Abigail's tea rooms in St Albans

A lovely location for a tea room, sadly we were let down by the food. The scones were warmed up to hide the fact they were stale and the jam was a cheap jelly. My son’s eggs were so under cooked the whites were still clear. My husband ordered a meat pie, we had to laugh as it was the smallest portion. Having said all that our waitress was lovely and very friendly. I don’t think we’ll be going back.

I've been on trip advisor for many years and this is my 1st food review. It took a bad coffee to send me over the edge. I'm really pissed off with the coffee here. Food was OK. Scone, jam and clotted cream was nice, I'd have again, it was 5.25. Prawn salad sandwich on brown bread was tastless, bland and had the cheapest brown bread you can buy. The coffee was dreadful and I have to say the worst I have ever tasted. Yes I'm a coffee nut, yes I have been drinking coffee for years, yes I roast my own beans and yes I know my coffee grind and brew... A nescafe would have been better, way way better. The coffee was over extracted, extreamly bitter and left an aftertaste in my mouth for hours. I've never had that before. So bad. My feedback was that the food was good, the service was great but the coffee was terrible, the worst I've ever had. Tip for the owner. Try a coffee in Nkora coffee shop which is 200m away, that's how to do coffee. The best in St Albans.

Just wanted a snack lunch and something to drink so called in here . I had prawn rose sandwiches and a pot of tea. Sandwiches were lovely and fresh and got 2 decent cups out of the pot . Service was quick and friendly and the place was very clean and tidy . I'd go again .

Lovely place, welcoming and food very good. Though some may think the decor twee it's cosy and you can eat in or outdoors which isn't the case everywhere in town. The lady who greeted us and took our orders was so friendly and professional, if everyone in UK hospitality was more like that we'd have millions more visitors. Younger waitress was also good. Can recommend the rarebit, cooked breakfast, though maybe less stalk on the mushroom, and scones.

I used to eat here years ago then the quality went down and I assumed that the cafe had been taken over by new management. But today thought it was a nice quiet corner for a snack on market day. We ordered coffee and Welsh Rarebit. We drank a very small bland cup of coffee. The Welsh Rarebit arrived and was a green sludge colour. I still tried it though and it burned my tongue it had the colour, consistency and taste of mashed turnips. When I asked the waitress if there was any cheese in it she looked down her nose at me and said it wasn’t cheese on toast and it said on the menu that it was a mix of Worcestershire sauce, mustard and cheddar cheese. Of course it was ! I was aware of what Welsh Rarebit was. I felt sure that I had once even eaten it there before but was told that this culinary treat had been served this way here for the last thirty years. Whoops, my mistake then. A real snip at £5.25 ( forgot to say it was topped off with a delicious piece of rubbery bacon). Anyway on returning home I did some online research and every recipe I came across for this was indeed yellow showing some evidence of cheese in the mix. Maybe thirty years ago this recipe was all the rage. Today it is just a waste of money and a real danger to the digestive tract.

Second time I've walked out of this place due to poor service and not actually being able to get served never mind acknowledged. Stood next to the till and was blatantly ignored by the older guy behind the counter who just continued to stack the dishwasher no hello no smile or "I'll be with you in a second".I probably should have left at this point but we waited again outside while everyone around us was given a menu so we got up and left not that they probably cared.

The service was very good, table service and there is indoor and outdoor places to sit. It is close to the shops and the church. The outdoor space is nice area is very peaceful and the food is very tasty and good quality. The salad tastes fresh and the bacon sandwich was lovely. I would go back again and would recommend it for sure

Having read the reviews, I felt slightly unsure about lunch but we had a wonderful time and really enjoyed the food. Sitting outside and looking into the garden was a little bit of relaxation off the busy high street. Between us we had: Welsh rabbit, jacket potato and a cream tea. All were very tasty and enjoyed in the lovely setting. The icing on the cake to a great lunch though was the fantastic bubbly waitress for whom nothing was too much trouble. Lovely tucked away spot, we will be back for sure.

Lovely looking place, but sadly no dairy-free options. In this day and age it should really be a standard. Real potential if the menu could be changed, as staff really friendly and welcoming.

This was the last family day out before the lockdown was enforced in March 2019. I went with my wife and daughter and ordered the afternoon tea. There was no highchair for my young daughter but this was not too prpblematic as she was able to sit in a chair. Despite the restaurant being busy; the waitress (Wendy I think) was very apologetic and attentive. I cannot praise the staff enough.The food was good, reasonably priced and the restaurant is in a lovely location with a lot of traditional time. Thoroughly enjoyable!

