Diners' Choice: Great for outdoor dining restaurants in Essex

OpenTable

Updated June 05, 2025

Looking for the best restaurants that are great for outdoor dining 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!

Lot Bar & Restaurant

4.8

4.8 (1454)

£26 to £40

Contemporary European

Brentwood

About the restaurant

Lot Bar and Restaurant is a family run business offering freshly prepared food from 8am until 10pm daily. Whether you are looking for an informal breakfast or light lunch with friends or a 3 course celebration dinner in the evening or simply a drink in the bar after work, we have the best to offer locally.
We at Lot Bar and Restaurant take pride the quality of our ingredients, the high standard of presentation and excellent service. A seasonally changing breakfast and lunch menu offers everything you could want from a kitchen and our evening A la carte menu includes restaurant favourites as well as daily changing specials. On Sunday afternoons we offer the best Roast available. Our wine list, available from 11am, is curated by us to include the faithful, the unusual and the interesting.

Top review

KatrynaVIP

Dined 7 days ago

Amazing as always. Staff super friendly and very helpful

La Petite Petanque

4.8

4.8 (39)

£25 and under

British

Southend-On-Sea

About the restaurant

A Beautiful Restaurant in the perfect setting
Open every day with three dining areas, including terrace seating
Serving Breakfast, Lunch, Afternoon Tea and Evening Dining Events.
For Afternoon Tea please call the restaurant to book and pay deposit.

Top review

Fiona

Dined 3 days ago

Lovely food. Great atmosphere. Comprehensive gluten free menu, which is great for me!

The Anchor Danbury

4.7

4.7 (1550)

£25 and under

British

Chelmsford

About the restaurant

The Anchor in Danbury is the epitome of an English Country Inn, boasting beautiful traditional beams, quaint shining brass and a warm welcoming atmosphere which has made this pub a firm favourite for many years.
We have a lovely large garden with a fun children's play area, great for keeping the kids entertained while you catch up with friends and family over a relaxing drink or with some great food.
- Four legged friends are welcome at the pub, please ask our friendly staff for confirmation on which areas can accommodate you as we do require that dogs are kept out of the main dinning areas.
- Please note reservations with a dog are necessary, and can only be taken over the phone on 01245 222457 stating you have a dog.
- If you have a pushchair/buggy we ask that you call to make reservation, due to limited space.

Top review

Garry

Dined 2 days ago

Beautiful location, extremely clean and airy interior. Sunday roast was top notch, juicy beef and nice fresh veggies. Very polite staff. Food maybe a shade pricey, but overall worth it. Its true what they say, "You get what you pay for" Would definitely visit again. 5 Stars!!!

The Cricketers Arms in Rickling Green

4.6

4.6 (606)

£25 and under

Gastro Pub

Saffron Walden

About the restaurant

RESTAURANT NOTE: Our outside tables are not bookable, they are available on a first come first served basis. Should you wish to reserve a table in our pergola, you must contact us directly please by phone 01799 619260 or email info@thecricketersarmspub.co.uk

Whether you’re after a comforting home - cooked meal after a long day at work or fabulous fine dining for a special celebration, we’ve got something for every occasion. Choose from our locally sourced, innovative menu and excellent wine list in our oak beamed bar or stylish restaurant.

Top review

Sandra

Dined on Jun 1, 2025

Lovely pub. Staff very helpful. Very fog friendly. Food and drink excellent

The Anchor Inn - Nayland

4.6

4.6 (1987)

£25 and under

British

Nayland

About the restaurant

A traditional country pub with a warm welcome, The Anchor Inn offers a fine selection of cask ales and fresh, home-cooked food. Set in the beautiful village of Nayland, open fires and a cosy atmosphere make the Anchor a wonderful winter bolthole, and the banks of the River Stour provide glorious al fresco dining throughout the summer months.

Top review

GraceVIP

Dined 2 days ago

Attentive staff, good food with lots of options and a lovely setting especially sitting outside.

