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Diners' Choice: Great for fine wines restaurants in Essex

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OpenTable
Updated November 05, 2024

Looking for restaurants with the most notable wine lists in Essex? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!


A photo of Smiths Restaurant Ongar restaurant
4.8
4.8 (4715)
£41 and over
Seafood
Ongar
About the restaurant
Priding ourselves on our motto ‘Famous for fish’ Smiths Restaurants is a name that has become synonymous with fine dining and quality, attentive service. Our restaurants are located in Ongar Essex (just off the A414) and Wapping in central London (near Tower Bridge). Both restaurants boast an extensive menu of fresh fish that we offer to cook in a variety of ways to suit every palette. We also offer locally sourced meat dishes to accommodate those who prefer their food terra firma. To compliment the quality of our food we have worked closely with well renowned independent wine merchants to ensure we have a selection of wines that are the perfect accompaniment to every meal. The only problem you may have a Smith’s is being spoilt for choice.


Top review
Mike
Dined 3 days ago
Amazing! Tasty we will be back with friends next time!
A photo of STARK restaurant
4.8
4.8 (38)
£41 and over
Modern European
Colchester
About the restaurant
Stark is located in East Mersea, Essex and is owned and run by Ben and Sophie Crittenden, who opened their first site in Broadstairs back in December 2016 with the aim of securing a better work/life balance and enabling Ben to enjoy more time with their three young children, Ivy, Rosa and Arlo. Before relocating to Mersea Island, Stark was the only Michelin-starred restaurant in Thanet and one of five in the whole of Kent.

At Stark, only one, set tasting menu is served with no options or alternatives available. Because of this, Stark is unable to cater for any allergies or dietary requirements, for any reason as all guests eat the exact same meal each night. Ben creates a menu from high quality, seasonal ingredients, using his creativity and passion to create delicious food and provide a unique and exciting eating experience for customers.

Stark is a very intimate, relaxed restaurant, whose only demand of you is that you sit back, trust us with your dinner and enjoy the experience.

Top review
matthew
Dined on Oct 24, 2024
The restaurant had a very relaxed and calming feel to it Which you don’t normally get with this level of food, they are normally a bit more stuffy. As for the food I thought it was exceptional, as good as you would get in some top London restaurants. Will definitely be returning and would not hesitate to recommend to friends.
A photo of Le Bouchon Brasserie & Hotel restaurant
4.7
4.7 (1152)
£41 and over
French
Maldon
About the restaurant
Please note that Afternoon Tea cannot be booked online. This must be booked through the Hotel directly.

Le Bouchon Brasserie and Hotel is a grade II listed, 300 year old Georgian building which has undergone an extensive refurbishment programme restoring the building to its former glory. The renovation period was used to combine some of the original period features of the building with furnishings and classically styled decoration that complements the original style of this house.

Le Bouchon Brasserie offers a blend of both French and British cuisine, set in a relaxed and intimate environment. Enjoy a meal from our A la carte menu or choose from our wide selection of set menus available at different times during the week.


Top review
Martin
Dined 3 days ago
Excellent experience, friendly staff, great food and lovely surroundings
A photo of The New London Restaurant and Lounge restaurant
4.7
4.7 (950)
£26 to £40
British
Chelmsford
About the restaurant
The award-winning New London restaurant has been on Chelmsford’s dining and social scene since October 2013 and it still is a relaxed yet sophisticated dining venue. The venue is full of elegance and glamour – now more than ever after an incredible redesign in March 2018.

We have a reputation for seasonally inspired menus with a unique approach to homemade food which makes the New London restaurant a special place to visit.

We pride ourselves on our excellent service with a personal touch. All our staff are proud of, and knowledgeable about, our dishes, wines and cocktails.

We offer only the best locally sourced and seasonal British produce including fresh seafood, locally sourced ingredients and foraged herbs. All our dishes are served in the inimitable style that has helped it garner so many compliments and awards since opening.

