9 Stevenage and North Herts closed restaurants readers miss

From Golden Egg to Jade Palace, several food places come and go over the years, and in North Herts 

The Comet has ranked nine of the best restaurants that you want to see comeback to towns across North Herts and Stevenage.

Check out the full list below:

1. Chia Cafe

A beloved Cafe in Market Place closed its doors on Sunday, June 11 2023.

Lucy Fisher opened the café in 2015 after being inspired by her family trip to Australia where she found that healthy cafés were booming.

A Facebook post telling customers about the closure received hundreds of reactions, and more than one hundred comments thanking the café.

During the eight years in which Chia was open, vegan food went from strength-to-strength and the cafe was one of the pioneers of that movement.

2. Aroma

The buffet-style eatery closed its doors in 2012, due to 'unforeseen circumstances', and the unit was soon taken over by franchise, Coast to Coast.

Stevenage Leisure Park (Image: Harry Hubbard) Not all hope is lost however, as they still maintain two restaurants in Shepherd's Bush and Basildon you can visit.

3. Cody's

The American restaurant was based in Stevenage served a variety of grilled meats and American-style burgers.

Despite branches still existing in the USA, there are no longer any restaurants in Britain.

One user said: "They were the best burgers ever and the cocktails were brilliant!"

"loved it there in my late teens... at the end of its stay it had a quite "interesting" choice of exotic fare, such as Alligator"

4. Harvester

Based in the Roaring Meg retail park, family chain Harvester was a Stevenage staple for many years.

Since its closure in March 2024, It has been replaced by a Miller & Carter Steakhouse.

Before and after the Miller & Carter takeover. (Image: Butterfield Group / Stevenage Borough Council / Canva) Although many residents were excited for the takeover, it is clear that others still hold Harvester close to their hearts.

5. Lambert's Burgers

The burger restaurant formerly at 35 Grasmere in Great Ashby shut its doors in February 2019.

During its time in the town, the eatery hit number one on TripAdvisor and was awarded Best Newcomer Restaurant in the Herts Awards.

A statement on Facebook read: "So to everyone that supported us, we’ll be forever thankful.

"Over-and-out Lambert’s.

"As Vinnie Jones would say 'Its been emotional'."

One Facebook user commented: "Best burgers I've ever had."

6. Wimpy

Wimpy is one of the best-known names on the casual dining scene. Feeding the nation since 1954, it was renowned for its mouth-watering range of Wimpy burgers.

Although, like many others, the Stevenage branch closed its doors, there are still restaurants surviving nationwide, including one in Cheshunt, Hertfordshire.

7. Salt & Good

Formerly at Unit 5 The Plaza in Stevenage Town Square, Salt & Good opened in 2015 to rave reviews.

Inside the former Salt & Good restaurant. (Image: Archant) The family-run branch offered street food from around the world in a bar and restaurant setting.

8. Cafe Rouge

Permanently closing in July 2020, Cafe Rouge was a fixture of Hitchin High Street for many years.

Known as 'your local French Bistro', the Restaurant served all fay food with lighter breakfast, lunchtime classics like Steak and Frites and even afternoon tea.

The former Cafe Rouge on Hitchin High Street. (Image: Archant) The chain 'Casual Dining Group' fell into administration and was forced to shut 31 of its restaurants across the country including the beloved Hitchin location.

9. Pizza Hut

Pizza Hut on the Roaring Meg Retail Park in Stevenage has now permanently closed being replaced by Nando's.

The Former Pizza Hut unit in Stevenage. (Image: Google Street View) Initially replaced by Five Guys, the restaurant provided good value for families across the town for many years.