Bengal Cottage food hygiene rating
Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen · Harlow
Bengal Cottage holds a 5, the highest food hygiene rating there is. At its last inspection the restaurant met every standard the inspector checked, with nothing needing attention.
The rating: 5 - Very good
The rating dates from 7 June 2024, more than 2 years ago. A lot can change in a kitchen in that time, and a rating this old says more about the business then than now. Councils prioritise re-inspecting higher-risk premises, so a long gap often means the business is considered low-risk.
Address: 19 High Street, Harlow, Essex, CM17 0DN
How it compares in Harlow
That puts Bengal Cottage among the 497 places in Harlow holding top marks, 81% of everywhere the council rates. A 5 is the norm here rather than the exception, so it is the rating to expect, not to be impressed by.
| 5 out of 5 | 497 | 81% | ← Bengal Cottage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 78 | 13% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 25 | 4% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 4 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 5 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 2 | <1% |
A further 76 businesses in the area are awaiting inspection or exempt, so are not counted above.
What the inspector found
- Hygienic food handling Good
- Cleanliness & condition of the building Good
- How well they manage food safety Good
An inspection scores three things: how food is handled, the physical condition of the premises, and how much the inspector trusts management to keep standards up. At Bengal Cottage none of the three raised a concern, the overall rating is only ever as strong as its weakest area, so a clean sweep is what produces a high score.
Food hygiene ratings nearby
The closest food businesses to Bengal Cottage, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dorringtons Retailers - other | 46 yards away | 5 - Very good | 26 June 2025 |
| Antico Harlow Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 146 yards away | 5 - Very good | 19 June 2026 |
| Domino's Pizza Takeaway/sandwich shop | 186 yards away | 5 - Very good | 10 April 2026 |
| Batts Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 21 March 2026 |
| Costa At Tesco Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 7 March 2017 |
| Barserve Co Ltd Mobile caterer | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 3 July 2019 |
| Elivide Ltd Distributors/Transporters | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 29 April 2026 |
| Dee Dees Cafe Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 30 May 2025 |
Questions about Bengal Cottage
What is Bengal Cottage's food hygiene rating?
Bengal Cottage has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Harlow Council on 7 June 2024.
Is Bengal Cottage safe to eat at?
The rating covers hygiene standards found at inspection, not the food itself. At 5 out of 5, the inspector found hygiene standards at this restaurant to be very good, the top end of the scale.
When was Bengal Cottage last inspected?
Bengal Cottage was last inspected on 7 June 2024, more than 2 years ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Harlow Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Bengal Cottage?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "good", and confidence in the management of food safety "good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does Bengal Cottage compare to other places in Harlow?
81% of the 611 rated food businesses in Harlow hold the top rating of 5, and Bengal Cottage is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Harlow Council inspects Bengal Cottage and sets the rating; the Food Standards Agency publishes it. Neither the business nor this site can change a rating, a business that disagrees can appeal to its council, and can request a re-inspection once it has fixed the problems.
Tell me when this changes
The Food Standards Agency publishes only a business's rating today, not what it scored before, and not when it moves. We check every UK rating each night. Watch Bengal Cottage and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Harlow inspects and rates 687 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Harlow →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.harlow.gov.uk/
Rating from the Food Standards Agency under the Open Government Licence. Ratings reflect standards found at the time of inspection and can change. If you think a rating is wrong, the official record is held by the FSA and the local authority; corrections there flow through here. How ratings work →