Best Restaurants in Bedford
Bedford, a charming town known for its rich history and picturesque landscapes, is also a haven for food lovers. The town boasts a diverse culinary scene that caters to a variety of palates. From cozy cafes serving comfort food to upscale dining establishments offering gourmet cuisine, Bedford has it all. This article will guide you through some of the best restaurants in Bedford, each offering a unique dining experience. Whether you're a local looking to explore new dining options or a tourist seeking to experience the town's culinary delights, this list will serve as your ultimate guide to the best eateries in Bedford.
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
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
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
Indiya
4.6
(554)
Cool, blue and white contemporary restaurant serving Modern Indian cuisine, with a takeaway option.
Reviews:
I recently dined at Indiya where Jimmy provided exceptional service. His knowledge of the menu and recommendations made my dining experience truly enjoyable. The food was delicious, and Jimmy's attentive and friendly service added to the overall satisfaction of the evening.
Footy
The best and most amazing Indian food of Bedford I can say. We organised our baby's first get-together. From the day of our planning to the last minute of leaving...the entire staff, manager and cook were so hospitable. I and all our guests were so mesmerised by the reception, food quality, and proportion customisation...the staff gave us the dining experience of a star restaurant. Now my all guests have scheduled to throw their party here only in Bedford. They even took care of kids and teens who were allergic to foods by giving replacements...without charging extra. I am speechless with everything we received. We forgot to bring a few things back home. The very next evening I was again warmly welcomed and I felt so amazing. Dining is not just a business for them...also keeping diners happy so that they keep returning it the key to their success.
JAIDEEP SARKAR
Visited this place with family from out of town. We ordered the platter, the food looked lost on the platter as there was so little of it. Strangely we all felt that the food was bland, almost sweet so we specially ordered food with extra chilli. We ordered the chicken jalfrezi, king prawn curry and fish curry. All of the food tasted under seasoned and once again it was sweet, inedible and disappointing. My verdict is that the food is definitely not cooked authentically, in fact I would go as far as to say it's reheated from frozen. Stay away from here if you like your food seasoned and cooked authentically. A real shame.
skeeny moe
Excellent food, atmosphere was relaxed and vibrant (already beginning to get busy at 5pm Saturday). Lovely decor with the fabulous fish tank. Would definitely recommend this spot for small dinners or big gatherings. Plenty of parking right next door. The food was so authentic and tasty :) Service was wonderful. 5 star from us!
Samantha Tarbit
The food is tasty, the restaurant is clean and has very nice service.
Aleksandra Rzeznik
1-3, Broadway House, The Broadway, Bedford MK40 2TE, UK
Blue monk nepalese & indian restaurant
4.4
(301)
Reviews:
Staying in Bedford for a few nights for work, I decided to walk into town for a takeaway. I came across this restaurant & called in. The gentlemen at reception was very polite & gave me a takeaway menu. I was impressed with the restaurant & decided to eat in. I ordered a starter & a curried steak for main. I was given some poppadoms & a selection of beautiful dips which I used with the starter & main as there was loads! The food was sensational, beautiful flavours! I will call again for sure 👍
Ben
Having dined at other Nepalese restaurants I thought it was only right to try and compare the Blue Monk, another Nepalese restaurant with excellent reviews on Google and TripAdvisor for both cuisine and service. Sadly my expectations were left wanting, and in my opinion the Blue Monk lacked in service and portion size. Firstly there was no continuity in service as we had a different server for our drinks as we had for our starters and main, and we both felt we were being rushed to order (it wasn't as if they were busy as they only had one other table of 4 people). My friend tried to order the lamb shank only to be told by a different waiter it was unavailable as they only cooked the lamb shank on a Friday for the weekend. If this was the case why was it on the menu??? The waiter who served us for our starters and mains continued to hover over us whilst we tried to eat our food repeatedly asking my friend if his Chicken Madras was ok. My friend had repeatedly told him it was fine even though it wasn't his first choice. This we felt was very off putting and even after my friend had asked the waiter on numerous occasions his food was fine, the waiter continued to hover over us until my friend finally lost his patience and asked him to leave our table while we ate. I ordered the Kadha Jhinga as a starter, in my opinion the portion size was disappointing as this starter only consisted of 3 King Prawns. For my main I ordered the Macher Jhol with special fried rice, the fish was nicely cooked and the spicing was nicely balanced, however the portion sizes were again disappointing. The pricing at Blue Monk is reasonable, but in my opinion the overall dining experience is lacking. Would I return??? or recommend??? I'm not so sure!!!
Stuart Shuker
Incredible! Delicious, authentic food and not your typical Indian - several interesting twists on the menu and a good range of fish dishes. I had the Lamb Momo and the Macher Jhol (spicy halibut with a lovely sauce and potatoes), with Sag Paneer (crisp, well seasoned and one of the best I’ve had) and mushroom rice. Great service, reasonably priced and definitely recommended!
Peter McGurk
A fantastic restaurant with friendly service, great food and very reasonable prices. You won’t be disappointed. My photos don't do it justice, but as you can see my focus was on sampling the delights presented.
Jasper Bundy
Ordered a lamb naga and lamb Jalfrezi on Monday night. I asked for extra hot and spicy and the chef cooked these as requested which is fantastic. The food is absolutely amazing! The portions are very good and the flavours are out of this world. I highly recommend Blue Monk. This is my new go to for a guaranteed decent curry.
michelle H
19 High St, Bedford MK40 1RY, UK