Harden's survey result
Summary
In the safe hands of Phil Thompson (whose CV includes becoming Head Chef at the Auberge du Lac at age 24), this decade-old venture continues to do the casual fine-dining thing with aplomb. Reporters “like that there are a number of small rooms” in which to dine (upstairs is the main restaurant, and there’s also an airy conservatory opening onto the Victorian-style courtyard), while the “imaginative cooking” is “creative and beautifully presented” too, whether you opt for the set menus (£55 or £69 per person for two or three courses) or fancier tasting menu (£95 or £115 per person for five or seven courses).
Summary
Phil Thompson has owned this city-centre casual fine-dining spot (offering à la carte or seven-course tasting menus) for over a decade, and oversaw what was another solid performance this year; the dining area “consists of a number of small rooms, which gives a feeling of intimacy” (there’s also a charming Victorian-style courtyard), and Thompson’s classical training alongside the Galvin bros and MPW means “there’s always a good spin on traditional ideas”.
Summary
Chef-patron Phil Thompson’s “lovely food continues to excite” at the restaurant he has owned for 10 years (formerly known as Darcy’s) – which makes an “excellent place for a leisurely romantic evening”. His classical style reflects his early years cooking for the Galvin brothers and Marco Pierre White.
Summary
A “high-class local” from chef Phil Thompson, where fans applaud its “dependable” style – “perhaps no fireworks, but everything is always nicely cooked and well-presented”, be it the “excellent-value” set lunch or fancier tasting menu.
For 34 years we've been curating reviews of the UK's most notable restaurant. In a typical year, diners submit over 50,000 reviews to create the most authoritative restaurant guide in the UK. Each year, the guide is re-written from scratch based on this survey (although for the 2021 edition, reviews are little changed from 2020 as no survey could run for that year).
Have you eaten at Thompson?
2-8 Hatfield Rd, St Albans, AL1 3RP
Restaurant details
Prices
| Availability | 2 courses | 3 courses |  |
 |
 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Always | £49.00 | £62.00 |  |
|
|
| Cost | Availability | Courses | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Menu1 | 95.00 | Dinner only | 7 |
| Menu2 | 115.00 | Dinner only | 9 |
| Drinks |
|
|---|---|
| Wine per bottle | £32.00 |
| Filter Coffee | £5.75 |
| Extras |
|
|---|---|
| Service | 12.50% |
2-8 Hatfield Rd, St Albans, AL1 3RP
| Number of Diners: | |
| Required Time: | |
Opening hours
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