L’Ortolan

This certainly was a fabulous evening and a delightful way to start our Anniversary Celebration week. The restaurant is set in a lovely quiet location near Reading.and you certainly get a good feel as you enter the grounds as the building looks stunning. We had a warm and friendly greeting on arrival and was asked if we would like to have a drink in the bar or outside on the patio. Due to it being a lovely evening we opted for a drink outside. While enjoying our Gin & Tonic’s and a delightful snack you are presented with the menus to browse through. There were two choices of menu to choose from the 7 course Gourmand menu or the one we decided to choose the 10 course Discovery menu. The next thing to choose is the wine but with help from the sommelier who was very helpful in assisting you with your decision and was very good throughout the evening . Their reason for doing it this way I felt was quite a nice idea so when you’re seated at the table everything is ready for you to start enjoying your evening. Our table was in the conservatory which was nice and cool and overlooked the patio and garden.So now to our first dish which was very interesting indeed consisting of Carrot pressing , mustard & tarragon with on top of the carrot was Herring ice cream which in fact was delicious and went perfectly with the carrot. We then moved onto a heavenly Confit Trout , elderflower & cucumber before enjoying a stunning Beef Tartare , Charcoal & a Confit Yolk.

HERRING , CARROT , MUSTARD & TARRAGON

CONFIT TROUT , ELDERFLOWER & CUCUMBER

BEEF TARTARE , CHARCOAL & CONFIT YOLK

I have to the first three courses were an absolute delight and we were definitely not disappointed with what was to follow starting with a fantastic Lobster Ravioli , Citrus Fruits & Crab Bisque. Our next dish was the main course a Roast Quail Breast , Sweetcorn & Truffle and matched perfectly with the wine highlight of the evening a beautiful ChatteauNeuf Du Pape. It was then time for a Cheese course with a difference consisting of Confit Tomato , Burrata & Watermelon with a Basil Dressing which was delightful and so refreshing.

LOBSTER RAVIOLI , CRAB BISQUE & CITRUS

ROAST QUAIL BREAST , SWEETCORN & TRUFFLE

CHATTEAUNEUF DU PAPE

Now it was time for desserts and to my delight there were two with the first being Apricot , Pecan & Skyr this really was heavenly but even more so was the Dark Chocolate Pave , Banana & Lime a truly fantastic way to finish.

APRICOT , PECAN & SKYR

DARK CHOCOLATE PAVE , BANANA & LIME

We then had a coffee and a lovely after dinner cocktail in the comfort of the the bar with some Petit Fours. This rounded of a marvellous evening and we were so glad we made the trip from east to west. I would highly recommend a visit as the food is stunning the service is very professional and friendly all this in a beautiful building with lovely grounds

#Reading #Michelin #Anniversary