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The George and Dragon's pastel-hued façade does little to suggest the delightful pub within, and that is just one part of the discovery. Step inside and you'd notice that this is certainly no spit and sawdust kind of place, the wonderfully restored interior is a smartly done up with cosy, bright coloured sofas, oak beams and a rustic-chic private dining space.

The atmosphere is relaxed, friendly and informal, while the overall impression is of a comfortable, light and open pub. It is their attention to detail and high level of service that ensures your whole dining experience will be one to remember.

The menu is simple but up-to-the-minute, with lots of comfort appeal, and homely items such as pizza, steaks and pasta as well as contemporary, global touches to keep things lively; all delivered by friendly and cheerful staff. Their wine list contains well-known favourites, alongside little numbers from around the world.

To set the right note of fashionable sociability there are sharing plates, garlic pizzette with sun-blushed tomatoes, rocket and parmesan, a box baked Camembert with red onion jam and bread, and Greek mezze with taramasalata, red pepper hummus, tzatziki, feta and flatbreads.

Amongst the starters is freshly made soup, devilled mushrooms with chilli and mint on rustic toast, and Japanese fish cakes, pickled ginger, yuzu and spring onion dipping sauce with radish slaw. Look, too, for scallops of the day.

The salads - sorry that should read 'leaves' - offer crispy duck, mouli, carrots and spring onion with plum sauce, and for the seafood fiends some pastrami cured smoked salmon, Caesar, cos, parmesan, anchovies and croutons is received with enthusiasm.

These days no self-respecting gastropub can afford to be without its pizza range; expect to find margherita, a classic medley of tomato, mozzarella, oregano and basil, Siciliana with Serrano ham, roast artichoke, olives and mozzarella or rustica with roasted Mediterranean vegetables, goats? cheese, cherry tomatoes and rocket.

Pastas include bucatini carbonara with smoked haddock, pancetta and cream, or tagliatelle bolognaise, slow cooked beef, bacon and Chianti.

Scottish salmon with noodles, Asian greens, coriander, pineapple and chilli salsa is popular, a sign of the times and improving taste in eating and the spit honey gammon ham with creamed potato, parsley and truffle sauce is worth trying too. For hearty eaters there are rib-eye and fillet steaks, and lemon sole with prawn and watercress butter and baby potatoes. Other choices encompass Peroni beer battered haddock and lamb rack with spiced dukkah crust, char-grilled stuffed peppers and minted potatoes.

A wide range of supporting dishes include creamed potatoes, Belgian frites and mayo, and cabbage, leeks and peas. Desserts are some of the best you'll encounter with apple and frangipane gallette and Cognac ice cream, and there is also a selection of local cheeses to set the buffs alight.

More information, including full menus, is available on their Website. Please note that the E-Mail Contact is for enquiries only, not for bookings.

Nestled amongst the shops and boutiques on Epping's bustling High Street, The George and Dragon delivers a premium dining experience in elegant surroundings in the heart of this leafy Essex town. With Epping Forest on the doorstep, and both Theydon Bois and Epping Golf courses just short drive away, the pub is the perfect place to recharge your batteries after a bracing country walk or a round of golf. An excellent modern British menu with Mediterranean influences delights the palate while a range of expertly kept cask ales, chilled draught and bottled beers, and a superb wine list will quench your thirst.
 
Each day of the week there's something exciting going on at The George and Dragon. On Wednesdays, steak lovers can look forward to enjoying a range of superb 21-day matured steaks with a generous 50% discount on a bottle of red wine. Enliven your Thursdays with a tempting range of sparkling wines including creamy Proseccos, vibrant Reserve de Sours Rose Sparkling and luxurious Moet offered at special rates. Fish Fridays invites customers to indulge in a range of delicious fresh fish and seafood dishes put together by the talented kitchen team, while the delectable roasts on Sundays make for the perfect weekend treat.

A large courtyard offers plenty of outside seating, perfect for al fresco dining in the summer, while the bright and airy bar also boasts a cozy real log fire in the winter. Diners can enjoy a reviving aperitif at the bar before wandering through to restaurant area, alternatively you could choose a quick snack or main course from the bar menu.

