The Wine Bar Bacchus in East Hertfordshire

Way back 40 years ago I was a regular Saturday night customer along with my then husband and step-daughter. Jon and his parents ran it and it was excellent. I moved away 19 years ago and came back to try it but the menu was poor and no different to a pub. I have not been back for years. However I returned this week and was not disappointed. My friend had the lamb tagine as she wanted a main meal and I had a jacket potato as I eat a main meal in the evening. Both excellent as was my decaff latte and my friend's G and T. We will return.

Nice ambience in here, quick service & a good choice of drinks. Food looked nice too so will be back to try that soon. Had a couple of cocktails, cosmo was good but expresso martini was a bit wishy washy so will stick to wine in future!

My suggestion would be to operate as a wine bar and not offer a food menu. As a large party not one member enjoyed the food . It looked unappealing with a taste to match. Looked like it had been made by a child shocking. Will not go again and certainly not recommend if I could give a 0 I would

I have just moved to Buntingford and wanted to walk and meet my friends for an evening meal so it was a lovely surprise to have the Wine Bar so close The food was excellent with plenty of choices, The wine is reasonably priced also. We were made to feel very welcome and couldn’t fault the service I shall certainly be returning very soon

New to area so thought we would just walk along high street and try a couple of places for a drink to get the feel of the area . We had a meal booked for 8 so saw the wine bar and thought great a wine before dinner, it was quite so we walked in and asked for 2 wines , we where told that they where about to get busy and all the tables where booked so can’t serve us . So off we went to a pub and had a drink . Later on way to restaurant we noticed wine bar still not busy just half the tables occupied so went in and asked why we where refused a drink the manager was quite rude and said they were to busy to serve us a drink . It seems to me it’s not a wine bar at all it’s a place you have to eat to have a wine that’s fine so just change the name .

Such a lovely evening. Sitting outside in the evening sun. Service great and a wonderful relaxing atmosphere. Great wine list. Andy and staff were wonderful

Food was bland and not at all appetising. I hadn’t been here for several years so thought I would give it a go but in future I will not go there again. Inside is quite nice but poor service and unimaginative menu.

It was an amazing meal had a lot of laughs and the staff were all really friendly and the food was very good

The food was average at best, I ordered Scampi and got breaded king prawns, the steak and ale pie had no flavour.

Fantastic atmosphere, Decor is warm, clean, smart and welcoming, lights aren't too bright! Very friendly and accommodating staff 😁👍 The lasagne was amazing, my partners Steak and Ale pie was fabulous too! Music was to my taste and not too loud which meant you could hold a conversation. Thank you everyone at The Wine Bar 😁

We were visiting our friend on the occasion of his wife’s birthday. She had sadly died earlier in the year and so it was an opportunity for us to raise a glass to her. We had a lovely welcome and enjoyed our meal (and the wine). We will certainly visit again.

We had a very nice lunch here last Friday. Mushroom stroganoff was excellent. The wine bar is nicely lit, good atmosphere and the owner is a great guy, helpful, smiley and always about checking all is well. Can't wait to go again.

The Fox in Aspenden was closed so we thought we would give The Wine Bar another chance.... bad idea. I had starter fish cakes, ate them as I was hungry and hubby had steak pie and mash. Again he ate his because he was tired and hungry. The mash was awful (he said he could make better) the gravy was runny and had lumps in. No atmosphere and diabolical music. We both agreed never to go there again and decided Buntingford could do with a nice Italian restaurant in town.

Ive been to the wine bar a few times and have found that its a great place for getting together for drinks but i dont suggest the cocktails. I've tried all of the options but not one of them is good enough. I think they should stick to wines and general alcoholic drinks. I haven't tried the food here.

We had a lovely antipasti platter between 3 of us that was served with plenty of fresh bread, some tasty meats, olives and feta. A great selection of wines and the owner was friendly in enough. It wasn’t very busy but there was a wait for the food, not a problem as we were told about this on arrival. The inside is in need of a little attention, and even the outside (beer garden) is a little rough and ready but we were pleasantly surprised overall. Having read the other reviews I would recommend for drinks and nibbles!

