Diners' Choice: Romantic restaurants in Essex

OpenTable

Updated December 05, 2024

Looking for restaurants that are the most romantic 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 (695)

£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

Iva

Dined on Dec 17, 2024

I like my fish and seafood so I have chosen king prawns in garlic butter for starters and it was divine. Sizzling butter , mouth watering prawns. Really good. For main I had an octopus which was very good too. Can't fault. Finished my meal with a very strong turkish coffee Definitely would return

STARK

4.8

4.8 (42)

£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

Esther

Dined on Dec 12, 2024

Michelin star quality food in a relaxed, intimate and stylish restaurant. Here’s hoping it becomes Essex’s first Michelin star restaurant soon. Food was superbly cooked and presented. They serve a set tasting menu only so ensure you are up for trying new tastes.

Le Bouchon Brasserie & Hotel

4.7

4.7 (1167)

£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 as always. This was our third visit in just over a month and the experience has always been amazing. Thank you and merry Christmas

The New London Restaurant and Lounge

4.7

4.7 (968)

£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

chris

Dined 3 days ago

Great service food was excellent. I would recommend this restaurant certainly

The House by Hilly Gant

4.7

4.7 (1209)

£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

Shaun

Dined 3 days ago

Never had a bad meal and the service is amazing!!!!!

Kara Lounge & Grill

4.7

4.7 (1209)

£25 and under

Turkish

Grays

About the restaurant

We are proud to serve you one of the healthiest and most well-balanced Turkish and Mediterranean food in Essex.

Our dishes are prepared freshly upon order, using authentic recipes, traditional cooking methods with finest ingredients.

Our focus is to provide the highest quality of service available.

Top review

Edita

Dined 6 days ago

We were visiting Kara Lounge & Grill the second time, with our friends from France. The food was superb, we ordered kix of starters like cacik/sucuk(spicy Turkish sausage absolutely fantastic)and for the main we had House special mix platter for 4-5 people. Honestly we were stuffed with all the starters that we could not handle the main dish. So had to pack up. Everything was very fresh good quality food. Also had some mock-tails, decent size glasses. We will be coming back again and again as its one to go place in town.

The Eyna

4.7

4.7 (805)

£26 to £40

Turkish

Basildon

About the restaurant

The Eyna is a new, refreshing, traditional Turkish cuisine coming to the heart of Basildon. With a open-plan dining experience, open kitchen & central bar, we're sure this will be your perfect location for all types of events or casual dining.

Top review

Carly

Dined 4 days ago

Been twice now and had the best experience both times

Sevine Brasserie

4.6

4.6 (126)

£25 and under

Mediterranean

Harlow

About the restaurant

Treat yourself to a culinary adventure at our delightful restaurant, where we offer a fusion of Mediterranean cuisine. We are pleased to accommodate group bookings and look forward to welcoming you.

Our restaurant is conveniently located in Harlow within the Water Gardens. Whether you’re joining us for brunch, lunch or dinner, book a table now and experience a wonderful dining experience with us.

Top review

Alan

Dined 6 days ago

A very warm welcome from the friendly staff. Service was very attentive and not rushed, which was great. Food (steak) was absolutely beautiful; perfectly cooked, well presented and delicious.

The Green Man at Lindsell

4.5

4.5 (118)

£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

Debra

Dined on Dec 15, 2024

First time at the Green Man and certainly will not be the last. As soon as we walked in,felt it had a lovely vibe. Staff very friendly and helpful,food excellent,in fact the best roast. I love to walk in a restaurant and see wonderful white table cloths.

Minoa

4.2

4.2 (64)

£26 to £40

Pan-Asian

Marks Gates

About the restaurant

For parties larger than 8 people on Fridays and Saturdays, please contact the restaurant directly.

Embark on a culinary journey through the vibrant flavours of Asia at our exquisite pan-Asian fine dining establishment in Essex. Indulge in meticulously crafted dishes inspired by the rich culinary traditions of China, Japan, Thailand, and beyond, all expertly prepared with the finest ingredients and presented with artistic flair. From delicate sushi creations to aromatic stir-fries and tantalising curries, each dish promises a symphony of taste sensations that will transport you to the heart of Asia.

Top review

Amit

Dined 6 days ago

We had a fantastic night, everything was perfect we was a group of 8 and everyone said how great everything was!!! Well done all!!!

Explore Diners' Choice best of Essex

Explore more Diners' Choice lists