The seasonally changing à la carte, made with the finest fresh ingredients, matches style with substance and delivers a range of Mediterranean influenced sharing platters including lamb koftas served with flatbreads, chilli jam, and tzatziki. Alternatively you could choose an individual starter including a zingy smoked haddock kedgeree with poached egg. 

The mains selection includes a range of hearty selections, from the traditional favourite of freshly battered haddock with chips, tartare sauce and minted mushy peas to more exotic fare such as duck confit with honey, chilli, pineapple, shallots, sweet potato and butter beans. The grill delivers spit chicken with lemon, garlic, thyme and chips; black and blue burger with dolcelatte, mushroom and chips and fillet steak garni with watercress, confit tomato, grilled mushroom and hand-cut jenga chips. There are also a number of lighter options including chermoula spiced mackerel served with a salad of potato, orange, olives and fennel.

Vegetarians have not been forgotten at The George and Dragon and they can look forward to equally delicious dishes such as box baked camembert with stirata Romana bread and homemade tomato jam, salad of spiced pear, roast squash, beetroot, hazelnut and gorgonzola with tomato pesto and cannelloni al forno with spinach, butternut squash, ricotta and tomato sauce. Where many 'gastro pubs' may neglect the weekday lunch crowd, the George and Dragon display admirable commitment to excellence with their two-course prix fixe menu that changes weekly and could include starter of butternut squash risotto followed by ham hock served with creamy mustard mash.

You can of course opt for a main and a dessert and who could blame you with temptations such as Black Forest tiramisu; white chocolate crème brûlée; bourbon and raisin pudding with vanilla ice cream and limoncello posset with langues de chat biscuits to round it all off perfectly. 

The carefully compiled wine list boasts a variety of first-rate white and red wines drawn from all over the world and including classics such as zesty Pinot Grigio from Italy, meaty Spanish Rioja and a lovely Viognier Rothschild from France.

You might also want to consider visiting nearby sister pubs The Goffs Oak or The Dukes Head.

More information can be found on their Website.

The Dukes Head is a warm, elegant pub and eating house located on Laindon Common Road in the small commuter town of Billericay, ideal for the enjoyment of a few drinks and a meal.

Backed by service that is cheerful, brisk and totally in keeping with the friendly nature of a good English gastropub this charming pub has a warm and inviting bar and a spacious dining room where you?ll find plenty of regulars dropping in. A log fire in the handsome exposed brick inglenook in winter, white leather chairs accompanied by sturdy wooden tables well matched with the quarry-tiled floor and an oak beamed ceiling with subdued lighting is the sort of interior you can expect at The Dukes Head.

The atmosphere is one of joviality, and when the sun is out there are few things better than an al fresco meal; a deck area and the garden overlooking the woods set with comfortable chairs and benches, easily seating around forty diners at a time provides the setting

The kitchen?s approach to cooking is mostly modern British, comfortably interwoven with some Mediterranean influences. It ranges from traditional favourites such as fish and chips and steaks to freshly made pizzas and pastas with the chef?s daily specials displaying the finest fresh market ingredients. There?s something for everyone and for all occasions and you don?t have to go for the full works if you don?t want to; just have a snack and a lingering drink in the bar with your friends.

To set the right note of fashionable sociability there are sharing plates, Greek mezze with taramasalata, red pepper hummus, tzatziki, feta and flatbread, or Italian antipasti with cured meats, dolcelatte, roasted vegetables, parmesan, rocket, stuffed peppers, curly green chillies and warm stone baked bread.

The grills for hearty eaters are well worth a visit and choices include spit chicken, ribeye steak and peroni beer battered haddock among others. These are all served with frites, garlic butter, brandy peppercorn sauce, béarnaise, burnt tomato and onion salsa or mango and chilli.

Specialities here include beef tomato Moroccan cous cous with feta, mint and harissa, fired piccante pizza with pepperoni, chorizo, tomato, and jalapenos, alfalfa sprouts, piquillo peppers, green beans and rocket salad, and Perisian spiced lamb chops, tzatziki, tomato, and red onion salad. Or perhaps a spit chicken cacciatora sauce served with frites, and veal paillard, lemon gremolata, asparagus, savoyard potatoes, and masala jus appeal to the adventurous palates, among many other dishes on the extensive menu.

