L'Ortolan in Wokingham

Wow, absolutely brilliant meal last night to celebrate my wife's 60th birthday. Thanks so much to the team including Glau and Mia and of course the kitchen staff. We had the Easter menu which was superb and outstanding value. My wife was in daily contact with Glau to make the arrangements and she was superb. Very patient and understanding. Mia looked after us really well on the night. The food was simply excellent and out of this world. We like our food and have eaten in many places all over the planet. This place is tip top. Highly recommended.

A super 8 course tasting menu at the chef's table with variation for my wife who doesn't eat fish. The kitchen staff were very friendly and inclusive even when under pressure to get the service out to the main restaurant. Without doubt one of the best meals we have had.

Just had an amazing 5-star experience. The food was top quality. What made it an experience was the chefs table. We sat in full view of the kitchen, watching ours and other guests' food being prepared. Seeing how a professional kitchen works. The chef dressed our lunch on the pass and came round to tell us all about the course, not just what we were about to eat but what was in it, where the ingredients were soursed and what flavours to expect.

Excellent Chef table experience. It is not only food and drink. Gettign to talk to the staff was an amazing experience. The food was delicious. I opted for a diary and meat free menu. Every dish was amazing. Every bite was full of flavour. In terms of drinks, I normally only drink water with lunch. This time, I went for the mocktail pairing. I loved all of them, sugar free, creative and full of new flavours.

The place of the high standards of everything. The interior, together with professional servants, provides a sweet anticipation of the upcoming experience of art coming straight from the cuisine of unique tastes.

Upon arrival, the staff made us feel welcome and ‘special’. The 8-course taster menu had culinary delights at every stage, where the imagination and cooking skill were evident at every turn. The flavours and combinations were delicious making it difficult to identify a favourite course, due to each one being exceptional. Throughout the meal the staff were friendly, knowledgeable and attentive which added to the whole dining experience. I look forward to returning, and would definitely recommend to anyone wanting to treat themselves - worth every penny!

Food and service was incredible. Cocktails were lovely but overpriced.

Three of us sat down to the March midweek special lunch 5 courses with fine wine flights. Excellent again! So nice to be back post covid. It was a Thursday and every table was taken.

Fab service I loved the interesting suggestions from the sommelier- delightful meal - every course was delicious. Really wonderful experience from start to finish - I would definitely soften the lighting in the dining room though - quite stark when you first walk in.

All the food was lovely and the service was efficient but not particularly friendly Restaurant a little cold and tables too close together

Very clean and friendly, with excellent service and great cuisine. I would highly recommend the unique dining experience at L'Ortolan.

We were treated as a Christmas gift, a tasting lunch at the chef's table. This was a wonderful treat and experience. The chef, James, introduced us to his very able and friendly staff. Our senses were then overwhelmed by a series of amazing flavours and colours, all beautifully presented. Each course was described by it's creator and was a feast in all respects. We had a very enjoyable and entertaining time washed down with superb wines - matched wines were available but as we were driving, not an option for us. There were multiple wines available by the glass and we were welcomed with a glass of champagne on arrival. What a treat ! Do go :)

Loved the experience Pros + Well crafted menu + balanced tasting dishes + vegetarian menu available + courteous staff + green surroundings which add to positive feel Opportunity areas - given the menu and the weather we missed soup (we had vegetarian). Though that's the restaurants prerogative to design the menu, just sharing the idea.

Being totally honest, I can't understand why there are so many amazing reviews for this restaurant. My experience was disappointing. Yes, the staff are very attentive and the food is tasty, but the whole experience is somewhat pretentious and over priced. The dining area certainly lacks ambience. It was cold and unwelcoming, reminding me of an old station waiting room. Surely a French restaurant should be cosy and reminiscent of a Paris dinig experience. I'm sure a lot of attention had been given to the food preparation, but I have definitely eaten better and at less of a price in many other restaurants. Sorry, but really would not recommend L'Ortolan

Lovely attentive, but not intrusive service, combined with outstanding food made for an excellent and memorable evening. three dishes stood out for me, the Winter minestrone, the Cod and the pear dessert. a lovely experience.

