Crofters Brasserie - Witham, Essex.

This weekend Alex and I were visited by Alex’s Parents. They drove down from Northumberland on Friday and were with us until Sunday. Seeing as we rarely get to see them as the distance is sooo huge, we decided we should go out for some food and drinks. We asked my folks to, as well as George and Dani.

We chose Crofters Brasserie in Witham for some grub. I had taken Alex there last Valentines day for a meal and we really enjoyed it. They had laid on a special menu for the occasion and we were so blown away with it, (especially the hand-made chocolates for desert) we agreed we wanted to share the experience with others.

When we arrived we were promptly shown to our seats and presented with the menus and specials. The ambient lighting and contempory blend of wooden beams and modern furnishings really made the place feel warm and relaxed. Although it was busy, it didn’t feel crowded, and you always felt like you were the only people in the whole joint.

The starters were very generous, and there was a lot to choose from, including Duck Wantons with Hoi Sin sauce, Watercress Soup and Prawn Salad. The Duck Wantons were lovely, with a decent amount of meat and salad to garnish. Not long after the starters had been cleared away, the mains were on their way.

Alex chose the Chicken Skewers, which looked great, covered in a thai dressing, while I had the Grilled Sole in lemon sauce with Parsley Mash. Every main comes with your own choice of sides, which was a really nice touch. You could even have Fat Chips! It’s also worth mentioning the presentation - it’s fantastic. Very well laid out, on stylish square plates - very oriental i’m told.

The portions were really even and at the end of the meal, you didn’t feel stuffed, and we could even squeeze in desert. In total, the meal cost £200 for eight of us, including the service charge and plenty of drinks, so it is great value considering the quality of the food. There is also a great little bar there, so if your not hungry, and still want to enjoy the realaxed vibes, there’s room for you too. And a major plus, they serve Peroni on tap!

Although being close to the Witham high street, it’s nicely tucked away, to avoid any attention from the local scallys. If you are in town and fancy a quality meal for generous value, I highly recommend Crofters. If you’ve been already, why not leave a comment and let me know what you thought.

More information at the Crofters Brasserie homepage.