Eleven members of the Evening Dining Group had a splendid meal at this quite up market restaurant in Writtle. For those that know their Writtle this is the old Cock & Bell pub extended and brought right into the 21st century. An extensive al-a-carte menu is available with starters from £6.25, main courses from £15.95 and desserts from £6.75, but we were all more than happy with the two-course set menu at £22.95 (normally £18.95, but it was the special Xmas menu). There was a selection of five starters, six main courses and six desserts; a third course could be added for £5. The wine list is impressive with wine by the glass reasonably priced and the range of prices per bottle starting at around £15 and going up to Dom Perignon Rose 2000 at £399. The food was piping hot, superbly cooked and presented and even with a packed restaurant the service by a mainly young and enthusiastic staff first rate. This is a deceptively large restaurant with a number of different areas where you can sit and our beautifully decorated round table was in its own slightly set aside area with plenty of room. (Peter Ely)

On its web site the Kilns Hotel declares that it is "Brentwood's Best Kept Secret" and it is somewhat true that residents of Brentwood (who may not have much need for a hotel), may well be unaware of this little gem. It is also possible that the restaurant, "The White Napkin" within the hotel could be equally unfamiliar. The restaurant is not very big and has an intimate feel to it - also its should be pointed out that the tables are laid up with "white napkins." There is an instant appeal on entering the hotel not least of which may be attributed to the very pleasant greeting from Rachel whose warm and friendly welcome made a good start to the evening. Throughout I was impressed with the general attitude of the very efficient staff, and I got the impression that nothing was too much trouble. An interesting menu included such starters as grilled asparagus on a bed of mixed leaves and topped with a soft duck egg and sun-dried tomatoes, a platter of mixed shellfish in a garlic and herb butter, beetroot-cured salmon with a smooth horseradish cream sauce, Parma ham cannelloni, duck liver and port parfait, and parsnip and coriander soup. Main courses included five fish dishes including a whole lobster, a wild mushroom risotto, pork fillet served on a garlic and apple mash, and rib eye or filet steaks, and to follow a varied selection of deserts. All food was beautifully cooked and presented, and the bill for four including drinks and a tip was just under £100.  (Brian Leith) 

Over the past month or so we have made a couple of visits to this restaurant, the latter in the company of ten members of the Evening Dining Group. On both occasions we were surprised to find that the very reasonable price for a two-course meal (£16.95) and three courses (£19.95), included a glass of wine or a soft drink and tea or coffee. The restaurant is large, but on both evenings most tables were occupied. One of the benefits of Bartellas is that they have several round tables, always a plus, especially when a large party is dining together. The service was very efficient, though there didn't seem to be a great many members of staff. It was good to discover that members of the Dining Group seemed to be in total accord when voicing their enjoyment of both the food and the evening overall. Typical menu items included, to start: Ham hock terrine with piccalilli, toasts and baby leaves, Bruschetta of tomatoes, olives and feta cheese; mains: Grilled calves liver with baby pearl onions, lardons and creamed potatoes, Seafood linguine with garlic, chilli and tomato. Portions were generous, and some items had a supplement. (Brian Leith) 

The White Hart has long been a favourite of mine which accounts for why I managed to go there three times in two days, but that is another story! This is quite a large pub and has probably 100 covers; it can be very busy at lunchtime and at weekends, but quieter in the evening during the week. The main area is said to date back to the 17th Century, but there is a large bright and airy conservatory. The standard menu includes most of the favourites that make up good "pub grub", but there is always a number of interesting "specials". The food is well cooked and the helpings generous. There is a reasonable wine list, but the White Hart is a renowned real ale pub with a wide selection of beers, including guest beers, all kept perfectly in the tap room; from the barrel not the pump. Margaretting Tye is no more than a hamlet so all their clientele have to make a specific journey to eat there. The service is friendly, attentive and they always make you feel that you are welcome. The cost? The most expensive item on the menu when last I dined there was £16.95 for sirloin steak and certainly you could expect to pay no more than £20 for two courses and a drink. (Peter Ely) 

The Queens Head still retains its rustic charm and the restaurant, now extended upstairs is tastefully decorated. We had a warm welcome and were attended by very pleasant staff. The menu is quite comprehensive and should appeal to all tastes. The food and ambience were very good although some may consider that the bill for the four of us (we each had three courses), at £160 including tip plus drinks, was not cheap. However, we all thought it was well worth the money and would certainly go again. All in all a very pleasant evening. (Owen and June Randall)

