Latest reviews for Restaurants in Colchester, United Kingdom

Sloppy Joe's - by Victorfail

Victorfail — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 14:19:52 +0000

Review by Victorfail

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 01206 577229

Website: http://www.sloppyjoesrestaurant.co.uk

Prices are reasonable can get a great amount of food for around Â£8. get more then your moneys worth, staff are quick, beer is cheap. nice setting underground, can book tables there easily and a good night out.Prices are reasonable can get a great amount of food for around Â£8. get more then your moneys worth, staff are quick, beer is cheap. nice setting underground, can book tables there easily and a good night out.

The Lemon Tree - Wasted evening by lizsmith

lizsmith — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 12:08:49 +0000

Review by lizsmith

Rating: 1.00

Phone: 01206 767337

Website: http://www.the-lemon-tree.com/

Tags: expensive, live music, romantic

Terrible meal - booked for 80th birthday. Inedible main course and starters that were a heap of sauce flavoured noodles with a few duck shavings that could have been anything. Needed to borrow steak knife to cut lamb then couldn't chew it - and I have all my own teeth unlike the eldery we took. Terrible value for money and to make it even worse the men say that the beer was warm too. Overcrowded and over stretched. Real disappointment for what should have been a great occasion..Terrible meal - booked for 80th birthday. Inedible main course and starters that were a heap of sauce flavoured noodles with a few duck shavings that could have been anything. Needed to borrow steak knife to cut lamb then couldn't chew it - and I have all my own teeth unlike the eldery we took. Terrible value for money and to make it even worse the men say that the beer was warm too. Overcrowded and over stretched. Real disappointment for what should have been a great occasion..

Raj Palace - Andy by aroles

aroles — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 14:20:27 +0000

Review by aroles

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 01206 760920

Tags: indian, good value

I've only been in this restaurant once to get a take away but the food was so amazing I felt duty bound to spread the word.

The dish I had was Chicken Patia and it was delicious. Taking into account how polite the staff were, the care taken with service, and the appearance of the restaurant I got the impression that I hadn't just got lucky.

I'll certainly be revisiting the Raj Palace again... probably this friday for a sit down meal :o)

Regards,
Andy

I've only been in this restaurant once to get a take away but the food was so amazing I felt duty bound to spread the word.

The dish I had was Chicken Patia and it was delicious. Taking into account how polite the staff were, the care taken with service, and the appearance of the restaurant I got the impression that I hadn't just got lucky.

I'll certainly be revisiting the Raj Palace again... probably this friday for a sit down meal :o)

Regards,
Andy

Banquet 1408 Chinese Restaurant - to much of a rush by helen007

helen007 — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 21:38:04 +0000

Review by helen007

Rating: 3.00

Phone: 01206 211588

Tags: chinese, expensive, crowded

my family of 4 have just returned from the banquet chinese in colchester essex. beware if you have an early booking you will be really rushed to leave. the food is excellent, the atmosphere is ok but the service on the whole was really poor. we were asked to order our main course whilst still eating our starters, our waiter took our plates as we were still eating and our bill was put on the table as we were still eating out dessert. i would not recommend this restuarant to my freinds or family simply because we were too rushed. when i mentioned this to the waiter he simply replied he had othe people waiting. in a climate which is very difficult for most restuarants i would expect a little more customer service. this is not a cheap night out.my family of 4 have just returned from the banquet chinese in colchester essex. beware if you have an early booking you will be really rushed to leave. the food is excellent, the atmosphere is ok but the service on the whole was really poor. we were asked to order our main course whilst still eating our starters, our waiter took our plates as we were still eating and our bill was put on the table as we were still eating out dessert. i would not recommend this restuarant to my freinds or family simply because we were too rushed. when i mentioned this to the waiter he simply replied he had othe people waiting. in a climate which is very difficult for most restuarants i would expect a little more customer service. this is not a cheap night out.

