L'Ortolan

I write this review with sadness, as the restaurant will be closing at the end of the month. I had the Chef's Experience, to be part of the kitchen for a day. I learnt a lot about fine dining, and also had the opportunity to taste the delicious food made there. I had a wonderful experience, the staff are impressively talented and friendly, always ready to serve and share their knowledge. It will be an experience I'll always remember. Another special mention to the baker, the bread and desserts were stunning!

Just had an amazing 5-star experience. The food was top quality. What made it an experience was the chefs table. We sat in full view of the kitchen, watching ours and other guests' food being prepared. Seeing how a professional kitchen works. The chef dressed our lunch on the pass and came round to tell us all about the course, not just what we were about to eat but what was in it, where the ingredients were soursed and what flavours to expect.

My husband took me here for birthday dinner! Great foods, drinks and atmosphere. Nicely displayed dishes with special and fresh ingredients! Good selection of cocktails as well. Great place for occasions and family gatherings

Excellent Chef table experience. It is not only food and drink. Gettign to talk to the staff was an amazing experience. The food was delicious. I opted for a diary and meat free menu. Every dish was amazing. Every bite was full of flavour. In terms of drinks, I normally only drink water with lunch. This time, I went for the mocktail pairing. I loved all of them, sugar free, creative and full of new flavours.

Why oh why oh why are they closing. This is the best restaurant for miles. The food and service last night were just amazing. I am not sure who the current chef is but they should be snapped up. The creativity, flavour combinations and appearance were simply breathtaking. We have dined in the best restaurants in the uk and abroad and L’Ortolan is one of, if not the best. Service was faultless and the fine wine pairing was perfect along with the descriptions from their outstanding sommelier who is slightly biased towards northern Italy but with very good reason, a delicious selection. I also think that their prices are just too low, amazing value. Thank you L’Ortolan. Please change your mind !! Stay open.

My husband and I celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary with a wonderful dinner at L'Ortolan. Everything was exceptional and as expected with fine dining. The food was delicious, we choose the 8 courses, with the wagu brevet which incurred a supplement but was to die for and well worth it. The ambience and staff are absolutely on point and everyone is friendly, attentive, and knowledgeable on the food and wine pairings. If you want to celebrate a special occasion this is the place to visit. Cannot recommend highly enough and looking forward to our next visit.

Came here for a 8 course tasting menu from a gift voucher. Overall the food was excellent but a few unusual menu items (such a Gorgonzola butter milk ice cream dessert). Good selection on both the meat and vegetarian tasting menu. Service for all 8 courses took 3 hours but could have been served faster and not all courses were bought out hot.. unsure if this was intentional or not. At the end of our service we were bought a bill for the service charge, I understand this wasn’t included by the gift voucher but seemed very unprofessional to add 12.5% to a gifted meal.

A lovely meal to treat my parents. We decided on the midweek 6 course menu, with wine pairing (for me!) The food was excellent as were the staff, both knowledgeable and friendly. I would thoroughly recommend for a special occasion or fine dining lovers

Ate here with three mates at the start of the week and we went for the amazing value lunch menu, three courses cost £32 with canapés, bread, amuse bouche and pre dessert all thrown in!The food was perfect and with such a stunning level of cooking on display it maybe the best value meal I have ever had! We will go back for the tasting menu at some point without doubt The goose liver, caramelised white chocolate and pickled raspberry to start was the best plate of food my friend had ever had... Seriously good food

I've been here several times over the years for special occasions; in a group for a friend's 30th, my 21st birthday and my grandmother's 80th among others. It's tucked away behind Shinfield, so I'd hardly classify it as a restaurant in Reading, but it's won enough awards under that guise - so whatever works for them. It's got one Michelin star deservedly and as it's an old house, feels much more relaxed that its somewhat stuffy counterparts in London. There are two or three rooms to dine, as well as private dining and the chef's table, then a large pre and post-dinner lounge to boot. Prices are as you'd expect for a place of this league, but they do utterly fantastic lunch deals all year round. You can go there and have a three course meal (with pre-starter and pre-dessert) for £30, and feel utterly spoiled rotten. Unlike other French places I've been to, the chefs don't mind if you ask for something to be removed or cooked a different way. Though I've only had to do it once, having felt perfectly happy to do so. Classic cuisine with a modern twist is served up beautifully and they have a long and very well chosen wine list.

Without a doubt the best Sea Bass I've had. The restaurant itself has an elegant, contemporary feel, whilst the service is certainly commendable. I would highly recommend the cheese board to accompany to the great selection of wines. Overall, visiting L'Ortolan is a great evening out if you enjoy superb food, good wine and a comfortable, ambient setting.

We came here midweek and had the champagne lunch - 3 courses, appetizer and pre-dessert and a glass of champagne for £35 each. I can't praise it enough.. chef Alan Murchison is my new food hero! Clever combinations of seasonal produce made every mouthful exquisite and the staff were attentive, well-informed and unstuffy so the atmosphere was relaxed and good-humoured. Now for the food porn.. The appetiser was an intense mushroom veloute with truffle oil. My starter was a melt on the tongue duck terrine coated with caramelised hazelnuts and served with pea shoots, cherries and a salted caramel jelly. Utterly divine. Next I had the panfried organic salmon with asparagus, hollandaise and cabbage. Classic but perfectly executed. The pre-dessert was a shot glass of an apple compote, ginger crumble and blackberry foaming coulis. Surprising and really more-ish. Dessert was a pistachio pannacotta with an apricot sorbet, pistachio butter, apricots, caramelised pistachios and a pistachio chocolate square. It looked heavenly and tasted even better. If you're any kind of foodie - get yourself to L'Ortolan and float away on a little cloud of culinary pleasure!

Ok - you probably won't eat here every week, unless those six numbers came up recently, but you would if you could. The service is five star and the food to die for. A great choice on the menu served and presented wonderfully in a setting that encourages you to take your time in enjoying the surroundings, food and service. Somewhere everyone should visit at least once.

Came with business colleagues and had the surpise menu. Everything was excellent. The whole experience is very good. It's smart but not too stuffy. The service is good and the food is also very good.

A visit to L'Ortolan is indeed a culinary experience. Every mouthful of food is a delightful mix of tastes washed down with an excellent and extensive choice of wines. Sommelier was helpful without being stuffy. Mind you not cheap. 4 of us had a nice a la carte evening dinner, Pre dinner drinks, 2 bottles of wine plus a couple of extra glasses, desert wines £550.