Restaurant-Guide.com
hand picked restaurants

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. 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.

Whilst there is significant customer support from the Business Park, the influx in the evenings brings a lively blend of light and shade, given trouble-free parking and easy access off the M4. With dishes like traditional Thai fish cakes with sweet chilli sauce, potted duo of fresh and smoked salmon with crème fraiche, pernod, lemon juice and chives, ox cheek spring roll with cauliflower puree and chilli jam, the evening is off to a good start.

Main courses pursue a happy path of inventiveness tinged with tradition and the red curry of seafood, an aromatic cream curry with scallops, salmon, pollock and prawns, venison Wellington accompanied by haggis, horseradish cream and red wine sauce, or a crispy potato scallop with curried puy lentils, tomato and spinach and riata are all dishes that please many. For an indulgent concession to modern food do take a tilt at the Wagyu beef burger.

The roasted monkfish comes to table wrapped in prosciutto with Yorkshire pudding, cider, chorizo and caper sauce. Isle of Wight lamb two ways, the roasted rump of lamb and wontons of braised shoulder of lamb stages an appearance with lemongrass and ginger. If you are a touch bored with traditionally prepared chicken try the corn fed free range Dorset chicken breast with massaman curried mousse filling, parsnip chips and creamed spinach.

A range of sweet temptations lies in wait to trap the weak and enthusiastic, with a classic lemon tart, sticky toffee pudding with pecan toffee sauce and Chantilly cream and a local cheese board that seems to have made a point of selecting the most outstanding of its kind, all stating the case for a menu that has not just had some puddings added on.

LSQ2's express lunch menu operates daily from 12 to 6 pm, offering exceptional value from a two option menu with dishes such as chicken liver parfait with toasted bread, and Hampshire pork sausages with mash and onion gravy. Hawkers Corner lists five attractive Asian dishes, of which nasi-goreng Indonesian style fried rice with mixed satay, fried egg and prawn crackers could be one.

A short, smart wine list presses the right buttons. From an Italian Chianti Reserva Villa Di Campobello 2006 to an Australian Howard Park Leston Cabernet Sauvignon 2009. Rich and opulent but brooding in its youth, the list follows in the footsteps of the LSQ2 interpretation of exciting food in great surroundings and company.

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

Offering delicious Parisian-style bistro cooking with a modern twist in an informal and welcoming atmosphere, Côte Brasserie at The Riverside in the bustling Oracle Shopping Centre, is the ideal venue for a quick lunch or leisurely evening meal. Guests can enjoy simple freshly prepared French food at a reasonable price with seating available both inside and at riverside alfresco tables.
 
Open all days of the week from 8 am for breakfast, lunch and dinner, the à la carte menu offers classics such as steak frites, moules marinières, steak tartare, pan roasted duck breast and rump of lamb. Other options include starters of coarsely shredded duck and pork pâté with toasted sourdough bread, seared yellow fin tuna, king prawns in a white wine, garlic and tomato sauce with toasted garlic and parsley croutons and sliced smoked Scottish salmon with dill, shallots, baby capers and crème fraîche dressing. You could also try pissaladière, traditional warm flatbread from Nice with caramelised onions and served with anchovies, olives and parsley or Reblochon cheese and thyme.

Main course choices include a number of delicious seafood options such as fish Parmentier of cod, haddock, prawn and salmon in a creamy white wine and leek sauce, topped with mash potato and gruyère cheese, or a luxurious seafood linguine with tiger prawns, mussels, clams and squid sautéed in garlic, chilli, shallots, white wine and cherry tomatoes. Classic meat dishes include steak haché, chopped spiced rump steak, char grilled and served with frites and a cornichon and tomato relish or pan roasted duck breast with potato gratin and a griottine cherry sauce.