As a resident of St Albans for many years I’ve never been to Abigails...and definitely won’t be returning! I ordered a hot chocolate for £2.95, it was a very basic hot chocolate with just warm water! I then ordered the chilli Jacket Potato, no sour cream, a spoonful of chilli but this was just sauce and kidney beans-no actual mince! The worst jacket potato I’ve ever had! Such a shame as it’s in such a beautiful location and very cosy but the food is terrible. I glanced over at another customers ham egg and chips, the ham looked like water ham from Tesco out of a packet! Shocking! Don’t waste your money, plenty of other nice places to eat in St Albans!

Abigails tearoom has the potential to be an absolute little hidden treasure in the heart of St Albans, beautiful views overlooking the Abbey, a gorgeous quaint little tearoom........ HOWEVER the food is DREADFUL!!! My sister and I popped in for a bite to eat today. And both ordered the Chilli Con Carne Jacket Potato. What we both received was a small jacket potato with a chilli juice and kidney beans. No meat whatsoever. I actually had to ask for another spoonful because my second half of potato was near enough bone dry. The accompanying side salad was some chopped iceberg lettuce, 2 wedges of tomato and 1 slice of cucumber, oh and a few strands of grated carrot. My sister had a hot chocolate that she said was dreadful, the type made with water and not milk. It’s such a shame because Abigails has great potential and in the hands of the right owner/manager/chef could be a cracking little tearoom...... If you are in St Albans avoid this place unless you are literally just stopping by for a cup of tea. So many better restaurants/cafes to choose from.

Old fashion tea room that is like stepping back in time Good pot of tea hot and had the Welsh rarebit special which was tasty but a bit runny What lets this experience was the service slow dirty tables took time to clear and the toilets were below standard Just too busy couldn’t cope

I have to agree with the 17 other people who rated this place "terrible". The food is poor but I was truly shocked by the deliberate surly rudeness of the man working there (cf "the older man working there was as grumpy as hell" in another review by Helen Ablett). No doubt they will continue to have a throughput of tourists to the Abbey who see it and think it looks cute, but my heart sinks at the thought of what visitors to the UK and St Albans will make of English food, hygiene standards and hospitality after visiting this.Not good enough.

We stopped for coffee and sat outside enjoying one of the last few sunny days of October. The coffee was good, the chocolate/coffee cake was excellent and we enjoyed our pit stop. The loo inside was clean and walking through the restaurant was very pleasant as it is very nice inside too.Staff were all very friendly and helpful.Definitely worth a pit stop and maybe even a meal next time.

Went to these Tea Rooms yesterday was memorable for all the wrong reasons. I ordered Jacket Potato with Chilli Con Carne I dont know where the chilli was but it was wasnt on my potato. I had juice and plenty of kidney beans it should have been called a Kidney Bean Jacket Potato. No one came over to ask how our meal was which doesn't surprise me. I hope I never see this place again as I certainly wont be visiting it.

Just behind the Cathedral overlooking a small picturesque garden area. We were able to sit outside on the terrace and enjoy the sun and the view. Good location for coffee and cake or a more substantial snack or sandwich. Pleasant and efficient serving staff.

I have been coming here over a period of 15 years now and I truly love the place, placed in the most beautiful spot in St Albans near the Cathedral garden. Unfortunately each time I have a meal here it never seems to be fresh (ie scones - they're not bad but certainly not fresh) and the Earl Grey tea does certainly never taste of Earl Grey. I really hope you will improve the quality of your food and teas as I love coming here more than once every year...

Lovely scones and tea at a nice garden . Especially in a sunny Sunday morning is the best place to enjoy you breakfast outdoor.

We love dropping in here for a light snack or lunch. The menu is very simple but the food is great and very good value. The service is always excellent and the staff are very friendly. This is definitely worth a try.

Walked past and thought I’d check this place out. Tea and coffee were good, the price was good and the staff were friendly and helpful, a lovely location on a summers day. Did not eat but the menu is basic but perfect for the style of tea room it is .

Visited Abigail’s yesterday 11th June. Had a baked potato of the menu with side salad and one filling added on beans and coleslaw also had a tea . My husband had toasted cheese and ham sandwich with coleslaw off the menu with tea . Food was just ok . When I went to till to pay they already had my bill up on the till £19.45 which I thought was very expensive. When I asked for a receipt I was only givothe visa receipt no break down of what I had been charged for . Not good value for money felt very over charged.

