8 Places to eat in Reading Berkshire England

One one of the reasons I love being a blogger is because I am occasionally given an opportunity to check out local places to eat!

Reading, like most towns, are constantly changing and growing and 2017 saw some great new places to eat open up! Also a few staples/classics had a bit of a revamp on their menu's and I was there to check them out. Saying that I thought I would round up all the places I visited in one post to hopefully help those who are looking for somewhere new to try!

I have listed them 1-8 one being my favorite - now everyone's tastes and experiences are different so I can only go on my tastes and experiences, but I hope it helps if you are from the area or are visiting!

1. Pho Restaurant - 1 - 1a King's Rd, Reading RG1 2HG

The place I crave:
This is listed as my number one place because I have been back several times and it's the place I suggest to friends and family when we are looking for somewhere to go! I crave the rice bowl and the Vietnamese coffee they serve here. So, if you're like me and love noodles, rice, and soup give this place a visit!

2. The Real Greek - The Oracle, Bridge St, Reading RG1 2AT

The 'something' different place:
Like Pho, I have visited The Real Greek a few times since I have reviewed it. The food and atmosphere are great and if are looking for something different then the typical restaurant, you know the places that rely on burgers and fries, I couldn't recommend this place more!

3. Pavlov's Dog - 21-23 St Mary's Butts, Reading RG1 2LN

The place for fun:

This was a bit of a surprise really, having walked past it a million times in the years I have lived here, but have never go in my friend and I had a great night here. The food was typical pub food, but we couldn't fault it. My favorites were the appetisers and cocktails which is exactly what you want from a pub! Also we agreed, after playing Mario Kart on a Nintendo Game Cube, that this was a fun place to go! 

4. The Botanist - 1-5 King St, Reading RG1 2HB

The cool place: 

It is so cool in here. It's like the big sibling of restaurants - you want to hang out here and just be a part of all the things that go on here! They have musical bingo and live music and hanging kebabs! Like the last three places I have been here more then once and have to say it's worth a visit! 

5. Cau - The Oracle, Bridge Street, Reading RG1 2AQ

The place for meat lovers: 

Not to say there isn't anything for vegetarians, but really this place is all about the meat... beef more specifically. I had the best steak sandwich I have ever had. Cau's menu is a mix of food inspired by Italy, Spain and Argentina and is overall a big win for me!

6. Wrap it Up! - Unit 1, 10-14 Duke St, Reading RG1 4RU

The place for lunch: 

I say that it is the place for lunch, but these wraps are full meal in themselves so could satisfy one for dinner as well! I have only been twice, but both times the flavor combinations blew me away! If you work in town they deliver to offices and if I worked in town I would have one too many of these! 

7. Franco Manco - The Oracle, Bridge St, Reading RG1 2AT

The pizza place:
Sometimes I feel very overwhelmed at restaurants when I have too much to choose from and I found it really refreshing that they have a small menu and a special menu that changes occasionally. The quality of the pizza's is on point and they really pay attention to the details. If you go in the summer try the pesto, it's the best thing I have ever tried.

8. Walkabout - Wiston Terrace, Reading RG1 1DG

The place for a night out: 

The food here was good, I tried a kangaroo burger it was a bit gamey, but it's not the first place I would think of for food. However, it's been revamped and looks great inside and I believe would be a great place for a good night out. The cocktails and atmosphere were spot on! 

A few other places I visited the past year and worth mentioning are:
7Bone Burger - 60 St Mary's Butts, Reading RG1 2LG
Bluegrass BBQ - 15 Gun St, Reading RG1 2JR
Revolución De Cuba - 138-141 Friar St, Reading RG1 1EX

I can't wait to see what 2018 will bring to Reading! Do you have a favorite local place? I would love to hear about it in the comments below!

* Each restaurant is linked to my review for more pictures and information!! -- I had been invited to review all of these places - I was not asked to give a positive review and all opinions are my own please see my contact/policy page above for more information. If you have a local place you'd like me to review email me at unitedcakedom@gmail.com and I will get back to you!

Pavlov's Dog, Reading Berkshire {restaurant review}

It seems like it's all happening this summer. I haven't been invited to check out a new restaurant in ages and then in the last 4 months I have been to 4 new places and 2 including this place that have changed up their menu!

