Alec's Restaurant

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#5 of 168 Restaurants in BrentwoodSeafood, Vegetarian friendly, ££££

What is Travellers’ Choice?

Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.

Alec's Restaurant

Review

At a glance

Open until 12:00 AM

See all hours

Website

+44 1277 375696Improve this listing

About

Travellers' Choice

2024

Alec’s Restaurant Bar & Grill opened in 2010 and has established itself as one of Essex’s leading fish Restaurants. Attracting customers from near and far, Alec’s prides itself on quality ingredients and exceptional service.

Features

CUISINES

Seafood

Meal types

Lunch, Dinner, After-hours, Drinks

Special Diets

Vegetarian friendly, Vegan options, Gluten free options

FEATURES

Accepts Credit Cards

Free off-street parking

Full Bar

Gift Cards Available

Jazz Bar

Non-smoking restaurants

Outdoor Seating

Parking Available

Reservations

Seating

Serves Alcohol

Table Service

Wheelchair Accessible

Wine and Beer

Location

Navestock Side, Brentwood CM14 5SD England

Free off-street parking, Parking Available

Does this restaurant have live jazz music?

Yes

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Save this restaurant

Hours

Suggest an edit

Open until 12:00 AM

Sunday

12:30 - 19:00

Monday

Closed

Tuesday

12:00 - 16:0017:30 - 0:00

Wednesday

12:00 - 16:0017:30 - 0:00

Thursday

12:00 - 16:0017:30 - 0:00

Friday

12:00 - 16:0017:30 - 0:00

Saturday

12:00 - 16:0017:30 - 0:00

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4.4

(1,823)

Excellent

1,217

Good

306

Average

168

Poor

Terrible

SteveEssex_1961

Romford47 contributions

Awesome Alec's

Jan 2025 • family

Booked for an 85th celebration with another 90-year-old in tow, the wonderfully patient staff at Alec's went more than an extra-mile to ensure that the Birthday Girl had absolutely the best night. Nothing was too much trouble from offering a perfectly-located round table in close proximity to everything, to completing the evening with a cake and candle. In between, the food was sumptuous with a fine range of starters and fantastic fish dishes for mains, including the most beautifully prepared cod and chips with all the traditional trimmings. Every plate was cleared as was every side plate as testament to the tasty dishes that are conjured up in the kitchen. Sure, Alec's is not the cheapest restaurant in town - it clearly doesn't want or need to be - but you do get what you pay for and this is truly first-class fare.

Written 28 January 2025

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Vino7

Rettendon335 contributions

haven’t been for quite awhile

Aug 2024 • couples

We haven’t been to Alec’s For quite a while booked early Saturday evening it wasn’t too busy when we arrived we had a drink whilst looking at the menu my wife went for the prawn cocktail and the sole Which is quite expensive at £50 I had the soft shell tempura crab and the monkfish and plaice duo With a couple of side dishes, the food was very good except my wife thought her sole was a little overcooked. By the time we had finished it was very busy on the Veranda and in the restaurant with a couple of drinks and a bottle of wine it came to over £200 with £23 service charge not somewhere you can go every week.

Written 3 September 2024

Gillian M

London18 contributions

Alec’s lunch

Aug 2024 • friends

Not as good as usual. No welcome Prosecco and horsd’eouvre until I asked when we were having a starter at which point we had ordered wine and didn’t want them. Sides were quite late and lobster amounted to two mouthfuls literally which is not what I’ve been served before when ordering a half lobster. Just overall not what I’ve had before and I’ve been lots of times

Written 17 August 2024

Max

Harlow2 contributions

Gone downhill

Sept 2024 • business

Have been here a few times and after my first visit I couldn’t wait to go back. Each time I visited the service gradually seemed to go downhill. On my most recent visit (to be my last) I booked lunch with clients. On our arrival we were told by the manager that he had a fabulous table for us. We had arrived 1 hour early to have drinks at the bar upstairs before our meal. The manger kept pushing us to go straight to the table even though we were very early. We were the last sitting on a Sunday and we didn’t want to rush. We were happy to sit down early but wanted a drink at the bar so we did. When they called us for our table , we came down to the restaurant and were ushered through the busy diners and then told hang on wait here . It was embarrassing. We were stood in a busy restaurant in between the tables while people were eating and the staff member disappeared. After what seemed like an eternity another staff member cam an ushered to stand by the stairs and wait , while they carried chairs to a make shift table. We were stuck facing a wall and fire exit. The acoustics were horrendous and we couldn’t hear a thing. Not the fabulous table we had been promised. Hard to have a Business lunch when you can’t hear one another. They agreed to move us to another table as some dinners were leaving. Once reseated , the manager came up and we asked what happened to the table I had booked? He replied “you snooze you loose”. He then said to my husband your wife clearly doesn’t have my sense of humour. This was a business lunch, in a restaurant that I had recommended and chosen. Highly embarrassing. We weren’t actually snoozing. We were spending more money at your bar (before the time of our table booking time). We were asked if we’d like another bottle of wine many times even though the wine bottles they had taken for cold storage were still half full. Obviously a Tatic in the hope that you don’t realise if there was any more wine left in the bottle you had just purchased. There was a lot of money spent that day Never again at Alec’s.

