Bar Azita in St Albans

We’ve been totally ignored, rude waitress not helpful. Main dish meat was chewy chicken was dry!! As were leaving manager passed by us to deal with another customer totally ignoring us. They should leave all their Turkish dishes to Turkish restaurants and stick their Paella!! Never going there again and I will not taking my staff to dine either.

A little restaurant in the heart of Harpenden. Always welcoming. Always first class food. Always excellent service.

A wide variety of cold and hot tapas, served as soon as they are ready. Good selection of wines and soft drinks. Staff are very friendly. Would definitely visit again. 5*

Fantastic food and great service as always

Bar Azita used to be my favourite restaurant. Unfortunately now they seem to be cramming too many people in the restaurant. The time limit to have a reservation is not long enough. We were told we had to vacate our table whilst we were still eating desert. When I complained we were told we could move to the bar area but there was nowhere to move to. We could only eat and drink as fast as we were served and the service was not great which meant we ran over our time!!!! Such a shame as the food is lovely but I feel it is no longer managed as well as it used to be. Do not book for an early dinner unless you are happy to eat nd drink v fast!!!!!

Welcoming service, great food. Whole family enjoyed the evening dinner. Friendly, helpful staffs. Good value for money. Will visit again.

Great food, great atmosphere! We booked last minute and we had a seat at the bar which actually added to the experience! The food was very tasty, good quality and good portions. We ordered quite a few dishes and unfortunately they did get one wrong, they bring the food out “when ready” and we weren’t sure if it was still on the way or had been brought the wrong dish, when we checked the bill it was in fact not the dish we ordered however we did not mention it as we didn’t raise it at the time due to the confusion of lots of dishes being brought out. I would ensure you make sure you get what you ordered here. They went out of their way to make us a dessert to take away as we were stuffed from the food but they looked too good not to have! Lovely cocktails, the staff are great and very friendly, it’s always busy so book in advance! I would definitely recommend and will be returning here for sure!

First time here visiting a friend. Love tapas and the food we ordered was amazing. Some great tasty dishes that we cleared away having ordered a variety of ones. Location and staff were brilliant too.

Shame that the restaurant in Hitchin doesnt use Hepa filters for it's extraction - grease fumes spill out into the neighbourhood, running everyone's time in adjacent gardens. Low rating given as the restaurant seem indifferent to the situation.

Super epic food and super awesome epic service!! Croquettes and padron peppers are amaaaaZing

Dear Bar Azita, this review is because your kitchen ventilation is polluting the residents that live behind and above your business. This is a serious public health concern, and has been reported to environmental health who should be in contact with you. I will happily remove this review once the issue has been addressed.

Amazing cozy tapas restaurant in the heart of Harpender! My husband and I celebrated our wedding there and were very pleased with great service, tasty food, and a beautiful atmosphere 😍. Special thanks for the complementary glass of champagne

Birthday tapas meal was fantastic, lots of choice and all beautiful cooked and presented. Staff were friendly and attentive.

This is my go to restaurant out of anywhere in the country. Pure perfection

Nothing was fresh falafel is not falafel nothing was what it was supposed to be

I tried the vegetarian and pescarian options which were nice, and very tasty churros Some Halal options would make this much better

A bit disappointed with our experience overall. We walked in and there was a member of staff at the bar ignored us for a few minutes and then walked into the restaurant and ushered a waitress to show us to our table. He did not welcome us smile or anything made me feel very awkward. However the waitress who served us was really nice and tried her best. Food was ok, taramaslata starter with pitta was delicious. Main was ok, although chicken over done and that slaw has no flavour. Rice also very plain and not authentic. 12% service charge was a bit steep and I do not think it should be in place I found it very expensive for what it was and the atmosphere in there is frosty and not the most welcoming. I’ve had lunch before and had a different experience.

Thank you to the Bar Azita staff. Celebrating our anniversary ❤️ we had the best time. Food as usual was amazing! Great service and atmosphere and cocktails 🍸. Can't wait to return.