Warm brownie with vanilla ice cream, and dark chocolate sauce, summer berry Eton mess, and vanilla pod cheesecake with blackcurrant compote are some of the crowd pullers in the pudding section.

The bar stocks a wide range of cask ales, super chilled draught and bottled beers, and the wine list features everything from crisp refreshing whites, trendy pinks to fat juicy reds by the bottle or glass.

Check in on their Website for further details, changing menus that follow the seasons, and special promotions. Please note that the E-Mail Contact is for enquiries only, not for bookings.

The King William IV is a contemporary pub situated on High Road, Chigwell. The establishment is one of those that have surfaced on the mainstream of casual eating in the UK and are taking an increasing share of the market, evidenced by their growth in numbers and the popularity of what they have to offer. If this results in a 'type' there is certainly no harm in that.

Contemporary pubs such as these usually share a number of characteristics. An important feature is space, preferably a restaurant where you are comfortable, not over-awed, and not sharing elbow space with the next table, however sociable they may be. Good, too, to have an al fresco eating area, in this case a courtyard, and last, but by no means least, a roomy and well stocked bar where you can actually get served without undue delay. After all, drinking should be taken seriously.

If a pub offers all of these, and is in a good location, there is little reason in today's economic climate why it should not flourish. The King William IV provides ample evidence that this is true.

But of course there are other factors, not least of which is the food and drink. The term 'gastropub' covers a multitude of blessings and it is possible to see influences of brasserie, bistro, restaurant and even café at work within the great gastro umbrella. So expect to find no one single cuisine, but a blend designed to provide something for everybody, no matter what their treat may be.

To set the right note of fashionable sociability there are sharing plates, antipasti of Italian meats, dolcelatte, marinated vegetables with warm stone-baked flatbreads, or Mediterranean mezze of hummus, roasted vegetables, fregola, tzatziki, feta, spinach and ricotta pâté with flatbreads.

Amongst the starters, expect to find freshly made soup, smoked salmon with pomegranate molases, fennel and micro herb salad, or gambas with rocket, garlic aioli and rustic bread. Look, too, for scallops of the day. The salads offer chargrilled chicken, courgette, fennel, apple, asparagus, hazelnut and balsamic dressing, and for the seafood enthusiasts some prawn and avocado, mango, pecans, bacon, orange and pomegranate vinaigrette tends to please.

These days no self-respecting gastropub can afford to be without its pizza range; look for a classic margherita of pomodoro, cherry tomatoes, mozzarella and basil, the rustica with roasted Mediterranean vegetables, goats' cheese and cherry tomatoes, or a piccante with pepperoni, chorizo, tomato and jalapeños.

The rotisserie dishes for hearty eaters are worth trying and choices include spit chicken with roast garlic, lemon, thyme and frites. For the big event there is always roast rump of lamb with sauce soubise, asparagus, pancetta, button onions and baby potatoes. The classic burger, which has risen from the confines of fast food chains, carves a niche for itself on the menu and comes with gherkin, mustard mayo, cheese, relish, bacon and frites.

A wide range of supporting dishes includes tomato and red onions, and cabbage, leeks and peas. Desserts are some of the best you'll encounter with apple, blackcurrant crumble and vanilla custard, and sticky toffee pudding with vanilla ice cream, and there is also a selection of cheeses to set the buffs alight.

The King William IV stocks a wide range of beers, both well loved draught ales and bottled from further afield. The wine list covers plenty of territory from traditional clarets to Pinot Grigio, and champagne by the glass or bottle is always available. Service is cheerful, brisk and totally in keeping with the friendly nature of a good English gastropub.

Keep in touch with their Website for changes in menu, and events. Please note that the E-Mail Contact is for enquiries only, not for bookings.

