While in London, we got to check out an awesome local pub about 30 minutes outside London. It is not just any “local” pub, but it is an award winning pub! It is a restored 17th-century country pub and garden, offering British menu using local fish and game. The name “Bladebone” comes from the blade bone of a mammoth that was killed by prehistoric hunters in the area, and the name “Bladebone” was used to refer to the pub by 1666. The bone is sealed in copper and hangs above the entrance door. That is one big blade bone!
They have a fully stocked bar at the entrance, with some counter seating. The bar was rich with wood everywhere, cozy and welcoming. They offer all sorts of beer and wine, sure to find something that fits your taste buds.
The inside was so lovely, cute, inviting, and interesting. Good amount of space with loads of seating. We got there early in the evening, so it was pretty much empty when we arrived. About the time we finished with our dinner and left, it was almost packed!
The furniture was really awesome, a bit quirky but fun décor, certainly memorable. It was not only beautiful, but very relaxing atmosphere. Since we were a large group, we the biggest table at the back.
While waiting for everyone to arrive, we got a local beer called Good Old Boy by West Berkshire Brewery. It is a classic bitter brewed with a blend of rich malted barley and fruity hops to produce an exceptionally well-balanced and full-flavored beer. It was a really nice beer, not too heavy but with great flavor.
Once we were all settled at the table, we ordered some appetizers to share. The restaurant created a kind of “sample” platter with cheesy scones, cheese, and sausages. Really Cheesy Warm Scones simply with Salted Butter (£5.50) was nice and moist, soft and plump. And yes, it was very cheesy and delicious! Diddy ‘Vicars Butchers’ Sausages in Wild Honey & Grain Mustard (~£6) was great too. They were plump and had that perfect crunch texture when you bit into it. Packed with flavor! Loved the pop of mustard seeds on them. Nice beginning to our dinner feast…
For appetizer, I went with King Scallops & Venison (£10/starter). It is made with Seared King Scallops, Rich Venison Ragout, Parmesan Gnocchi, and Parmesan. The ragout took the main stage here, it was tender and juicy, with a nice sweetness to it. Scallops were large and plump, cooked just right. Really nice starter dish!
My hubby went with something interesting also. It was Scallops Gruyere Gratinated (£9/starter) with Panko Crumb, Dunkin Toast, and Fresh Lemon. It was a bit smaller than expected, but really nicely plated. It also had one fried prawn on top, which was great! The scallop was like a dip, with crispy bread to dunk into the goodies. So amazingly delicious!
For main, I chose a dish from “fish/Surf ‘N’ Turf” section. I ordered 6oz Fillet Steak, Scallop, White Crab & Tiger Prawn Gratin (£36.50). It is served with skinny Fries, Hollandaise, and Sticky Jus.
The scallop part of the dish was similar to my hubby’s appetizer, which I was very happy to receive…because it so soooo good! Scallops were soft and plump, fried prawn was lightly fried, and everything in it was delicious!
And the steak…oh my goodness the steak…it was pure perfection! Asked for medium rare, and came out fantastic! Great garlic flavor, and most of all, the sauce and jus was amazing! I totally loved this dish! Oh yes, let’s not forget the fries, they were so addictive too…
My hubby went with Banham’s Chicken Breast, Gruyere Truffle Mac ‘n’ Cheese (£18.50), made with Charred Broccoli, Green Beans, and Baby Spinach.
Mac ‘n’ cheese was creamy cheesy, loved the top that was a bit charred and crispy! It came with generous amount of chicken, soft and tender. It was packed with all sorts of yummy ingredients, very filling and satisfying!
But, the fanciest dish of the evening was one of the Special of the Day. A half kilo of Chateaubriand for two, choice of Garden Style (?) or Surf and Turf. They went with the garden style, and it came with mushroom, onion rings, ratatouille, and few other things. It was massive!! I think this dish can feed three or four people! It looked absolutely fabulous!
We were all quite full, but that didn’t stop us from getting deserts… I ordered their ‘Signature Dish’ dessert, Sticky Sticky Pudding (£8), in a Sticky Toffee Bourbon Sauce, served with Vanilla Bean Ice Cream. It was rather small, but I was ok with that, since I was nearly full. Size might’ve been small, but flavor was grand! It was moist, decadent, elegant…one of the best sticky puddings I’ve ever tasted!
My hubby is a big fan of rhubarb, so he chose Rhubarb & Custard (£8). It is made with Vanilla Bean Crème Brûlée, Rhubarb Compote, Poached Rhubarb, and Shortbread Biscuit. It was small, but once again, we were totally fine with that. It was cute, and came with a small chocolate spoon!
We finished it off with Flat White (£3), which came with a nice biscuit. A perfect ending to the amazing feast.
We had an amazing dinner, everything was exquisite! We enjoyed every bite of every dish. The service was very polite, friendly and accommodating. I am so glad we got to visit this restaurant. No wonder they received many awards! If you want some amazing dishes, hop over to Reading, they will feed you really well!
The Bladebone – Chapel Row, Reading, United Kingdom