Katy’s service was absolutely impeccable. She’s a real credit to this bar.

Nice feel, with nice food and competent staff.

I have been coming here for years, the food is always amazing as well as the service. Good cocktails too, I’ll be back again.

The menu offered a tasty combination of Persian/Mediterranean/Eastern choices. The quality of the food was excellent, and the well-behaved and friendly staff provided top-notch service. However, it can get a bit busy, and there may be some fussiness.

My friends and I are very happy to have lunch in Bar Azita today, they provided very nice service and amazing Mediterranean food. Choral grilled Pitta breads dipped with Bademjansalata (signature Char-grilled aubergine dip) and Tzatziki are mouthwatering. Swordfish and chicken skewers are absolutely delicious!

Food was okay but the space is quite small and when it’s even slightly busy it is quite hot and made it uncomfortable. 9/23

Very impressed with the food staff and ambience. good work team BA.!!! 😊👍💕

Excellent food in a very relaxed atmosphere and the service was amazing! All staff very attentive and professional especially the lovely young lady that served us. Thanks for a lovely afternoon.

Have always experienced amazing service and incredibly delicious food. Every time we go to eat there the people are welcoming, very friendly and accommodating. Highly recommend going at least once a month :)

been at bar azita few times and always great service, good food my friends really enjoyed it as well ! excellent i would say

Second visit in 5 years, just as good as I remembered it 👍

Excellent food, friendly staff. We had the Tapas lunch deal, which was superb value.

An enjoyable lunch with a friend. The humous and the patatas brava were great, although the vegetable kebab was a bit disappointing, I knew I should have gone with the falafel instead.

This is one of, if not, our favourite restaurants in Harpenden. It never fails to impress. We visited for lunch last week. The service was great, food was delicious and we are already looking forward to our next visit. If you are looking for a menu with lots of protein and vegetable options - Bar Azita is a great choice!

Loving the food, lots of choice and high quality... The place has a great atmosphere

Meal out for my nieces 16th. Had better tapas but it was ok. I think it depended on what you had. Was very busy for 5.30pm booking but then again it was Saturday!!

Food was really good service was excellent real gem of a place 👌

Saturday evening Tapas with a friend. We were served by Beth who was extremely attentive and friendly. Made our experience very pleasant and we thoroughly enjoyed food and drinks. Back soon!

Lunch outside in the October (!) sun. Great value special "tapas rapido" for 3 mezze dishes. Also highly recommend the Albarino wine

Great food with excellent service and a good atmosphere.

Excellent food, great service and a fantastic atmosphere. You cant go wrong.

Slight issue with one of my dishes, which wasn't a big deal. However manager did not take kindly to my gentle feedback and made me feel uncomfortable.

Friendly helpful staff and owner, delicious filling food and cold beer. Lovely for a lunch.

Nice relaxed place, good service - food was a mixed bag. Meat off the grill was nice but the rest was lacking/ bland and I think some was very similar to just deep fried frozen stuff from shop. (like the prawns)

I love both locations. They have a comfortable up market vibe that I completely here for! The servers are always so polite 💕

8 of us had an excellent and very long lunch. Food was great and our server was brilliant.

One of the best tapas I have ever had , we had a meat and a fish platter between 4 of us, superb,2 bottles of wine and 4beers and I think the bill was around 120 quid. Brilliant

Been a few times and the food is usually exceptional but on one occasion some of the food was a on the bland side. Shared the Mediterranean platter and while most of the selection was good, some of the fried fish was on the greasy side. On the plus side, the cold starters are fantastic, the Olivieh is a must try. Service was good with staff very attentive even at busy periods (which is always). Wine selection also very good, one of the nicest whites I've tasted is from here.

Great food, drink and atmosphere

Casual night out with friends - have been here lots of times and always enjoy. The hospitality is good and it’s a great place for a chilled night out with friends. I love the informality of it all and how everyone can share dishes - it’s good fun, good value and good quality. Looking forward to the next time.