The County Kitchen, an important element of The County Hotel in Chelmsford, offers a cuisine that is essentially British but does not hesitate to cull ideas from other shores and continents. It also has the inestimable advantage of being located in a part of England where some of the finest produce to be found is readily available, be it from land, sea or air. They take full advantage of that by changing their menus seasonally and also by sourcing 70% of their ingredients from within a sixty mile radius.

The hotel is privately owned and part of British Classic Hotels. All 50 bedrooms offer a diversity of accommodation ranging from a very smart suite to sixteen superior and premium rooms at the sort of standards you would expect from a 3 star quality hotel. All rooms have a flat screen TV, wifi internet and a direct dial telephone as well as complimentary tea, coffee, and biscuits.

A fine line is drawn between the hearty eaters and those who for one reason or another prefer something rather daintier, and I understand there are one or two of those around in this East Anglian paradise where Essex meets Norfolk through Suffolk. There are those, of whom I am not one, who believe you can judge a restaurant by the quality of its starters. For me it's the main courses and the amount of culinary ground they cover convincingly rather than statistically.

Catch of the day displays a willingness to be guided by nature and is a promising start. Pan fried breast of pheasant is served with confit leg, puy lentil and vegetable ragout, thus making the best of this fine game bird that at its best i.e. wild rather than bred, and properly cooked is superb, bettered only by partridge, preferably grey.

Wilted chard and chick peas provide suitable escorts for baked haddock with creamed potatoes, and the spatchcocked chicken is lemon roasted, served with Savoy cabbage and dauphinoise potatoes. Lamb cutlets are without doubt a 'night before the gallows' feast needing so little other than a watchful eye to catch them exactly at the right moment before giving them a flagelot bean, celeriac puree and sautéed potatoes guard of honour.

A well chosen selection of salads and pastas includes a Bingham Blue, apple, fig and endive salad with a walnut dressing, or a wild mushroom and tarragon linguine, both served as a starter or main course. Other starters offered could be mussels with chilli, Aspall cyder and coriander, or acorn fed Jamon Iberico with grilled sourdough bread.

A quick lunch could field smoked duck and artichoke terrine with celeriac remoulade and sourdough toast, followed by roasted sea trout with brown shrimp and pan fried salsify, covelo nero, finishing with spiced rhubarb tart tatin and caramelised almonds. Do note that they offer a carvery on Sunday, which is exceedingly popular.

A wedding at the County Kitchen can also include all the excitement and enjoyment of the great day, well ordered by experts accustomed to making these occasions extremely special. For these, and all occasions when wine is an item, a wine list of no mean skill offers a wide range of options, many available by the glass. The County is a popular location for conferences of anywhere between 2 - 150 delegates, and with a pro-active environmental policy will commend itself to many.

For further details do check out their excellent user-friendly Website.

The Nags Head can be found on the corner of Brook Street and Nag's Head Lane, Brentwood. Contemporary pubs such as these usually share a number of characteristics. An important feature is space, preferably a restaurant where you are comfortable, not overawed, and not sharing elbow space with the next table, however sociable they may be. Good, too, to have a garden or optional al fresco eating out space, in this case seating eighty, and by no means least a roomy and well stocked bar where you can actually get served without undue delay. After all, drinking should be taken seriously.

If a pub offers all of these, and is in a good location, there is little reason in today's economic climate why it should not flourish. The Nags Head provides ample evidence that this is true. But of course there are other factors, not least of which is the food and drink. The term 'gastropub' covers a multitude of blessings and it is possible to see influences of brasserie, bistro, restaurant and even café at work within the great gastro umbrella. So expect to find no one single cuisine, but a blend designed to provide something for everybody, no matter what their treat may be.

To set the right note of fashionable sociability there are sharing plates, garlic pizzette, caramelised onions and rocket, or Mediterranean mezze of hummus, roasted vegetables, fregola, tzatziki, feta, spinach and ricotta pâté with flatbreads.

Amongst the starters there is always freshly made soup; the like of potted duck and smoked chicken, wholemeal toast with plum and balsamic chutney; gambas with garlic, rocket, aioli and rustic bread, and water melon, prosciutto ham and feta with chilli ice cream are also to be found. The salads - sorry, that should read 'leaves' - offer crispy duck, mouli, carrots, hoisin, spring onions and plum sauce, and for the seafood enthusiasts some prawn, avocado, pecan, mango, watercress, bacon with orange and pomegranate vinaigrette are well received.

