Dining In St Albans: Here’s Where Your Next Date Night Should Be
23 Feb 2019
I’m slightly loathe to use the term ‘date night’ but I have yet to formulate a better description of the evenings where G and I leave the flat together to go dine out and dally over food and wine. We eat together nearly every night and yet it’s the act of deliberately sitting down to eat somewhere different that somehow makes you feel newly connected. Date nights are important and should not be rushed. Here’s some of my favourite places to go in St Albans:
For Friday or Saturday: The Bishops Cave / The Gin Cave
I’ve talked about The Bishop’s Cave before; the moment I knew a cheese and wine bar was opening in St Albans I was there (read more here) and took my girls the last time they came to visit. Honestly, I just think it’s the best. This little bar, with its lovely lovely vibes, serves cheese, antipasti, wine and craft beer. The moment you walk in, you’re faced with a huge cheese counter with at least 40 different types of cheese. The staff are really attentive and seem to delight in finding you a cheese that you haven’t tried before and really like. It has just the right balance of feeling busy and yet like you have your own secluded corner. On our most recent visit, we were moseying on over to celebrate our anniversary when we noticed that, right next door, The Gin Cave had opened! Same guys, same branding but this cute little bar specialises in – you guessed it – gin. Have a gin before or after your cheese; either way, what a great night out. The Bishop’s Cave is quite small and very popular so you really do need to book in advance, but I promise it’s worth the wait.
For Sunday: Bill’s*
Fun fact: when we first moved to St Albans, I assumed Bill’s was an independent restaurant. Quite how I’d managed to miss all the other Bill’s dotted around the country, I dunno, but that’s not the point. It just has that vibe. It maintains its independent-restaurant quality despite the fact that it’s not and I think that’s part of the reason I go back again and again. Last year, Bill’s had a make-over (which I wrote about here) and the food and décor is still just as dreamy a year on. Expect vintage sofas, luxurious velvet chintz chairs, walls decorated with antiques and lovely pops of colour. The food is beautifully presented but lacks pretention; it’s tasty and wholesome. Whilst Bill’s is famous for the brunches (which tbf, are amazing), on our most recent visit* G and I spent a cosy Sunday evening in there and it dawned on me that Bill's is actually the perfect place for a Sunday date night in the winter. We had a big bowl of mac & cheese (for yours truly) and wellington & mash for G. Topped off with apple & salted caramel crumble (for me) and lemon meringue pie in a glass (for G). They let us sit undisturbed for as long as we wanted; no ‘table required back after one hour’ – a crime against dining out in my opinion. We just sipped on their pink lemonade and nattered whilst sat on comfy sofas; perfect Sunday evening date night.
For whenever: The Pudding Stop
Ah The Pudding Stop. On balance, I will probably miss this place the most when we leave St Albans. Often busy, a little more hectic perhaps, but what a bloody lovely concept. Puddings! All the puddings! You couldn’t get a better setting for a date. Indulge in their counter selection (the butterscotch blondies are my fave) or get serious and settled with their pudding menu (I really need to try the chocolate chip bread and butter pudding). Go for the evening (they are open until 11) and add in a glass of wine. Go in the morning and have their amazing pancakes – also highly recommend the Oreo milkshake. Hell, go whenever you fancy – eat in, takeaway – all the options. They even now do bake-at-home puddings which you can pop in the oven and boom, baked cookie dough pudding on the sofa for tonight’s date anyone? Oh and they have an online store so even if you don’t live nearby, you can still partake in the joy.
*Our recent meal at Bill’s was complimentary but all love my own.
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