Reviews of Kintsu. (Restaurant) in Colchester (Essex).

Kintsu

80 Reviews

70 Comments

Restaurant

Restaurant

11a North Hill, Colchester CO1 1DZ, United Kingdom

Description

Information of Kintsu, Restaurant in Colchester (Essex)

On this page you’ll find the address, open hours, more popular times, the contact, photos and real reviews of this business.

This business has received very good reviews from their customers, so probably it’s a place you should try if you are looking for this kind of services.

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Open hours of Kintsu

Reviews of Kintsu

A. H.

Came here before Christmas and WOW! Absolutely stunning food, so impressed. Me and my partner are from London and this would be double the price in London. We are huge foodies and this was one of our favourites. Every dish was stunning. We will be back. Lovely staff, such talented chefs. Can’t stop raving about it.

W. G.

Super friendly staff and the food is just out of this world. My wife actually had tears in her eyes when the duck arrived. Each dish a taste sensation. I can't recommend Kintsu highly enough. Presentation, atmosphere and gastronomic delight awaits everyone who comes to Kintsu.

F. D.

Kintsu is the best restaurant in the south Suffolk and north Essex region. They deliver a truly amazing service, using exceptionally unique and delicate flavours created from fresh local produce. You order around 3 main courses per person, and a dessert per person. Do not go into Kintsu with the mindset of sharing, the plates are perfectly small for one person. All ingredients and drinks are local, where the beer I was drinking was from Diss and Ipswich. The quality of the ingredients was outstanding every visit (I've been four times and plan to go every season). The atmosphere is fine dining but a bit more laid-back. Each dish is perfectly created and tastes better than any other restaurant in the area.

G. H.

Arguably the best restaurant in Essex currently. I’ve eaten in some truly amazing restaurants in Britain. And this is up there with many of them. Truly exceptional food. The staff also are very good. While Knowledge may not be as refined as some of the higher end places in London for example, their attentiveness and friendly approachable style more than makes up for it. The place is small and intimate, an simple. Very modern, it had the modern city vibe. The smart casual, fine dining without the stuffiness. Posh without pretension. Their drinks menu also seems to be made up of mostly local spirits and beer. Which is very nice. The south Asian influences are also tastefully done. Nothing about the menu screams tacky or of trying too hard. It’s subtle and considered. Overall, I would suggest Kintsu are the best restaurant in Colchester currently. And potentially the best in Essex.

J. L.

Exellent food with friendly staff and a good atmosphere. Hard to find entrance though could have been better signposted. Great for a celebration meal. Most items locally sourced and seasonal. Especially liked the mushroom pasta. Catered for food intolerance well.

s. s.

Most the dishes were good, one Japanese inspired vegetable dish was remarkable. Service was quick but very lifeless and not very relaxed. Would be 4 stars but there are other Bib restaurants in the area that are much better value and have a nicer atmosphere to dine in.

C. S.

We've eaten many times here and never been disappointed. Last night we enjoyed a spectacularly good selection of beautifully cooked and presented food. The waiting team are great too. I think the chef has really found his way now and is serving as good a plate of food as you will eat in any fine dining restaurant. Keep up the good work and we look forward to our next visit.

J. L.

Exceptional. Had an amazing meal here for my birthday. All the food was incredible. Especially enjoyed the beetroot dish. The staff were really nice and very accommodating given that me and my wife bought our 7 week old baby.

O. B.

My boyfriend and I went to Grain (the predecessor restaurant) back in October and had a great experience. Went to Kintsu last night and it was just as amazing. The service, food and wine were all outstanding. I can’t believe we have such a great restaurant right here in Colchester. It’s like having a fancy London restaurant night out right on your doorstep. Definitely more for special occasions (unless you’ve got loads of spare cash) but so worth it.

I. B.

I had the 8 course tasting menu and can confidently say this is one of the best restaurants in Essex. The service is formal but very friendly and the staff know a lot about the food. The atmosphere and ambience is chill, quiet enough to have conversations but not so quiet that it feels dead. The most important thing; the food. Every course gets a 5 Star rating from me. Not only was it impeccably delicious, they were very considerate of allergies and dietary preference. Every meat and fish course was perfectly cooked and seasoned. The desserts finished off the meal without being cloyingly sweet and the cocktails were phenomenal. Definitely an experience you should treat yourself to. The price is very reasonable for an 8 course menu, the 5 course menu is obviously cheaper and you definitely leave feeling like you've had a bargain.

R.

Was a honor to enjoy my lunch with friends at the first day of Kintsu. Also delightful to see many familiar faces from the Grain. The meals they served were as great as usual, the whole experience is like a casual but delicate journey of palate. The fishes are fantastic and the dessert of apricot is absolutely stunning!!!

C. V.

What an absolutely brilliant experience. We got the tasting menu and it was incredible- most definitely deserving of Michelin recognition. Each dish was created beautifully, well balanced and was absolutely delicious. The wait staff, Ashley and Bee were incredibly hard working too, busy but always attentive to each individual and constantly with a smile. Honestly this restaurant is a real hidden gem! First time there and will definitely going back. Been to a few Michelins in London and they are better than many.

