London Street Brasserie — Restaurant in Reading

We had a company outing to this restaurant, and apparently for parties of 7 or more you had to order ahead and from a set/tasting menu. Turns out this wasn't true. We had a friendly, maybe overly friendly, waitress who loved to talk about cats and tattoos. We got our food relatively quickly and the appetizers were absolutely delicious. I had some sort of white fish sashimi and raw oysters. The oysters were fat and fresh and already separated from the shell. Add a bit of the vinegar and Tabasco they have on the side and I was in heaven. It's funny how I twister asked others if they wanted to have oysters and nobody wanted any, then when they came out, everyone was eating my order. Felt like Joey from Friends. For the main course, I had the surf and turf. The surf were 3 pieces of scallop, and the steak was a nicely cooked filet. The side of fries were very very good, my burnt palate would agree they were fresh and newly fried. If you get a chance to swap them for the thick cuts, do it. Dessert was a choice of chocolate dishes or a cheese platter. They did not serve vanilla ice cream with any of the desserts. It was creme freshe instead, and it tasted like sour cream to me. Nasty. So I rated the atmosphere a bit low because the place felt cramped upstairs. There's a really cute balcony that overlooks a canal/river that runs through the Oracle waterfront. Having 2 large parties in the same room ended up being a shouting competition to get your conversations across. I felt bad for our neighboring diners; we were loud and obnoxious. I'd definitely go back in smaller parties and also order from the regular a la carte menu though. I'd still recommend you try this...

Feeling fleeced! We came here for the set lunch, which, at the time I booked, was £26 for two courses. When we arrived, the only set lunch we were offered was £37 each – a 'Graduation' set lunch. I don't know why – graduation week was more than two weeks ago. The food was fine, but nothing special. By the time we had (each) a G&T, a glass of wine and a coffee/tea, the bill came to £140. For a weekday two-course lunch in Reading! On arriving home, I checked the website, and the £26 set lunch should have been available. The exact food we ordered today was on it, but £22 cheaper. Even the rosé was hiked up by £2.50 on the graduation menu – up to £11.50 a glass. So the 'graduation menu' wasn't a special, better menu – it was the same one, just 40% more expensive. I'm done with supporting independent local restaurants if they rip off their diners like this. Great London restaurants with CHEAPER set lunches include Aqua Shard (£39 for three courses), Benares (£33 for two courses), Hakkasan Mayfair (£34) and Noble Rot (£18 for two courses). The Savoy Grill is £3 more at £40. Seriously. The train to Paddington takes 23 minutes. Do yourself a favour and go to one of those.* UPDATE: Jason, the General Manager, replied to say that if only I'd asked specifically for the set menu (that is, the 'usual' set menu, not the set menu we were offered), we could indeed have eaten exactly the same meal for £22 less. So, in effect, it was our fault we paid more. Your meal really is worth the piece of paper it's written on. He also said that diners 'welcomed' this 'graduation menu', with its 40% price uplift. Nice try,...

A delightful celebration at the London Street Brasserie

We recently visited the London Street Brasserie in Reading to celebrate my mother's exciting new job at the Jersey Zoo. We arrived ten minutes early, but this wasn't an issue at all. The staff were incredibly friendly and welcoming, immediately setting the tone for a wonderful evening.

To start, I indulged in the scallops, which were cooked to perfection. The flavors were delicate and perfectly balanced. For my main course, I opted for the very rare fillet steak, served with parmesan and truffle chips. The steak was cooked exactly as requested, juicy and tender on the inside with a beautifully seared crust. The truffle chips were a decadent addition, adding a touch of luxury to the dish.

My partner enjoyed the chicken escalopes, which she described as flavorful and well-prepared. My mother also opted for the fillet steak, this time accompanied by roasted new potatoes. She was equally impressed with the quality and taste of her meal.

The entire experience at the London Street Brasserie was exceptional. The staff were attentive and professional, ensuring our every need was met. The atmosphere was warm and inviting, and the food was truly delicious. It was the perfect setting to celebrate a special occasion, and we all left feeling happy and satisfied.

I highly recommend the London Street Brasserie to anyone looking for a memorable dining experience in Reading. Whether you're celebrating a special occasion or simply enjoying a night out, you're sure to have a...