Lighter dishes such as tuna Niçoise and tart Provençale, a warm puff pastry with ratatouille, goat's cheese, black olives, capers and basil could be equally satisfying. The grill offers authentic poulet Breton, with corn fed chicken sourced from rural Brittany, accompanied by frites and a choice of garlic butter, Provençale or wild mushroom sauce. Steaks from Church Farm in the Peak District are 'aged on the bone' and served char grilled with frites along with a choice of Roquefort or garlic butter, peppercorn or béarnaise sauce are also popular at Côte Brasserie.

Desserts of crème caramel, warm chocolate fondant, fine layered apple tart with vanilla ice cream, iced summer berries with warm white chocolate sauce and dark chocolate mousse indulge the sweet tooth. Alternatively, you could opt for Roquefort and Reblochon cheeses served with bread and grapes.

A full English breakfast as well as choice of crêpes with eggs and bacon, eggs Benedict, croque monsieur and madame or smoked salmon and scrambled eggs sets you up for the day ahead. The restaurant also offers daily and weekend specials that change to incorporate seasonal produce while two and three-course lunch and early evening set menus are available too. An excellent wine list features crisp whites such as Lagarde Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc La Place and a soft, fruity Chablis 1er Cru Montmain as well as a range of reds from a light Château La Croix De Queynac, or Côtes Du Rhone Rouge to a complex vintage Château La Tourette. It is also filled with examples of champagne, sparkling and rose wines. More information is available on their Website.

Spurred on by the success of LSQ2 at GreenPark, Reading, Sally and Tony Cole took a considered look at a site in the town centre and were fortunate to secure another riverside location at the Oracle in the very heart of this vibrant university town.

The very epitome of a modern restaurant, the glass walls bathe the interior in natural light that combines with the contemporary cathedral-like height of the space to create a perfect backdrop against which to showcase the theatre of modern exhibition cooking. This is a space in which to impress, to entertain clients, or merely chill out with friends, colleagues, relations even.

On the corner of the riverside and London Street, Oracle is handy for parking at Holybrook and Riverside. Both are safe, secure and easily accessible. Riverside is open 24/7. If travelling by rail Reading station is only a mile away.

Start your meal in style with baked Waterloo cheese, onion marmalade with chilli relish, or there's olives marinated with olive oil, garlic, chilli and fresh herbs, and home baked bread with olive oil, balsamic and spezie.

Traditional Thai fishcakes of salmon and pangasius fillet with sweet chilli sauce, wild local rabbit and Meon Valley pork faggot with braised leeks and spicy butternut broth, or potted duo of fresh and smoked salmon with crème fraiche, pernod, lemon juice and chives are but three from a good range of entrée dishes.

Main courses pursue a happy path of inventiveness tinged with tradition and the red curry of seafood, an aromatic cream curry with scallops, salmon, pollock and prawns, venison Wellington accompanied by haggis, horseradish cream, swede fondant and red wine sauce, or pan fried North Sea cod with star anise braised oxtail and oyster mushrooms reinforce this trend. For an indulgent concession to modern food take a closer look at the Wagyu beef burger on brioche with local cooked salmon, free range fried egg, bacon, cheese, chilli miso and triple cooked chips.

The char-grill continues the theme of modern and imaginative dishes with a difference, and the weeping tiger kangaroo fillet steak is marinated in lime, chilli and coriander and served with jasmine rice. A roasted Cornish monkfish comes to table wrapped in prosciutto with Yorkshire pudding, cider, chorizo and caper cream sauce. The butternut squash and chickpea gnocchi stages an appearance, with a supporting cast of chestnut brown mushrooms and wild garlic.

The range of sweet temptations that lies in wait to trap the weak and unwary scores points with a treacle tart with crème anglaise, icky sticky toffee pudding with toffee pecan sauce and Chantilly cream and a local cheese board that seems to have made a point of selecting the most outstanding of its kind, all stating the case for a menu that has not just had some puddings added on.

