Vita Bella in Chelmsford

26/4/25 We came for lunch, it was excellent (as usual). Cannot find fault with anything at Vita Bella, always exceptional food and service. 28/3/25. Yet another visit to the best restaurant in Essex. The food, drinks, staff and atmosphere are always excellent. 14/2/25. Four of us came to the Valentine's Lunch, it was excellent. We are regular visitors to Vita Bella, we've never had a disappointing meal. This must be the best restaurant in Essex. 12/12/2024 Four of us came for a Festive Lunch. Two who had never eaten here before, said their meals were excellent. I think I've said everything there is to say about this excellent restaurant. Don't take my word for it, visit Vita Bella, you won't be disappointed. 7/12/24. Eight of us came for lunch (again) Everything was 5* (as usual) Our favourite restaurant. Highly Recommended. 28/9/24 Eight of us came for lunch, the food and restaurant, were excellent as usual. Food 5* Service 5* Atmosphere 5* Staff 5*. Vita Bella is without doubt, the best restaurant we've ever been too. Excellent value for money. 14/2/24 We came for the Valentine's lunch, it was excellent. From the moment you arrive at the restaurant, until you leave, the staff cannot do enough for you. As usual, the food was well cooked, nicely presented and hot. This was the best lunch I've ever had. This restaurant is so good, that we treat ourselves to lunch on a regular basis. 24/8/24 - Lunch. Food 5* Service 5*. Atmosphere 5* 10/6/22 Came with our family to celebrate our wedding anniversary. We had a great time from start to finish. There is an extensive food and wine menu. The food was very nicely presented, tasty and hot. The staff are very professional, attentive (but not over powering) friendly and polite. All the staff made a very special occasion, perfect. Recommended

First time visit for 5 of us for my wife’s birthday and loved every minute from the moment we arrived. The owner made us all feel incredibly welcome and took time out to chat to us throughout the evening. The food was incredible and cooked and presented perfectly. We all came away very, very impressed and it definitely will not be my last visit. You can tell that there’s a lot of personal pride in the running of this restaurant and it really does make it stand out. Thank you to everyone for making such a special evening for us all 🙂

We booked a table Saturday lunchtime to celebrate our son's engagement. We have been a few times in the past and enjoyed each visit. Therefore, we decided to bring our future daughter-in-law and her parents for luch at this special place. Once again we were not disappointed the food and the service were excellent. Looking forward to our next vist very soon.

friday 28th feb.took jacqui for dinner as was her birthday.what she didnt know was that our daughter and son in law would be there as a surprise.the boss showed us to a table for two before my wife twigged her daughter was at the next table.the staff made sure we had a great evening and that her birthday was special.as usual the food was great and the service exceptional.we had a nice chat with the boss before we left.he is a very friendly man.shame for him that man u got knocked out of fa cup ha ha

Yet Another Excellent Sunday Lunch,I Cannot Fault Anything,Just One Thing,We Are Very Reluctant To Go Elsewhere, As The Vita Bella "Bar" Has Been Set Very High Indeed,( Mike,FaceofRayleigh)

We have always prized Vita Bella as our favourite restaurant. Unfortunately on the special occasion of my daughter's 65th birthday, party of 18, the standard of food and service was not acceptable I emailed them on the night of the celebration outlining my disappointment and listing the failures. I have subsequently phoned on 2 occasions to request a response, but to date have not had the courtesy of a reply. Staff are very accommodating when booking, but have no customer care when problems arise. Very disappointing for such a prestigious restaurant. Six of the guests have made several visits and highly recommended Vita Bella, but this reaction to our concerns have painted it in a different light. A Vita Bella gift voucher was purchased for our daughter prior to this event and I just hope her experience is better than ours. 😪

Exquisite food, with charming and professional service.

Excellent as always, thanks Chip!

The staff go above and beyond. Superb food and service. Highly recommended .

Went here for Valentine's Day was amazing all round food was the best I've ever had will definitely go again ✨✨✨

Amazing food and very attentive but not invasive service. The host is very friendly and the service staff have got it exactly right. This is a place where you feel very special. It’s a cut above. I’ve never been to a better restaurant.

