Customer reviews of l'ortolan
We always strive to keep our food and service of the highest quality so you will want to keep returning. Here are what our guests say about us.
FEBRUARY 2010
"Food and wine presentation, quality and flavour were excellent and service immaculate. The staff were discrete, yet fun and extremely informative. We all received personalized, discrete and thoughtful treatment proactively. Thank you for an all round excellent experience! We warmly recommend the restaurant to others and will be coming back ourselves soon."
- Donna Cullan
"I've been meaning to come for years... so I had expectations, and they were met! Upon entering we were greeted and guided to the bar for a drink and to peruse the menu, and this is where you first start to get excited! I loved the dark decor in the bar. Initially I thought the dining area was too light but it grew on me throughout the evening. The service we received was attentive but never overbearing or intrusive, and it was nice to talk to the sommelier about the wines I had. Obviously the food was memorable with well sized portions, the flavours and ingredients all marrying together perfectly. This was a lovely night to celebrate our first anniversary together, so thank you, and we will be back!"
- Paul Firman
"Incredible tastes, textures and flavours. The meal was a superb treat and both my wife and I will be returning very soon! Congratulations!"
- Chris Walton
"We loved our experience at l'ortolan! The food and service were excellent - we will definitely be coming back!"
- Grace Whiteside
"Everything was as expected - EXCEPTIONAL! It would be very difficult for me to make any criticism as both my wife and I think L'ortolan, as an experience, is at the top of restaurant locally and as good as or better than many of the well known London equivalents."
- Rod McLoughlin
"We had a most enjoyable dining experience. The ambiance was perfect, food outstanding as were the wines all served by very knowledgeable and friendly staff."
- Allan G Stephens
"We had a wonderful time at l'ortolan. The service throughout the evening was impressive, so a big thank you to all the staff that made our evening that little bit special. The food was spectacular with great attention to detail and great flavours & textures. Overall we had a great time and a big thank you goes to the team. This was our first visit and we hope it's not the last!"
- Marc Lucas
"I very much enjoyed my experience, everything was perfect. I can't wait to return."
- Christine Barnard
"I have been a couple of times now, for lunch, dinner and corporate events. Every time has been an exciting experience for my taste buds. I thoroughly enjoyed the variety of textures you manage to incorporate into one dish and the relaxed atmosphere makes me with the evening would never end! Many thanks!"
- Hermione Skelton
"Great experience and especially as I had been before and had recommended it to my colleagues for a belated Christmas celebration. We all felt it was a first class experience and were meticulously looked after."
- Tricia Allison
"The food was excellent and the service amazed me beyond expectations. All the waiters were very professional and attentive without being over zealous. A very enjoyable experience."
- Angela Anderson
JANUARY 2010
"We loved our visit, from start to finish! We went for my husband's birthday and took advantage of the Sparkling Lunch offer. The sparkling wine was fresh, the food was amazing and the service beyond polite without being cheesy. We loved how the food was so carefully prepared and planned. You knew each mouthful had been thought about and the flavours complimented each other in a beautiful fashion. We loved the care that was given to us. At one point my husband visited the toilet, the restaurant manager noticed my husband's coffer was not being drunk, so he took it away and bought a fresh one on my husbands return! I have already recommended the restaurant to each friend I have met since my visit on Thursday!"
- Hayley Boyce.
"I was delighted with the professional level of service and the wonderful food. It's so good to see things done properly by people who take pride in what they do. Every course was a delight to the eye and the palate. Our visit was to celebrate our wedding anniversary and l'ortolan helped to make it even more of a special occasion."
- JH
"Both food and service were excellent. Our third visit and best yet! The surprise menu was delicious and I was pleased to still get the Foie Gras even though my partner requested not to have any. Good balanced, friendly and efficient service."
- Michael Cumper
"A very friendly and relaxed dining experience with wonderful food. Fine dining at it's best."
- Lesley Abbs
"I thoroughly enjoyed the visit. Both the service and the food were impeccable."