Nice atmosphere, food v mediocre

Superb recommend a visit we traveled 30 miles as we heard the tapas was good and we were disappointed

Wonderful food and atmosphere. The staff were all excellent and took great care of our larger group. The food was delicious - all of the vegetables were beautifully seasoned and dressed perfectly, but the highlight was the pita and aubergine dip (in the picture). It was such a wonderful surprise, smoky, beautifully spiced and smooth, perfect with the excellent pita. I’d love to come back here again, it’s an excellent spot for any occasion!

Couldn't fault the food. Everything was excellent and the service too.However, when we ordered Sangria it came without a stirrer and we couldn't get the fruit out of the bottom of the jug. In hindsight I should have asked for a long spoon. Also, if it's a sunny afternoon avoid the round table at the front in the window. We were placed there and it was very hot and uncomfortable. I asked if they had an awning to protect us from the sun and heat but there wasn't one. They have them at the side of the restaurant though but that didn't help us So please bear that in mind if you go there on a sunny afternoon/evening.

If you like Mediterranean tapas then you will like it here.Great atmosphere and great service.

Good Mediterranean food if you’re wanting a fix in the area :)

Food is soooooo good here, highly recommend x

Went there for lunch. Had the Chicken Shishlik with a Punch (drink) and an Affogato. All were very good and the service was good. My biggest complaints are : 1. the price of the chicken which was 17£ and that came only with a portion of salad. Again, it was tasty but 17 ? I think it's a bit expensive. 2. The service charge of 12% which translates to "tip". I was actually surprised to see this on my bill. This is a US trend that should die there. Tipping should be voluntary and I say this as someone who worked as a waiter. 3. The atmosphere. The blame goes on the interior design and the music. Both are fine but they didn't make me feel comfortable, relaxed or at home for me to stay longer and maybe enjoy a coffee or another Punch. Will I be back ? Maybe sometime in the future.

Great food and drinks. Service excellent. We all really enjoyed our food.

Poor service, unfriendly staff, rushing you all the time, over priced food and to top it all they add a 12% service charge on your bill, it couldn't get any worse.

Terrible unfriendly service, over priced food and the worst of all they add 12% service charge on over priced food and poor service.

Was actually really disappointed tonight, we had a large group who were celebrating and from the get go we had rude waiters, thought nothing of it until one of our friends (who we were there celebrating) didn’t even get one dish served after the rest of the table had already finished theirs, she had to ask for her main to be served. Our plates were being taken away before we’d finished and we had to keep on saying “please leave it I’m not finished.” To which we got frosty receptions from the waiters. I even had my alcoholic drink taken before I’d finished it. Along with this, we had around 3 different waiters hurrying us out of the restaurant because there was another party even though they had served the meals late and scowled the entire time. Felt rushed, not welcomed and like we were a hassle for the waiters. We were there for around an hour and 10 minutes, I’d understand if we occupied the table for 3 hours but we barely got past the hour. On top of this at the end, the rude staff tried to add a 12% service charge for essentially kicking us out. I’m really not happy with this service.

Was actually really disappointed tonight, we had a large group who were celebrating and from the get go we had rude waiters, thought nothing of it until one of our friends (who we were there celebrating) didn’t even get one dish served after the rest of the table had already finished theirs, she had to ask for her main to be served. Our plates were being taken away before we’d finished and we had to keep on saying “please leave it I’m not finished.” To which we got frosty receptions from the waiters. I even had my alcoholic drink taken before I’d finished it. Along with this, we had around 3 different waiters hurrying us out of the restaurant because there was another party even though they had served the meals late and scowled the entire time. Felt rushed, not welcomed and like we were a hassle for the waiters. We were there for around an hour and 10 minutes, I’d understand if we occupied the table for 3 hours but we barely got past the hour. On top of this at the end, the rude staff tried to add a 12% service charge for essentially kicking us out. I’m really not happy with this service.

