I’M worried to let on how nice Rubino Kitchen is because I was hoping to keep it as my little secret.

It only seats 16 you see, if gets too popular I am stressing I won’t be able to sample that delicious apple tart tatin again anytime soon.

Honestly, the combination of the cheddar cheese ice cream, toffee custard and beautifully caramelised apple tart is making me salivate just thinking about it.

Our little slice of culinary heaven in a country lane in between Heybridge and Goldhanger was an unexpected surprise.

We were the only diners that evening but the owner Rob Horton explained that they had been full the night before and the night before that. In fact in the eight weeks it has been open the place has already made a big impact.

My husband and I didn’t mind being the only ones there because it meant that we got spoilt by Rob and sous chef John.

After serving us drinks Rob brought out a little appetiser of four pimped-up risotto balls. He explained the rice had been cooked to lose its texture and mixed with mushrooms and cheese and fried to create what was the most delightful crisp outer coating.

They do two courses for £25, three for £30, four for £35 and five for £40 and all dishes come in main and starter portions.

This means they do not waste produce and keep the menu short but extremely well executed.

My starter included dehydrated tomatoes and with locally smoked yoghurt and pesto crumb. It made for a perfect starter but I was not sure how it would translate into a main dish.

My husband was grinning from ear to ear with his scallops and pork belly, apple and onion puree, almonds and capers.

The crackling had been turned into the most amazing crisps via a three-day process of drying the skin and then frying it. The soft pork belly went perfectly with the silky scallops and sweet, salty and crunchy accompaniments.

Next up were our mains, I went for the fish of the day which was cod served with brown shrimp and caper agnolotti, kale, butter powder.

The lemony sauce gave the dish a burst of zing and the soft pasta and crispy skin of the cod gave it depth.

The Layer Marney lamb rack, asparagus, spring green, peas, mint hollandaise went down a treat the other side of the table.

For dessert my husband went for the chocolate parfait which looked like an enchanted cottage when it came out covered in delicate parsnip tendrils.

Then my apple tart tatin arrived and the world stopped for a few minutes while I lost myself in the sumptuous sweet and savoury and tart flavours.

We had a truly memorable night at Rubino Kitchen, but please keep it to yourself.

  • Rubino Kitchen is currently open Wednesday to Saturday 9am until 5pm and Wednesday to Saturday for evening dinners.

The Bill

Three courses for £30

  • Dehydrated tomatoes with locally smoked yoghurt and pesto crumb
  • Scallops and pork belly, apple and onion puree, almonds and capers
  • Cod with brown shrimp and caper agnolotti, kale, butter powder
  • Squash tortelli amarettie biscuits, sage beurre noisette
  • Layer Marney lamb rack, asparagus, spring green, peas, mint
  • Chocolate parfait with parsnip gel and parsnip crisps
  • Apple tart tatin with cheese ice cream and toffee custard

The Verdict 

Atmosphere 4/5

Food 5/5

Decor 4/5

Value 4/5

Service 5/5

Disabled access YES