Sweeney & Todd
Restaurant - English in Reading
10 Castle Street
Reading
Berkshire
RG1 7RD
Contact Numbers
Reviews
no frills but delicious
if you are looking for a posh restaurant, this isn't it but the tasty food more than makes up for the lack of decoration. The back room reminds me of a truckers cafe and the bar is small. The beer is nice and about as expensive as anywhere else. I have always found the staff friendly and helpful and have often eaten here. The choice of pies and veggies offered is a bit overwhelming the first time and you have to concentrate as the options are rattled off. It helps if you have looked at the menu for a couple of options that you fancy. my favourite is christmas pie - have even taken christmas pie home for a no hassle christmas day meal with friends. I think the prices are reasonable for what you get and the pies are a good size and well filled.
A User - 03/10/2008 | report this review
Yes, it's an institution.
As with many institutions, since it was established reliance on the institution has taken over from anything resembling effort. The pies are, on average, mediocre (some reach the giddy heights of 'quite nice') and served with disdain, the prices are too high and the conditions cramped (and, if seated downstairs, cold and damp).The restaurant trades largely on its reputation, novelty name and lack of competition, failing to provide anything so basic as service. There are those who perceive poor manners and thinly-veiled contempt from the staff when asked to repeat something they mumbled as 'part of the charm'. I tend to perceive it as a job poorly done.Having said that, the food is perfectly pleasant and the pies represent far better value if bought from the counter and taken away. The bar serves a good selection of beers and is responsible for one of those review stars. It would just be nice if, upon entering, one was greeted with a smile rather than a scowl.
A User - 11/09/2008 | report this review
Pies fit for a king
Sweeney Todds is an institution! And a wonderful one at that. When I first moved to Reading I stumbled upon this shop and have been constantly returning for takeout pies since (That'll be why my waistline is expanding!). The inner restaurant can seem a little ‘local' and daunting but its actually extremely friendly. A wonderful waitress always reads the list of the available pies for you (which I can never remember!) – Vicars pie is outstanding! The side dishes are also a treat including homemade hand-cut chips and rich cauliflower cheese. Great atmosphere and good traditional pies – A British feast to be proud of!
A User - 01/09/2008 | report this review
What a name
Sweeney & Todd, almost the ultimate name for a pie shop. All you need is a barber shop upstairs and all of a sudden you got vicar and chips, postman with gravy and roast orphan on the menu. Everyone loves to eat at somewhere with a bit of style; something that makes you smile at the cleverness of it and this is exactly what Sweeney & Todd's is. Was i reluctant to take a bite in to my pie? You bet i was! After getting over that feeling of stupidity (but in a good way) i was eating my way through a thoroughly delicious pie. If you like a real atmosphere, this is the one for you.
A User - 09/08/2008 | report this review
A Reading institution
The pies here are tasty, yes, and if you're after a retro night out then this is the place. However, the service is slow and can be a little offhand and if you're eating in the restaurant the pies (I believe) are re-heated (which somewhat defeats the object of tasty hand made pies) and not quite in the microwave for long enough, as they're invariably lukewarm in the middle. Of course, if you're in the grim basement eating then there's no-one around to rectify this and can one be bothered?The cauliflower cheese, on the other hand, is tasty and moreish (and means I can forgive them for slopping it on the side of the plate like an inmate at Sing Sing).Oh, and it's never as cheap as it should be, once you've added on the extras. Probably best to get take away then you can give it plenty of time in the oven and decide if you want to serve yourself in a grumpy fashion.
A User - 07/04/2008 | report this review
Best pie I've eatten in years
Sweeney & Todd, the hidden pie shop and old school pub, its a funny place, and I love it. The front of the building have a pie shop where you can buy pies to take away. The each time I go in there are about 8 or 10 different pies on sale, as well as scotch eggs, cold chicken and cans of pop. The pies are the real attraction however. I've just had a boar and venison, and even cold, at the end of the day, having sat on a shop display for a whole day, it still beat the pants off most other pies I've had.If you're not in the take away market however you can though through the shop to the restaurant. The service is, well, slow. Don't panic about it, get a beer from the bar, and hang tight for a moment. The menus that are on every table list every pie they sell, and most will not be on sale that day. Don't bother reading it, just wait for the lady to come round and tell you whats on that day. The options for the pies are "with chips and veg" or "with salad". Extra gravy is optional, but an excellent idea.As for the variety of pies, I've had pigeon and peach, steak and silton, beef and ale, and countless others. The pasty is flaky, the filling is full (unlikely the empty husk of a pie I had this week in O'Neils), and everything about the experience makes it a worth while trip.
A User - 09/01/2008 | report this review
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