It’s been many years since we’ve come here, but we received an email offer for the two for one. It was an offer we couldn’t resist and we are so pleased we didn’t. The food was exceptional. The service from Khalid and his colleagues was attentive helpful and professional . This is not a cheap restaurant everybody locally would know, but if you ever get the chance it’s a must do. The pictures attached don’t do it justice the taste was sublime on every course. We very much look forward to going back soon.

The chefs are artists and the food was delicious. Every member of staff were helpful and informative. It was a real treat to dine at Lortolan.

The food was really delicious. It was made so much better by the wonderful service given by Khaled and the team. Thank you

Simply excellent food and service. Portions far too small though!

Very impressed with their 6 course tasting menu. Beautifully presented, each dish looked like a work of art and each tasted as amazing as it looked. The service was excellent (thank you Khaled). Would highly recommend the experience and can’t wait to visit again.

Had a lovely date night dinner with my wife. The ambiance was very peaceful, the bar is a great spot for a drink before being seated. Our waiter, Khaled was so good. Friendly, knowledgeable. Attentive. The taster menu was beautifully presented, fresh flavors and a nice balance. My favorite was a selection of carrots which was so much better than my description did justice too. I don’t eat gluten and my choices were seamless and really good. Give it a try sometime!!

Friendly staff, very attentive and knowledgeable on the food and wines

Lovely food, excellent service . Only slightly spoilt by the tables being a little close together

What a wonderful restaurant! Been many times and always enjoyed it thoroughly. Great food, great service, always made to feel welcome.

Visited L'Ortolan as a birthday treat. First of all, the food was amazing. We started off with pre-dinner cocktails and it was easily one of the most flavourful cocktails I've ever had. We went for the 6 course tasting menu with the wine pairing alongside it. From the canapes to the dessert, each dish was brilliantly crafted and left you wanting more. The wine pairings too were excellent, particularly impressed with the wine pairing for the cod dish wherein the the savouriness of the dish really brought out the fruitiness of an otherwise quite tannin heavy wine. The level of service was fantastic. The staff made sure you were looked after, such as ensuring glasses were topped up and that we enjoyed the dishes, but not in an intrusive way. Explanations of each dish and of the wine pairings were great. They even made sure to provide a special touch on the dessert for my birthday (see picture). The atmosphere of the restaurant was good, however nothing outstanding with some of the decor feeling slightly subdued; although you could argue that this enabled the good to stand out even more. Overall, it was a great experience and one that I would highly recommend.

We had the Chef’s Table 8-course meal which was very good save for the second course of soup which had conflicting flavours. The experience itself was enjoyable and the service attentive. I was shocked to get a £35 bill for putting 34kW into my electric car (even Tesla superchargers won’t cost you half that per kW). A disappointing end to a nice meal.

we had the 8 course tasting menu and fine wine flight. Both were amazing, the wine was excellent and the Somelier was an absolute star. The only thing that let is down was the overall ambience. The main bar is beautiful but there aren't many seats to we were put in the annex which is an overly bright rather naff UPVC consevatory. The rest of the restaurant doesn't really have much atmosphere and needs a complete decorative re-fresh.

A very good lunch. Excellent food, imaginative, beautifully presented.

We were lucky enough to dine at the chef’s table for lunch. Sublime from start to finish. Beautiful food wonderfully cooked and presented by a young, enthusiastic and talented team lead by head chef James. The sommelier is wonderful and was happy to spend time advising my wine expert friend on what to order. Thanks for a fabulous afternoon. I recommend a visit soon.

Food at Llortalan is outstanding! very expensive but extremely good... Unfortunately they no longer do 3 courses at the great value of £39 so it six courses or more... so we won't be able to afford to go as often as we did but as a rare treat its great.

Great fine dining experience - had the tasting menu for lunch. Lovely food, great service, brilliant staff - highly recommend a visit

Very attentive staff. Made to feel very welcome. Food excellent and interesting on the taste menu. Great as a special treat.

As usual, a fabulous lunch with friends: delicous, interesting food; lovely relaxed pace; attentive, friendly service. The wine flight introduced us to some new areas and the wines complemented the dishes very well.

Fabulous venue for a special occasion. The service and food were both great and they have a carefully constructed alcohol-free drinks menu that was ideal as neither of us were drinking that night.