I made one personal visit and a couple of phonecalls to arrange a group booking for a group of elderly people to have a sandwich lunch. I was told just to call with numbers just before the day. I called the day before to be told that Abigail's don't take reservations (the first I had been informed of this), but not to worry as there would be absolutely no problem accommodating the group of 11. We were told to come along and they would definitely find space for us. Having brought 11 people, mainly elderly and with mobility issues by taxi from Watford for their lunch we were told that the cafe was completely full and that other than sitting outside in a cold day, we would have to go elsewhere. Not a good experience and annoyed that Abigail's were so poor with their communication and promises. I would not recommend going with a group.

Came for a coffee and a light bite at lunchtime with the family. Really lovely service, fussy son so they made beans on toast for him. Sat outside by Cathedral and it was a truly lovely experience. Thank you! Ps. Try the Welsh rarebit. Fantastic!

We (3 adults/4 young kids) came here for some afternoon drinks whilst the kids were playing in the garden/grass area. The drink and food selections (and prices!) were good and we stayed for an hour watching the world go by. It’s a cute place, hidden away and worth a visit. Casual dining I’d say but exactly what we needed with the kids running wild!

Went for a coffee and something to eat. Sat down, no one came over. I went to the counter , although there was a few people in there, the waitress looked at me but didn’t say anything so I assumed she would come over to the table to take my order. She didn’t. I saw another couple walk out as they hadn’t been served. The older man working there was as grumpy as hell. Beautiful location but won’t be going there again

We came across this lovely little cafe one bitterly cold and wet Saturday morning when exploring one of the arcades and stopped for brunchDecorated from years gone by the cafe is comfortable and was being heated by a fuel burning stove that gave a great feel to the place and was incredibly warm and cosy Menu offered a good range of items including crumpets and scones and bacon rolls.There appeared to be a daily lunch specials board which was very reasonably priced The cafe was buzzing and footfall while we were eating appeared good Staff were friendly and very attentive and service was excellent Now we have found this little hidden gem will definitely visit again and look forward to sitting outside in the little courtyard garden once the weather is warmer Well worth a visit

Friends and I meet at Abigails regularly and as far as I am concerned it is the best cafe in St Albans. I usually have a latte or 2 and they go to the trouble of making it exactly to the strength I am looking for and do so willingly. Lovely location and waitresses are friendly

Often pop into Abigail's for a cup of tea when we're in St. Albans - sitting outside in the summer is particularly nice, in the sun with a view of the Abbey. It's tucked away at the far end of the Village Arcade, and is a simple, old fashioned cafe rather than anything fancy. It's quite small inside, but ends up being friendly and cosy. The bacon sandwiches were very nice - the bread roll in particular! - and just what we needed on a cold day.

My wife and I had a very enjoyable lunch in this very traditional tea room.Service excellent and food of good quality.The ambiance and experience of going back in time added to the enjoyment.Give it a try and don't be put off by the unfavourable reviews.

Popped in for a mid afternoon snack, two teas, two sandwiches and we shared a bowl of chips £18.00 pricey for hard chips and poor quality sandwiches

Abigail's Tea Rooms in St Albans is an institution. Their Welsh Rabbit is so famous that they print the recipe on the back of the menu. This time of the year they serve their Christmas Lunch. The turkey is moist and succulent, the roast potatoes crispy and the sprouts al dente. Tremendous value at £7.95 all breast as well.

We visited Abigails for a cream tea, and found it to be a pleasant place to visit. Although it was November, we sat outside, as it was clearly very popular inside and too hot for us! The terrace outside is a charming place to sit. Service was very good, and the cream tea was a pleasant treat

The village arcade in which the cafe is located is in itself a part of time travel. In the backdrop of the towering Abbey, this cafe creates an ambiance of era gone by when people had a lot more time in their hands. The service is prompt and the decor is in line with the historical settings. The food is very reasonably priced and fresh. It serves breakfast, lunch and small eats. The welsh rarebit is a specialty here. The cakes and scones are also worth trying. The staff are friendly and very amiable. A definite place to visit for those in search of hidden gems.

