La Bontà

Name: La Bontà
Address: 6 Priors Green Bennet Canfield, Dunmow, Essex, United Kingdom, CM6 1HE
Telephone: 01279 871989
Price range: £26 to £40
Rating: 4.9

4.9

281 Reviews

£26 to £40

Italian

Top tags:

£17 2 courses Try our new Lunch Set Menu.

A fine dining Italian restaurant in Little Canfield near Stansted Airport, Bishops Stortford & Great Dunmow with free parking. We serve high quality, fresh homemade Italian food prepared with love & care by Chef Paolo, who has 40 years of worldwide high standard experience in culinary goodness. We are proud of taking extra care of our guests in a friendly, elegant environment, with handcrafted cocktails, beautiful glassware & warm marble decor. Our restaurant offers a cozy marble backlit bar section indoors, and an outdoor comfortable sofa seating area for diner's to enjoy cocktails before, after & during their meal. La Bontà has been awarded OpenTable's Diner's Choice Award 2021 & 2022, based on guest reviews. Italian food at its finest.

We welcome guests of 8 years and above before 5pm, and of 12 years and above after 5pm. Last food order is 1 hour before the closing time.

Make a booking

No. of diners

2 people

DateTime

8 Dec 2023

19:00

Booked 1 time today

Experiences are available.

Order delivery or takeout

Additional information

Dining style
Fine Dining
Price
£26 to £40
Cuisines
Italian, Seafood, Steak
Hours of Operation
Wed, Thu 17:30–22:00 Sun 12:00–20:00 Lunch Fri, Sat 12:00–15:00 Dinner Fri, Sat 17:00–23:00
Phone number
01279 871989
Website
http://www.labontarestaurant.com/
Payment Options
AMEX, Mastercard, Visa
Dress Code
Smart Casual
Executive Chef
Paolo Gorini
Catering
Can cater for weddings and other large parties, please send an email (reservations@labonta.co.uk) with details of food & drinks preferences, number of people, location and budget.<br />From this a sample menu will be drafted and a meeting organised.<br />

Location
6 Priors Green, Bennet Canfield, Dunmow, Essex CM6 1HE
Area
Bishop's Stortford
Cross Street
Tucked away on a mini-highstreet Priors Green, accessed via facing car park
Parking Details
Free parking for 3 hours
Additional
Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Counter Seating, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Outdoor Smoking Area, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Takeaway, Vegan, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Experiences

£17 Lunch Set Menu & £25 Dinner Set Menu
£17.00 per person
Multiple dates available
£17 Lunch Set Menu 2 Courses, £25 Dinner Set Menu. With classic Italian dishes like Cherry tomato Bruschetta, Chicken Milanese & Homemade Pasta Bolognese. Lunch is available every lunch opening (Friday, Saturday, 12:00-14:00, Sunday 12:00-17:00). Dinner available every during all lunch and dinner openings Wednesday-Sunday.

Tagliolini al Ragù Bolognese
Delicate tagliolini pasta, lavished with a rich and savory Bolognese sauce, embodying the essence of Italian tradition.
Pollo alla Milanese con Rucola e Patate Arrosto
Succulent chicken, breaded and crisped to perfection, paired with peppery rocket and golden roasted potatoes. (df*)
Risotto al Limone con Scaglie di Parmigiano
A bright, lemon-infused risotto elegantly topped with shaved Parmesan, offering a harmonious blend of citrus and savory notes (gf) (v)

Desserts (Choose 1)

Torta della Nonna
A classic tart marrying the subtlety of lemon and vanilla cream, garnished with pine nuts for a soft, toasted finish (v)
Semifreddo alla Vaniglia con Cioccolato Belga
House-made vanilla semifreddo drizzled with a warm, rich Belgian chocolate sauce, a delightful contrast of flavors and temperatures. (v)

What 281 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.9

4.9 based on recent ratings

4.9Food
4.9Service
4.7Ambience
4.5Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

Hertfordshire
Best Overall
Hertfordshire
Best Food
Hertfordshire
Best Service
Hertfordshire
Best Ambience
Hertfordshire
Best Value
Hertfordshire
Good for business meals
Hertfordshire
Good for business meals
Hertfordshire
Innovative
Hertfordshire
Great for fine wines
Hertfordshire
Romantic
Hertfordshire
Good for special occasions

