804 reviews
#1 of 25 Restaurants in Burnham-on-Crouch££ - £££, European, British, Vegetarian friendly+44 1621 782141+ Add websiteImprove this listing
Hours
Sun
12:00 - 17:00
Mon
12:00 - 15:0017:00 - 22:30
Tue
12:00 - 15:0017:00 - 22:30
Wed
12:00 - 15:0017:00 - 22:30
Thu
12:00 - 15:0017:00 - 22:30
Fri
12:00 - 15:0017:00 - 22:30
Sat
12:00 - 23:00
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.
Ratings and reviews
4.5
Travellers' Choice 2024
RATINGS
Food
Service
Value
Atmosphere
Food and ambience
Local cuisine, European, British, Vegetarian friendly, Vegan options, Gluten free options
Special Occasion Dining, Romantic, Groups, Business meetings
Does this restaurant offer highchairs for toddlers?
Details
About
A charming independent restaurant and rooms situated in the heart of Burnhan-on Crouch, in Essex. A combination of delicious food, great atmosphere, service and comfortable accommodation, make both dining and staying at The Oyster Smack Inn a treat. Our menus range from the pub classics, delicious fish, vegan/vegetarian and international influenced dishes - everything is prepared to order and delivered fresh daily. And we do of course serve Oysters, picked up every morning from the Maldon Oyster Company. Our team looks forward to welcoming you!
PRICE RANGE
£10.00 – £40.00
CUISINES
European, British
Special Diets
Vegetarian friendly, Vegan options, Gluten free options
Meals
Lunch, Dinner, Drinks
FEATURES
Reservations, Seating, Parking Available, Street Parking, Free off-street parking, Highchairs Available, Wheelchair Accessible, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar, American Express, Mastercard, Visa, Free Wifi, Accepts Credit Cards, Table Service, BYOB
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4.5
804 reviews
Excellent
588
Very good
136
Average
47
Poor
18
Terrible
15
Liza D
6 contributions
Aug 2020 • none
We booked a room on a Saturday night for a very reasonable price, they emailed for any special requests which I had, namely our dog, and I was encouraged to book dinner. The little chalet room behind was very clean and nicely decorated and well appointed. Back at seven for dinner, the dining room was packed with families and looked welcoming and well lit (I hate eating in gloom). Of course we had oysters, delicious. We had the pork dish and it was excellent. So rare these days as countless dinners out have disappointed us all over North London and Brighton where we’ve lived. Breakfast was amazing; thick bacon and proper sausages and double of everything. All staff were attentive and welcoming. I rarely go anywhere twice but I would definitely stay here again.
Written 17 August 2020
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.
DKDasha
Liza D , we think you are great. Thank you for making our team so happy with your lovely feedback, we are completely humbled by your kind words, its great to hear that we managed to to break the cycle of disappointment. It is extra tricky for the hospitality industry in these times and your support and encouragement goes a long way to making the hard work feel like its well worth it! We await your return and look forward to taking care of you again,
Kindest regards
The Oyster Smack Team
Written 14 October 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Robin S
Wickford784 contributions
Jul 2020 • none
We were very lucky to be invited to a post Covid, pre-opening evening, serving a selected clientele a gourmet six course Tasting Menu. It was good to be back at our favourite restaurant after so long and I,m pleased to say Dasha and her waiting staff were all back to provide the always brilliant service.
The menu kicked off with Goats cheese and heritage beetroot followed by Tiger prawn skewers on a bed of crunchy Thai salad. The next course was one of my favourites; haddock with a Gratin topping followed by another goodie, Curried mutton in a pot pie. The key lime pie was superb followed by Claire's chocolate brownie and ice cream,
A gourmet feast indeed and all for £35 a head emphasizing what great food and great value this wonderful restaurant is. Thank you.
Written 26 July 2020
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.
DKDasha
Thank you again for being so supportive, we do love looking after you and your friends and we are so happy that you enjoyed our tasting menu. We have been eager to be open again and our chefs have been working hard on a new menu. The night provided us with lots of really useful feedback. Myself and the team are all really thankful for your lovely comments, its put a big smile on our faces. We thoroughly look forward to your next visit,
All the best
THE OYSTER SMACK TEAM
Written 30 July 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Greenanimal
Woodham Ferrers464 contributions
Mar 2020 • friends
Lovely atmosphere, great menu choices including a special board. Food was absolutely delicious, individual dishes were very good, my only criticism would be wait times between courses.