2nd time here and the food is amazing, will come again when in the area

As a recently diagnosed coeliac I was relieved that there were good gluten free options, including gluten free pitta for my dips, and that the staff and chefs seemed to have a good understanding of cross contamination so I felt very confident and had an amazing meal. No separate fryer so couldn't have chips or anything fried but that didn't matter as plenty of other options. We went for my husband's birthday and they were kind enough to make his dessert extra special with a candle and happy birthday piped in chocolate on top and even didn't charge for it!

Delicious food, friendly service and good value.

Best service I've experienced in a long time

This is a lovely restaurant, great food and very friendly staff. I couldn't pick a favourite from everything we ate as it was all superb. Ill definitely be going back again.

Very Greasy and over priced food, I suggest Tabur in Harpenden for a quality meal that is far more authentic… !

This is my go to Tapas restaurant. The food is always on point!

Great food & very friendly staff. After all these year it's been running it still has great standards 😁.

The food and service was excellent. No provided parking.

Went this evening for a surprise party, staff were amazing, food was fabulous, everyone enjoyed themselves with no complaints. Highly recommend

Good service. Been here a couple of times for cocktails but finally tried the food. Would definitely return !

Had a lovely meal this evening. Great vegan and non-vegan options. Very tasty food and lovely prosecco and beer. Friendly service. Well worth the money.

Hadn’t been here for a few years but it hasn’t changed, thankfully. Lovely tapas-style food; quality ingredients and well cooked/seasoned. The potato chips were a little soggy, but didn’t detract from the overall experience. Lovely cosy feel in the front area with high tables. All of the staff are brilliant - highly recommended!

Really nice restaurant with lots of menu choice. Nicely decorated and friendly staff. We had boquerones (whitebait), falafel, aubergine with honey, pork pinchitos, & swordfish shishlik. The pork and swordfish were very nice, the rest - ever so slightly over fried, but good enough. A lovely atmosphere, some over pricing here and there, but a good restaurant overall. We enjoyed it

Very nice place good atmosphere good Spanish tapas I will recommend if around

What a great atmosphere. Excellent end polite staff. The menu has great variation and selection from local sourced food. It's is busy all the times every time we visited. Great bar and an excellent wine choice menu. As they say, you can't go wrong here. We were there on business, but many private party diners as well. To be revisited soon !

Always a fantastic meal and ambience guaranteed. We frequent Bar Azita often and recommend often too. The food is delicious, the staff are always polite but fun too. Restaurant is clean. Wine is good. What else is there to say?

Another great visit to Bar Azita! The food is consistently delicious, the staff are friendly and helpful. Highly recommend.

Loved the atmosphere, the nice staff and the wonderful food very much!! The haloumi (both fries and grilled) and the falafels with humus were awesome. And fantastic cocktails 🍹

Couldn't seem to deal with a large party

A great evening spent with friends. Very tasty and fresh food. Would highly recommend a visit.

Such a wonderful place to eat on a Wednesday night great food lovely staff wonderful atmosphere most tables were full

Love Bar Azita! Fabulous cocktails and the food is amazing. My problem is I can't chose and end up ordering more food than one person should eat! Highly recommend.

Good atmosphere, good service. Food was quite good but as they serve foods from different styles of cuisine, no dishes blow you away. But the concept is good and I would recommend for a good night out

Love this place. Always a good vibe walking in and the servers were very professional and friendly. And don't get me started on the chicken skewers and taramasalata. So mouth watering, saliva almost flew out of my mouth across the restaurant. In short: I LOVE THIS PLACE

Not sure if the restaurant is under new management but we were left feeling down trodden by manager Lindsey on Saturday evening. We totally understand that the restaurant gets busy so tried our luck to get a space at the bar (does not require booking), after seeing the pair in front of us receive such a warm welcome for a similar request we did not expect that it would be any different for us. We were initially ignored by Lindsey who went directly to the group behind us in the queue, then told despite there being two spaces at the bar that we would not be allowed to sit there as it was “too busy”. After offering to take a walk and come back later we were told there would not be any space for us at all this evening. Again, we are aware that the restaurant gets very busy but it’s a shame that treatment is not the same for all customers. Sad to be leaving this review as we’ve been coming to this restaurant for years.

