Cerise Restaurant & Bar at The Forbury Hotel

Cerise Restaurant and Bar in Reading's stylish The Forbury Hotel is a chic and sexy brasserie deluxe, decked out with candy-striped and chocolate leather banquettes, cappuccino cloths and white china. Buzzy, classy but informal, it works just as well for a quick, off-the-cuff bite for lunch as it does for a romantic dinner or a long-planned family celebration. The restaurant menu changes every couple of months. You might begin with hot seared foie gras, mango and chilli chutney and toasted brioche, or Iceberg parcel of Brixham crab with ribbons of marinated vegetables. Mains could be trio of rabbit with sweet shallot purée and tarragon jus, or a perfectly-cooked grilled organic rib-eye steak with home-cut chips and béarnaise sauce. Still got room in that pudding compartment? Try the decadent Chocolate Four Ways, or an iced lemon parfait with basil and yoghurt sorbet and a compote of summer fruits. The wine list caters for all tastes and has some interesting and unusual choices. If you needed a reason to visit Reading, Cerise is definitely it.