February 5th, 2009
For reasons that are still unclear, I found myself having a spot of lunch at the Monks’ Retreat on Friar Street in Reading last Wednesday. Along with two colleagues, I arrived at just after 1pm and the place was very busy indeed. The clientele were predominantly elderly, unemployed or strangely confused looking (I fell into the last category). The temptation to run after being inside for no more than two minutes nearly overtook my otherwise calm casual self, but I managed to resist and we sat down at a recently vacated table. Sitting to our left were a bunch of drinkers who looked as though they had been there since breakfast was served, but despite an atmosphere that felt like it would kick off at any moment, we ordered up some food. My colleague went for the £2.95 Ham, Egg and Chips Lunch time special. I resisted this and went for the roast chicken at £6.50 (the chicken served up was the strangest looking chicken I have ever seen; it was like a baby chicken with big breasts! – Goodness knows what went into it (and now me) to make it grow like that.)
The service was quick and within moments of sitting down having ordered, our food arrived. As it happens, it was what it was. Cheap and cheerful food.
As we left I noticed a monk climbing a rope towards the exit. I knew how he felt and would probably not return either.
Pryordurkin rating 1 star.
Phone: 0118 950 7592
Posted in Food and Drink