The Bishop's Cave — Restaurant in St Albans

It was a wet Saturday when I visited. St Albans city centre was busy with Christmas shoppers. A lot of people wanted tables. Unless they had a reservation they were unlucky.

I went with friends who had made a reservation for 4pm. On arrival, the table was available and clean. The staff were attentive and polite. All good.

The menu choices that appealed to me could best be described as crispy, crunchy, cured and cheesy. We ate a sharing platter of meats and cheeses. It was really good.

The drinks were a bit pricey. I had a beer from the fridge, not from the drinks menu. I had to ask the price which didn't include a supplement for drinking it on the premises. I'm sure there's an excellent excuse for selling beers thus, but if I hear it I'm not sure I'll be convinced.

The Bishop's Cave has the ambience of a 1970s wine bar, reimagined by Millennials for the benefit of Gen Z. Ironically, the place was bursting with Boomers who I imagine remember what wine bars once were. Sadly, there wasn't a check tablecloth or a wax encrusted Chianti bottle in sight.

I had a nice time. Should you go? Why not? What's...

Review for Paul at The Bishops Cave, St Albans

I had the pleasure of being served by Paul during my recent visit to The Bishops Cave in St Albans, and I can't praise him enough. From the moment we walked in, Paul made us feel incredibly welcome. His knowledge of the menu, especially the selection of wines and cheeses, was impressive. He took the time to understand our preferences and made recommendations that were spot-on.

What really stood out was Paul's genuine enthusiasm for what he does. His passion for good food and drink is contagious, and it made our experience that much more enjoyable. Whether it was explaining the origin of a particular cheese or suggesting the perfect wine pairing, Paul was attentive and insightful.

The service was not only professional but also personal. Paul managed to strike the perfect balance between being attentive and giving us space to enjoy our cheese. He’s a true asset to The Bishops Cave, and I look forward to returning, knowing we'll be in great hands.

If you're visiting The Bishops Cave, be sure to ask for Paul – his service is...

Simply amazing! The setting, ambience and food are just right. We came here as a party of 4 on a Saturday night for the first time last week and I must say my expectations weren't that high. I did wonder how cheese and meats alone could be elevated to a meal out..but I wonder no more. The staff were knowledgeable and helpful about the various cheeses on offer amd they kindly presented the cheese in slices for our whole table to sample. It was all delicious. The only gripe I had was that it took an age for our food order to be taken, more than 30 mins into our 2 hour time slot, which meant we were asked to vacate our table not long after we had finished our food. We will certainly be back for more though. Such a lovely...