Just been to your lovely restaurant for Valentine's lunch. Have been here before but not for a while. Was not disappointed from our arrival in the car park to leaving. Service was excellent, every single element of our meal was devine, ( Valentine's lunch menu) - beautifully cooked and served. Will definitely return again.

Went last night for my mother in laws 80th birthday 6 of us,fantastic venue lovely greeting atmosphere was great food and service superb will definitely be visiting again,made a special night even more special

Great times. Been here for a few personal birthdays and it’s always really enjoyable. Great food, with great service and general overall comfortable vibe. Vegetable soup was the daily starter option and we gladly accepted that, rich winter root veritable soup with blue cheese and a few rolls. YES. Food was distinct and flavoursome, I had pasta carbonara, my wife chicken Arrabiatta and my son a garlic pizza bread, which essentially served as a full on pizza and was delicious with garlic and cheese. Had a few desserts, with the highlight being a the strawberry panna cotta. As it was my birthday I had some ice cream and a dry ice show, which was fun. Wonderful service, very friendly with my 7 year old who had a cool time as well.

Went to our first gala night dinner and had a fantastic time. Service was great. Food was beautiful. No wonder this place is so popular.

Ordered steak. It was chewy and overcooked. Asked for medium/rare and got a well done bit of shoe leather.

First visit this year unlike us! but illness prevented us coming back sooner, we were greeted by staff and owners. food as per usual was great and restaurant has always a great atmosphere. We always have fixed lunch menu as suits us but on special occasions we splash out on al a carte.just a lovely touch of Italy x

Fantastic dining experience at Vita Bella in East Hanningfield. The food was delicious - all our dishes were incredible - the fact that you can twist the dish to make it to your liking it’s great and they’re very accommodating on that part! The staff and manager were incredibly warm and attentive throughout the night. Ignore the sore losers that gave 1 or 2 stars( they’re obviously feel big behind the screen and would only say something - not constructive 🤣 behind their backs - tut tut tut ) - this place is top-notch and definitely worth a visit!⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

We visited Vita Bella on Wednesday to celebrate my birthday.What an amazing evening we had the owner gave us a lovely greeting as did all the waiting staff ,food was amazing we were so full but had a dessert to share omg the presentation blew my mind and a gift of chocolate for my birthday topped it off thankyou very much

Stunning night out with three generations. Treated so beautifully to celebrate my Dad's birthday. Thank you x

We visited Bella Italia this evening WOW from the minute we arrived we were greeted by a man in the car park who was very pleasant ,the greeting in the restaurant was so welcoming and pleasant ,the service was first class as was the food , the whole ambience was amazing Thankyou

I was really excited to try Vita Bella for over a year. Everyone we spoke to were saying how amazing it was. Honestly, It was average at best. The atmosphere, where was the Italian music? The white gloves? It's not white glove service. It's missing a beat with the "relaxed in between vibe" The food Honestly, it was so bland and boring for what we paid, I was incredibly annoyed. We were better off going to London for the evening. My husband ended up eating my pasta because his dish was small compared to mine, and he was starving. It was a disappointing birthday dinner. There was no point in making a comment on the evening because it wasn't going to get re-cooked better. My advice to anyone going is, don't get wrapped up in the hype, it was average food at London prices. I hate to leave bad reviews, but I think locals hype it up far too much. Perhaps it used to be better? Don't know, but I wouldn't return. EDIT: The response from the business Owner tells me everything I need to know about how he runs his business and treats his customers. Unprofessional with a side of sarcasm.

Excellent food & exemplary service.

Expensive but wonderful Staff very attentive but not intrusive Food excellent Small carpark but always someone on hand to help you park

Amazing service as soon as you walk through the door, infact the carpark attendant was very good. Service exceptional but not over bearing , and the food was superb. They thanked you for visiting them. Will definitely go again.

