Alford Arms
Public Houses in Hemel Hempstead
Frithsden
Hemel Hempstead
Hertfordshire
HP1 3DD
Contact Numbers
Reviews
A real find in a picture postcard village
What a find! After a good walk from Berkhamstead train station through the golf course and several fields, we happened upon The Alford Arms, in a gorgeous tiny village called Frithesden nestled by the Ashridge Forest. We managed to get a table by waiting half an hour with a pint. The food was outstanding - this pub is also a top restaurant.I had amazing pork belly with scallops and pea puree, and him indoors had coq au vin, followed by a really decent plate of British cheese. Great wines too. Loved it so much I have booked for my 40th birthday. But beware, Christmas and New Year are already booked out and I was only able to get a lunchtime booking not evening booking for October and I booked this in August! ~ SMALL PLATES ~RUSTIC BREADS with ROAST GARLIC, BALSAMICand OLIVE OIL (NV) £3.75TODAY'S SOUP with CRUSTY BREAD (V) £4.25TALEGGIO and ROAST TOMATO TARTE TATIN withPEPERONATA (V) £5.75SZECHWAN PEPPERED SQUID with SWEET CHILLIDIPPING SAUCE £6.25POTTED FREE-RANGE PORK with GOOSEBERRY CHUTNEY and TOASTED WALNUT BREAD (N) £5.75WARM CHICKEN, TOMATO and OLIVE BALLOTINE with CREAMY FLAGEOLET BEAN RAGOÃ>T £6.25CRAB, COURGETTE and CHILLI LINGUINE with PARSLEY andLEMON OIL £6.75/£12.25OAK SMOKED BACON on BUBBLE and SQUEAK with HOLLANDAISE SAUCE and POACHED EGG £6.25/£11.75~ MAIN MEALS ~CRISPY SPICED OXFORDSHIRE PORK BELLY on PEA PURÉE with SEARED QUEEN SCALLOPS and MINTED HOLLANDAISE £13.50BAKED WHOLE TROUT on ROAST POTATO, SWEET PEPPERS and ONIONS with VERJUICE £13.25HERB CRUSTED CHILTERN LAMB RUMP on SUMMERVEGETABLE COMPÃ"TE £14.00GRILLED SEA BASS FILLET on CLASSIC NIÇOISE SALAD £13.75THE ‘ALFORD' CHICKEN KIEV on COURGETTE and RICOTTA FRITTER with BROAD BEAN ‘HUMMOUS' £11.75WILD MUSHROOM and POPPY SEED PANCAKE with PORT CREAM and PARMESAN CRACKLING (V) £11.50HONEY ROAST BARBARY DUCK BREAST on PEPPERED HASH BROWN with CHERRY and CASSIS SAUCE £14.50OLIVE OIL POACHED ORGANIC SALMON on BROCCOLI PURÉE with JERSEY ROYAL and SORREL SALAD £12.75CHARGRILLED RIB-EYE STEAK with BROWN BUTTER MASH, GREEN BEANS and ROSEMARY and HORSERADISH BUTTER £15.25~ SIDE ORDERS ~BUTTERED SEASONAL GREENS £2.75BABY GEM CAESAR SALAD £3.00BUTTERED SAMPHIRE £3.25OVEN ROAST RATATOUILLE £3.50CRISPY COURGETTES with PARMESAN £3.00CHIPPED or MASHED POTATOES £2.50HOUSE GREEN SALAD £2.75
A User - 04/09/2007 | report this review
Top-notch country gastropub near Hemel Hempstead
pantagruel and spouse were looking for a good pub supper nearish to Bletchley Park. The Alford Arms came up trumps. It is in a tiny, tucked-away village (so map reading skills helpful) and has been sympathetically modernised into a gastropub. So it is bright and cheerful, but still recognisably a country pub. The front half remains a bar area; the back half has been converted into a restaurant. It has good-sized sturdy wooden country tables and chairs, or benches around the walls. Some of the tables are a bit too close together (we had one of those cross-table conversations with our neighbours every time dishes arrived). The staff are young, charming and helpful, and the pace of service was good. We had the soup of the day (sweet potato and leek) which was delicious (although if I were to be super-critical, I would say it had been slightly over-thinned) with crusty country bread. Then a novel version of boeuf bourguignon, with the meat in one piece atop a bed of delicious, creamy mashed potato. The meat was packed with flavour and so tender it just fell apart at the prod of a fork.Portions were very generous. So much so that there was just no room left for pudding. This was truly tragic as the pudding list is wonderful. There was something for everyone: from the traditional choices like Spotted Dick with custard, to the 'death-by-chocolate' varieties, to fruit concoctions. Next time we go (which I am very much looking forward to already) I am tempted to have just a starter and a pudding.There are some (slightly crowded) tables and benches outside in the small, but beautifully kept garden patio at the front. Be warned: there is a notice in the loo about considerate parking. This is a tiny village and although the pub has its own car park, there isn't enough space there for everyone.
A User - 02/06/2007 | report this review
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