Four of us went for a cup of tea last week and were very disappointed. The cup of tea was cheap enough but the staff were washing up and stacking the plates and making as much noise as they could making conversation very difficult. This did not make us feel very welcome. It is a shame as it is in a lovely position overlooking the rose gardens and Abby but the inside needs updating and brightening up. Won't be going again nor recommending it.

Far far better places to be found in St Albans. Coffee and cake is very average. The outside sitting area is nice, but apart from that not much else going for it. Place needs a make over... fast!

Visited today with my wife, had a nice lunch consisting of an egg sandwich, chips and tea. All was of a reasonable standard and the service was good. Would visit again.

I went here on Saturday 4th August 2018. Although it is in a prime location by the Abbey and looks very enticing from the outside do not venture any further!!!! I ordered ham, egg and chips. When it arrived the chips were just like the ones you get from McDonald's. They were thin, awful and cold. The ham was from a packet that you buy in Tesco's basic range where 10 slices cost £3. However, the eggs were nice. When asked for some tomato sauce I was brought a bottle of Tesco Tomato Ketchup. This cost me (if I remember correctly) £8.95. A complete and utter rip-off. Whilst there people around me were ordering things with the waitress telling them that they did not have any of what they wanted. This happened to three tables whilst I was there. This establishment uses the cheapest of the cheap ingredients and charges the earth for it. You have been warned!!!!!!!!!!!

This is a wonderful venue, very idilic location and service to match. The owner does all the cooking himself and takes pride in every dish. Very reasonably priced and many different options to choose from. If you’re looking for a place to eat or drink which is not the standard chain restaurant and boosts character, This is the place to go. Every visit has never failed to impress us. Very happy customer. Thank you to all at Abigail’s.

Toasted tea cakes and tea for two getting expensive. Have been regular visitors but will see if better value elsewhere.

Lovely from the outside and overlooking the abbey - stopped in fro a cup of tea and a piece of cake as an afternoon treat, Cake portion was large and the tea was excellent - service was fantastic too!

I used to love this place. Went today, and so disappointed. Tea was very cheap tea bags with no taste. Cream tea - poorly presented like from the 70's - old jam (very stiff like it was lying around for months), not very appetizing, and average scone. Just not what you expect these days. Fair enough a nice place to sit outside in the summer, but otherwise go somewhere else. The fact that it was filled with old age pensioners rather summed it up; I've nothing against old folk, but it is a sign that it's slipped down the market and is just surviving.

Haven’t been here for a couple of years and it is still as good as always. It is Saturday lunchtime and it is packed. People are even sitting outside in the cold but sunny weather at tables on the balcony overlooking the cathedral. We had melted cheddar cheese on toast and a soup. The soup was potato chicken and leek, and whilst a little thin, it was very tasty and came with a good size brown roll and butter. I would have had their yummy speciality of sausages, mash potato and gravy but I’m on a diet! This is a great little cafe to come to which you will find down the end of a narrow shopping arcade opposit the clock tower. The cafe if really close tho the main shopping street and the market stalls so Park in the mall car park as it is only a short walk from there. Remember it will be extra busy on market days. The serving staff and smiley, friendly and can’t do enough for you, however I was disgusted to note, that customers who paid inside at the till didn’t bother to leave a tip. Shame on you.

Called in on a reasonably busy Sunday afternoon for tea and cake. Service was exceptionally quick and friendly, cake lovely and prices were ok for St Albans and location is great. Personally I like the out date decor (especially when St Albans is full of the big chains). Will definitely go back to sample more of their delicious looking menu.

My daughter and myself were going there to have some lunch. Upon arrival, the waitress ran over to us as we walked through the door and said she couldn't let us in as the manager had left the premises for 20 minutes. There were quite a few other people sitting at tables so why were they allowed to be there if the manager wasn't there? She couldn't explain this, just told us we were not allowed on the premises for 20 minutes, or until the manager came back! Told her to forget it and we went somewhere they were happy to serve us! Will not be going back!

Went there over Xmas, very nice little place, as it was next door to the Xmas market it was an ideal place to visit for lunch, food was good nice traditional pie with potatoes and vegetables, desert was lovely and service very good.

We've just wasted 20 minutes of our lives here, sitting waiting to be served. The place was only half full with two people taking orders and taking food etc to tables. At one point the lady said 'with you in 2 minutes', and 10 minutes later she was taking an order at a table who came in after us. We walked out. Appallingly rude, slow service. I've written over 800 reviews and I can count my One Stars on One Hand. This is One of them!!