Myself and 3 friends visited fpr a Christmas get-together with a birthday to celebrate too. It was my first time here and I was completely blown away by the incredible service from start to finish. The parking attendant was fantastic and set the tone for the evening with the warmest of welcomes. Every member of staff was a delight and the restaurant was beautifully decorated for the season. I enjoyed the antipasto and a pasta special with a mocktail - all was perfect. Our birthday girl was delighted to receive a special surprise dessert and a bar of Vita Bella chocolate to take home. The restaurant owner also visited our table which was such a lovely touch. Thank you all so much, we will absolutely be back soon!

Beautiful three course Sunday lunch with the family. Food lovely as always. Service always attentive and staff always polite. Thoroughly recommend Vita Bella you won't be dissapointed.

the six of us had a fabulous time last night.we have heen coming for the last six years on christmas eve it starts christmas of for us.the food was great the service the best anywhers.the only downside is the boss supporfs man united.

Myself and my daughters enjoyed a superb dinner this evening. We couldn’t fault it in any way; excellent service from start to finish, and three courses of delicious food and flavours. 10/10

Always absolutely perfect! I have lost count of the amount of meals I have enjoyed here at Vita Bella. Everything about this restaurant is always on point, from the moment you arrive and receive a friendly welcome to time you leave. The interior is always very clean and tidy and staff are lrese ted immaculately. The food is always delicious and as fresh as it could possibly be. I particularly enjoy a cigar and whiskey after dinner and can enjoy in the terrace that is also covered if it is unfortunately raining. In my opinion this is the best restaurant in Essex by a mile. Thoroughly enjoy each and every visit. Highly reccomedned.

Pleasant surroundings, friendly service and wonderful food We will be back !

UNREAL experience, went there for the first time and had such a great time, the service was so good and everyone was attentive, the vibes were immaculate and I couldn’t recommend it more!!

Immaculate dinning atmosphere, i visited vitabella for my birthday dinner upon arrival the staff were so welcoming and kind, everyone made sure that everything went smoothly, the food and drinks were absolutely amazing. I had the Lobster linguine and special soup of the day as a starter, for desert i had some delicious pistachio ice cream which was the perfect way to end the night. I also received a complimentary in house made chocolate bar as birthday present which was the cutest. I will definitely be visiting again as it was a wonderful experience and great atmosphere, amazing staff and tasty food!

This place is genuinely average. Not sure what all the fuss is about. Many a better Italian either in Maldon or towards London. Rude as well.

Wonderful restaurant. We entered the quite full car park, and were met by a staff member to guide us to a space - never seen that before - brilliant. On entering, the staff were so welcoming, taking our coats, seating us and opening up our napkins for us. Food was great, with a fab selection of food and wine. The staff were super attentive without being "in your face", and made us feel special. The restaurant was quite full, but it didn't feel rushed. I felt the cost was reasonable considering the level of service, and will definitely be back..

Back again, second time this month. You cannot fault the exceptional service and food at Vita Bella. We have been coming to Vita Bella since it opened and our children, who are now adults, always want to spend special times here. We are normally the last people to leave as the experience is something that you want to savour and keep going. I cannot thank Vita Bella enough for making every visit fantastic.

I really do not understand the hype about this place! White gloves do not make good service, engaging staff make good service. My Wife's lasagne was bland. My spicy prawn spaghetti was awful, the prawns were like bullets. I could and can cook both much better myself. I do not mind paying for quality as long as I get value for money, and this place really is not value for money.

Wonderful food! The staff are very attentive and focused on their customers having the best experience. Thank you for a lovely lunch.

Amazing food and excellent service. Would highly recommend

Extremely average and quite disappointing based on the really good reviews, I can only assume it's benefiting from there not being much else around. I definitely wouldn't recommend travelling to go here. Update - I thought I was pretty fair giving this average restaurant 3 stars but the owners response warrants changing it. Avoid this place, it's really average and you'd have a much better night going into some of the Italian restaurants in Chelmsford such as Amalfi Bistro or Olio on the Green.