Written 12 January 2025

Mason B

Wanstead13 contributions

Could have been so much better

Jun 2024 • family

Was here for Father's day recently and despite booking the table over 2 months ago our table of 5 was shoved under a staircase. We asked to move and was put on a table hidden in the corner. Its was a shame as the atmosphere in the main eating area and the terrace looked really good and got to enjoy the live singer. We didn't unfortunately! Also, when asked if I could have a coffee instead of the desert (it was a set price for 3 courses) as I was totally full, I was told that 'My manger said no'. I mean come on, this is really shoddy. The food and the service was pretty decent to be fair, but the afternoon was definitely tarnished.

Written 17 June 2024

Paula A

United Kingdom8 contributions

Not impressed

Feb 2024 • friends

Not our first visit to this restaurant but this time left feeling very unimpressed! We knew it would be busy but we’re not prepared for the battle to find a parking space(many diners complained about the same thing.it was raining so by the time we got to the restaurant we were like drowned rats! The greeting was quite limp and we had to ask for our coats to be taken.Our table was still not ready so we were sent to the bar for a drink…..only three bar stools so we were in the corner standing where the bar staff were preparing drinks for the tables constantly having to move out of the way of the staff.at the table it took ages for our drinks order to be taken.when our food arrived the steaks were not nice at all especially for the premium price point .the restaurant was really noisy (we didn’t expect a cosy romantic dinner but it was deafening)!

Written 11 February 2024

510christinew

Epping125 contributions

DISAPPOINTING LUNCH

Oct 2024 • family

We have dined and celebrated at Alec's many, many times over the years since it first opened and had some delicious, wonderful meals. We had a disappointing experience some years ago after a change of owners and said we would never go back. The daughter wanted to try on Sunday so we booked again. We arrived to a full restaurant. There were lots of children milling around and even a baby in a pram although they have a no under 8 policy. Not a problem for us. We were shown to a lovely table towards the back veranda. We were given menus but I noticed mine had something sticky spilt on it. Not nice. I ordered the prawn pil pil and my daughter ordered prawn pil pil with mussels. Our starters arrived in a skillet which we thought would be hot, but no. We anticipated it to be sizzling hot. Mine was stone cold and had 2 small prawns in it with some cold sauce. My daughters was also cold but she had 3 small prawns and some mussels although a few were still closed. Mine was so pathetic we started to laugh! We couldn't believe it had just 2 prawns in it! Told the waitress (not her fault) who apologised and took it off the bill. Then mains arrived. Daughter had the beef roast which she said was ok. Husband had the plaice which he said he was not impressed with. Mine arrived. 2 small prawns on a small thin piece of steak. It was so fatty by the time I cut off all the fat I was left with the smallest piece of steak! We were so disappointed. Alec's used to be the place to go a good few years ago but unfortunately that's not the case now. The food quality, atmosphere and whole experience is not what it was. They are still charging top prices but without providing top quality food and ambience. Smiths of Ongar and Felix in Warley/Billericay offer a much better experience for food, value for money and ambience. Wont be back

Written 15 October 2024

Julian G

8 contributions

Expensive but Excellent

Feb 2024 • family

It is very expensive and one of the top restaurants in the area. The food is plentiful and excellent and the atmosphere and service is, generally, excellent also. Most of the people that were is the restaurant seemed to be celebrating something so it is regarded as somewhere special to go even though it is a bit out in the boonies. We were asked if we were celebrating anything but we were just having fun and celebrating being alive. Two small negative comments. The waiters did not know who ordered which meal. In a restaurant of this quality, one would expect them to know that - it is not a difficult practice. The other is that I am familiar with the cost of wines in various parts of the world and there were American wines on the list that I can say are pretty good for $9 (seven ponds) in a store in the USA but very disappointing for over seventy pounds. Nonetheless, I would definitely go again.

Written 10 March 2024

Claire A

30 contributions

Stunning

Jan 2024 • couples

We have heard great things about Alec’s and it did not disappoint. The team at the front desk were immediately friendly, helpful, chatty, lovely. Service was impeccable - our waitress was attentive, informative, patient. The food was sublime. There is so much choice on the menu, including seasonal specials - we actually found it hard to choose. We had sticky beef and soft shell crap to start, followed by monkfish and seabass. Probably one of the best meals we have had in a long time, and superb value for money. We left feeling comfortably FULL! We have already booked to return next month. Thank you to all of the team at Alec’s for making a 30th birthday meal so fantastic! ☺️☺️☺️

Written 27 January 2024

Caroline H

2 contributions

A heartfelt 'thank you' for a special occasion

Jan 2025 • family

Our family recently held the wake for our mother at Alec's Restaurant which seemed most appropriate given her favourite food was fish (and chips) and the restaurant overlooks the glorious countryside with views towards Epping, a place with fond childhood memories for our mother. Chloe, Ryan and the team at Alec's could not have done more for us to provide a warm, friendly and professional welcome to our family and guests. The food was simply outstanding; a comprehensive assortment of delicious hot and cold finger food, followed by mini sweet treats, fresh fruit and a cheese board with waiter/waitress service. Every attention to detail was made; it was efficiently organised and beautifully presented; our mother would have loved it. The quality and freshness of the food was exceptional as was the service provided by team at Alec's. This was also the case when we visited on a separate occasion prior to the wake for a Sunday lunch. Dining at its best! Thank you Alec's for making it so special.