Without question, this is the best restaurant in Reading (believe me, I've been to most of them at this point...!). The service and food are exceptional; everyone is friendly, polite and clearly passionate about what they do. The food never disappoints and all dietary requirements are catered for. Can't recommend L'Ortolan highly enough, especially if you're looking for somewhere to go for a treat.

The food & wine pairings were amazing. The service was exceptional, all the staff were very knowledgeable. We were made to feel very welcome. The whole experience was delightful.

We visited L'Ortolan French Restaurant and had a fantastic experience. We had the Tasting Menu and every course was an absolute delight. The members of the waiting staff were attentive and informative, explaining each dish as they served us. The food was delicious and beautifully...

We visited for an evening celebration and chose the eight course taster menu (the choice is that or the six course). Without doubt, the flavours and presentation of each dish were excellent. I’d also commend the level of service, especially from the maitre d’. However,...

This was to celebrate a special birthday. The whole experience was special, service and food was excellent, both the sommelier and the waitress understood and explained each course. I would certainly recommend for that special occasion.

Uninspiring taster menu, constantly described in the waiters' script as "wonderful". Brutally described Carrot was delicious; Vichysoisses should have been called Boring Potato. Chicken and citrus tart are the menu you get at M&S 'Dine out'. Pre dessert, which should have tickled our appetites was a stodgy banana doughnut. Have had much better meals there, so very disappointed. By the by, why can't we have our water and wine on the table instead of having to ask a waiter??

Great service, food and wine. A place to treat yourself and be spoilt. A relaxed atmosphere to enjoy. I have been a few times now and the quality has been consistently high.

My husband took me here for birthday dinner! Great foods, drinks and atmosphere. Nicely displayed dishes with special and fresh ingredients! Good selection of cocktails as well. Great place for occasions and family gatherings

Wonderful lunch. Staff were still great, food was still excellent, really enjoyed the wine pairing again! Top treat lunch- will be back, again!

Slightly disappointing. First visit and had read a lot of positive things about the restaurant. The food was nice, but nothing special, apart from the foie gras cornet. The staff were very attentive and pleasant- 10/10 to them. I just felt a bit underwhelmed by...

I have been here before but this time was even more amazing! I loved it. Everything was perfect! The service was great and they made me laugh a lot too which was lovely. We came for the six course tasting menu and I loved it...

Absolutely amazing food. Excellently presented, well flavoured and each course we were given a full description by the waiter/ress of what we were having. Very attentive staff who were unobtrusive. Couldnt fault a thing. Not the cheapest place but definitely worth going to for a treat. We tried the 8 course taster menu. We didn't drink as both driving but tried a mocktail was splendid. Should have taken some photos of the amazing food but completely forgot as we were enjoying it so much,

The restaurant is great, staff very attentive and well informed. My only concern was that we felt the food service was rushed. As soon as the sourdough bread was placed, our first course arrived, post amuse bouche. We held into the pre dessert only to manage the speed at which the dishes were served. At this price point, you want to enjoy the evening at a leisurely pace.

I took my wife and 2 friends for dinner here at the weekend to celebrate my wife's birthday. We enjoyed the 8 course tasting menu with the fine wine option. My overall impression was very positive. The food was amazing as far as I was concerned and my preconceptions sufficiently challenged. Gorgonzola ice cream just shouldn't work but it absolutely did! The standout dish for me was the Sika deer but I have to mention the amuse bouche, fois gras 'mini Cornettos'. I am sure the chef(s) will be furious by my reference to Cornettos (apologies, but they did look very Cornettoesque). In any event they were delicious. Frivolity aside, the menu was interesting, well thought out and most importantly, well executed. The fine wine option undoubtedly added to the fun and the overall experience. However, again, any preconceptions were challenged. From memory, and trust me by the end, it was a little hazy, there was only one French wine. Most wines were from Italy. Perhaps unsurprising as the sommelier was Italian. This wasn't however, an issue. Although, I am left in little doubt as to where they're making the most margin. The sommelier was excellent value, very knowledgeable (well he convinced me and my guests) and hugely entertaining. There was a slight Basil Faulty moment when one of the waiters knocked an empty glass over and at the exact same moment his mobile phone starting ringing, all whilst the sommelier was delivering his ratio descendi on the latest wine pairing. The sommelier was clearly very unhappy and expressed his disdain with the most wonderfully theatrical facial expression. I am ashamed to say that this sent me and my guests into a fit of childish giggles. It all added to a very happy and enjoyable experience, for which I am hugely grateful to all the hard working individuals at L'Ortolan. Whilst I do not purport to be a food critique, my job does allow me to entertain at some of the best restaurants in London. Sadly all too often I find establishments outside London trying to emulate the 'Greats' and failing miserably, whilst charging a London premium. The experience can feel pretentious and poor value. In fact I have raised this point in one of my previous reviews. Notwithstanding, I am delighted to say that on the evening we dined at L'Ortolan it delivered, and delivered well. I will most certainly visit again. Thank you for a lovely evening.