Been here many times, it's the best restaurant in essex

What an absolutely amazing experience from the moment we arrived to the moment we left. While some establishments often try too hard, this was certainly not the case and goes down as possibly the most enjoyable meal experience ever! The staff were like a well oiled machine and little areas often overlooked were dealt with seamlessly and professionally, at times you didn't even notice them. The food quality and presentation was out of this world, as was the atmosphere and decor. While we had an absolutely amazing experience with family, some who had not been seen for many years, it's just a shame myself and my fiancé don't live locally! That said, when visiting the area I'm sure we'll be popping in! We can't thank you all enough.

First time visiting today and well what a place. Staff are very friendly from the second you walk through the door. They show you to your sit and hang your coats for you. The table is wiped after every course. Lovely people and the best food I've had in ages

Having had a response from the restaurant, I’m glad I posted this honest review. 👍They have clearly justified our thoughts and feelings. Have a great weekend everyone Post : Went for wife’s birthday. We always have a good time whenever we go but, felt the staff were bothersome and the restaurant is clearly overhyped. I will not be returning. Food was warm, table was basic, continuing interrupting and rude comments from the host. Would not recommend pre dinner drinks, to close to annoying host , too small and I couldn’t move chair without being moaned at. The layout made me a target for the fire exit. Dress code was not as expected as others turned up in ripped jeans and t shirts. I would not recommend this restaurant.

Eaten here 3 times at different times. Always find the food disappointing. Beats me how the restaurant is so popular with good reviews…. Must be because I’m a good cook and keep it simple without over flavouring… I value my health.

Another beautiful meal at Vita Bella with the family. Service and food excellent as always. Thank you to our favourite restaurant see you again soon.

From the moment we turned into the car park the service begins. The warm welcome we received when we walked through the door continues from all the staff as we were shown to our table. As always the quality of the food is fabulous, and the attentive friendly staff really do ensure everything is perfect. This is not our first visit to this stunning restaurant but every time we drive out of the car park we are always planning our next visit. Thank you Vita Bella.

The wonderful place. Everything is like in Italy. Staff -Costin very kind.

It was our first visit and to say we were blown away is an understatement. As soon we entered the car park the staff helping us park were a so friendly, the food, staff and ambience were exceptional can’t wait to go back

Celebrated a birthday today yet again enjoyed fantastic food, faultless service, hats off to Vita Bella you have customer service absolutely nailed, throughly enjoying experience cannot wait to return.

We celebrated a birthday today and went for lunch, we have visited a few times before and never disappointed, the food was amazing, the service the best you will get anywhere, the whole experience is faultless, can’t wait to go back again.

An exceptional experience. I chose this restaurant to celebrate my husband’s birthday with our family, and for our first visit, we were thoroughly impressed. From the outstanding service to the delicious food and wine, everything was perfect. They even graciously accommodated the birthday cake I baked, serving it on a beautiful platter without any hassle—something many restaurants no longer do. I wholeheartedly recommend Vita Bella, especially for special occasions. It’s a fantastic spot with amazing Italian cuisine, excellent wine, and a great location.

This is my second visit this magnificent restaurant, first time I was at vitta Bella restaurant 4 years ago and I was impressed,but this visit was even better! Excellent food excellent service,we will definitely come back soon again,I give you 5 star ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 👏👏👏

Food is fantastic, I highly recommend it to everyone.

We went to Vita Bella on Sunday at lunchtime to celebrate our 12th wedding anniversary, and we loved it. From the minute you arrive you feel welcome as the staff are all so attentive and welcoming. There are so many little touches that you don't get normally. When we booked, we said it was an anniversary, and they remembered this, so congratulated us on arrival. They treated us to chocolates and a dry ice display later in honour of it, too. The food was absolutely delicious. We both had rib eye steak, which melted in the mouth. I had the dolcela sauce, which complimented it brilliantly. The star of the show for me was definitely the panettone Italian bread and butter pudding with custard. Absolutely out of this world. I would rate this restaurant as outstanding and can't wait for my next visit.

Amazing place, wonderful staff, gorgeous food. Definitely going back and would highly recommend

Oh wow, WHAT A FIND! We were looking for somewhere to eat en torte home and stumbled on this place. There were about half hour to close, but welcomed us in. The gentleman was super friendly and attentive and nothing was too much trouble. The food was sublime, the best sea bass I have ever eaten. We both said it was the best meal we’d had that year! Can’t wait to go back. Fabulous!

