Hertfordshire Restaurant Guide

“All you want from country-pub fine dining”; it may be a “tricky place to find”, but this ever-popular rural boozer is well “worth the effort” by all accounts thanks to its “lovely location” and “amazing food”.

“Everything is freshly prepared and served with a smile” at this friendly indie, still thriving after the departure of its popular former owners; it’s “so good to have such a high standard independent coffee shop in the centre of town”.

In a pretty location off the A1, this village gastroboozer with rooms (part of Anglia Country Inns group) inspires consistently upbeat reports for its high standard of cooking, both in the bar and slightly smarter restaurant.

A converted pub in the leafy outer ’burbs can seem like “an unlikely countrified location” for this “well appointed” steak house. Some reporters find it “hard to grade” (“variable…”, “good but not the best…”, “only makes financial sense on a BYO Monday”) but there are no serious complaints and fans say it’s a “super venue” with “excellent” food.

This hotel dining room, occupying a former boathouse set back from the main street, has built up a loyal local following for its “dependable food” – grilled fish, steaks, risotto and so on – and “reasonable prices” (especially the bargain set menu).

Limited but very upbeat feedback on this family-run hotel, set in the Hertfordshire countryside. In mid 2017 it was acquired by the local group Anglian Country Inns, who have announced a two-year upgrading programme and the introduction of a more field-to-fork culinary approach.