L'Ortolan

Located in the village of Shinfield, near the M4’s Junction 11, L’Ortolan is Reading’s only Michelin starred restaurant. We write menus that incorporate vegetarian dishes into our menus with an emphasis on seasonal vegetables we use a range of different techniques on vegetables to create a host of different flavors. At the same time personal preference makes a big difference to the customers, therefore we always try to accommodate to personal tastes. If you would like to try a selection of our award winning dishes, then you may be interested in choosing our Chef's 10 course discovery menu. In addition to dining reservations we offer unique cooking experiences, allowing guests to get acquainted with Michelin star cooking. If you would like to know more about our menus, private dining experiences or cooking master classes, don't hesitate to give us a call.  Lucian Obreja - Head Sommelier Lucian - Head Sommelier, was born in Romania. In his youth he used to cook to his siblings and at this early stage he developed the passion for combining different spices and ingredients together. As a teenager, after a long day at school he used to work in restaurant, and the more different restaurants he visited, the more experience he gained which helped him develop his dream of becoming a professional chef. However, working class ambitions initially ended up pushing him down an academic path and eventually lead him to University where he studied Economics. Half way through his course he came to realization that the choice he made would finally put him in front of a computer screen "for the rest of his life”. He took a hiatus from studying and decided to move to Italy, where he ended up working in different restaurants for several more years. It was during those years he considered committing fully to a career in hospitality and thus he decided to embrace that path. For three years he intensely studied Food & Wine at AIS. His free time was spent travelling and visiting various vineyards of Friuli and sampling delicious wines. His passion for traveling took another curve when he took on a position of a Sommelier at a Silversea Cruise Line ship. Given the opportunity to sample fine wines, great food and meeting with unique personalities. It is during that time I met my future wife, who just like me shared passion for good food and wines. After 4 years spent at sea I moved to UK, got married and did a series of WSET courses, Court of Master Sommelier Certification and started working at L’Ortolan. Wine is my passion, and it’s a great privilege to be able to work with it daily. But more than anything, it’s the people who make the world of food and wine so fantastic.