Decor dated. No atmosphere in the main restaurant, felt very cold. Attentive waiters and some wonderful tastes, but so pretentious. What did it for me was the Christmas pudding course. A 1 inch cone with a mousse. I really wanted to send it back and...

Very good - elegant without being pretentious. 6 course taster menus (1/2 price in January) very tasty, pleasing for the eye and refined.

Wonderful lunch. Beautifully presented and served. Much better without the business people constantly on phones and laptops which was the experience last time. Sadly boiler broken. It was cold so spoilt the perfect ambiance.

Lortolan is a favourite of ours. The team did an amazing job. The food was sublime and the service was outstanding.

Excellent food and service. The staff all had in depth knowledge of every dish and looked after us very well from the moment we stepped in the door. The 8 course menu was beautifully balanced, designed, and presented (and delicious!). They also had a good range of non-alcohol options that were again well crafted and delicious.

As always, a fabulous time having lunch with friends. Delicious, interesting food, clever wine pairings, attentive, friendly, leisurely service.

Love the food and overall experience at L’Ortolan. Keeps me coming back. Wonderful.

Excellent food and service. We were really well looked after by Khaled. The only negative is point is that the restaurant was quite cold owing to a problem with the heating.

They honoured our slighly expired voucher (one month out), which was very good of them. The staff are lovely, the drinks were very nice, and the wine was mostly fantastic. Unfortunately, it was the first day there were open after christmas, and several things were no where near what they should have been. We had a six course taster with flights of premium wine. My wife sent her main back course back as it was so salty. I was mortified that she would send back a michellin starred dish, but I and the staff agreed that it was very salty. I really did not expect this to occur in such an establishment as this price point. The other massive issue was the temperature. Because no-one had checked the heating over the festive period, and it had broken, the place was freezing. I dont mean a bit cold, it was about 4 degrees. We were sat next to one of the outside walls, and it was like a negative radiator sucking the heat out of the place. We had dressed up for the occasion, so weren't wearing woolly jumpers or anything, It was absolutely brassic in there. ok, not their fault you would think, but if you are paying over £300 for lunch, you expect it to be amazing - if you are trying to be amazing, you need to prepare better , like a few days before, and make sure everything works. So, to be honest, it was a massive disappointment - for over £300 I expected it to be perfect, and it was far from it - I cant see us going back again.

Exceptional food and service, could not fault the Christmas 8 course menu and fine wine pairing 👌🏻

A truly extraordinary & memorable gastronomic experience! Always fantastic, great food, great atmosphere and great service (especially Lucien and Khaled).

Festive menu main course (five bird roast) very disappointing. Service average at best and on occasion arrogant. Have been to this restaurant two times before, so know how good it can be. When you pay these prices, you should rightfully expect high standards. A disappointing visit, and I hope a one off.

Superb food and service. The standard wine flight with the tasting menu was £55 for 3 small amounts of reasonably good wine, which is very poor value.

Not what used to be on food quality or wine service

We had an excellent lunch at L’Ortolan, from the cocktails in the bar before to the coffee and chocolates after, the experience was everything we’d hoped for. We had the five course festive menu which was the perfect meal for this time of year, lovely seasonal ingredients with just the right amount of festive flavours. The service was formal but welcoming, and we had just the right length of time between courses. Overall we were looking for a really special meal for my wife’s birthday, and were not disappointed!

We had the two for one three course lunch menu that was delicious with the wine pairing which was also on point.

We had an excellent 8 course Christmas menu with the addition of our favourite course - caviar with white chocolate dome. Lunch or dinner, the standard of the food and service is the same - consistently high.

