El Pulpo — Restaurant in Braintree

We took a visit to El Pulpo after a recommendation from a friend. The restaurant is located on the high Street in Witham, there is some parking on the road or just down from the restaurant but if you park in the trsco you can walk through the shopping center and pop out right next to it. El Pulpo is a quaint little restaurant, downstairs welcomes you into a well polished dining area with a long bar and small match tables and stools. It feels like this could become quite a lively area and well suits medium sized groups, it reminds me of the restaurants I visited when in Barcelona. Upstairs the restaurant has a much more cosy and intimate feel to it. We were sat in a small alcove which felt perfect for a meal for two. There are larger tables within the main part of the room and another larger table for a medium sized group in it's own room, it all makes for a much more personal feel to the experience rather than just being packed alongside everyone else. The food itself was delicious, we had an assortment of meat, fish, and vegetarian dishes. My personal favourite were the lamb shoulder and cod fritters. 6 plates are more than enough for 2 people, we only just finished the entire meal. Staff were lovely and greet you with a positive vibe that doesn't feel forced. With no other way to describe her; the older lady who served us upstairs was one of the friendliest waiting staff I have met and only added to the experience when visiting. Lastly the toilets here are some of the best I've ever been to; no hand driers or paper towels but individual hand towels instead. I like places that are mindful of waste. I will definitely be coming back, making the most of their unlimited bubbly brunch, and recommending this...

Been wanting to try this place for a while based on good reviews.

First & foremost, the food was excellent, but not sufficiently outstanding to warrant the premium price compared to other Spanish restaurants around that we go to. The fact that you have to preorder paella 24h beforehand is also a bit of a let down.

A standard large glass of white wine was £10, which is 25% more expensive than it should be, and this is the theme across the menu.

It may be an unpopular opinion, but I have an issue with run-of-the-mill restaurants imposing a service charge by default at checkout. I am already paying a premium to eat at their table but I’m a bit old school, so I always tip the waiting staff based on their attentiveness to me. For the establishment to impose a 10% service charge on a low-maintenance table for 2 I find pretentious and entitled. I have no problem with larger tables that require more attention generally having an imposed service charge, but the service we received as a table for two was simply adequate, nothing more. Being tapas, dishes came out when they were ready, which is fine, but the food tended to come in batches, so several tables were served in a single pass. Again, not a problem but certainly no better than it needed to be.

Restaurants tend to choose this method of extracting more from you as you are more likely to just pay it rather than make a fuss and ask for it to be removed. Bit of a false economy in my opinion, as this, along with the premium menu price unfortunately means we will be staying loyal to our regular establishment.

Good food, but not so good...

I’ve been here a couple of times before and never written a review, but it’s long overdue.

This place does not disappoint, lovely friendly warm service from the minute you walk in to when you leave.

You can tell this place is independently owned, the love and care that goes in to it is evident!

Atmosphere was buzzing from when we entered (I’d like to add it was a Wednesday night and felt like a Friday)! The owners greeted us, and said our name for the reservation before we had to, which makes you feel really valued as a customer!

The best croquettes and squid I’ve ever eaten (I say this every time), so much so, we ordered more along with the rijoca chorizo (it’s to die for).

The only one thing I would say, and this is constructive and not at all criticism, because the night was 10/10. We were served by the young blonde waitress, and as lovely as she was, we did ask a few questions about the menu that she had no idea about. No judgement here at all, as she could be new or helping out and not regularly there, so I appreciate this might not be a true reflection. However, with so much love and care that’s gone in to the menu, it might be lovely if all staff can share the small details and a basic level of knowledge.

That is the only thing I can suggest to have made the whole experience even better!

Still 5 stars all round!

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