The Crown Hotel Restaurant

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856 reviews

#4 of 22 Restaurants in Wells-next-the-Sea$$ - $$$, Bar, British, Contemporary

+44 1328 710209+ Add website

Hours

Sun

8:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.12:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Mon

8:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.12:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Tue

8:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.12:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Wed

8:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.12:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Thu

8:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.12:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Fri

8:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.12:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Sat

8:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.12:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

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Ratings and reviews

4.5

856 reviews

#4 of 22 Restaurants in Wells-next-the-Sea

RATINGS

Food

Service

Value

Atmosphere

Food and ambience

Local cuisine, Bar, British, Contemporary, Vegetarian Friendly, Vegan Options

“The best oysters!”

“... Sunday lunch and I had pan fried Salmon with noodles in a broth Both meal...”

“... , food was delicious we had oysters to start and then a dressed crab and ...”

“Some of the best salmon I've ever had.”

Location and contact

The Buttlands, Wells-next-the-Sea NR23 1EX England

+44 1328 710209

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Is this restaurant good for brunch?

Yes

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Details

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PRICE RANGE

$1.00 – $1.00

CUISINES

Bar, British, Contemporary

Special Diets

Vegetarian Friendly, Vegan Options, Gluten Free Options

Meals

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Brunch, After-hours

FEATURES

Reservations, Outdoor Seating, Private Dining, Seating, Parking Available, Highchairs Available, Wheelchair Accessible, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar, Free Wifi, Accepts Credit Cards, Table Service

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4.5

856 reviews

Excellent

462

Very good

248

Average

Poor

Terrible

Paul R

Southampton27 contributions

Excellent Quality

Oct 2020 • none

Popped in on a Sunday afternoon for a drink (or two as it turned out). Mid afternoon the dining areas were still busy which is a good sign so booked for the next evening. the restaurants were also busy on a Monday night in October which was great to see. Food is higher price and higher quality than a typical pub meal but worth the premium. Menu choice is limited (probably a sign of the times) but enough selection to still have a dilemma on what to pick! Staff were working hard as busy but still very cheerful and welcoming. Overall a great establishment and would recommend a visit.

Written October 8, 2020

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

walloyd

London138 contributions

Overall a good stay

Sep 2020 • none

We visited here with my parents and whilst the location is perfect for being able to go out, walk and explore the area and walk to the beach the hotel does have some limitations. The food was very good but the limited menu did restrict the options and whilst the rooms were nice they are overpriced, this is probably due to the limited places to stay in the area, so it was an expansive break. Very friendly staff and good practices in the place for social distancing.

Written September 27, 2020

DerrickJS

Esher789 contributions

Excellent food.

Sep 2020 • none

The restaurant at the Crown hotel provided us with the best meal we had during our week staying in Wells. Food all freshly prepared to order and just about all of the dishes we had were to be recommended though for me an outstanding, if unusual, dish was the Crab Bread and Butter Pudding as a starter. This savoury dish was a triumph of experimentation and will remain a major feature in my memory of our stay in Wells. The wine list is comprehensive and the staff friendly and helpful. Happily recommended.

Written September 24, 2020

foodie481

Leigh-on Sea12 contributions

One night stay with dinner

Aug 2020 • couples

The four poster bed was nice but the room very basic with a tatty curtain- needs refurbishing. No travel iron available as another room had asked for it but I wasn’t told they could get in back from that room later as they could ! It was a very hot day and our dinner reservation was for 7.30pm and we were told the kitchen shuts at 8pm and we were rushed to get all our food orders in and eat by 8pm. Then told the coffee machine had been turned off ! All in all very lacking in customer service. At breakfast the staff were very pleasant and coffee nice but all the fried eggs were hard.

Written August 13, 2020

notacouchpotato

492 contributions

Pleasant but something was missing...

May 2021 • none

We had an OK meal here with friends. I started with oysters - very good - and went on to a slightly overpriced but nicely cooked steak. I'm not sure what was wrong with the evening. Maybe because the weather was cold and wet and the restaurant was fairly empty. I felt that we were being rushed and that they were keen to get rid of us. Perhaps I need to try it again....

Written June 21, 2021

Amani10

437 contributions

Superior Food

Oct 2021 • none

This is a lovely, characterful pub/restaurant and we were lucky enough to dine here on a recent visit to Wells. We started with sharing dishes of oysters and tempura prawns. The oysters were delicious but the prawns were out of this world, being meaty with a light tempura batter and tasty dressing. We both opted for the haddock goujons or posh fish and chips as my wife named them. Unlike some other of the better restaurants, the portion size was large and we struggled to finish the goujons but we eventually managed to polish off the dish as the food was so delicious. Perhaps we should have decided to forgo the dessert as we were already full but we opted, after a sufficient break, to order the orange and almond cake and the brownie. Both were very good and sufficiently light to fit into our already full stomachs. The staff at the Crown were very good and service was excellent. It was obvious staff had been well trained and the whole experience of eating there was very pleasurable. The Crown isn’t the cheapest place but we would certainly visit once on any stay in Wells.

Written November 3, 2021

Hadrian M

Kettering303 contributions

Lovely staff, Covid safe and amazing food

Aug 2020 • none

We booked a table for three well in advance. two of the group were gluten free and there were plenty of gluten free options on the dinner menu, including some delicious desserts. The tables were well spaced and the staff were welcoming, friendly and we felt safe eating inside.