281 Reviews

T
Terry
Essex
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined 6 days ago
Overall5Food5Service5Ambience5
The best little place in Essex. Absolutely great food and staff.
Is this helpful?
OT
OpenTable Diner
Hertfordshire
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined 7 days ago
Overall5Food5Service5Ambience5
Lovely place, superb food, quiet when we visited I would recommend … mind out for small parking charge if your stay runs over… we nearly missed the charge
Is this helpful?
NB
NickB
Hertfordshire
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on 25 November 2023
Overall4Food4Service4Ambience4
Excellent restaurant, nice welcome very efficient service, friendly and well organised. We had set menu, good choice and very tasty. All I'm all a nice experience, we will go again.
Is this helpful?
D
Dolly
London
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on 23 November 2023
Overall5Food5Service5Ambience5
This restaurant came highly recommended and lived up to it’s fabulous reputation We’ll be back
Is this helpful?
RO
RogerO
Hertfordshire
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on 23 November 2023
Overall5Food5Service5Ambience5
Brilliantttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttt
Is this helpful?
KG
KGreen
London
4 reviews
5.0
4 reviews
Dined on 15 November 2023
Overall5Food5Service5Ambience5
Lovely meal, great service and good value. What more do you want?
Is this helpful?
M
Martin
Essex
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on 8 November 2023
Overall5Food5Service5Ambience3
The food and service were outstanding. Understand that we were visiting on a rainy Wednesday evening, but it deserved to be busier.
Is this helpful?
CB
ChrisB
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on 3 November 2023
Overall5Food5Service5Ambience5
What an amazing discovery. The food, the service, and the ambiance were all wonderful. The food was perfect. We started with scallops which we followed with fillet steak and chicken. Everything was cooked to perfection and so tasty... Then the desert... just lovely. We can't wait to go back and try something else from the menu. The restaurant itself is tucked away, but take the time to look it out and go there, you will not be disappointed.
Is this helpful?
JJ
JilliJac
Hertfordshire
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on 1 November 2023
Overall5Food5Service5Ambience5
My friend and I had and a wonderful evening at La Bonta. The service and food were exceptional and we loved the ambience. Looking forward to going again.
Is this helpful?
SL
ShaunL
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on 25 October 2023
Overall5Food5Service5Ambience5
Excellent food and service, would highly recommend
Is this helpful?
AC
AlexandraC
Dorset
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on 7 October 2023
Overall5Food5Service5Ambience5
Fantastic, as always! Lovely meal celebrating my mum’s birthday - a real treat.
Is this helpful?
H
Helen
Dorset
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on 5 October 2023
Overall5Food5Service5Ambience5
Would highly recommend La Bonta, food is perfection, attention to detail excellent. We went for the set dinner menu, choice of 3 starters and mains and 2 deserts, or you can choose the A La Carte menu. We have eaten from A La Carte menue in the past annd that is equally as good.
Is this helpful?
CM
CarolineM
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on 30 September 2023
Overall5Food5Service5Ambience5
Great restaurant if you want to dine somewhere special. Lovely service and staff were very attentive. Fab first visit and will definitely visit again.
Is this helpful?
ST
SteveT
Essex
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on 29 September 2023
Overall5Food5Service5Ambience5
Excellent food & choice from the set meal options. Service very good & friendly. Highly recommend.
Is this helpful?
MD
MikeD
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on 27 September 2023
Overall5Food5Service5Ambience5
A really great experience, the food was incredible the staff were amazing, thank you for putting the candle on my mum's dessert for her birthday very much appreciated, look forward to coming back for another meal
La BontàResponded on 29 September 2023
Thank you so much for your five star review Mike, we are so happy your mum seemed so delighted by our surprise!
Is this helpful?
OT
OpenTable Diner
Philadelphia
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on 22 September 2023
Overall4Food4Service4Ambience4
Very nice meal tucked off the main road. The scallops were perfectly cooked, the pasta was thin and supple. Great drinks menu.
La BontàResponded on 29 September 2023
Thank you so much for taking the time to leave such a nice review for us!
Is this helpful?
l
larainej
London
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on 15 September 2023
Overall5Food5Service5Ambience5
Amazing food and immaculate service. Such a great find so close to home. The Tagliata was the best we have tasted outside Italy. Have to try the pizza shop sometime. We will be back for sure
La BontàResponded on 29 September 2023
Thank you for such an amazing review! We hope to see you at La Bonta again soon!
Is this helpful?
SC
StanC
London
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on 6 September 2023
Overall5Food5Service5Ambience4
This is our second visit with two different sets of friend to La Bonta. The second was just as superb as our first visit. The quality of the food is second to none. The wine (by the glass) is outstanding. I had a small white with starters and a small red with the main course. Both delightful. Highly recommended.
Is this helpful?
DB
DavidB
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on 3 September 2023
Overall5Food5Service5Ambience5
Close to perfection ,we can't wait to return Long may you continue and keep up the good work.
La BontàResponded on 29 September 2023
Thank you for your kind words in this review, we look forward to welcoming you back to La Bonta again!
Is this helpful?
A
Adelina
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on 2 September 2023
Overall5Food5Service5Ambience5