The first attempt to go to The Bell at Horndon on the Hill, was thwarted by heavy snow that had created dangerous driving conditions on some roads. After a couple of weeks the snow had disappeared and another date was arranged for what our friends promised would be an evening to remember. Incredibly, there was another heavy fall of snow and it looked as though this, too, would have to be cancelled. But with four-wheel-drive confidence we arrived without incident. We were amazed at how busy the place was, with all the tables in the bar area fully occupied and many more people standing around talking and drinking, the whole place had a very lively and friendly atmosphere. The restaurant, too, was extremely busy, but with six or seven waiters and waitresses (several from Eastern Europe), there was no delay in being served. Between the four of us we had three starters: Roast duck breast with a spicy, crispy crust; Gravlax marinated in mustard, sugar and gin, with beetroot jus; and pan-fried scallops with lime and coriander. For our main courses we had a delicious belly of pork; calves liver; wing of skate; and Thai fishcakes; two deserts followed - fruit brûlée (layered on crème brûlée); and sticky toffee pudding. The food was absolutely brilliant with the ordinary-sounding choices being far from ordinary. Setting it apart was the way it was cooked and presented, and particularly appealing was the size of the portions, which were adequate and not as in some restaurants, with plates piled high with food. With drinks at the bar, a bottle of white wine and a large glass of red wine at the table, the total bill including the tip came to £140 (£35 per head). Some may consider this expensive, but taking into account the service, the food and the atmosphere, it was well worth it - and indeed it was an evening to remember. (Owen and June Randall)

The first thing to comment on is the very cheery welcome that greets you when you enter the pub. For years the Black Bull has been known for its fish dishes and in particular the fried fish, but a range of tasty meals is also on offer with a "specials" board occasionally offering steak and ale or steak and kidney puddings (a speciality of the chef). Service was good and the food, having been freshly cooked, was piping hot. A real plus is that as far as I could see there were mainly round tables. These were of various sizes seating from four, to the largest which could accommodate parties of up to eight, or ten if prepared to squeeze together. I enjoyed a chicken liver starter, followed by grilled skate wing served with a butter and capers, while Yvonne was very pleased with her choice of prawns and avocado with lemon sole to follow. With drinks and a bottle of wine the bill came to just over £50.  (Brian Leith)

This small traditional pub is not the sort of place diners would normally come across. It is tucked out the way on a road that is not likely to be used by most travellers. The pub is not very big and has a small section designated to diners and the whole place is typical of a quaint country pub. Four of us enjoyed a fine meal and came away with change from £70 that included pre dinner drinks, four starters, four main meals and a bottle of wine. A small menu was supplemented by a "specials" board and the choice of starters included deep fried brie, prawn cocktail, and main courses ranged from steaks and fish to spaghetti bolognaise, etc. The service was good and the home-cooked meals arrived together within only a short time of ordering. Surprisingly, there was a good selection of wines, and the friendly service combined with the "intimate" atmosphere resulted in a very pleasant and successful evening. (Brian Leith)

This is a small restaurant, owned by working directors Susan Lake and Gary Shall (avid fans of Marilyn Monroe), and though not themed to her they couldn’t resist strategically placing a few photographs in the restaurant. The couple are friendly and very helpful and it could be said that they tend to focus on steak (their claim is "The finest steak house in Brentwood"), but there is also a varied choice of fish, chicken and salads, and where possible they will happily amend the menu to suit the customers’ preferences. To start, my wife had a small portion of baby back ribs which she said were delicious, I had crispy breaded mushrooms with a garlic mayo dip. My main course was an 8oz sirloin steak which as medium/rare was perfectly cooked, while Yvonne had a 4oz sirloin. The size of this, she maintained was just big enough for her and was cooked just the way she likes. Both main courses came with a salad garnish, but be aware that side orders at £2.00 each are extra. It was evident that one portion of French fries or sauté potatoes was sufficient for two to share (this fact was prompted by Gary). Wines from the list start at £15.50 though there is always a recommended special that is around a couple of pounds cheaper. The total bill came in at just under £50 for the two of us - starters (£10.40), main courses (£21.75), and a bottle of wine (£16.50). The service was very good and at no time were we kept waiting. (Brian Leith)