- Daren Morely
"My husband and I visited l'ortolan for the first time for dinner last week and had a wonderful evening. The entire experience from arrival to departure was fabulous, the food exquisite, and the service flawless. We will be back soon I can assure you of that!"
- Debra Pays
DECEMBER 2009
"The entire lunch was faultless with stunning food as always."
- Patricia Popham
"Dining at l'ortolan was a wonderful experience, enabling us to sample true haute cuisine, fine wines and supurb service."
- John Ella
"Absolutely marvellous. The best me I think we have ever eaten. The flavours were wonderful, presentation so special. We felt able to relax in lovely surroundings as well. The service was friendly and efficient. Cannot wait to return for my birthday!"
- Nicky Allen
"Excellent food and ambience. Your staff strike the perfect balance of attentiveness without intrusiveness and we always enjoy the little surprises between courses."
- Robin Gaddum
"Both the food and service were the best I have ever experienced by a long, long distance. The Festive Menu was also very good value. We will be returning as soon as we possibly can."
- Richard S
"As always l'ortolan did not disappoint. The food was outstanding and the service - first class! There is not a better restaurant in the Reading area to rival such a perfect dining experience."
- Nicholas Kennelly
"It is as ever my most favorite place to eat, the with best service and fantastic wines!"
- Christine O'Connor
Wonderful food and service - I brought my wife for our wedding anniversary and she is particularly fussy - whilst I wanted to immerse myself in the Gourmand Menu! 'No problem' said the Maitre D'; dishes were designed for her after a 2 minute consultation with your chef - all of which were perfect! Well done! Since visiting I have told anyone who wants to know about our excellent meal!"
- Jason Alexander
"Our lunch experience was fantastic. Great food and service as usual. You always seems to maintain excellent standards which keep us coming back several times a year."
- Stuart Sanders
"The food was out of this world. I'm a veggie but felt that I was very well cared for, with different things to try. Service was excellent and all the staff were extremely helpful and were knowledgeable about everything they served. Can't wait for a return visit."
- Sarah Wheeler
"Excellent experience, I have lived in the area for 15 years and never gave it a thought to make reservations at l'ortolan. I will make certain to make a visit again soon!"
- Francesca Hills
"The quality and presentation of the food was excellent, as we have always found, and the service - from being greeted on arrival through to leaving - was superb.
- Patricia Morrison
NOVEMBER 2009
"Did I enjoy the dining experience? I have to say I have never been disappointed in either the welcome, the meal or the service. Your establishment is certainly run most efficiently and I would say that this is down to not only the manager, but the very capable staff. I was luck one birthday to share a table in the kitchen area, and it was quite apparent to me then that this is a very well run ship. The captain may not always be there, but by jove his staff do him proud."
- Hilary Hardwick
"How can you find anything to complain about? This is our third visit and they have all been excellent experiences."
- Tom Scanlon
"You can't beat excellence. You are one of the best."
- Nigel Bridges
"We had a wonderful lunch time experience, with a warm welcome, beautifully presented food which tasted divine with amazing flavours. All the staff were polite and not intrusive and we loved the way our food was explained. All the extras were incredible and we loved the chocolates that arrived with the finest coffee. A big thankyou and we look forward to a revisit."
- SP
"The whole experience was outstanding from staff to the food, especially the cheese! I can't wait to revisit such a wonderful place!"
- Nicholas Kennelly
"Very relaxed ambience, excellent service from friendly professional staff, superb food - especially chef's pre-dessert"
- Dave Savage
"Everything was lovely: the food was delicious and presented beautifully. The staff were friendly, yet discreet. It was a birthday treat for my mother-in-law and she felt special. It was a great success!"
- Mary Lewis
"We had a fabulous evening. The service was discreet, courteous and welcoming. The food was excellent - and surprising! Potato and nutmeg veloute was stunning but sounded like it shouldn't be!
- Michael Moulsley
"Always excellent service. Food was out of this world. I adored the chef's special served in the cups - out-standing! Will definitely come again!"
