'Tis the season to be jolly, what with all of the merry meet-ups, mulled wine and, of course, seriously cracking grub. But if you've been tasked with organising this year's meal, where do you start? To help you out, we've created a list of the best restaurants for Christmas dinner in Reading, from fancy five-course banquets at fine dining spots to turkey burger 'hoppy meals' in cosy pubs. After all, it's the most wonderful time of the year...
If you're on the hunt for the best place to grab a cheap Christmas dinner in Reading, O'Neill's should be up there on your list. There are affordable two and three-course food feasts, featuring chicken and ham pie, steak, pigs in blanket pizza and a veggie wellington, with plenty of festive burgers available too.
Cocktail bar and restaurant Market House is dishing out multi-course menus this Christmas. Get ready for starters such as jerk cauliflower, Sicilian caponata bites and ham hock terrine, followed by mains spanning braised featherblade beef, roast turkey, pearl barley and chestnut wellington and aubergine timbale.
These come served with crisp rosemary roast potatoes, seasoned winter greens, braised red cabbage, chantenay carrots and brussels sprouts. Desserts come to share; think salted caramel cheesecake and Belgian chocolate and Amaretto mousse.
Trendy watering hole Oakford Social Club is more than just a raucous bar, it's also one of the best places in Reading for a Christmas party. The kitchen slings out elevated pub grub, including a nut roast plus hand-carved turkey breast with Cumberland pigs in blankets.
If you want to go all out this festive season, Cosy Club Reading is the place. Its 70s-inspired interiors sparkle under twinkling lights, making it the perfect setting for Christmas catch-ups.
Feast on their epic festive menu: think maple-glazed pigs in blankets, turkey and smoked ham hock pie with all the trimmings, and indulgent desserts like a salted chocolate torte. Add a round of festive spritzes or a warming mulled wine, and you've got a yuletide celebration that feels properly special.
The Boundary in Reading is offering a seasonal spread with a two or three-course meal this December. From just £22.50, there's halloumi fries to start, then creative mains like Merry Crustmas pizzas and Fat Santa burgers. Finish with a steaming pud AKA a Mistletoe Mess.
With a menu that boasts pigs in blankets in a cranberry glaze, fried camembert bites, pan-fried salmon, and a turkey take on the famous hanging kebab, The Botanist is an affordable choice come the festive season. Choose between a two-course or three-course lunch from £26.95 per person, available all day, every day, and finish with desserts like the millionaire's brownie.
Packed full of charm, this traditional pub in Newtown is one to watch come wintertime. The Hope and Bear Christmas dinner menu boasts a delicious, seasonal three-course menu as well as buffets, which makes it ideal for intimate get-togethers and work dos alike.
Seven Red Roses offers a cosy, charming space to indulge in a bit of Christmas cheer. Head over to the old school boozer to delve into fabulous festive fare, from turkey and ham hock pie to a giant pig in blanket yorkie accompanied by a range of tasty tipples.
Pulling out all of the stops this December, Three Guineas is a cool and cosy boozer in the heart of the city. Tantalise your festive tastebuds with cracking Crimbo classics then toast to the jolly season with a glass of bubbles, surrounded by friends and family.
If you're not sure where to book for your Christmas party in Reading, Slug and Lettuce Riverside is always a winner. Bringing the yuletide cheer by the bucketload, these guys are determined to make it a season to remember with festive buffets, themed burgers and tasty cocktails. Or, if you fancy heading into the party district, Slug and lettuce Friar Street is welcoming you with floral decor and neon signs.
For a laid-back Christmas meal with family, friends, or even coworkers, Zerodegrees Reading is the place, with a Christmas set menu available for lunch or dinner. Think wood-fired pizza, roast turkey, and New York cheesecake as part of a multi-course banquet from as little as £35.