Little Chef - Poor quality rubbish by Iknowwhatilike

Iknowwhatilike — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 21:16:46 +0000

Review by Iknowwhatilike

Rating: 1.00Expectations are at rock bottom when you enter a Little Chef, but when these are unfulfilled you know you are in trouble. The Latte coffee was a sickly sweet concoction of syrup that came from some machine. The burger was dry as an old boot and covered in some E numbers parading themselves as relish. The service was automated but pleasant though quite slow, but it should always be rememebered that you can't polish a turd. we did get a reduction in our bill on the basis that we "hadn't enjoyed it". By this criterion it is hard to imagine that anyone ever needs to pay full price.Expectations are at rock bottom when you enter a Little Chef, but when these are unfulfilled you know you are in trouble. The Latte coffee was a sickly sweet concoction of syrup that came from some machine. The burger was dry as an old boot and covered in some E numbers parading themselves as relish. The service was automated but pleasant though quite slow, but it should always be rememebered that you can't polish a turd. we did get a reduction in our bill on the basis that we "hadn't enjoyed it". By this criterion it is hard to imagine that anyone ever needs to pay full price.

Alishan - Best in Colchester? by PeterG

PeterG — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 10:25:58 +0000

Review by PeterG

Rating: 5.00I've lived in Colchester for over 10 years and during this time tried the majority of Indians! I tend to only give people one chance, with so much choice locally you can afford to do this! I was a big fan of Manna for a few years but have to say no other local indian has come close to the Alishan. The food never disapoints on both take aways and dining in. My only complaint, they don't deliver!I've lived in Colchester for over 10 years and during this time tried the majority of Indians! I tend to only give people one chance, with so much choice locally you can afford to do this! I was a big fan of Manna for a few years but have to say no other local indian has come close to the Alishan. The food never disapoints on both take aways and dining in. My only complaint, they don't deliver!

Clowns - Clowns by Moonlight

Moonlight — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 08:45:32 +0000

Review by Moonlight

Rating: 3.00

Phone: 01206 578631

Tags: english

The clowns restaurant is tucked away at the end of the high street, in the town centre, so it has no parking out side. It is very small so looks busy quickly as not much space to fill. The portions of food that you gat at clowns is massive. You could often share a meal for one between two of you, even the childrens meals are huge, so make sure you are all feeling very hungry indeed when you go in for a meal here. The burgers are good and come with loads and loads of crispy fries. Even some of the starters can be big and might be too much for smaller children to handle so you could ask for an extra plate and share one meal between two younger children, might sound cheap, but they will not manage a full meal.The clowns restaurant is tucked away at the end of the high street, in the town centre, so it has no parking out side. It is very small so looks busy quickly as not much space to fill. The portions of food that you gat at clowns is massive. You could often share a meal for one between two of you, even the childrens meals are huge, so make sure you are all feeling very hungry indeed when you go in for a meal here. The burgers are good and come with loads and loads of crispy fries. Even some of the starters can be big and might be too much for smaller children to handle so you could ask for an extra plate and share one meal between two younger children, might sound cheap, but they will not manage a full meal.

Nando's Chickenland - Not again by Moonlight

Moonlight — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 08:37:06 +0000

Review by Moonlight

Rating: 2.00

Phone: 01206 760344

Website: http://www.nandos.co.uk

Tags: portuguese, chicken, air conditioning

Might be being rather kind by giving nandos this score, but it is eatable if not as good as you are led to think. If you are not a complete fan of chicken then I would not bother as this is what it is all about and is what they say they do best. I am not really sure if they do anything best, but they like to think that they do. The hot sauce that they are famous for, has in my opinion, a very funny taste and the smell was off putting, not sure why though. I have had better meals than the ones you get here and would not like to go back, but I do know people who like it a lot so it might just be my awful taste buds, not sure.Might be being rather kind by giving nandos this score, but it is eatable if not as good as you are led to think. If you are not a complete fan of chicken then I would not bother as this is what it is all about and is what they say they do best. I am not really sure if they do anything best, but they like to think that they do. The hot sauce that they are famous for, has in my opinion, a very funny taste and the smell was off putting, not sure why though. I have had better meals than the ones you get here and would not like to go back, but I do know people who like it a lot so it might just be my awful taste buds, not sure.

