Heard so many good things about this restaurant so couldn't wait to book a table. I was surprised how disappointed I felt with the whole place. The worst part was when I asked the barman for a glass of lemonade at the bar, and he proceeded to pour me a glass straight from a bottle. One that looked like it had been bashed around and was half empty and cost me £2.50! If you want to impress your guests make their first impressions count!

We ate here midweek and immediately felt that their midweek offer of 2 courses for £19.95 was not exactly a bargain, especially when a starter of oriental spring roll (single!) carried a £2 supplement, The seafood tower was just Ok, crispy pork belly was chewy and fatty and the seafood fricasee had such an overpowering sauce that you could taste nothing else. Veg were boiled and uninspiring.
Service very ordinary and uninterested.
10% service charge added insult to injury so probably won't bother going there again.

We visited the Blue Strawberry for my birthday meal (just after Christmas). We were shown to our table straight away (without being asked if we wanted drinks at the bar first).
The portion sizes were generous but the food itself was not wonderful. I ordered the pigeon to start which was so overcooked that it tasted like kidneys and my dessert of jam sponge was microwaved to death. Our waitress spent the whole of our starter and main course asking if our food was alright but by the time the pudding arrived (and was inedible) she was nowhere to be seen. When asking for the bill, she finally asked about the pudding (whilst taking away a bowl full of sponge) so we explained what was wrong. She told us that we should have told her and she would have replaced it - easily said when we're about to leave. We went to the bar to pay for the meal and commented that the pudding had been overcooked in the microwave so much that it made a knocking sound when you tapped it with a spoon. The bar staff didn ' t seem to care but said that they would pass the comments to the chef. He disappeared but didn ' t go near the kitchen.
I will never recommend the Blue Strawberry and will never return.

Although we had been told that our 7.00 table would be needed again by 9.00, we did feel rushed to the point when the waiter waited over us while we were still choosing from the menu. Don't like the 10% charge added to bill, which included drinks ordered from the bar.

Overall excellent. We have been to Blue Strawberry Bistro many times. Sometimes it is unfortunate if you are next to a rowdy table. Have also been at lunch time which is quite good value, and far more relaxed and unrushed.

We probably eat at the Blue Strawberry around 3 times a year (birthdays, anniversaries etc). If we lived nearer we would eat here more often. We have never had a bad meal. The quality of food, portion sizes and choice are all excellent. I also think that the midweek set menus are very good value.

I visit Witham every fortnight see my father and we always make a point of eating at the Blue Strawberry which must make us amongst their most regular customers. Never yet had anything other than very good food which I guess must be obvious otherwise we wouldn't keep going back there. I just wish I had such a consistent and sensibly priced restaurant in Surrey where I live.

My husband and I were disappointed, having been recommended this restaurant by friends. It was very busy, meaning we were waiting for a bit too long for our meal. Quality of food not brilliant considering what was charged and then were expected to pay a compulsory service charge of 10% - which was well over the top looking at the service received. Will not be returning to this overpriced restaurant and would only recommend if you do not mind waiting for hours and paying for the privilege.

I have to say all the hype I had heard and read about this restaurant didn't live up to mine or my husbands expectations. We arrived and were asked if we wanted a drink before we sat down, which we did. No problems here. However once seated it went downhill. Our order was taken and because we didn't want wine straight away - we'd only managed a couple of sips from our first drinks before being asked to sit. Our wine glasses were then taken from the table along with the wine list - thought this was odd but we carried on. Starters arrived and they weren't too bad but the mains came and my husbands was practically inedible - far too much salt on what was meant to be a winter salad and no sign really of anything resembling a salad leaf - lots of chewy bacon and pine nuts though. I had ordered duck but I wasn't asked how I wanted it cooked. It arrived and it was oozing blood, a bit too rare for my taste. No one came to check our meals were ok nor did anyone offer us further drinks. As this was for my birthday I was quite disappointed and it's not a place we'll be going back to or recommending. The staff seemed more interested in clearing the table ready for the next sitting.

I have personally eaten there for two Sunday lunches and one Saturday evening and each time the food was excellent. I would recommend this restaurant to anyone and indeed I have.

We arrived at the Blue Strawberry Bistro in Essex on time, and we were taken, at our request, directly to our table in a nice warm location. Responsive staff answered our queries and offered to make changes to the menu to suit our needs. The 3 course meal was excellent and well served with adequate time between courses. Good Rioja wine by the glass. Entertained ourselves by reading quietly but aloud extracts from Samuel Pepy's Diary which was on hand. The meal was finished in good time but unrushed. Not the first time we have dined at the Blue Strawberry. Standard has always been consistent. Would recommend it to anyone. We use it for personal occasions, business lunches and for our annual staff Christmas dinner.