LSQ2's express lunch operates daily from 12 to 6 pm, offering exceptional value from a two course menu with such hot dishes as traditional Thai fishcakes with sweet chilli sauce and home made Pollock fish fingers with triple cooked chips and mushy peas.

On Sundays (11-5) LSQ2 serves brunch, the ideal occasion to totally chill with or without friends, probably the newspapers, enjoying anything from coffee and croissants to an impressive full English, and much, much more as lunch comes and goes.

Looking for private dining for an intimate party of up to 8? Call 0118 9511 311 and do it in style at Oracle Riverside.

A smart wine list presses the right buttons. From a 2006 Chianti Reserva Villa Di Campobello to a South African 2007 Merlot with a nose like a port light, the list follows in the footsteps of the LSQ2 interpretation of exciting food in great surroundings and company.

Their excellent Website will keep you up to date on changes and events.

The Malmaison group of hotels has established throughout Britain a collection of centres of excellence where nothing but the best will do. As a concept alone this is exciting, but the reality is brilliant, so that at last there is a hotel group where uniformity of standards is of the same high calibre. Malmaison Reading follows the well-established Malmaison trend in establishing their hotels in buildings of interesting styles and location, and the erstwhile Great Western Rail Hotel has been transformed into a stunning boutique hotel offering a luxurious refuge. Inside, there's a dark, stylish interior, innovative design, unusual artwork and lots of hints to remind you of the building's history. 

The bedrooms are all that one would expect from a hotel that has genuine regard for its guests and is concerned with every aspect of their wellbeing. There are five stylish rail themed suites, while artwork inspired by the Great Western Railway can be seen on the walls. At the brasserie, the mood definitely veers towards comfort and elegance where the exposed walls and ceilings lend a rustic appeal and the beautiful glass wine cellar adds immensely to the style quotient.

Amidst elegant surroundings, with spotless gleaming glassware and shining cutlery, an essentially brasserie menu is offered, where lovers of seafood will be delighted to note that their particular needs are well heeded, starting with a delightful moules marinières.

Head Chef Andrew Holmes and his team bring to the table typical brasserie dishes such as treacle cured salmon and soft boiled quail egg served with toasted rye bread that have always been popular choices, and can be taken here as a starter or a main course. Monkfish with chorizo and butter beans rarely fails to please, and the same holds true for the pot roast chicken and sage dumplings.

An inspired choice amongst the main courses is the baked hazelnut and parmesan crusted cod with cockles and mussels while the beef bourguignon is another enticing option. Which leads us neatly to the - wait for it - Mal burger, a 250 gram burger made from ground beef tucked into a floured bap to join bacon and gruyere, served with homemade relish and some fries.

Over the years the number of outriders surrounding a good honest steak on the plate has grown to unacceptable dimensions. At Malmaison the thought and care is centred on the dry-aged bone rump and that's it - except for the chips. If you want all the rest go for the side dishes, but steak and chips on its own takes some beating. Vegetarians are well looked after - the pumpkin and gorgonzola filled gnocchi sounded appealing.

Heading the desserts is the sticky toffee pudding with butterscotch sauce, a triumph of timing and co-ordination, supported by other choices amongst which expect to find a chocolate pithivier with clotted cream. Their homemade ice creams and sorbets are dreamy while the renowned cheese trolley has a selection of British and French farmhouse cheeses served with an assortment of breads, biscuits and chutney.

A wine list that draws from all the major wine-growing areas is a symphony of its kind, clearly compiled by an enthusiast who knows his wines well enough not to disappear into a world of hyperbole when describing them.

Their Website is a wealth of information that will, I predict, only serve to increase your resolve to make Malmaison your next stop in Reading. It is worth noting that you can also make reservations Online on their Website.

glo at Reading has brought an added air of sophistication to eating out in this popular university town. Whatever the purpose of your call at glo, winding down with colleagues after a brusque day or just enjoying the company of friends, you can enjoy some expertly constructed cocktails in a chic and romantic environment to set your evening in motion before dining in the restaurant.