These days no self-respecting gastropub can afford to be without its pizza range; expect to find a classic margherita of tomato, mozzarella, oregano and basil, or another with roasted Mediterranean vegetables, goats' cheese, cherry tomatoes and rocket. Pastas include linguini with tiger prawns, crab, chorizo, chilli, tomato and white wine, or the tagliatelle with slow cooked Bolognaise and parmesan.
 
For the big event, there is always Indian spiced salmon fillet, wilted spinach and sweet potato with aubergine and mango chutney. The calves liver, tray baked potatoes, red onion and bacon with sage panagrattato is worth trying too. The classic burger, which has risen from the confines of fast food chains, carves a niche for itself on the menu and comes with gherkin, mustard mayo, cheese, bacon, relish and frites. For hearty eaters there is a good rib-eye steak with smoked paprika and tomato butter, watercress and frites.

A wide range of supporting dishes include Belgium frites and mayo, and cabbage, leeks and peas. Desserts are some of the best you'll encounter with apple, blackcurrant crumble and vanilla custard, and sticky toffee pudding with vanilla ice cream, and there is also a selection of cheeses to set the buffs alight.

The Nags Head stocks a wide range of beers, both well-loved draught ales and bottled from further afield. The wine list covers plenty of territory from traditional clarets to Pinot Grigio, and champagne by the glass or bottle is always available. Service is cheerful, brisk and totally in keeping with the friendly nature of a good English gastropub.

A well constructed Website enables you to keep in touch with menu changes or forthcoming events. Please note that the E-Mail Contact is for enquiries only, not for bookings.

In the charming village of Tendring, a hundred year old pub has undergone a deep transformation. Over the years, it has seen many changes both in style and name, but nothing quite as dramatic as the stunning transformation of an old style pub into the comfortable, relaxing reincarnation that is the Fat Goose.

The cosy farmhouse appeal it exudes highlights the modern and contemporary interior that greets you inside. Comfy leather Chesterfield chairs and a gentle fire wait for you and build the right sort of atmosphere for the cooler months, while outside the pretty garden is a favourite seating option on sunny days. The combined effect of the furnishing and overall ambience is to weave together a sense of comfort and 'home away from home' feeling.

The modern, vaulted extension is the most recent addition to the Goose, which has transformed the restaurant into a bright and airy place that can accommodate up to 90 diners. The patio doors open onto a terrace that provides al fresco dining in the warmer months. The Event and Outside Catering arm of the Fat Goose brings quality food to the venue of your choice or at the marquee on the grounds.

The real draw, however, is the food, which is possibly why they have been awarded an AA Rosette in 2009. Created by chef and owner Philip Hambrook-Moore, where the menu focuses on seasonal food and displays a number of interesting dishes prepared with fresh and locally sourced produce. Typically, you could expect to start with smoked duck and pistachio terrine and toasted brioche with chilli and orange marmalade while the homemade corn beef with horseradish cream, watercress salad and sour dough bread makes for an exciting first round.

Follow this up with main courses that range from char grilled rib eye steak with tomatoes, mushrooms, onion rings and hand cut chips to free range Primrose Farm pork belly with fresh pea, fennel and pancetta broth and crushed Landemere potato cake.

A daily fish menu exemplifies the appeal of fresh fish, bringing starters like pan seared scallops with chorizo salad, orange and cardamom dressing followed by supreme of baked salmon with creamed leeks, bacon and champ potatoes. While the à la carte offers a wide selection, you could simply opt for the chef's menu for the day and let him do the choosing for you, a decision that offers fantastic value and a superb experience.

A highly tempting range of naughtiness includes a traditional treacle tart with vanilla ice cream, a wonderfully warm banana and ginger nut pudding with honey comb ice cream or for a real knock-out number, the Belgian chocolate truffle torte with Baileys ice cream.

