Riobello Bedford

I visit restaurants regularly and particularly look forward to revsiting after a good experience. If the second visit is a disappointment I don't go back. My partner and I, and now many friends return regualarly to Riobello's because we know we will always have consistantly good service, and excellent food. We have never had a disappoiting visit.

The staff are also long serving and it's nice to be greeted warmly by familiar faces. Nothing is too much trouble and they are polite and friendly - just the right balance.

The kitchen staff have been there since we first went to Riobello's after it had not long opened. Often you hear raucous laughter from the kitchen from staff who obviously love their job and take a pride in all their dishes. The pizzas are cooked outside the kitchen by pizza chef or the owner himself, and they are well worth waiting for. The menu is enormous, so I advise downloading it from their website before going!

It is usually busy so has a nice buzz. We have a 15 mile drive but still visit every other week, but wish they would move nearer!

To comment on the previous review, I have always found the toilets to be spotless and I am very fussy!! My partner says the men's are equally spotless. The owner is very hot on cleanliness, so I am sure the last reviewer must have visited after an inconsiderate user, but I agree it can put you off.

I hesitate to recommend restaurants to friends as everyone has different expectations, but my friends are now also regular visitors so perhaps that speaks for itself. The only advice I can give is to try it!

Riobello Restaurant is a great little Italian place that although being pretty well known in the area retains the charm of somewhere that you just stumble into expecting an average cheap meal and leave delighted that you've discovered an amazing place with the best cooked pizza you've had in years. And its not just the pizza, over the years i've visited the restaurant with many different people ordering many different things and no one has left disappointed so far.

I do have to say if you are looking for style and a quiet romantic atmosphere to look longingly into someones eyes then this probably isnt the place. As great and romantic an experience you can have there, it is far from the snobby pretensciousness that many restaurants seem to aim for these days, expect at least 1 group of drunken birthday/hen/stag celebrators to be in there if its a weekend, but they are generally put out the way and if anything add to the lighthearted atmosphere. I think the best way to sum it up is a little stereotypically cheesy Italian - summed up by the plastic vines on the walls.

The staff are great (I think its primarily a family business but don't quote me on that), and the prices for the quality of food you are presented are amazingly cheap.

All I can say is it is worth a go, if not for a special occassion then just pop in for a calzone when you can't be bothered to cook dinner one day, believe me you'll be booking to go back in no time.