The signature cocktails are the perfect way to go, perhaps starting with one of the six listed martinis, before going on to classic longs, sparklers or shooters. Driving? Then select one of the four non alcoholic varieties.

An international menu offers many interesting choices, and they recommend sharing food for maximum pleasure, although many do not wish to do this. Dim sum is a speciality so look out for pork and prawn siu mai, hoi sin duck, and scallop and shiitake mushroom dumplings amongst the steamed.

That old favourite duck spring roll leads off the crispy dim sum, cashew and prawn dumplings represent the new wave and vegetarian spring rolls are pure melt in the mouth. Starters include mushrooms with gorgonzola and coriander, Thai crab cakes and hoisin duck pancakes.

They also have an interesting selection of noodles, and pesto and coriander, Thai green and kung po are amongst them. Nowadays you seem to be never less than ten metres from a pizza, and glo is on the mark once again giving a new dimension to this much loved Italian invention, all served with a unique house tomato base and lightly sprinkled with Asian spices, the hoi sin duck or Thai spicy pepperoni are highly recommended.

The grills are equally spectacular with Thai BBQ ribs and poussin chicken, manuka rump steak, and pesto lemongrass chicken skewers. Whilst exploring your way through the dessert menu you might encounter a chocolate box, or ice cream money bags, hot and crisp on the outside with creamy Asian ice cream on the inside, topped with warm manuka honey.

The taste in wines is eclectic and not so large as to be thoroughly confusing. Several are by the glass and all under £20. glo stays open until 2am and as a refuge for the restless night hawks it could hardly be bettered.

Their smart Website will tell you more. Only one thing left to say - enjoy! It is even open for breakfast from 10.30 each day as well.

Blue Cobra lays claim to reflecting the opulence of the gastronomic heritage of South East Asia, and closer examination of their operation lends credibility to that statement, starting with the colourful front of house and the spacious, airy restaurant and lounge bar areas.

Cuisine covers a wide range of Thai and Bengali dishes, both enjoying increasing popularity in UK as those who really care about interesting eating become more exploratory and discerning.

Lovers of seafood will rejoice to know that this is taken seriously at Blue Cobra, with appetisers of skewered tiger fish soaked in a Bengali marinade, skewered with cayenne peppers and grilled over charcoal. No menu of this kind would be complete without Tom Yam, which can also serve as a main course. Amongst the shellfish look for langoustines grilled in the shell before being covered with hot, spicy Thai sauce of aromatic herbs and coconut milk.

Moving on to seafood main courses the soft shell crab dish is served with oyster mushrooms. The potak is a riot of seafood in their Thai chef's green spicy sauce, with lemongrass, lime leaves and coconut milk

Bengali seafood features a number of special seafood creations, of which the seafood bhuna, an infusion of King scollops, squid, cuttle fish and tiger fish is prepared in a an exceptional stock with a medium blend of bhuna spices and herbs.

Bengali and Thai banquets speak for themselves, with King prawn grill massala and beef nam-man hoi included as special treats; then both cuisines combine to offer a splendid Eastern Safari, a gourmet feast across the Bay of Bengal with an Eastern version of the mixed grill containing King prawns, duck breast, venison and escalopes of chicken sizzling away with herbed sweet peppers and red onion. Side dishes include special noodles, Thai egg rice, lemon rise and stuffed naan breads.

For those who like their prawn crackers - and who can resist them - the traditional Thai version are available, with prawns on toast, spicy chicken niblets, a fish parcel, baked vegetables and baby calamari acting as other attractive appetisers.

Some dishes will forever be associated with particular cuisines and when we think of Thai, roasted duck comes to mind, beef jungle curry, a hearty rustic dish with slices of marinated beef cooked in mixed spices, with a red hot chilli bite to it, lightly tinged with fresh lemon and hot basil. Stir-fried Thai vegetables make an excellent vegetarian dish, also the green bamboo shoots cooked with bean sprouts and other vegetables.