Good for a quick drink but the place still looks like it really needs a thorough refurbishment . At the moment wouldn't recommend eating there

Enjoy cocktail bars, normally larger chains but have a sweet spot for something quirky and high street based. Visited after dinner elsewhere as I'd read that they only do snacks as food really. Cocktails were ok, bit of limited menu with basis being aimed more towards wine which is fair enough. Wasn't really much to the cocktails though which is a shame and carpet needs redoing as other reviews state.Okay to pop in if local or driving through.

Food a bit "iffy" guess it really depends on who is cooking , the evening we went it was certainly no better that average !.. Owner is friendly and its a good place to go but it really does need a good revamp..... "tatty" carpet and in need of a clean up generally Still choice is limited in Buntingford so I guess that's why it survives

We visited our friends recently who live in Buntingford and had a most enjoyable meal here. The menu is rather limited but is cooked to a high standard. The white wine of the week was very good. Would recommend a visit for a relaxed and friendly atmosphere.

Popped in before going to the Viceroy for an Indian. We asked if they did cocktails and they said yes.! Well, seriously... they had no idea what a cocktail is!!

went today originally just for a coffee and partner for a hot chocolate but I was peckish so decided to order a sandwich. Partner not hungry but said he would have a bite of mine. There was an offer on the sandwiches where you could...

The prices suggest better than good quality or alternatively large portions, can't say either are being served. Still using wooden boards for service for some meals.

Visited with a friend for a catch up over dinner and wine, great atmosphere, the staff are friendly and the food, wine and cocktails were lovely! Highly recommend.

We have now used the wine bar for food several times since moving to the area.

I was invited to join a group who'd decided to visit The Wine Bar for drinks and lunch. On arrival my immediate impression was favourable. Step through the doorway into what appeared to be a quaint oldie world tavern. Small bar counter to the left, tables and chairs to the right. Proceed further into the interior where the room opens into a longish narrow extension with more tables and chairs. It's only after sitting there for a while that one begins to notice the room/s lean towards grotty, especially the badly laid carpet/s from one would guess yesteryear.

We spent a lovely couple of hours. It's not a flash blingy place but that's what makes it so comfortable. The food was delicious, the wine was stunning and the staff really pleasant and helpful.

Andy knows his booze - don't know how he keeps so thin (must be all the painting & decorating he does). An old fashioned trendy spot. Foods great, toilets bad.

He estado aquí para una bebida en varias ocasiones y tuve una experiencia agradable. Sí, el interior podría hacer con un poco de renovación, la sala de estar fuera ha pasado recientemente algunas mejoras que hace que un buen lugar en una noche cálida pero yo estaba allí, en esta ocasión para la cena y yo estaba sorprendido, más agradable actualmente!

Su pequeño gran lugar pero ahora muy triste en los bordes. Sin duda necesita reemplazar la moqueta y el conjunto necesita lugar de refrescarnos La

this wine bar has a lovely feel and look about it, the staff are always friendly and helpful and the food is amazing (the lasagne being a top favourite!!) is brilliant for just a catch up with friends or a romantic meal for 2

Bien. . . No hay palabras. Para ser honesto. A menos que un ventilador de Benidorm! ! El lugar más alcohol que vale la pena! ! La moqueta parecía que ha sido allí desde la Segunda Guerra 1. Personal del bar que no sé su espíritu. Extremadamente anticuada y obsoleta para un pueblo que viene. Lo que hace el aspecto local del club social como un bar en la final.

Tenía una noche fantástica en el bar de vinos, no se podría criticar un grupo de 9 celebrando un cumpleaños, la comida era fantástica, el servicio, la joya de lugar fabuloso que son muy afortunados de tener a la mano, gracias a todos en el...

I went there for a couple of drinks with my fiancé to have a relaxing evening.The atmosphere was excellent and the drink was lovely too.The Merlot is excellent and they even had my favourite malt Whisky, Glengoyne, and the prices are very good too.

Good value grub , served well and in a nice environment, Friendly place to meet friends , have a drink and a bite to eat . Usually buzzing and good atmosphere especially at the weekend

Came for a meeting at lunch time and ordered cheese and pickle sandwich. There was very little butter on dry white bread and the cheese was very stale. Salad on the side was acceptable but sandwich almost inedible. The saving grace was when I told the lady behind the bar I was not charged. Will not be eating there again.

