Al-Farid — Restaurant in St Albans

We stumbled across Al-Farid during a tour of St Albans - it was the flowers in the window and decor that caught our eye so we returned for dinner.

It was really important that there were plenty of Gluten-Free options for our friend - often the GF party can feel left out, but not here! So many options.

We instantly felt part of the family, with beaming smiles from staff and we were personally taken care of by Azi who pre-empted everything, from drinks, to more serving spoons and side plates...Azi thought of everything and then let us enjoy the experience.

The menu has really good options, with an easy layout and reasonable prices. Portions were just right, not too small or overwhelmingly big either. I'd recommend the 'Kissed by Rose' cocktail with gin, rose water and grenadine which was a sparkling delight garnished with rose petals. I've never enjoyed a cocktail so much, I feel so much passion and thought has gone into delighting customers with flavour and presentation.

OK, so the most important thing here, THE FOOD, oh my goodness. I have enjoyed cuisine like this in central London Mayfair etc. and nothing compares. You are getting real authentic Moroccan food, lovingly prepared. When the food arrived beautifully presented, we stopped talking and just Mmmmm'ed for about 5 minutes. I had the Al Bahr Tagine which had a generous portion of sweet succulent king prawns, baby squid and cubed squash which was so tasty served with rice or cous cous. I tried some of the lamb tagine, which you could tell would have taken many hours to marinate and then slow cook, meat does not just fall of the bone like that. So good, I'm jealous that I don't live in St Albans because this would definitely become a favourite haunt, well, we're already talking about returning...it was worth the late train ride home!

Azi pointed out the chef as he left, and we literally applauded - I'm sure I heard someone whisper "will you marry me" hahaha

I cannot recommend this place enough, I just hope I can get a booking when I do decide to return. I think it's a fairly new business from what I gathered but if they've got things so right already, I can only imagine what these two business women have planned for the future

5* from us Azi and Mo - we wish you all the best in...

UPDATE FEB 2024: I don’t what’s happened here, but it’s now one of my favourite places to eat out in St Albans. Possibly a change of management? Either way, food, service and atmosphere have all been great when I’ve been the last three times in a row.

OLD: I write this review while still sat here on Saturday (28th May) and wow what a hugely disappointing experience. I was clean shaven when I got here. Now have a full on bushy beard. Not sure who if these good reviews are paid for or just ignorant to bad quality and service.

We had booked a table for 18:30, but when we arrived they didn’t have the booking despite confirming it via email. Not a great start.

They then proceeded to give us the worst table in the restaurant as a last minute thing. We asked for another table and they obliged. Fair enough. Starters came in good time (average), but nearly an hour to get our mains (just okay). Everyone else seemed to get theirs in good time. That said, a few tables around us got wrong orders. Funnily enough, they still got replacements faster than we got our mains. We got compensated with a free drink. Fair enough again, but genuinely infuriating.

Now sat here waiting for someone to bring the tea and baklava. Might be 2023 by the time we get them...

Went there last Monday for a friends birthday as she'd been there before and recommended it. The food was excellent and reasonably priced. Had a selection of meze dishes (their tomato sauce that accompanied their meatballs was to die for!!). Then I had lamb fillets and my friend the duck tagine in molasses which were both delicious! Later a lady (I assume the manageress) came over to chat about the dishes and asked what they could do differently to improve them and whether we like the choices on the menu. Nice to be asked our opinion but not much to say as everything was great anyway! After the meal the manageress gave us a free pot of mint tea which was very nice and refreshing. She also, after finding out we were there to celebrate my friend's birthday, went away and brought a cake out with a candle in it for her which was very touching. They also sang happy birthday! Lol To cap it all, I'd been raving to her about how lovely the tomato sauce was and she went away and brought me a pot to take home which was a pleasant surprise! Lovely staff there, super lovely food - what more could...