This was my first time going to Vita Bella and it was such a lovely experience. Came here with 4 friends for my birthday celebrations and the service was excellent! The staff were so attentive and they made me feel very looked after and special. Definitely recommend the seafood risotto which I had and my friends said their dishes were amazing also. Thank you so much to all the staff for looking after us, we loved it.

Lovely meal at Vita Bella, one of our favorite places to eat. Food was excellent as was the service. Would definitely recommend. Booking required as can get very busy.

I enjoyed this visit a lot! We have been before and it is excellent every time .It was my birthday so I had extra special treatment but it's always good.The food ,staff and whole atmosphere is such a delight I can only say treat yourself to a good meal out!

Vita Bella is our favourite restaurant of all time love Kathy & Steve Robson ❤️

Excellent service and delicious food and drink!!!

What a great restaurant, food excellent, staff super friendly, great layout, absolutely faultless. Can’t wait to go back.

Vita Bella. This is not a review where I post pictures of the dishes or gush over the quality of the food. There just isn’t enough words or images that would convey are pleasure at visiting Vita Bella. From the second we pulled into the car park to when we left 3 hours later, we felt like we were the only guests there. We had one the best meals we’ve ever had with service and culinary delights that were better than some 2 & 3 star Michelin star restaurants, Italian style. . Simply just superb! Thank you….. perhaps I gushed a little…. Sorry. I will especially mention the car park attendant who we first met when we arrived, who set up our whole evening of delight, with such a warm and welcoming disposition and characterful charm that is so rare in these modern times. Thank you.

this is the best place to eat.i couldnt get away with not bringing jacqui here for our anniversary. we look forward to christmas eve.

Went to this restaurant on Wednesday 2nd October 2024 for lunch with friends. The service was excellent, attentive without hovering, and the food was delicious. We will definitely be going back

Took 14 of my nearest and dearest family to vita bella after our wedding. Couldn't have picked a better venue. Staff were amazing, super friendly and attentive. They really made the occasion incredibly relaxing. Every dish served was exquisite and the drinks and cigars really topped it all off. Excellent value, excellent restaurant thankyou. Made our day very special indeed.

Had a very lovely meal here with friends. Everything about it was lovely, first time ive been but will definetly go back.

First time in this restaurant and I loved it! The food was delicious, the staff friendly and happy.

Went on Monday for our son’s Wedding lunch. Vita Bella catered brilliantly for the 15 of us. Food was unbelievable and the service was first class as usual. Thanks to all the staff that made it such a great day for us all.

I recently visited Vita Bella for the first time with my beautiful girlfriend, and it was an unforgettable experience. From the moment we arrived in the car park, the staff went above and beyond with their attentive service, setting the tone for a wonderful evening. They truly delivered quality service to a high standard. The food was absolutely excellent—each dish was beautifully prepared and full of flavor. The atmosphere was both elegant and charming, creating the perfect setting for a special night out. Overall, Vita Bella exceeded our expectations, and I will definitely be returning. Highly recommended for anyone looking for a top-notch dining experience. I have scored many points with my girlfriend resulting in a Vita Bella ;-)

What a place this is. Great food with a wonderful atmosphere, plus the staff were a pleasure to talk too and they were very attentive, plus I had the pleasure of having a conversation with the owner and after a few moments you understand his passion for the place and how his enthusiasm and kindness rubs off on all that work for him. I felt like I was royally , the way my partner and I were being welcomed and treated. If you want to feel like this, head to Vita Bella and I guarantee that you want be disappointed

What an amazing experience from start to finish! Carparking attendant found us a space and guided me in. The service was top-notch. White gloved, friendly waiters and waitresses. The owner was super friendly and made time to talk to us. The food was incredible. Generous portions & lovely presentation throughout. Well balanced starter with good size portions of all the elements. Perfectly cooked pork belly with all the trimmings. The most divine kiwi pannacotta, beautifully displayed. We had the 3 course meal off the lunch menu. £34 each, Very good value for money for the level of service and quality of the whole experience. Strongly recommend!!