Myself and my Husband visited here to celebrate our wedding anniversary. The first thing you notice is the decor very dark and depressive and then the smell hits you!! The smell of dirty cooking oil. The drinks are overpriced and the food is below average. Wouldn't eat here again.

Not impressed by the stench of stale cooking oil as we walked in, should have just had a drink and left but ate there - seriously regretting it as I ended up with food poisoning from the Green Thai prawn curry - that was actually red? Not impressed and would ward away from here if you're thinking of eating. Wine was nice and had a good selection. but overall experience was not good (my husband even commented on how I smelt of cooking oil when I got home?! Gross)

Sadly my evening spent here turnt out to be a disappointment! I wasn't overly pleased with the horrible smell of oil as I walked in, also at the end of my visit I discovered the Land lord was extremely rude and ignorant! Won't be coming back again thanks.

Really found the whiff of deep fried cooking oil off putting as we arrived. Stayed for drinks and ate elsewhere locally. Popped in again on our way home just to see if the odour had gone (it hadn't), and felt the quality of the wines we were served were well below that if the ones we'd had with our meal over the road. This place really needs to stop its deep frying.

This has recently been done up and we loved it before. It is every bit as good now. The staff were really friendly and there was a lovely selection of wines both to drink and now to buy - the wine shop has now gone in with them. There was a lovely atmosphere in there cosy but not cramped. The food was excellent I had a lovely chicken and bacon salad and my husband had a fantastic fish and chips. Chips were to die for so I did nick some from him. Reasonable prices especially if you get there between 6 and 7 when they appeared to do an early bird offer Thoroughly recommended

i know now why i don't go here, out of all the drinking establishments in buntingford this has to be the worst, must of been 6 F.O.H members and none of them knew what they were doing, Why do people who have no background in hospitality choose to come into the trade, i;ve been in this job for 40 years and it amazes me, the owner had no idea what he was doing and left young staff members to bungle there way around behind the bar, only one of them was actually serving drinks, i waited 25 minuets to get served,and when it was my turn the larger had run out , Absolute shambles, place looks grubby, out front, wouldn't like to see the rest, wont be back..

Exactly an old fashioned friendly wine bar tastey food etc.Book it gets busy on Fridays weekends etc.

Lovely food, friendly service, prices are reasonable. Would recommend and will definitely be going back

My girlfriend and I went here for breakfast on Sunday morning; it was nice, reasonably priced and had decent service. The menu was a little on the limited side but the quality was high.

The Wine Bar is a great old building that must be 3-400 years old, right on Buntingford High Street. During the day it becomes the Tea Room with tea, coffee and cake. It's absolutely buzzing on a Friday and Saturday night, and is also a great restaurant. As you'd expect, it's got a fantastic selection of wine and the staff are always keen and knowledgable to recommend you something, but at the same time they're equally happy to serve you a pint of Peroni if you prefer.I've eaten there a couple of times and the food is excellent. The Thai fish cakes are utterly brilliant. The staff are great and we've always been made to feel very welcome.

This place is in a building on the historic Buntingford High Street, so is a good place to visit if you appreciate the quirky charm of old buildings. This wine bar has suffered from a few changes of hands over the last few years, but seems to have settled down with good owners now. As you would expect, a good range of wines are offered and, as well, there is a small wine 'shop' where wines can be purchased to take away. A small range of beers are also sold. The food is of good standard and is quite plentiful and, thankfully, good value for money. We have had main meals here which were very good and also a lunchtime favourite - a ploughman's lunch that was huge! Long may this continue as the town needs an eaterie like this and lets hope in continues to be the asset it currently is.

The wine bar is a lovely place to visit. I enjoy going with friends mainly- a great girls night out with delicious food and a lovely atmosphere. The platters are great to share and Andy is always welcoming. The bar is well stocked and they also sell good wines. Andy is also good at making cocktails. Lunch is just as good and he now offers tea and cake throughout the day. The wine bar is a lovely asset to the town

One of my favourite things to do at the weekend is to go to the wine bar and have on of their breakfasts. We have also recently taken the children with us and introduced them to the wine bar breakfast treat (minus the Aspal ciders) and they really enjoyed it also! Cracking breakfast which ever one choose - we are working our way through them!

