The Mistley Thorn

Gastropub·
££££
·

SquareMeal Review of The Mistley Thorn

It is well worth the detour to this idiosyncratic coastal inn where contemporary art & a low-key decor melds with a cooking style that is bang on. Ideas are lively & wide-ranging & dishes are not weighed down by fussy presentation. This relative simplicity exposes the quality of the buying, much of it local, & the kitchen’s skill, a combination that can turn a light lunch of day-boat squid cooked on the plancha & served with chilli, garlic, lime, coriander & a perfect omelette into such a memorable meal. Elsewhere, an appealing menu of comforts such as fishcakes or rib-eye steak with homemade chips, or sausages with mash & onion gravy, is complemented by daily changing specials (particularly fish), delicious homemade bread with quality olive oil for dipping, an interesting & well-priced wine list, & on-the-ball service. Lovely bedrooms, too.

Good to know

Average Price
££££ - Under £30
Cuisines
Gastropub

Location

High Street, Unknown, Essex, CO11 1HE

01206 392 821 01206 392 821

Website

Opening Times

Mon-Fri 12N-2.30pm, 6.30-9.30pm Sat & Sun 12N-9.30pm

Reviews

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2 Reviews 
Food/Drink
Service
Atmosphere
Value

Patricia B

29 April 2013  
Food & Drink 1.5
Service 3
Atmosphere 1.5
Value 1
Wouldn't Bother
Was looking forward to meal at this restaurant a I had been on their website and food sounded lovely. I can only say that this restaurant is possibly the worse restaurant that I have eaten in for years. When we came out I was eyeing the Post Office next door to see if I could go in and get a bar of chocolate but the friends we were with walked us to our car and as one had paid for lunch it seemed a bit rude. We didn't have a starter but our friends chose a main meal off the 'meal deal menu, whereas my husband and I had the poll beefburgers and hand cut chips. Must say meals looked lovely but that's where it ended. One meal was so tiny I thought it was a starter!! The second meal was a vegetarian tart, I think, which had a few new potatoes with it and loads of green leaves, that had a very unusual taste. Our burgers looked great but were very nondescript and I felt sorry for the cow that had been used to produce such a tasteless burger. The chips were disgusting, a soggy heap piled on the plate. I too can produce these if my fat is not hot enough but don't expect to be served these when paying for them. Was pushed into a dessert as the one course was very slightly less than the two course so my husband and one friend had the chocolate mousse and honeycomb crumb which was really sickly. The coffee was absolutely disgusting, a very strong but watery coffee which didn't improve even when a lot of milk and sugar was added. Normally we would have complained but our friend was so please to treat us to a meal that we didn't like to say we hadn't enjoyed it. I am very glad we went with them as we were due to go with friends as our treat in a few weeks but there is no way we'll be going back

Glynis Y

18 May 2010  
Food & Drink 3
Service 3
Atmosphere 3
Value 3
We ate here with another couple on a quiet Tuesday in May. The decor was simple but attractive and the service pleasant if not especially expeditious for an exceptionally quiet lunchtime. We opted for the special lunch menu which seemed good value. The smoked salmon starter with pickled cucumber was tiny and served with ‘organic’ leaves which were turning to slime.The terrine with black pudding and red onion marmalade was enjoyed but the soup pronounced just so-so. We ought really to have complained as the self same slimy leaves were served with two of the maincourses and should not have appeared on anyone's plate. Fishcakes were fine and served with tasty chips and more nasty leaves. Red poll salt beef promised much but proved pale, bland and chewy with a mustard sauce barely detectable. A mushroom tart looked, and apparently tasted, overcooked. Puddings (rhubarb crumble and a lemon polenta cake) were very nice. We had been drawn there ( a long way from South London) by a very favourable review and were somewhat disappointed. Mistley quay was lovely. I have never seen so many swans!
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