L’Ortolan * | Shinfield (UK)

L’Ortolan is a Michelin Starred fine dining restaurant with private dining rooms located in the picturesque village of Shinfield, Berkshire (UK) just outside Reading, housed within a beautiful Grade II listed vicarage. L’Ortolan holds a Michelin Star for the fifteenth consecutive year and is also awarded with 3 AA rosettes.

Head Chef Tom Clarke worked at a couple of other restaurants before he, at age 22, ended up at Raymond Blanc’s Le Manoir, where he worked for 2 years. In 2009, Tom had his first stint at L’Ortolan as a Chef de Partie and soon worked his way up to Sous Chef. He left L’Ortolan to move to France were he worked at the two Michelin starred Le Strato hotel in Courchevel and the legendary L’Oustau de Baumanière in the Provence. Returning to L’Ortolan in August 2012, Tom went from Chef to acting Head Chef, before he took over in the Michelin starred kitchen at L’Ortolan in January 2015 as Head Chef. 

L’Ortolan is open for lunch and dinner from Tuesday to Saturday. Head Chef Tom Clarke’s inspired menus include Menu du Jour (£30 – £35 lunch only), A la Carte (£61 – £69), 7 Course Gourmand Tasting Menu (£79) and the 10 course Surprise Menu (£105) as well as seasonal offers and wine tasting dinners. 

We went on Valentines Day 2018 for dinner. Although I didn’t make any notes that evening, I don’t want you to miss out on the pictures of the dishes.

I’m sorry I can’t do a review of this one, but without notes I simple can’t remember all details of the dishes, flavours, etc. and I certainly don’t want to make something up.
L’Ortolan is on my list to visit again and I will be sure to do a proper review next time.