The Red Lion - Margaretting

4.6

4.6 (39)

£25 and under

Gastro Pub

Margaretting

About the restaurant

Indulge in a culinary journey as you step into our warm and inviting gastro pub. Here, we pride ourselves on offering an impressive steakhouse-style menu that is sure to tantalise your taste buds. We are dedicated to sourcing the very best produce we can find, with all of our prime steak and beef supplied by our locally sourced suppliers.
Under the skilled craftsmanship of our head chef, Lukasz Kot, every dish is a masterpiece waiting to be savoured. From perfectly grilled steaks to an array of tantalising fish and European-inspired creations, there's something to delight every palate.
But it's not just about the food at The Red Lion; it's about the experience. Relax in our cozy yet stylish surroundings, where the ambiance is as inviting as the menu. Whether you're enjoying a hearty meal with friends, sipping on a fine wine by the fireplace, or soaking up the sun in our charming outdoor seating area, you'll feel right at home.

Top review

Scott

Dined on May 30, 2025

Great place for freshly made pizzas and outstanding pasta. Lovely staff and the chef cooking the pizzas does a first class job. Definitely taking the kids.

The Cricketers Mill Green

4.5

4.5 (135)

£26 to £40

British

Brentwood

About the restaurant

‘MORE THAN JUST A PUB! ‘
There's plenty on offer throughout the week at The Cricketers Mill Green near Ingatestone in Essex.

Set within a beautiful rural environment but easily accessible.

Now serving lunch & dinner 5 days per week including an extended Sunday Lunch service.
Please Note While Booking With Us, Dogs are allowed in the bar area however that are not allowed in the Dining Area.

Food is served in our Bar/Dining Area from our A La Carte menu which is served Wednesday to Saturday 12-3pm then 6-9pm. (last bookings 2.30pm)
Snack menu which is served Wednesday to Saturday 3pm-5.30pm (last bookings 5.30pm)
See our website for our menus.

We also have daily 'specials' so there is always something different.

We use locally sourced ingredients and all of our dishes are freshly prepared in our kitchen.

Top review

Karen

Dined on Jun 8, 2025

We had a lovely Sunday lunch yesterday. The whole experience was spot on. It was fairly busy but a lovely, calm atmosphere. Food was perfect (roast beef) service was prompt, and the staff were charming! Would definitely recommend and return!

The Rabbits Pub

4.4

4.4 (192)

£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

Peter

Dined on Jun 1, 2025

I took my sister and my son for a Sunday roast dinner at The Rabbits. The food, service and value for money was very good. I could have done with the music from the garden bar being a little lower volume but that is just a minor criticism.

Tom, Dick & Harry's

4.4

4.4 (28)

£26 to £40

Mediterranean

Loughton

About the restaurant

Tom, Dick & Harry’s brings something fresh and exciting to Essex.

Open every day from midday for brunch and lunch through to drinks and dinner in the evening, Tom, Dick and Harry’s offers a destination dining experience in the heart of Loughton. As well as the main dining room, there is a lounge area complete with baby grand piano, counter dining at the bar and two al fresco terraces. Small plates, Sunday roasts, extensive wine list, Michelin guide food, classic cocktails… all within a short walk to Epping Forest.

Top review

Louise

Dined 3 days ago

Excellent restaurant!! Food was fantastic, buzzy atmosphere! Will be booking again for next week.

Angel

4.3

4.3 (184)

£25 and under

Pub

Braintree

About the restaurant

The Angel is a rejuvenated, historical pub nestled in the quaint village of Kelvedon, on the suburbs of Essex. With rustic country charm through the interiors, there are plenty of cosy or lively spots to sit back and enjoy alongside great company. Situated on the doorstep of the high street, The Angel is perfectly located for both locals and passing city goers. This Colchester treasure provides the neighbourhood with a hub of friendly faces and warm welcomes. With direct links to London's Liverpool Street Station, it's a beautiful escape from the hustle and bustle of the city.

Top review

Ann-Marie

Dined on May 9, 2025

Food was very good and served promptly. I had a Mediterranean salad with chicken. It was served with a whole Chechen breast that was cooked perfectly! The only small criticism was that they use frozen beans in the salad. Which is quite disappointing given the rest of the salad was of quite high-quality. It would not take much to actually be consistent with the high standard of quality of the food to actually use fresh beans. Also to add some roasted capsicum and or eggplant would also be very nice. And to have the option of some sort of dressing. I had to ask for a wedge of lemon to have his dressing over it. Overall very nice food though and a lovely service and the polished floors were a great improvement over the old flooring.

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