Diners' Choice: Great for outdoor dining restaurants in Essex

OpenTable

Updated January 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!

Hasturk

4.8

4.8 (703)

£25 and under

Turkish

Braintree

About the restaurant

Here at Hasturk, we have over 20 years experience in the restaurant industry. We are well versed in good hospitality and serving fresh, handmade food.

We’ve used experiences from our own heritage and traditional food back home to create our menu for the much loved Turkish which is now widely known.

With an array of meat dishes to freshly caught seafood and wide selection of authentic appetisers, you can be assured everything at Hasturk is carefully sourced and deliciously prepared and meets our standards.

Hasturk is a family run, Turkish restaurant with a modern twist. We aim to serve our customers the very best of Turkish cuisine, welcoming everyone in with open arms. We’re ready to offer you a dining experience that you’ll remember!

Top review

Karina

Dined 1 day ago

Very tasty food. Big portion. Well done for kitchen chef

Lot Bar & Restaurant

4.7

4.7 (1374)

£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

Fleur

Dined 6 days ago

Have been here several times before. Always enjoyable. Good choice of food & drink. Tables are separate enough so that you have some privacy. Recommended.

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Popular dish

Paella

The Cricketers Arms in Rickling Green

4.7

4.7 (586)

£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

jackie

Dined 2 days ago

First visit ( needed somewhere convenient for airport and a decent Sunday roast). Had trouble finding actual entrance to building but once in, was impressed. Lots of staff do no waiting around. It was a freezing cold day and not very warm inside the building but it soon warmed up once more people arrived. My friend was on crutches but we were put on a table up a level so she struggled with steps. Our order was taken quickly and the food arrived promptly. It was hot, plentiful and delicious. No complaints at all with the food. Good value for money!

The Anchor Inn - Nayland

4.6

4.6 (1922)

£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

Suzanne

Dined 5 days ago

Delicious lunch in the conservatory with glorious sun shinning what more could we want.

Bill's Restaurant & Bar - Colchester

4.6

4.6 (647)

£25 and under

British

Colchester

About the restaurant

Whether it's a bite to eat after a morning at Colchester Castle or private dining for 28 people (can we come?), we've got a spot for you. Find us where West Stockwell Street meets the High Street, or just follow the sound of people having a good time.

Top review

Serena

Dined on Jan 5, 2025

We were a table of 18 dining to celebrate a birthday. Without asking we were offered the private dining room upstairs and having ordered in advance all the adult meals everything just ran so smoothly. From the moment we were greeted at the door we were made to feel welcome, valued and comfortable. The service was brilliant and relaxed in a great way with 6 children to cater for too. Nothing was too much trouble and the birthday sundae wowed us all! Thank you Nicole and all the team. You did a wonderful job.

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Experience

Bottomless Pancakes

Experience

January Small Group Dining Menu

Experience

January Group Dining Menu

The Swan Inn Felsted

4.6

4.6 (72)

£26 to £40

Italian

Felsted

About the restaurant

Discover a haven of flavours and ambiance at The Swan Inn, a charming gastro pub nestled in the heart of Felsted, Essex.

For those seeking an embrace of comfort and authenticity, The Italian Kitchen awaits. Guided by the hands of Chef Nino, every bite echoes the streets and homes of Italy. Whether it's the comforting touch of pizza, the allure of pasta, the charm of tapas, or the timeless notes of traditional Italian fare, Nino brings Italy to you. And with And with our full restaurant and alfresco seating, let Felsted feel a touch more Mediterranean.

If Sunday means gathering with loved ones over a hearty meal, The Sunday Roast is where you belong. Crafted by Chef Nino, our roast is a celebration of timeless British flavors, featuring tender cuts, golden potatoes, seasonal vegetables, and traditional, rich, savory gravies—all served with the warmth and care of a family feast. Proud to make Sunday in Felsted feel just a bit more special.

Top review

Sharon

Dined 4 days ago

Another lovely dinner at the Swan. Great food and brilliant service

The Red Lion - Margaretting

4.6

4.6 (31)

£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

Claire

Dined on Dec 22, 2024

A nice friendly atmosphere in a traditional venue& would recommend to small or large groups

The Green Man at Lindsell

4.5

4.5 (121)

£25 and under

Gastro Pub

Great Dunmow

About the restaurant

Welcome back to the Green Man at Lindsell. Now currently under new management and direction!

In our cosy bar we have retained the buildings original features and given it a fresh contemporary edge where we welcome both drinkers and diners alike and our tables are available on a ‘first come’ basis offering an extensive range of dishes from salads, sharing planks to wholesome pub classics.

Our 70 seat a la carte restaurant to the rear of the property is also not to be missed, with crisp white linen, delicious food and an extensive wine list making it the ideal place for lunch, dinner or any other special occasions. Bookings are welcome and recommended. Please visit our website for restaurant opening hours.

We also have a large terrace area and extensive garden to dine alfresco or enjoy a champagne cocktail. We welcome families and have plenty of area for children to play. So come on in and take a look around and we hope to see you soon!

Top review

Glenn

Dined on Jan 1, 2025

3rd time we have dined there in the last 6 month and every time was exceptional.cant fault the food and the staff very welcoming 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

The Cricketers Mill Green

4.3

4.3 (115)

£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 restaurant.

Food is served in our restaurant with our new A La Carte menu which is served Wednesday to Saturday 12-3pm then 6-9pm or our new Bar menu Which is served all day Wednesday to Saturday 12-9pm excluding sandwiches in the evening.
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

Clinton

Dined 3 days ago

The setting was lovely and the staff were really nice but sadly after being given the recommendation from fiends I was a little underwhelmed by the quality of the food. I had the lasagne and it didn’t have much taste for my liking. I would like to return and try another dish but sadly I won’t be in a rush.

The Kings Arms Broomfield

4.1

4.1 (18)

£25 and under

Gastro Pub

Chelmsford

About the restaurant

Welcome to the Kings Arms.
We look forward to seeing you soon.

Top review

OpenTable Diner

Dined 4 days ago

The food was good, the service was minimal as only had lunch. I am more than happy that the Kings Arms is back in action and serving food, however, it seemed evident that we went for Friday Lunch they are struggling for customers. This may be because it is January, however, I believe they need to look at their pricing as this may be a factor. With the Popular Angel very nearby with easy access and parking, they are offering food at a slightly lower price than the Arms- burgers being one example. The Arms are charging additional for cheese and bacon - can understand the bacon but not the cheese. Pizzas are a pound or so cheaper and finally charging £5 for a pint of Diet Coke is extreme. I want the Kings Arms to be successful and so my feedback is meant to be constructive- either drop prices slightly and take the hit or maybe look at more economical ingredients to bring down costs. Good luck the Arms - I’m fully behind you but will struggle to pay over £50 for two lunch meals and two soft drinks in the future.

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Experience

Screw it Wednesday!!

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