The Best Restaurants in How Wood, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom (2025)

This must be one of the best Italian restaurants in Hertfordshire. All of the staff are super friendly but also very efficient. Really great food in a lovely environment. Prices are reasonable for the quality of the food and drinks. This place exceeded my expectations. Slightly out of the way but definitely worth an Uber trip!

The best restaurant around, We love visiting and highly recommend the amazing food, incredible service and friendly atmosphere. We can not wait for the next visit Many thanks as always :)

Had a great meal there on my wedding anniversary. The food was brilliant but my favourite was the simple affogato dessert which was superb.

Always have the most amazing experience when we go to this restaurant! The service is unmatched, everyone is very attentive and they create such a relaxed atmosphere. The food is top notch, packed with flavour and just the right portions based on the richness of the food. The perfect place to celebrate a special occasion, or just to treat yourself! Our top tip is to book an earlier slot when the restaurant is a bit quieter as it fills up quite quickly from about 7pm.

Absolutely amazing experience. Food is so flavourful and fresh with authentic Moroccan vibe. We felt so cozy and warm immediately after entering the restaurant after an unexpected spring shower with a bit of chilly atmosphere outside. The service was amazing and the attentiveness of the server was also notable. They honestly suggested the main dish to be shared with two kids, which we otherwise over ordered. Great wine selection and desserts as well. We will come back to St Albabs just for this restaurant.

It was by chance that I found this restaurant on Google. I am pleased that I booked it for my birthday lunch with my husband. The moment I entered the restaurant, I immediately loved the Moroccan vibes. The waitress who served us was very friendly and welcoming. When I told her that I've booked a table, she mentioned my name for my reservation. I'm impressed that she is well aware of the booking. The food was absolutely delicious and desserts too. We'll definitely be back again to try the other dishes. I would recommend this restaurant if you appreciate the authentic taste and atmosphere.

Brilliant ambiance and very popular restaurant in town. Great quality of food. Top notch service by all staff members. Would like to go back.

My friend and I had a really nice experience at this restaurant that we booked as part of our trip to St Albans. The staff were attentive and friendly! Food was fresh and tasted delicious, we throughly enjoyed the 6 mezze dishes and mint tea.

Exceptional! Loved our time here at Hazéls and really appreciated the effort put in by the team here to make our night perfect. Close attention was paid to my partner who had specific dietary requirements and the staff were very discreet about it. The food was beautiful - each dish a delight on the palate. The sharing plate style was really welcomed as one starter and one main would have definitely not been enough to satisfy. However, in saying that, the quality of the dishes alone would have been enough for me to have been happy with just one. The wine was also to die for and I can certainly see myself going back just for a few glasses. Overall a wonderful experience!

My new favourite place! Every single bite was incredible, the wine was lovely, music even better. Great atmosphere and attentive but not overbearing service🥰 couldn’t choose one dish over all to recommend but the Barnsley chop was stunning and the pomme puree is the best mash I’ve ever had! Don’t skip the croquettes or arancini 😍

We had a beautiful evening at Hazéls, the service was impeccable from start to finish. Everyone was so friendly, the service was quick and efficient and very well organised. The waitresses we had were SO friendly - they all went above and beyond and it genuinely made such a difference. We had the table by the window and it was a really gorgeous experience. The food was absolutely incredible - each dish was presented beautifully and tasted so good. The gluten free options were brilliant, there were only 4/5 things on the menu I couldn’t have. We were celebrating my birthday and they brought me out a complimentary dessert with a candle, which was such a nice touch. Would recommend this restaurant again and again.

Amazing experience from start to finish! From the moment we stepped in, it felt special and the live jazz singer really added to the vibes. The food was incredible - flavours we wouldn’t have thought to pair but worked perfectly together. We ordered the complete small plates menu for 3 of us, along with focaccia and triple-cooked chips for dipping. Standout dishes were the ham hock and parmesan croquettes, cod’s roe, and comté panisse - each one delicious! We’ll definitely be back to try the larger plates! 10/10

We tried the hot honey halloumi toast. Disappointed that you only get 1 poached egg with all the meals and had to order an extra one. At the prices they charge there should be a minimum of 2 eggs. Shocking!

