Colchester restaurants with food menus

Maison Mollie

➤ 1A Station Road, Colchester, United Kingdom

Cakes • Coffee • British • Breakfast

"I regularly visit MM either to work on my laptop or on days off and always find it to be friendly and welcoming. It’s usually bustling with a mix of locals and visitors and has an adequate range of things to eat and drink. The only thing missing is more variety in the non dairy milks offered for coffees. Oat would be good. Behind the counter are Bob and Sara. Their friendly banter makes even new customers and those on their own feel very welcome. They’re like a Wivenhoe double act and regulars obviously appreciate their humour and conversation. Nothing is too much trouble for them and their lighthearted interaction and that of the ‘Wivenhoe crowd’ who frequent MM create a lovely atmosphere. These days I visit as much for the conversations as the food and drink!"

Costa Cafe

➤ 37 London Road, CO3 0NR, Colchester, United Kingdom

Cafe • Coffee • British • Italian

"Went on Feb 10,2023 I had a gift card that I wanted to use. Thank God for a gift card a striped bass dinner and a NY Strip $124.00. My gift card was $80. I wasn’t impressed and half the strip was fat. No dessert had to ask for a second roll. Not returning I can go many other places and walk out same money using it for either apps or desert too. Way too over price and a BYOB so no drinks ordered. Nasty reply only speaking the truth and yes the original was for $200 which was used for a dinner before when I got a good meal however returned to finish the gift card thinking I get the same quality. You will not have to worry I won’t be returning. My money is good anywhere."

Unique Fish Kebab

➤ 10-12 Church Road, CO5 8QH, Colchester, United Kingdom

Fish • Lunch • British • Chicken

"And they also need to learn what 20 minutes is! Went to get a take away tonight, was told 20 minutes which ended up being an hour. When my wife asked (after an hour) how much longer, she was told “IM BUSY” food had been sat waiting for 20 minutes in a box on the counter. Then she was told to “just take her food!” Needless to say when we got it home, it was cold. The guy is lucky that my wife filled me in on what was said once we were way way down the road. Had I known while we were there, he would have been picking his teeth out of the chip fryer! If you want cold food, hideous attitude to customers as a 1 hour wait, you’ll get all three here! The only plus side to this establishment is that you get to meet some really nice people who are also waiting…. Unfortunate for this shop, I don’t think they’ll be shopping here much longer!"

Anchor Inn Stratford St Mary

➤ Upper St, Colchester, United Kingdom

Pizza • Cheese • British • European

"Had Lunch here today 18/08/23 four of us, very disappointing I ordered Haddock Chips special of the day The fish was covered in a thick crisp over cooked dark batter which completely overwhelmed the fish and was inedible. Mine was the worst, my friends eat theirs but did not think it was very good. When the dishes were cleared the lady asked what was wrong with my meal and I explained the aforementioned, to which she replied she would inform the chef. When I went to pay the bill the credit card machine asks if I would like to leave a tip, which in view of the meal I had, I declined. I commented that I was surprised to even be charged for the meal. I was told I was being charged for the meal as I had not complained earlier and therefore it was my fault. They could have corrected it had I complained earlier. Fair comment. However, they were not in the least bit concerned that they had served poor food, and I their customer, had a poor experience at their restaurant. Sorry cant recommend."

Harpers Caffe

➤ 7 Culver Street West, CO1 1NY, Colchester, United Kingdom

Cafés • Vegan • Coffee • European

"Harper’s Caffe combines the taste and menu of a bigger cafe with the heart and community feel of a smaller one, to form a welcoming environment from the moment you walk through the door, in which you can choose from many delicious options! The passion for the cafe from owner, Doug, can be found in the service, which has never been anything short of personal and excellent, and staff member Alice is particularly great at maintaining these high standards through her welcoming smile, friendly conversation and ability to make you laugh! Pricing can be a worry regarding independent cafes but the food is priced well, tastes amazing and can be accompanied by a range of drinks. The outdoor seating area provides a good option for the hotter weather, alongside the inside seating, all of which is kept clean and tidy. Would definitely recommend visiting, especially for the breakfasts as they’re always superlative!"

Way To The Raj

➤ 90 Coggeshall Road, CO6 1LS, Colchester, United Kingdom

Balti • Asian • Indian • Pakistani

"Visiting was an absolute delight! From the moment I walked in, I was enveloped in the intoxicating aroma of spices that promised a memorable culinary journey. The menu was a treasure trove of diverse options, each more enticing than the last. I decided to try their signature dish, and it was a revelation! The balance of flavors in the curry was nothing short of a masterpiece the spices danced harmoniously, creating a symphony of taste that left me speechless. The tender meat melted in my mouth, a testament to their culinary expertise. What truly stood out was the exceptional service. The staff was not only knowledgeable about the menu but also passionate about sharing the stories behind each dish. It was evident that they took immense pride in their craft, and their enthusiasm was infectious. The ambiance was another highlight; the warm, inviting décor added to the overall experience. It was clear that every detail had been thoughtfully considered to transport diners to the heart of the culinary traditions they celebrated. The way to the Raj is more than just a restaurant; it's a celebration of flavors, culture, and a genuine passion for food. If you're looking for an unforgettable dining experience, this is the place to be. I can't wait to return and explore more of their culinary treasures!"

