Location: Harpenden
Top Restaurants in Harpenden
Countries
Harpenden Food Guide: 10 Must-Eat Restaurants & Street Food Stalls in Harpenden
Harpenden is a town in the St Albans City district in the county of Hertfordshire, England. The town's population is just under 30,000. Harpenden is a commuter town, with a direct rail connection through Central London and property prices well over double the national average. Geographically it is located between (and a short distance from) two much larger neighbours: Luton town (to the north) and the city of St Albans (to the south). It is flanked by the villages of Redbourn (to the west) and Wheathampstead (to the east).
Things to do in Harpenden
1. Chef Peking
Overall Ratings
4 based on 250 reviews
Reviewed By Phil B - Harpenden, United Kingdom
Finding ourselves without our 11 year old son ( in laws are great) we booked a table at the Chef Peking.
We were warmly welcomed and service throughout the evening was efficient and very professional.
The food was excellent. The Bang Bang chicken, though a summer dish was lovely and light, full of flavour.
We enjoyed the sweet and sour fish- I say 'we', my wife didn't even offer me some. I enjoyed the chicken in yellow bean sauce.
The vegetable side dish was also lovely.
Unfortunately, we had no rom for dessert but finished with some Jasmine tea.
All in all a thoroughly enjoyable evening with great food and service. We felt in such a good mood we even picked up our son from the in laws.
Thank you Chef Peking.
2. Zaza Harpenden
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 471 reviews
Sazio restaurant in Harpenden enjoys an idyllic setting in the middle of the historic high street, a particularly attractive location for this vibrant, stylish restaurant. With broad, many-paned windows and historic frontage, Sazio���s sleek, modern dining room with its wooden floors, bold artwork, and contemporary lighting comes as a delightful surprise. The freshly prepared Italian menu features authentic ingredients imported from Italy, so you know the flavours are true. The menu includes home made pastas and stone oven baked pizzas, grills and salads, with an emphasis on fresh fish dishes. International wine list and fleet, friendly service, too.
Reviewed By PJT99 - Harpenden, United Kingdom
Visited on a snowy Saturday night and the place was lively and full of atmosphere. I prefer upstairs to downstairs.
Had one of the specials - roasted cod, which was superbly cooked and tasted wonderful.
Overall the bill was very reasonable for our table and everyone (4 of us) commented on what a fun night it had been
3. Bangkok Lounge
Overall Ratings
4 based on 247 reviews
Bangkok Lounge in Harpenden is an extremely authentic restaurant, decorated with teak wood mirrors, with classic Thai artefacts adorning the walls. The restaurant makes for a very intimate, romantic environment, and with a small number of tables you are guaranteed to be treated like royalty. The restaurant is situated at the north end of the high street with ample parking nearby. Booking is highly recommended due to the extreme popularity of the restaurant.
Reviewed By Indeana - Harpenden, United Kingdom
Visited on a Tuesday evening for dinner with 15 friends. The restaurant was busy and there was a lively atmosphere. We had a selection of dishes from set menus A and B including starters and mains. Friendly and efficient service. Enjoyable food. The green curry...MoreThank you for your review and appreciate your feedback. We look forward to welcoming you again soon.
4. Bar Azita
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 704 reviews
Reviewed By ITslave - Luton, United Kingdom
The two us dropped in for lunch on a Saturday, the place is busy and bustling, Tapas are tasty and nicely presented. Staff are friendly and service is quick and efficient. Highly recommended.
5. Bistro Gautier
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 162 reviews
A small pub with a French bistro serving up French classics alongside a concise wine list with a wide selection of craft ales. Serving Brunch, Lunch and Dinner with the kitchen open from 10:30am Tuesday - Friday, 10am Saturday and Sunday. 12 noon opening on Mondays.
Reviewed By amrahseel - Harpenden, United Kingdom
Lovely cosy looking place but damp mouldy smell as you enter. Nice ambience but the smell should be improved, not sure how people eat in there.
Drinks pretty expensive too for a double gin n tonic! Also the bar attendant said they don’t have stirrers so my drink was not mixed properly, no lemon in gin and tonic either, until requested.
Little disappointed and unlikely a choice of place to return unless friends or colleagues choose to.
6. Okka Cafe & Restaurant
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 508 reviews
An all day eatery with a Mediterranean influence serving breakfast, lunch and dinner (in that order).Because we are an all day eatery it means you can come with your kids (for bubble and squeak and a milkshake), you can come with your friends (for a carefully selected ‘Teapigs’ tea and slice of the drizzliest lemon drizzle cake ever), you can come with your other half (for our ‘21 day aged’ rib eye steaks and bottle of Rioja) or you can just come on your own, to enjoy a cup of our excellent coffee and linger over the papers. (Slippers not included).
