The Pantry Café and Kitchen
Reading Town Hall
Blagrave Street
Reading RG1 1QH
READING is blessed with many wonderful places to dine out, with the world, quite literally, available on the plate. But sometimes you just want simplicity, and that’s what you get with The Pantry.
To say it is no frills does it a disservice. It is right at the heart of Reading town centre offering hot meals, a simple cuppa, or a hearty lunch. It’s good value, it’s honest food, and is served by some lovely people.
The Pantry is where 3Bs used to be in the Town Hall, so it can be combined with a shopping trip or a visit to the museum. Office workers will enjoy popping in for lunch, and it’s great for a get-together with a friend.
The walls are decorated with prints and pictures that reveal facets of Reading’s past, linking in with the heritage of the building, as well as beer, bulbs and biscuits.
There is a steady hum of conversation but no background music, making it ideal for those who want to catch-up with friends without a disco disruption.
Food is served café style, similar to queuing up at IKEA’s canteen. You grab a tray, select the items you want, order hot food and drinks and then pay and take them to a table. Nice and easy.
On the menu there are baguettes, and two specials of the day (£10 per portion). On our visit, that was chilli con carne, and scampi and chips. Other hot meals included Roasted Veg Tarte and Salad (£5.50), Jacket Potato served with Coronation Chicken or Beef Chilli (£7.50), and Spicy Cajun Wedges (£4.50).
The chilli was served on an oblong platter, with the carne in a metal dish and the rice next to it. Garnished with some chilli slices, this had a pleasant zing to it, rather than being unpleasantly spicy.
The scampi was nice and hot, juicy and perfect for dipping into tartare sauce. The chips surprised us by being fries rather than steakhouse style, but to be honest, a chip is a chip, and these were crispy outside and fluffy inside.
The hot food options are only served from 11.30am to 2.30pm, while stocks last.
Baguettes and Toasted Paninis are available for £5 a serving, while Sausage Rolls are £2.75 or £2.50 for a vegan-friendly version. A Soup of the Day (Butternut Squash on our visit) is £6 and served with a crusty bread roll and butter.
Also available are delicacies such as cheesy chips – bringing back memories of my time at Reading University – and a selection of very tempting cakes. All generous portions.
And for those who want to catch up, Cream Teas are on offer, with prices varying according to the variety.
There are also spaces for parents with their babies.
In many ways, The Pantry is a no-fuss, no-drama venue: it’s good honest food, suitable for a quick bite, or catching up with friends. It’s not trying to win a Michelin star, it’s not trying to be the next Masterchef – it just does Reading proud. Can’t ask for much more than that.