Lunch time offerings include sandwiches for those looking for an unfussy meal that is still satisfying. You would do well to try their steak sandwich with marinated tomatoes, rocket and Dijon mustard in ciabatta or the club sandwich of chicken, bacon, lettuce, tomato and egg on farmhouse toast. All these are served with the customary homemade crisps.

An extensive wine list, with fourteen wines available by the glass, including champagne does ample justice to the kitchen, a happy union that proves compelling to those who flock to The Fat Goose, some from considerable distances. Do take a look at their Website for more details including monthly menu changes.

The Crown has a reputation for outstanding cuisine, with 2 AA red rosettes, excellent wines - winner of the wine pub of the year 2005, real ales and friendly, efficient staff. The inn dates back to the early 1500s and has been extended over the years, endeavouring to provide modern amenities without losing the inn's old world charm. The Crown is unusual in that it attracts young and old alike, probably because of its varying degrees of decor suiting different tastes, but all done in a relaxed, modern and country feel.

Richard Sunderland and his chefs insist that the cuisine is simple and that they use the best and freshest ingredients. Choices for lunch could include pork belly and sage terrine, red onion marmalade with sourdough toast, a main course of roast rump of lamb with char grilled flatbread, hoummus, harissa, spinach raita and tabbouleh and puddings such as warm peacan pie and miniature coffee chocolate trifle.

Fish is chalked up on the blackboard daily, emphasising that everything is fresh, predominantly from the East Coast. Sunday lunch is treated with the same respect as in most East Anglian pubs and restaurants and wood pigeon with fine beans, broad beans and garlic cream might set Granny back a bit but she'll recover when she gets into the battered haddock with homemade tartare and thick cut chips, or the traditional roast beef.

Supper dishes could include a smoked salmon and ricotta fritters with honey and dill dressing followed by 28 day matured rib eye steak with peppercorn, finally ending with the warm pecan pie and miniature coffee chocolate trifle.

The Crown has over 30 wines by the glass, so you can have a different wine with each course. For those wanting a bottle of something rather special, the Crown certainly does not hurt the pocket, as an absolute it's a treasure trove of classics from a truly eclectic collection.

Another unusual feature of the Crown is the wine shop, where one is able to browse through over 200 wines, for either drinking in or taking out. Knowledgeable staff are on hand to guide you through if you feel too mesmerised! If you feel this is purely for wine lovers you would be wrong, for many of the local real ale aficionados come far and wide to sample the immaculately kept beers. Wines can be ordered by the case and are normally delivered within a week, unless particularly rare, in which case allow longer.

There is outside seating for lovers of al fresco dining, as well as just lovers, offering splendid country views so that your eyes can also feast on probably one of the finest views in Suffolk. Menus change about every three weeks, and seasonal specialities can be anybody's guess, but take a tip and click on their Website for fuller details, particularly for accommodation. The Crown has 11 rooms quietly located to the rear of the property, overlooking open countryside. All rooms are individually decorated and very comfortably furnished. A full English breakfast is included in the price and served daily.

Surrounded by shops and bars on Queen's Road, Prezzo Buckhurst Hill serves authentic Italian cuisine in a stunning setting. The modern interior features wood panelling, feature lighting and cosy booth seating whilst the rear garden area is perfect for a relaxed alfresco meal.

A short walk from Buckhurst Hill Tube Station, Prezzo is also a short drive from Buckhurst Hill Football Club and Buckhurst Hill Cricket and Lacrosse Club.

The restaurants satisfy the needs of those who like genuine Italian cuisine, as they use only the best seasonal products, many of which are imported directly from Italy. The menu includes pizza, pasta, risotto, grilled meats, fresh salads and frequently changing specials.

The freshly baked breads, like the garlic pizza bread with caramelised balsamic onions and melted mozzarella cheese, are perfect for sharing and give you adequate breathing space to order starters to follow. Crab cakes served with garlic mayonnaise or grilled goats' cheese with plum tomatoes and caramelised onions on focaccia bread with a balsamic glaze set the tone for a hearty meal.

