Central reading
Sweeney & Todd
10 castle street in city center, telephone 0118 958-6466. a well known reading establishment, which specialises in a huge range of delicious pies ranging from the traditional to new and innovative. originally just a small pie shop, the restaurant has now extended into a conservatory out back, and into a maze of whitewashed cellars that must extend under several adjoining shops. service is friendly and chatty, and really shows off the family-run atmosphere. pies are baked on-site, and served fresh from the oven, though there is a takeaway service as well. if you order a pie that has not recently been baked, they will be happy to heat one up for you from the cold selection. it also has a real ale bar. open: until 11pm; closed su. â£6-15.
Bel and the Dragon
Blakes lock just outside the centre, (http://www.belandthedrago...). this is a friendly restaurant with a good atmosphere and reasonable food. around â£25.
Loch Fyne
Bear wharf, fobney street on river kennet about 200yds west of the oracle centre, telephone 0118 918-5850, (http://www.loch-fyne.com/...). open mâsa 9am-10pm; su 10am-10pm. housed in an old brewery maltings, this restaurant provides excellent and apparently eco-friendly seafood in an attractive environment with friendly staff and overlooking the boats passing through county lock. â£10-25.
London Street Brasserie
At the foot of london street, tel 0118 950 5036 (http://www.londonstbrasse...) with views out to the kennet and oracle this is a young and informal restaurant serving modern european food. the atmosphere is relaxed and service is always friendly if occasionally haphazard. the set menu is particularly good, at â£15 for two courses or 3 for â£19, as prices a la carte can be relatively high. this is served 12pm-7pm every day. â£30 - 350 including wine, a la carte.
Mya Lacarte
5 prospect street, caversham in caversham, 0118 946 3400. (http://www.myalacarte.co.uk/) a relative newcomer to the reading restaurant scene, mya lacarte offers british food "with a twist". ingredients are sourced as locally as possible, the menu changes seasonally and the decor is more brighton than reading with relaxed but polished service. the food is delicious and well worth the trip out of the city centre for. note that the address is in caversham there is also a prospect street in central reading. â£30 - â£50 per head including wine. there is also a set menu at â£13.95 2 courses which is very good value: mon- wed dinner and lunchtimes daily .
The Griffin
10-12 church road, caversham just over caversham bridge and turn left; 15 mins walk from city centre, telephone 0118 947-5018, (http://www.thegriffincave...). open m-sa 11am-11pm; su 11am-10:30pm last food orders 1hr before close.a pub chain owned english pub, with a strong emphasis on traditional pub food favourites, vegetarian, fish and meat specialities. â£6-20.
The Gulshan
20-24 station hill opposite rail station, telephone 0118 958-9914. despite being located off a wind-swept walkway under an empty office block, the gulshan provides tasty indian and bengali food at a reasonable price and with friendly service. open: information needed. â£6-15.
Bina Tandoori
21 prospect street, caversham, telephone 0118 946-2115, (http://www.binatandoori.com/). housed in the charming village of caversham just over the river from reading on the north side just over caversham bridge and turn right and then left into prospect street; 20 mins walk from city centre - but worth it. the food is authentic indian and bengal cuisine. tastes divine and the service is exemplary. ladies receive a rose on departure. decor is contemporary with deep blue glass being a signature of the restaurant. takeaway service is also available. open: 12-2.30pm and 6.00-11.30pm. â£10-25.
The Cerise Restaurant and Bar
The forbury hotel, 26 the forbury in city center, telephone 0118 958-1234 or freephone 0800 789 789, (http://www.theforburyhote...). perhaps a little style over substance, frequented by reading 'glitterati' and business professionals. decor is very stylish and cocktails are to die for. check out the restrooms with their unique artwork displays and piped comedy. prices are at the top end. open information needed. â£30-50.
Forbury's
Opposite the above, 0118 957 4044, (http://www.forburys.co.uk/), is probably the best restaurant in reading itself with two aa rosettes and a very creditable 5 in the good food guide. about the same price as the cerise and opposite it on forbury square. service is far superior to cerise, with a definite french air. their set menu is available all day monday to friday and until 7.15pm on saturdays at only â£10 for 2 courses for lunch and â£13.95 for dinner.
Chronicles
17-19 valpy street in city center, telephone 0118 950-4613, (http://www.chroniclesrest...). open m-f noon-10pm; sa 6pm-11pm; su noon-6pm. a very cosy and atmospheric cellar restaurant, serving excellent traditional and modern british cuisine. â£15-35.
The following restaurants are all within walking distance of central Reading.
Surrounding villages
L'ortolan
(http://www.lortolan.com/) church lane, shinfield just of junction 11 of the m4. telephone: 0118 988 8500. open tues-saturday for both lunch and dinner. lâortolan, located in the beautiful village of shinfield, is readingâs only michelin starred restaurant. chef patron alan murchison is passionate about his cooking, but also ensures that the same quality of interpretation extends right through the whole experience and is as integral to the wine, the service and the style of the environment as it is to his food.
Blue Cobra
High street, theale 4 miles west of reading on the a4; grid reference su714644, telephone 0118 930-4040, (http://www.bluecobra.com/). open m-sa noon-2:30pm and 6pm-11pm. this award winning restaurant is in theale's attractive high street. fresh ingredients are used to create contemporary dishes with influences from thailand, bangladesh and south asia.
Great House
Thames street, sonning-on-thames 4 miles east of reading on the river thames; grid reference su758756, telephone 0118 969-2277, (http://www.greathouseatso...). housed in the old white hart hotel at the center of the great house estate are two restaurants and two bars, an intriguing mixture of the historic and the contemporary. both restaurants have outdoor terraces overlooking the river. the regatta offers contemporary food with with mediterranean and pacific rim influences; whilst the ferryman offers a barbecue menu on summer weekends. open daily for lunch and dinner. â£20-â£30.
Many of the villages surrounding Reading have interesting restaurants or country pubs that serve food, and here is a selection. You will probably need to use a car or taxi to get to most of them.
Cross Keys
Church road, pangbourne 4 miles west of reading on the a329; grid reference su765634, telephone 0118 984-3268, (http://www.pangbourne-on-...). open m-sa 11am-11pm and su noon-10:30pm. this old-fashioned country inn has low-ceilings, oak-beams and roaring fires for winter dining, and a delightful open-air terrace backing onto the babbling river pang for balmy summer evenings. the food is good too; try the smoked haddock chowder if it is available. â£10-â£20.
See also the Goring and Streatley article, for details of several other restaurants in these attractive twin villages which are some 8 miles west of Reading on the A329.