Fabulous food, great ambience we had a wonderful evening celebrating my wife’s birthday. We could not fault Vita Bella, will definitely return.

Always excellent service and food. Would recommend to anyone.

WOW what can I say other than probably the best Italian food iv had in my whole life and iv eaten in Italy numerous times...it was to die for..everything about this place was 1 in a million can't wait to go back

Fabulous food and service very authentic Italian cuisine highly recommend

Celebrating our 19th wedding anniversary, Have been there many times before but this time unfortunately although very attentive to begin with we ended up walking out after our starter cause our main meal never turned up, we never even got asked if we wanted another drink. Happy Anniversary 😕 Just to let everyone know I have had a an apology from the restaurant today which I do accept wholeheartedly. My post and comments shouldn't put anybody off from trying this restaurant the food is always good and the staff with their white gloves and the parking attendant I always pleasant

I booked the Vita Bella on recommendation for our 40th Wedding Anniversary night out. We we not disappointed. On arriving we had a nice chap guide us to a parking space and assisted us to park up. We were then warmly welcomed inside and to our table for two by the receptionist. Apon sitting down we had our waiter pull out our chairs and place a napkin on our laps. We were made to feel like royalty. All of the food that we ordered came up swiftly and the quality of each dish was superb. At the end of our meal we had a complimentary ice cream served on dry ice as it was know by the staff that we were there for our anniversary. I can't thank you all enough for making our occasion so special. I would highly recommend this restaurant. Thank you guys again and we will be back again soon.

Absolutely Amazing place totally recommend you visit this wonderful dining experience

We recently returned from a holiday in Liguria and were looking to experience that authentic Italian feeling again. This restaurant did not disappoint! We celebrated our anniversary here with our two daughters, and from the moment we drove in, we felt exceptionally well taken care of. The atmosphere shines high culture and professionalism, and the customer service is truly outstanding. The food was incredible authentic Italian cuisine at its finest. We enjoyed a fantastic soup, delicious lasagne, perfectly cooked spaghetti with heavenly meatballs, ravioli, and tasty salmon. The desserts were also top-notch, and the lovely surprises they prepared for our anniversary made the evening even more special. We cannot thank the team enough for making our celebration memorable. We highly recommend this restaurant and will definitely be returning!

Had such a great night last night with my family for my 70th birthday. We couldn’t wish for better service. I couldn’t fault any of the staff, they were great, worth every penny. Even gave a fantastic dry ice smoke over the table on presentation of my birthday cake. I would say that I would have preferred a crisp skin on our sea bass but still tasted great. Would definitely recommend

Amazing food and amazing staff,Easily the nicest place in Chelmsford to go for dinner

Hands down my favourite place to eat in Chelmsford! Incredibly accommodating for all dietary restrictions too (eg. Vegan, veggie, gluten free).

This has become our favourite restaurant. From the moment you arrive you are treated superbly - nothing is too much trouble and the service is very personal and friendly. The menu is vast and dishes can be altered to suit your tastes. All the food is delicious and beautifully presented.

We called during the day on a Saturday on the off chance there’d be a table for two available. The restaurant was fully booked however called back shortly after to say they’d had a cancellation and could now arrange a table. Result! We were sat in their new garden room which was lovely. As always the food was superb and the service exceptional. We thoroughly enjoyed our night and can’t wait to return.

Second time visiting Vita Bella - I was not disappointed upheld great service, staff were attentive and the food was good. Also a good selection of vegetarian and vegan options. Looking forward to going again :)

Lovely food and ambience. Attentive staff. Very impressed.

Vita Bella delivered a supreme experience for my wife’s 70th birthday celebration today. My praise for the warmth of our greeting for a large party of 30, the quality of the cuisine, the attentiveness of the service and the ambiance of the restaurant justifies superlatives. I rarely leave reviews but the experience compels me. Thank you for providing an everlasting memory.

