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| Quality of service | 4.3/10  |
|---|---|
| Quality of food | 7/10 |
| Value for Money | 5.3/10 |
| Overall rating | 6/10 |
By khm
on 2nd May 2007
| Food Type | Seafood |
|---|---|
| Average cost per head | £10 - £25 |
| How often do you eat here? | First time |
| Atmosphere | Suits all |
| Quality of service | 8/10 |
| Quality of food | 10/10 |
| Value for money | 9/10 |
| Overall value | 9/10 |
 khm's recommendation | |
The menu is varied and well priced, and the atmosphere and decor of the restaurant transports you away from its location in Chelmsford.
The one bad point I have to say refers to the plastic containers from which I saw the chefs serving ingredients. More about this below...
The Loch Fyne Restaurant in Chelmsford has only been open since 23rd April 2007, and I think it will be an absolute hit with all seafood lovers in the area.
I went with my partner, and we enjoyed a delicious meal of chicken liver pat (yes, they do offer non-seafood options) and a salad of smoked beef with pancetta, rocket and Parmesan for starters, followed by the home made fish stew with chorizo and olives and pan-fried fillet of bream with olive oil mash and watercress pesto as a main course. For dessert I had chocolate mousse, and my partner had lemon sorbet, both of which rounded off the meal nicely.
The freshness of the ingredients is largely reflected in the combination of flavours, and I would recommend any of the fish/seafood dishes, as they come from a reputable and reliable source. Our waitress informed us that they receive daily deliveries from Scotland (Loch Fyne, to be precise), and their seafood is never frozen. Similarly, the non-seafood options, such as the Glen Fyne beef are also delivered fresh, on a daily basis. I love seafood, but I am always wary about ordering it in a restaurant for fear of not knowing what has happened to the fish before it is served (how long has it been out the water, has it been frozen and then defrosted, where was it caught etc?). However, at Loch Fyne, this is most definitely not a problem.
The restaurant itself is beautiful, and I actually forgot I was still in Chelmsford! There is a large marble display cabinet and food preparation area which is open for diners to see, and it is rather mesmerising to see all that seafood displayed so temptingly. And the seafood platters are amazing to look at!
The one bad point is the plastic containers. Let me explain - the food preparation area which is open for you to see, seems to be where the chefs prepare the starters and salads. I am fully aware that even the best, most upmarket restaurants have an element of pre-preparation; however, I did feel that seeing the chefs select the ingredients from plastic containers (all covered and refrigerated as opposed to open and on display like in some restaurants) took away from the experience. Plastic containers, in my opinion, have negative connotations, and one thing I would suggest is that they exchange these for say, stainless steel bowls, which would be more in keeping with the style and philosophy of the restaurant. Do not be put off by this, as it does not affect the food in any way whatsoever, and is merely an observation I made as I was sitting next to the marbled area.
Overall, this restaurant is a fantastic place to go for good seafood, and I don't believe it is expensive at all. They also offer a two course lunch for £11, which I think is great value. And, if you enjoyed what you ate, you can buy seafood from the restaurant itself to take home, so just ask!
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