Diners' Choice: Lively restaurants in Hertfordshire

OpenTable

Updated April 05, 2025

Looking for restaurants that have the most vibrant bar scenes in Hertfordshire? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Judges Restaurant & Cocktail bar

4.7

4.7 (895)

£26 to £40

Modern European

Potters Bar

About the restaurant

"Judges restaurant and cocktail bar, formerly known as The Sun, is situated in the beautiful village of Northaw on the village green. This landmark Grade II listed building has, over many long months, been lovingly restored to its rightful glory. With a modern eclectic European and British menu, Carlos believes in sourcing local produce from artisan suppliers, where the provenance and quality of the foods are fully traceable. Whether you’re enjoying a glass of something sparkling under one of our chandeliers or having a scrumptious afternoon tea by the log fire, our bar and restaurant mix period features with modern day elegance, creating a memorable dining experience. Our cocktail bar and lounge areas are the perfect space for just popping by for an espresso martini or a light bite. Perfect for a relaxed evening drink with friends and informal eating from our brasserie style menu.
We look forward to welcoming you to CARLOS@JUDGES

Top review

Elizabeth

Dined 7 days ago

A lovely place to eat. Everything very comfortable from good soft chairs to noise level. The food was excellent, portions just right and a wonderful choice. Service excellent.

Lavish Bar & Grill

4.7

4.7 (1416)

£26 to £40

Mediterranean

Stevenage

About the restaurant

We are a mediterranean inspired grill in the heart of Stevenage Old Town, serving the very best steaks, grills and fresh fish alongside some amazing cocktails.
Our steaks are our signature dish, these are very carefully sourced and cooked by our master grill chefs on the word renowned Josper grill.

Our restaurant is rated no 1 on trip advisor.

We have live music every Friday.

We look forward to welcoming you, please call our reservations team for any further information.

Top review

Melanie

Dined on Apr 20, 2025

Really great food. Staff were extremely helpful, friendly and hospitable.

Spark Bar & Kitchen

4.7

4.7 (395)

£25 and under

Turkish

Hoddesdon

About the restaurant

Our Turkish restaurant aims to provide customers with supreme taste, renowned quality of service, a pleasant dining experience, and is determined to become the best Turkish restaurant in Hoddesdon and the UK. Please advised on Friday and Saturday booking before 8pm have a 2 hour time limit.

Top review

Michele

Dined on Apr 15, 2025

As always fantastic service and food . New things on the menu.

Ember

4.7

4.7 (61)

£26 to £40

European

Hertford

About the restaurant

Nestled inside the iconic 42 Fore Street, this dimly lit restaurant provides a unique venue combining the rustic charm of ember-cooked cuisine with the vibrant energy of a vintage listening bar.

Top review

KatherineVIP

Dined on Apr 17, 2025

This was so good! Great atmosphere, as advertised there is loudish music, it felt busy (in a good way), lovely warm lighting, temperature etc. Great menu, so good that we’ve already decided what we’ll have next time. Every dish that came out was so tasty, we shared small plates and every one was a talking point. Excellent wine too. Service was great. Overall, a prefect experience. It felt like good value and I can’t wait to go again!

Hermitage Rd Bar & Restaurant

4.6

4.6 (2662)

£26 to £40

British

Hitchin

About the restaurant

Set in the impressive former 1930s Hitchin ballroom, on the first floor, Hermitage Rd restaurant & bar boasts a seasonal, award winning and sustainable premium food offer, from the awarding winning ACI team and a bar renowned for it's bespoke cocktails, quality wine and beer range. Recently refurbished.

Additionally we also have a street-level wine bar, which we collaborated with the award-winning Nyetimber to create. This intimate and romantic space can be hired exclusively, and is open on Friday & Saturdays only from 5pm. We serve a variety of small plates, including oysters and is perfect for a pre dinner glass/snack.

Our coffee shop has also expanded and offers an amazing space to socialise and/or work, open 7 days a week, offering dine-in or take-away bagels and PACT Coffee, plus various size meeting rooms for hire. The coffee shop is also available for evening hire as a venue for private parties, corporate bashes, book launches etc.

Top review

Ona

Dined on Apr 21, 2025

Delish food and lovely service as always, will of course be back!

Craft & Cleaver - St Albans

4.6

4.6 (1668)

£26 to £40

Barbecue

St. Albans

About the restaurant

Craft & Cleaver is an Industrial, Brooklyn-Inspired Barbecue Joint & Bar – bringing authentic wood-fired Barbecue, expertly-sourced Craft Beer & awesome Cocktails to St. Albans.

