Number 15 - Carte

The Gilt Rooms

➤ Mersea Island Mersea Island 4 Barfield Road, Colchester I-CO5 8QT, United Kingdom, CO5 8QW

Carte • Vegan • Coffee • British • Vegetarian

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"the rooms were recommended to us by a friend who held an alice afternoon tee for the 80th birthday of her father. to love mersea, we have decided to book one afternoon for ourselves. from the moment we came in, we were warmly welcomed by extremely friendly staff. we sat in the garden (we had our dog with us), which was protected, quirky and beautifully designed, not overcrowded with tables and chairs, as some can be located. our afternoon tea was beautifully presented and so crooked. Also included in the price were 2 cocktails I recommend the storm at the sea.! we had a fabulous afternoon, too foot on the beach with our dog, followed by a fabulous afternoon tea in a really wonderful facility. I can't judge it high enough. a) in the situation, with our dog, who was greeted as cordial as we b) the staff was warm and friendly c) personal attention without unnecessary to float d) quality food"

West Mersea Oyster

➤ Coast Road, CO5 8NA, Colchester, United Kingdom

Carte • Fish • Pasta • Seafood • British

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"We were really looking forward to trying the seafood platter. The presentation wasn 't exciting, felt like everything had just been plopped onto the platter with no thought. There was water and brine puddling on the platter, I overheard someone on the table next to us saying the same thing about theirs. Perhaps they were short-staffed and it was an off day because whoever prepared our platter had little experience and no love for seafood which is simple to prepare especially in a seafood restaurant. Most of the seafood had obviously just been defrosted, hence the water. I do feel that the seafood shouldn 't be advertised as being 'fresh ' when this isn 't the case, fresh should be advertised as fresh and where frozen you as a restaurant are obliged to let customers know they are paying for and eating frozen seafood. Some but not all customers know the difference straight away. Whether a customer can tell the difference is irrelevant, it isn 't good practice to not be truthful especially where food is concerned. The only reason I was reluctant to complain was because this was a treat and I didn 't want to ruin the afternoon. We will return to the island which is really lovely but unfortunately not back to this place which strangely doesn 't even offer basic traditional fish and chips, I fact no hot food at all! After wandering around, there are much nicer places to eat for next time."

The Art Cafe

➤ 2 Coast Road, CO5 8XR, Colchester, United Kingdom

Carte • Coffee • British • Breakfast • Vegetarian

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"It is best to avoid this restaurant and instead go to Coastal Coffee. After reading a review by Megan Potter mentioning rude staff, we unfortunately experienced the same treatment. Upon arrival, we noticed an empty outdoor table without a menu. When we asked inside, we received a vague explanation about seating rules. When we asked for a menu, we were met with frustration because there was already one on the table. The staff member rushed us to order before we even had a chance to look at the menu. When we asked for more time, we were met with eye rolls and a strange comment about everyone being weird that day. The staff member's attitude made our experience unpleasant. We decided to leave and found better service at Coastal Coffee. The food there was delicious and made up for our earlier disappointment. It's a shame that one bad employee can ruin the charm of a place."

The Waterfront Bistro

➤ Coast Road, West Mersea CO5 8NA, United Kingdom, Colchester

Carte • Cafe • Steak • Salads • Oriental

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"We ordered takeout and after reading the reviews, we were expecting something good. However, we had to wait an extra 25 minutes for delivery, although we were kept informed about the delay. When the food finally arrived, the chicken satay was decent, but the pancake rolls were soggy and tasteless. The curry was not great either. The Singapore noodles were strange and the lemon chicken, which I usually enjoy, was wet and inedible. Overall, we were not impressed with the food and would not order from this place again. We also would not recommend it to others. We hope this was just a bad day for the restaurant and that we won't have a similar experience in the future."

The Company Shed

➤ Colchester, 129 Coast Rd, West Mersea, CO5 8NA, United Kingdom

Carte • Fish • Cakes • Coffee • Seafood

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"What a fantastic, unpretentious restaurant! It’s hard to believe you’d find plastic tablecloths in a small hut, and the atmosphere has a wonderfully rustic feel. The staff wipe their hands on kitchen roll, which adds to the casual vibe. If you’re looking for an authentic experience, this is the place to be. The food is incredibly fresh, and the menu is always changing, making you want to come back for more. It's a place that leaves you feeling satisfied and excited to return!"