Bill's Reading Restaurant
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As you can tell from my food rating, this place doesn't have the best food. It's plated nicely, and the food looks right. But I had a chance to taste their steak, calamari, fish+potato something, duck spring rolls. Let me break it down for you. The steak was rubbery, and it wasn't an accident because a third of our company party said the same thing. The calamari was fried in old oil and looked dark and tasted greasy. The fish/potato concoction was bland. I believe it was a salmon dish but you'd be hard pressed to find any pink fish in it. It mainly tasted like a watery mashed potato. The duck spring rolls were something interesting, it had an 80's Diet Coke with saccharin aftertaste in the sauce the duck was cooked in. Almost as if the kitchen ran out of sugar and just used whatever artificial sweetener they had thinking nobody would notice the difference. Well, I did. So food - meh. On the other hand, the place is so pretty! They have an upstairs seating area that can easily host 30 hungry diners. The booths downstairs look so gorgeous and out of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. The wait staff was polite, friendly, helpful and prompt. They even climbed up on a bar to take a group photo of us twice. That alone made me give it a 4 star rating. But yeah, fire the chef!
Alvin TanhehcoAlvin Tanhehco
10
It was raining in Reading last Saturday afternoon and i needed a place to wait whilst my husband had his Covid jab. I saw a sign outside Bills saying festive cocktail, £2.99. What? £2.99 for a cocktail, that can't be right!? I went in and found a lovely table by a fireplace. The cocktail soon came and it was amazing, beautifully decorated and tasted delicious. This tempted me to look at the food menu. It was approaching 5pm and they were changing menus. I text my husband and asked him to join me when he finished his jab, as we hadn't booked anywhere. SO glad we decided to stay and eat as the food was simply outstanding. We eat out ALOT and most of the time come away feeling dissatisfied or short-changed, but everything about Bills was perfect. We shared the mezze starter and my hubby had the festive burger which he said was the best he's ever had (he's a burger expert). We finished with the festive Xmas cheesecake served in a real plant pot! Everything about our experience was amazing, from the food, to the ambience and the service. So much so that I will be organising a festive group dinner there next year!
NiKitA THAKrarNiKitA THAKrar
00
I will start off by saying my review is based on being there in a large group so my experience will be different from smaller tables. The staff were really friendly and helpful when we arrived. There are maybe a dozen tables outside that are away from any roads so would be great in a nice day. We were taken upstairs to a great room that was perfect for our large group. They staff were well organised with the pre booked meals and had names against everything. This can be a big miss in some places as who knows what they ordered weeks before 😅. The only thing that let the service down was the availability of someone to take drinks orders. We were sat with empty glasses while we waited for starters. Our food was off a set menu and I went for the prawn cocktail which was great and then the burrata with aubergine which I ended up leaving most of the aubergine as it was swimming in oil and was well overcooked, the potatoes the go with it were great. I think my choice of meal was just poor as the rest of the group enjoyed their mains and given we were in a large group that is a win.
Adam BienkowskiAdam Bienkowski
00
Bills in Reading offers a warm and inviting atmosphere, with a charming decor that makes for a pleasant dining experience. The menu is diverse, featuring a range of delicious dishes that cater to various tastes, from hearty breakfasts to satisfying dinners. The quality of the food is consistently high, with fresh ingredients and well-executed recipes. One of the highlights of our visit was the exceptional service provided by Lily. She was attentive, friendly, and went out of her way to ensure we had a great time. Her recommendations were spot-on, and she made sure all our needs were met promptly. Lily's hospitality truly enhanced our dining experience, making it memorable and enjoyable. Overall, Bills in Reading is a fantastic choice for anyone looking to enjoy a delightful meal with excellent service. Thanks to Lily and the rest of the staff, we left with a smile and a desire to return soon.
Virginia GonzálezVirginia González
00
First time in Reading branch of Bill's. Normally go to the WestFields branch. Got there just before lunch time rush. Which had queues outside the door. Was told by the seater that dining time was 1.15 or 1.45 mins, can't remember which one. But that suited us fine, as we only popped in on a whim for breakfast. Amazing building, which the interior designer has used to their advantage. On top of the usual Bill's USP of decor. Visually looks like a big portion, but just the right amount to taste everything that makes it a full breakfast. Although pancakes & chicken was sizeble. Willing to change out fried eggs to poached & scrabbled. Servers polite & attentive. Approx £50 for 3 for breakfast.
L ML M
00
I'd heard a lot of good stuff about Bill's, so I was, I have to say, a little disappointed when I arrived. The portions are really small, though the quality of the food is good. The whole place is kind of kitschy, with chalkboard witticisms, while decor and crockery is tatty and worn, to give the impression that you're at an old friend's house. People may like this sort of thing, and the service is really good, while the food is decent, but ultimately, I don't feel I need to pay a lot of money for a 'worn out' look. Update 2022: it's still pretty similar. Not cheap and a bit gimmicky. Their Mediterranean breakfast was kind of interesting but lacking in flavour.
Lionel MatsuyaLionel Matsuya
00
Nearby Attractions Of Bill's Reading Restaurant
The Oracle
Broad Street Mall
The Range
Reading Winter Wonderland
Reading Abbey Ruins
Reading Museum
Reading
Forbury Gardens Park
South Street Arts Centre
Mooboo Reading

The Oracle
4.3
(6.6K)Click for details

Broad Street Mall
3.9
(3.1K)Click for details

The Range
4.1
(1.3K)Click for details

Reading Winter Wonderland
4.2
(773)Click for details
Nearby Restaurants Of Bill's Reading Restaurant
COSMO All You Can Eat World Buffet Restaurant | Reading
Slug & Lettuce - Riverside Reading
House of Flavours
Slug & Lettuce - Friar Street Reading
The Hope Tap - JD Wetherspoon
Treatz Desserts Reading
Miller & Carter Oracle
The Purple Turtle
Madras Flavours Pure Indian Vegetarian Restaurant
Las Iguanas - Reading

COSMO All You Can Eat World Buffet Restaurant | Reading
4.3
(2.6K)Click for details

Slug & Lettuce - Riverside Reading
4.5
(1.7K)Click for details

House of Flavours
4.4
(2K)$$
Click for details

Slug & Lettuce - Friar Street Reading
4.8
(1.4K)Click for details
Basic Info
Address
St Marys Church House, Chain St, Reading RG1 2HX, United Kingdom
Map
Phone
+44 20 8054 5400
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Website
bills-website.co.uk
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Reviews
Overview
4.2
(1.2K reviews)$$
Ratings & Description
Description
Contemporary European chain dishing up separate breakfast, afternoon tea, lunch and dinner menus.
attractions: The Oracle, Broad Street Mall, The Range, Reading Winter Wonderland, Reading Abbey Ruins, Reading Museum, Reading, Forbury Gardens Park, South Street Arts Centre, Mooboo Reading, restaurants: COSMO All You Can Eat World Buffet Restaurant | Reading, Slug & Lettuce - Riverside Reading, House of Flavours, Slug & Lettuce - Friar Street Reading, The Hope Tap - JD Wetherspoon, Treatz Desserts Reading, Miller & Carter Oracle, The Purple Turtle, Madras Flavours Pure Indian Vegetarian Restaurant, Las Iguanas - Reading
