COSMO
COSMO things to do, attractions, restaurants, events info and trip planning
Plan your stay
&promo_pic=/one-page/coolest.jpg)
Posts
REVIEW UPDATED FOR 2023 Still an incredibly positive experience! Myself and my partner went again recently (26/8/2023) and again had a wonderful time. My thoughts are still much the same as below - wonderful service, attentive hosts, great food and a lovely atmosphere. It is always packed when we come in, which is a testament to how fantastic it is! Definitely recommend if you are looking for an exciting dining experience. Original review - visit 6/11/2022 Myself and my partner came to COSMO on the off chance on Sunday. We had to wait a little to be seated, but that was okay as we hadn't booked and the restaurant was very busy! When it came time to be seated, we were taken to our seat than none other than a robot - a very smart Spark EPoS 'Kettybot'. I had to laugh as I accidentally got in its way, and it told me to "get out of the way". Cute! I was also absolutely smitten with another robotic member of staff - another Spark EPoS bot, this one shaped slightly like a kitty cat! (Called a 'Bellabot') A male server immediately tended to us and asked us what we'd like to drink. He was lovely. We then went to get some food, and my... what choice! There were more things to choose from than I could shake a stick at. All of the food I had was delicious and flavourful - I'll have to admit, even the things I didn't like so much (just personal preference) were very flavoursome. As for the food areas; everything was wonderfully clean and allergens clearly signposted. Food was clearly labelled, and again, there was so much choice! The staff could be seen throughout the restaurant, tidying, cleaning spills immediately, tending to guests, and clearing plates away. I saw servers laughing and conversing with guests as they collected things from tables - it's lovely to see happy staff chatting with people. I was really impressed with the range of desserts too, and hey - there's a chocolate fountain! Overall, it was a great experience and we will definitely be coming again. Thank you to all of the staff of COSMO, human and otherwise, for a wonderful visit!
Georgia Brown (Voyager221141)Georgia Brown (Voyager221141)
30
**Restaurant Review: Cosmo** Cosmo delivers an extraordinary dining experience, offering a global buffet that takes you on a culinary journey across continents. The modern, stylish decor and ambient lighting create a chic and comfortable atmosphere that invites relaxation and enjoyment. The variety at Cosmo is truly impressive. From the sizzling stir-fries of the Asian station to the rich curries of the Indian counter, each dish is crafted with attention to authenticity and flavor. The sushi station, in particular, stood out with its fresh, delicate rolls and sashimi, showcasing the skill and precision of the chefs. For the main course, we sampled dishes from around the world, including succulent roasted meats, fragrant Mediterranean salads, and hearty Italian pastas. Each bite was a testament to the quality and diversity of the ingredients used. The dessert section was equally spectacular, featuring an array of sweets from creamy panna cotta to traditional British puddings. The chocolate fountain, with its array of dipping options, was a particular favorite among both children and adults. Service at Cosmo was efficient and friendly, with staff constantly ensuring that the buffet remained well-stocked and the dining area clean and inviting. Overall, Cosmo is a culinary treasure trove. Whether you're looking to explore new flavors or indulge in familiar favorites, Cosmo provides a dining experience that is both exciting and satisfying. It's a perfect choice for family gatherings, celebrations, or simply a delightful night out.
Rakil MaharjanRakil Maharjan
20
2022-08-19 edit: Don't really know what happened to this place. I had been going consistently every 6 months or so until COVID, then I returned yesterday for the first time since COVID and the quality of the food had noticeably declined. The variety of the food was the same, but the quality was worse. It went from being "above average takeaway food" to "below average takeaway food". Particularly for anything containing meat, there was more gristle, skin, etc than usual. Two members of our party reported undercooked (hard) rice, another reported an undercooked potato. A small amount of that stuff is fine and inevitable, but it becomes a problem when every member of our party commented on something, despite all of us choosing wildly different options (and also considering the price). That's a big enough sample size for me to believe it's an overarching quality issue, rather than a single batch having a problem. That said, it could have been a supply issue for that one day, so I'm giving Cosmo the benefit of the doubt and not reducing my rating too much. I'll return again eventually and increase/decrease my rating accordingly. Just a side note, I did notice that there were fewer people in the kitchen than there were before COVID. I know there have been labour shortages, and I have experienced declines at other restaurants attributed to this reason. Perhaps I'm just imagining things, just wanted to say anyway. Original 2017 review: Love this place, excellent quality food with an insane amount of variety and diversity. The atmosphere is also very pleasant and the staff are polite.
