The best restaurants in St Albans East of England

This lovely reading room cafe was host to a Burns Night Poetry event which was my first time in this quaint little space. It was so inviting. Anna was there to greet customers and make them feel like being welcomed into a friend's home for coffee. There were all the hot drinks on offer and flavoured brownies too. The poetry readings were beautiful in this small space; everyone felt welcomed and comfortable reading and sharing their works for an hour together here. I will definitely return to a future event or just pop in while I'm in St. Albans. It's a hidden gem in the heart of town; great for working, writing, reading, playing a game of chess or catching up with friends over a hot cup of tea. Definitely not to be missed!

Great tea and coffee while charging my car

A beautiful setting by the water on a sunny evening, 1st was the house red wine which was delicious followed by an amazing 3 courses, The organic beef short rib which was a delightful & one of the best starters I have ever tasted ( please make this a main course) I then went for the rump of lamb which was cooked to perfection & then finished with a knickerbocker glory! What a treat!!! Our waiter Daniel was excellent & very attentive & knowledgeable about the dishes he also kept our wine topped up, we will certainly return so we can sample more of this superb menu, thanks for making our Saturday evening a memorable one.

Our son lives nearby and had already tried and enjoyed it here so took us back and I gather has been again since with his girlfriend. We sat outside as it was hot. The staff were really welcoming, helpful and friendly. It is dog friendly so a big plus for us. I had salmon teriyaki and it was delicious. My husband and son also really enjoyed their meals. Good sized portions and extremely well priced. All cooked freshly too. My son likened it to Wagamama's and we all agreed that it was superior and half the price! We will definitely go back when visiting St Albans.

Fantastic breakfast can’t believe we had never been in here before COVID regulations in place feeling very safe. Staff very nice and patient nothing to much trouble cafe is extremely clean and hygiene regulations followed to a T,kitchen is very clean and you can clearly see the chef how clean he works and perfectly cooks everything to the correct temperature totally recommended this cafe can’t wait to go back.Looking forward to trying other dishes

I visited Bean Central on a lovely sunny morning, so was able to take advantage of the south facing area outside the shop to sit and enjoy my coffee. The coffee was very good. There was a small selection of snacks and cookies available (for those, like me, who cannot resist a cake or cookie with a decent cup of tea or coffee). Bean Central is a tiny coffee bar in what used to part of Arif Gardner’s photographic studios (which still occupies most of the building). It was Arif who told me to give this coffee shop a try, but it took we a while to do so as Bean Central is only open on weekday mornings (and has even shorter opening hours during school holidays). Well recommend it you are passing (PS Arif is also a great photographer if you are ever in need of a professional photographer).

Cannot remember a better pizza - ever! Dough base perfect - just the right thickness, soft & yummy. All toppings tasty and fresh. We had Adam & his van at our office today - absolutely brilliant. Needs a restaurant - for sure. 10/10 and food gold star . Bravo and thank you so much

Lovely food, huge portion and super tasty. We went on a Thursday that currently has BYOB which we thought was great! Staff super helpful and attentive. Would highly recommend this hidden gem in St Albans!

Really good food. PLACE NOW DOESN'T EXIST.

Gracey’s Pizza – St Albans Review Location & Atmosphere (4/5) Tucked away on a quiet parade in St Albans, Gracey’s Pizza is the definition of a hidden gem—blink and you’ll miss it. Small, charming, and with room for just 10 diners inside, it has that cosy, independent vibe. Pro tip: Book your pizza (or dough) in advance. Like many independents these days, once they’re out of dough, that’s it. I got lucky with a 45-minute wait, but walk-ins behind me were turned away. Annoying? Maybe. But it’s part of supporting small-batch, quality-focused spots. The Pizza (4/5) I went for the Marg (12”), marketed as New Haven style. Now, what makes a pizza “New Haven”? Think of it as New York’s thinner, slightly charred cousin—meant to have a light dusting of cheese, a bit of chew, and those signature charred spots. • Gracey’s version leaned more thin and crunchy than chewy, but honestly—who cares about strict authenticity when it tastes this good? • There was a nice slight char, a crispy base, and the sauce and toppings were solid. • It wasn’t a mind-blowing, life-changing pizza, but it was a damn good one—the kind you’d be grateful to have as a local option. Value for Money (4/5) At £12, it’s fairly priced for an artisan-style pizza with quality ingredients. If you’re local, it’s a no-brainer. For those travelling in, it’s worth it—just not a weekly pilgrimage. Drinks (1/5) Quick side note: the non-alcoholic beer was dreadful—easily the worst I’ve had. Avoid it entirely. Overall Rating: 4/5 Gracey’s Pizza delivers a tasty, well-made pizza in a cosy, no-frills setting. Whether or not it ticks every box for a true New Haven style doesn’t really matter—what counts is that it’s good pizza. If you’re local, you’re lucky. If you’re travelling from London, it’s worth a visit—but pre-book and manage expectations around wait times. Would I return? Yes—but I’ll plan ahead next time.

Get coffee here 3-5 times a week. Superb product and great service. A wonderful local business.

Perfect food and service every time we come. We could not recomend Ross and his team more highly, thank you. David. Free parking as well.

Family of six which included our two grandsons went early evening on Saturday 1/02/2020. All the meals we had especially the pizza were delicious.The service was great and all the staff were very obliging. We would certainly go back again in the future. Show less

It feels like home from home, everyone is so friendly and welcoming. The food is fresh, presented beautifully and at a decent price! You aren't just getting a great meal or drink though, you become part of the community to help people develop their catering and hospitality skills. You'll leave feeling full of nice food and the positive warm fuzzy vibes