Reading
Kokoro

Kokoro

12 Queen Victoria St, Reading, United Kingdom

Asian • Korean • Chicken • Japanese


"Disappointment with Recent Price Increases Dear Kokoro Owner, I hope this letter finds you well, though I regret to say that my purpose for writing is to express my deep dissatisfaction with the recent price increases at your establishment. To say that I am lost for words would be an understatement. It is disheartening to witness two price hikes within a single year. As someone who, along with my team, regularly patronizes your facilities on a weekly basis, I find it difficult to comprehend the justification for such frequent and substantial increases. I, personally, had to cease using your service in Reading due to the last price hike earlier this year. It pushed the cost beyond my daily budget, forcing me to limit my favorite lunch to just once a week, if at all affordable. Today, as I returned to your Reading branch on my team's request, I was shocked to notice yet another price increase. Astonishingly, it is now £1.00 dearer than the same time last year. How can this be justified, especially during a time when there is a cost of living crisis affecting your customers? It is with great disappointment that our office has decided not to support your establishment any longer. We are collectively expressing our dissatisfaction by voting with our money. I intend to share my views on social media, urging fellow customers to consider alternative options. The introduction of smaller containers for takeaway medium and large options, seemingly for increased profit, coupled with these relentless price hikes, leaves customers feeling taken advantage of. Your business appears to be closing its doors to customers, evident in shortened queues during peak times and reduced footfall – a direct consequence of what seems to be motivated by greed. This marks the end of my patronage at Kokoro. I sincerely hope you reflect on the impact of these decisions on your customer base. Wishing you all the best,"

Kyrenia Greek

Kyrenia Greek

6 Prospect St, Caversham, RG4 8JN, Reading, United Kingdom

Fish • Greek • Vegetarian • Gluten Free


"So close to being the best Greek restaurant I have ever been in that isn't in Greece somehow a street in Reading loses out to places in the Greek countryside with their fresh local produce and views but it's still very good and, judging by the number of regulars in, it is highly regarded. Really good starters including Lamb Kofta very tasty), Hummus excellent quite an accolade from a lady who lived in London surrounded by some of the best), my own Stuffed Aubergine very tasty but a bit lacking in flavour) and my partner's Garlic Prawns ok, slightly overcooked, a bit short of sauce and £3 per prawn is a bit steep). The mains of Lamb Cutlets delicious), Kalamari tasty but not exceptional), my lady's Chicken Souvlaki to die for, could have just eaten the rice it was that hood I tasted both, she wasn't wrong. I had the Mixed Grill and it's the nicest meat I have tasted in this country, perfectly cooked with startling flavour. Service was excellent despite beibg very busy early on a Saturday evening. My lady's son and partner have just moved to Reading and so we most certainly will visit again., just know what doesn't work for us. Highly recommended Revisited in October 2023 after the birth of my lady's first grand daughter so two of us ate in and two had a takeaway I should start by saying that we were waited on by a gentleman who said he normally worked in the kitchen but someone was help up en route he was brilliant My lady opted for the Tirokaftera or spicy feta dip which was pretty amazing. whilst I went for the equaly impressive Pastourma which is a beef Greek version of chorizo and very tasty. On the mains front my lady went for Chicken Souvlaki and I for the lamb version of the same. Both were really good and I would love to know what they put in thr rice to make it taste so good. The takeaways were both lamb souvlaki and they were very very well received"

Great Expections

Great Expections

33 London Street, RG1 4PS, Reading, United Kingdom

Pub • Beer • Lunch • Drinks


"We have been to Calico Bar Eatery before and had a lovely time. So after a long awaited and anticipated visit, we were really looking forward to coming back to enjoy some food and drinks. Unfortunately, this did not go to plan. Another rather inebriated customer spent the moment from when we stepped in staring at me, waving and trying to get my attention in some way or another. Anytime I scanned the room I found him desperately trying to gain eye contact with me, waving, and shouting over when all we were wanted to do was enjoy dinner. I was purposely ignoring him completely avoiding any sort of interaction. It was making really uncomfortable but I did not want to ruin our dinner by making a fuss. However, after an hour/2 hours of this happening it took other customers to report to the manager that we were uncomfortable and only got them came over even though he even said he had noticed his behaviour prior to it being reported. He simply came over and said the customer was too drunk and wasn’t being served anymore. After the manager left our female server then followed up with us and she asked if I was uncomfortable to which I said yes. She then said she was going to call security. We then watched as the security guard approached this individual with the look that something might be done just to turn it into a laugh and joke. It took 15 minutes for him to move the guest from this table to another behind so that he was not in eye line. Then the security guard took it upon himself to approach our table and ask what happened. “What did he do that was actually wrong?”, “He was just trying to give you a compliment, and tell you’re wonderful and pretty”, “I would take it as a compliment”. I said that is harassment and my friends backed this up also. I asked him how would he feel if he was trying to have an intimate dinner and someone was shouting, waving and staring at him, to which he had no good reply. At which point I summoned the manager to ask for the bill and said I really wanted to leave. I was upset and furious and took myself outside. I came back to find the man and security gone after my friend had spoken with the manager and we had been provided with a small discount for the inconvenience. I was then led to believe the man had been kicked out. We paid the bill and left, to find the man and security guard at the door having a laugh. The only positive of the evening was our female server, I did not catch her name but she was empathetic and was actually the only one to apologise for the way the situation was handled. She was really supportive and seemed shocked when I let her know what security had said to me. I would really appreciate an email or phone call to discuss this situation further. Safe to say we will not be returning anytime soon. The approach to women’s safety was appalling and felt so backwards."

The Monk's Retreat

The Monk's Retreat

163 Friar Street, RG1 1HE, Reading, United Kingdom

Pub • Fish • Steak • British


"The Monk 's Retreat used to be part of the much loved J. D. Wetherspoon chain but was sold off because it was competing with the Hope Tap at the other end of Friar Street and promptly acquired by the Stonegate Pub Company, Britain 's largest player in the hospitality market. The pub itself is located next door to Reading Town Hall, where a perfect mid Victorian copy of the Bayeux Tapestry is on free public display, and is a short 5 10 minute walk from the mainline railway station. It 's a typical town centre Stonegate pub which might best be described as cheap and cheerful but it offers a good range of draught beers and classic meals such as Lasagne £7.49) Cumberland Sausages Mash £6.99) or Steak Ale Pie £9.49) and if you 're still hungry Toffee Fudge Cake for £2.99. When I called in for a quick bite to eat, whilst changing trains on a journey from Portsmouth to Plymouth, I opted for the All Day Breakfast. I confess that I didn 't like the cheap and cheerless) sausages and felt that the bacon rashers were slightly undercooked. However service was quick and efficient. The toilets, as you 'd expect from a former Wetherspoon pub, are upstairs and were clean and well maintained. The pub 's free wireless internet access is provided by Eclipse and gave me download and upload speeds of 18 and 10 Mbps respectively, with a latency of 97ms. There were plenty of 3 Pin 240 Volt 50Hz AC power sockets to keep my laptop computer going whilst I checked by e mails. Ultimately you get what you pay for but, on the whole, I think that I preferred the Monk 's Retreat when it was part of Tim Martin 's Wetherspoon Group."