Such a great location. It kind of stops there. Inside dreary and very dated. Awful display of cakes. We were overcharged on a very simple bill. Much better options nearby.

"Don't share your table with anyone if you aren't together, because the staff have allocated tables ". That is what we were told in an unfriendly manner,when I allowed 3 people to sit at the only empty chairs in the establishment. So they would rather lose customer, than revisit the table? Who knows because it wasn't explained?! Well they have lost my customer. And if my meal is anything to go on, the food isn't certainly isn't worth returning for.

Stopped for tea and scones after shoe shopping with mum. She is so friendly and smiley I love going here for tea and cake. Which is freshly baked and changes all the time. We had scones and clotted which were the best I have ever had. Warmed!its the little touches. The cooked food looks good too. Lovely to sit outside when it is nice but also warm and cosy inside on a cold and windy day. Did I say how warm and bubbly she is!

Asked for cappuccino and milk shake, was told no milk shake! Even though on menu, so asked for cloudy lemonade but served from Tesco bottle which was flat, so asked for hot chocolate which was served so hot child could not drink! Asked for brown sugar but told don't do it. Althoughter a bad experience, will not return.

We were ravenous after exploring the cathedral nearby and decided to venture into the cafe for a brunch type affair. We were met by Abigail (we assumed) who was dressed for a night on the tiles, not for serving cooked breakfasts. After taking our order we were asked how we would like our eggs. After replying "scrambled, please" we were told in no uncertain terms "we don't do scrambled". This was possibly due to the fact that Abigail was more busy gobbling her own fare in he corner whilst talking to the cook about her weekend. She definitely couldn't be described as attentive. We were the only customers there at the time and we felt as if we were intruding on her morning of Faith Evans and chit chat. Very incongruous vibe here.The food was edible but very basic and the inability to scramble an egg for the only two customers present extraordinary to say the least. Clearly the cafe relies on its close proximity to the Cathedral, and not on its quality food or service. Needless to say we won't be returning!

A great place for a pot of tea or an English lunch. And possibly much more. I have had lunch here perhaps 30 times and have always been happy with their English food. The staff are charming and the food is very good.

This is a Beautiful little tea room with outside seating. The garden is beautiful with unbrellas to shade you in the sun.I ordered one of their jacket potatoes with prawn and prawn marie sauce which came with salad. Everything was fresh and the potato light and fluffy and not hard like some places I have eaten in.Other customers looked happy as they laughed and chatted amongst themselves. It really gave you the feeling of stepping back in time to old England. There is even a bowl with water for your dog.The staff was friendly and the prices very reasonable.Highly recommended.

After visiting St Albans abbey, we popped in here for a cup of tea.I had visited many times before years ago and hoped that it was the same. I wasn't disappointed. My hubby has a cream tea and I had a toasted tea cake.The welcome was warm and the food fresh and served promptly. The menu is very good and I will have to return to sample everything else.Good value too.

We were 13 people at £9.50 a head. We were given 2 plates of sandwiches between all of us. 1 slice of cake each and a jam and cream scone. I was disappointed with the sandwiches and that despite the custom the proprietor never approached us.

Been twice now, once with my elderly mother for Mother's Day and then again yesterday with my family including grandchildren - we weren't rushed. Quaint old style tea rooms set in a lovely location. Very accommodating and friendly staff. Makes a change from run of the mill coffee/lunch places. Aim to visit again for lunch as menu is good

Had a lovely cream tea, warmed scone with plenty of jam and clotted cream. The staff were friendly, and the view over the Abbey was breathtaking. Good selection of good on the menu at reasonable prices. Would definitely recommend.

I'm sorry to have to give this cafe such a poor rating, but with so many other places to have lunch or just a coffee and cake, it does need to pull its socks up.I visited on a Saturday afternoon with my husband. There were people sitting at the tables outside but we found a table inside, where there were about four other people eating and drinking. We looked through the menu and decided just to have coffee & cake and we waited, and waited while the three girls behind the counter talked and laughed amongst themselves. I had just decided to give it another couple of minutes and then leave, but one of the girls detached herself and came over to take our order. She was very pleasant and efficient and brought our drinks etc fairly quickly.I had an Americano and my husband had a cappuccino and we both thought that the coffee was very weak, tasteless and expensive for what it was. The cake (I am told) was fresh and nice.There didn't seem to be much in the way of customer care going on here, which is a shame considering the position it's in. Perhaps it's a case of resting on laurels, but I think I would rather go to the Bakehouse, The Abbot's Kitchen or any of the other nearby cafes on a future visit to St Albans.

