Craft & Cleaver — Restaurant in St Albans

Absolutely delighted with our visit to Craft & Cleaver! It was an extraordinary evening, transforming our dinner into a memorable 'date night.' The outdoor heating in our designated cubicle added a cozy touch, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere. The staff's friendliness further enhanced our experience, making us feel genuinely welcomed.

Now, let's talk about the food – nothing short of fantastic! Craft & Cleaver takes pride in delivering barbecue perfection. From the smoked ribs to the brisket and other American BBQ staples, each dish showcased imaginative flavors that left our taste buds thoroughly satisfied. The portions were generous, ensuring a hearty and fulfilling dining experience.

And the desserts? Simply to die for! Craft & Cleaver didn't just meet our expectations; it exceeded them, leaving us eager to return for another culinary adventure. The commitment to quality and taste was evident in every bite.

Beyond the culinary delights, the ambiance of the restaurant added to the overall enjoyment of our evening. The contemporary setting with cozy corners and the option of outdoor heated booths created a vibrant yet intimate atmosphere. Craft & Cleaver has successfully curated a space that caters to a diverse range of preferences.

Moreover, we appreciate the pride Craft & Cleaver takes in being an independent barbecue joint, craft beer house, and cocktail bar. This commitment to independence adds a unique charm to the establishment. It's evident that the venue isn't just a place to eat; it's a celebration of culinary creativity and the joy of sharing good food and drinks.

We also want to highlight the thoughtful touch of being open seven days a week. This flexibility ensures that patrons can indulge in Craft & Cleaver's offerings at their convenience, making it a go-to spot for any day of the week.

In summary, our visit to Craft & Cleaver was nothing short of spectacular. The combination of exceptional food, warm ambiance, and friendly staff has left a lasting impression. We wholeheartedly thank Craft & Cleaver for providing us with a truly great night out, and we're already looking forward to our next visit. Craft & Cleaver is undeniably a gem in St. Albans, proudly independent and consistently delivering a top-notch dining experience. Highly...

Overall a very positive experience with a few areas for improvement

To start with the positives: the staff were lovely - we were there with my baby and they were really accommodating, all very friendly, and overall did a good job. Food was mostly very good - the brisket burnt ends were absolutely delicious, the chilli and cheese sausage was excellent, kids Mac n cheese delicious and big portions, fries very good. Drinks yummy: 1x cocktail and 1x ice tea, both fab

Not so good points: They are offering free kids meals in school holidays (before 5pm) - I confirmed this when we ordered, but unfortunately the kids meal was still charged, and as my husband went to get the bill and didn't double check, we accidentally paid for the kids meal. I queried this and they were helpful and friendly in refunding it, but ideally it shouldn't have been added to the bill in the first place, especially as I had checked at the time of ordering. Whilst the vast majority of the food was great, there were two items which weren't quite as great: the corn ribs were mediocre - they didn't look or taste at all charred or grilled, and were covered in seasoning mostly made of dry herbs and spices so they had a powdery/gritty outside texture - these could definitely use improvement. The other item was the ribs - my husband had these as part of the combo plate (2x meat, 2x side, 1x sauce for £28) these tasted delicious, but there was not much meat at all on them - even compared to other ribs - so didn't feel great value for money.

We would absolutely go back here and commend the staff on their positive and friendly attitude, but just wanted to highlight these...

The Food is nice and the service was great but for me it didn't really represent value for money. What you see in the picture is the pitmaster tray for 2, described as follows:-

"Our signature platter of Burnt Ends, House-recipe Bacon (there was no bacon), Fennel & Rosemary Sausage (very tasty), Carnitas-style Pulled Pork (about a spoonful and it was a little cold), a Full Rack of Baby Back Ribs (see photo) & Buttermilk Fried Wings (probably 4 drumlets, so two wings worth... Coated with a little too much flour for my liking). Served up alongside a sharing pot of Smokehouse Fries, Summer Beet Slaw & House Pickles"

As I say, the food was fine and if you like BBQ food they do a nice enough job, but not good value for £62.95, especially as there was no bacon (literally only just realised this upon re-reading the menu and looking at the photo!). The pickles were a few slices of cucumber and the beet slaw was little more than 3 or 4 mouthfuls... But nice, don't get me wrong. The fries were well seasoned, but remember, this is a main course meal for 2 people to share, at £30+ each.

I appreciate that costs of all sorts have gone up but that's for businesses and private individuals alike and if one is to spend money with the other, most especially these days when every penny counts, one wants to feel that one is getting value for money.

I had 2 pints of Helles lager at £5.95 each and my wife had chargrilled lemonade at £3.80.

Anyway, you decide. I'm not saying don't go here. It was pleasant, the atmosphere was OK for mid-evening on a Friday, the staff were very nice but only 3...