Top review
John
Dined 6 days ago
I had the beef Sunday roast and it was lovely. My only comment is that people have different tastes for how they like their beef cooked. For me it was not cooked enough. I would have liked to have been offered the choice as you do with steak or at least be warned that it is served rare so that I can then decide if it is right for me.
A photo of The House by Hilly Gant restaurant
4.7
4.7 (1186)
£41 and over
British
Braintree
About the restaurant
We've been serving the people of Braintree and beyond since 2015 and in that time have humbly become ‘one of Essex’s best restaurants.’ We have received recognition from the AA, having been awarded an AA Rosette for ‘culinary excellence’ for five consecutive years, and then in 2023 we received our second rosette, putting the restaurant amongst the top 10 restaurants in Essex. Our food is of course one of our main focuses, but we don’t just stop there. Attentive, relaxed and friendly service is as important as the food and our objective is to make your visit an enjoyably memorable one. Our exceptional wine supplier, Peter Watts Wines (based up the road in Coggeshall) allows us to offer you delicious wines of an exceptional quality. Then add some cocktails, jazz, personality, creativity, a few hidden quirks and we like to think this all culminates to create a truly wonderful experience. Life is about memories; we want to be part of your best ones.
Top review
Miles
Dined on Oct 31, 2024
We love this restaurant and now it’s also had a little makeover. We think the paint job inside is great and the new tablecloths and little lights add to the ambience. Not sure about the external paint colour, but as they say ‘it’s what’s inside that counts’ and it certainly does. Some nice additions to the autumn menu and some interesting specials too. Nice pace of service and great to be recognised on previous drink selections too. Lovely food, great service and nice environment for a Thursday night out - well done
A photo of Carluccio's - Fenwick Colchester restaurant
4.7
4.7 (392)
£26 to £40
Italian
Colchester
About the restaurant
Here at Carluccio's, we’ve always been true to our Italian heritage and what food really means to us. The best ingredients, from the best regions, cooked with love.
Top review
Lindyloo228vip
Dined 2 days ago
Excellent service as always. Aga our waitress was very friendly and attentive as usual.
A photo of The Punch Bowl restaurant
4.7
4.7 (25)
£25 and under
Gastro Pub
Southend-On-Sea
About the restaurant
The Punchbowl is a 17th century gastro pub, located in the heart of rural Essex and the Crouch Valley and the South Essex Salt marshes.

We offer nose-to-tail style menu, with unpretentious dishes that focus on flavour. Everything is made in house - from bread to mayonnaise, and we use local, seasonal and organic ingredients. Our menu changes daily, as the season's best comes in, and always features day boat fish, meat, offal, rare breed steaks and excellent vegetarian cookery.

Our beautiful garden bar has a lawn and york-stone patio looking out across the farmland of Paglesham and the River Crouch. Throughout the summer we offer BBQ dining from our hand-cranked Asado and Rotisserie Grills.



Top review
John
Dined 3 days ago
So friendly, great service and lovely food. So hard to that these days, if you are bored with every restaurant doing the same menu then come here
A photo of Alec's Restaurant restaurant
4.6
4.6 (91)
£41 and over
Seafood
Brentwood
About the restaurant
Alec’s Restaurant opened in 2010 and has established itself as one of Essex’s leading fish Restaurants. Alec’s prides itself on quality ingredients and exceptional service.
Unwind with a premium bottle of wine or signature cocktail in the comfortable lounge before taking a seat in the elegant main dining room, which can accommodate 120 guests.
Roaring fires in the winter and a delightful outdoor dining area in the summer, only enhance the elegant building.
The menu at Alec’s Restaurant is traditionally British and sets out to provide simple, quality fresh food. Although predominantly a seafood restaurant serving the finest fish and shellfish, mouth-watering meat dishes add to this impressive menu.
We are proud to follow the MSC code of conduct for sustainably sourced seafood. Plus, all seafood and fish are wild and ‘day boat caught’ from across Britain.
Please note that this restaurant operates a strict policy of no children under 12 years, and a smart casual dress code.


Top review
OpenTable Diner
Dined 6 days ago
Lovely food, lovely staff, we had a great anniversary meal here.
A photo of The Old Siege House Bar & Brasserie restaurant
4.6
4.6 (320)
£26 to £40
European
Colchester
About the restaurant
The Historical Old Siege House in Colchester is the ideal venue for a small intimate meal or a large family get together ! Owned and run by Husband and wife team since 2014 it has a warm atmosphere and relaxed vibe.
We can provide extensive menus depending on your events, ranging from Afternoon teas to Hog roasts.
Our main menu changes seasonally and we also run a set lunch menu which is great value and changes every two weeks.
The restaurant can accomodate up to 160 covers inside and a further 50 outside so you will not be cramped for space. We have a private dining room for hire and a large bar and lounge area where you can enjoy some lovely made to order cocktails or a chilled bottle of wine.
Live music and events are regularly held and details will be posted on our various social media outlets.
We are proud holders of an elite 5 star food hygiene award for 3 consecutive 5 star visits in a row from the local council and pride ourselves on our hygiene levels.



Top review
Carol
Dined 2 days ago
My favourite place to eat in Colchester. That says it all really.
A photo of The Rabbits Pub restaurant
4.4
4.4 (167)
£26 to £40
Gastro Pub
Abridge
About the restaurant
The Rabbits is a family friendly gastro pub & restaurant in the heart of the essex countryside. We pride ourselves on good friendly service and good quality homecooked food with our seasonal menus, we serve real ales, fine wines & premium spirits. We have a great beer garden where you can take in the picturesque views whilst not having to go too far to order any food or drink as this can all be done at our garden bar which is also playing background music around our garden, this is open Thurs-Sunday throughout the spring/summer weather permitting. There is a childrens play area and we also welcome dogs in our garden and inside the bar area. The Rabbits Team look forward to seeing you soon.
Top review
Carla
Dined on Oct 27, 2024
Went for a Sunday lunch, it was such a lovely dinner. I had beef and my husband had pork. Both meats were tender and tasty. Great veg & service
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