From my previous reviews you will be aware that I loved eating at Il Salice. Since the new owners…read moretook over, and are using the good reviews of the previous owners, I reverse my views. We arrived on St Valentines day, a special day to many, at 7.15. Ordered drinks and food almost immediately. The drinks arrived but by 9.00 no food. At 9.10 the main courses arrived but as we hadn't had our starters. The courses were sent back to the kitchen while we waited for the starters. More waiting. The manageress, a lovely lady who was with the previous owners, tried to placate the irate diners with 'on the house' drinks. However, as I was driving, my annoyance wasn't lowered. 9.30 we got up and walked out. It is a shame that a wonderful, friendly, restaurant ends up in such a quandry. It needs a good chef, well trained serving staff and decent management. At the moment these are lacking. Thank goodness Braintree has a 24 hour McDonalds.

Impeccably service. Staff were very attentive and knowledgeable. Our waiter informed us if we have…read moreany dietary restrictions that they we would be able to accommodate. The starters and main courses were amazing and delicious. The dessert was scrumptious.

I am currently on a really restrictive elimination diet and I am also a vegetarian so I have been…read moreavoiding eating out, but as it was my mothers birthday I agreed to eat here last night. The service is brilliant, and the food is lovely. The servers prepared dishes especially to meet my needs and I was extremely impressed as I had been expecting to eat something quite bland. I can't recommend this place highly enough, they will cater to all intolerances and eating preferences.

Amazing Italian/Turkish restaurant! I personally like the Italian menu more, I ordered the spicy…read morechicken pot once and it was good but definitely love the lasagna and the pizzas! Easily one of the most authentic pizza I've ever tried. The deserts are also amazing!! I've been here for ten days and have been here 5 the staff even remembers every time I walk in. Super friendly and the interior and exterior are beautiful!! Just go!!

We visited Pircio this weekend gone. It's location means it's slightly hidden compared with lots of…read morethe chain restaurants on North Street, but having spotted some signs from the Baroosh window we decided to check out the restaurant and we're glad we did. This is a fantastic space. It's a hall type building that has been very carefully transformed into a large restaurant which successfully maintains an intimate feel using delicate lighting, cleverly created seating areas and has a large bar and pizza oven framing each end of the building. The menu's refreshing, as it's effectively a double-sided sheet with Italian delights on one side and mediterranean on the other, so if you have friends who want to eat Italian but you fancy something different or vice versa, the choice will please you in a big way. We're both vegetarian, and the selection of vegetarian food was excellent, though it's worth pointing out that like all awkward customers I set my heart on one of the meaty offerings and asked if they would be able to do me it without the meat, which the restaurant happily obliged. Top notch. Staff were very friendly and accommodating, we didn't feel rushed at all and once we asked for the bill it arrived promptly with the card machine following suit very soon after. Again top notch. The only thing we could fault was the starter, which arrived a little cooler than you would normally expect for deep fried brie, but was still delicious. A nice atmosphere, a great wine menu and effectively TWO menu's makes this an easy pick if you're looking for great food away from the usual chains. Highly recommended.

We passed this restaurant on numerous occasions and, recently, noticed it was open so popped in for…read morea 'snack'. Modern interior with wonderful decking outside overlooking the river. Perfect for when the summer arrives. Certainly not the case today. Lovely welcome by the front of house manager. Obviously a very Italian influenced restaurant as all the staff we saw were Italian. I learned later that it was a family run business, and it showed in the service. Nothing was too much for them. As I said, we popped in for a snack and ordered a drink and mussels with a portion of fries (very Belgian, my heritage). The mussels were chosen from the starters menu. When they arrived they were in a delicious cream and chilli sauce. The quantity was outstanding. Starter???? We have been in restaurants where this quantity was a main course. With a choice of toasted bread slices. The fries were magnificent and, also, enough for two people. As we ate the chef came past and asked if we liked the mussels 'the way my mama taught me'. 'Use your spoon for the suppa'. A great character and he did know his trade. A very interesting menu and we will return in the evening, some time, to try their main menu. Worth a trip when the weather is fine for, maybe, just a drink from the bar watching the river flow by and the kayaking.

This is a great Italian restaurant food has always been excellent with service to match highly…read morerecommend. Would also recommend the sister rest Olios in the city centre

I'm in lockdown- it's my Birthday- I usually go to Mamma Mia - so on the off chance I look at the…read moreweb site and see we can collect food - I was sceptical thought we might get small portions or lukewarm food - THEY DID NOT DISAPPOINT! My word it was every bit as good as the dine in meals we've had, my house smelled amazing before we even plated up and my cats went mad! Everything was delicious- if possible I love them even more now x thank you Natalya and all the Mamma Mia staff working so hard as always x

Beautifully located Italian restaurant with attentive service graciously provided by the bustling…read morehostess who was training another waitress in Italian! Perfectly poised on the High Street near the Castle, this meal was a feast for royalty. Excellent, unique preparations of well executed dishes. The special starter of buffalo mozzarella with sun-dried tomatoes had the right balance. The lasagna as well as delectable baked spinach and ricotta crepes arrived piping hot in a ceramic dish. Pretty linens, warmth, and delectable choices all added to the ambiance. Did I mention basket of plants lining the interior walls? Bellissimo!!

Nice pizza with chillis. Could have done with a few more but nice and hot. Cooled it down with a…read morefew beers. very satisfied.

Having passed this restaurant several times and having never paid attention, my wife and I decided…read moreto wander and have a quick meal one night. To be fair we weren't expecting much from what looked like another American style franchise restaurant. We were to say the leasre pleasantly surprised, the staff were all young, friendly, and in the case of our young Russian(?) waitress, incredibly helpful. After an small incident of paying twice via the card machine, we can even say that they have that rarest of things, a personable and helpful manager. The food, was good, hot and comes in generous portions, and best of all, the bill was less than I was expecting. Worth a visit.

This unassuming restaurant may look a bit like a roadside café from the outside, but you're not…read morehere for the decor (not that there's anything wrong inside!). The home-cooked Italian food is consistently excellent, particularly the seafood. I've eaten here a number of times - breakfast, lunch and dinner - and always found the food and service to be excellent. And I'm really excited to hear that Sorano's has just launched a luxury takeaway / home-delivery service too!

This was our last time ever here. The food is deteriorating, and the owner was extremely rude to us…read moreand insisted on charging us for an overcoooked dish which we had returned. Upon our departure, an employee came after us, asked, "are you still standing here? Why did you come back?" We told her we would never be coming back, and she said, "good! I don't want you back here!"

A great find and a little let down by its exterior, which is a bit unexciting…read more The part owner chef is an Italian lady of great skill and imagination and the menu leans towards Italian type food. It is a place to really enjoy and linger over each course. Very good and friendly service and brilliant ingredients. It has not been open very long and is steadily building up its clientele successfully. There are loads of tempting Italian ingredients all around the place and also a dedicated cheese cool room with a magical selection to buy from. That is the Provisions part of it, and very well managed it is too. If you are at all tempted by Italian / Mediterranean dishes, this place is a must.

The pasta is dry and raw. The cheese is creamy when I didn't ask for cream cheese so this is just…read moreshit don't go here. I was yelled at when I wanted bread so I'm never coming back again.