Great wine bar, great honest quality food. The fish n chips and ham egg and chips of the best quality and worth the visit.. Oh and the rest of the menu.. Great value and good heathy servings.. Exceptional wine at all prices.. Lovely period building with a friendly atmosphere..

Haven't been there since they moved their wine shop into the wine bar. Doesn't look right sitting in a wine shop eating food. The tables are crammed together so you sit far too close to other people. The food used to be pretty good but was distinctly average on this occasion. The chips (potato wedges actually) had been microwaved as they had that distinctive taste, the burger was weird & I'm not convinced it was 100% beef, tasted more like pork. I asked the manager what meat was in the burger but he didn't know. Probably won't go back.

the 'bacchus' doesn't seem to be in the name anymore, just "the wine bar" - but the address is the same, and Buntingford is too small to have many wine bars. Maybe the revised name indicates a change of management or ownership?We had a great meal - my companions has an antipasti sharing platter, which was generously loaded, and probably enough for three, I had 'homemade' lasagne, although a bit dubious on ordering, it was great, definitely not out of a packet from a mass caterer - and a huge portion.The wine was great and reasonably priced too, and service very efficient but friendly.they also offer afternoon teas - must go back and try those

Super little place for a lunchtime eat. Stopped for a quick business on many occasion and live the fish platter. Would love to visit this place of an evening.

An intimate friendly bar serving great food. Tuesday is great for the 241 on main however it would be nice for 241 across all courses. Also a drinks special would be nice. Fish and chips are outstanding. Good attentive staff, the Manager is very friendly. If we could eat out more we would be in here every week. They also do afternoon tea which seems popular.

I have been to this wine bar on many occasions over the years and always had a lovely evening. But then the new manager (Andy) took over l gave it a few shots but never again, the food is average, the decor is tired, the staff are rude and he thinks he walks on water. Well walk away.

Visited with friends before a meal at a nearby restaurant. A very pleasant atmosphere and welcoming host. Only one beer on tap, Peroni, which was very expensive. I would happily spend an evening here sharing a bottle of wine!

Enjoyed an unplanned lunch. Service was excellent, thank you Caroline and Andy for the birthday candle in my black pudding!Food was much better quality than I expected and given it was a cooked brunch it was done extremely well.Mrs D liked the butternut squash risotto too.Will definitely go again and recommend.

Fantastic food. Will definitely return and recommend to family and friends. A cosy atmosphere had a small wait to be served but well worth it.

Attended Saturday and yes they were busy but the food was extremely ordinary, such as a shame as this used to be a great place to have a drink and a bite to eat.

The menu is unpretentious but with a good choice. Andy is always happy to help with a good wine choice and the service is always professional and personal. The portions are huge and the food really well cooked. In all my partner and I really like the Wine bar and try to go a couple of times a month. As you go in, though, don't be put off by the state of the carpet. That is a bit grotty but the food is well worth it

Went here for a bite to eat and wished I had relented to hunger.The owner was so far up his own backside we were paid no attention. When he did talk he was obviously of the impression that he was far too good for his customers. The food was bland, overcooked and overpriced. I wouldn't give him my hard earned money again, my money is obviously not of his standard.Tesco value do it so much better than this.

Taken over and run by Andy from the Cellar in Buntingford, so wine is the blood in the veins. Unpretentious, great wine list to cater for all palates and a relaxed atmosphere. Food is good too and there are usually deals for early diners.

Never eaten in there since new proprietor, and wish I'd booked sooner! Service was very good, nice space between each course, staff very friendly and polite, food very generous portions, piping hot and very nice! unable to finish the carbonara - and believe me I can eat! definitely going back this weekend it was so good! x

Delish people!!!!! All the food ive tried has been lovely, and the service/atmosphere matches the food...excellent. A must go to in Buntingford.