The best brunch place in St Albans. We ordered quite alot of stuff but they prepared it in no time. Just loved everything, I would recommend their Cheese on Toast and must have Loaded Hash Browns if you’re vegetarian :)

Came here for my girlfriends birthday this afternoon, and we both thought it was amazing. From the service, to the taste, to the atmosphere inside, it’s a true gem of a place. The guy who served us was a top bloke, made us laugh and was super friendly. We’ll definitely be back and would recommend this to anyone in St Albans or in the surrounding areas. Top place.

The combination of fresh ingredients and skilled preparation made for a memorable meal. I had an amazing experience with this! The customer service was top-notch. I highly recommend them to anyone looking for delicious food and excellent service.

Great food, perfect spot, amazing service. Buffalo benedict is a must try (pictured) as are the loaded hash browns (pictured). Came on a sunny day and the outside area was really nice, plenty of space inside too. Really friendly and helpful staff, decent price for what you get.

Popped in here today after a recommendation and absolutely loved it! Food was creative and innovative, very tasty and warm! The ceasar salad was 10/10 highlight and the buffalo chicken burger was lush. Staff were the perfect level of attentive and helpful, very impressed. Only 4 stars for atmosphere as it was a little too loud in there for a conversation, but was a big building so as expected and the loos smelt a bit like pee pee! Can’t wait to return (for the food, not the pee pee loos) 😂✌🏼

A buzzing, busy place, with a bit of a wait on the Saturday we went, but the staff were very helpful and fair with the tables. Four of us had a lovely table outside. I had an English breakfast and a mocha, both good. Really helpful and kind people.

Had a bite to eat before watching a show. It is a very modern restaurant and very comfortable. The food was amazing. All the food that came to the table was top notch. All food looked very good on the eye. The service was very good on the whole, my only minor complaint it got a bit slow towards the end. They were very busy so not a massive grumble. The atmosphere was good, a very busy restaurant but that comes with good food. A great place to eat, give it a try.

The food we had was exceptional and so was the wine. Works of art with excellent attention to detail. Ingredients top quality. Great attentive service but not rushed. So glad we have this gem of a place on our doorstep. Highly recommend.

Just had an outstanding meal at Thompson, every course was a taste sensation and beautifully presented, staff were friendly and knowledgeable, we will definitely be going back

Firstly the not so good points, I took a friend for a birthday meal, we sat at the bar and we still had to pick from the menu even for the 9 course tasting menu. We were presented with a menu each which had prices for the meals, a little embarrassing. The lighting in the main room was bright and harsh, the waitress did try to dim them and for a bit it was a better atmosphere but they started to flicker so back to bright. And the pasta on the tortellini was thick an a bit gloopy but the taste was fantastic. Now for the positives. Every other course of the 11 courses we had, the 9 courses plus the chefs choice and cheese were just delightful, my favourites being the mushrooms and the birds liver pate. The staff...attentive, polite, knowledgeable on what they were serving and just absolutely lovely. The wine we chose was out of stock, however the alternative suggestion was very drinkable. Crockery beautiful. We just had a wonderful time and my guest felt very special. Thanks guys.

This was our first time visiting this amazing restaurant in St Alburns! We were served by Nick and he gave us the best service ever, even put my jacket around my shoulders for me! Personal touch and massive attention to detail! The food was exquisite!! Huge commitment to the chefs the gnocchi I had - was the BEST I have ever had - and I used to be a chef myself. We can’t wait to come back here and experience the tasting menu! We had cheese board as pudding and it was off the dial. We LOVED everything about our first visit here ! Well done all.

It's not only the best Italian but in my opinion the best restaurant in St Albans. There is a reason it's always fully booked. Everything I've ever had off the menu is absolutely delicious. Wine and cocktails are fantastic too. The staff are so attentive and Albert is brilliant. This is my go to restaurant outside of London and I have never been disappointed. Thank you Per Tutti!

The most delicious carbonara I've ever had! The lemon tart was also absolutely wonderful. Highly recommend this place — we're definitely coming back for the pizza! 😃

What a great place to have lunch. The team here are attentive, friendly and welcoming. We were so happy with the way they could accommodate us with our 1 year son, bringing the food promptly. Our meals were hot, fresh and delicious.