The staff are so nice, it’s another level of hospitality. This restaurant is just great! We always go there for special occasions. The food is just amazing, delicious. Cooked to perfection. The chicken just melts in your mouth. They change the menu from time to time and every-time we went there something new on the menu and a delight that was. I has the best seafood spaghetti ever there. Recommend is an understatement.
La BontàResponded on 29 September 2023
Thank you for such an amazing review Adelina, it is always a pleasure to have you! We hope to see you at La Bonta again soon!
Is this helpful?
BE
BobE
London
5 reviews
5.0
5 reviews
Dined on 31 August 2023
Overall5Food5Service5Ambience4
Food and service exceptional. Wine prices though exceptionally high
Is this helpful?
JD
JanetD
London
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on 6 August 2023
Overall5Food5Service5Ambience5
Excellent menu with beautifully presented food. Friendly and knowledgeable service.
Is this helpful?
IW
IanW
Las Vegas
13 reviews
vip
5.0
13 reviews
Dined on 5 August 2023
Overall5Food4Service5Ambience4
Wow, what a wonderful find, this restaurant really is a hidden gem. This was our first experience of dining at La Bonta and it certainly won’t be our last either. Food was truly outstanding and equal to any high-end Italian fine dining restaurant in London. Great selection of Italian wines too, I had their Beef Tartar followed by their seafood Tagliatelle which were both faultless & full of flavor. A really quite exceptional find
Is this helpful?
OT
OpenTable Diner
London
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on 2 August 2023
Overall5Food5Service5Ambience5
Amazing meal!! Service was fantastic and ambience lovely.
Is this helpful?
SM
SimonaM
London
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on 28 July 2023
Overall5Food4Service4Ambience4
Great atmosphere and staff very attentive with a great choice of food, even not so wide. Only one note it's bit pricy especially drinks. I understand food quality but couldn't justify a beer overprice. As much I would like to go back I couldn't think to go often or very soon.
Is this helpful?
JR
JohnR
London
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on 28 July 2023
Overall5Food5Service5Ambience3
A lovely fine fine dining experience. Not cheap but very good value. I started with scallops, followed by the best tuna I think I've ever had. Frangipane tart to follow. Setting is in a neighbourhood parade of shops, odd but that is external,. Only adverse comment on TripAdvisor relates to a weak cup of tea at neighbouring take away outlet.Worth a visit.
Is this helpful?
JS
JudithS
Hertfordshire
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on 21 July 2023
Overall5Food5Service5Ambience4
Exceptionally good Italian food in this small but beautifully presented restaurant.
Is this helpful?
OT
OpenTable Diner
London
5 reviews
vip
5.0
5 reviews
Dined on 19 July 2023
Overall5Food5Service5Ambience5
The menu was nice and good options but not too extensive. The food was just amazing, the team was so friendly and professional. Our first time and definitely not our last. I don’t often highly recommend a restaurant after on visit but I wouldn’t hesitate wit lh La Bontá!!
Is this helpful?
CB
ChristineB
London
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on 16 July 2023
Overall4Food5Service4Ambience5
Really enjoyable lunch time meal. Food very tasty. Everything is served with finesse. We will be going again.
Is this helpful?
OT
OpenTable Diner
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on 13 July 2023
Overall5Food5Service5Ambience5
Very polite staff Delicious food Great ambience Highly recommended
Is this helpful?
DS
DaisyS
Hertfordshire
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on 8 July 2023
Overall5Food5Service5Ambience5
We had a gorgeous lunch here for my husbands birthday. The food was exceptional and teh restaurant itself was beautiful. We will be back.
Is this helpful?
PE
PETERJ
London
144 reviews
vip
5.0
144 reviews
Dined on 7 July 2023
Overall5Food5Service5Ambience5
This was my first visit to La Bonta at lunchtime and was just as our previous dinner experiences. The food is delicious with great wine selections and the service is outstanding not just friendly but very informative and helpful . Of course we will be back asap
Is this helpful?
XM
XaiM
Hertfordshire
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on 2 July 2023
Overall5Food5Service5Ambience5
Just as amazing as before, food very tasty and beautifully presented, service outstanding!
Is this helpful?
RD
RussellD
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on 1 July 2023
Overall5Food5Service5Ambience5
Fantastic food with excellent service. The Fois gras was superb. An absolute gem of a restaurant.
Is this helpful?
JY
JoYo
London
4 reviews
5.0
4 reviews
Dined on 30 June 2023
Overall5Food5Service5Ambience5
A wonderful evening as always. A lovely buzz of happy diners. Never had a disappointing dish - makes it tricky to choose!! Wine recommendations are excellent. Service is consistently polite, friendly and unassuming.
Is this helpful?
S
Sara
Devon
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on 24 June 2023
Overall5Food5Service5Ambience4
Amazing restaurant! Food is always delicious and fresh and the service can't be beaten. Such a treat.
Is this helpful?
MS
MarkS
Cambridge
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on 23 June 2023
Overall5Food5Service5Ambience5
Great place to enjoy great food and wine. Staff are helpful and knowledgeable of there restaurant
Is this helpful?
A
Andy
Hertfordshire
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on 18 June 2023
Overall5Food5Service5Ambience5
A lovely time with great food and service. All very happy.
Is this helpful?
RL
RichardL
Hertfordshire
4 reviews
5.0
4 reviews
Dined on 17 June 2023
Overall5Food5Service5Ambience5
This is a special place serving high quality authentic Italian cuisine with a great wine list and fantastic service. We introduced some friends to La Bonta and they loved it too.
Is this helpful?
C
Cas222
Lincolnshire
10 reviews
5.0
10 reviews
Dined on 17 June 2023
Overall5Food5Service5Ambience5
Great food, the service is exceptional and a lovely ambience always a pleasure to done at La Bonta
Is this helpful?

