Places to eat in Brentwood

For classic Italian flavours and a friendly, family-run atmosphere, look no further than Tarantino on Crown Street. The homely Italian trattoria does some of the best pizza and pasta dishes for miles backed by a vintage wine list. If you’ve still got room, we highly recommend their homemade tiramisu. 

The other Italian option is La Bicicletta to the south of Brentwood in West Horndon. The top-ranked TripAdvisor restaurant in the area, this small, rustic, family-owned trattoria has been serving up excellent seafood, antipasti and steak for over 30 years. 

With subdued lighting, a romantic interior and a winning mix of English and French flavours, Masons is a local favourite. The 50-capacity brasserie has a substantial drinks menu and as well as lunch and dinner, also offers afternoon tea served from Monday to Saturday. 

Alec’s Restaurant makes the most of Brentwood’s proximity to the sea, with a stellar menu spanning fish and shellfish as well as locally sourced meat and vegetables. If you can, get a table in the conservatory overlooking the Essex countryside. The food, setting and service is top-quality with the prices to match. 

At the other end of the spectrum you could get two main courses from Mizu Noodle Bar at the same price as a starter from Alec’s. The canteen-style restaurant is informal, well-priced and very tasty with nearly 100 dishes to choose from.

Brentwood’s High Street is a haven for café lovers, with Whittakers, EighTea9 and Rossi all highly recommended. One of our favourites though is The Brentwood Kitchen near the Shenfield roundabout. An all-day affair with candle-lit meals every Thursday, Friday and Saturday night, it’s a warm and welcoming café with an emphasis on healthy cooking. 

Another town-centre hotspot is Café A’Moore nearby on Moores Place. With large portions, affordable prices and strong coffee, it’s rightly become a locals’ favourite. 

The Barnyard Café is well worth the five-minute drive from our Brentwood hotel. Open for breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea, the café is also next to the Calcott Hall farm shop which stocks farm-fresh meat, vegetables, cheese, baked goods and more.