The Best Restaurants in Oaklands, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom (2025)

Popped in again, must be the third or fourth time for a coffee and chat with my daughter. A really friendly greeting and eased onto a neat table. The place has a good 'hipster' vibe which I like. My daughter had an iced Latte which I tasted and thought very good. I had an Americano with a chocolate brownie. The brownie was packed with chocolate and loved it. The coffee was just OK. Not quite as strong as I like it but I suppose it suits most. Will certainly go again.

Great atmosphere, lots of arts and crafts for the kids to do, food exceptional and a fast friendly service. Will be back!

Love this place, absolutely superb roasts, super dog friendly (appreciative spaniel for proof). Great little spot with plenty of outdoor seating to sit with pooch in the shade (dogs welcome inside too). Staff are lovely and greet the dogs very nicely. Wouldn't hesitate to recommend.

Food absolutely delicious I will be definitely going there again soon lovely atmosphere Staff are helpful and friendly

I was looking for somewhere near the viaduct (my son wanted to take some photos) and found here and booked online. A very good decision! We had the Sunday roasts, which were delicious and very good sized portions too. The beef was perfectly medium rare and I had the mixed roast of beef, ham and chicken. Good beer selection too! Our dog enjoyed herself, with lots of attention from the friendly staff. We look forward to coming back soon with the rest of the family!

Great boozer, we came here for food and it did not disappoint. All round great food, in particular our waitress Alice was amazing, truly making our experience. Will be returning no doubt.

Had lunch today with a friend and the food was incredible, I went for a chicken burger and the pouched pear, it was faultless. I would like to also mention our server Kathy who was very attentive, friendly and helpful. She asked if we was warm enough, asked how our food was, checked if we needed anything else. Just incredibly lovely. Thank you x

I went here with my boyfriend as we were in the local area for the weekend. The food was absolutely amazing! It was beautifully presented, service was the perfect amount of time waiting, we were both stuffed afterwards. Even though the food was to a high restaurant style quality we were pleasantly surprised at the bill at the end. If we lived closer we would definitely return! (Live 4 hours away!) Thankyou for a fantastic meal :)

Had a lovely Sunday roast at the Red Lion, great variety on the menu and even more on the specials. We went for the chateaubriand which was just delicious, followed by a trio of desserts as who doesn’t like a little bit of everything. Will definitely return for more Sunday treats, would highly recommend as one of the nicest Sunday lunches in Hertfordshire.

The food was great with perfect portions. The service was excellent and super friendly. A traditional friendly country pub atmosphere. We will come and I have already booked for Mother’s Day. I can’t wait to come back!!!

Amazing breakfast every time. The Boudin Noir is outstanding. Food is always hot and looks appealing. Clean and tidy restaurant. The team is amazing, always so polite, friendly and big smiles. Big thank you to Dana and Becky for always being the best.

This is the go to place for us, whether it’s for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Food is always cooked perfectly and presented to a high standard using only fresh and high quality ingredients. Great selection of coffees, wines and cocktails too. The staff are super welcoming, attentive and knowledgeable, always creating a lovely atmosphere in which to enjoy a meal or special occasion. A taste of fine dining in Welwyn garden city.

Lovely restaurant. Food selection was perfect. I really enjoyed the outdoor area under the sunshine while having my cocktail 😍 Will definitely go back again 👍🏻👏🏻

First time trying Cotes today. Came down to take my daughter who is at uni out for her birthday. Had the best experience. The restaurant is lovely inside. You feel like you are somewhere really special. We had a lovely table by the window in the sunshine. The food was delicious. I had an amazing fish parmentier, my daughter had chicken and my son had steak. The desserts were wonderful. Warm oozing chocolate fondant, a choux pastry with pistachio and cherry compote and my daughter, who is the biggest macaron lover, had a fantastic macaron dessert. I was driving and so had an elderflower and apricot drink which I loved. We were greeted on arrival by a lovely friendly chap and our waiter, Conor, was attentive and friendly. They even sent my daughters dessert out with a birthday candle and Happy Birthday written in caramel on the plate. A fantastic experience and when visiting our daughter at uni again we will definitely be back. Thanks to the team for making our visit so special.

Absolutely lovely pub/restaurant out in the country. Warm and very inviting, plenty of parking a nice garden out the back, but too cold to sit outside. The food was to die for. The Waggoners probably have more to offer than what we needed. Definitely will be going again. But next time, I will take Digswell Hill because Ayot St Peter road is a single track and not many places to pass. Highly recommend. Give them a go.