Jam Jar

➤ 1 Regent Street, Colchester, United Kingdom

Cafe • Soup • Vegan • British

"I visited on Sunday at around lunchtime and the experience was not great. The cutlery was dirty and the sandwiches were overpriced for what they are. Highchairs are available but looked like they are left outdoors and were extremely filthy"

The Crown Wormingford

➤ Main Road, Colchester, United Kingdom

Meat • Steak • Drinks • Burgers

"The Crown, what can be said. Well, the atmosphere for a start, it's like walking into your best mates, warm and inviting, fantastic banter, and genuinely lovely people. Secondly, the food is absolutely delicious! This morning, my full English hit the spot. Proper butchers sausages, perfectly crisp bacon (as requested), all cooked to perfection. All served with a smile, and real bean, fresh coffee! I have now eaten breakfast lunch and dinner here, and cannot complain about a single thing! Service is always quick, the food is always piping hot, and it's all home made, fresh, and well presented. I can walk in, take a seat and my drink is there ready and waiting. I can't fault anything with this establishment! Looking at the functions and events they host, it's a real, community pub, really the heart of wormingford. Highly recommend popping in!!"

The Three Horseshoes

➤ 74 Church Road, CO6 3NJ, Colchester, United Kingdom

Pub • Fish • Steak • British

"Lovely pub, beautifully decorated. Very attentive staff. Superb choice of food/dishes with quality ingredients. Coped exceptionally well with dietary intolerance. Food presented beautifully at just right time intervals. So why only average? It was lovely and cosy in front of fire but once sat at table it was cold. Two people had hot starters-but they weren’t hot, they were tepid at best. One hot starter superb, the two cold ones were equally superb. Roasts arrived-ONE slice of thick rare, tender beef, with thick rind of white fat-cold. 3 beautifully crisp roast potatoes-tepid, two strips of carrot-cold, two strips of parsnip-warm, four pieces of cabbage hidden under beef, 1 large almost raw charred cauliflower-cold others had small amount of cauliflower cheese). 3 had wagyu beef ragu-tepid at best but very tasty. Ordered additional bowl of red cabbage £6.50). Desserts-hot ones hot, cold ones cold. Beautifully presented, outstanding flavours. Had four bottles of wine. Total bill was over £400. Would I go back? Probably to give it another go. Why? Because there was no doubt the food quality was superb. Why did I not complain? We were with friends, it was a birthday meal, they had accommodated our early arrival and made no fuss about our missing guest. But it is very expensive. They need to look at quantities especially the vegetables. And they need to get food temperature right. We eat out regularly- The Marquis at Hadleigh comparable price but perfect) The anchor at Kelvedon great and much cheaper), White Horse at Badwell Ash amazing and 1/3 price), Butt and Oyster Pin Mill Superb and less than 1/2 price). However company great, we laughed and shared good times so the disappointing aspects we overlooked."

Frankie Benny's

➤ 4 Tollgate West, Colchester I-CO3 8RH, United Kingdom

Pizza • Italian • American • Vegetarian

"Breakfast was nice, if ordering fresh orange juice ask for no ice otherwise it tastes pretty watery Not been in since previous review (3 years ago lol) Went in about 2.30pm weekday. Lunch menu still available til 3pm with good range. Food was delivered quickly, was hot and tasted good. Manager, chef and wait staff all really friendly and welcoming. Reasonably priced food, especially off lunch menu."

Nando's Colchester Head St

➤ 11-13 Head Street, CO1 1NY, Colchester, United Kingdom

Cafés • Kebab • Seafood • Asiatic

"Took a while for staff to come over and serve us. However once we caught their attention, the waitress was helpful with our order. They have an offer on for starters and a cocktail pitcher. The space is cosy, warm and welcoming and ideal for a catch up with friends. Only table service is allowed and cannot order at the bar due to COVID restrictions. Staff wore masks and seating was socially distanced."

Banquet

➤ 342 London Road, CO3 8LT, Colchester, United Kingdom

Full • Asian • Dining • Chinese

"After visiting this restaurant for approx 10 years, we visited recently for a family birthday and to say we are disappointed is a huge understatement and it will be our last visit. We ordered a variety of dim sum and noddles to share which worked out at £45 a head (incl drinks). Whilst quite pricey, We don 't mind paying that much if the food is nice but most of it was bad quality. The pork shumai was disgusting and honestly inedible, the chicken feat in black bean sauce came out red in colour like it had been curried, furthermore the seafood had the taste of ammonia. The Vietnamese spring rolls had changed since our last visit, and whilst they were fine, they were not as tasty as before. We heard the dimsum chef had recently not been working and dim sum was off the menu for a period of time and we can only assume that the chef must have left. Also we only arrived at 1pm (opens at 12) yet one third of the dishes were sold out and marked off the dim sum menu. One other complaint is that after 10 years of regularly visiting this restaurant, no current staff have ever made an effort to ask our name or even acknowledge we have been before which we never minded before when the food was tasty. We are young and non-chinese in terms of ethnicity and we saw the restaurant staff greet other customers with a lot more acknowledgement and we even saw they knew the table next to us regular order which is ironic since we are also regulars. Seemed like they never made any effort to greet us. Will avoid from here on out."

