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Best restaurants in Brentwood

Once upon a time, Brentwood residents had to go elsewhere to find a good restaurant. These days, there's plenty of great places to eat in Brentwood, ranging from easy-going pubs to some of the best fine dining in Essex.

Updated on 02 October 2023

Sitting happily in between Chelmsford and London, Brentwood is prime Essex commuter belt territory, boasting easy links into London but still far enough from the capital to feel pleasantly rural. Brentwood has traditionally had a suburban feel and in years gone by, most would head towards nearby Chelmsford, Southend or London for their restaurant kicks. These days though, Brentwood has a thriving restaurant scene of its own, extending up and down the high street, and out as far as Pilgrims Hatch, Crow Green, Shenfield and Hutton.

As you might imagine in this green part of the world, Brentwood is lucky to boast lots of traditional country pubs. If you’re looking for the best places to eat in Brentwood, these easy-going stop-offs are a great place to start, offering comforting, accessible food and a pint of local beer at a reasonable price.

Still, food in and around Brentwood isn’t just pubs. Food in Brentwood covers a wide spectrum, from some great Turkish grills to Mediterranean all-day bistros, quality Indian takeaways and upmarket restaurants for celebration meals where you want to push the boat out. Whatever it is you’re craving, you’ll find it - or something close - somewhere around Brentwood.

In order to pull together a list of the best restaurants in Brentwood, we’ve done the hard yards, pounding the pavements and checking out everything Brentwood has to offer. The roundup below is the result - a list of all our favourite spots. Scroll down to take a look, and remember - you can click through to anything that takes your fancy, and you can book directly from the page.

The George & Dragon - Brentwood

The George & Dragon - Brentwood

294 Roman Road, Brentwood, Essex, CM15 0TZ

The sort of quintessentially British country pub we all wish we lived near, The George & Dragon just gets the simple things right - a fantastic Sunday roast, great steaks, and a menu of elevated pub classics and tempting desserts that keeps you coming back. 

Under £30
Pubs
British
Spread Eagle

Spread Eagle

88 Queens Road, Brentwood, Essex, CM14 4HD

If you're in the mood for pub classics done right, head to the Spread Eagle near Brentwood Library. With a menu full of dirty fries, burgers, pizzas and more, this is no gastropub, but it does justice to proper pub grub, there's always sport on the TVs and a good atmosphere inside. 

£30 - £49
British
Figo - Brentwood

Figo - Brentwood

92 Brentwood High Street, Town Centre, CM14 4AP

Figo's accessible Italian fare has been exceptionally popular in Leyton and Stratford, and Brentwood locals are the lucky recipients of the group's first site outside of the capital. The menu has a bit of everything from pizza, pasta and risotto to a handful of enticing mains and desserts, and plenty of room for big groups.

£30 - £49
Pizza
Mediterranean
Italian
The Pilgrim

The Pilgrim's Korai

499 Ongar Road, Brentwood, Essex, CM15 9JP

The quick trip up to Pilgrims Hatch is worth it to visit this family run Indian restaurant, which boasts a predictably enormous menu full of curries, tandoori dishes, starters and more. This is a great spot for vegans too, as the restaurant has a handy vegan menu packed full of plant-based dishes to enjoy.

£30 - £49
Indian
Alec’s Restaurant Bar & Grill

Alec’s Restaurant Bar & Grill

Navestock Side, Brentwood, Essex, CM14 5SD

The beautiful rural setting and countryside views entice many to Alec's, but the quality cooking is what keeps them coming back. Fans of old-fashioned fine dining will feel right at home at Alec's, which specialises in great seafood cooking - think lobster thermidor, fat prawns with garlic mayonnaise, dressed Cromer crab and Dover sole meuniere.

£50 - £79
Modern European
Steak
International
Fish and Chips
Fish
Mason

Mason's Brentwood

155 - 157 Ingrave Road, Brentwood, Essex, CM13 2AA

A longstanding Brentwood favourite, the menu at Mason's is packed full of dishes you just want to eat, whether it's pigeon bubble and squeak, honey mustard roasted spatchcock chicken, or slow-roasted peaches with rum and raisin ice cream. 

£30 - £49
British
French
The Fat Turk

The Fat Turk

Warley Rd, Brentwood, Essex, CM13 3AE

Hot and cold mezze plates abound at this well-liked Brentwood Turkish grill and restaurant. Don't fill up on excellent starters though, because the shish that comes smoking off the grill is the star attraction here. 

£30 - £49
Turkish
Tudors Restaurant at Marygreen Manor Hotel

Tudors Restaurant at Marygreen Manor Hotel

Marygreen Manor Hotel London Road, Brentwood, Essex, CM14 4NS

Tudors takes the prize for the most impressive setting of any of the restaurants on our list - Marygreen Manor is an incredible Tudor Baronial Hall that dates back to the sixteenth century. The modern British cooking is just as good, and the restaurant is only open for dinner on Fridays and Saturdays, so booking is essential. 

£30 - £49
British
Afternoon tea
Felix

Felix

Warley, Brentwood, Essex, CM12 9LT

No expense has been spared in the complete renovation of this old Brentwood boozer, which has been turned into one of the smartest restaurants in the area. The menu encompasses all sorts of influences from east to west, but it's well executed. Not the cheapest, but there's a good value set menu available for early birds.

£50 - £79
International
Las Tapas Brentwood

Las Tapas Brentwood

64 High Street, Brentwood, Essex, CM14 4AN

Las Tapas does exactly what it says on the tin, delivering a menu packed with classic tapas dishes from albondigas, padron peppers and tortilla to plates of jamon, cheeses and pan con tomate. The restaurant itself is smack bang in the middle of Brentwood, in a beautiful Grade-II listed old building, making it perfect for a catch up with friends, family or a celebration. 

£30 - £49
Tapas
Spanish

Set your sights a bit further afield and check out our roundup of the best restaurants in Chelmsford, or take a look at our full restaurant listings for Southend-on-Sea and our roundup of the best restaurants in Essex, where you'll find lots more fantastic restaurants in easy car or train range.

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