Elena's Bistro — Restaurant in Braintree

They’ve absolutely smashed it with the vibes, the service, and of course the food!

From the get go of arriving at the restaurant, they were very attentive and luckily managed to sort us a table on a very busy Friday evening (we didn’t have a booking)

Service: Staff were great, friendly, timely and everything felt smooth, no pressure no rush, they checked in on us and also any time we needed something they were attentive respectfully.

The staff are a credit to the business, and the owner was also very friendly as she made an effort to some and say hello and had a nice chat! Very down to earth.

Food: Came out in good time (considering it was so busy!) so we were very happy as we were sooo hungry!

Starters: We ordered the Goats Cheese(omg it was spot on & a combination I hadn’t tried, so I would definitely recommend to those who love cheese, and of course I’d get it again.

We also ordered the Prawns & Chicken starter which again was very nice!

Great portions and presentation (only thing I probably would say is, to have the prawns in a small bowl as it’s more/too saucy for a flat dish) but that’s just my pinion and did not affect our food one bit.

We also received bread that we didn’t order, so this ended being eaten with the Goats cheese and sweep up the sauce with the prawns! So Thankyou for that and the Lurpak!

Mains: I had the Lamb cutlets! Perfect portion and meat done to my perfect request of medium well done. Mash and broccoli went perfectly.

We also ordered the Crispy chicken, this was more on the dry side, so all depends on what you like! Again decent portion with sides.

Atmosphere: Great decor, layout and a great thing is that it didn’t feel cramped!! We LOVED the fact they had a live singer! Didn’t expect that at all, but made all the difference of our experience at the restaurant!

Definitely recommend and will be returning, we will try out the lunch time next on our...

Took my partner here for a meal she ordered a kids meal as she has had gastric operation so can’t eat big meals the manger/supervisor said no adults aren’t allowed to order the kids size meals after explaining why she can’t eat big meals was met with rolling eyes and the manager saying ok we will do it this once at the same time we asked if it was still bogof on the cocktails as advertised on all their socials was told yes so we had one cocktail each when bill arrived they had charged for 2 cocktails when I asked isn’t it bogof on cocktails I was then told it’s only on 1 per person and it has to be the same cocktail I said I’ll pay for the most expensive cocktail but not the cheapest as the deal terms was not told to us we hadn’t had the 2nd lot of cocktails was told that that’s not possible and that’s it’s common sense that those are the rules on bogof only after outright refusing to pay for the cheapest cocktail as the offer is not stated anywhere! that that’s how their deal works I was met again with rolling eyes rudeness told they would do it this once. Very disappointed with the service as the food, drinks and look was all great it’s just a shame that they have rude staff/manager with zero customer service someone ordering a kids sized meal makes no difference to the kitchen or their profit margin so that should never be an issue as is having 1 cocktail...

This place has quickly become my favourite brunch spot. It offers a great atmosphere, reasonable prices, and top-quality food. One particularly commendable aspect is that they don’t insist on adding a service charge, which feels like a rare courtesy these days.

The venue has been tastefully refurbished with modern décor. The tables are thoughtfully arranged, catering to both larger groups and more intimate settings, so you can choose between a more open or cosy vibe depending on your mood.

The staff are consistently friendly and attentive, and I’ve noticed some familiar faces on every visit, which adds a personal touch to the experience. They always seem to have everything running smoothly.

The menu features a wide variety of dishes, ranging from traditional favourites to more exotic options for those feeling adventurous. They’ve even got reliable Wi-Fi if you need to stay connected, which is a bonus.

I’ve visited many times now and have never been disappointed. While the pricing is on the higher end for the area, it’s absolutely worth it. The fact that they don’t make you feel awkward with an "optional service charge" earns them extra points in my book.

Overall, this is a spot I’ll keep coming back to, and I wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone...