Gastropubs in Reading

“This pub was recommended to me by some friends and I want to say this was a great experience. There were 5 of us and the service was great. Very friendly staff and Ady the proprietor was great. We went straight for the main course and the Cod with chicken butter was delicious. The crusted Salmon was chosen by 3 guests who all said it was great. I've of the guests was a vegetarian who had the butternut squash with beans and she treated it really well. The desserts ( lemon cheesecake with lemon curd topping ) was so tasty and the chocolate brownie was melt in your mouth. The bill,, whilst not badly priced I felt was great for such good quality food . We are going back again and I am already looking forward to it. The pub has character and included great views and a nice selection of beers/lagers. Definite recommended.”

“5 stars is not enough to express how much I love this venue. I have been to the Shoulder of Mutton several times for dinners or lunch and had a great experience every time (which is why I keep coming back!) The servers are always lovely and the food is top notch, all set in a lovely location which is easy to get to but feels cosy and private once you’re inside. It’s also reasonably priced, which can be hard to find in Reading. The venue is really versatile and perfect for date nights, midweek meals, big events, and everything in between. My husband and I like it here so much that we even asked them to host our wedding reception (partly because I could think of nothing better than eating their melt-in-the-mouth mutton dish on our wedding day), and if I thought the service had been good previously then they really took it to another level for the wedding! The owner/manager Wendy was incredible and met with us several times to lay out all the details and make sure everything was exactly as we wanted. In the run up, she helped our family set up all the decorations and added some gorgeous finishing touches of her own, like having flowers in the servers’ hair that matched our table decorations, that we never would have thought of ourselves. Chef Alan’s custom dishes for our wedding menu were every bit as delicious as the normal menu and every single guest loved their food, right down to the pickiest of eaters. He is as skilled in the kitchen as Wendy is in front of house. I have always heard that no matter what, something will go wrong on your wedding day and that you should not dwell on these, so I was fully prepared to make some compromises and was pleasantly surprised that I did not have to. Every member of staff worked exceptionally hard to ensure we had the best day possible, reserving a plate of canapes just for my husband and me, changing plans quickly to serve dessert in the garden instead of at the table when speeches ran over, and making sure I always had a drink to hand when I needed one! Their efforts really contributed to the most perfect day we could have imagined. I have so many good things to say about this restaurant, but I will end with this: The Shoulder of Mutton has always been one of my favourite restaurants in the area and it is even more so now. I thoroughly recommend it to everyone I know and, if you’re reading this, to you as well.”

“Great, friendly and helpful new owners (since April 2023 I think) always make us feel welcome. Old world character to this historic place, without being stuffy or formal and just a very relaxing place to enjoy an evening out. Ales are well kept & the Breakspear is a winner. Added to this, the food is fantastic. The specials board is always top notch but the whole menu is high quality food without being over-priced. Would recommend for groups or just a quiet drink.”

“Really warm welcome from the staff on arrival. Good selection of food on the menu & a specials board. Not a massive choice but all the better for that. All our dishes were excellent. The chef clearly cooks from scratch & everything was well cooked & tasted amazing. Will definitely be returning. Great pub, atmosphere & staff.”

“Nice bar, with reasonably priced drinks. Music was actually nice, and in the background, so you can talk.Shame the outside smokers smell wafted into the bar... and why we only had one drink.”

“Delicious from start to finish. Yorkshire puddings with mini beef roasts inside - next level - scampi to start along with a tasting board of whitebait, panka prawns, cheese scones and diddy sausages in honey and mustard. All was impressive but have to say that beef was arguably the best tasting and best cooked I’ve ever had on a Sunday, in my life, in the works, ever. Bravo the bladebone, 1st class food, 1st class service.”

“Our first visit. Really impressed with our dishes, the beef cheeks and stone bass were delicious.Great service. Thumbs up and we will definitely return!”

“Lovely pub that serves some delicious food. Drinks weren't bad either.Service was friendly and very helpful.”

“This is another Greene King pub that looks to have been recently refurbished. It's done to a good standard and unlike others retains some individuality. Has on site parking that requires a login on an iPad to avoid a fine. Didn't use the front seating as the weather was appalling but it would be a lovely place to sit if not for the main road and buses constantly going by. Inside the bar was mercifully not affected by the sound of the traffic rumbling past. This is a very friendly pub, with attentive staff and friendly locals too. A good amount of seating to choose from, with a cosy feel despite the size. Great selection of drinks and knowledgeable staff to tell you what's what. There is the usual Greene King menu for food, I didn't order anything but saw many plates leave the kitchen so it's obviously popular After my experience in another local pub it was refreshing to see that was a one off. Maybe this team could be dispatched to look after that establishment? Didn't see much evidence of events, but this looks like it trades on cosiness and food rather than razzle and dazzle. Would definitely be happy to drink here again.”

“Absolutely love going to The Waterside. Staff are attentive. Food is exceptional. Albert and Anna are like family away from home.”