Syd LambertSyd Lambert
00
Being part of a table of 8, we were originally told we would be waiting 15 minutes, which isn't a problem.. However ended up waiting over an hour to be seated.. The restaurant itself isn't bad, but the food wasn't as tasty as other oriental/world buffets I have encountered before. The price was advertised at £19.99 as you enter, but then to discover that they operate as American method, whereby you are charged tax on top of the price that is a nasty catch as it ends up being £20.56. The drink service was some what extremely slow and I had to ask how processes work here as no one gave us any explanation. The robots are some what a cheap gimmick as I want to eat my food in peace, not have some robot loitering over me. I'm not a fan of AI technology and not impressed being disturbed.. The desert was very bland in taste. Ice cream is more like whipped puffed cream and had no flavour, the cakes were alright, however lacked flavour and as for the haribo sweets.. Really not ideal with the volume of greedy kids adamant the whole bowl is theirs.. (They will regret it when they need a non existent NHS dentist).. Overall 3 outta 5 stars as it was merely ok. Had high expectations, but very little reward and hidden catches inside spoiled the 4 or 5 star experience.
Zeon XavierZeon Xavier
00
Yes , we were all excited to go to this place, we had a family group of 15 people. For which we did booking online n reserved a slot in the first batch in afternoon at 12 pm. Since it was my first time I really love the place , the food n the atmosphere there was amazing. The opening time is at 12 noon . You can book any time after that. Food was lovely & very very tasty.. I tasted all the dishes. & They were amazing . I satisfied myself with all the dishes I was longing to eat. There were chip's , there were different type of noodles , Rice , sushi, sea food , (pork ,chicken, beef dishes) there wer vegetarian dishes, there was a section of India dishes, there wer steamed buns, fruits ,dessert , ice- creams, etc all was too good 👍. There was a separate menu for drinks which needed to be paid separately as per your choice .. We adults had Pinacolada for ladies , men choose beer . Kids had drinks. There r toilet inside the place . It's a perfect for family outing , you can eat alot .. as much as you want but only with in one & half hour. . All the staff there are very kind & friendly . I really look forward to visit it again .
mic mell (Mell)mic mell (Mell)
10
My son and i have been going to Cosmo for years and over time and ironically since the onset of Covid and everything that went with that, Cosmo really came out on top of their game. Week after week and no matter the time of day they deliver probably the best all you can eat dining experience bar none. We have tried the competition and there is a lot of horrendous restaurants that simply cannot compete and still charge the same or more for a worse experience all round. This is not the place for name dropping but we will leave it there for now. My son and i know good from bad and also know that Cosmo is excellent, period! We have obviously become regulars and we have a good repartee with many of the really friendly staff within. Ingrid at front of house, in particular is extremely professional and excellent at her job and will always go the extra mile to make sure your dining experience is as good as it can be. A family friendly restaurant that caters for every taste and we often bump into people who have tried the rest and never the best, but all agree on one thing, Cosmo is the best out there bar none ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Cliff JordanCliff Jordan
70
Nearby Attractions Of COSMO
The Oracle
Broad Street Mall
The Range
Reading Winter Wonderland
Reading Abbey Ruins
Christchurch Meadows
Reading Museum
Reading
King's Meadow
Forbury Gardens Park
The Oracle
4.3
(7.1K)Click for details
Broad Street Mall
3.9
(3.1K)Click for details
The Range
4.1
(1.2K)Click for details
Reading Winter Wonderland
4.2
(748)Click for details
Nearby Restaurants Of COSMO
Slug & Lettuce - Riverside Reading
House of Flavours
The Hope Tap - JD Wetherspoon
Slug & Lettuce - Friar Street Reading
Treatz Desserts Reading
Miller & Carter Oracle
The Purple Turtle
Las Iguanas - Reading
Bill's Reading Restaurant
Madras Flavours Pure Indian Vegetarian Restaurant
Slug & Lettuce - Riverside Reading
4.5
(1.8K)Click for details
House of Flavours
4.4
(2K)$$
Click for details
The Hope Tap - JD Wetherspoon
4.0
(1.7K)Click for details
Slug & Lettuce - Friar Street Reading
4.8
(1.3K)$$
Click for details
Learn more insights from Wanderboat AIBasic Info
Address
35-38 Friar St, Reading RG1 1DX, United Kingdom
Map
Phone
+44 118 959 5588
Call
Website
cosmo-restaurants.co.uk
Visit
Reviews
Overview
4.3
(2.4K reviews)
Ratings & Description
Description
Stylish, modern chain dining room with cooking stations producing a range of global dishes.
attractions: The Oracle, Broad Street Mall, The Range, Reading Winter Wonderland, Reading Abbey Ruins, Christchurch Meadows, Reading Museum, Reading, King's Meadow, Forbury Gardens Park, restaurants: Slug & Lettuce - Riverside Reading, House of Flavours, The Hope Tap - JD Wetherspoon, Slug & Lettuce - Friar Street Reading, Treatz Desserts Reading, Miller & Carter Oracle, The Purple Turtle, Las Iguanas - Reading, Bill's Reading Restaurant, Madras Flavours Pure Indian Vegetarian Restaurant
- Unable to get your location