Staff were very attentive and polite. Thank you
Written 8 March 2020
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.
ddiddy2013
Hello, Thank you so much for celebrating the big day with us- we are really happy that you enjoyed your experience and can only apologise about the wait between courses, while we are quite used to busy Saturday night we do have a couple of kitchen staff members in training which may have caused a delay. We are happy to say that they are progressing amazingly and we are confident that the timing issue is a temporary issue. We hope that we get to demonstrate this the next time you come in! Thanks again for your kind and encouraging review,
All the best
The Oyster Smack Team
Written 13 March 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Epona G
Burnham-on-Crouch2 contributions
Jan 2020 • none
Whilst your pub and restaurant is lovely (I do enjoy coming in for a drink)..
the dining experience leaves more to be desired from my perspective.
I have been vegan for over 13 years and it is lovely to be able to have the choice now when dining out (so thank you for that choice).
Sady though, to order an sausage tray bake with vegetables and be served 2 Linda McCartney sausages with a soup of gravy and teeny pieces of potato and squash was far from good value in my opinion; especially when I consider the £12 price.for the dish.
I also didn't appreciate the teeny corner table we were guided to (there for 90 minutes and no other tables nearby were used).
We also waited 20 minutes for a drink before I myself went to the bar to order.This was a early evening on a Saturday. You were not that busy. As I said, lovely place for a drink but for the price. why don't you create your own sausages? I did feel ripped off for that meal.
Sorry :(
Written 25 January 2020
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.
ddiddy2013
Epona
Thank you for taking the time to provide us with this feedback. Although we are not a vegan restaurant we do our best to provide as many options and alternatives for all of our customers, and a great deal off effort goes into making sure we have choice options for our vegan customers. It is always important for us to hear feedback as we are in the process of changing our vegan menu so this is a great help - 90% of that menu is made in house dishes such as the vegan wellington, chickpea tagine and black bean burger, in fact i think you chose the only thing on there we buy in.
I am sorry you were not happy with the table you were sat at our booking system allocated tables automatically and is programmed to best provide suitable taking into account relays and table size which may not seem relevant earlier on in the night, but saying that in my experience people tend to ask to move to another table if they are not happy with it and our staff are always happy at looking into alternatives.
With regards to waiting 20 minutes for a drink order to be taken this is not acceptable and will be brought up in our weekly meeting.
Thanks again for pointing out all our downfalls on TripAdvisor i find a simple email to the company a more effective way of getting your point across as it gives us the chance to rectify any issues.
Written 26 January 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
KevinAndrews190784
Harlow27 contributions
Jan 2020 • none
This was our third visit altogether,on different days of the week,and have been very pleased with both the food and service on each occasion.
This was our first Sunday Lunch and the food and service was excellent with very friendly staff who make you feel relaxed. Good choice menu at fixed prices for two or three courses. No rushing you to finish and allowing you to take your time and enjoy the meal.
Written 15 January 2020
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.
ddiddy2013
KevinAndrews you have made us all blush - thank you so much for taking time to provide us with such wonderful feedback. Sundays for our chefs start with early mornings - roast dinners take a lot of preparation and we always aim to bring that home cooked comfort to our customers, so it is a really special thing to hear about it when the effort is acknowledged. Our friendly staff all really enjoyed looking after you and we hope you will back for your fourth visit soon,
Kindest regards
A very grateful Oyster Smack Team
Written 26 January 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Andrew F
2 contributions
Jan 2020 • none
We were occasional visitors here for the past few years and were extremely happy with all aspects of this restaurant. Having turned vegan 6 weeks ago, we were extremely impressed with the Oyster Smacks choice of food. The 3 starters, 3 main courses and 3 deserts have been truly outstanding. Packed full of flavour, each dish has been very well prepared and superbly presented. Hats off to all concerned, whether you are a standard eater, vegetarian or vegan, you will get an outstanding menu, service and value at this superb eatery
Written 6 January 2020
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.
