack of them. If you haven’t been you must go. Our first time but we will be back.

My goodness, I think we’ve eaten at The Flitch at least once every month since it re-opened; lucky us! Today did not disappoint. Another great tasting menu with a few old favourites (chicken parfait is so good) and some exciting new dishes such as pollock rillete (sensational), liver and smoked eel (an understatement, just fab) and many other great dishes. These guys work so hard both in the kitchen and front of house and really bring a personal touch. For them it’s clearly so important first and foremost for their clientele to enjoy their food and the experience. We’re already talking about when we can go back again!

Great lunch from the set menu. Nice selection of English wines by the glass. Truffle butter was lovely.

had a table of 8 situated in the bar area. It was a nice day and had pre drinks outside,The male waiters were very good, polite, knowledgeable and friendly. The young female serving waiters could benefit from a bit more training.The Sunday lunch menu was very different to what I am used to but most of us enjoyed it. The bread was very good. Prices onhigh side and parking can be a problem

We were looking forward to stopping here today for some drinks after a lovely long walk. We one large lemonade plus two small ones and my husband had a beer- we were charged £16 for the lemonades. We were actually shocked beyond belief - I automatically assumed there must have been a mistake but my husband produced the itemised bill; my large lemonade cost £8 and the two small lemonades for our children cost £4 each. There is no way you can possibly justify charging this amount of money for soft drinks- who do you think you are?

Hosted a business dinner for two. Wanted a local venue for my guest and I.OMG-what an experience…welcome, service, quality of food and wine absolutely outstanding. Had the tasting menu(including the pork belly) and wine flight. Pricey, but absolutely worth every penny (or pound!).Was actually good value bearing in mind the quality and knowledge of the waiting staff and sommelier (who was brilliant)!Highly recommended.Will be back for Sunday lunch in the Autumn.Thanks for a great evening Team Flitch of Bacon!

I'm always wary of giving 5 star reviews as it implies something is perfect or the best of the best. Nothing in life is perfect and everyone's experience will differ day to day. I'm giving 5 stars because out experience was flawless. The staff are wonderful, helpful and knowledgeable. They'll do their best to accommodate all requests and if you chuck a last minute Lobster allergy at them, the will do their best to tailor the dish to fit that need. My only real criticism is the parking situation in the village, its non existent and must get pretty annoying for the locals. The restaurant is bright, clean, but has a homely feel to it. All to often fine dining can get lost in excessive pretention and stale dining environments. The food was outstanding. Tasting menus are not a task to be undertaken lightly, so don't go in expecting to breeze through. Every dish was a delight, and while not everyone hit top marks there were no duds or sub par offerings. The food was cooked perfectly and presented beautifully. The courses were delivered at a good pace, allowing you to appreciate the previous but not left waiting for the next course. We were definitely full to the brim by the end and couldn't eat another bite, but we weren't feeling like gluttons. This is a truly special place for one of those rare ultra indulgent treats. We will be back for sure!

Excellent food and service, fantastic.

My fiance and I visited this place a few weeks ago for a birthday meal. The place was simple yet quirky and very clean and tidy. At the time we were seated Stings "Roxanne" was playing which I found slightly odd for a michelin star restaurant and we could clearly all conversations behind the cooking counter as well as the kitchen staff shouting what orders were needed. The staff were very pleasant and hard working, yet their uniforms and footwear were untidy. I asked whether the music could be changed to something more chilled or adequate like jazz. I was told this was not possible and the next song that followed was "highway to hell". We had the taster menu and the food was lovely, but sad to say not at the standard I would expect from a michelin star. I know the above may seem quite picky, but my fiance and I have visited many michelin star restaurants and they have always blown us away. For us it's not just about the food, it's about the lighting, the decor and music, the ambiance in general and sadly we did not feel this place met the standards we had seen in other michelin star restaurants.

Really nice quite contemporary venue set in the Essex countryside. Food was amazing and good value for the tasting menu. Well worth a visit.