R. G.

The ambience was relaxed and beautiful. The staff were warm, friendly and superbly helpful and efficient. Above all, the food was first class: complex, tasty, inventive, subtly nuanced and perfectly seasoned. It was easily of Michelin star standard. And it’s amazing value. Our three course meal for two, with drinks, came to just £72. This is world class dining at really affordable prices.

P.

I went for dinner last week. Staff were very nice. Quite hard to find on the map. The food was very nice. The marination of vegetables and the processing of food are just phenomenal. Despite the small size of the dish, 2 to 3 dishes will make a person very full. I say that when my date actually stood me up. I enjoyed the food so much that even in a very bad mood, the food are just great. I hope the restaurant can make an accessible page that can give people clearer instruction of how to get there.

D. B.

Food was stunning - as good, if not better, as their predecessor Grain. Choices come as “small plates” and the flavours and attention to detail are superb. The service was also flawless. Our two waitresses were friendly and knowledgeable about the dishes and gave us great advice about wine pairings. Overall an outstanding experience and I can’t wait to go again.

S. T.

Went out for dinner with friends, had to book 2 months in advance, so that should tell you something! We decided to go for the tasting menu which we all agreed was fantastic ( so much so that we have booked a table of 10 in 2 months time). If you go try the English sparkling rose. Service was fantastic, food evan better...

J. K.

Tester menu so small portions. I would say, vegetarian option still interesting but perhaps less exciting than the meat menu. You need to know what you are getting when going here. It's more about flavours than stuffing your face :) Really good service. Nice staff but not intrusive.

T. F.

It was excellent. Great welcome, friendly professional staff, but the star of the show is the food, beautifully presented, tasty , cooked with love and respect for the ingredients. It is a must visit for any foodies out there.

P. B.

Relaxed, cool, refined small plate dining. Good to see Paul back at the stoves. Try the English Pinot Noir, simply stunning local wine. calcots was my favourite

L. L.

Wow wow wow , this place is just amazing , they take food to another level , the vintage cheddar and marmite tart is to die for, and I don’t like marmite , every course was just a totally new experience. The staff was so friendly and knowledgeable about every thing that they served. This lovely relaxing restaurant is a must for every food lover, Will be returning very soon

B. M.

Had the tasting menu. Unfourtunately didn't take any pictures but everything was perfectly cooked and the flavours well balanced. Well done kintsu you will be seeing me again🤝🏻

G. M.

What a place is all I can say. The food is outstanding, the atmosphere is great the staff are awesome. I would highly recommend this place 100%

h. c.

Special Christmas Eve lunch with family. Excellent meal. Dishes just kept coming. The food couldn't be faulted, even the kale! Not crowded so felt comfortable eating there, had been rather nervous about eating in a restaurant. Staff and chefs were brilliant as always. Would highly recommend it to others.

M. P.

Excellent food and staff very friendly. Good to be able to try lots of dishes from the menu.

S. L.

We sat at the bar and so were able to chat with the staff; who are excellent (professional, yet personable). The chef's deliver and explain each course and the desert "assembler" creates the stunning (and reasonably priced £3) cheddar cheese tartlets, with yummy Marmite crumb. Each course was as good as the other, but the duck wrapped in cabbage, with the pearl barley (with stunning jus) was one of the best dishes I've eaten in a while. And the decor works I will be back!

A. M.

Outstanding evening of glamorous and delicious food. Had to book in advance but so worth the wait. Cocktails and prosecco were special too. Easily the best meal I've had in Colchester, possibly the best meal I've ever had. Service and atmosphere was perfect, thanks Kintsu!!

n. N.

Wow. Words will never do it justice. The food was sublime. The service was amazing. The wine was terrific. You want to treat yourself? Come here. You won't be disappointed. One of the best restaurants in Colchester, in my humble opinion. Go on, treat yourselves.

M. P.

Absolutely delightful. Wonderful food. Brilliant service

A. T.

Kintsu is simply wonderful. We used to frequently visit Grain and the main chef decided to open this on his own after the pandemic. So very grateful that he has. The food is outstanding as always and the staff are also great. It's also great to see that Summer is now running the restaurant as she was an outstanding when we visited Grain. Enough of the old, embrace the new. Amazing place to eat.

M. P.

Amazing food as always! We came here many times when it was grain and was not disappointed with our most recent meal. Excellent food and service, easily my favourite place to eat. We will b back again very soon! Thanks for the awesome experience Kintsu team!

P. P.

Birthday meal last night. One of the best I’ve had in Colchester. Portion sizes just right and left nicely full and so happy, a wonderful experience. Also price really reasonable for the quality of food served to us. Can’t wait to visit again!

d. h.

