Bottle & Glass Inn – Binfield Heath

Just outside Reading in Binfield Heath, is a charming blend of tradition and modernity. This welcoming country pub is split across two distinct spaces, a characterful, low-ceilinged thatched inn, rich with history, and a bright, contemporary restaurant extension that brings a more modern dining experience.

Also on-site is a beautifully converted barn, offering a more rustic and relaxed setting with craft beer, fresh bakery goods, and gourmet burgers. But that’s a story for another review.

For our Sunday roast, we dined in the modern restaurant, where the atmosphere was warm and inviting. When we arrived, it was lively but not overcrowded, with a few empty tables scattered throughout. However, as our meal progressed, it became clear we had caught the tail end of the lunch service. By the time we were tucking into our mains, we realised we were the only ones left.

Since it was Sunday, we had a limited Sunday menu to choose from. For starters, I enjoyed a Scotch egg paired with mushroom ketchup. For the main course, I opted for the beef, and for dessert, my partner and I shared a chocolate cake served with sorbet.

The Scotch egg was incredibly flavourful, featuring loosely ground meat that provided a delightful texture, flaking apart beautifully rather than forming a dense, congealed mass. The hidden egg inside was expertly cooked, boasting a perfectly liquid centre that added richness to every bite. Paired with the mushroom ketchup, which was wonderfully savoury, the dish was truly satisfying.

The beef was everything you could hope for in a roast, perfectly cooked and seasoned to perfection. However, the accompanying vegetables were a mixed bag. While the carrots were very tasty, the roast potatoes were a major let down, they were hard enough that I nearly damaged the plate while trying to cut into them. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the biggest let down, that accolade was held by the Yorkshire puddings. They were clearly made earlier in the day and left under a heat lamp for far too long, arriving at the table crunchier than a bag of Walkers. Even a generous helping of gravy couldn’t save them, which was a shame given how well-prepared the rest of the dish was.

Finally dessert, as already mentioned this consisted of a very dense chocolate cake with an apple sorbet and an apple puree (as you can tell I clearly didn’t jot down exactly what the chef called it). The cake was very nice, almost malt loaf in consistency, the sorbet was very sharp but enjoyably so, as it cut through the chocolatey flavour and the puree was also a good accompaniment. Overall, the dessert was a hit and thoroughly enjoyed by everyone.

The Sunday lunch menu offered a streamlined selection, featuring around four options per course. Pricing was straightforward, calculated based on the number of courses: £32.50 for two courses and £44 for three. Considering the portion sizes and the quality of the dishes served, I found the £44 price for a three-course meal to be quite reasonable.

Service at the Bottle & Glass is always pretty good. Upon arrival, the Maître d’ escorted us to our table, though initially reserved, they became more engaging as the meal progressed. There was a young guy there who was serving our drinks and and he was far more welcoming and very friendly to my 15 month old and our four legged friend. Overall, the staff struck the perfect balance, attentive enough to keep our glasses filled without being intrusive or interrupting our conversations.

Final Rating