Written 5 February 2025

EmA

Worthing9 contributions

What a shame - not enough staff to ensure good standards

Feb 2023 • family

My sister booked Alex’s as a treat and our group of 3 were looking forward to a delicious meal. From arrival at 8.15 pm on a Saturday night it was clear that the restaurant waiting team and the kitchen were under pressure. We were asked to wait in the bar area where there is very limited space, most of which was full of waiting staff picking up drinks and only 3 bar stools which were already occupied. It took considerable time to order drinks and food - the staff were all very friendly and polite but clearly struggling to keep up. I don’t like to be rushed through dinner but even I found the service very slow and the wait between courses very long. If the food had been good it would have been worth it but it wasn’t. Our starters were a mixed bag - lovely smoked salmon , nicely prepared scallops and the pil pil prawns were delicious. The crispy squid had been cooked in oil that was not at the right temperature so it was greasy and tough, crab Arancini were heavy and lacked flavour and seasoning. The fresh crab was poor, watery, served on a scallop shell and clearly not freshly picked. For main course my sister ordered salmon and prawns and the salmon was very overcooked. The other 2 of us had the Dover sole which was well cooked although did again lack seasoning - mine was spoilt by having been forgotten so it arrived 10 minutes after the others. Sides of green beans and broccoli were also poor both being limp and overcooked. Dessert was great and so was the wine selection. Overall it was clear that the restaurant had taken more bookings than they could cope with and as a result the food and experience were not good.

Written 5 February 2023

Wayne@emerick

45 contributions

Under whelmed

Jan 2025 • couples

Before I get onto the food I will say the service was brilliant as is the venue itself and also thankyou for the little birthday touch for the wife. X We came for my wife's birthday and had been looking forward to visiting after reading some rave reviews of the food.... The food looked great But tasted very average at best and we were left disappointed (and it's not cheap) Starter- My tempura crap starter was flavourless (even with the dressing/sauce on the lettuce) Main- My whole lobster was overcooked and rubbery. I did raise this with staff but it wasn't really acknowledged. The wife's main though was very nice (she had the king prawns) as was my dessert (banoffe cheesecake) We would have expected better for the price and left a little disappointed. Maybe we will give it another go in the future but avoid the lobster!

Written 4 January 2025

Stu151

Wickford1898 contributions

Just perfect (both food & service)

Feb 2024 • couples

We're had Sunday lunch here and it was excellent, so we thought we should try lunch. You can only describe it as 110% perfect. Really nice food (primarily fish/seafood) and spot on service (friendly, helpful, very knowledgeable/professional), in a great atmosphere/location. (They offer a set lunch price, which had a number of included options to be fair; with both starters and mains, we went for things with a supplement, so had a reasonably large bill - be aware !)

Written 28 February 2024

Annefromryder

Essex2187 contributions

Nice to for a special occasion

Apr 2024 • friends

We pre booked a round table. We ordered from the set menu, £36 for 2 courses. We ordered Prosecco rose £42 a bottle!! I had the king prawn cocktail to start, which was nice prawns with 3 large prawns . I only eat one as I felt they were warm & not cold as you’d expect. The rest was nice. Main I had sirloin this was cooked beautifully. My friends had pil pil mussels & prawns which you need to ask for bread to soak up the tasty garlic broth. Sides are small potions and approximately £6 per serving. I had a cake bought out to me taken there by my friends, and we were able to have this cut to have with our after dinner coffee. It was very warm in the restaurant & it wasn’t until we asked for the bill was the air conditioning put on. It is a lovely restaurant, and our waitress was very nice. I think it’s lovely for a special occasion.

Written 12 April 2024

Hammer man

London252 contributions

GREAT FOOD ,OVERPRICED DRINKS ,MEDIOCRE SERVICE

Sept 2022 • family

Always wanted to try this restaurant so booked it for birthday. Food was very good and didn't disappoint drinks are extremely overpriced though £4.50 for a small lemonade. Service was strange first 2 courses and drinks were served promptly and professionally, then desert menus were placed down and nobody came back to our table for 20 minutes because of the wait we decided not to have desert it was another 10 minutes before the bill arrived. They also add 11% Service charge personally i didn't think the service was worth £25 after i paid nobody said goodbye or anything as we left the table . I personally wouldn't return just because of the drink prices food was excellent.