Essex


<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-47-the-street-braintree"><a href="https://47thestreet.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">47 The Street</a>, Braintree</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="666" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2023/02/8.jpg" alt="47 The Street, Braintree" class="wp-image-11021" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2023/02/8.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2023/02/8-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2023/02/8-768x511.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2023/02/8-788x525.jpg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Fancy an authentic Italian feast? First on our Essex restaurants for Valentine&#8217;s Day list is Rayne’s <a href="https://47thestreet.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">47 The Street</a>&#8216;s <a href="https://47thestreet.com/valentines-menu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Valentine’s menu</a>. Beginning with appetisers of arancini and bruschetta; you’ve buffalo mozzarella, avocado, crab and prawn salad and more to follow. Mains include wild sea bass fillet, slow cooked lamb shank and spinach and ricotta ravioli; and don’t get me started on their puds. I’m in it for the Bailey’s crème brûlée with shortbread. £55pp for lunch or dinner; call 01376 327359 or email <a href="mailto:info@47thestreet.com">info@47thestreet.com</a>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-alec-s-restaurant-warley"><a href="https://alecsrestaurant.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Alec’s Restaurant</a>, Warley</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="666" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2023/02/3.jpg" alt="Alec’s Restaurant, Warley" class="wp-image-11015" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2023/02/3.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2023/02/3-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2023/02/3-768x511.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2023/02/3-788x525.jpg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Famed for seafood but also offering meat/veggie/vegan, <a href="https://alecsrestaurant.co.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Alec’s</a> serves posh nosh in a cracking setting. There&#8217;s two options to choose, starting with their <a href="https://alecsrestaurant.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/valentinesmenus2024.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">three-course lunch</a> at £70 a head for three courses. Or go all-out and book the <a href="https://alecsrestaurant.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/valentinesmenus2024.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Valentine&#8217;s Day dinner</a> at £130pp. For that you get a four-course feast filled with choices. I&#8217;m salivating over the duck spring rolls with Asian pickles and plum sauce; whole lobster with Thermidor sauce/garlic and chilli butter; and royal banoffee profiterole with banana and caramel ice-cream, mascarpone cream and hot chocolate sauce.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-galvin-green-man-chelmsford"><a href="https://galvinrestaurants.com/restaurant/galvin-green-man-chelmsford/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Galvin Green Man</a>, Chelmsford</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="666" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2023/02/5.jpg" alt="Galvin Green Man, Chelmsford" class="wp-image-11018" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2023/02/5.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2023/02/5-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2023/02/5-768x511.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2023/02/5-788x525.jpg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>If you’ve not dined here, <a href="https://galvinrestaurants.com/restaurant/galvin-green-man-chelmsford/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Galvin Green Man</a> is one to most definitely tick off your Essex restaurants for Valentine&#8217;s Day bucket list. Actually, let&#8217;s make that any time of year. Come&nbsp;<strong>Feb 14</strong>&nbsp;they&#8217;re on hand to tantalise tastebuds with this £78pp&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sevenrooms.com/experiences/galvingreenman/valentines-day--8562408410" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">three course Valentine’s men</a><a href="https://www.sevenrooms.com/experiences/galvingreenman/valentines-day--8562408410?_gl=1*i0t8up*_gcl_au*MTcwMDI4MjI4LjE3MDUzMzc4ODI.*_ga*NjY1MzgzODguMTcwNTMzNzg4Mg..*_ga_GHX4JN67QW*MTcwNTQwODQ0My4yLjEuMTcwNTQwODg4NS42MC4wLjA." target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">u</a>, starting with a glass of bubbles. If I were to head there (hubby take note) I’d opt for the duck liver parfait with pickled pear and walnut brioche; saddle of venison with pommes anna, cavolo nero and pickled blackberry jus; followed by the vanilla and rhubarb cheesecake. Oh yes.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-magic-mushroom-restaurant-billericay"><a href="https://magicmushroomrestaurant.co.