Stepping in Pavlov's Dog was like stepping back into my college days. It has a fresh fun vibe from the minute you walk in the door. The bar is all lit up and there is a pool table and in the 'quieter' area where we sat there was a Nintendo Gameboy with Mario Kart set up!

We ordered our drinks. I just gotta say I'm in love with these new tin can cocktails I love apple and had to start with the Canny Smith Apple. It is Ciroc Apple, Sourz Apple, lime juice all mixed in a Tango Apple can topped with fizzy apple belts. Which were very sour by the way. Alyssia, isn't a big drinker, I think I'm a bad influence as I convinced her to try a cocktail. She went with the Dr. Meister which is Jägermeister and lime mixed in a Dr Pepper can and topped with cola bottles.

While we waited for our drinks we couldn't resist having a race on Mario Kart! Alyssia of course beat me over and over as she is our gamer!

Having always loved a good plate of nachos I couldn't resist trying the Nachos Grande - topped with chilli con carne, sour cream, guacamole, salsa, jalapeños, and nacho cheese sauce all the best things you could ask for on top of nachos!

We also had to try the Chicken Wings which were great on their own, but even better with the variety of dipping sauces buffalo, blue cheese, mango and lime, chilli zing with sesame seeds, peanut butter, and chilli jam with sesame seeds. If you are a fan of chicken wings then you need to visit on a Wednesday.

Wednesday night are wing night from 5pm and you get them for 25p a piece. They also have a contest that if you can eat 50 wings (£12.50) as fast as you can you get your score on a board, a t-shirt that says Lord of the Wings, and a reward card topped up with rewards.

Finding myself at another pub I can't turn down a good burger! I couldn't resist the New York Bagel Burger which of course is a burger served on a bagel, with cheese, bacon, pulled cured boneless beef rib, sliced gherkins and mustard. It was so big it was really hard to eat, but was a great burger!

My partner in crime also choose a burger the All New Dirty Burger which is topped with cheese, bacon, southern-fried chicken fillet, pulled pork, BBQ sauce and gherkins; which Alyssia asked for on the side so I could have them!

We always seem to choose burgers, but there are other things to eat like ribs, chicken, fish & chips, and mac & cheese. You can even get a burger topped with macaroni and cheese... back to the burgers. They also serve breakfast and have great lunch deals!!

We had another cocktail and played another game of Mario Kart while we decided on desserts! I stuck with the tin can cocktails and went for the Pina Can-lada which is Malibu, Havana Club 3-year-old rum, and mixed in a can of Lilt topped with pineapple cubes. Alyssia stuck with a classic Sex on the Beach all these cocktails did not help us with our game. Although it didn't help that we decided to play the rainbow road!

I was stuffed and hadn't planned on eating a dessert, but Alyssia insisted on a pancake stack from the breakfast menu - pancakes stacked with Nutella, chocolate, and maple syrup. Knowing that their warm mini churros are something to try we gave them a go. They are filled with a caramel-cream and come with a chocolate dipping sauce.

Tuesday nights are churro nights and just like the wings are only 25p a churro. Unlike the wings there isn't a competition with the churros, I think that would probably be more of a disaster if people were trying to eat 50 churros as fast as they could. I wouldn't want to see that, however I may have to stop in on a Tuesday night as that's a great deal! Plus they have a Nintendo Game Cube.

Overall Alyssia and I had a great night! We have been to so many places, like I said, over the last few months and this was by far one of the more fun and tasty nights! Be sure to check them out sometime and have a look at their website for all their going ons!

The Pavlov's Dog

21-23 St. Marys Butts

Reading

RG1 2LN

Now Closed

*My friend Alyssia from AlyssiaRose {lifestyle blog} was invited to Pavlov's Dog to review it and she invited me along as her guest and it's just a bonus that I am a blogger as well! I was not asked to review and all opinions are my own for further information please visit my contact/policy page above.

Smash! VIP Night - Ping Pong, Pizza, and Drinks!

Ping-Pong is the name and the game at Smash, a new bar in Reading town centre. I was invited to check it out before it opened the doors to the public last Friday night!

There are plenty of bars in Reading, but none quite like this one. I felt right at home as it has a very American feel through the decor and the fact that they call themselves a bar.

I've done the nights out on the town just hanging out in a bar/pub and I can say that Smash offers something different, a game, one that I've learned I'm not very good at, but was so much fun trying!

There are four ping-pong tables set up in the back of the bar and if you want to have a try you can book a table in hourly slots and is a minimum of £5 for that hour. If you get hungry they have a nice selection of handmade pizzas! And if you get thirsty they have a variety of craft beers and ales as well as an exciting cocktail menu!

With ping pong, pizza and pints you can't go wrong!

Book a table today to avoid disappointment! Also watch out for their events! Every day from 12pm-4pm enjoy their Daily Smash offer, which allows you to play ping pong and enjoy a pizza and a drink for only £6.95!

Do you think you have what it takes to be a ping pong champion? Join in a Ping Pong Tournament this Saturday (4th of June 2016) starting at 3pm!

Ping Pong isn't the only game you can watch at Smash visit this Sunday (5th of June 2016) and catch the Sweden v Wales Euro 2016 warm up game. Book a table for you and your friends and enjoy the match with a pizza and pint!

Find out more about Smash and their events on their website: http://www.smashbars.co.uk

from What's On Berkshire 

Did I mention that I got to be Ollie Locke from Made in Chelsea? I did!

notes: I was invited to the VIP night as a guest - All opinions are my own - I was not compensated in any other way for this post. For more information please visit my contact/policy page tab above.

Date Night at The Plowden Arms

My husband and I don’t have a date night. If we get a chance to go out together we take it. If not, well then we don’t.

I know everyone says couples should take time for themselves and I agree. Especially if you feel you need that time alone. I don’t always feel like I need that and sometimes I do.

We do try to celebrate special days (not holidays) like our anniversary. 

Back in April we went out for a meal at The Plowden Arms a lovely pub in Shiplake Cross, Henley-Upon-Thames.

It was an amazing meal. We mainly ordered off the Specials board although it was a tough choice because the menu had some amazing looking food on it.

It had a great atmosphere; it felt like you were stepping back in time. It had a very classic pub look and the food is very traditional British food.

The sauce Robert or sauce Robert-Francois Rabelais is one of the first brown sauces made with white wine vinegar and mustard and is dated circa 1483-1553. Which he let me try and it was very good.

The dessert I settled on was a boozy, brioche type cake from “The English Cookery Book” written by J.H. Walsh and published in1858 they have called it Tipsy Cake, roasted pineapple. It was a perfect dessert to an amazing dinner.

The menu was full of information about where certain recipes originated. I like that sort of thing, I love learning about food.

The service was good too, the servers were friendly and helpful when we asked questions about some of the Specials.

On to the food! Here is what we had and I would have it again! Like I mentioned above we don't go out much so it's a treat when we do! 

starters

Turkey Meat Scotch Egg, Cranberry Sauce

Scottish Scallop, Black Pudding, Apple Puree, Celery Cress

mains 

8oz aged Sirloin Steak with Chips and sauce Robert

Roast Duck Breast, Spinach Braised Lentils Red Wine Gravy

desserts

Treacle Pudding with vanilla ice cream

Tipsy Cake, roasted pineapple

notes: I was not compensated for this post in anyway. All opinions are my own. I have written this post for Blog Every Day in May day 23 the topic was “date night.” #BEDM

The Plowden Arms

Shiplake Cross
Henley-Upon-Thames

Oxforshire RG9 4BX 

Girls Night Out!

I went out with a few of my girl friends to The Cunning Man A Traditional Country Pub!!

We went for drinks and dinner and of course dessert!

I couldn't decide between the Raspberry Creme' Brulee or their special Toffee Cheesecake! 

Well, at the last minute I decided on the Toffee Cheesecake and was glad I did. (Although, honestly, I probably would have been happy with either!) It was a light yet creamy cheesecake, perfect for a late night dessert!  

The Cunning Man

A Traditional Country Pub in Burghfield, Reading.

Burghfield Road, Burghfield Bridge, Reading, RG30 3RB

Tel: 01189 598067