Discover Bedford's Best Restaurants
Bedford, a charming town in the heart of England, is not just known for its rich history and picturesque landscapes, but also for its vibrant culinary scene. The town boasts a plethora of restaurants that cater to a wide range of palates, offering everything from traditional British fare to exotic international cuisine. Whether you're a food connoisseur seeking gourmet dining or a casual diner looking for a cozy eatery, Bedford's best restaurants have something to offer. This article will guide you through the top-rated dining establishments in Bedford, highlighting their unique offerings, ambiance, and why they are considered the best in town.
Eatalia restaurant italian
4.4
(342)
Reviews:
Loved everything about the experience shared with my dad at this restaurant. The food was great, the atmosphere was brilliant and the attention to customer service was second to none. Looking forward to coming back again to try the other meals on the menu. Highly recommended!!
Tendayi JF Garande
A lovely, authentic Italian restaurant. The ambience, decorations, and the charming character of the restaurant really gave the feeling of being in Italy. The food was remarkable and the service was excellent! Our waitress was attentive and efficient. Best food and service I have experienced for a while. Will come back again!
Kiran K
We had a lovely dinner at Eatalia. Starters were great, especially the garlic bread with cheese, but my tomato and mozzarella could have been cut more nicely. We had lasagnia, which was tasty, a bit fatty and came with nice side salad. Other main was chicken penne. Overall the taste was nice, but peppers seemed overcooked. I would congratulate the staff, because the service was great. Would like to come back to try some desserts.
sypske
love this place! one of Bedford's best kept secrets. highly rated as the best Italian pasta restaurant in Bedford. Bedford is fondly known as the little Italy of the United Kingdom as stated recently by the BBC. and if you are coming to Bedford for the first time, make sure you pay this hidden gem a visit. rated on the gourmet guide also and completely well deserved. personally I have dined at this restaurant multiple times and I highly recommend the mussels for the starter and the Carbonara is just simply amazing. I normally opt in in for the large glass of house red, I've no idea what it is but it is also simply amazing.
Chris Jarman
My family love this place! We came as a party of ten. Be advised that while the staff are extremely accommodating this is more of an intimate setting so best suited to smaller groups. The staff are lovely and the food is amazing. The restaurant is down some stairs off the high Street.
Angela Smith
72 High St, Bedford MK40 1NN, UK
Poppins restaurants bedford
4.4
(381)
No-frills family chain restaurant with an all-day menu of traditional British favourites.
Reviews:
First time in this restaurant - passed it regularly for years - always saw people inside. Dinner type of service, a bit dated but clean, friendly atmosphere, polite staff, affordable food. Seemed like lots of regular goers. As it is on High street very convenient for breakfast or lunch.
janetta k
We had a mid week breakfast delivery from Just Eat from Poppins. Delivered very quickly, it was delicious, food quality ingredients and freshly cooked. Probably cheaper than me buying and cooking myself.
J T
Myself and my friend popped on here for lunch. We sat down and a waitress named Ellie came to take our order and within 5 mins. She was polite and helpful. I ordered a Lemonade and my friend had a cup of tea. We then ordered two breakfasts. Hot, fresh and delicious. A good sized plate of food well worth trying. Clean and tidy. We left full and happy. Well worth popping in for either a lite snack or main meal. Waitresses and Chef/staff were very friendly.
Ruby red lips nicky b
Ordered breakfasts for two this morning and it arrived well before time. It was hot and delicious and the driver who delivered was very courteous and cheerful. Will definitely be ordering again
Shirley Battle
First time in this cafe. I was nicely impressed. Friendly staff, clean. I had a big breakfast very tasty and reasonable priced. I would go back.
paul northwood
84 High St, Bedford MK40 1NN, UK
Albero lounge
4.5
(466)
All-day, globally inspired fare in a cosy dining room, plus 5 hotel rooms overlooking the river.
Reviews:
Went for lunch today, made our order and food arrived. I asked the girl for dressing and vinegar but she never returned. I had to return my chips 3 times as they were not hot and by the time they returned hot I had eaten the rest of my meal. Not the service you expect or to eat your meal in 2 stages and not bring everything you asked. Not good enough. Lots of tables left with empty plates of food and not cleaned, plenty of staff and only a couple staff doing any work. Very unorganized.
Debbs Hughes
Absolutely fab find for a room. Recommended to us and definitely worth a stay. Just a shame we couldn't really take advantage of the room more. And top it off complimentary breakfast (anything off the brunch menu) with hot and cold drinks both included which we weren't aware of until we checked in. The value of the inclusive breakfast, impeccable size, decor and cleanliness of the room, combined with thoughtful, friendly and welcoming staff makes this place stand out above many corporate mainstream hotel brands. Massive Thank You to Albero Lounge. Cannot recommend you enough.