Chef Canton Chinese Colchester

➤ 2a Crouch Street, Colchester, CO33ES, CO3 3EN, United Kingdom

Cafés • Asian • Asiatic • Mexican

"Fantastic western Chinese restaurant situated next to the Bull pub. They offer an all you can eat option on certain days (as long as you finish what you order and don't leave uneaten dishes or they'll charge extra, which is more than fair). The food is very tasty and well prepared and the portions are just right. All the classics are there such as crispy chilli beef, kung po chicken etc. Food comes out quickly, but sometimes you are left waiting for dishes, when it would be preferable if they all arrived at once, but a small niggle and probably unavoidable. Again, great western Chinese cuisine at a good price, recommended."

Zizzi

➤ 12 Headgate Colchester, Essex CO3 3BT, United Kingdom

Pizza • Cafés • Seafood • European

"We found the downstairs area to be very loud, so we requested a table upstairs. We did not have a reservation but were still accommodated. We enjoyed the sticky pig pizza, which had an ultra-thin base and was full of flavor. However, we were not impressed with the mushroom starter as it lacked taste. Our bill for two people, including a non-alcoholic drink, came to just under £40. Overall, we had a mixed experience at the restaurant."

Aburi Japanese

➤ 19 Short Wyre Street, Colchester, United Kingdom

Sushi • Kebab • Asiatic • Mexican

"Previously I have given Aburi an unfavourable review. However, since this review, I have visited and am pleased to say that they have made huge improvements, mainly on the staff service. The two men who waited on our table were attentive, welcoming and smiling. This has made my dining experience so much more enjoyable! The food was served quickly, tasted fresh and was delicious. Well done Aburi for listening to your customers and making a massive improvement on your customer service!"

Grill 66 Fusion

➤ 66 Barrack Street, CO1 2LS, Colchester, United Kingdom

Cafés • Mexican • Seafood • Fast Food

"First when we were seated we had the menus and two of them were so dirty. I had to ask for another ones. The food was not good at all. My burger, which is the fusion one made out of a mix of flour and meat and probably eggs as it was so hard. It did not feel like burger at all. The ribs were not great either as they were made of cheap quality meat. The whole experience was not pleasant as of hygiene, food quality, and also the price. I will never be back and I will advise friends not to try."

Crown

➤ Stoke-by-Nayland CO6 4SE, CO6 4QT, Colchester, United Kingdom

Steak • Hotels • British • Vegetarian

"Following a long journey to Stoke by Nayland, we found this quaint pub in the village and decided to go for lunch here. This country pub features everything you could want with a log fire near the entrance, a nice bar with plenty of variety and it has its own wine “cellar” type room! My partner and I decided to grab a bite to eat, ordering the flat ironed steak, accompanied with steak cut chips, garlic mushrooms and a garlic sauce, and I ordered the steak and mushroom pie, accompanied with freshly steamed veg and a dollop of mash. Both plates arrived promptly and the food on both plates was superb, tasted fresh and locally sourced. The added bonus was the chef singing I’m a believer in the background, not the best version I’ve heard but none the less a valiant attempt and great to hear the staff in good spirits during the current situation. Overall my partner and I thoroughly enjoyed our lunch and the atmosphere in the pub, we’d definitely recommend and we may pop in before we leave!"

Colchester Spice

➤ 66 Barrack Street CO1 2LS, Colchester, United Kingdom

Meat • Asian • Indian • Chicken

"I did make a reservation but really didn't need it as we were the only ones in the restaurant, we opted for the all you can eat menu. to be honest the difference between the buffet style and normal menu price wise is minimal, we compared with what we had to the normal menu and it was only £3.50 less. the only thing is the buffet menu is very limited (basic). The portions are very good and Allan the host bagged up our left overs to take away which they don't normally do for buffet lunch. They run tribute nights which we will book in the future as the acts seem quite good plus they do girls night, prosecco all night and a lads night(cobra lager) i would like to go to an evening seating to give a full review but this restaurant can be interesting."

The Shepherd In Langham

➤ United Kingdom, CO4 5NR, Colchester

Pub • Steak • Vegan • British

"Had a lovely overnight stay and a meal here yesterday! The decor is LOVELY, gives a great warm feeling. Plenty of drinks on offer! The staff are so lovely and welcoming! I wouldn’t hesitate bringing my 3 kids in here!! The rooms are lovely and cosy. I could have stayed all day the food we had was lovely. The Filipino pork was perfect! 100% recommend the Shepherd we will defo be returning! Thankyou for having us!! ????"

Love Thy Burger Colchester

➤ 58 High Street, Colchester, CO11DH, CO1 1DH, United Kingdom

Kebab • Mexican • European • Fast Food

"Amazing food and great service. The burgers were good quality, full of flavour and had the perfect accompaniments. Will definitely be visiting again!..."

Explore restaurant menus in Colchester

The best menus from the finest restaurants in Colchester