Alto Lounge — Restaurant in Reading

Excellent first visit with only a few mistakes made.

You have the ability to order either from the bar or directly at your table through the QR code which we liked. The staff are attentive and also ask if you suffer with allergies, sadly I do and the staff couldn’t have been more than accommodating regarding my allergy.

Sadly I ordered at the bar and I think their was a mix up regarding which out of the table party had the allergy, I honestly didn’t fuss over this as they have a matrix which allows to check the food prior to ordering to make sure, I assume whom could only be the manager was shocked at this mistake and went to the kitchen to double check, I appreciated this.

I assume they still have new staff members as sadly some orders came to us that weren’t for our table, not sure if they should add the table numbers on a visible stick like some other restaurants do or have a layout plan that staff can refer to just in case.

I ordered the lounge eggs with salmon and they were absolutely divine!

My other half had the Avacado, chicken and bacon salad and also commented on how great it was.

Sadly their was a mix up with the desserts where my partner ended up getting someone else’s dessert, I just put this down to new staff inclusive of the place ironing out their little teething problems, due to a fantastic overall experience, we will be back and I wouldn’t mark them down because of this.

Staff do seem friendly, but when saying thank you for them bringing items to your table you’re just given a blank response which to me comes across a little off. Not sure if it was just down to the heat or something else going on behind the scenes.

Hopefully when we do return the small issues will be fully ironed out.

Overall a great first experience...

First the positives....friendly staff. Lovely, interesting funky interior. Children/family friendly.

We arrived for dinner early evening. Despite being Saturday, it was only around 6.30, so still early and kids still around. It is quite a big place, with a funky interior that feels special while still being informal.

Food and drinks are ordered at the bar, which is fine. The staff who took the order was very friendly and remained so throughout the night.

At least half an hour after the order was placed for food, nothing had arrived. Nothing too tricky....3 tapas dishes, salad and a mac & cheese side. Food probably took about 45mins to come out. The tapas dishes spanned the temperature range...the meatballs hot, tofu warm and chicken barely nearly cold. The mac & cheese was pale and had none of that crispy topping. Again lukewarm.

Clearly the kitchen was struggling to get food out in reasonable speed and to a good quality. The staff who took the order came over to apologise for the wait and I felt bad for her. By now the restaurant was getting busy and hitting Saturday night peak. I could only imagine more people coming to the bar asking for their food.

I don't blame the front of house staff or the kitchen. I blame the management for not putting on enough kitchen staff and having a ridiculously long menu that makes things more complicated, including an all-day breakfast...

Mouldy food served.

I visited here on the 28th sept . Everything was going fine, drinks were nice, service was good until I was served my Harissa chicken flatbread. I ate about 4 bites and it tasted so weird and was making me feel sick. I looked under the flatbread and there was thick green mould all under the flatbread. it was so thick and green, it had stained the plate green. I really wish I had taken a photo as I have never seen anything like that but I was too shocked.

I immediately stood up and took it over to the bar and shown the server. She took it off me immediately and multiple staff offered for it be remade and profusely apologised. At this point I had been sick in the bathroom and was no longer hungry. I was given a full refund for the entire order. The people at the front of the house handled it great and it obviously was not their fault as they seemed as shocked as me.

It ruined my day and I could not go to my friends birthday meal that evening because of how sick i felt after this.

Whoever prepared the food, I have no idea how the mold was not seen before it made it to the table. It was so thick, it is hard to believe it was no through to the other side.

I will be finding out how to report this place to food standards/hygiene.

I have visited other lounger locations and this meal was always my go to brunch but...