We’ve been driving past The Dolphin on the A120 (just to the east of Braintree) for the best part of 25 years now. It got an extension on the side of the original pub some years ago, and is an attractive pub, but we never got round to visiting.
The reason for choosing The Dolphin for a meal yesterday was quite simple – albeit rather selfish on my part! I’d been tootling around the web, and had been checking out the Chelmsford & Mid-Essex CAMRA website (click here) and found their neat guide to recommended pubs in the area, in PDF format. And the big selling point about The Dolphin is that it serves real ale direct from the cask.
So off we went, parking in the car park around the back (there is a small car park at the front). The original pub remains divided into two bars, with a log fire crackling away in the one we went through. The only minor quibble for me (it didn’t bother others) was that we were seated in the extension, which is open and clean and with a high ceiling – give me low ceilings, beams and a very snug pub atmosphere!
A pint of Ruddles from the cask with the first priority, and that was in excellent condition. The evening menu is of traditional fayre, nothing too fancy. Starters of whitebait, and of field mushrooms topped with goat’s cheese started us off, and I can vouch for the latter.
The least adventurous of us opted for the scampi main course from the standard menu, which included the usual favourites – local bangers and mash, beer battered fish and chips, locally sourced pie, steaks and mixed grills etc. The rest of us opted for items of the chef’s specials of the day. The brace of Barnsley lamb chops was tender, and whilst looking initially rather too much to handle, did disappear without any problems. Two of us went for the whole grilled Sea Bass on a bed of mediterranean vegetables and sauteed potatoes.
I had planned to take a photo of the food -before- eating it, but forgot to, so the only evidence I can supply is this :
It was absolutely delicious.
The one of who opted for a pudding (he is back to University today, so is feeding himself up), tucked into a very tasty pear and ginger cheesecake.
Three two-course meals, one three-course meal, a couple of rounds of beer and soft drinks, and fractionally over £20 a head. Not bad at all. If you’re after a more full-on gastro experience, there are a couple of places nearby (which we will be reporting on), but if you like your real ale, and don’t feel in the mood to have your food ponced about with too much, then we can recommend The Dolphin.
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