ddiddy2013
Andrew F - thank you so much! Vegan eating is becoming more and more relevant and we are really happy that we can support people in their plant based diets, especially as we know the local area can be a little limiting for choices. Our chefs work really hard to provide as many options for people with dietary requirements while keeping our menus seasonal and cooked to order, and it really is amazing to be able to pass this kind of feedback on. Thank you for your encouraging words and for taking time to share your review. We hope to have the pleasure of welcoming you back soon,
Kindest regards
The Oyster Smack Team
Written 26 January 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
K Reed
3 contributions
Jan 2020 • family
Such a lovely atmosphere and delicious food. Sometimes when you go as a group (especially with young kids) places make you feel like a nuisance but everyone was so lovely. Our server Dasha was particularly attentive and just made a very special family event feel even more special. She was so helpful with the little ones too. Food was amazing. Good choice of specials too. Some of our party are very fussy eaters and they ate every scrap. Something for everyone and very good price too.
Really recommend and we'll definitely be going again xxx
Written 3 February 2020
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.
ddiddy2013
K Reed, thank you so much for your review, your family was an absolute pleasure to look after, and the little ones came complete with great manners. We love a good family knees up here, it means a lot to us that we get to be part of these big events. Saying that, when faced with lovely customers our jobs become ten times more gratifying. Thank you so much for sharing such kind words and a thoughtful review. Our team were really happy to read your comment, and would be delighted to have you all back,
Kindest regards
The Oyster Smack Team
Written 4 March 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
EssexRiparian
Burnham-on-Crouch94 contributions
Sept 2021 • none
I was delighted to discover that this excellent restaurant had managed to maintain its high standards despite the problems of the pandemic. The food is great and there is a decent wine list; the house wines are excellent and it is pleasing that one can choose wines by the glass without a premium being imposed.
The varied menu will accommodate all tastes and service is friendly and efficient.
The decor is pleasant and subdued and care has been taken to control the acoustics of the main area. It is a pleasure to be able to sit and chat quietly when the restaurant is full; a particular benefit for those of us with poor hearing.
Food is of a very high standard, nicely presented and sensibly priced; it is not the cheapest, but you do get what you pay for!
Finally, they have an excellent online booking system with very good prompt feedback.
Highly recommended.
Written 29 September 2021
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.
DKDasha
Thank you for your amazing review, soundproofing an old building is always a bit tricky but it does make us happy that you enjoyed a peaceful meal - great food is enjoyed with great company and it always helps to hear them. We do aim to reflect our prices in the hard work and carefully chosen produce - and while the chefs work well to get that balance right while maintaining consistent quality it always pays off when we get to pass on feedback like yours.
We would all love to welcome you back again in the near future
All the best
The Oyster Smack Team
Written 21 October 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
mariannecn
United Kingdom50 contributions
Sept 2020 • none
Our first evening in Burnham on Crouch and I had booked a table here for me and my sister. I had explained that we were quite anxious and that we would appreciate a socially distanced table. I was assured that this would not be a problem and when we arrived we were pleasantly surprised to find a table right by the door. We also had plenty of room for our fold up Bromptons at the side of the table, which was a bonus.
The service was friendly and the waitress was very helpful when we had a problem deciding how much food to order. We decided on two platters to share, which were absolutely delicious. We had a lovely evening at the Oyster Smack Inn and would recommend it to any visitors to Burnham on Crouch.
Written 26 September 2020
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.
Jon S
4 contributions
Dec 2020 • none
Sophie and the whole team looked after us splendidly. We enjoyed an evening of baked cheese, calamari and perfectly cooked medium rare steaks washed down with a very enjoyable Merlot. The evening was finished off with an exceptionally moorish Dreamy Toblerone cocktail!
Written 12 December 2020
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.
Mil621
Burnham-on-Crouch10 contributions
Oct 2020 • family
If there is anything good about being on lockdown it has to be an opportunity to have an absolute fantastic Sunday Roast from the best restaurant in Burnham on Crouch. Massive portions all served piping hot or chilled in the case of our desserts. Well done to all the team, rest assured we will be back.
Written 10 November 2020
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.
Jacqueline S
Essex34 contributions
Sept 2020 • none
As always, very polite and helpful staff took us to our table in this Covid-secure restaurant. Excellent choice of courses for Sunday lunch, including the roasts. Food as ever was delicious. Really nice that the two family members celebrating their birthdays, were presented with Happy Birthdays written on their dessert plates in chocolate! Much appreciated.
