Essex has a range of award-winning restaurants and eateries, offering first-class service and an exclusive fine dining experience. Here are the top five fine dining restaurants in Essex, according to Tripadvisor: The number one destination for fine dining is an Italian and Mediterranean restaurant south of Chelmsford. The restaurant has a five-star rating on Tripadvisor, with 2730 reviews and is the recipient of the Travellers Choice 2023 award.
Lunch, dinner and after-hours drinks are served at the eatery, which also offers a menu filled with vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options. According to the restaurant, the dishes are “authentic Italian food within a friendly and inviting atmosphere”. Bosses at Vita Bella focus on fresh and locally sourced produce, and guests report “amazing food”, “superb staff”, and “great choices”.
The restaurant distinguishes itself with a smart casual dress code and a young diner policy with age restrictions from Monday to Saturday. Number two on the list of Essex’s best fine dining destinations is Haywards in Epping. The restaurant offers European and British dishes, with vegetarian-friendly choices.
Rated at five stars and with 705 reviews, the restaurant was also awarded three AA rosettes in 2019. Special events like cooking classes, taster menu evenings and music events quickly get sold out and the eatery’s chef has been called a “genius” by guests, serving “amazing meals from start to finish”. Serving pan-pacif.