Had an incredible Christmas date night, delicious cocktails made by Jason, incredible wine advice from Lucian and impeccable service from Khaled - thank you so much for a lovely evening and see you next year !

We went to l'ortolan my husband and i for a birthday treat for myself the food was lovely the main meal could have been hotter that's the only small negative i will say the staff were very attentive and friendly and the 2-4-1 deal made it affordable hoping that they will send more offers in the new year.

It's been a little while since I've been to L'Ortolan, but it was an absolutely spectacular place to eat a very special dinner. I understand that since I went here it's lost its Michelin star, which is disappointing. It certainly had the star when I ate there and it deserved it.

Recently visited for my husbands birthday . We both chose the 8 course tasting menu .The food was not only delicious it was very creative . A very imaginative take on a number of festive favourites like mince pie , Christmas bauble and Christmas pudding to name just a few. The staff were excellent , very informative and helpful. Especially Khaled . This was an amazing experience and we will definitely be returning

Went for the festive set menu. Incredibly disappointed with the food - the best bit was the bread and butter. We opted for the wine pairing which was not timed with our food. Very disappointed and a waste of a lot of money…

Second time we've been to L'Ortolan and it was just as incredible.

Great food, with some deliciously surprising flavours, especially in a festive menu, with excellent wine pairing.

The place is in a beautiful grade 2 listed building for amazing private dinning. You will be welcomed by the staff and the food is really delicious.

The L'Ortolan chef and his team are producing some of the finest tasting and well presented food, easily comparable to the best of the high end competition. The food is exceptional. We chose the 6 course option and every dish was superb. However, this was fine dining and the dishes are noticeably small, the small main had to be identified to us. Large plates emphasise the small portions. Drinks options at L'Ortolan are also exceptional and understandably, there is a noticeable push to raise interest in them. Overall, despite the quality, and if you're not careful, the result is a significant bill for small meal. The restaurant had a significant number of vacant tables. Bigger dishes and keener prices could increase covers and subsequent income.

A huge thank you to James and his team for our superb Chefs Table experience … Phenomenal food, incredible pairing wines and impeccable attentive service.. Highly recommended, shall definitely be visiting again ..

Excellent food and friendly attentive service. The vegetarian tasting menu was delicious.

I've been here a few times and the food never disappoints. The service with this last visit was the best. We went on a Thursday and really enjoyed ourselves, I suppose it was quieter than previous visits and had plenty of helpful chats with the staff.

A lovely place to eat with professional and charming staff. The food was imaginative and delicious.

Visited for first time in approx ten years. Greeting, service, food and staff 5 star. Will be back.

First time we have visited L'Ortolan - even though we live up the road! What a beautiful building - but sadly looking a little tired and in need of some love. We expected a bit more of a 'WOW' factor inside. To be honest the dining room looked no different to our local Indian restaurant. It was also chilly/draughty. The food was delicious and loved the introduction to each course by Khalid our waiter (who looked after us extremely well). The home made bread and butter and Petit Fours were fabulous. Sadly the abiding memory is the price of a pot of boiling water with some mint leaves in it. £7. I would normally drink hot water but was persuaded to have some mint leaves (from the garden) in it. £7 I repeat. Really surprised by that. Would I have been charged that if I had just had my hot water? Shame.

Had the chefs table experience, and it was incredible. The food was sublime and the attention to detail was second to none. Everything tasted and looked amazing, including the cocktails. Would recommend the passion fruit martini if you have a sweet tooth! Couldn't fault the experience at all, a great birthday present or anniversary gift if you're looking to do something more special

A warm welcome, great service and fantastic food, as we have come to expect from l'Ortolan. The lunch menu was one of the best we have had here. We always end up spending more than we expect to, but it's worth it for a special occasion. Can highly recommend.

This visit was the best food and service I have experienced there

Didn't get what I had booked,Didn't make a fuss ,think in hindsight I should have,clearly a lot of up selling going on,in my personal experience would not recommend, this is no reflection on the chef the food was nice.

Food, wine and service from staff was impeccable.

