Gagravarr

I stay at this hotel about once a fortnight, and I've never been there by car!

There's a bus stop right outside the hotel, which has 3 buses an hour towards Hitchin and Stevenage, and about 4 an hour into Luton. IIRC it's a couple of buses an hour to the airport. You're looking at about 10-15 minutes by bus from Luton railway station, or 10 mins walk then 10-15 mins bus from Hitchin station. Fewer in the evening or weekends, so check timetables online, but there are some other stops a short walk away. Google Maps is pretty good for looking those up. The hotel is in the PlusBus zones for both Hitchin and Luton, so if you're coming by train you can get a PlusBus for a few quid to get you onwards to the hotel.

In terms of other restaurants, as others have said there isn't anything close. There's a handful in Luton, which'd mean a bus ride or short taxi ride, or a wider selection in Hitchin (which is quick to get to)

This isn't a city centre hotel, so don't book thinking it is! It's right on the edge of the town, so you can go for a nice walk in the countryside straight from the hotel.