- Susanne Treloar
"My husband took me to l'ortolan on my birthday and I thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience. The food was amazing and the service attentive and I felt very spoiled. This restaurant definitely went 'the extra mile' to make my visit really special, from canapes on arrival to the additional extra courses. We have recommended l'ortolan to a lot of our friends and will definitely be back in the near future!"
- Katy Bennett
"We enjoyed it very much. The food, the environment and the service were an extraordinary experience - better than any Michelin Star London Restaurant and equal to the best places I have been to in Belgium, which were so far my best experiences. Congratulations and a good reason to be proud and passionate!"
- Peter Schulz
OCTOBER 2009
"Fantastic! I We have never eaten in a Michelin starred restaurant. It lived up to our expectations and then some! I personally haven't stopped talking about it a week later and I'll certainly be back!"
- Stephen Bennett
"From the moment my husband and I arrived to the moment we left, everything was just perfect. We chose the Gourmand menu with wine and it was fabulous - from the wonderful flavours to the presentation and the perfect win for each course. We could not have been happier with our evening. Your staff are very attentive without being at all overbearing or in the way and I have already recommended this experience to my friends and relatives. Thank you once again."
- Sharon Turner
"We loved it! We enjoy 'foodie treats' on birthdays and anniversaries and have visited many of the usual celebrated destinations. Our friends recommended you to us on several occasions and finally we made it! The service was exemplary, from our first contact with your customer service/PR department to booking, bar and waiting staff. We thoroughly appreciated and enjoyed the a la carte menu and look forward to trying the others at another time."
- Lesley-Jane Spector
"Took family for lunch to celebrate a birthday - couldn't fault the food, service or value. Every course was a delight, and with the little extras such as the chef's appetiser (celery and apple soup - sounds average, but anything but!), pre-dessert (apple jelly with yogurt cream and ginger crunch), and wonderful breads, the whole experience was memorable. Service formal but friendly and accommodating (eg. happy to swap peanut butter icecream for chocolate on the exquisite chocolate tart dessert) Our teenagers hadn't been to a Michelin starred restaurant before, but really enjoyed the whole "theatre" of a top restaurant - a real experience!"
- Jamie White
"It was wonderful. The food was as every bit delicious as the service was discreet and attentive."
- Alex Nicholls
"We had a fabulous lunch at the Chef's Table. Both food and service were outstanding. We've eaten at several well renowned and Michelin starred restaurants over the past few years, and our overall experience was one of the best we've had."
- Tamsin Herbert
"Wonderful experience, excellent service and amazing food. We tried the lunch menu which, for the quality and service, was excellent value."
- Mrs Fiona Grimes
"Extremely high quality food presented with flair, professional unobtrusive service in a superb setting."
- Sara Seaton
"We have dined at l'ortolan before and always enjoyed the experience. However, this last visit was really exceptional... Food was wonderful and amazing wine. Service was excellent and we really appreciated the advice we received from your very knowledgeable Sommelier. Our thanks to everyone concerned. Your online booking service is also impressive."
- Alison Simpson
"This was our first visit, and despite having eaten at a number of top class restaurants in the past, I can safely say that the meal we had with you was the best we have ever had!"
- Linda Dubber
SEPTEMBER 2009
"Excellent all round. Every dish was a visual and taste sensation. I couldn't recommend this restaurant enough!"
- Margaret Pollard
"Fantastic atmosphere, food, wine... all wonderful!"
- Mercedes Martinez
"Great service, great wine list and great food. Loved all the courses and would highly recommend the tasting menu, but would love anything that was brought out of the kitchen!"
- Kim Ward
"Our visit was to celebrate my fiancee's birthday, and we loved the entire experience. The setting is superb, the front of house service is the perfect balance of attentiveness and discretion, and of course the food is absolutely stunning; wonderfully presented and with a flavour intensity I've never experienced before. We found the wines that were chosen excellent, and good value for money too! Many thanks for a great evening; we'll be back!"
- Mark Noble
"The overall experience was first class, one of our best dining experiences to date."
- Paul Foster
"I can only use one word for the whole experience - excellent!"
- Helene Weedon
"Altogether delightful - couldn't have asked for a more wonderful evening!"
