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    Balkerne Restaurant

    3.0 (1 review)

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    Recommended Reviews - Balkerne Restaurant

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    18 years ago

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    Pavilion Restaurant

    Pavilion Restaurant

    4.0(1 review)
    0.3 mi

    I decided that this was a really good find. A nice extensive menu, good wine list, upmarket decor…read moreand a riverside location. Definitely classy. We were four in total, out exploring Colchester having arrived late afternoon without having had lunch; so naturally we wanted to eat early and there were lights on inside. Nothing ventured, we asked if they were open and we were promptly ushered inside with a smile. Boy, this place is big! It must get very busy of a weekend evening, but at this time of day we were the only people there, so naturally our server was extremely attentive and helpful; although he was quite insistent about trying to 'upsell' us on some things, like pushing for bottled water when all we wanted was a jug of tap water. But I guess that's par for the course. The menu is pretty extensive, with plenty of veggie and vegan options - although I felt that our server should have pointed out that they have separate menus for those. I went for a veggie Nasi Goreng with a side dish of sweet and sour aubergines (my least favourite vegetable - what was I thinking?). Portion size was very good and the food was great. I even liked the sweet and sour aubergine side plate! You will either love or hate the decor, with its full-size artificial cherry blossom trees and illuminated fluffy clouds. Bizarrely, it all seemed to work well together, although I was less convinced about the music, which seemed mostly to be some kind of pop/techno fusion thing. Overall, it came to around £30 each between the four of us, which wasn't too bad given that our bottle of wine was only slightly less than that. If you want a classy evening meal, you could do a lot worse.

    The Old Siege House Bar and Brasserie - White profiteroles and ice cream

    The Old Siege House Bar and Brasserie

    5.0(2 reviews)
    1.2 mi
    £££

    A beautiful building with a fascinating history. Now a restaurant, The Old Siege House is so-called…read moredue to being the very same building in which the Siege of Colchester took place, the siege which brought an end to the English Civil War in the 17th century. Bullet holes and other partial damage is still visible outside and inside of this restaurant from that siege. But the building is even older than that event, it was constructed late on in the 15th century and still retains nearly all of it's original features including stained glass windows and fireplaces. And as if being inside a building of historical significance wasn't enough, the food is bloomin' marvellous, too. The menu is generally made up of modern European style options but what gives The Old Siege House some bonus points is the imagination and creativity put in to the meals created here. The presentation is great and the taste is even better. After some generously sized starters I was struggling to decide which one of the five or so meal choices, which I had narrowed down to, to choose from. This was a problem I'd be only to happy to take on again. In the end, I went for the Tournedo of Pheasant (pan fried pheasant stacked with red onion marmalade, smoked apple wood cheddar and prosciutto with butternut squash mash and veal jus) - oh yeah, that's how I roll. This wasn't a choice I regret. Lovely. My lady-friend's veg-tastic meal was also terrific - the Asparagus Florentine (grilled asparagus, spinach, toasted brioche and poached duck egg smothered with smoked apple wood cheddar sauce). We both loved this. My dessert of profiteroles smothered in white chocolate with vanilla ice-cream and the lady's créme brulee of strawberry and basil with shortbread, both hit the spot. Although no one was playing while we were there on a Sunday evening, there is a beautiful Grand piano by the entrance in the bar area. The layout of The Old Siege House makes it possible to accommodate some larger tables for groups but, also, a lot of smaller, secluded tables while keeping much of the floor open. No one need sit practically adjoining the next table, there is enough room in between for your own privacy. It was a reasonably quiet evening in the restaurant so service was expected to be quick and it was. It was also friendly, courteous, efficient and knowledgable (on the wine list, soup of the day, specials, history of the building etc). All in all, a thoroughly lovely dining experience and should I be in Colchester again I would hope I'll be coming back here. TTFN, Ian

    Been to this restaurant a few times its first class, Staff are really friendly, food superb,…read more atmosphere relaxing

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    The Old Siege House Bar and Brasserie - Pheasant on butternut squash mash with red onion marmalade, smoked applewood cheddar, prosciutto and a veal jus

    Pheasant on butternut squash mash with red onion marmalade, smoked applewood cheddar, prosciutto and a veal jus

    The Old Siege House Bar and Brasserie

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    Mimosa

    Mimosa

    3.9(9 reviews)
    2.4 mi
    ££

    Yesterday I had booked for 4 of the girls to go to Mimosa like we have many times. There's been a…read morechange in management since we last went. We arrived and the female manager with brown hair and glasses who we assumed to be the manager had a very condescending attitude. This was intimidating my friends and I are in the age range of 25-28 and she spoke to us like children. We ordered simple things 1 x fish and chips 2 x Burgers & a Ribeye steak and a few side's from ordering our food to arriving at our table took an hour and 15 minutes, the restaurant was not even a quarter full. Our food was cold and half of the sides we had asked for were missing, I went to talk to the manager who completely dismissed the fact that we had waited so long and the food was cold with missing items ordered, she didn't try to rectify this by any means or offer any solution. I must say the cocktails served by the Bar team were amazing and made with care Again this was my birthday meal, I was wearing a birthday badge and my friend had given them my Birthday cake to bring out. I went back to the table and waited another 5 minutes for the food we had missed to come. It didn't I gave the waiter my food at this point as it was freezing, the girls had finished their meal (most of the food had been left bar the ribeye) and told the waiter I no longer wanted it. The waiter was lovely, I can't remember his name but he was a young guy with black hair and glasses. I had tears in my eyes and just wanted to get out of the restaurant to make the most of the rest of my birthday night, we had asked for the bill 3 times & repeatedly had to ask for the service charge and burger I gave back to be taken off. The food was being served without the hot pass on, (we could see into the kitchen where we were sat) guests were complaining about their food on the table behind us, The difference was the manager went over to them I can only assume this is because they were older ladies. She gave them the respect all of the customers deserve regardless of age and status. I worked in Mimosa previously when under Diego as director and Catalin and James as managers. I'm an avid fan of the owner's venues in and around Colchester I.E pavilion, Hudson. We usually get the Tomahawk and I'm so glad we didn't pay £90 for food that seemed like it was made hours ago and left out to go cold. At this point, my friend asked for my birthday cake back as we were going to go somewhere else to get food. The manager laughed at her, gave her the cake & rolled her eyes. I have never experienced such disrespect, disregard and Ageism on my birthday from my favourite restaurant !! I will not be returning. The service and the whole night was horrible, no one should cry at a restaurant on their birthday. I hope the owner reads this and thinks about who he trusts being the face of his business. I would come to Mimosa for all occasions and talk about this restaurant with such high regard I am so upset that I can no longer do this.

    T-bone steak was decent: good-quality meat, but unevenly cooked. Chips were edible, but appeared to…read morehave been made from frozen. Parsnip soup okay. Arancini starter was bitter, greasy and overcooked. The 'salad' that came with the steak was merely a couple of wilted leaves. 'Apple, pear and blackberry crumble' consisted of broken-up M&S-bought cookies over a bed of warmed tinned fruit. Overpriced and unprofessional.

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    Mimosa
    Mimosa

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    Balkerne Restaurant - restaurants - Updated May 2026

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