Unfortunately my experience wasn’t the best, I loved Grain and tried Kintsu on Thursday. We turned up to a closed black door. We thought the restaurant was closed, luckily tried the handle after looking around for a while. It was open. My fish course was lovely Then waited 40 mins for the beef. 3 tiny bits of beef and a small flavoured Artichoke For £12.50 After that I didn’t order another course. With Grain there was a few more extras on the plate. Hopefully they’re finding their feet. I’ll try again. But I was a bit dissatisfied

C. S.

I was hoping the updated Grain (now Kintsu) was going to be as good as its predecessor ! Lovely decor and friendly staff was a good start. The wine was 1st class but from then on I was disappointed. Tiny food portions at high prices . The old Grain to my mind was better value. I wont be rushing back

C. V.

I rarely give 5 stars for any restaurant experience. However the quality of food, the service and wine at Kintsu were all exceptional and thoroughly warranted a 5 star rating. We will definitely be coming back.

C. G.

We went for our anniversary as it is our favourite restaurant. Fantastic meal and service, as always. We requested a vegan menu and was not disappointed. Every single dish was delicious. Thank you Kintsu.

C. L.

OMG Colchester please support this venture. We should be paying Michelin star prices for this food and we are not. Such value for money! I feel so priviledged to be part of this from the start. We ate at The Grain. So glad they have returned as Kintsu. We worried that as the Sommelier had moved on to different things, the wine would not be so good. They still had our favourite wine, Godello, as their previous, very experienced waitress told us, was a great wine, which not many people order because they haven't heard of it. We miss her. She knew about food and wine in great detail. It would be good if all the waiting staff could be trained to her level. (I helieve she moved to London. WE DON'T WANT THEM ALL TO GO TO THAT LONDON) Now the food!!! I have come home on a Friday night and feel so passionate about this I am writing a review rather than drinking more wine lol.! I had the woodroasted chipotle cauliflower , that was my favourite dish! I am normally a carb queen, so one would expect me to ordet tbe potato and crab dish, which I did and it was lovely . But this restaurant challenges your usual choices. My third dish was chicken with gem lettuce, pine nuts and honey, OMG! I cannot believe my usual favourite potato dish ( I m of Irish heritage) came 3rd in terms of favourite choices. So then we went on to cheese. I questioned why they had 2 blue cheeses? I dont like a strong blue cheese but I like some milder ones. I also never choose a sheep's cheese. After eating and adoring both cheeses, my husband informed me that they were both sheep's cheese. Both delicate, one creamy and mellow and the other citrus. Both devine. This is where you need to trust this chef. He challenged my belief about both sheep's cheese and blue cheese. We had the chocolate desert which I would recommend but my god the coffee. We never usually drink coffee in the evening but we had to try this coffee after reading about how he sourced it. It was from someone who is clearly as passionate about his coffee as Paul Wendholt is a about his ingedients. I have NEVER tasted coffee like it! It was divine!!. Well done Paul and thank you for staying in Colchester.

d.

Wonderful dining experience. Fantastic food and attentive staff. Non chain business and all the better for it. Give this restaurant your custom,You will not be disappointed.

J. L.

Tried the tasting menu £48 (plus £8 supplement for cheese) with drinks, very friendly and helpful staff, tasty food. Single cover per table, so was able able relax and enjoy the evening.

M. R.

WOW. Great food, what this team is achieving is pure class and great to see it happening in Colchester.

A. B.

Incredible food, great atmosphere, pricey but you don't mind spending the money, when the quality of food is that good!

I. G.

A world class dinning experience in the ancient town of Colchester, the food and service is truly outstanding. Kintsu is a must visit for all.

K. E.

Great food and service, highly recommended.

D. D.

Tasting menu excellent

T. M.

Excellent food, but can't choose how you have you steak done, and no Coke at the bar - Slightly odd?

M. G.

Amazing food, attentive staff, absolutely no faults. Cannot wait for the next special occasion to visit!

J. F.

Simply some of the best food I've ever eaten. Really friendly staff and a lovely atmosphere.

N. C.

Wow! Never disappoints, amazing food, good variety to include gluten free options

C. B.

Excellent food and service, a thoroughly enjoyable evening. Will visit again.

W. B.

Fantastic food, fantastic atmosphere and fantastic people, really enjoyed.

J. M.

Very good experience. Will return! Small plates, well prepared and tasty.

J. L.

4 savoury dishes, all good, accompanied by an english pinot noir, followed by a delicious dessert

M. P.

Best restaurant in Colchester among those I've been to by a long way.

M. B.

Excellent food and presentation.

J.

Interesting small plates would be good to know menu in advance

K. D.

Authentic and delicious food .

F. H.

Excellent food and service check it out

K. O.

Very good food and service

G. P.

Great meal , amazing taste

A. C.

Inventive food. Excellent service.

A. O.

Exceptional!

И. Р.

(Translated) Everything is great. I would rate 3 Michelin stars. I advise everyone!!! (Original) Все отлично. Я бы оценила 3 звезды Мишлена. Советую всем!!!

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