- Karen Melody
"The dining experience at l'ortolan is is always enjoyable and the food and service is unbeatable."
- Glenda Jackson
"A most enjoyable evening and probably the best meal I've had. Wine was outstanding, and your sommelier a pleasure to talk to. All in all, first class!"
- Martin Fisher
"Both the food and service were exceptional. We just returned from a trip to Normandy where we dined very well indeed. However, the best French meal we had scored a 7; l'ortolan a well deserved 9!"
- Gina Kergon
"We had a fantastic time and the staff, service and food were exemplary. We like to save up and have special meals in beautiful places that are renowned for their food and so in the last 10 years have dined at places like Le Manoir, The Ivy, Ramsay at Royal Hospital Rd, Balmoral No 1, The boxwood cafe, Inverlochy Castle, Hambleton Hall, Fishers, Sat Bains and many more. Food is a real hobby of ours - my husband and I both work in professions allied to the food industry. We can honestly say that our experience was in the top 3 all time dining events and may even be the best food we have tasted - politeness stops me from saying who but some establishments with more Michelin stars are not even close to what we experienced on Saturday. We will definitely be repeating the experience with more of our friends."
- Tracey and Mike Hollowood
"I have dined at l'ortolan on many occasions and consider the food and service consistently excellent. The restaurant is a haven of tranquility in an often stressful world and Ania and her front of house team make each experience a treat. Combined with the superb cooking, it is easy for me to keep coming back and recommend the restaurant to anyone looking for a special dining experience. I have been fortunate enough to dine in a number of Michelin-starred restaurants but l'ortolan has become something of a home from home and I would like to thank everyone for making each visit a pleasure."
- David Watts
"From the champagne on the lawn to the fluffy towels in the toilet... the whole experience was fantastic."
- Marc Aldrich
AUGUST 2009
"The food was exquisite, delicately presented and mostly definitely delicious! I will recommend L'ortolan to my friends and family."
- Nicola Maclarty
"Thank you so much for a wonderful evening. The service and food were amazing. The staff were very professional, especially since I have specific dietary needs. The food was beyond belief, fantastic and very good value for money. Thanks again. We both look forward to coming to eat with you soon."
- Ian and Belinda Pearse
“Wonderful, welcoming, personal but not intrusive. You have it just right!”
- Brenda Lettington
“We felt relaxed and comfortable from the moment we arrived at l’ortolan. Staff were calm, courteous and well-informed. You helped us to decide on our choice of wine, conveying your enthusiasm and passion for your work. The food itself was a sheer delight – part discovery, part pleasure. Thank you for making our day so memorable.”
- Hazel Squire
“We all had a fantastic time, the food was amazing and the wine package was perfect complement to the food. We enjoyed the experience so much that we have booked the Chef’s Table for my birthday at the start of October. We are looking forward to our return trip!”
- Ian Newbury
“Exceptional standard throughout – a meal to submit to the memory bank for prosperity!”
- Andrew Forkes
“My caramel soufflé was a particular work of art!”
- James Faux
“The food, wine, ambience and service are superb. We visit with our friends and are now coming on a regular basis.L'Ortolan is our No.1 venue over other fine dining restaurants."
- Mr and Mrs S.J. Dell
JULY 2009
“Having been before our expectations were high – we were not disappointed! Great food and service made for a truly memorable lunch!”
- David Ferris
“Excellent service, outstanding food and a great relaxed atmosphere”
- Hannah Galvin
“Amazing experience, opted for the ten course with wine. The wine connoisseur who delivered our drinks was second to none – experience and knowledge seemed vast! My girlfriend and I have promised ourselves we will return to l’ortolan to make sure it wasn’t all a dream!”
- Paul McHale
JUNE 2009
“Not just a meal – but an experience.”
- Karen and Steve Babbage
“The food was exceptional and the wine was divine. My admiration for the work that you do cannot be put into words. I could not have chosen a better evening to get engaged!”
– Selina Jogaloo
“Thanks for a wonderful evening of sheer indulgence”
- Ros Lennard
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