With award-winning Essex chef Paul Wendholt at the helm, it's no wonder that Kintsu won a Michelin Bib Gourmand in 2022. This beloved small plates restaurant in the heart of Colchester has been a hit with the locals since it opened in the summer of 2021, and since being recognised by the guide, it'll likely get a lot more popular.
Though it may lie in the shadow of a multi-storey car park, there's nothing concrete jungle about Kintsu itself, which is housed in a charming Grade II-listed barn. This gives the moody dining room a spacious vibe, whilst natural wood floors and polished tables retain some of the barn's rustic charm. A set of doors open out into the courtyard during the day, flooding the space with light, then wall-mounted uplights provide some evening atmosphere when the sun goes down.
As for the food, Wendholt's menus are dictated by the seasons, as well as availability from local suppliers, which can change often. Kintsu serves a five or eight course tasting menu, depending on when you're dining, as well as an a la carte menu. The food is broadly modern British but there's a spectrum of influences on show, in dishes such as Jersey Royal potato salad with seaweed tartare sauce and nori, pollock with pollock tempura and lobster butter sauce, and beef sirloin, aubergine, miso and roasted onion.
Kintsu has a private dining room on offer for parties of up to 10, as well as counter seats at the kitchen bar where guests can watch the pastry team at work. If you're planning a special date night or celebration for two, check out ultra-exclusive chef's table, which boasts the best seats in the house.