Amazing ambience, amazing staff, amazing food. We were completely gob-smacked with the quality of food; everything well seasoned full of textures, colours and flavours. The best experience when going out for a romantic dinner, guys. Incredibly satisfying and worth every penny. Thumbs up!

Went for a xmas works night out...Great food and alot of it and all delicious. There was 15 of us and we had to preorder service and food kept coming..

Excellent service and great food menu for vegetarian too..loved it

Some food needs a best presentation. For me the cheese board was ruined with the oil they poured on it. Should be on the side. Patatas bravas.... well, they are supposed to be spicy... and they were sweet ...

Visted for birthday meal, had a reservation (would definitely recommend making reservation beforehand as gets busy esp at weekend) Food was lovely really enjoyed it, have dietary requirement and were very careful with order. At the end of meal they brought out plate with happy birthday and ice cream was such nice surprise. Overall lovely time and would recommend to visit.

First time visited, took my husband for his 60th birthday lunch after reading some great reviews. Staff were friendly and service was good. Sadly, this was as far as the compliments go as the starters were overcooked, dry and the main (Lamb Souvlaki) was overdone and incinerated, resulting in dry, tough, charcoal lamb. Not sure how you can go wrong with a sald, but that was also achieved spectacularly with a paltry wilted offering. A real shame as was so looking forward to it. Not worth the bill, that despite advising our server (not that we needed to as half the plate was still there) made no offer to discount the meal or any kind of gesture. Starters of Lamb meatballs and Falafel lacked any flavour. I guess the Hummus was OK, but pitta was hard and not fresh. Surprised at the previous reviews rating this restaurant as certainly did not match our experience. O am not one for giving bad reviews but on this occasion it was necessary, hopefully this was a one off and tye chef was having a bad day!

Bar Azita has offered consistently good service and tasty meze for several years. We are never disappointed and the prices are reasonable. The atmosphere is buzzing since it is a popular place.

3rd visit. Consistent service ,food & atmosphere. Buzzing but not too noisy, so suits groups or couples. Sharing platter option gives you something to talk about & plenty to eat !

We visited after not having been for well over a year due to Covid, however the food was not as good as we remembered. We were advised a small salad came with the platters but this wasn’t true for the seafood one. The prawns were delicious and the cod squares soft and succulent, however the sword fish was dry, one chunk of the three was inedible. The whitebait heavily breadcrumbed, and again dry. The meat platter looked better it did have some salad, the chicken was nice but the sausage and lamb very over cooked and the first piece of lamb was pure gristle. The lamb was replaced but of course when a dish has to be replaced, it’s brought up when everything else is finished! Overall it was a disappointing evening, food wise.

My friend took me to Bar Azita for a belated birthday dinner! It was amazing! We had booked a table inside but as the weather was fantastic they offered us a table outside! I felt like I was on holiday! Our waitress was so attentive and lovely. We started with the Rose Sangria which was so delicious that we got a second jug! We shared the couples vegetarian platter which was amazing! The food was hot and fresh- and plenty for the two of us! We’ll definitely be returning!

Had dinner Alfresco tonight despite the dull weather, the welcome and service was warm.Kept warm with the patio heaters. Service from our wine waiter and lovely waitress was wonderful, food good too.It was our anniversary and you helped make it special.Looking forward to our next visit. Thanks a lot.

Decided to lunch here as it was close to the train station and the reviews were good. I’m so glad we did! The staff very kindly let us have our table earlier than we’d booked and were all so welcoming, friendly and helpful. The food was delicious, freshly cooked, served quickly and great value. Myself and my three daughters were visiting Harpenden, my mum’s birthplace, to mark the 20th anniversary of her death. The staff and the food at Bar Azita really helped to make this a special visit for all of us.

Wonderful to be back inside at our favourite restaurant. We sampled some of the delicious new cocktails and the swordfish and prawn skewers were amazing Will definitely be visiting again soon