Disappointing Experience with Misleading Advertising I visited this restaurant with high expectations, having been enticed by the prominent display of a "3-star Michelin" rating on their website. However, the experience fell short in both dining and service. The most notable issue was with one particular dish that was overwhelmingly salty to the point of being inedible. This significantly affected my palate for the rest of the meal. When the staff observed that I hadn't finished this dish, instead of inquiring about my satisfaction as they had with previous courses, they simply sent another staff member who rushed through a cursory check-in, leaving no opportunity for me to express my dissatisfaction. Post-visit, I decided to do a bit more research and discovered that the restaurant's advertised "3-star" accolade was actually from the AA (Automobile Association) and not, as I was led to believe, the esteemed Michelin Guide. To add to the confusion, the restaurant did have a Michelin star in the past, but it appears they have lost it in 2022. (https://www.getreading.co.uk/whats-on/food-drink-news/michelin-guide-three-berkshire-restaurants-23113361) It is disconcerting that the restaurant chose to conflate their ratings from different organizations in such a misleading manner on their website. Patrons seeking a Michelin-level experience based on the restaurant's self-promotion are likely to be misled as I was. In light of these points, my visit was underwhelming, and the misleading advertisement regarding their rating was disappointing. Transparency with customers should be as important as the quality of the food and service, and unfortunately, this restaurant did not meet those standards during my visit.

This is my favourite place to eat for a special occasion. Every time we go it is more wonderful than the last time. My husband and I had the six course tasting menu and each course was a masterpiece. It is classic French food with a modern flair and a whiff of foraging seasonal items. The staff are very, very friendly, helpful and thoughtful and extremely welcoming and we always feel very much 'at home when we go there'. It is as good or better than any other Michelin star restaurant within reach and its prices are comparatively modest compared to the others. It is also wonderful for events because depending on your numbers; there are various rooms you can have and you only pay for your food and drinks. For a big birthday two years ago we enjoyed our aperitifs in the beautiful garden which adjoins the glass room where we ate.

We chose the 8 course tasting menu and yet again, we were not disappointed. We could not fault one of the courses or even the coffee, cocktails or wine. It's expensive, as most fine dining is expensive, and we tend to visit a couple of times per year and so far have had no reason to regret it. All tables in the restaurant were full despite the appalling weather on the evening we visited.

Unfortunately the experience isn’t what it used to be. The food is now average as is the service. The cocktails were delicious but nothing else was of the standard it should be for the prices they are charging. There are far better places to have a special meal.

Another lovely anniversary celebration. Great attention to detail, the food as always was great as was the attentive and friendly service team. Thank you.

Fantastic tasting menu in a lovely location with very friendly and knowledgeable staff helping you get the most out of the experience.

For over £250 per head I expected something special. Very disappointing

We had a delicious lunch. 4 course tasting menu full of flavour and flare. The service was impeccable. Will be returning!

We had the 6 course tasting menu and the wine pairing for a special Ruby wedding anniversary celebration. 3 of the courses were below par, being the cod, the duck and the tiny ice cream. The wine pairing was good but we felt rushed to finish the meal and ended up calling our taxi an hour earlier than we had planned. We have visited a number of times but this was our least memorable. What should have been a special occasion didn’t feel special at all - very disappointed.

We went for a birthday treat for the 8 course tasting menu. Everything exceeded expectations and was fun. The food was very creative in content and presentation and very good to eat. The staff were very welcoming. Service just at the right pace. Very good value for the quality. Every course was well worth seeing and eating. Highlights the lobster and mini ice cream. Gluten free options

Not just a meal but an amazing experience! Beautifully thought out, prepared and served - and absolutely delicious. A real treat.

My husband and I celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary with a wonderful dinner at L'Ortolan. Everything was exceptional and as expected with fine dining. The food was delicious, we choose the 8 courses, with the wagu brevet which incurred a supplement but was to die for and well worth it. The ambience and staff are absolutely on point and everyone is friendly, attentive, and knowledgeable on the food and wine pairings. If you want to celebrate a special occasion this is the place to visit. Cannot recommend highly enough and looking forward to our next visit.

Unbelievably good food Excellent service An experience to repeated

Great night out with everything from arrival, drinks and dinner superb. Service and food perfect.

Fine dining at its best. Delicious eight-course meal and wine flight. Some really memorable dishes and wine matches. A real treat.