The Elephant

The new Chinese and Thai restaurant on Bedford Road, Kempston didn’t disappoint. I had heard good things about Kempston’s latest eatery.

For starters it is right next to one of my favourite Indian restaurants; Blue Ginger – so I may be a little biased.

The restaurant itself is very modern and pleasing on the eye. The menu on the other hand – it’s about 20 pages and just lists dish after dish from both Chinese and Thai recipes. This, I feel brings the quality of the restaurant down. Choice is great but a menu of this magnitude is just too much. It reminds me of lower quality Chinese restaurants or takeaway menus.

This is a shame because the quality of the food is very high, the staff are attentive and friendly and the surroundings as I mentioned are very modern, comfortable and clean. Parking isn’t great but is to be expected in this area of Kempston.

I think this is a good restaurant for a group or large family meal because of its spacious layout, friendly service and fast cooking times. However, I’m not convinced it’s the best place to go if you are a couple looking for a quiet romantic evening meal.

Price- 7

Service – 7

Quality – 8

Wicbha? – Yes – on the right occasion.

The Cheese Kitchen

The Cheese Kitchen claims to be the best cheese shop and deli in Bedford- a claim that works because there isn’t much competition but also because it is indeed delightful!

The Cheese Kitchen - Castle Road, Bedford

Situation on Castle Road, you rarely walk past without seeing a queue formed inside, which means that nipping in and out quickly isn’t always an option but it also means the food is particularly good and the staff are very friendly.  You can also sit inside (although the space is very limited) or outside at the front.

For years we have been venturing in, whether for a quick coffee and panini or more commonly to stock up on various bite-size delights including olives and cheese, paninis and cakes to snack on whilst watching a big Premiership game at home. As a former resident of Cambridge and regular goer to London, there is definitely a ‘city’ feel about the Cheese Kitchen and walking down to the river with some snacks on a hot day is certainly lovely. The quality does not come cheaply though- this isn’t a ‘fast-food’ joint and if you get carried away, which can often happen, you can end up spending rather a lot. 

I’m sure eventually Justin and the team will be hoping to move to premises that allow them to have more space for people to sit and enjoy the food with a drink and a paper as unfortunately the size is very limiting and having this will undoubtedly be popular. But they certainly have captured a market that appreciates a good deli with a ‘local’ and friendly feel and we are very pleased to have them nearby.

Price- 7 (it can add up when you want a number of snacks/ cheeses)

Service – 9 (the only disadvantage is that queues can form quickly)

Quality – 10

Wicbha? - Daily

Lords and Ladies

Lords and ladies new location  in St Cuthberts Street

As a regular visitor to beauty parlours within the area, I was pleased to come across Amy and Helen Lord at LA Fitness on Kimbolton Road where they were working inside the gym running their own beauty business for members. I would regularly go and have my nails done and various other treatments after a session with my personal trainer and was always looking forward to it as both girls are so friendly and welcoming, as well as being excellent beauty practitioners.

I was so happy for them when they announced they were moving into their own premises on St. Cuthbert Street (close to The Ship pub) and the business was called ‘Lords and Ladies,’ (taken from their last name). The premise is a house that they purchased it and re-decorated inside. The front is very elegant and simple and you enter by walking through a side driveway. As soon as you walk in, you feel a lovely sense of calmness and are always greeted by a friendly receptionist who offers you a drink and a seat in a lovely room overlooking the road (presumably the original living room). You don’t have to wade through customers or shout over hairdryers and already feel relaxed before the treatment has even begun- which is quite an achievement! 

The range of treatments is extensive. Both sisters work full time along with two other beauty therapists and are open seven days a week! They then also have someone who comes in and does massage treatments and an osteopath. Each girl has their own treatment room, decorated in modern, stylish and relaxing colours and patterns. There is also a spray tan room where they use Fake Bake products, among other leading skincare brands.

What I feel is so nice about the business is their approach and welcoming nature to customers. You can go in there and feel as though you have known them for years- a touch I hope they never lose.

The Cappuccino Bar

The Cappuccino Bar

Last Wednesday evening I took an old friend from Scotland down to the Cappuccino Bar on Newnham Street, next to the auctioneers, for dinner. We were in the mood for a couple of drinks and a catch up and so I thought of this place because it is delightfully laid back. Although it states on the website ‘...it is the ideal setting for any occasion, whether it is romantic meal for two, a dinner with family or a lively celebration you have in mind..’ it’s not necessarily somewhere I would go for a romantic evening nor a birthday celebration, however it is thoroughly enjoyable for a low-key dinner, with affordable prices, nice food and friendly staff. We both opted for the ‘two courses for £9.95’ option which, unlike most restaurants with similar offers, does not exclude anything on the menu, and therefore is excellent value as the courses are by no means small. We sat in the back ‘garden’ area which is intentionally roofed with overgrown plants and flowers which creates an outdoor, Mediterranean feel where a group of Italian singers wandering from table to table would not be out of place. The only problem with that decor and the muggy summer evenings is the rise in the number of flies that are in the room, which got a little annoying whilst eating. The layout of the restaurant is also unfortunate as the narrow room can be quite noisy when the restaurant is busy- which it normally is. I have had the misfortune of sitting in the back right-hand corner of the front part of the restaurant where the cutlery is stored and it can be quite ear-piercing every time a waiter or waitress goes to fetch or replace the knives, forks and spoons. However, what I like about this place is that it doesn’t pretend to be anything that it isn’t and it works well as a cafe/restaurant for locals who want nice-sized pizza and pasta with a glass of wine, without queuing for an hour down the road in Pizza Express. One of my biggest bugbears with the British food industry, and one I have experienced countless times in Bedford, is the lack of ability to cater for customers on a busy night- restaurants will happily quote you a time of an hour or more (which is never the case if you hang around and wait) and therefore will happily lose the business to avoid being ‘over-busy’. But, in true European style, the Cappuccino bar will do everything it can to accommodate customers without sacrificing service and will gratefully receive the business, giving the restaurant a welcoming reputation.

Quality- 6-7

Price – 9

Service – 8

Would I go back again? Absolutely.