Being a resident of Havering for a whopping 32 years means I’ve certainly eaten my fair share of meals in the local restaurants so I thought it’s a good time to share with you my favourites around the area from a few different cuisines to help you pick your new favourite or try something new.
Nino’s
I was obviously going to be starting with this one, wasn’t I?!
Nino’s is an authentic Italian restaurant in the heart of Hornchurch that is booking up thick and fast for weekend bookings! I think this really shows how good the food is, but it’s not just that, it’s the great value for money and the high quality that is guaranteed with every meal also.
Think perfect pizza, piquant pasta, mouthwatering meats and fantastic fish all cooked fresh to order by one of the best chefs I’ve ever met. I mean, it’s not Michelin star food, but it’s simple Italian food done with love, so much flavour and a sense of nostalgia.
179 High St, Hornchurch, Havering, RM11 3XS
Parkside Brasserie
If you’re looking for top-quality London food, then Parkside Brasserie is one you need to have on your radar. Chef Scott Pinson, the husband of the husband and wife ownership team, is a man of many talents when it comes to whipping up top-class food.
This French restaurant serves uncomplicated French cuisine in a Bourgeois style, that offers divine menu options that change depending on the availability of the produce and the quality of the produce too! We have been numerous times and never been disappointed with how fresh, flavoursome and wonderful Parkside Brasserie is!
194 Elm Park Ave, Elm Park, Havering, RM12 4SD
Jobbers Rest
When the Jobber’s Rest, the dingy pub version, closed down and gave way to this Raymond Blanc restaurant version, I think the whole of Upminster and Cranham cheered! The beautiful airy bar that gives off country pub vibes, the spacious brasserie with every changing menu and th gorgeous covered terrace for summer drinking dining, makes the Jobber’s Rest a great spot for all the family.
They serve a seasonal menu of home-cooked dishes with a French twist, and, of course, on Sunday, there are roasts too!
St. Marys Ln, Upminster, Havering, RM14 3LT
Reina Meze Grill
A group of us ended up in Reina Meze Grill by pure chance and we were far from disappointed! The service was second to none with our waitress having a good laugh with us, which we think makes such a difference to your overall experience.
We opted for two sharing platters made up from Lamb shish, Chicken shish, Adana kofte, 2 lamb chops, 4 lamb ribs, and 4 chicken wings complete with bread, rice and couscous! Not forgetting the salads and dips too! These were incredibly good value for money and I highly recommend there for any group outing!
3-7 Billet Ln, Hornchurch, Havering, RM11 1TS
Ginger Spice
Ginger Spice is a wonderfully opulent restaurant that uses the freshest ingredients and finest spice combinations to create divine dishes. It’s a little more expensive than your usual curry house but the quality of the food is so worth every penny! We’ve never had a meal that we didn’t enjoy at Ginger Spice!
I’d highly recommend the Chicken Tikka Karahi or the Vegetable Biryani as both are ones we order whenever we visit. Both so filled with flavour and leave you feeling really content, not bloated or greasy as you can after some curries.
395-397 Brentwood Rd, Gidea Park, Romford, Havering, RM2 5TH
Chariots Fish & Chips
I need to start this one with a little disclaimer; I am not usually a fish and chips kinda gal, I usually order a saveloy and chips as I’m really not a fan of batter at all. It’s usually too thick and stodgy but at Chariots, I was spying on the food as it was being freshly cooked in the kitchen and bought out to tables. The batter looked light and fluffy so I ordered fish and chips!
I was far from disappointed; the batter was exactly how I wanted it to be and I think that’s a good enough reason to visit for sure. The service was also really attentive which added to the overall experience too.
Upper Brentwood Rd, Romford, Havering, RM2 6HS
Tandoori Lounge
Honey and her husband, Sukh, set up Tandoori Lounge with the aim of bringing a taste of authentic Punjabi cuisine to the streets of Havering. They have really focused on the depth of flavour, and dishes that are slightly spicier, and less sweet than what we are used to, and my god, it’s so bloody tasty!
We’ve only been once, and we have both wondered why we’ve not been sooner as there was so much on the menu that we wanted to try. As a first visit, we tried the Saag Paneer, the Punjabi Chicken Karahi with sides of Mitha Naan and some Pilau Rice; everything was delicious. Our favourite part of the evening was chatting with Honey and finding out you can pick your level of spice which reasures you that your meals are cooked fresh, to order.
185 High St, Hornchurch, Havering, RM11 3XS
Fete Lounge
I’d say this is less of a restaurant in the respect that you wouldn’t go there for dinner, but the Fete Lounge do offer a really awesome bottomless brunch and afternoon tea that is sure to please any girl gang!
For brunch, you get bottomless cocktails for 90 minutes, with a choice of one big plate and two small plates. You can see from above that the food arrives beautifully presented and it also arrives in its abundance. The Afternoon Tea also offers bottomless cocktails for 90 minutes alongside a sandwich selection, scones, cakes and tarts! At £30pp, it’s obscenely good value!
6 Station Rd, Upminster, Havering, RM14 2UB
Kervan Kitchen
Kervan Kitchen is a classic Turkish restaurant, a stone’s throw from Gidea Park station, that always serves fresh ingredients and just makes you feel good after eating there! The food is clean, not at all fatty and the menu has plenty on there for everyone.
The food is created from top quality seasonal produce, and I’d highly recommend checking out the house specials on the menu as they offer some really great dishes, including the Kleftico which literally falls off the bone so you won’t be disappointed. The service has always been great too!
160A Balgores Ln, Gidea Park, Romford, Havering, RM2 6BS
Raphael’s by CREM Kitchen
A new opener has made it onto the list; Raphel’s has been around for quite some time, but it has recently been taken over by CREM Kitchen. Megha, the chef, trained at Cordon Bleu, Paris and learnt from the best Chefs in the industry whilst working at Michelin star restaurants like The Ledbury and Gymkhana in London.
The new menu offers Charcoal Korean Wings, 72 Hour Slow Cooked Pork Belly, 30 Day Dry Aged Beef Short Ribeye Steak and Chicken Biryani which are all stuffed to the brim with flavours.
The price does reflect the quality of the food but don’t let this put you off, pop this in the diary for that special occasion.
43 Main Rd, Romford, Havering, RM2 5EB
I'm Squibb Vicious, better known as Haydy!
Happiest with a craft beer in hand, eating til my heart is content or exploring somewhere new.
Here you can read about my adventures!