Alec’s Restaurant Bar & Grill

Fish, Fish and Chips, International, Modern European, Steak·
££££
·
Bronze Award
·

SquareMeal Review of Alec’s Restaurant Bar & Grill

Bronze Award

With its “great good, superb service and smart ambience”, fans reckon that Alec’s is “very much London fine-dining… but not in London”. What was the Green Man pub, some three miles outside Brentwood, has been carefully restored by Essex restaurateur Alec Smith, who has created an atmospheric venue with spiral staircases, spacious dining rooms and roaring fires in winter – plus an alfresco space for summer days. The kitchen cherry-picks from the world’s cuisines for an international menu that majors on seafood – think crab ravioli with asparagus, tomato and lemon dressing, roast turbot on samphire with hollandaise or steamed wild sea bass with ginger and soy. There are also plenty of “perfectly executed” dishes for meat eaters, from veal milanese to variations on the surf ‘n’ turf theme, while desserts such as jam sponge pudding and caramel cheesecake are built for comfort. Meanwhile, Champagne cocktails go down a storm with the sophisticates in the lounge.  

Good to know

Average Price
££££ - £50 - £79
Cuisines
Fish, Fish and Chips, International, Modern European, Steak
Ambience
Cool, Cosy, Fine dining, Glamorous, Lively, Luxury, Romantic
Food Occasions
All day dining, Dinner, Lunch, Sunday roast
Alfresco And Views
Great views, Terrace
Special Features
Vegetarian options, Wheelchair access
Perfect for
Birthdays, Celeb spotting, Celebrations, Dates, Group dining [8+], Romantic, Special occasions

About

Alec’s Restaurant opened its doors in 2010, and has grown to be a well loved fish restaurant in Essex, attracting locals and visitors alike. Known for its commitment to quality ingredients, great service and for adhering to the MSC code of conduct for sustainably sourced seafood, Alec’s is well worth a visit if you find yourself in the Brentwood area.

At Alec’s, you can enjoy a delicious dinner, relax in the inviting lounge or bar area, and savour a great bottle of wine or a signature cocktail. In the winter, you can enjoy sitting by the roaring open fire, whereas in the summer, the outdoor dining area is great for soaking up the sunshine. Although specialising in seafood and offering some of the finest shellfish, the menu also offers plenty of non-seafood dishes, ensuring everyone is catered for.

The a la carte menu changes seasonally, but you can usually expect to see a range of hot and cold starters, followed by mains, sides and dessert. Kick off with jellied eels with bread and butter; king prawn cocktail with lemon and Marie Rose sauce; or arancini with wild mushrooms, truffle oil, parmesan and butternut squash puree.

Main courses are split into day boat fish options, shellfish, meat and vegetarian options. Choose from Peterhead cod with tartare sauce, whole Dover sole and Scottish salmon fillet, to the salt marsh lamb rump with harissa, coriander hummus and pomegranate, and a Suffolk pork belly served with Bramley apples, pommery grain mustard and morteau sausage. On the side, enjoy dauphinoise potatoes, maple heritage carrots and Brussels sprouts with shallots and bacon, you’ll be spoilt for choice.

Dessert keeps things classic, with creme brulee, tiramisu, or strawberry cheesecake. You'll also find lunch and dinner set menus on offer, as well as an extensive wine list and signature cocktails. 


FAQs

Is there a dress code?

There is no specific dress code but we suggest smart casual

Helpful? 0

Does it do a Sunday roast?

Yes, there is a special Sunday menu that includes roasts.

Helpful? 0

Alec’s Restaurant Bar & Grill is featured in

Location

Navestock Side, Brentwood, Essex, CM14 5SD

01277 375696 01277 375696

Website

Opening Times

Lunch
Mon Closed
Tue 12:00-16:00
Wed 12:00-16:00
Thu 12:00-16:00
Fri 12:00-16:00
Sat 12:00-16:00
Sun Closed
Dinner
Mon Closed
Tue 17:30-00:00
Wed 17:30-00:00
Thu 17:30-00:00
Fri 17:30-00:00
Sat 17:30-00:00
Sun Closed
All day
Mon Closed
Tue Closed
Wed Closed
Thu Closed
Fri Closed
Sat Closed
Sun 12:00-19:00

Reviews

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6 Reviews 
Food/Drink
Service
Atmosphere
Value

Vivien D

27 December 2022  
Food & Drink 4.5
Service 4.5
Atmosphere 4.5
Value 4.5

Alec's never fails to please, the menu is interesting and the food is freshly prepared and always served in a most professional way.  I arranged an 80th birthday celebration for my Husband at Alec's and our guests are still talking about the wonderful lunch that we all enjoyed.  The planning and preparation for the day was outstanding thus ensuring a perfect experience.

Samuel H

23 November 2022  
Food & Drink 5
Service 5
Atmosphere 5
Value 5

Exceptional, always a great treat 

john C

09 April 2019  
Great ambiance, fabulous food and good decor make this one of my favourite resaurants. Also a lovely patio/terrace area for Al fresco drinks etc.

Gabrielle P

01 April 2019  
Very expensive but the food is amazing, there is also a bar upstairs for after. Favourite thing about this place is that the tables are spaced out, you are not sitting on top of other tables.

Gabrielle P

28 March 2018  
Very friendly staff, Listened to some great piano playing, the beef Wellington was cooked to perfection.

Naomi W

21 June 2017  
London style without London! Perfect if you are getting out of the city. Lovely setting, great ambience and great decor. Took my family for an evening meal and was not disappointed. The service was consistently good; something that I fail to see in most restaurants. Attentive right to the end. The crab ravioli was a perfect discovery. You must get tempted by the dessert menu - make sure you try the knickerbocker glory. After a decidedly civilised and grown up meal, it was nice to go back to a childhood treat. Whilst it is more on the expensive side, especially for somewhere that is outside of London, I would say it is worth it for nice occasions.
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