Such a surreal experience stepping foot into this place. We had breakfast here and they 'couldn't do scrambled eggs' and 'don't accept card'.

Visited yesterday wife my wife and what a little gem the staff were helpful and the tea and sandwichs very good i will be visiting again soon

We visited with friends- the food was good I had an omelette which was cooked well but I was surprised when my husbands sandwich turned up on supermarket brown bread as I was expecting something a bit more special. The service was friendly and efficient. Note they only accept cash and we were nearly caught out-

We were looking for somewhere more traditional and came across Abigail's whilst getting away from the busyness of the High Street. Good menu. Friendly staff, lovely food. We would seek it out next time.

we came across this place by chance on a cold dark Friday and I'm glad we popped in!! even tho it was end of the day the service was great and cakes we had were delicious! I can imagine this place is busy in the summer so I'd suggest popping in on a cold dark day for a homely atmosphere roaring fire and some great cake!

Abigails opened specially for our Rainbow Guide unit to have a Christmas treat and it was wonderful. They couldn't have been more helpful (or understanding of the mess 20 five year olds can make)Everything looked very Christmassy and cosy and the girls loved having the place to themselves. The cake was absolutely delicious and disappeared very quickly and we had tea & coffee for all the leaders.Thank you!

After a busy day visiting the shops we were in need of refreshment. Lovely homemade cakes to go with tea. One of our number had scones which were also nice. Bear in mind that they do not take cards. They were very helpful with pointing out the bank to get cash nearby. Very relaxed atmosphere with wood fire, lovely on a cold day.

I was taken here last week by my daughter and husband as a birthday treat. I am so glad that they did as it was a little gem and I loved the gingham table clothes and a roaring fire making it so cosy. I will definitely visit this place again. The staff were very friendly and welcoming and took time to speak to my grandson. I had the Welsh Rarebit and it was mouthwateringly good! So 10 out of 10 from me and I will be back asap

Nicely positioned by the cathedral and arcade. A very warm and cosy place on this misty autumn day. Cream tea was fine (but would prefer scones to oven-warmed). Our savoury bite was the Welsh rarebit which while not too appealing to look at, is a real tasty delight. We kept the recipe to try at home. Please pop in! P.s. Could you provide something to put the used teabags in!?!

I went there yesterday with my husband and took my sister and brother-in-law. Outside is lovely under the sun with a nice view. The waitress barely smiled, didn't greet us and took our orders. We ordered coffee and scones and cheese on toast. So firstly, on its own the toast comes and nothing with it, no drinks that were ordered and no scones. So we waited. Then the coffee came, cold and very weak. So we asked to return it and the waitress took it back and didn't return till at least 10 minutes after. We had finished the cheese toast and the scones and then she returned with the coffee after we had to run after her and remind her. No apology, nothing. Scones were o.k. cheese on toast quite bland. Appalling service and will most definitely not recommend or return.

I have walked past this place numerous times wanting to give it a try, given its lovely location. Having given it a try I was greeted by not so friendly staff and extremely poor coffee. I was hoping for something so much better.

Really friendly service. Great basic good. Ideal for lunch or a lazy afternoon. Situated in central St Albans.

Location, pleasant. Ambience, mediocre. Service, average but polite. Food and drink in my opinion is well below the quality I expect for the price paid. Toilet facility is in need of serious attention, I am glad the ladies did not need it, scruffy with a seat that is in URGENT need of renewal. I could continue at some length but no point, several of these comments have been made by others but no sign of improvement.

What a find! Abigail's is my type of tea room. Warm and friendly staff, fairly varied menu, lovely crockery and well priced, delicious food in rather quaint surroundings. We have to come back to try the steak & kidney pie; then there is the jam sponge with custard...

We enjoyed a perfect afternoon tea there, very friendly staff, tasty food, good service, marvelloulsy dog friendly. Romanticaly situated, beautifull place

Had lunch here good cooked to perfection . Lovely garden surroundings. Good menu something for everyone would recommend

Had a wonderful afternoon here in St. Albans - Abigails was a perfect treat lovely food in beautiful surroundings Homemade cakes to die for and a great choice of teas and coffees Will certainly be coming back

This cafe/restaurant is located in a beautiful part of St Albans, surrounded by lovely gardens. From a far the café looks so quaint and appealing but sadly when you have food and drink there it is so dull. The food or drink is presented in the type of crockery you have at home and the food is beyond basic. I feel really upset that the owner doesn't take any notice of our comments. I wish a fabulous operator would take it over and turn it into something very special. Come Graham from Osprey - show them how it should be done.