Sam's Pizzeria - Small but good by Moonlight

Moonlight — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 08:31:30 +0000

Review by Moonlight

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 01206 574555

Website: http://www.samspizzeria.co.uk

Tags: pizzeria, takeaway, good value

Sams is not the biggest cafe in the world so it does fill up very easily. It has a buffet deal that we have tried and is good for what you pay. The buffet has a selection of salad, also a section for hot buffet food, that included chips and pasta. The pizza that you get has a tomato sauce that has a sweet taste and the meat toppings are not very strong tasting. They cook the buffet freshly but it is a small counter so it does not take much to completely empty it, so you can end up sitting waiting for a while to get some more. The staff are nice and the price you pay for the food is average for what you get. You can also get takeaway food here if you like.Sams is not the biggest cafe in the world so it does fill up very easily. It has a buffet deal that we have tried and is good for what you pay. The buffet has a selection of salad, also a section for hot buffet food, that included chips and pasta. The pizza that you get has a tomato sauce that has a sweet taste and the meat toppings are not very strong tasting. They cook the buffet freshly but it is a small counter so it does not take much to completely empty it, so you can end up sitting waiting for a while to get some more. The staff are nice and the price you pay for the food is average for what you get. You can also get takeaway food here if you like.

Bella Pais - Ok by Moonlight

Moonlight — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 08:25:56 +0000

Review by Moonlight

Rating: 2.00

Phone: 01206 571830

Tags: greek

Some of our friends do harp on about how fantastic it is here at the bella pais and we have been more than once so we can say that it is ok, but it is not fancy and the waiting staff are not particularly good at what they do, average at best I guess. The decoration could do with some very serious up dating and soon. There are fake oak beams, and it is rather stuck in a style that was fashionable many years ago.
It does get busy, has lots of loyal fans and seems to be making its money, when we have been it has filled up as the evening has gotten later, mind you it is a small place so it does not take much to pack it out.Some of our friends do harp on about how fantastic it is here at the bella pais and we have been more than once so we can say that it is ok, but it is not fancy and the waiting staff are not particularly good at what they do, average at best I guess. The decoration could do with some very serious up dating and soon. There are fake oak beams, and it is rather stuck in a style that was fashionable many years ago.
It does get busy, has lots of loyal fans and seems to be making its money, when we have been it has filled up as the evening has gotten later, mind you it is a small place so it does not take much to pack it out.

Cafe Rouge - Cafe Rouge on the high street by Moonlight

Moonlight — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 08:20:16 +0000

Review by Moonlight

Rating: 3.00

Phone: 01206 541839

Website: http://www.caferouge.co.uk

Tags: french, bar, good value

When we went to cafe rouge in town as we had a bunch of tesco deals vouchers and we were very worried about giving them in and that did put us on edge some what.
We felt that the staff would think we were rather cheap by using them, but we found that this was not the case. In fact loads of other people were at the pay point with vouchers in hand and quite proudly discussing with each other the free meal they had just had with the help of the deals vouchers. Thank goodness it was so easy to give them in. It gave us a chance to try some where we had not been before. You do have to pay for the drinks that you have on the offer, but it still makes a really good cheap night out.When we went to cafe rouge in town as we had a bunch of tesco deals vouchers and we were very worried about giving them in and that did put us on edge some what.
We felt that the staff would think we were rather cheap by using them, but we found that this was not the case. In fact loads of other people were at the pay point with vouchers in hand and quite proudly discussing with each other the free meal they had just had with the help of the deals vouchers. Thank goodness it was so easy to give them in. It gave us a chance to try some where we had not been before. You do have to pay for the drinks that you have on the offer, but it still makes a really good cheap night out.

