The Mistley Thorn

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

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!