Signature dishes of United Kingdom in Reading
The 6 British classics you should actually eat in Reading, with a specific address for each.
Full English breakfast plate at a Reading cafe
The pub roast and the full English
Sunday roast is the one British meal to prioritise. The Warwick on Kings Road does a proper roast beef with Yorkshire pudding for $22 (book by Friday). The Nag's Head does a smaller, cheaper version at $16. For a full English breakfast, Tamp Culture on Chain Street does the modern-cafe version ($14), while Mama's Cafe on Oxford Road does the classic builder's version — 2 eggs, bacon, sausage, beans, mushrooms, toast — for $10.
Fish and chips, pies, and curry
Fish and chips at Roseate Reading's Cerise restaurant is the smart version ($24), while the Kennet Fisheries on Silver Street does the takeaway classic in newspaper wrap for $11. Steak and ale pie at the Retreat on St John's Street, $16 and unchanged in 20 years. Chicken tikka masala — invented in Britain — at Bhoj on Queen Victoria Street, $14 with rice. All three qualify as national dishes and all three are done properly here.
Afternoon tea and the pudding
Afternoon tea at the Forbury Hotel is $45 and worth it once — finger sandwiches, scones with clotted cream and jam, small cakes, unlimited tea. The Roseate does a competing version at $42. For the pudding course specifically, sticky toffee pudding at the Sweeney and Todd pie shop on Castle Street ($8) and the treacle tart at the Mill at Sonning ($10) both deliver. Skip anything called 'spotted dick' unless you enjoy the joke more than the food.
Frequently asked questions
What people ask before they set off on this one.
Fish and chips traditionally, chicken tikka masala popularly. Reading does both well.
The Warwick on Kings Road ($22). Book by Friday — it sells out most Sundays.
Yes, 3-7 days ahead at the Forbury or Roseate. Walk-ins rarely get a table.
Two eggs, bacon, sausage, baked beans, mushroom, grilled tomato, toast. Mama's Cafe on Oxford Road for $10 is the honest version.
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