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Magic Mushroom Restaurant</a>, Billericay </h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="666" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2024/01/3-3.jpg" alt="Magic Mushroom Restaurant, Billericay " class="wp-image-15598" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2024/01/3-3.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2024/01/3-3-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2024/01/3-3-768x511.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2024/01/3-3-788x525.jpg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Here&#8217;s another corker for you, courtesy of Billericay&#8217;s Magic Mushroom. Their <a href="https://magicmushroomrestaurant.co.uk/valentines-day-restaurant/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Valentine&#8217;s Day menu</a> is £75 a head for their four course line-up, which kicks off with a<strong> </strong>parmesan cigar with truffled hazelnuts and focaccia with olive oil and balsamic. Starters include pork belly with carrot, pickled beetroot and bacon crumb, with the main event offering treacle cured beef fillet and parmesan crusted cod, among others. Dessert&#8217;s a sharer of<strong> </strong>hot chocolate fondant, vanilla ice cream, strawberry tart, Champagne sorbet and rose cheesecake. I can feel my jeans digging in already.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-orsett-hall-orsett"><a href="https://www.orsetthall.co.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Orsett Hall</a>, Orsett</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="666" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2024/01/1-5.jpg" alt="Orsett Hall, Orsett" class="wp-image-15599" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2024/01/1-5.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2024/01/1-5-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2024/01/1-5-768x511.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2024/01/1-5-788x525.jpg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p><a href="https://www.orsetthall.co.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Orsett Hall</a>&#8216;s pulling out all the stops when it comes to their Valentine&#8217;s Day feast. Priced at £60pp, <a href="https://document-tc.galaxy.tf/wdpdf-1fms3k3ntn1stnfcxaq3v4p55/special-menus_cms-document.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">the menu</a> begins with that well-known aphrodisiac; oysters; along with a glass of Prosecco. Next it&#8217;s a lobster cappuccino; asparagus, duck egg and parmesan espuma; and seared scallop, honey roast pork, sour apple and truffle dressing. Hungry for more? You then get a choice of parsley roasted lamb with mini moussaka, feta and aubergine, or wild sea bass with mussels, asparagus and saffron. Also on the menu&#8217;s a bellini sorbet, chocolate and strawberries to share and coffee and petit fours. Burp.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-pig-amp-whistle-restaurant-chelmsford"><a href="https://www.pigandwhistlechelmsford.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Pig &amp; Whistle Restaurant</a>, Chelmsford</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="666" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2024/01/Untitled-design-4.jpg" alt="Pig &amp; Whistle Restaurant, Chelmsford" class="wp-image-15604" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2024/01/Untitled-design-4.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2024/01/Untitled-design-4-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2024/01/Untitled-design-4-768x511.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2024/01/Untitled-design-4-788x525.jpg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>This stylish restaurant, located in the Chelmsford countryside, scooped Best Essex Restaurant in our&nbsp;<a href="https://essex.muddystilettos.co.uk/awards/winners/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">2022 Muddy Awards</a>. Their&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pigandwhistlechelmsford.uk/valentines" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Valentine’s sharing menu</a>&nbsp;is priced at £69pp for three courses and is, in a word, mouthwatering. You begin with prawns, mussels, hand dived scallops, mackerel pate and toasted bread. For the main event it&#8217;s a herb crusted Chateaubriand (oh yes), with ox cheek mac and cheese, caesar salad, chunky chips and béarnaise sauce. To finish? An assiette of apples – that&#8217;s apple sorbet, panna cotta, butterscotch sauce and tarte tatin. I&#8217;ll fight you for a table.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-smith-s-ongar"><a href="https://smithsrestaurants.com/smiths-ongar/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Smith’s</a>, Ongar</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="666" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2023/02/4.jpg" alt="Smith’s, Ongar" class="wp-image-11016" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2023/02/4.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2023/02/4-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2023/02/4-768x511.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2023/02/4-788x525.jpg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Here’s another restaurant renowned for serving lots of tasty fishy on a (pretty) dishy. Their&nbsp;<a href="https://smithsrestaurants.com/wp-content/uploads/VALENTINES-2024-1.