Pizza Hut - Its usually good by Moonlight

Moonlight — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 08:14:34 +0000

Review by Moonlight

Rating: 3.00

Phone: 01206 574478

Website: http://www.pizzahut.co.uk

Tags: cheap eat, italian, pizzeria

Pizza hut is always so very packed with people and so it can be very hard to find a table quickly. They do this wait to be seated system, so even when it is not busy you are often left standing about waiting for a seat, while the staff wander about seemingly oblivious to you, while other customers who are already seated look smugly on while stuffing in their pizza buffet.
I know it sounds like I am not keen on pizza hut, this is not the case, I like the pizza that you get here and the buffet is good, nice selection also, as long as it is not too
busy (which it usually is).
The drinks are great, one price to pay, but they can just keep on coming if you want them to, shame the wine and beer does not run on the unlimited refill offer though.Pizza hut is always so very packed with people and so it can be very hard to find a table quickly. They do this wait to be seated system, so even when it is not busy you are often left standing about waiting for a seat, while the staff wander about seemingly oblivious to you, while other customers who are already seated look smugly on while stuffing in their pizza buffet.
I know it sounds like I am not keen on pizza hut, this is not the case, I like the pizza that you get here and the buffet is good, nice selection also, as long as it is not too
busy (which it usually is).
The drinks are great, one price to pay, but they can just keep on coming if you want them to, shame the wine and beer does not run on the unlimited refill offer though.

La Tasca - Tapas for a tenner by Moonlight

Moonlight — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 08:07:40 +0000

Review by Moonlight

Rating: 3.00

Phone: 01206 768060

Website: http://www.latasca.co.uk

Tags: spanish, lively, bar

The tapas here is a variety of dishes that can vary a lot in quality and taste. The tapas for a tenner is one of the best offers that La Tasca are able to offer and the best way to fill up on as much as you want. If you go in at other times then be prepared to pay much more and settle for less to eat if you dont hand over lots of cash.
The chorizo, calamari, spiced potatoes in tomato sauce, and the meatballs are all good. The spanish omelette, with potatoes is a good filler too.
To get you in the spanish mood you can fill up on sangria or even spanish beer, but other options are on the drinks menu, if they are not for you. Relaxed food in a good comfortable venue.The tapas here is a variety of dishes that can vary a lot in quality and taste. The tapas for a tenner is one of the best offers that La Tasca are able to offer and the best way to fill up on as much as you want. If you go in at other times then be prepared to pay much more and settle for less to eat if you dont hand over lots of cash.
The chorizo, calamari, spiced potatoes in tomato sauce, and the meatballs are all good. The spanish omelette, with potatoes is a good filler too.
To get you in the spanish mood you can fill up on sangria or even spanish beer, but other options are on the drinks menu, if they are not for you. Relaxed food in a good comfortable venue.

ASK - Busy by Moonlight

Moonlight — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 07:53:33 +0000

Review by Moonlight

Rating: 3.00

Phone: 01206 366379

Website: http://www.askcentral.co.uk

Tags: italian, good value, lively

Ask where to pick up a hearty italian type meal on north hill in town and thi is the restaurant to go to. Ask are a large group of italian style restaurants that cater to our desire for pizza and pasta, served in modern surroundings.
They have a range of stone baked pizzas which are of a fair size, are filling and well cooked. The pasta meals are good at times, the beef meatballs taste ok and are done in garlic with peppers and onions then topped with cheese and oven baked. Try the folded pizza for a change.
Service has been ok, at times they have been busy and seemed to have found it hard to cope with demand, but try not to let that put you off too much, the food is nice.Ask where to pick up a hearty italian type meal on north hill in town and thi is the restaurant to go to. Ask are a large group of italian style restaurants that cater to our desire for pizza and pasta, served in modern surroundings.
They have a range of stone baked pizzas which are of a fair size, are filling and well cooked. The pasta meals are good at times, the beef meatballs taste ok and are done in garlic with peppers and onions then topped with cheese and oven baked. Try the folded pizza for a change.
Service has been ok, at times they have been busy and seemed to have found it hard to cope with demand, but try not to let that put you off too much, the food is nice.

Orientation - New Look New Menu by JoeC

JoeC — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 12:02:27 +0000

Review by JoeC

Rating: 5.00My old favourite Orientation has a new look and a new menu. More casual. Food is still excellent - I still stick to the spicy specialities but they've now got a 'fast' food range on a plate.

Good for chilling out or for a quick bite before hitting the townMy old favourite Orientation has a new look and a new menu. More casual. Food is still excellent - I still stick to the spicy specialities but they've now got a 'fast' food range on a plate.