Anna Ward
Absolutely loved our stay at your hotel thank you so much! 🫶 Very welcoming and a beautiful hotel. Absolutely loved the decor, one of the reasons I booked with you. The place was immaculate and loved all the little extras we got in the bathroom and in the room. The bath and shower was divine and the beds was so comfortable, had the best couple of nights sleep I've had in ages! The location is lovely and veiw from our room was to 🥰. Didn't hear any of the other guests or noise from our room. The staff was brilliant and seen to all of our needs and went out of their way for us. I will definitely be coming back again soon! Thank you for a fab couple of days, it was just what I needed ❤️. Would definitely recommend you!
Sara Tindall
Absolutely fantastic! Room was pure luxury. Fabulous view of the river outside the window. Superb furnishings, including Bath in the bedroom, easy chair, desk, rainfall shower, tea & coffee facility. Customer service was excellent and the food delicious. Can't praise this hotel enough! 5* and highly recommended
Andy “Andy1303” B
Have had many nice experiences at the Albero lounge, however on one occasion the food took over an hour to arrive, this experience was very negative. We neglected to book so we’re sat outside which was understandable however we were provided with blankets that had dried snot all over them. The taste of the food is good and there is a wide variety of meals available, the value for money is acceptable. In general would recommend this restaurant as is a good place to meet for a lunch meal with friends.
Harriet Chaplin
Cowper Building, Riverside Square, Bedford MK40 1AY, UK
La terrazza bedford
4.8
(133)
Reviews:
Excellent dining experience in a hidden gem in the heart of the town! The serving staff couldn’t do enough for us, which was so refreshing….even the chef came out to thank us for our comments on the delicious food. We had the prawn starter, (amazing sauce and huge juicy prawns), prawn spaghetti, chicken supreme and rigatoni with Italian sausage and Burrata. All fantastic dishes. We have already booked our next meal there! Lovely restaurant, food cooked with gorgeous ingredients and clearly with passion, and great ambience - music was perfect - with a friendly and attentive staff. Thank you for a great evening!
Philippa Cooper
Excellent place to have a romantic meal with your other half, that's exactly what I did. We went for lunch to celebrate my wife's birthday and I am glad to have chosen this restaurant. The service is excellent, as it is the menu and the wine selection. I recommend this restaurant without reservation.
Rafa Lobo
Popped in for a late Saturday lunch. Friendly and attentive service was just right, not overbearing at all. Calamari, a salmon croqueta and gnocchi with San Marzano tomatoes and aubergine were fresh and generous. Go and find it!
Christopher Freeman
Overall everything was fantastic. So tasty food, you can feel that is freshly prepared. Strongly recommended this place to try Italian cuisine.
Aleksandra Rzeznik
This is the best restaurant in Bedford centre. A hidden gem just off the high street and competitive with some of the out of town 5* destinations. A great meal, with excellent service. Give it a try, you’ll be impressed.
Mike Richardson
2a Ram Yard, Bedford MK40 1AL, UK
Miller & carter bedford
4.4
(1714)
Warmly-lit, casual eatery offering 30-day aged British & Irish chops plus wine & cocktails.
Reviews:
Great location, parking is close in the multi-storey or electric cars only right next door. The service was slow at first, but as soon as Amanda took our order, she was amazing. She was thoughtful and attentive, and her knowledge of the menu was outstanding. Great attention to detail. The food was brilliant, completely flawless, and the drinks, cocktails, and beer were well made and chilled. The only issue, if it is one, is that some customers were dressed down, and for a place like this, you'd expect a little more of an effort from your punters. However, the service, food, and everything else completely outshone any issue.
Kyle
My wife and I had our anniversary here earlier in the month. It was simple to book a table using the website. However, just make sure once you select a time that the date hasn't reverted back to today. The service was excellent, and our shared starter was bread with olive pieces inside with dipping oil side, very delicious. We both had different steaks, and instead of vegetables like peas, instead you are served with a portion of a lettuce chunk with your choice of side on it, mine was bacon bits with sauce and I belive my wife had cheese on hers (difficult to remember as it was a few weeks ago). The food itself was absolutely succulent, some of the best steak that we have ever tasted, they specialise in steaks and it definitely shows. Price range depends on how many courses you have and what you have as your main, but we spent roughly £30 per person, which included a shared starter, three drinks between us, and two main courses. Whilst the price is somewhat higher than other local restaurants, the taste of the food alone is worth the price.
Jonny Of The Internet
Having never been here before because of the price, we decided to go during lunch time to take advantage of their two courses for £14 offer. At lunch time the restaurant was mostly empty, we received great service and the food came out promptly. The steak & burger were both cooked really well and tasted delicious. The chips were quite disappointing, lacking flavour. The mayonnaise that they serve is also some kind of off-brand and doesn’t compliment the food well. The ice cream desert was simply three scoops of ice cream and half a cookie snapped into a glass. The apple pie was vegan and served with custard. Both of these dishes were very simple, but tasty and enjoyable. Overall it’s a pleasant place to eat that serves good food, the steak in particular is very good, as it should be for a steak house. It loses a star due to the disappointing chips and also the interior feeling as if it needs a refurb.
