Chelmsford
Olio

Olio

37 New London Road, CM2 0ND, Chelmsford, United Kingdom

Pasta • Steak • Pizza • Italian


"My last visit to an Italian restaurant (NOT THIS ONE) was disappointing. I was sceptical about going to another but I can assure you that this was really good. The food was really good. I am Intrigued to go back and check out their veal. The service was also excellent as they allowed me to order something I wanted which was only on their lunch menu. But they adapted. The restaurant itself is a little pokey with not much character. It looks a little jaded. The building is also narrow and therefore the experience is similarly narrow. There is another part of the restaurant downstairs which looks unused and the visible storage inside the door suggests this. The whole stairs, toilets, downstairs area is clean but very uninspiring. It feels more like walking round a bedsit than an Italian restaurant. That said the food and service was great. I would return for sure. There is a rather lovely raised section in the main portion of the restaurant. Once again this part of the restaurant is uninspiring but this is a nice area. I wanted a particular dish but it wasn’t on the menu I was given. I queried this and was told it was tue lunch menu I had viewed however they would accommodate my request. It was so worth it. Delicious. In summary; my last review of an Italian was style over substance with really poor food. This restaurant was fairly uninspiring inside however the food was great. The staff were great. And I will return. Thanks guys."

Pontlands Park

Pontlands Park

West Hanningfield Road, Chelmsford, United Kingdom

Steak • Vegan • Chocolate • Vegetarian


"Husband took me out yesterday on Bank Holiday Monday, to this lovely little country house hotel in Great Baddow, on the outskirts of Chelmsford. The hotel itself appears to comprise of an old house with a number of new additions. There’s an independent swimming club,...open to hotel guests comprising of both indoor, and outdoor pools, a restaurant, a conservatory/bar where we took tea, a restaurant, and 35 bedrooms. Parking is easy, especially if you are disabled, and in a wheelchair like me, as there are quite a number of specially marked off spaces. The main part of the hotel is accessed via 2 small steps, (though there is a portable ramp too, apparently . My clever husband ascertained that one could enter the hotel in the wheelchair via the conservatory area, and this obviated the need to climb any steps at all. We announced our presence in the conservatory area to the charming waitress on duty, who we later learned was called Stef. She couldn’t have made us more welcome, and explained the afternoon tea fully, enquiring if we had any dietary needs. Full tea is a very fair £19.50, and it comes prettily arranged on a silver tea stand, with a choice of teas which arrive in pretty individual china tea pots. My husband opted for English Breakfast, whereas I fancied Earl Grey. Hubby was quite thirsty, and Stef asked if he wanted another pot, which she brought speedily, and at no extra charge. Tea comprised of 4 generous finger sandwiches each. These were smoked salmon and cream cheese, egg and cress mayonnaise, grated cheese and pickle, and ham sandwiches. I initially enquired if we could order extra sandwiches at our own cost, (at this price, one wouldn’t expect a free sandwich top up! , and we were told this wouldn’t present any problem. As it so happened, the sandwiches were fresh and so well filled, we didn’t require any more. Of course there were also 2 freshly baked scones each, one plain, and one with fruit, butter, clotted cream, strawberry jam from Tiptree, and the top layer of the tea stand held an assortment of delicious mini cakes and macarons, expertly prepared by the Pontlands Park in house patisserie team. My favourites were the delicately spiced, perfectly moist mini carrot cakes, and the apple macarons. My husband preferred the mixed berry cakes, however. Stef kept popping over to check we were happy, and insisted we pack our leftovers in a takeaway container, as when we called for the bill, it was evident we’d been defeated by the contents of their tea stand. We will most definitely return, and, the sooner the better. It’s not the poshest afternoon tea I’ve ever had, however it was very fairly priced, freshly prepared, and of excellent quality. And, as for service, the lovely Stef couldn’t possibly have done more for us."