Safety precautions

Cleaning & sanitising
- Surfaces sanitised between seatings
- Digital, disposable or sanitised menu provided
- Common areas deep-cleaned daily
- Sanitiser or wipes provided for customers
- Contactless payment available
Physical distancing
- Limited number of seated diners
- Extra space between tables

Screening
- Sick staff prohibited in the workplace
- Staff is vaccinated

FAQs

La Bontà offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at 01279 871989.

La Bontà is rated 4.9 stars by 281 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a booking

No. of diners

2 people

DateTime

8 Dec 2023

19:00

Booked 1 time today

Experiences are available.

Order delivery or takeout

6 Priors Green, Bennet Canfield, Dunmow, Essex CM6 1HE

Additional information

Cross Street
Tucked away on a mini-highstreet Priors Green, accessed via facing car park
Area
Bishop's Stortford
Hours of Operation
Wed, Thu 17:30–22:00 Sun 12:00–20:00 Lunch Fri, Sat 12:00–15:00 Dinner Fri, Sat 17:00–23:00
Price
£26 to £40
Cuisines
Italian, Seafood, Steak
Dining style
Fine Dining
Dress Code
Smart Casual
Parking Details
Free parking for 3 hours
Payment Options
AMEX, Mastercard, Visa
Executive Chef
Paolo Gorini
Additional
Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Counter Seating, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Outdoor Smoking Area, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Takeaway, Vegan, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Website
http://www.labontarestaurant.com/
Phone number
01279 871989
Catering
Can cater for weddings and other large parties, please send an email (reservations@labonta.co.uk) with details of food & drinks preferences, number of people, location and budget.<br />From this a sample menu will be drafted and a meeting organised.<br />

La Bontà

Make a booking

Order delivery or takeout

Additional information

Experiences

£17 Lunch Set Menu & £25 Dinner Set Menu

Menu

Complimentary Appetisers

Starters (Choose 1)

Bruschetta Pomodoro e Basilico

Zuppa del giorno

Mains (Choose 1)

Tagliolini al Ragù Bolognese

Pollo alla Milanese con Rucola e Patate Arrosto

Risotto al Limone con Scaglie di Parmigiano

Desserts (Choose 1)

Torta della Nonna

Semifreddo alla Vaniglia con Cioccolato Belga

What 281 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Loved For

Safety precautions

Cleaning & sanitising

Physical distancing

Screening

FAQs

Does La Bontà offer delivery through OpenTable or takeout?

How is La Bontà restaurant rated?

Is La Bontà currently accepting bookings?

Make a booking

Order delivery or takeout

Additional information