This restaurant never disappoints. The staff are second to none. The service and attention they give to each and every guest is impeccable. Nothing is too much trouble. The food is the best of its kind and caters perfectly to all dietary needs. We're very lucky to have them in Essex!

Beautiful as always. Great choice for me as a vegetarian - I did not feel like I was missing out! As it was our 15th wedding anniversary, they made us feel so special! Thank you Vita Bella! Highly recommended - visit here if you can!

Absolutely amazing food and wonderful staff

My wife is Italian so half of my family is Italian. This restaurant does not provide real Italian food. It’s like the chef was given a Jamie Oliver cook book and had a go at cooking. Garlic overpowers every dish we ordered. Carbonara does not include cream in any Italian home or restaurant. It just doesn’t. We were in Essex for a family wedding and were drawn here by the huge number of reviews. We wish we hadn’t bothered. We will never return. I’m sure the belligerent owner who responds to all reviews will be happy to see this. My advice to anyone thinking of eating here is. Don’t bother.

Wow, wow, wow!! What a beyond fantastic restaurant. Superbly professional attentive and personable staff that go above and beyond. Food was delicious and was able to be tweaked and adapted to your desire. Cannot believe this was my first time here but it certainly won't be my last! By far our best dining experience in Essex. Huge thank you to all the staff we really left feeling totally spoilt and like we had had such a treat. A must visit

Scenic spot with bucketfuls of Essex countryside ambience and impeccable service. All before you take your first mouthful. The attention to detail at every turn makes this a special experience I would heartily recommend. From the meticulously maintained exterior and car parking attendant guiding you to a carefully chosen spot, to the friendly, enthusiastic and well timed service from every employee, you feel like a special guest from the moment you arrive. This is not the place where you are left asking for cutlery or brushing away your own crumbs. Your every need is anticipated and met with a warm smile, down to warnings to watch the floor incline every time. The food itself was a delight, with fresh ingredients and delicious flavour pairings doing justice to old classics. I had a prawn and scallop ravioli from the specials menu to start and the risotto allo scoglio (seafood) main with a tomato and red onion side salad. The maitre d’ was so solicitous he ended up offering me a free oyster with their special dressing of olives to convince me to widen my palate! Try them. Delicious!! House olive tapenade with the bread basket was beautifully balanced too. The seafood was burstingly fresh and cooked to perfection, with the risotto done just right. No crunchy grains spoiling the bite. Seasoned perfectly, portion size perfect. Dessert of panna cotta changes weekly- I had the strawberry which was actually divine. Rich, silky textured and tasting of ripe fruit with a coulis of strawberry and black pepper to complement, it was just the end I was looking for to a wonderful experience. Cocktails were also a hit. Try the English Garden for a sip of summer. I was even offered a complementary digestif drink by my friendly waiter! I thoroughly enjoyed my whole dining experience in this charming restaurant where the staff truly care about their guests and are passionate about their business. Great for special occasions as well as an impromptu Sunday lunch. Give them a try and support a local business today!