This is a lovely cosy little wine bar. The staff are really friendly and although we didn't eat, the food looked lovely

Not been the same since the new owner has taken over. Service and atmosphere has gone downhill I am sorry to say, as used to use it a quite a bit. My last visit to this establishment was a bit like something out of the series of Fawlty Towers and the Gourmet Evening sketch!! Went as a party of 6 and had to wait ages for the food we had ordered and when it arrived one of our meals was partially cold. When we quietly raised the issue with the owner he did offer to get another one but as we had waited so long we politely declined, as everyone else had their meals and didn't want to wait any longer as restricted on time, he took it back to the kitchen and when we came to pay he ranted at us in front of all the other customers in the bar, quiet loudly, that there was nothing wrong with the meal and that he had eaten it himself when he took it back to the kitchen, which we thought was disgusting seeing as one of us had tried it, and proceeded to bring our judgement in to question. Not the way to treat paying customers, VERY rude and will not be going back.

Deceptively spacious place, great service & good choice of food. Went on a Friday night & there was a lovely atmosphere, very buzzing inside & out. I had the tempura vegetables which was absolutely massive, no way could I have eaten that and my main so I left most of it (but to be honest I had 3 pieces of cauliflower which is my least favourite veg & an odd one to batter I thought??!!) I then had the chicken special which came in a lovely spicy tomato sauce, again too large for me. I hate wasting food so I would prefer smaller portions but I guess its value for money & there are plenty out there wanting a huge plateful for their money. As I'm only local I would go back for a 2nd try.

We have been visiting this wine bar for 30 years! It is now under new ownership. The new owners have made some good changes such as making the wine bar lighter but the biggest issue is the restricted menu .lack of choice means We are unlikely to use this as a go to place as it isn't a guaranteed good evening out .

Thoroughly enjoyed our time at the local wine bar. Really pleased by the food quality, portion size, wine choice and overall value for money. Perfect service. 2 courses and drinks for four - £85. This is the exact opposite from our last visit, so consistency may be a concern.

A complete waste of time getting ready to go thereNo Atmosphere - Stunk of cooking oil - Food was dried up on service - Staff well they looked so 'On Edge' The place was dead maybe they should close up an rent it out as a flat This Wine Bar is of very very poor quality I was so embarrassed to have my family there My advice is STAY IN - GET A TAKEAWAY & A BOTTLE OF WINEDon't go to the Wine Bar Trust me you will thank meGj and on behalf of the rest of my family

Just had a lovely meal for the fourth time since the new owners took over. Can't complain. Very busy tonight and food was delicious. Well worth a visit

Called in last week to see how things were under the new owners.Previously visited many times before it changed hands last year, briefly, and then again.Used to be very busy on a Friday night so tried to ring and book a table.First problem no answer and unable to leave a message as the mailbox was full.Walked down and found the wine bar nearly empty, it was about 7pm.Spoke to the staff and found that the number had changed and it was no longer called Bacchus, just The Wine Bar.Anyway staff pleasant and helpful had some wine, in enormous glasses, and checked out the menu. In the end we decided that the menu was a tad boring and perhaps restaurant prices at a wine bar and having read the previous review decided to eat elsewhere in Buntingford. But that's an other story.Will visit again to see if things have changed.If they can get back to the standard when John ran it that would be great.

Visited with friends for an evening out/ dinner. The bar itself is ok after the refit but it's lost some of its original atmosphere( very bright with no cosy feel) and charm. We sat with some friends opposite the bar so a great spot to people watch and socialise. We decided to order food form a fairly limited menu, to start was an assortment of nachos, Bombay mix, nuts etc that had no spark to it, very bland. Mains were mixed, I had chilli pork noodles which were nice, my wife had mushroom stroganoff which was terrible( dried under heat lamps, lacked any mushroom flavour and was too hot to eat). Overall we had an ok night but to gain five stars some changes are needed! Menu, kitchen, decor/lighting.

Visited last night. New hosts, chef etc. vastly improved ... Much cleaner, wine v. Good, food good.. BUT they now offer chips but obviously haven't installed appropriate extractor fans. We sat at the far end and even this morning my clothes and hair smell of chip fat.... This matter needs addressing.

Went to Bacchus beginning of the month with my Mother, just for a quick bite to eat. We had various plates of starters including Nacho's, they were enormous. The whole meal came to £20 with a drink each, we were full to brimming. It's a little dark on entry, but the portion sizes, and service are great. It's not the Ritz, it's a local place which sees that vegetarians are well catered for, and won't break the bank. Highly recommended for a filling lunchtime treat.