First time visiting for lunch with my family, who had just arrived after a 14-hour flight. We arrived 15 minutes early and were seated quickly. Staff were very attentive, especially helping us order due to my toddler’s cow’s milk allergy, which is tricky with Italian food. The food was delicious — pasta was cooked perfectly, and the risotto was outstanding. Some dishes were a bit spicy for my family, who aren’t used to spicy food. Desserts were lovely too; the tiramisu had a lighter coffee flavour than we’re used to, but still very enjoyable. Only downside: the wait for the main courses was quite long (about 45–50 minutes), and with a 1.5-hour dining limit, it felt rushed. Would be better if desserts could be ordered together with the mains. Overall, a great meal with friendly service

Prime Steak and Grill is my favourite steakhouse. I enjoyed the Mid Week Steak Out with my friends this evening which is a complete bargain. I upgraded my steak for a ribeye which was cooked to perfection. With the offer you also get a glass of wine and unlimited fries. As always I have to end the night with something sweet and had the chocolate brownie to share which was extremely satisfying. Regardless of the offer or not, Prime Steak and Grill is my go to steakhouse and I highly recommend.

It’s been a while since our last visit, at the time it wasn’t great. Some years later and today we returned for lunch and we were to be pleasantly surprised. Fantastic food, excellent staff, our waiter Luke couldn’t do enough for us and even included a Birthday treat. All in all a fantastic experience with delicious food and good sized lunch time portions. Thank you.

I visited Auberge du Lac this afternoon for a friends birthday and it was perfect! The grounds are beautiful, the food is delicious with impeccable presentation, and the service was well beyond 5*. The whole afternoon felt like a holiday! Bilal is such a kind and amazing person and made our visit extra special. Thank you so much!

The staff were all really well trained and professional in accommodating everyone and making people feel comfortable. I was so impressed by how kind and understanding they were! I could tell their manager really paid attention to training each staff. The food was lovely, some of the best salmon dish I've ever had. The ambience was perfect as well.

A fine dining restaurant in a lovely old building with beautiful views overlooking a lake. Food quality and presentation is excellent; probably the best in the area. Service now is friendly but a lot more relaxed than it was many years ago. Despite the lovely views, the decor in the restaurant feels really outdated. And the choice of 80s pop background music is quite bizarre. The lounge area, however, is much more stylish and great for a pre-dinner drink. Drinks outside on a warm summer evening are also a pleasurable experience.

Excellent meal last night. Food was very very good. Staff were attentive and looked after my wife who had a dairy allergy very well. Really nice atmosphere in the restaurant with some music in the background which I enjoyed as I don’t particularly like restaurants where I feel I can hear other peoples conversations. Only small downside is they were low on beer which considering it was 7pm on Saturday was a little strange. Highly recommend and will be back.

This place is really nice. Great decor, enjoyable atmosphere. The staff are friendly, the menu is large and has good variety. We got the combo, which is a choice of two meats, two sides, and on Tuesdays you can get a cocktail for a pound more which is great. Excellent value, food is delicious, would recommend the sausage and the pork ribs. Cocktails were all excellent as well. Definitely worth a visit

Absolutely amazing food!! Me and friend were looking for a decent burger for dinner, found Craft and Cleaver online, and after looking at the photos went to try it out. We we surprised to see it was busy on a Wednesday night during the Easter break but after sitting down and seeing the menu, we realised it was a proper American style BBQ joint! No wonder it was busy. The server was really friendly and recommended the Texas Tray and we were not disappointed at all. The food was absolutely magnificent and I’m glad I had this rather than a burger. It was some of the best meat I’d ever eaten! It was so tender having been in the smoker for 8+ hours, and the beef just fell off the bone. It was so good and we couldn’t finish it all. I would 100 percent recommend this place especially if you’ve never tried American BBQ before. Fantastic food, friendly staff, and a great atmosphere.

Absolutely loved this place. We ordered burnt ends and rack of ribs. The food was excellent, and there's a great selection of craft beers that we were offered tastes of. Big thanks to Shane, who made us very welcome on my wife's birthday. I'm definitely coming back with our friends.

Wish there were more BBQ places like this one around, food was excellent! Very tasty! Highly recommend! Nice relaxed atmosphere (great playlist) and friendly staff - dogs welcome to! Do you fancy opening a restaurant in Salisbury? :)