http://www.essexrestaurants.com/ 292-1322 http://www.essexrestaurants.com/maldon-venues/maldon-restaurants/the-jolly-sailor-maldon-essex.html a warm feel as just been newly painted i have been many times before and the menu changes. food very nice. made my dog welcome. friendly staff. ]]> Wed, 15 Feb 2012 13:04:18 +0000 292-1056 http://www.essexrestaurants.com/maldon-venues/maldon-restaurants/the-jolly-sailor-maldon-essex.html had a great meal. really enjoyed our starters and main meal, one complaint to much on the plate ]]> Wed, 11 May 2011 13:11:52 +0100 292-927 http://www.essexrestaurants.com/maldon-venues/maldon-restaurants/the-jolly-sailor-maldon-essex.html i live in welling in kent. by accident i found the joly sailor. we sat outside and were made to feel really welcome. the food was served quickly and hot.my only complaint is that there was to much of it. both my wife and i could not eat our food. i had the 20 oz rump. my wife had the cod. we had a really nice bottle of wine. again my only complaint two many bottles to choose from. we settled on the cloudy bay.i no we will be back ]]> Sun, 08 Aug 2010 05:30:59 +0100 292-914 http://www.essexrestaurants.com/maldon-venues/maldon-restaurants/the-jolly-sailor-maldon-essex.html We visited the Jolly Sailor in Heybridge Basin yesterday evening. The restaurant was empty but it was early but didn't have that much ambience in its decor. Nonetheless, my Dad had rated the fish & chips from a previous visit so in we went. The starters were fine - we had the deep fried brie wedges (although it was a bit tepid) but tasted OK and the calamari which was fine. Two of us went for the haddock and chips which again were up to par. My mum plumped for the homemade steak pie and I went for the homemade moussaka on the special board.

The waitress asked if our food was OK before I'd even managed to pick up my knife and fork so I wasn't able to comment. However, within a mouthful I was certain that it was the most anaemic, lacklustre and unappetising moussaka that I've ever been served and this had been "recommended" to me by the waitress. If a moussaka like this was ever served within 10 miles of Greece, the cook would be exported. The meal had hardly any seasoning and none of the flavourings and sauces which you would ordinarily expect with moussaka ie. no tomato and no sauce whatsoever just an oily slick at the bottom of the dish. The only way to guess that it was indeed moussaka was for the token very thick chunks of aubergine on the top of the dish along with some equally thick unappetising slices of potato.

My mother's steak pie was equally disappointing as although there was plenty of meat inside the pie, it was completely void of any juices and the meat was dry and tasteless.

Both my mother and I left a good proportion of our meals and when the waitress returned, we commented that we had not been very happy with our meals - she simply said "oh" and walked off.

We declined a dessert and paid the bill and complimentary chocolates arrived with the change. A nice touch you would think but alas no. The quality of the chocolate was so cheap and nasty that it left a vile taste in your mouth.

As we were leaving the restaurant a woman (who I presume to be the manager/owner) cleared our glasses and asked if we'd enjoyed our meal. I reiterated our comments and all we got in response was, "We've sold loads of the steak pie today" and your mother had gravy with her meal didn't she?...." as if that makes the fact that the pie was dry OK. She didn't even comment on the moussaka. Her final comments were "oh well, it's always good to receive feedback".....unbelievable.

We will be going back to Heybridge Basin as we like it there but we will not be going back to the Jolly Sailor. It was a very disappointing end to a pleasurable day. My parents were upset with me for complaining about the meal as they find it embarrassing and you should just put up and shut up. I, on the other hand, do not agree with this philosophy and was extremely disappointed with the food, the attitude of the management and also with the mentality that just because they get a lot of tourists and bums on seats that they don't have to worry about repeat custom. The meal wasn't cheap for what you got and I certainly don't mind paying high prices for good restaurants and good service but the Jolly Sailor simply does not fall within this category. We will not be returning. ]]> Sat, 31 Jul 2010 12:23:13 +0100 292-878 http://www.essexrestaurants.com/maldon-venues/maldon-restaurants/the-jolly-sailor-maldon-essex.html had a lovely bank holiday meal, carvey. great choice of real ales. looking forward to their beer festival on the august bank holiday. ]]> Mon, 07 Jun 2010 13:23:25 +0100 292-859 http://www.essexrestaurants.com/maldon-venues/maldon-restaurants/the-jolly-sailor-maldon-essex.html had a really nice meal. greeted by the new managers.i will definately go back. best fish i ve had in maldon for a long time ]]> Sun, 23 May 2010 06:39:13 +0100 292-717 http://www.essexrestaurants.com/maldon-venues/maldon-restaurants/the-jolly-sailor-maldon-essex.html went to this place last year and it was terrible people where rude and the smell of cigars was off putting, but went back recantly and things have got better the barman was very well pasented and polite service was good and it seemed much nicer. ]]> Sun, 10 Jan 2010 11:42:26 +0000 292-657 http://www.essexrestaurants.com/maldon-venues/maldon-restaurants/the-jolly-sailor-maldon-essex.html The landlord is rude, seems to spend most of his time smoking cigars "inside" and talking about customers. he has no customer experience. My wife and I will never go back to this pub as the landlord clearly doesnt wont custom. I can only imagine the brewery/owner will get rid of him soon. ]]> Fri, 13 Nov 2009 12:49:46 +0000 292-583 http://www.essexrestaurants.com/maldon-venues/maldon-restaurants/the-jolly-sailor-maldon-essex.html I went to this pub today with my partner and 3 children, we purchased drinks and then ordered food, the children had a childrens meal, one of which when it came had chips instead of potatoes, after waiting an hour for the food I didn't say anything,then my partners ploughmans was missing, the children could not eat the pizza because it was inedible (soggy round of bread with slight covering of tomatoe on)..food dreadful, service dreadful and complete waste of money, and had to buy extra drinks because we were waiting so long..I could go on but enough said. ]]> Wed, 19 Aug 2009 21:39:06 +0100 292-557 http://www.essexrestaurants.com/maldon-venues/maldon-restaurants/the-jolly-sailor-maldon-essex.html I visited the Jolly sailer today for a birthday treat and was very disappointed, The vegetables were tepid and I suspect left over from the previous day. Service slow and indifferent. Meals very poor value. no attempt at presentation. We did not leave a tip and enjoyed a Rossi icecream for dessert. ]]> Sat, 18 Jul 2009 20:35:13 +0100