So disappointed, I have been going here for some time now but my meal recently was not good, I had the Morrocan lamb & it was very gristly & only just warm, 3 tiny pieces of lamb & lots of dries apricots. bread & butter pudding was not too bad. For a Friday night it was very empty we were the only table eating, under previous management this was a very busy wine bar.

Nice meditteranean menu and well sized plates of food. Very good staff and service. Good value for money.

Visited the wine bar for the first time after a strong recommendation from a friend. The service was excellent and the staff were more then willing to help very friendly and accommodating and i was pleasantly surprised but the beautiful court yard area out the back.The wine bar is well worth a visit

The Wine Bar changed hands earlier this year & sadly the prices have risen and the atmosphere has all but disappeared.£13.60 buys a small, unremarkable bowl of chilli or mushroom stroganoff & a dessert. The place was deserted by 9:30pm on a Saturday night, when for the last 30 years it has often been standing room only.Really sad & disappointing. I hope it picks up or those few remaining patrons will go elsewhere too.

My wife and I have been fairly frequent visitors to Bacchus for over thirty years, during which time it had been run by John. He had the personality to be front of house and very good he was too. Bacchus changed hands a few months ago and we were interested to see how it was fairing under new ownership, so we went with friends at 7:30 pm one Saturday evening recently. We were shown to our reserved table towards the rear of the restaurant and our drinks order came very quickly. The waitress was very attentive and helpful, and our food also arrived in good time. As the wine bar filled up, the atmosphere improved and it felt as if there had been no change. The new owner, like John before her, served behind the bar and she was very friendly and good at her job. I think it will take time for her to have the same rapport with customers as John did but we thought that she had made a good start. We all enjoyed the evening, just as we have done many times before, and were pleased that much of the attraction of Bacchus remains as before. We will go again.

A fair selections of wine, a few bottled beers to choose from. A lot of the food is home made which adds to its charm.

The perfect little wine bar & restaurant in Buntingford - with a relaxed atmosphere and great character - high recommend booking in advance as its very popular especially on Friday nightsJon is a host with the most - always a pleasure

the order was queried and repeated back wrongly, then they proceeded to serve what they thought, and was returned to be represented with the same dish under a different name. seriously your customers are not stupid, dont try to be a carpenter if you cant carve wood

Very nice little wine bar offering a good range of reasonably priced food. Place has a nice atmosphere and the service is good and friendly. The menu is quite large for a small place and I think if they cut the menu down a bit and concentrated on just a smaller menu - it would be an even better place. Has a nice courtyard out the back. I would highly recommend this place.

This is a cosy local wine bar on the High Street which serves a decent bit of grub at reasonable prices. Not particularly big but a nice atmosphere to relax and unwind with a bottle or two of wine

So many great nights here at this lovely little, friendly, place. Good inexpensive menu, delicious wines and top staff, this family-owned and run establishment has been a part of Buntingford for many years and has never failed to be the perfect place to meet up, whatever the occasion or the group you are with.Love it and hope to keep coming back for many more years!

We were taken to Bacchus by our family as part of our birthday celebrations. There is a good menu with a wide choice of meals. This choice is widened by being able to have most of the mains meals with a coice of rice, cous cous, skins, wedges etc.We had starters and mains all of which were very tasty. Along with a good selection of wines and beer.It is obviously a busy and popular venue, so I imagine that booking is advised.My only very minor gripe was that it was very dark, some might find this really nice but I would have prefered it a little brighter.

This is my local wine bar and a great place to spend an evening with friends (particularly as I can walk to it). The food is good, inexpensive, if not haute cuisine, but with an extensive menu, ( the nacho starters are excellent!). the selection of wines are always very good, with new ones being tried all the time. The atmosphere is always congenial, and mine host, John, gives this place a personal touch and buzz, always making you welcome.Get in at 7:30 if you want to guarantee a good table. Excellent value for money!

Have eaten here on numerous occasions both at lunch and evening. John is a really friendly guy and makes everyone feel very welcome. Highly recommend.