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  3. Hertfordshire
  4. Bishop's Stortford
  5. Bishop's Stortford
La Bontà, Dunmow, Essex

La Bontà

4.9
4.9
281 Reviews
£26 to £40
Italian
£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

2 people

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
  • 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 &amp; drinks preferences, number of people, location and budget.<br />From this a sample menu will be drafted and a meeting organised.<br />
  • 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.
    £17 Lunch Set Menu & £25 Dinner Set Menu photo

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

NoiseModerate

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
  1. 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?

  2. 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

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  3. 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.

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  4. 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

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  5. RogerO

    Hertfordshire

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on 23 November 2023

    Overall5Food5Service5Ambience5
    Brilliantttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttt

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  6. 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?

  7. 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.

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  8. 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?

  9. 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?

  10. ShaunL

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on 25 October 2023

    Overall5Food5Service5Ambience5
    Excellent food and service, would highly recommend

    Is this helpful?

  11. 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.

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  12. 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.

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  13. 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?

  14. 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?

  15. 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!

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  16. 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?

  17. 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?

  18. 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.

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  19. 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?

  20. 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?

  21. BobE

    London

    5 reviews

    5.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on 31 August 2023

    Overall5Food5Service5Ambience4
    Food and service exceptional. Wine prices though exceptionally high

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  22. JanetD

    London

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on 6 August 2023

    Overall5Food5Service5Ambience5
    Excellent menu with beautifully presented food. Friendly and knowledgeable service.

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  23. 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?

  24. 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?

  25. 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?

  26. 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?

  27. 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?

  28. 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?

  29. 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?

  30. OpenTable Diner

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on 13 July 2023

    Overall5Food5Service5Ambience5
    Very polite staff Delicious food Great ambience Highly recommended

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  31. 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.

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  32. 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?

  33. 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?

  34. 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?

  35. 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?

  36. 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?

  37. 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?

  38. 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.

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  39. 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.

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  40. 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

2 people

19:00


Booked 1 time today
Experiences are available.

Order delivery or takeout

Google Map for La Bontà

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
  • 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 &amp; drinks preferences, number of people, location and budget.<br />From this a sample menu will be drafted and a meeting organised.<br />
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