Reviewed By Meh_81 - Hertfordshire
New menu here, which was a little disappointing as I liked the old menu and Harpenden and St Albans has numerous places of this ilk.
The starters were excellent, good size portions and the accompanying bread and sauces were fresh and tasty.
I had the Sac Tava which was full of flavour, although I thought the quality of the lamb could have been better.
Will give the shish kebabs a go next time, as they looked good on other tables although I think £20 seems a bit excessive for a mixed shish!
7. Graffiti Restaurant
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 157 reviews
Reviewed By Phil B - Harpenden, United Kingdom
In these days of rushing around and fast food, it's always a pleasure to head to Graffiti in Station Road and have a relaxing evening meal eating great food. This family run restaurant is a great place to eat. The Italian food is delicious. The chef, Neil, is a great chap and a talented chef producing food full of flavour. He also deserves praise for feeding the firemen who attended a serious fire nearby one evening recently.
Charlotte and Nicola work hard front of house but somehow have the time for a brief chat with customers.
Desserts are great, especially the tiramisu and the chocolate fudge cake.
Thank you to all at Graffiti and see you again soon.
8. Pasta Cibo
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 254 reviews
Reviewed By LondonLux - London, United Kingdom
Okay, first of all this isn’t Italy or quality Italian food sorry! It’s Pasta Cebo, Harpenden, set in the 80’s Pasta Cebo is truly located in a time warp, along with its menu and food.
However, prices are truly current.
Arrived in Harpenden around 7pm Friday night, after a 2.5 hour drive, didn’t have much time to choose a restaurant, didn’t want to eat at any chain restaurant.
Walked past Pasta Cebo, it was buzzing so we thought “must be good” walked in got the only table for two, right by the door, a large noisy ground sat opposite.
I noticed lots of people as they left were saying see you again, it was obvious locals used this restaurant lots.
Like, I said it’s like stepping back in time, it’s filled to the brim with TUT, I apologize now to all of you who find this endearing.
The menu is fairly basic, we ordered garlic bread (one small slice but pleasantly okay) a baked aubergine in tomato sauce (from the specials) this dish consists of half an aubergine, some suspect tomato sauce and some flavourless cheese, the cost £7.95 (shocking!) I’d suggest shaving £3 quid off, you’ll still be making huge profit!!
Our mains Crespelle Alla Fiorentina (£9.45) one large tube filled with flavourless spinach & ricotta, my Penne Siciliane Al Forno (£10.95) average, but did seem cooked fresh.
Only one option for wine by the glass, the house red, awful, even if they gave it away, I couldn’t drink it! Setting on a bottle of Peroni, however it can poured, don’t want too assume it was from the tap...
No soft drinks available in cans of bottles, no diet drinks available, my partner who refuses to drink anything from a tap, setteled for some over fruity, full of sugar J2O, not a drink you’d normally associate with Italian dining.
At £40 we didn’t receive good food or drinks, but service was friendly.
If you’re allergic to clutter ( I always associate clutter with dust ) this restaurant isn’t for you!
9. The White Horse Harpenden
Overall Ratings
3.5 based on 518 reviews
Reviewed By Debzi27 - Luton, United Kingdom
Went for breakfast on a Saturday morning with my partner. Nice place, plenty of parking and clean and welcoming inside. Not a huge breakfast menu but enough choice. My partner had the full English with poached eggs and toast. I had poached eggs with a side order of bacon. We both asked for brown toast instead of the toasted sour dough. We both were disappointed with the quality of the bread as it was basic pre packed bread, i expected for the price at least a nice thick cut or hand cut bread. Also to say it was toasted is a bit of a stretch as it was barely toasted at all. My side order of bacon was also extremely greasy and bland, I ended up giving one slice of toast and my bacon to my partner. So my partner said his breakfast was ok but mine was not. For the price charged I expected more. I wasn’t prepared on a Saturday morning to point any of this out and as my partner ate what I didn’t I felt I couldn’t really say anything. Will not be in a rush to go back and it puts me off from trying lunch or dinner there, as surely breakfast should be the easier menu of the three and if that is overpriced and disappointing than I am not prepared to take a chance on wasting more money.
10. Godfrey's
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 627 reviews
Reviewed By Eanna57
Excellent takeaway. Young, friendly and efficient staff. Very good choices, not just fish but a varied selection of home made pies. Very popular with the local community and prices are very reasonable. You can also eat in the upstairs restaurant which serves much the same choices. Recommended.
