Laurel House - Charcoal Grill — Restaurant in St Albans

Where do I even start?! If you want a meal that turns an ordinary evening into a proper memory, this is the spot. We came in as a group of friends — some starving, some just along for the ride — and left full, smiling and already planning our return. It had that rare mix of good food, buzzing atmosphere and genuinely welcoming service that makes you feel right at home.

The place itself has a lovely vibe: warm lighting, stylish but not pretentious, comfy seating and just the right music in the background. It’s the sort of setting where you can laugh loud with friends and linger over food without anyone rushing you.

Service was top-tier — the staff were friendly, attentive, and actually cared about what we ordered. We were a big group and a bit indecisive, but our server guided us perfectly (and her recommendation of the Laurel House Special platter turned out to be spot on). Drinks were quick, allergy checks were thorough, and everything felt relaxed but professional.

Now the food — wow. Starters disappeared fast: the grilled halloumi, tiger prawns and hummus with pitta were favourites, and the potato harissa had a smoky little kick that surprised us all. The Laurel House Special platter was the star, packed with peri-peri chicken, lamb espetadas, kofta, wings, grilled veg and rice — a proper feast. Around the table, highlights included the rib eye steak (juicy and rich), the lamb shank (melt-in-the-mouth comfort food), and burgers like the Butcher’s Prime and Laurel’s Signature Cheese (both stacked with flavour). Even the veggie options impressed — the Bella Portobello and falafel wrap were hearty and delicious, not afterthoughts.

Sides were equally strong — crispy hand-cut chips, creamy mash and fresh house salad all hit the spot. Desserts like the San Sebastian cheesecake and baklava slice were the perfect sweet finish, and the milkshakes brought out our inner kids.

What really stood out was the consistency: generous portions, spot-on timing from the kitchen, and a lively atmosphere that made the night feel special without being stuffy. We had such a good time that by the end, we were already debating what to order next time (the mixed grill and peri-peri chicken are on the repeat list).

Final word: this is the kind of restaurant you want as your local. Brilliant food, welcoming service, great value and an atmosphere that guarantees a good night. Five stars from us, and we’ll definitely be back — with more...

My cousin suggested I try this place since he said he's been here a good 4-5 times, and that the food especially their chips and chilli sauce are amazing. None the less, we went went to try this place out for an iftar meal. The restaurant itself is very small only about 4 or so tables, and is deffintely recommend you book in advanced as it gets very busy before iftar time!

The menu itself was very small and limited, however this doesn't always necessarily mean the food will be bad, you won't know until you've tried it yourself. Boy were we in for a surprise. When the food arrived it looked absolutely fantastic! I got the hunger buster burger along with 2 sides which where fries and mash potatoes. Their fires were amazing you can tell they make them in house and fresh every time. The owner was extremely kind and courteous. He also suggested I try drinking goats milk along with a date to break my fast, which was a method of never tried before, but none the less I'm always up for trying new things and those 2 definitely go well together hand in hand😍. The burger was mouth wateringly amazing🤤, but ofcourse it was no challenge for me to finish😏

All the other meals such as the chicken spatchcock were beyond amazing too and I would highly recommend any of them! The owner was also very kind enough to give us complimentary baklavas which tasted gorgeous!.

Overall I would definitely return here for another meal and suggest this place to all my friends and family. Wonderful atmosphere, great hospitality and above all...

I came here around 5 months ago, and it was lovely. This time not so much. As you can see from the images (restaurant was empty) the place is not clean. My table was crooked and kept moving side to side, the cutlery wasn’t clean/dried properly, there were dead bugs in every corner and on my table and the fans that were being used were extremely dusty.

I ordered the ribeye steak and my brother ordered a sirloin steak, which I asked to be cooked medium rare and specified that I like it bloody. The sirloin was overcooked, almost medium-well done. My Ribeye was cooked medium. It was seasoned well however was very chewy and not to my liking. The steak came with a side salad and home-made fries which were nice.

I also ordered a starter of king prawns and it was very dissatisfying, especially for £7. You get 3 medium sized prawns that tasted bitter, on a plate that was drenched in some sort of water - i’m guessing the prawns juices.

I’m giving the service 4* as the brother that worked was genuinely nice and had truly cared about our experience. I didn’t want to tell him I had issues with the food as I felt bad for him having to take orders, serve, and cook the food on his own. He also served us some hummus and bread on the house which was very nice.

£44 for a very tired meal (no drinks) and an upsetting environment. Will personally...