Hermitage Road

The Hermitage feels like a New York bar dropped right down into Hitchin Hertfordshire. The walls have been stripped back to the bare brick and the feel is for sophisticated but without table clothes. Separated into a bar and a dining area the space is big, but sadly the noise is undiluted and can be overpowering (or hip depending on your point of view) if the restaurant is fully booked, which it often is. So there is a first tip – book your table ahead of time.

The chef is obviously keen on sharing plates but they are interesting and tasty and the bread is supplied by the excellent local bakery Quotidian and that is a second tip, if you are in Hitchin during shop hours go to Sun Street and try Quotidians delights though not a Monday because they are closed.

I had chargrilled sweet potato, gorgonzola and sweet potato salad, toasted pumpkin seeds and orange vinaigrette. It was tasty and though modest in size the £8.50 was a modest price to pay.

So my final tip is, if you are looking for a buzzing bar, with plenty of noise and fun then The Hermitage is your place, but if you want an intimate dinner for two perhaps a quieter venue would be a better choice.