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Food - Zafra, Finchingfield, Essex

Zafra

5 (76)
£25 and under
Italian
5 The Green, Finchingfield, Essex CM7 4JS

Make a reservation

A photo of Zafra restaurant

Zafra

5
£25 and under
Italian
Braintree

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 1 time today

About this restaurant

  • Charming
  • Neighborhood gem
  • Romantic
Zafra is Italian at heart, but each dish is created by Frank Tyler - the chef / proprietor -

The menu hosts an extensive collection of Italian favourites such as our signature dish seafood stew with a twist of linguine. We specialized in fresh fish daily seabass, bream, mussels, Mackeral swordfish, what shall Frank cook for you. , and fab raviolis like artichoke, crab, mushroom, and gorgonzola and walnut. Mmmm.
Zafra’s is the perfect place for lunch, dinner, celebrations, an intimate dinner or a get-together with friends.
Our new low carb project has started in Ernest in collaberation with colne valley nhs trust trying out new no carb option like edame bean and soy pastas and gluton free pizza bases. To help reduce diabetes in our community.
specials daily and a warm welcome is allways assured we are small and friendly bistro in the heart of Finchingfield next to the pond and oldest windmill in essex come visit you won't be disappointed. Frank Tyler Zafra x

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Price
    £25 and under
  • Cuisines
    Italian, Vegetarian / Vegan, Fish
  • Hours of operation
    Tue–Fri, Sun 10:30 am–2:00 pm Wed–Sat 6:00 pm–9:30 pm
  • Phone number
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Business Casual
  • Executive chef
    Frank Tyler
  • Neighborhood
    Braintree
  • Parking details
    Unrestircted street parking.
  • Public transit
    Bus stop Church Hill
  • Entertainment
    Monthly Jazz Nights. Please call for details.
  • Additional
    Beer, Cafe, Entertainment, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Indoor Fireplace, Non-Smoking, Vegan, View, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Concierge
AI Beta

Our AI assistant, Concierge, is here to answer your questions about this restaurant.

Reviews

OpenTable reviews from verified diners

Reviews from people who have dined at Zafra.

5

5.0
(76)
  • 4.9Food
  • 5.0Service
  • 4.8Ambience
  • 4.9Value

Noise • Energetic

76 Reviews
  1. Anita

    Essex1 review

    5.0

    Dined on October 24, 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Welcoming staff. Frank is very personable. Happy to help in any way. Lovely atmosphere. Wasn’t busy when we went so quiet atmosphere. Have been many times when it’s busy. Delicious food. Generous portions. Very reasonably priced. Will definitely be going back. Highly recommend.

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  2. Sharon

    London1 review

    5.0

    Dined on September 24, 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Such a fabulous restaurant in such a beautiful village! I took my husband here for his birthday and we absolutely loved it. The food was delicious and the portions were generous. The whole experience felt warm and welcoming, with friendly and attentive service. A lovely setting, wonderful food and such a welcoming atmosphere — we’ll definitely be back 😀

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  3. Kate

    Essex1 review

    5.0

    Dined on July 4, 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Had another great meal at Zafra last week. The service was excellent as always, and the food was absolutely delicious. I’d highly recommend the swordfish, which was cooked beautifully, and the lemon meringue cheesecake was really good and the perfect way to finish the meal. Overall, a fantastic experience and I would definitely recommend Zafra to anyone looking for great food and great service.

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  4. Terry

    Essex1 review

    5.0

    Dined on May 22, 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Excellent service, excellent food, and a very lovely seating area! Beautiful little restaurant in a beautiful little village

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  5. Polly

    London7 reviews

    4.0

    Dined on April 24, 2026

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Lovely owners, great little fine. Authentic Italian food. Would return :)

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  6. Phil

    Essex2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on April 1, 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    This is my favourite restaurant and is my go to place. It is small and intimate. The food is stunning. The host, Frank, is welcoming and very obliging. If you can't decide on what to eat Frank will invent a dish for you and I guarantee you will love.it. Prices are very good and everything is well worth the money. In short, give it a try, you will definitely be back!

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  7. Phil

    Essex2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on March 26, 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Stunning food, fantastic ambience. A lovely, small restaurant. Frank is a fantastic chef and is always ready to chat. Food is always beautifully cooked and should you need anything special he is always willing to accommodate. Food is of the highest quality and is good value for money. I couldn't recommend this restaurant more highly.

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  8. Jack

    Essex1 review

    5.0

    Dined on March 7, 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Amazing portion sizes, and frank even cooked up my own personal special ( meatballs ) and they were beautiful! I love how personable the staff are , for such a small restaurant it really is amazing!

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  9. Roy

    Essex1 review

    5.0

    Dined on February 28, 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    The swordfish was absolutely amazing, so tasty and well presented. Can't wait to go again 🙂

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  10. Jackie

    London1 review

    5.0

    Dined on February 14, 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We hadn’t been for a number of years so were expecting a change , but were so relieved the food, service , ambiance and value for money remains exceptional . It is lovely and rare to find in our corner of Essex , a family run business that has stayed true to its beginnings. My partner especially enjoyed Frank’s slow cooked special recipe -Lamb shank with chorizo ,a delicious hearty ,plentiful and warm plateful on a very cold February 14th .Please don’t change.We won’t leave it so long until next time !

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Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Price
    £25 and under
  • Cuisines
    Italian, Vegetarian / Vegan, Fish
  • Hours of operation
    Tue–Fri, Sun 10:30 am–2:00 pm Wed–Sat 6:00 pm–9:30 pm
  • Phone number
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Business Casual
  • Executive chef
    Frank Tyler
  • Neighborhood
    Braintree
  • Parking details
    Unrestircted street parking.
  • Public transit
    Bus stop Church Hill
  • Entertainment
    Monthly Jazz Nights. Please call for details.
  • Additional
    Beer, Cafe, Entertainment, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Indoor Fireplace, Non-Smoking, Vegan, View, Wheelchair Access, Wine

FAQs

Zafra often has a buzzy, vibrant feel at peak visits, guests note a “lovely buzz” and describe it as “vibrant but homely”, while other visits have been enjoyed as relaxed, quieter evenings.

Zafra is a small, intimate, family‑run bistro with a warm, homely atmosphere, guests praise the ambience, the music, and Frank’s welcoming, chatty presence at tables.

Yes, Zafra is a small, intimate spot many guests choose for romantic evenings, including Valentine's night.

Private dining isn't part of Zafra's offering, the focus is on the small, friendly bistro atmosphere for lunches, dinners and celebrations.

Business casual is the guide, aim for neat, polished but relaxed attire, which fits Zafra’s friendly setting for celebrations, intimate dinners and get‑togethers.

Saturday evenings are a lovely pick, guests specifically praise a most delicious Saturday night, and Friday lunches are also mentioned as a pleasant time to visit.

Portions at Zafra are generous, guests repeatedly describe 'amazing portion sizes' and large, plentiful plates.

Yes, Zafra is welcoming to families: one reviewer dined there with their daughter, and multiple guests praise the family‑run, warm and personable service you can expect.

Evenings, especially Wednesday to Saturday dinner service, are a lovely time to visit Zafra; guests repeatedly praise the warm, intimate evening atmosphere and celebratory vibe, and the restaurant lists dinner hours Wed–Sat 18:00–21:30.

How FAQ content is generated

  1. Home
  2. United Kingdom
  3. Essex
  4. Braintree
  5. Braintree

Make a reservation

A photo of Zafra restaurant

Zafra

5
£25 and under
Italian
Braintree

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 1 time today
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