White Horse, Harpenden

We visited this impressive restaurant with an open mind with it being under new management. We were greeted by a statuesque woman, who while stunning to look at and very accomodating, was dressed for a night on the town and seemed to be at odds with the staff, particularly with the dress code. A simple but elegant suit would have been far more professional.

We did wait an awful long time for service of any kind and when the long awaited and much needed starters arrived they were more 'tasters' or apperitifs, mine was finished before I had deciphered the individual tastes, of which there were many.

Main courses, again small, but perfecty formed. I couldn't fault the food, the taste, quality and presentation, all fantastic but the portion sizes again are very, very small. However, on the plus side there was room for dessert which was amazing!!!

The actual waitresses, the one's that run food and clear tables, as opposed to those taking orders, are lovely, friendly, helpful, smiley. The order takers are slow and reluctant to offer drinks, which on a long wait is a must.

The building has been refurbished recently and is very nice. Tasteful. However, the ladies toilet was dirty. The initial impact, with its round stone sinks and large mirror, lovely, but the pipework and behind doors is not good and not the image being portrayed outside. And... No smoking area, no outside heating and no gazebo, umbrella or lean to. So, obligatory post meal cigar in the rain!

16 May 2009 10:33

The George, Harpenden

Looking for an early doors meal , most places in Harpenden stop serving food between 3 and 6, The George should stop serving food altogether! We ordered burgers with stilton and caramelised onion chutney. Despite being the only customers in the place we waited an age, and the burgers arrived without onion chutney, which was actually needed to mask the taste of a particularly ropey burger and the stilton which on it's own can be a bit fierce. The staff, two of them leaning on the counter and making themselves coffee avoided us like the plague and I eventually had to approach them in order to ask for the chutney. It came, eventually in a paper sauce pot with a scowl. The wine was ok but the orange and lemonade ordered was made with flat lemonade and fairly unpleasant. Iwould not recommend The george to anyoneover over school leaving age. The only saving grace was, the Yummy Mummies had gone home and we did not have to eat in a nursery as can occur most lunchtimes. Definitely to be avoided for food.

8 Feb 2009 21:24

Silver Cup, Harpenden

Spent a very enjoyable Saturday evening here, the meal was wonderfully cooked and of superior quality to others in Harpenden, the restaurant intimate and the staff friendly and accomodating. I would recommend The Silver Cup to anyone looking for a 'proper' meal, not just a mass produced chain menu or an over priced 'locally sourced' cop out. A refreshing change!

8 Feb 2009 21:15