My parents organised their 50th wedding anniversary celebrations here and it was *chefs kiss*. The multi course meal was superb, the drinks were exceptional. The rooms, we had all 3, were beautifully furnished. The breakfast menu was delightful. All in all an experience to be remembered for some time. *repeated chefs kiss*

Wow. What can I say. An absolutely wonderful experience at The Flitch of Bacon. I find some of the other reviews bewildering. The general manager (sorry I didn't catch your name), Hugo and the rest of the front of staff were extremely knowledgeable and attentive without being pretentious and overbearing. The food was beautifully prepared and presented and with great skill. Absolute joy. The wines matched perfectly the individual courses and the sake with the brulee/sorbet inspired. The sparkling Italian red with the soufflé was exceptional Just wish we could get hold of a bottle for ourselves.We stayed the night and the rooms were fabulous, clean and the breakfast was great. Loved the idea of belly pork instead of bacon.We had a marvellous experience at the Flitch of Bacon and will most definitely be returning and everyone involved with the restaurant should be so proud of the work they do and the services they provide.

Our Second visit to the Flitch of bacon. Decided to sample the Sunday lunch menu this time around. Best Sunday lunch I’ve had. The pork and eel starter was beautiful, great mixing of elements that came together beautifully. My wife had the salmon which was also amazing. The main Sunday lunch is very well put together, some great accompaniments along side the chosen meat or fish. Loved the cabbage with bacon crisp and the cheese faggot. And then came dessert, we had the soufflé and the fig leaf tart. The fig leaf tart was very refreshing as a whole, the tart was creamy and rich and blended amazingly with the strawberries and ice cream, a great dessert. And the soufflé my wife had was perfect with wonderful bitter chocolate sorbet. I’m not a huge soufflé fan but this really was very nice indeed. Service was also very very good, every member of staff that attended to us was friendly and very attentive. Cannot pick any faults. Not sure what lead to the loss of their Michelin star as the experience we just had was every bit as good as the last time we visited before the star loss and every bit as good as a number of other michelin starred restaurants we have dined at over the years. Definitely deserves its star back. Thanks for a great Sunday lunch.

Very disappointing, food lacked seasoning, bland flavours with some strange combinations. Greeting on arrival poor . Far too expensive and 12.5 service charge not warranted. Has lost its Michelin star and certainly not up to this standard.

Really great summer lunch menu.

My son and I came along for lunch and had already opted for the taster menu on the car journey. We arrived at a pretty restaurant with a tardis interior and were greeted by very attentive staff. We had an unexpected surprise which was a quails egg each which was delightful. A lovely glass of English Sparkly. We were very excited to receive the first dish which looked and tasted amazing. Then the surprises kept coming. I would have no hesitation in recommending the Flitch of Bacon to my friends for the food, ambiance and great staff. I doubt that the Flitch will be waiting too long to get that star back.

Probably the best food I have had outside of London for years. Great service, beautiful presentation and most importantly taste was amazing. We had 5 course lunch tasting menu £50 per head. Good selection of wine and some classic cocktails. Can’t wait to go back. Parking is on street wasn’t to much of a problem, we found parking 100m away.

Was looking forward to sampling a Michelin Star restaurant for a get together with my two best friends, but felt really let down. Despite being almost empty we were put into a narrow corridor by the till close to the only other occupied table in the restaurant. I was shocked to find (in the 21st Century) there was no vegetarian option on their Sunday lunch menu, despite one being published online (which is why I booked it). They did make me a vegetarian dish, which was nice enough, but rather dry as there was no gravy option. My friend also said the minuscule portion of pollock served with her dinner was absolutely tasteless. I was charged a whopping £4.50 for a glass of lime & soda!! Oh and no serviettes... (problem with the laundry apparently).

Brilliant 6 course tasting menu recommended. Great chef and service guaranteed.

We visited for lunch and wanted to sit on the terrace but it was far too hot and their parasols were too small to provide adequate shade so we requested a table inside, which meant we now had to have the lunch rather than the terrace menu. The food was excellent with very different taste combinations and at £35 for 3 courses not unreasonably priced however, the drink prices were very steep, £6.50 a beer and £13 a single gin and tonic. Service was good but for some reason staff have been taught to be a little aloof and not very engaging, which spoilt the experience somewhat.