The Red Lion — Restaurant in East Hertfordshire

My pizza was undercooked! The base was stodgy and raw in places and the pizza was really tasteless. It also looked and tasted like a pre-made factory prepared base rather than a homemade one (for a place marketing itself as an independent Italian restaurant, I really would have expected homemade bases on their pizzas). I told the waitress and the excuse was that the kitchen staff were rushing as they were closing. Our booking was for 20:30 on a Friday, not really a late time for dinner, so surprised about this.

However, given our experience, not surprised how empty the restaurant was. We were the only people there. We did try to go to this place on a previous date on a Friday about 21:00, and were turned away due to the kitchen being closed. We witnessed the same when we were there this time with another group of friends people turning up a little later than us. On a Friday the restaurant is advertised as being open till midnight on their website.

Another note is that the service charge is also added to the bill... a little presumptuous of them.

With so much other great Italian dining in east herts, why bother with poor quality food like this? We will not be returning and would not recommend this...

The Red Lion has, without doubt, the best food in Stanstead Abbotts. The menu is regularly updated and includes the usual good pub fare complemented by imaginative and beautifully realised dishes. The friendly staff will work to meet most requests: An array of starters served like tapas? No problem. Something from the bar menu in the restaurant? No problem. With real ale, a great landlord who bothers to greet all his visitors and the ability to be flexible...here the customer is king. I have taken many parties from my workplace for reunions here and still get messages from a colleague to left to live in Tasmania citing the Red Lion as 'the best place I ever ate'. Don't get me wrong, this is no country restaurant, it is a good pub with an outstanding restaurant that more people should visit. Give this...

Went to the Red lion on Sunday afternoon with all my family and friends for a birthday treat. Being a Sunday tradition most of the family ordered the roast dinners along with many other Italian dishes . This restaurant is worth travelling a few extra miles if you really love your food and value for money . The roast was simply the best we have tasted in years . The meat so succulent and the vegetables were ( As Tina Turner would say) simply the best . I must admit I need to follow their example and put a lot more effort into my cooking . Although I could eat at the Red Lion every day . Well done the top man who has the best chef and staff making our afternoon a really wonderful experience. All highly rated by the Dalton Family...