Good for chilling out or for a quick bite before hitting the town

Vinny's Restaurant - mugs of tea and a fry up by foxyone

foxyone — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 23:03:15 +0000

Review by foxyone

Rating: 3.00We used to go to vinnys cafe in head gate street at lunch time for a big old mug of hot tea and a good fry up. It is busy and cheap to eat here. The service is friendly and we always had a good meal here. When you want that sort of food vinnys is your place.We used to go to vinnys cafe in head gate street at lunch time for a big old mug of hot tea and a good fry up. It is busy and cheap to eat here. The service is friendly and we always had a good meal here. When you want that sort of food vinnys is your place.

Starbucks Coffee Co - Starbucks by foxyone

foxyone — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 23:00:29 +0000

Review by foxyone

Rating: 2.00Had a coffee frappe with loads of whipped cream here a while back and it was very good, but quite strong and I did have a bad head ache later that day, so have not been back. You can sit out side in nice weather and the cafe also has tea, cold drinks and a big selection of different coffee to choose from. The muffins were very nice, not the cheapest coffee but it is a good place to sit and meet with friends.Had a coffee frappe with loads of whipped cream here a while back and it was very good, but quite strong and I did have a bad head ache later that day, so have not been back. You can sit out side in nice weather and the cafe also has tea, cold drinks and a big selection of different coffee to choose from. The muffins were very nice, not the cheapest coffee but it is a good place to sit and meet with friends.

Barn Brasserie - Barn at Great Tey by foxyone

foxyone — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 22:30:50 +0000

Review by foxyone

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 01206 212345

Tags: lively, romantic, expensive

The Barn Brasserie, at brook road, Great Tey is just of the A12 and only about 5 minutes from the town of colchester. We did not want a huge starter so we tried the olives instead of the starter choices and followed these by having the chicken with goats cheese and basil, which was great and very moist, my friend had a lovely burger with chips and coleslaw, this looked really nice too. The price was excellent for the quality of food on the menu. The restaurant is very stylish but relaxed and you feel very comfortable there.It would make a good function venue. I will go back at some point and try the lunch time menu.The Barn Brasserie, at brook road, Great Tey is just of the A12 and only about 5 minutes from the town of colchester. We did not want a huge starter so we tried the olives instead of the starter choices and followed these by having the chicken with goats cheese and basil, which was great and very moist, my friend had a lovely burger with chips and coleslaw, this looked really nice too. The price was excellent for the quality of food on the menu. The restaurant is very stylish but relaxed and you feel very comfortable there.It would make a good function venue. I will go back at some point and try the lunch time menu.

The Balkerne Gate Brewers Fayre - by Linnyg

Linnyg — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 17:02:12 +0000

Review by Linnyg

Rating: 3.00We went here once on a Saturday night and it was quite busy so we were very patient after they had taken our order. However, after almost an hour, when we saw people being served who had arrived well after us we spoke to the waiter and it turned out that they had somehow managed to lose our order somewhere between the table and the kitchen! They were quite apolgetic and we ended up getting one of the meals free. The food was ok with typical Brewers Fayre pub food choices. I did not find the portions were very big. You can sometimes get money off vouchers with Nectar and others which makes it good value, otherwise it is just average value.We went here once on a Saturday night and it was quite busy so we were very patient after they had taken our order. However, after almost an hour, when we saw people being served who had arrived well after us we spoke to the waiter and it turned out that they had somehow managed to lose our order somewhere between the table and the kitchen! They were quite apolgetic and we ended up getting one of the meals free. The food was ok with typical Brewers Fayre pub food choices. I did not find the portions were very big. You can sometimes get money off vouchers with Nectar and others which makes it good value, otherwise it is just average value.

Pizza Hut Direct - take out by blob

blob — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 22:50:11 +0000

Review by blob

Rating: 3.00

Phone: 01206 715020

Website: http://www.pizzahut.co.uk

Tags: pizzeria, takeaway, delivery

If you can not be bothered to go out to pizza hut, why not make pizza hut come to you. The idea is great and a nice treat. The selection of meal deals are good and you get to choose side orders and a bottle of drink included in the price. Doing so offers much better value. The delivery staff are ok and the delivery times have been ok so far.If you can not be bothered to go out to pizza hut, why not make pizza hut come to you. The idea is great and a nice treat. The selection of meal deals are good and you get to choose side orders and a bottle of drink included in the price. Doing so offers much better value. The delivery staff are ok and the delivery times have been ok so far.