Cerise

Behind the listed Grade-II exterior of Reading's first boutique hotel is a basement restaurant & cocktail bar with a contemporary sheen & plenty of suited & booted waiting staff. While the modern European menu doesn't quite match the cutting-edge surrounds, there’s no doubting the culinary standards. Starters such as oak-smoked salmon with horseradish cream, & mains of grilled rump of lamb with mint gnocchi & rosemary jus prove to be well executed & reasonably priced. In the bar, a ‘foozology’ menu takes superbly rendered tapas-style dishes, such as pork & coriander dim sum, & matches them with recommended cocktails, wines or beers.