Lovely choice of food & ales, plus reasonable priced. Has a nice outdoor terracel to watch the world go by

Charming French Restaurant A wonderful local French restaurant in a peaceful setting next to the golf courses—perfect for a relaxing meal with family. The ambiance is serene, making it an ideal spot to enjoy quality French cuisine. I highly recommend the French Onion Soup and the fish—both were absolutely delicious! The flavors are authentic, and the food is beautifully prepared. If you’re looking for a great dining experience in a quiet and scenic location, this is definitely a place to visit. Highly recommended!

We popped to The Waggoners for a cheeky pint in the sunshine and were so delighted with how nice of an experience it was. The staff was welcoming, and we even got a tour of all the dinning rooms with tables of all sizes. We sat outside in the sunshine, had beautiful pints of Guinness and hot nuts. The menu seemed full of fabulous options, and we ordered the frog legs in butter and garlic. It was stunning. And it was fun. Loved my visit and will definitely come back.

A neighbour recommended this place for a roast. Absolutely delicious food. From start to end service was great. Not an empty table in sight. Can’t wait to go again.

We chose to get married here from the venue location and views, the food and the service. None of these things let us down. Considerable amount of drinks included in price. Really great evening. Had a blast and really enjoyed every moment

We came here for lunch at the end of a dog walk and ordered the sirloin steak and pie of the day (which was chicken and chorizo). Compliments to the chef - you can tell everything is homemade and everything was seasoned to perfection. Lovely salty steak, cooked perfectly and with a nice sear, and the pie filling was delicious. Even vegetables on the side were cooked nicely and seasoned really well. Also had sticky toffee pudding which was really nice too. Would definitely come back. And dog friendly is an added bonus.

Five of us had a Sunday lunch here. Summary: Beer (own bitter) - good Lamb roast dinner - excellent in all respects except, unfortunately, the lamb; this was chewy, lacked much taste and looked like it had been hanging about a bit. Everything else was really plentiful and tasty, with great red cabbage and a delicious gravy. Apple and rhubarb crumble (I think) - very tasty, though no big chunks of rhubarb. Needed the extra cream, or another scoop of ice cream. Bottle of Primitivo - very pleasant. Service - good! Plenty of helpers in attendance, knowledgeable bar staff, cheerful and polite in all respects. Price: very reasonable indeed, we thought. Surroundings: very comfortable and well restored old inn, garden stretches back to the river (which isn't as attractive here!); parking is not charged on a Sunday.

Always a pleasure. It’s been over 10 years since we last came as we’ve moved further away. It didn’t disappoint, I’m so glad we booked. The food and service were great. The kid’s portions are great. Overall it was a lovely meal in great surroundings.

We had lunch at The Wellington. I’ve been coming here for around 40 years! Not so often now as I don’t live close by, but it’s a great place to meet my daughter and children for an upmarket lunch. Fabulous old building, great menu, food and service.

This pub is lovely, the food is gorgeous and the staff are amazing and attentive! Amazing garden in the summer, dog friendly, has a dart board in the pub area and some little snug areas with sofas. I would definitely recommend this pub, great location :)

Such a lovely pub with a really welcoming atmosphere. The staff are very friendly and polite. The food is delicious, good portions and great value. Will definitely be returning!

Always a great atmosphere, AMAZING garden overlooking horses fields. Staff are so welcoming and friendly. Food is reliable with good range of options for everyone - sometimes a wait but shows it’s all cooked to order!

Wonderful delicious breakfast . Beautiful grounds. Nicky was so friendly .Taking time to get the order spot on. Cosy indoor and fab outdoor eating areas. A hidden gem 100% recommendation!

I recently had the pleasure of hosting a Christmas wreath-making workshop at this wonderful pub, and I cannot speak highly enough of the experience. From start to finish, the staff went above and beyond to help make the event a success, especially Meghan and Louise. Their support in organizing everything was truly invaluable, and it made the entire process so much smoother and more enjoyable. The atmosphere was absolutely perfect. The roaring fire and festive Christmas music created the most magical, cosy setting! It was ideal for a creative and social gathering. The pub itself exudes charm, with its traditional English character and welcoming vibe. It was clear that this pub is more than just a place for a drink. It’s a hub for the community, where everyone feels welcome. I’m so grateful for their hospitality and hard work in helping bring this event to life. I’d highly recommend it to anyone, whether you’re looking for a cosy spot to relax or a venue for a special event, it’s truly a gem. Thank you The Crooked Chimney for everything!

Really nice pub with friendly and responsive staff. Good food at reasonable prices and good ales on tap too. Thank you for serving us. Additionally for those that like a nice walk in the countryside, there is a walking path / trail almost directly opposite the pub which leads through the Brockett Hall estate. Paths are quite well marked and some extremely pretty scenery reminiscent of a bygone age. We enjoyed it.