Early coffee and cake before shopping made welcome, clean, comfy and good quality food and drink. Great start to day

Came down from newcastle for the harry potter tour and had a few hours to spare before hand, we visited st albans and somehow stummbled accross amazing hidden gem.The staff are amazingly polite and pleasant. Wonderful experience with a nice view.Hostess was amazing and cheerfull, service with a beautiful smile.

Had lunch here recently with my daughter and mother-in-law. It was a cold wet day and we wanted somewhere cosy to eat with warm food. The fire was lit (even though it was June!) and we were made extremely welcome. Two of us had the welsh rarebit which was delicious - I even made a note of the recipe so I could make it myself. The other had an all day breakfast which was also good. Afterwards we all had slices of gorgeous homemade cake - coffee, Victoria sponge and lemon curd (impossible to choose a favourite!).This is not a place for a gourmet meal or for a quick coffee but there are plenty of restaurants in St Albans for these purposes. This is a traditional tearoom which has been here for years and is consistently good with homemade food.We will definitely be back.

We had not been here for a while but visited last month as I had an appointment in the area. As always the service was polite and friendly - it feels slightly slow but Abigail's is a place to relax not an 'on the go' coffee shop. This time we had some of their excellent home made cake and coffee (coffee was OK but there are better blends). Previously we have enjoyed their signature Welsh Rarebit.Recommended, especially if you want to get away from the maddening crowd!

This is a nice little cafe tucked away by the Cathedral very nice when the sun shines and you can sit outside. Food is reasonably priced and although nothing special is nice enough for a quick lunch

Came across this place by accident even though I have lived in St. Albans for 20 years. The interior is quaint, it felt very comfortable. The menu was limited we chose ham egg and chips. Was disappointed with the food, looked like packet ham, 2 slices, 2 eggs and frozen chips, very pale looking. Oh and a bit of lettuce and tomato!!!I wish I had chosen the breakfast that I saw on another table, definitely looked better. May well give it another chance and try tea and cake as the lady who served us was lovely and friendly and the prices were reasonable.

Stopped here for a bite of lunch, the tearooms are lovely, carpeted and a fire on , the choice was limited but the food was good, the scones were lovely and got plenty of tea, the prices good too.

Loved how out of the way this cute little tea room is...we sat outside and were a few steps away from St. Albans Abbey while being in the city center.However, food was not fantastic, menu is limited (keeping in mind that this is a tea room, not restaurant).The fact they you can sit outside and soak up some sun - when sun there is - is a great asset!Was not excited about the cakes though.

I have marked this as average but we didn't actually eat there! We loved the look of this tea-room, but when we went inside, no-one came to us, there were two waitresses chatting by the counter but they didn't come over to us. We checked out the menu and it was somewhat limited so we walked out.

Lovely little tearooms at the end of a small old fashioned arcade. Greeted warmly by the waitress as we arrived who took our order and soon delivered a very large pot of tea for us to share. Not an extensive choice of sandwiches but it didn't matter, there are other options of hot food. My husbands cheese and onion toastie was yummy! The lovely fire, the old fashioned décor and the kind staff make this a good choice for a daytime snack, breakfast or lunch.

Came here for a cream tea and that is exactly what we got for £5.50 per head. One scone, one tiny pot of jam and one tiny pot of clotted cream and a small tea pot of tea for one. All Ok but nothing special at all. Add to that the girl who was serving touching both the scones without gloves on after she kept sticking her hands in hair not a great culinary experience. Furthermore she spilled the milk jug which she put on the table with her fingers in the stainless steel milk jug! Lovely... asked for a new milk which we got but really would not wish to repeat this experience. There was the owner/manager sitting at a table poring over a newspaper whilst his staff worked - every so often he got up to check on things. he didn't look like an Abigail but was apparently in charge. Shame that they can't smarten up their act and make this a really great afternoon tea experience in lovely, historical St Albans.

