Harpenden Restaurant Guide

2021 Review: Afternoon tea is “a real treat” in the “wonderful and friendly surroundings” of this country house hotel and spa, whose claim to fame is that it appeared in ‘Four Weddings’. Reports of more substantial meals here are more up-and-down.

2019 Review: A “beautiful location” – this “large, rambling and well-spaced” Georgian private home was opened as a gastropub by the Chester-based Brunning & Price chain in 2016, and has quickly built a solid reputation for a “pleasant” menu “full of excellent choices”, “allied with good service”.

2018 Review: A 17th-century pub with beamed ceilings, wooden floors, log fire and garden, handily placed in the city-centre; fans “have never been disappointed” by the “very reasonably priced” food (especially lunch) although cynics feel that it’s “variable” at times.

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.

2021 Review: This “very good modern Turk” uses high-quality ingredients, including organic meats from Wales, to produce some interesting meals in this under-served town, and it “gets busy and can be very noisy”. There’s a spinoff branch in Berkhamsted.

“The chef outshines himself each visit” according to ardent local fans of this “wonderful old pub in the preservation district of St Albans”. Séan Hughes and Drew Knight, who launched the operation close to the cathedral in 2015, have now re-worked the kitchen to offer monthly menus that change with the seasons – or from day to day, depending on suppliers. Highlights include large sharing platters such as prime rib of dairy cow.

With their very “pretty interiors” and “great brunch” – this “reliable chain” of “cheerful” all-day hang-outs has emerged completely undaunted from the pandemic, expanding beyond its south west London heartlands as far as Islington, Marlow and St Albans. With new openings scheduled for late 2021 in Dulwich and Richmond, the roll-out shows no sign of slowing down. They’re very “dog friendly” too.

“A wonderfully welcoming and fantastic local bistro” – part of a small-but-expanding Hertfordshire chain (Berkhamsted is next) run by the seasoned Andrei Lussmann. “Food is ethically sourced and delicious” and comes at “surprisingly reasonable” prices too (not least the pre-theatre menu).

Despite a beautiful setting, by the lake of the Brocket Hall estate – this former hunting lodge, made famous by J-C Novelli a couple of decades ago – has sunk into relative obscurity in recent times. That may be about to change though, as it’s closed till April 2022, after which it will be re-launched following a major refurbishment.

This “consistent, unpretentious and very welcoming pub/restaurant” under French owner Laurent Brydniak provides “a charming, comfortable environment” in interconnecting dining rooms, and an “excellent menu that delivers the promised delights”. “The wine list and cheeses are superb” and the overall experience is “far nicer than most similar places”.

2019 Review: “A modern interior, with views of the golf course” sets the scene at this Galvin Brothers yearling, which on most – if not quite all – accounts provides “a good welcome”, “high quality” cooking and a “relaxing” atmosphere. It’s a popular haunt for business entertaining, for which “there’s a perfect setting alongside the 18th fairway and a delightful lounge that feeds into the restaurant, where you can talk shop pre-, post- or during lunch”.

This “stunning new opening from a former chef of Anglo in London's Leather Lane” (Matthew Reeder, who co-owns this boozer-with-rooms alongside Michael Singleton, another local lad) “is now in full swing, with excellent nose-to-tail seasonal British food in a warm and welcoming pub environment that belies the quality of the cooking”; “steak nights are on again and brilliant”.

Popular with walkers, this attractive eighteenth-century boozer is “very cosy inside and out” (the latter courtesy of a “godsend” of an outdoor tipi). On the culinary front, it's “a cut above pub grub, with surprisingly well-cooked and presented food, especially the fish dishes, and good veggie options too”. “Their own beer (Farr Brew) is also very fresh and tasty.”