Mike Sorbo
Very nice place with exceptional service (thank you Amanda, you have been above and beyond; that personal touch was lovely). We enjoyed our food however I'd say I'd love to have it pipping hot. Saying that our wishes have been fulfilled. We wanted not too much salt and all sauces we prefer to be served separately. I've had a lamb rack and my companion a burger. Very tasty. We also had Miller & Carter house red wine. Very light and pleasant to drink. I was also pleasantly surprised they have a fish on their menu. We will come back.
Anna C.
The dish we had was fabulous & the server was polite & efficient. Ambience was nice. Quality of steak was amazing very little gristle, cooked as ordered - so soft. The ‘steak experience’ dish was well worth the money paid. Great service which added to our special occasion on a Monday night!
LRobs
Unit 4C Riverside Cl, Bedford MK40 1NY, UK
Zizzi - bedford
3.9
(947)
Italian chain restaurant for pizza & calzone on wooden boards, plus traditional pastas.
Reviews:
Zizzi is a chain of restaurants across UK. The Bedford outlet is located right by the riverside, so the view is great! The pastas and desserts are good. Service is warm and friendly. I tried the tortellini and sweet cannoli. Both good. Not too heavy. Quite fresh. There are enough options for vegetarians.
Ajit Bhaskar
Unfortunately, we didn't have a great experience. To be fair, some could probably breeze through Zizzi in Bedford, or any other Zizzi and it'd probably be fine, but having been a customer of Zizzi for many years, I can honestly say it's gone downhill. If you have a food allergy, you are told that you have to order using a QR code and an app, whether you like it or not. We felt discriminated against as a result. We then didn't realise that the app immediately orders everything you put into it, without having the functionality to amend the order. To me, it feel like the restaurant equivalent of a self checkout. Zizzi obviously doing whatever possible to reduce costs, albeit at the expense of customer experience. My son's pasta was bland, and my pizza was bang average. Worst of all, was that I made a complaint, so I didn't have to leave a 2* review on Google, and asked for my money back. Thanks for the offer of £20 having spent £115 on a substandard dinner Zizzi. You can keep it. My advice would be to find a local, independent pizzeria. Must be loads in Bedford.
Edward Smith
My partner and visited before we went to show in Town. Great food with a really chilled atmosphere. Big thanks to Ornela who was our waitress, great service with some top banter, really made the evening that little bit more special.
Nigel
We came in for lunch yesterday, and we were surprised to see that the place was actually a bit empty. I would have expected the students at Bedford College to be ramming the place for lunch, but not this time. Perhaps a 5 star review might help! 😇 Zizzi is ideal for all meals, be it a light lunch or a big evening meal. I can heartily recommend the cheesy chili garlic bread, a spicy take on an established classic! 😋 For my main I had a chicken and spinach calzone, and it was delicious. Chicken, ham, mushrooms, spinach, mozzarella and bechemel sauce - it sounds like an improbable combo, but trust me, it works incredibly well! Their coffees all cone in intriguing glasses, as well ☕️ My partner, who has coeliac disease, also feels very safe ordering from here, as all the pastas and pizza doughs can be prepared gluten free. We'll be back for lunch and dinner, for sure 🍕🍝
Benjamin Kelly
Nice food Brilliant service but the chairs are very uncomfortable, had back pain all week. Our waiter was fantastic, nothing was to much trouble and very friendly, top marks to him.
Melissa Tyrrell
Unit 3A Merchant Pl, Riverside Cl, Bedford MK40 1AS, UK
The st helena restaurant
4.8
(250)
British fine dining in an elegant, country-house restaurant with antique decor and garden seating.
Reviews:
Second visit after deciding we'd come back for a special occasion, and we were not disappointed. This time it was nice enough to sit outside for a drink before eating, in the attractive garden. The restaurant is a nice environment, and the service was overall very good. Enjoyed all of the food and another very good evening.
Chris Bing
What an amazing experience! Food was exceptional, service was outstanding, very attentive staff, atmosphere excellent. Truly worthy of a 5/5 star review!
Keith Fetherston
Can't fault it x wonderful food, perfect for a special occasion, lovely staff and hosts x
Angie King
I dined for the first time at St Helena's in Elstow on Wednesday after hearing from friends of their experiences. I was not disappointed. The setting was beautiful, staff's attention to detail was superb and the food, well, my son who is 6 foot 7 and has hollow legs rolled out of there, full and very happy. The food was amazing. Well presented and absolutely delicious. I was so full, I couldn't have the coffee. Thank you St Helena for making my retirement visit a visit that I'll always treasure x
Iona Rudder
Fine dinning at its best, amazing food and exceptional service, Raff and his team of staff make you welcome the minute you enter the restaurant, would recommend this restaurant for any occasion and if you get a chance try pre dinner drinks in the wonderful grounds.
Andrew Lorraine
High St, Elstow, Bedford MK42 9XP, UK