Bengali highlights offer the Blue Cobra supreme breast of chicken, aromatic duckling and rainforest venison marinated in tamarind and rare spices and extra virgin oil. Cinnamon chicken is a mild succulent dish that speaks for itself and is, so they say, guaranteed to melt in the mouth.

Service is friendly and efficient and for nearby companies with people in a hurry at lunchtime a luncheon club is available, with 10% discount on the food on presentation of a company ID card. They do a great business in take-aways as well as parties and special occasions.

Check out their Website for details of corporate dining, conferences and on-line ordering.

A sleek and stylish contemporary restaurant set over two levels, the Caprice Restaurant and Terrace at the Holiday Inn Reading, on Wharfedale Road, is the perfect place to retreat to for a quick business lunch, leisurely dinner with family and friends or a romantic rendezvous. Situated in the bustling Winnersh Triangle, the Caprice offers a modern European cuisine menu in a superb location; the venue is within easy reach of the towns of Reading, Bracknell and Wokingham.

Adding to the restaurant's charm is a resident pianist who provides a musical twist to the evening whilst you relax in the lounge with your favourite cocktail before dinner, or a digestif afterwards. The Caprice Terrace with outdoor seating is just the place for al fresco dining.

The talented kitchen team led by head chef Stuart Weeks has put together a delicious range of starter dishes, which include pork rillettes with red onion chutney, salad of scallops and crayfish with watercress and curry cream, duck liver parfait with orange jelly and clam chowder with crab dumplings (please note the menu changes seasonally).

Having satisfied the hunger pangs you could move on to a more sumptuous fare of braised shoulder of lamb served with pan fried sweetbreads, fondant potato and stuffed courgettes, fillet of beef with Savoy cabbage, Parma ham and chateau potatoes or whole roasted stuffed baby chicken, purple potatoes and Romanesco. If fish is your choice for the day then consider pan fried trout paired with baby gem lettuce, broad beans, new potatoes and toasted almonds or sea bass fillet with roasted fennel and saffron potatoes served with white wine and tomato sauce. Vegetarians can look forward to twice baked cashel blue soufflé served with green beans and walnut and tomato salad or roasted vegetable lasagne with basil and sundried tomatoes.

For the finale, choose between exceptional home-made desserts such as chocolate terrine with kirsch cherries, rhubarb crumble with clotted cream, crème brûlée with candied oranges and iced parfait with honey and walnut praline all prepared by the Caprice's talented pastry chef.

The excellent Sunday lunch menu treats diners to fare of roast sirloin of beef with Yorkshire pudding, roasted potatoes and onion gravy and corn-fed chicken breast with potato gnocchi, ham and peas, which could be preceded by starters of curried chicken ballotine with lime and chilli dressing or seared scallops with pea and carrot purée and, perhaps, followed by dessert of blackberry and white chocolate cheesecake or gooseberry and elderflower fool. Two courses from just £16.95 per person.

Alternatively, consider a selection of Artisan cheeses including Cotswold blue brie, Lanark blue, Wigmore, rosary ash, Westcombe cheddar and Oxford Isis, served with fig compote, for an equally pleasant ending to the meal.

The table d'hôte menu offers guests two courses for £16.95 and three courses for £20.95. Other options include daily specials, a menu for children and festive menus for special days of the year. Open daily until 22.00 hours, Caprice Restaurant also offers space for private and corporate dining. To find out more, click on the restaurant's Website.

Forbury's Restaurant is situated in the central square of a modern development opposite Forbury Garden in the centre of Reading; it has achieved many positive reviews since it opened along with a recommendation from Michelin since 2006, two AA Rosettes and inclusion in Harden's Recommended. The restaurant has been created by Xavier Le-Bellego whose name has become associated with fine food and dining.

Xavier has worked with the internationally famous Raymond Blanc, John Burton Race and Albert Roux before managing The Red House near Newbury where he received the coveted 'Gastro Pub of the Year' title for two consecutive years.