Find pastas such as the unusual chicken ravioli, made pancetta bacon, petits pois and grana padano cheese in a cream sauce; amongst the special pastas, the polpette al forno with meatballs, field mushrooms, caramelised onions, red chillies and penne in a tomato and garlic sauce is interesting and different. Italian menus would be incomplete without risotto, like chicken and red pesto with roasted peppers and grana padano cheese, while tiger prawns with oak roast salmon and petits pois in a creamy saffron sauce, is enticingly different.

Classic pizzas embrace, among a wide selection, the popular fiorentina, topped with spinach, free-range egg, grana padano cheese, marinated olives, mozzarella and tomato, and the much loved quattro formaggi - gorgonzola, goat's cheese, grana padano, mozzarella, tomato.

Specials could include the pollo Siciliana, char-grilled chicken breast, prosciutto ham and plum tomato slices, baked with Prezzo's own blend of cheese, only one example from the many tempting offerings that come out from the Prezzo kitchens.

You can wash down the food with a variety of tipples - ranging from house wine and Chardonnay to liqueurs and beer and there is espresso or fresh ground coffee to wind up an enjoyable meal.

To gain further information, just visit their extremely comprehensive Website.

Housed within the Freeport Village, a bustling entertainment venue and shopping centre, Chimichanga Braintree delivers a wide range of affordable Mexican dishes in a smart contemporary setting. There is plenty of on-site parking, and the restaurant is just a 3-minute walk from Freeport Braintree Rail Station, making it the perfect place for a delicious meal after a busy day of shopping.

Chimichanga's extensive à la carte caters to a variety of palates. A wide range of delicious appetisers includes crab cakes, Buffalo chicken wings and empanadas, a traditional crispy pastry filled with a choice of chicken or chorizo sausage with cheese and served with sour cream. Other choices include piri piri prawns, Cajun chicken with chilli sauce and jalapeno bullets, a dish of deep fried jalapeno peppers with cream cheese and chilli sauce. Appetisers to share include chicken nachos or taquitos, crispy flour tortilla tubes with a range of fillings including cheese and black beans, chicken, cheese and salsa and chorizo and cheese.

Light bites include a range of tortilla wraps including a classic fajita wrap with a choice of char grilled fajita steak or chicken served with peppers and onions in a tortilla with Jack cheese. Vegetarians are catered for with the delicious courgette and Portobello mushroom wraps which comes with chipotle chilli sauce and jack cheese. There's also a number of tempting salad options such as blackened tuna salad with tuna steak coated in a special blend of Cajun spices, blacked on a hot skillet and served over a bed of mixed leaves with roasted peppers, cherry tomatoes and cucumber.

For something more filling diners could opt for a tortilla burger, made from 100 per cent fully traceable prime Scottish beef wrapped in a flour tortilla with mayonnaise and served with changa chips.
 
The char grill section's succulent offerings include barbecue baby back ribs served with change chips and jalapeno coleslaw; sirloin mojo rojo, a centre cut sirloin steak marinated in chilli, garlic and coriander and served with beer battered onion rings and change chips, Santa Fe chicken with rice, black beans and guacamole or flame grilled piri piri chicken.

Sumptuous Mexican specialities naturally include chimichanga, a flour tortilla fried golden brown with Jack cheese and served with your choice of filling ? either chunky beef chilli con carne, BBQ pulled pork or bean chilli - sautéed onions and peppers and garnished with sour cream, chives, guacamole and tortilla croutons, as well as a variety of burritos, enchiladas and tostadas. There are also chipotle meatballs, Mexican paella, chilli de la casa and south-western crab cakes. The grande quesadilla is a baked flour tortilla sandwich with your choice of filling and drizzled with sour cream and served with Mexican rice and chipotle chilli sauce.

The lunch menu offers a choice of two or three courses while a children's menu caters to the tastes of the little ones.

Round off the satisfying meal with scrumptious dessert of giant Mexican profiterole, chocolate fudge brownie or honeycomb smash cheesecake. Alternatively, end with a speciality coffee or liqueur. Chimichanga offers a variety of wines, beers, cocktails, margheritas, sangria and soft drinks to quench the thirst.

More information can be found on their Website.