Restaurant Closed
This restaurant is closed.
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Breaking news
The final service at this long-standing venue was 31 August 2024.
Harden's survey result
Summary
This “superb” restaurant in “a beautiful country house in a small village” on the edge of Reading celebrates its 40th anniversary under its current name this year – and has gathered a large number of fans who say “we’ve been visiting for years and it’s brilliant”. The loss of its long-held Michelin star in 2022 has not dampened enthusiasm, with reporters in our annual survey praising the “well executed” meals sent out by young head chef James Greatorex – “it’s not cutting edge but very pleasant modern French-influenced cuisine”. “As with so many fine-dining restaurants, lunch is much more affordable than dinner: the 5-course lunch at £49 was excellent value”.
Summary
A “consistent, high-level performer” – this Grade-II listed Victorian rectory near Reading became a restaurant in 1978 (as the ‘Milton Sandford’) and has held a Michelin star for much of the intervening time… until February 2022 that is. Despite the Tyre Men getting cold feet on the place, the feedback in our annual diners’ poll has remained constant, if not perhaps being as plentiful as it was. “New young chef James Greatorex is innovative, offering very tasty dishes, using seasonal ingredients and a particularly good-value lunch menu”. For some tastes though “the dining room could do with a makeover… it’s starting to show its age a bit”.
Summary
This “beautiful Grade II listed former-rectory on the outskirts of Reading” has a new head chef – James Greatorex, ex-of The Fat Duck, who joined the Ortolan team in 2018, and finally took the reins from Tom Clarke in March 2020. Early reports suggest that he's “bringing in new and exciting tastes”, with “delicious, decadent touches” on the tasting menu balancing out what's “classic ‘Michelin’ food”.
Summary
“This beautiful house on the outskirts of Reading is still a favourite for a special meal” – an impressive old vicarage that many reporters are lucky enough to visit regularly. “Chef Tom Clarke has made this restaurant his own” and there’s a feeling of “relaxed attention to detail at all levels, with warm and friendly staff, plus beautifully judged cooking”. The “wonderful tasting menu” features in many reports, as does the “fantastic chef’s table”: “when you see the kitchen, it’s like a well-oiled machine”.
For 33 years we've been curating reviews of the UK's most notable restaurant. In a typical year, diners submit over 50,000 reviews to create the most authoritative restaurant guide in the UK. Each year, the guide is re-written from scratch based on this survey (although for the 2021 edition, reviews are little changed from 2020 as no survey could run for that year).
Have you eaten at L’Ortolan?
Church Ln, Shinfield, RG2 9BY
Restaurant details
L’Ortolan Restaurant Diner Reviews
"Took advantage of their 2 for 1 winter offer - v upmarket French - thought we were going to he the only ones there but filled up - the sommelier warmed to his job with some fascinating Piedmontese wines - stand out dish was the one I was least looking forward to - Cotswolds white chicken with pumpkin and squash then carrot ( not in its own juice) with ewes curd . Pudding - a take on Bakewell tart with orange and ginger less good."
Prices
 Drinks |
|
|---|---|
| Wine per bottle | £30.00 |
| Filter Coffee | £3.50 |
 Extras |
|
|---|---|
| Bread | £0.00 |
| Service | 12.50% |
Church Ln, Shinfield, RG2 9BY
Opening hours
| Monday | CLOSED |
| Tuesday | 12 pm‑1 pm |
| Wednesday | 12 pm‑1 pm, 6:30 pm‑8 pm |
| Thursday | 12 pm‑1 pm, 6:30 pm‑8 pm |
| Friday | 12 pm‑1 pm, 6:30 pm‑8 pm |
| Saturday | 12 pm‑1 pm, 6:30 pm‑8 pm |
| Sunday | CLOSED |
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