A great venue for date night, weekend Brunch or any celebration - we've got you covered with booths, restaurant & garden seating.

Proudly independent, open 7 days a week!

Top review

RichardVIP

Dined 4 days ago

Friendly service and great food. A good night out.

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Experience

Bottomless Brunch

Craft & Cleaver - Hitchin

4.5

4.5 (303)

£26 to £40

Barbecue

Hitchin

About the restaurant

Craft & Cleaver is a Brooklyn-Inspired Barbecue Restaurant & Bar – bringing authentic wood-fired Barbecue, expertly-sourced Craft Beer & awesome Cocktails to Hitchin.

Proudly independent, open 7 days a week!

Top review

Adam

Dined 3 days ago

Staff were absolutely wonderful, the food was perfect.

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Experience

Bottomless Brunch

BHAGEECHA

4.4

4.4 (749)

£26 to £40

Indian

Radlett

About the restaurant

SHARED PASSION
For owners Mishal and Sundeep, food has always been a way to bring families, friends and communities together, a way to celebrate life and share stories.
Mishal vividly remembers fragrant aromas and laughter filling the air at garden parties as her father cooked in huge pots over a coal stove. It was here that her passion for food began, inspired by her father’s experimental and creative dishes.
For Sundeep, it’s the childhood trips back to India and memories of eating fresh dhal and fluffy rotis at roadside cafes in Punjab that he savours most. The atmosphere, the aromas and the flavours all evoke a delightful sense of coming home.
And it is his innate understanding of the link between food and celebration that helped Sundeep build a successful banqueting business in the heart of North West London.
It’s this passion, this emotional connection and joy for eating that the couple now bring to Bhageecha.
Friday and Saturday after 7pm, kids under the age of 10 aren't allowed

Top review

Ravi

Dined 3 days ago

Excellent food & service . Enjoyed lovely starters, cocktails! Loved tarka daal & haveli kofta!

The Bank

4.4

4.4 (119)

£26 to £40

Indian

Rickmansworth

About the restaurant

Welcome to The Bank, where the artistry of Indian cuisine meets the elegance of fine dining. Nestled in the heart of Chorleywood, right next to the Chorleywood Station, The Bank is a gastronomic adventure that celebrates the timeless allure of Indian ingredients, where every meal is a celebration of flavour, culture, and unparalleled hospitality. Whether you’re looking for a quiet modern Indian meal at the restaurant, a hearty Indian brunch, a private dining room for intimate gatherings, a few quiet drinks in our ‘Meeting Room’, an evening to socialise with specially curated cocktails at the ‘Atrium’, or simply experience India through our journey of exquisite flavours - you name it, we will make it happen for you at THE BANK, Chorleywood.

Parking Made Easy:
-Free on-street parking on single yellow lines after 6pm.
- Chorleywood Station car park (3-minute walk).
- Chorleywood Golf Course parking (available after 2pm, 3-minute walk).
Need help? Call ahead we’re happy to assist.

Top review

Helen

Dined on Apr 17, 2025

Very good food and Rahul was a very attentive server seeing to our every need. We have been here before and it's a great place to eat.

The Terrace at Sópers

4.3

4.3 (84)

£25 and under

British

Potters Bar

About the restaurant

Situated in the heart of Cuffley, The Terrace brasserie & Bar offers a blend of familiar luxury and understated sophistication. Our all-day British dining restaurant boasts a modern, light, and spacious interior. Whether you prefer the inviting ambiance of our main dining area or the refreshing outdoor atmosphere of our terrace, we provide a welcoming space for you to indulge in seasonal favourites.

Our menu is a celebration of gourmet British flavours, meticulously crafted with attention to detail. Join us on Sundays for our renowned roast dinners, where we also offer delectable sharing boards for a communal dining experience.

We are open to everyone of all ages. However, we ask that no under 18s are in The Terrace after 7:30pm on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. We take card payments only.

Please note ID is required to enter the restaurant on Friday evenings. We offer live music on Fridays from 7pm - We hope you enjoy!

Top review

Helen

Dined on Apr 20, 2025

Lovely venue, our waitress was efficient and polite but we were served the wine by someone else who just left the unopened bottle on the table for us. Sunday roast was good but there were not enough vegetables .

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Experience

Sunday Roast Lunch

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