Forbury's offers unfussy renditions of modern French and British cuisines and some of the dishes that emerge from the kitchen could be foie gras with truffles, sauce gribiche and quenelle de brochet. Xavier passionately believes that 'good fresh food does not have to be expensive' and this is reflected in the menu admirably.

The modern and stylish restaurant is fully air conditioned and in addition to the main dining area, there is a private dining room, which can seat up to sixteen, a bar area, and a seating area on the terrace outside where diners on fine days can enjoy the pleasant outlook over Forbury Garden. The restaurant is open for lunch and dinner each day from Monday to Saturday and for special functions and celebrations on Sunday.

The highly regarded à la carte menu offers starters such as pan-fried Cornish hand dived scallops, pea purée, pea shoots and black pudding; tian of Cornish crab and avocado, confit tomato and red pepper dressing, or gruyère gougère, fricassée of wild mushrooms and poached duck egg. Main courses could include Ashampstead pig's head cooked three ways; squid ink fafarelle with squid, clams, prawns and rosemary cream, or grilled 7oz Gatcombe Farm angus rib-eye steak, also available in 9oz.

Don't miss the enticing range of desserts that include passion fruit soufflé; Amedei dark chocolate fondant, roasted banana and dark chocolate ice cream, or a Braeburn apple tarte tatin for two to share.

The market menu is good value for money and is available for lunch and dinner. Some of the options there are salmon gravadlax and horseradish cream, followed by roasted loin of English pork with roast potatoes, finishing with treacle tart with hot sauce anglaise; there is a choice of four dishes in each course.

Whether it is good food or wine, the French are not too far from it and Forburys's wine list which features around 240 wines from across the world was mentioned in the AA Notable Wine List for 2008. Some of these wines are available by the glass and are a fantastic accompaniment to the meal or just on their own too.

During the evening they are able to offer secure underground parking, however, this must be booked in advance when you book your table. For more information on everything from private dining, the wine list and latest menus, do have a look at their comprehensive Website.

The Tamarind Tree is a prime example of the modern style of Indian restaurant where the bright and lively décor reflects the modern face of Bangladeshi cuisine, the service conducted with dignity and professionalism. No flying shirt-tails here. Their avowed aim is to 'blend exotic luxury with homely warmth'.

Listed amongst Britain's Top 100 at the National Curry Awards Ceremony, Tamarind Tree goes to great lengths to use only the best ingredients. Food is prepared only when your order is taken, and whilst some places can suffer extended service times because of this, at Tamarind Tree it is kept to an acceptable minimum.

From amongst the starters look for king prawns cooked in a honey and tamarind sauce; lamb chops seasoned with green papaya paste and sauce; spicy grilled aubergine salad with olive oil citrus dressing, or duck marinated in spices and barbecued in a charcoal oven.

Main courses of Goan fish curry, duck shashlik, monkfish seasoned with spices and yoghurt grilled in the tandoor, a lamb tikka or the ever-angst absorbing murgh vindaloo are all there, but the gosht kata massala, diced lamb braised with onions, ginger, garlic and tamarind sauce is a well-known favourite.

Indian side dishes are amongst the most interesting, and Tamarind Tree has a good selection to brighten an otherwise lacklustre day. A scintillating tarka dall, and palak panir, spinach with cottage cheese, must surely prove the point, and there's that high moment when the first mouthful of a light but well filled peshwari naan goes down the hatch. As you can see you are in the hands of an enthusiast, someone who particularly delights in this new concept of Indian restaurants, with not a hint of flock wallpaper to be seen.

As with so many of their kind the range of cocktails to be found at Tamarind Tree is explosive. The present Manager claims to be the originator of some of the most imaginative cocktails known to man, which must be saying quite something.

Tamarind Tree do a special buffet on Sundays and they are open 7 days a week. Find out more from their Website.