LSQ2 Bar and Brasserie - Reading

Here's an enterprising idea. Sally and Tony Cole decided it made no sense at all for the ten companies on a business park in Reading to each have its own café, and acquired the only empty unit, fortuitously in a waterfront setting surrounded by a 180 acre green and pleasant landscape, before converting it into a 65 seat restaurant/brasserie. With minimalist style décor, two chefs from Michelin-starred restaurants and a lot of chutzpah they were off, and have never even glanced back. Having won the Reading Restaurant of the Year Award 2007-2008, shortlisted 5 years for National Restaurant of the Year and holder of the Top Table Golden Award, voted for by diners, and being recommended two years running by Michelin, you should not be disappointed.

Daniele Gamiche and Anthony Worrall Thompson both judged LSQ2 in the Reading Awards and said "it is a difficult menu to do well but they do it superbly". Offering two menus at lunchtime, a la carte and simply food, this brasserie appeals to all. It has a touch of the Antipodean feel in both their style of service and the food they serve. Nothing is served that has not been freshly prepared on-site.

Only 25% of the clientele currently comes from the Business Park, so the influx in the evenings is considerable, given trouble-free parking and easy access off the M4. With dishes like sashimi tuna with Horensou sauce, drunken tiger king prawns with Asian vegetable Fu Yung and Cantonese XO sauce, seared scallops and black pudding with green pea sauce and Fuji apple Waldorf salad, or char sui Lincolnshire pork osso buco, Chinese steamed muffin and shitake stuffed tofu there is something for both the fussy and the adventurous.

Main courses pursue a happy path of inventiveness tinged with tradition and the largesse of a brasserie menu forms the basis for a number of dishes. Crisp pork belly with boudin blanc and pease pudding has stewed Asian pears and a tangy sauce to keep it company. Gressingham duck, which one might expect to appear in traditional form is joined with shitake mushrooms, pak choy and glass noodles in a spicy miso-mirin broth, a really delightful dish. An outstanding combo is the seared blue fin tuna tournedos, done Rossini style, with black vinegar, lime sauce and sticky rice.

A range of sweet temptations lies in wait to trap the unwary and the weak, with exotic fruit Eton Mess guarded by ginger snaps, baked apple crumble with home made cinnamon ice cream and a local cheese board that seems to have made a point of selecting the most outstanding of its kind, all state the case for a menu that has not just had some puddings added on.

A short, smart wine list presses the right buttons. From Cloudy Bay to a Domaine Laroche Chablis the list follows in the footsteps of the lsq2 interpretation of comfortable food in great surroundings and company.

All of this sounds and looks convincing and suggests that the Coles have well researched their customer base. If many of the items would look familiar on a traditional menu that is no criticism - the difference is in the presentation, the taste and the interpretation, all of which are impeccable.

Music nights bring in the customers, with Elvis Nights, Rock n Roll events and back2back to provide a blend of international and local talents that set the rafters rattling. Master classes enable aspiring Ramsays to make modern food with an Asian twist under the tutelage of Head Chef Jonathan Villar.

With the Madejski Stadium only a couple of good long kicks away and easy access, LSQ2 could easily become habitual. In any case you'll want to know more and one click will take you to their Website.