Gem Of Essex

First time we visited this restaurant. Had a started main meal and desert with drinks and wasn’t disappointed. My wife had the lamb stew. The lamb was so soft and cooked to perfection and I had the mixed grill which was fabulous . Will definitely use again and hope it works out for them as they are newly opened.

Recently dined at Mila Loughton in Loughton, London, and I'm already planning my next visit. The East Mediterranean delicacies truly stood out, bringing a slice of Turkey right here to London. The chicken grill, adorned with a charred red pepper and a zesty slice of lemon, was a tantalizing treat. The T-bone steak was perfectly seared, retaining its juicy interior, accompanied by fresh veggies that added a delightful crunch. Not to forget the gourmet burger, which was an art in itself, topped with a cherry tomato that added a splash of color and taste. Every dish was plated with finesse, showcasing their deep-rooted expertise.The setting was buzzing with warmth, a hint of the family-based values that run the place. A must-visit for anyone looking for an authentic Turkish dining experience! 🍴🥂🇹🇷

This restaurant was previously Gem, but the interior has been modernised and the menu updated. Was happy to try some of the new choices which were very nice, for example the haloumi and mushroom starter and the sigara boreka. I definitely prefer the updated presentation of the food and in particular, the salad is better, especially the red cabbage which is delicious. The food quality is excellent and the prices are fair. There are more choices on the new alcohol menu - the raki is very good. Some familiar faces amongst the team which is reassuring as some of the new team seem unfamiliar with the menu and choices available.

Enjoyed a lovely breakfast since it has reopened as Mila. Staff were welcoming and the food was really good, and very well priced. There aren’t many places you can get an English breakfast for less than £10 and the quality certainly wasn’t compromised. Lovely quality sourdough bread too. Will certainly be back as a regular.

My visit to Gem was at 2pm on a Thursday afternoon, mid-December. Only seven other people in the restaurant when I arrived. Had seen some of the reviews, looked at the menu and some friends said it was worth a visit. Whilst the food here is uncomplicated, I quite enjoy the simplicity of char-grilled chicken (with yoghurt and spicy dips) rice and a bit of salad. My order was only ever going to be the Chicken Shish. Bizarrely, after I'd ordered, the waiter came back and started talking at me about chicken in a creamy mushroom sauce.....errrr....No, thank you. The food was delicious. The chicken tender, juicy and smokey. The dips, perfect, the salad fresh, cold and crisp. The service was hit-and-miss. I had to get up from the table to re-order my coffee...my order had been forgotten...and I had to get up again to request the bill. Three members of staff were sitting around gawping at their mobile phones in a restaurant "full" of four customers. Annoying yes...but it was an extremely tasty and a great value lunch.