We are always happy to hear from our customers, and several of them have been kind enough to write reviews which you can read on sites such as ;
Pubsgalore.co.uk
The AA
Information Britain
Where’s Best
Restaurant-Guide.com

Some of them we also have featured below.

If you have a review you would like to submit to the Du cane, why not email us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it with your feedback?

Review
The Ducane must be the best kept secret in Essex; we arrived on a sunny Thursday lunchtime and were instantly impressed with the look of the place neat and tidy and the gardens stunning! Someone obviously cares about the place, we wondered if the food and service matched and we are pleased to report they do. We were pleasantly surprised that both sides of the beautifully appointed dining areas were busy and the place had that contented hum you pick up when folks are having a good time and why shouldn’t they, an excellent two course lunch for a tenner unbeatable value even in today’s climate. The extensive a la carte was offered together with the fixed priced lunch menu and the dishes showcased local ingredients and a real flair for getting the very best from them, the Chef certainly knows his onions and after a leisurely repast (you certainly don’t feel rushed here) we took advantage of the gardens to enjoy our freshly ground coffee and truffles, I had forgotten how quiet the countryside can be, I could have stayed there all afternoon. We were so impressed we took a gang of friends a few nights later and were once again delighted with the ambience and attentive service, again the prices are not steep but the specials cry out to be tried and this is where you see the chefs skill, the whole table was taken aback, fashionable London food at half the price and it looks and tastes simply gorgeous two of our group opted for the Braxted fillet of Beef well worth the price and the rest chose from the wide selection of local fish dishes. All finished off with very pretty desserts. It was also nice to see the chef pop out and to look as if he is actually doing the cooking, a rarity these days. One of our gang noticed you can even date him for your own dinner party what a decadent treat. They don’t seem to rest on their laurels here either there’s theme nights and Sunday lunches though we were advised it is best to book, Morris dancers, Art exhibitions and opera nights all very interesting. In my humble opinion this area has been crying out for a place like this and they take bookings what a pleasant change. Keep up the good work, we will be back.

Restaurant Review - The Ducane du Jour, Great Braxted
Having completed his first and very successful month with Elite, Matt and I decided it was something to celebrate, so lunch was the decision - but where to go? A friend had told me about Ducane du Jour at Great Braxted …

Turns out he is a true friend, because the Ducane du Jour is excellent; set in a sleepy village, with modern décor that is both smart and clean but is also extremely welcoming.

The Ducane du Jour prides itself on using locally-sourced produce and they actually list their suppliers in the menu - even the salt is from Maldon!

Matt settled on the Pan Fried Breast of Braxted Pigeon, golden sultanas, plum syrup, air dried ham and chorizo. A great combination of flavours, beautifully presented as a great starter. Matt said it was one of the finest he had ever eaten, and would happily have had a second helping as he didn’t want it to end.

My selection was Devilled wild mushrooms and shallots flamed in brandy, on toast, with tossed salad. Again, a really well-presented and lovely dish with just the right amount of devil to give it a bit extra … superb!

For the main course, Matt chose a slow-braised Wicks Manor pork, chestnut mushroom and baby onion casserole; finished with double cream and a hint of mustard; topped with a crunchy breadcrumb and smoked Abberton cheddar crust; with a medley of local vegetables and herb mash. It was a feast both for the eyes and the palette. Matt saved the crackling until last - a very well-constructed dish.

I went for the slow braised Braxted Lamb hot pot with root vegetables and redcurrant jelly and a hint of orange, topped with garden herb soda bread, a medley of locally grown vegetables and new potatoes. I have to report that this was a truly tasty dish.

I can wholeheartedly recommend the Ducane du Jour. Jonathan Brown, the owner and chef, is a very accomplished chef indeed and clearly enjoys his work as he puts considerable thought and effort into producing quite excellent food.
We will be back, but for now it was back to the coal face … and work!

Customer Review
We fancied a change from our usual restaurants, and wanted some thing original, tasty and fresh. A quick search on Google and we found theducane.co.uk and read the details and booked online.

Dining out at the Du Cane in Great Braxted was a real pleasure, the menu a mix of innovative presentations and traditional food; we found it hard to choose what we wanted, which to my mind is the sign of a good menu!

It’s a lovely place with roaring fires in the winter, a large well stocked bar and a beautiful décor.

The gardens are lovely, and the staff all so helpful.

The food really was lovely, local ingredients all combined to make the best meals we have had in a long time.

The Du Cane is our favourite restaurant in England, we are very lucky its only 30 minutes from us. So often with country village bars and restaurants they are hard to find, but this was easy – right on the Tiptree Road, it has a red telephone box in its lawn.

To start I had the Gressingham duck with plum and raspberries, which was served on a sheet of styled glass. Maggie had a trio of salmon – including gravelax in tea, which was lovely.

We both had the 8 hour slow roasted pork belly with cabbage and redcurrants, it just melted in our mouths.

For desert Maggie had the cheeseboard, the best cheeseboard we have seen in this country, with lots of fruit and quince jelly. We never see quince anymore, it’s just a word to lay in scrabble, great to see it back on the menu in a restaurant we know.

Sam and her team did a great job of looking after us and everyone.

And thank you for the bowl of ice cream for Emily – her first taste of ice cream!

The main attraction though is the food – so much is local produce, and its clear Chef Jonathon doesn’t just treat this as a gimmick and is passionate about cooking interesting and diverse dishes with a range of local ingredients.

If you are looking for a restaurant that does quality food right, then I would recommend The Du Cane in Great Braxted any time.

We recommend The Du Cane to our friends and now to you through this site.

The Du Cane is at Tiptree Road, Gt. Braxted, Essex, CM8 3EJ
Telephone 01621 891 697 Email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Website and Online bookings www.theducane.co.uk