Chronicles Cellar Bar & Bistro

I’ve been to Chronicles a few times for lunch and for dinner, and it’s always been great. I’d second the earlier reviewer on the pot meals which are excellent — the small size is just right for lunch.
It’s a lovely atmosphere, especially at dinner, with the little booths meaning you can actually have a conversation that you can hear!

This used to be the location of a newspaper (I think) and is a quaint little place — about a ten minute stroll from the station — consisting of a small bar and average restaurant.
It’s cosy and inviting and doesn’t suffer from the beer-​bottle-​over-​the-​head atmosphere that a lot of other Reading pubs and bars do.
Whilst average, I’ve definitely had worse food that this, and the prices aren’t too chronic.
Drinks are well varied and well priced. Certainly worth a visit if you’re in town.

This a great place — out of the centre of Reading, so it’s never as busy as the Oracle Riverside places. Having said that, it’s not huge, so definitely book a table.
The atmosphere is intimate as you go downstairs to a kind of ‘cellar bar’ and are away from the hubbub on the street above. Decent selection of wine and bottled beers, but don’t expect anything much on tap.
Food wise, it’s really nice (particularly the duck salad) and reasonably priced. Don’t forget to look on the back of the menu for their infamous ‘pot-​meals’ — the smaller ones are perfect for lunch or a light dinner.
Certainly much much better than the chain restaurants that pop up all around Reading — and you won’t spend too much extra either.

Another city centre restaurant I’ve visited quite a few times, but that was when I didn’t have children to keep me indoors. You go down into the basement cellar room via some narrow stairs, which creates an air of expectation. Once in the restaurant there is a feeling of chic style and the quality of the food doesn’t disappoint.