The Higgins Pantry — Restaurant in England

This wasn't my first time dining at 'The Pantry' so my expectations were high after previous postive experiences with their service and food, however this is my first review of this friendly and well known Bedford Italian eatery. On arrival we were given a warm welcome by the front of house staff and were shown to our table promptly. There was certainly plenty of space between tables which in my opinion certainly made it covid friendly. The informal, warm and relaxed atmosphere certainly encourages a postive and enjoyable dining experience also. We ordered six tapas dishes off of the tapas menu which were delicious, freshly cooked and vibrant. I would certainly recommend you try the sautéed King Prawns and the Whitebait which were very moreish!! For my main course I ordered the Pasta Cozze which was spaghetti with mussels cooked in a white wine sauce with cherry tomatoes. All my mussels were prepared, and cooked beautifully. The spaghetti was perfectly al-dente which I prefer, and in my opinion is just how it should be cooked. My wife ordered the chicken cutlet with fries and salad which she enjoyed. The bread crumb coating covering the chicken wasn't soaked in oil but delightfully golden brown and crispy. We also sampled the lobster ravioli which was cooked to perfection along with a homemade pizza which my son really enjoyed. It has been a while since we had previously dined at the pantry, but I can honestly say in my opinion the service and food has remained excellent. Thank you for an excellent lunch, and we will certainly...

The Covid 19 measures are excellent, including the taking of my temperature! Strange but good! Staff are friendly, polite, fast and efficient and v professional! There is a great range of food on the menu at reasonable prices and a chance to share etc for a fixed price. Molto bene! The Pantry was ever popular and busy, even more so under the Eat Out deal, but we were never hurried and there was space between the tables. We were near an open door-fab! My gnocchi were delizioso and my friend enjoyed his chicken cutlet very much! My trad Tarta della Nonna with vanilla icecream was yummy! The coffee is super and strong, as expected! This is real Italian food, just as I've known it on stays in Italy with friends there. A walk or eat(!) down memory lane before the Virus! Mille grazie to friendly owner Rosanna, to the charming and speedy young Frederico and to the ever-helpful Dimitri et al. I will be returning sooner than you realise! Affettuosamente, Maggie C, a grateful and very pleasantly satiated...

I came for lunch yesterday, greeted as soon as we entered,taken to a seat that we had booked..a very noisy table nearby..the waiter who i think was the manager served us...waited not to long for our food, I noticed as we were eating he kept coming past our table to see if we had finished..when we had he didn't come to our table and take the plates he came to the side and leant over me behind a small wall and took our plates.We wanted desert so waited for him to come back, he didn't as he was busy and the place was filling up..but not once did he look over again after sitting there fifteen minutes after our meal or send someone else over with a desert menu ..we left and went somewhere else for desert and coffees where the service was wonderful...I wont come back again..I have been here a few times when it was under different management, food lovely but the noise and atmosphere im sorry is not...