Update: My family member who made the booking was called in response to this review and was being pressured to get it taken down causing her a lot of undue stress and anxiety. Absolutely disgraceful behaviour. Update 2: Mate I recently attended an evening dinner service with my family and was rather underwhelmed. My expectations were high due to this establishment seemingly having decent reviews and on arrival the setting and service really lent itself to what I believed was going to be a wonderful evening. Unfortunately the food was just bad. Not inedible, in fact I finished my plate of gnocci as I was pretty hungry, but just bad. My bruschetta, one of my all time favourite italian dishes, an absolute classic, was incredibly disappointing. Just being a heap of sloppy chopped tomatoes whose delicate flavours were completley over powered by garlic on a thin slice of soggy toast. Awful. I will say that the presentation and portion sizes were very nice, but the quality and flavour in the cooking was lacking in its entirety. In terms of authenticity, centuries of culture and cooking are crying out in pain and anger as their name gets dragged through the dirt. I wasn't surprised for the carbonara to be a cream based sauce, that's pretty typical in Britain as it is a mild technical skill to pull off a classic carbonara and get it to the table. But even so it was just so heavy and flavourless that my sister couldn't even finish it and after I tried some, I couldn't blame her. I will say the Oysters were nice with a fun presentation, Mersea oysters are lovely. But lets face it, all they had to do there was open them and put them on a bed of ice. No cooking involved. I wasn't going to bother writing a review, bad food is bad food and I usually don't bother, but thought I would check them out in more detail incase we were just unlucky and had come on a bad evening. What I didn't expect to see was the sheer volume of bile, vitriol and belittling present in the responses to the honest comments and reviews of people that seemed to have a very similar experience to mine. At that point I thought it pertinent to ensure more voices are heard. I await your incoming tantrum with amusement and hope it comforts you that your imbecilic, emoji filled response will certainly trouble me for the rest of my days. The horror. Don't bother about telling me not to come back. You don't need to state the obvious. If you ever do find it within the grasp of your ego to listen to some constructive criticism, please look to the following. Make better food. You have a nice setting, decent staff and clearly some of the ingredients you are using are of good quality. You have all the potential for something pretty special. Send your chefs to Italy, find some nice little local restaurants and find some inspiration to move forwards with. Because honestly I've had better pasta at a Wetherspoons at twice the quality and a 1/5th of the price. (Also posted on Trip Adviser where I have posted a 5 star review before incase the owner decides to use my lack of reviews on google as further ammunition in their crazy echo chamber, get off the keyboard and into the kitchen mate)

lovely experience staff are great food is great the place is lovely

I recently attended an evening dinner service with my family and was rather underwhelmed. My expectations were high due to this establisment seemingly having decent reviews and on arrival the setting and service really lent itself to what I believed was going to be a wonderful evening. Unfortunatley the food was just bad. Not inedible, in fact I finished my plate of gnocci as I was pretty hungry, but just bad. My bruschetta, one of my all time favourite italian dishes, an absolute classic, was incredibly dissapointing. Just being a heap of sloppy chopped tomatoes whose delicate flavours were completley over powered by garlic on a thin slice of soggy toast. Awful. I will say that the presentation and portion sizes were very nice, but the quality and flavour in the cooking was lacking in its entirety. In terms of authenticity, centuries of culture and cooking are crying out in pain and anger as their name gets dragged through the dirt. I wasn't suprised for the carbonara to be a cream based sauce, thats pretty typical in Britain as it is a mild technical skill to pull off a classic carbonara and get it to the table. But even so it was just so heavy and flavourless that my sister couldn't even finish it and after I tried some, I couldn't blame her. I will say the Oysters were nice with a fun presentation, Mersea oysters are lovely. But lets face it, all they had to do there was open them and put them on a bed of ice. No cooking involved. I wasn't going to bother writing a review, bad food is bad food and I usually don't bother, but thought I would check them out in more detail incase we were just unlucky and had come on a bad evening. What I didnt expect to see was the sheer volume of bile, vitriol and belittling present in the responses to the honest comments and reviews of people that seemed to have a very similar experience to mine. At that point I thought it pertinent to ensure more voices are heard. I await your incoming tantrum with amusement and hope it comforts you that your imbecilic, emoji filled response will certainly trouble me for the rest of my days. The horror. Don't bother about telling me not to come back. You don't need to state the obvious. If you ever do find it within the grasp of your ego to listen to some constructive criticism, please look to the following. Make better food. You have a nice setting, decent staff and clearly some of the ingrediants you are using are of good quality. You have all the potential for something pretty special. Send your chefs to Italy, find some nice little local restaurants and find some inspiration to move forwards with. Because honestly I've had better pasta at a Wetherspoons at twice the quality and a 1/5th of the price.

We had another excellent meal here on Saturday.Yes it's not cheap but the value for money is exceptional. A good wine list and the service is very good. Looking forward to our next visit.

Just had a wonderful birthday meal here, you'll be greeted by Kiran, the car park attendent, who is professional and polite. Lovely welcome by the Manager, followed by very attentive service by the staff. Food was exceptional and was enjoyed by all.