Written August 13, 2020

Greg D

United Kingdom55 contributions

Beautifully cooked food, great service

Dec 2019 • none

We ate in two nights in a row while staying here between Christmas and NYE. The food was really nicely thought out (Breakfasts were equally good, great selection on home-made breakfast foods on offer). Standouts included for dinner, the oysters which were stunningly fresh and juicy. The crab bread and butter pudding as a starter, was mouth watering, light and delicate, the flavour of the crab came through perfectly. Moules marinières was good. Apparently the steak was good. Salmon with noodles, also a definite recommendation, a really nice dish of complimenting flavours. Waiting staff were really good, there when you needed them but not obtrusive. Not rapid service, but a nice pace, you don't want to rush a nice evening supper for two! Would recommend, and am looking forward to returning!

Written January 9, 2020

Sarah

Hascombe77 contributions

Perfect

Aug 2020 • none

From start to finish the staff made us feel welcome Excellent Covid precautions which made you feel in safe hands at all times. Visors, gloves, sanitiser, distancing all in use and se Siri rly done Menu was super and all choices met expectations. Atmosphere was great Definitely recommend

Written August 20, 2020

martaylo

Reading39 contributions

Delicious Sunday Lunch

Aug 2021 • none

Just returned from delicious Sunday lunch at the Crown Hotel in Wells next the Sea. A range of options , well presented and cooked and also accommodated a request for a roast chicken lunch, which wasn't on the menu. Charming service and reasonably priced. Would definitely recommend.

Written September 19, 2021

teabus

West Sussex3670 contributions

Lovely lunch at the Crown

May 2021 • none

It was lovely to be back in Wells yesterday. We’re staying in Brancaster this time for a week. So whilst we were waiting to access our holiday cottage we headed straight to the Crown. I had six Brancaster oysters and a Wells crab salad. Both of these dishes were absolutely fantasric. The oysters are always great and properly served on ice with lemon. My husband chose the haddock goujons and rhubarb pannacotta. That looked good as well. To drink I had two glasses of the house white (French, v nice), husband had Diet Coke and we both had tea (me) and coffee (him). We love the Crown and have been coming here for years.

Written May 22, 2021

paulinehogg8

Leeds83 contributions

Amazing food in relaxing surroundings every time we go

Feb 2022 • none

We come to Norfolk every year and always dine one evening at The Crown. There is always a great choice and the staff are so very friendly and helpful. We had the pork and the market fish Thai curry and sent back 4 totally empty plates we were tempted to lick clean to get every taste - we didn't! The wine list is impressive and the draught beers went down very well too. We will be back when next on Norfolk

Written February 9, 2022

atkinsonc6

Selby81 contributions

We enjoyed the warm welcoming ambience of this Hotel

Oct 2021 • none

We went to The Crown, as Wells, in October, is winding down. The local restaurants in the evening close early and many not open. In the daytime, it is a hive of activity. Nevertheless, in the evening, unless you check closing times and book in advance, it is hard to find one empty. Whether COVid hasn’t helped I’m not sure, but they don’t seem to welcome you - The Crown was different. The lady at the bar said “Come in. We are fully booked, but I’ll see what we can do”. It was freezing outside and we were dreading being turned away from this warm and welcoming place. They did find us a table. The staff were so nice and welcoming. The waiter in charge made us feel special, not a hindrance, as the other restaurants. The food and service was excellent. It was delicious. I had a wonderful steak, beautifully presented, with choices of sauces and vegetables. I cannot recommend The Crown enough and now, although a few weeks later, kept my promise, to recommend them. (Carole)

Written October 25, 2021

HayleyBLondon

3 contributions

Mostly great

Feb 2022 • couples

The food was really great, except for one jarring exception. I had a bowl of mussels so full of grit and sand they were inedible. The real problem however was the waitress arguing with me repeatedly that this was to be expected with mussels. Having been born by the sea and eaten mussels regularly for many decades, I tried to explain this was way beyond acceptable, but was made to feel I was making a fuss over nothing. Grudgingly told the price would be removed like she was doing me a favour. Such a shame as the rest of the meal was exceptional.

Written February 18, 2022

Diana

1 contribution

very disappointing

Nov 2022 • none

We were a family group of 12 for Sunday lunch but our table in the bay window was reserved for only 10 people so 2 people had to sit on a small round table nearby. This was not ideal and upsetting. Fortunately my husband had proof of our reservation for 12 on his phone. The waitress/directrice admitted booking erreur by the reception. As a goodwill gesture, she deducted 2 deserts from the bill and offered everybody one chocolate with the desert! We had Sunday lunch last year at the Crown in November for 7 family members, no problem with reservation and excellent food. This year my lunch was most disappointing with my roast beef curling up at the edges and dry. My own homemade apple pie was far nicer than the one they served me at the Crown. My complaint is the booking erreur, the reservation was made well in advance of 20th November. Strangely enough a few years ago, again in November, we booked for my 70th birthday dinner for 8 people and this time there was no trace whatsoever of our booking! Fortunately they had a free table for us and offered a bottle of champagne as a goodwill gesture! Next November we shall be back in Wells my home town but we shall not be going to the Crown but to the Victoria at Holkham where the food is excellent and no problem with accurate booking.

Written December 6, 2022

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