The Gurkha Restaurant is often listed as one of the best restaurants in Chelmsford, and with its colourful curries and cosy atmosphere, it’s not hard to see why. Don’t expect your typical Indian dishes to appear on the menu – the family-run restaurant specialises in regional Nepalese creations with unique spice combinations. But don’t worry, if it’s your first time sampling Nepalese cuisine or even if you just fancy trying a new dish, the friendly staff will always be happy to give their recommendations. It’s open Tuesday to Sunday for lunch and dinner, and is just five minutes from our Chelmsford City Centre hotel. Plus, with regularly scheduled jazz nights, there’s for something different!
Restaurants in Chelmsford
Cote Brasserie
Chop Bloc Restaurant
Chop Bloc
Alternatively, for a Chinese that’s a cut above the rest, try ZENXI, a stunning two-floor restaurant complete with grand piano, luxurious furnishings and a waterfall feature. The food doesn’t disappoint either, with a rich selection of dishes – think fine-dining versions of your favourite oriental flavours. The dim sum, wasabi prawns and soft shell crab come highly recommended, and you can always opt for the set menus if you’d like to sample a variety of dishes.
To finish off our tour of Asia, try Live Dosa. It’s centrally located and close to both the bus and train stations and less than five minutes’ walk from our City Centre hotel. Specialising in the ‘dosa’ – a type of thin pancake made from rice flour and black lentil gram (even gluten and dairy free!), which originates from southern India – it’s a perfect accompaniment to their range of flavourful curries and chutneys. Just across the road from the Civic Theatre, it’s a great spot for a pre-theatre dinner.
Travelling across to European cuisine, Chelmsford’s Côte Brasserie offers a selection of French classics, such as Breton fish stew and French onion soup. Part of the High Chelmer Shopping Centre, it’s open for breakfast, lunch and dinner every day of the week. It’s the perfect spot to indulge in some steak and French wine within a classy wood and red leather interior.
Another option for meat lovers in search of a great steak is Chop Bloc, a trendy steakhouse with exposed brick and leather booths, all within an 18th-century former brewer’s building. They specialise in burgers and various cuts of quality Hereford beef, with various midweek offers available. Venture to the dedicated bar area upstairs for cocktails (and Happy Hour deals with 50% off from Monday to Thursday).
Our final suggestion, if you’re looking for something more casual, is Acanteen on New London Road, which is ideal for relaxed dining close to the River Can. They’re open throughout the day, serving a range of brunch and lunch dishes, afternoon tea, as well as a brilliant selection on the vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free menus – including vegan stonebaked pizzas and raw brownies! Open for dinner as well on Friday and Saturday evenings, it’s a popular spot at all times of the day and perfect for the whole family. It’s a bright, airy space and there’s lots of room if you’re navigating tables with a pushchair!