Written 29 September 2020
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.
Rebecca G
4 contributions
Aug 2020 • none
The food was delicious and the staff very friendly. Sadly the food took forever to arrive, but that wasn't the issue. We were disappointed with measures taken to protect customers. The hand gel on the door on arrival was empty, no staff wore any facial protection and were obviously very close when serving/clearing away from the table. The menus weren't disposable and were sticky. The table also didn't seem very clean to the touch. If you are really keen to support the local restaurants, but are anxious about being inside (like my husband, he's just getting used to being out and about), and measures to protect this may not be the place to be. This is the 5th establishment we have been to to, for eating or a drink, and all others were noticeably seriously about Covid measures. Would definitely return in 'normal' times.
Written 18 August 2020
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.
DKDasha
Thank you for your feedback, I am sorry that you did not feel that the precautions taken were enough. We have been working hard to continuously adapt to the current climate and there have been many changes made since this review was written . For a full list of our covid policies and measures you can now visit https://www.theoystersmackinn.co.uk/covid-19 . It has been a bumpy ride re-opening after lock down and we are slowly to see standards match across all restaurants. It is of course a learning process and we have taken all feedback very seriously, we would love to have you back to see for yourselves how far we have come along. I will mention on a side note - the menus are laminated and disinfected between every use while we also provide access to our online menus which can be seen on individual phones and devices. If anyone would like to request single use menus we would be happy to arrange this for them.
Kind regards
The Oyster Smack Team
Written 16 October 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Andrew S
Basildon25 contributions
Sept 2020 • none
Went here for an evening meal . It was average to poor the starter was good the main was poor my wife had potato mash that was instant mash I asked the waitress and she told me it was fresh mash potato I know it wasn't . This doesn't matter as i will not eat at this place again I could go on about the decor ect but I have wasted enough time going to the place then writing this so if you do go I hope your experience is far better than mine
Written 30 October 2020
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.
DKDasha
Yes! We have been waiting for your review - the instant mash comment brought us a lot of amusement. Some of our younger kitchen team even had to look it up as they are not old enough to remember instant mash (or smash)! I thought they stopped making it in the 90s! We go though approximately 75 kilos of Fairfield's farm potatoes a week making fresh dauphinoise, triple cooked chips and a hell of a lot of mash if you wish to see the invoices I would be more than happy to show you. However never having tried instant mash I will have to rely on your expertise for that one. I am sorry that you feel writing a review of visiting us has been been a waste of time, not having much more detail makes it difficult to comment on your criticisms. If you would like to have a genuine discussion please contact us at info@theoystersmackinn.co.uk.
Kind regards
Dasha
The Oyster Smack Inn
Written 31 October 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Lin and Terry
London12 contributions
Apr 2022 • family
Always loved this restaurant but haven’t been since before Covid. Must say we were really disappointed. The option on the menu included extra cost if we wanted Roast Beef and and extra £1 if we chose to have pork for a Yorkshire pudding?
They also served adults before children which makes no sense?
Service was good though just the quality of the food
Written 13 April 2022
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.
DKDasha
Hello Lintelhunt,
I am sorry to hear that you did not enjoy your recent experience, however I am also sorry to say that we have charged for extras and placed supplements more expensive items on our menu long before Covid. Our beautifully matured and locally sourced Sirloin strip is a fantastic product, however costs significantly more than say our chicken Supremes . In order to not lift the price of the full set menu we place a supplement on the beef. Likewise each roast has its extra trimmings, the beef for example traditionally comes with our golden giant Yorkie, while the pork comes with a sweet hot apple sauce and our crispy light crackling, and the chicken comes with chunky pork and apricot stuffing. We work hard to source, prepare and value our menus, and have never hidden costs - all items, supplements and extras are stated on the menu at cost.
Likewise our front of house team are also here to help with the little ones- please let us know if you would ever like to get their meals out earlier - we understand little ones have a limit on how long they can sit unoccupied and will do our best to keep our youngest clients happy and full of tasty food.
Should you be after a more cost effective experience we also have a great midweek lunch menu - it is excellent value and our chefs put just as much love and care into every dish as with any menu we run.
We hope to welcome you back in the near future,
Kind regards
Dasha
The Oyster Smack Inn
Written 14 April 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
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