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">three course Valentine’s menu</a> is £95pp, which is well worth it; especially after reading the next sentence. A choice of starters include seared sashimi grade yellow fin tuna with pickled vegetables and wasabi ponzu dressing; seven mains (I’m torn between the slow cooked Suffolk pork belly or wild mushroom and truffle risotto); plus desserts, coffee and petit fours. It goes without saying (but I’ll say it anyway) that a vegetarian and vegan menu is available on request. Seriously. Somebody help me out of my jeans.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-cricketers-clavering"><a href="https://www.thecricketers.co.uk/food-and-drink" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Cricketers</a>, Clavering</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="666" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2023/02/7.jpg" alt="The Cricketers, Clavering" class="wp-image-11020" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2023/02/7.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2023/02/7-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2023/02/7-768x511.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2023/02/7-788x525.jpg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Not far from Saffron Walden, <a href="https://www.thecricketers.co.uk/food-and-drink" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Cricketers</a> is on our Essex restaurants for Valentine&#8217;s Day for a ton of reasons. Besides being oh-so-stylish their à la carte is ideal for those wanting to schmooze on the day of <em>lurve</em>. Sharing boards are on offer and include a butcher&#8217;s charcuterie with lamb koftas, prosciutto, salami, chorizo, pickles, olives and focaccia. Or you can choose to go old school and indulge in your own starter, main and dessert. I&#8217;m not one for parting with any of my food (but will happily eat my husband&#8217;s), so I&#8217;m in it for the smoked mackerel pâté and classic chicken schnitzel. Hands off, now. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-three-horseshoes-fordham"><a href="https://threehorseshoesfordham.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Three Horseshoes</a>, Fordham</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="666" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2024/01/Untitled-design-5.jpg" alt="The Three Horseshoes, Fordham" class="wp-image-15622" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2024/01/Untitled-design-5.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2024/01/Untitled-design-5-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2024/01/Untitled-design-5-768x511.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2024/01/Untitled-design-5-788x525.jpg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>We&#8217;ve just been sent the inside scoop on the Valentine&#8217;s Day dishes at this <a href="https://threehorseshoesfordham.com">country pub and restaurant</a>. Besides the usual à la carte they&#8217;re also offering sharing dishes that, again, I&#8217;d happily scoff all to myself. Guests can expect Bruha IPA bread with caramelised honey, lemon, thyme and black pepper butter; then Vacherin Mont d&#8217;Or (cow&#8217;s milk cheese) with truffle, confit potato, crispy skin, parma ham and pickled onion. After that comes beef pithivier with peppercorn sauce, chive emulsion and sharing sides; followed by chocolate moelleux, miso caramel ice cream, milk foam and chocolate soil. You don&#8217;t want to share either now, do you?</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-windmill-chatham-green-chelmsford"><a href="https://thewindmillchathamgreen.co.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Windmill Chatham Green</a>, Chelmsford</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="666" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2024/01/Untitled-design-8.jpg" alt="The Windmill Chatham Green Chelmsford" class="wp-image-15649" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2024/01/Untitled-design-8.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2024/01/Untitled-design-8-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2024/01/Untitled-design-8-768x511.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Six course tasting menu and Champagne? <a href="https://thewindmillchathamgreen.co.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Windmill Chatham Green</a>&#8216;s Valentine&#8217;s Day feast is the one for you. At £125pp (wine pairing available at £45 a head), you start with canapés, bubbles, bread and butter, followed by chicken liver parfait with pineapple and coriander. Ponzu dressed crab&#8217;s next with fennel and mango, followed by fillet of beef with pommel anna and cauliflower. Leave room for their delicious dessert; rhubarb with blood orange and rose. Want to make a night of it? From <strong>1-24 Feb</strong> you can stay and dine here, with a five-course, one night option plus breakfast for £260 for two people. Or choose the eight course tasting menu plus Champagne, one night stay and breakfast for £295 for two.</p>


Love Actually: top 10 Essex restaurants for Valentine’s Day

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