Met some friends for Sunday afternoon tea at this little quirky tea room. Not that easy to find but when we did it was a pleasure to come in from the outside cold into a warm room with a fire. There are only about 7 tables so it's wise to book.The menu is simple, sandwiches, cakes, poached eggs etc. I had intended to have coffee and a cake but decide to go for the poached eggs on toast and they were delicious - cooked to perfection. One friend had carrot cake which she said was moist and tasty. A few people had scones which really went down well.The only comment I will make is that the waitress seemed to hover and we were not sure whether she was trying to help or get us to leave as she wanted to go home.

I've been here several times for lunch now and afternoon tea and cake. The tearoom is right by St. Alban's Cathedral and when the Christmas Market is on in December has a wonderful outlook. They have a varied menu that should suit most needs. You should get there early as it gets pretty full quickly. The owners are so friendly and helpful.

Tucked away Abigail's can easily be missed, but is certainly worth a stop as it's perfect for those visiting St Albans tourist attractions nearby. This place is always busy, and I can see why. A cosy atmosphere and good menu, but throne thing I always visit for is the afternoon tea: rounds of sandwiches, pot of tea or a coffee, scone/jam/cream and slice of homemade cake! Just perfect.

Three of us called in for a restful drink prior to our nephew coming out of the St Albans Abbey next door following his Uni graduation ceremony. The service was efficient and friendly with a pot of tea for two and a hot chocolate with extra marshmallows for my young (18 year old) nephew, who's btother was graduating, much to his delight.

stumbled across this quirky little tea shop, enjoyed scones with jam and cream and tea in the garden.

This so called "restuarant" is disgraceful and should be closed as soon as possible by the trading stadrds department nothing that is served there is good value for money

Quite simply the worst food I have purchased in a long long time..and to that I may be thinking school dinners in the 80's. The setting is perfect in a secluded spot behind the cathedral but unfortunately the charm fell away when the food arrived.. Having noticed very average plates of sandwiches being served up I opted for "steak and ale pie and seasonal vegetables". What I would expect and what arrived... I would expect a home Made pie and fresh vegetables, what came out was a frozen pie and a frozen mix of carrots and peas, my wife's jacket potato and chilli was no different..The afternoon tea did however look quite good from a distance the only reason for a two star on this occasion.. I would syringe suggest a cup of tea and cake only here, if you are after anything more it's a big avoid from me.

We wanted a light refreshment prior to visiting the Cathedral after a longish journey and thought this looked good albeit fairly quiet. Nice looking cakes and the pot of tea for two was OK but the Teapot had seen better days although the tea was OK.. That came to some £10. When wanted a second cup of tea each we thought that a Hot Water Top up would be OK which the waitress agreed to do but asked if we would like a fresh pot which we agreed to. However they wanted a further £4.50 when we came to settle up on departure making a total cost of some £15 for two slices of cake and 2 x 2 cups of tea rather to pricey! We'll find somewhere else next time!

Visited here for lunch as wanted somewhere that wasn't a chain. Whilst the food was very nice, we were disappointed with the service. It took nearly half an hour from sitting down to being able to place our order, during which time we attempted to order at the counter but a waitress said she would take our order. She never spoke to us again and eventually another waitress came over. Food arrived very quickly which was sandwiches served with a salad, but we were never given any cutlery/serviettes which everyone else seemed to have. Unfortunately we never saw the waitress again until we had finished so never got any. Had the place been busy I could possibly have understood slower service but it was after the lunch time rush and many tables were empty. The food itself was very good but I would hesitate to return as getting a sandwich really shouldn't take that long!

We visited this quaint tea room for afternoon tea during a day trip to St Albans. It is set a the end of a replica Victorian shopping alley close to the Cathedral and Abbey.The staff were delightful and there was an array of home made cakes on offer. We settled on a cream tea for 2 and elected to sit outside in the afternoon sunshine. It wasn't overly expensive and there was a good menu for snacks etc as well. The only downer as far as we were concerned is that the waitress made no attempt to clean the not very clean table. The cream tea was delicious, the tea was piping hot and very refreshing. The toilet was small but extremely clean and fresh looking. The experience was enjoyable and we would visit again

Indifferent service, average food and one tiny, filthy toilet. No advance warning that only cash is accepted. Despite the lovely setting, we will not be returning.

Really enjoyed this beautiful tearoom. Everything was great except the Cleanliness e.g. The teapots, cups-looked stained, salts jars looked dirty, and bathroom was really dusty. The price reasonable enough but you had to pay for all the extras e.g. Tea andToast to go with breakfast.