The Palm Tree, Reading

 

 

The Palm Tree
Reading Road
Cane End
Reading RG4 9HE
Tel: 01189 723116
www.palmtreeindian.com

Less than ten minutes drive from Caversham, The Palm Tree sits majestically on the right side of the road with its seventy space car park surrounding an impressive building previously known as The Fox. The current owners bring with them a vary impressive background in the culinary industry as well as a keen eye for detail, in both the building as well as the menu with its impressive wine list.

The first thing I noticed was the sheer size of the restaurant, with pleasing clean lines, high backed chairs and polished wood flooring. The decoration was immaculate, with subtle lighting with the occasional spotlight on selections of modern art in all corners of the restaurant. What I particularly liked was the layout, with differing levels, tables for six alongside tables for two, up a few stairs offering privacy, other areas destined for small and medium parties.

One of the partners, Noorul Islam, greeted us and showed us to our table, offering us a splendid view of the restaurant including the very impressive private function room complete with large flat screen television offering dining for up to thirty people.

Before we had taken our seats, impressive high backed and extremely comfortable chairs, I had fallen in love with the place, a converted pub that extolled all the virtues of a highly modern, beautifully decorated Indian/Bangladeshi restaurant reflecting care and consideration allied to imagination by the designers when the entire building was converted twelve months ago.

A couple of papadoms were ordered and were duly delivered with a perfect dish of chutneys, stylish, fresh and bursting with flavour. Many years of research had lead us to restrict our nibbling before our meals in similar restaurants, they are far too tempting and can restrict enjoyment later in the meal. They were delicious but pacing oneself in the face of so many culinary temptations is an art form and, rather late in life, we have grasped it with enthusiasm!


I savoured the delights of a King Prawn Sukka, delicious king prawns in a sweet and sour sauce, served with a light crispy salad, a filling starter and a dish that, with a few touches, could provide an interesting summer light lunch.

Sue selected the Chicken Chaat, small pieces of tender chicken cooked in a chaat masala sauce with a tangy flavour, again a superb example of a starter full of flavour, perfect for a cold evening where the outside temperature was a little above zero.

My main course choice was chicken tapali
- tender pieces of meat, freshly cooked with garlic, ginger, capsicum, onions, tomatoes and special spices garnished with fresh cream, and served on a special tapali dish for 8.25. I enjoyed lemon rice and a Peshawari Naan, a combination ideal for my needs and reflecting the very best of the restaurant. Few in the area offer the tapali, served in its special dish and its appeal will surely widen when more have tried and enjoyed the dish like me.

Sue succumbed to the attraction of the Fish Platter, a substantial main course including salmon, king prawns and fish kebab, accompanied by a light salad. Sue chose a vegetable curry in support, rather than rice, and was delighted with the result.

My overall impressions?

The restaurant is stunning, immaculate in decoration, attractive to the eye, totally colour co-ordinated and offering a range of dining options, areas and levels. Like the extensive range of dishes on the menu it offers choice and variety, from a romantic table for two in a secluded corner to an open table for ten in spacious surrounding for a celebration The Palm Tree offers a great deal and more.

The food offers all that is Indian and Bangladesh, imaginative, subtle, colours and textures and a choice, including an impressive range of vegetarian options to match any in the area. The car park is extensive with easy access to all.

More than that the service from the staff added greatly to the overall experience, and this is an area which can make or break a restaurant. Here I found enthusiastic friendly faces where quiet and unobtrusive professionalism was the order of the day, including the small but not unimportant touch when the waiter returned with our choice of wine, a superb Shiraz, and Sue was asked to taste the wine, she had, after all, chosen it.

A small touch in the overall experience during a highly enjoyable late December evening visit, but one that amplified the attention to detail from the talented team at the Palm Tree, on this occasion watched over by the experienced Noorul Islam. Sue and I chatted with him during the course of the evening and his sheer enthusiasm shone through as we discussed mutual friends in the industry, always an enjoyable time when in the company of such knowledgeable and respected figures in the restaurant business.

Previous reviews...
Yang Sing
Le Raj
Britannia Spice
Ivy - London
Forest Mere
Benihana
The Rainforest Caf
Caf
San Marco
Sarastro
Pizza Express
Livebait Restaurant
Simpson's-in-the Strand Restaurant
Rez
Kathmandu 34
ZINC
The Moghul
Zaffran
Barajee
Whittlebury Hall
De Vere
Hook Tandoori
Yellow River - Reading
The Teak House Thai Restaurant
The Bina
Mela
River Walk
Alcazar, Paris
Mali Thai - Reading
The New Inn - Heckfield
Forbury's
The Birch, Woburn
Fishworks in Chiswick
A Fish Called Walter
Cookham Tandoori - Indian Cuisine
Bistro Roque in Kintbury, Berkshire
Bistro Roque, Kintbury in the evening
Oasis
Eurostar to Avignon
Tea at the Ritz
Cilantro in Reading
Sultan Balti Palace
Don Beni, Italian Restaurant
The Compleat Angler, Marlow (MacDonald Hotels)
Dominos Pizza
Sizzling Wok
Manray
Alcazar
The Angel
The Italian Job
Hunters - Ireland
Marlfield House - Ireland
Dunbrody Country House - Ireland
Ahernes Seafood Bar - Ireland
Longueville House - Ireland
Old Midleton Distillery - Ireland
Waldo
The White Lion at Crays Pond
Northcote Manor
Waitrose
The Square Bar & Grill
Waldo
Strada
Spice Route
Branston Hall Hotel
Vinopolis and Cantina Vinopolis
Peak Brasserie
Flackley Ash Hotel
Carluccio's in Reading
Careys Manor, New Forest
City Inn, Westminster
Gibbon Bridge Hotel, Forest of Bowland
Kloosters Hotel, Leuven, Belgium
The Tigers Pad
Armathwaite Hall Hotel
City InnWestminster
Carluccio
Chewton Glen Hotel, Spa and Country Club
The Lygon Arms
One Aldwych, London
Brunello Restaurant, Kensington
Agra Palace, Nuneaton
Juboraj
Bluebells Restaurant & Bar
The George and Dragon at Swallowfield
TTAVAS RESTAURANT
The Last Days of the Raj
Vespers - Apollo Hotel, Basingstoke
TTavas Restaurant
Simpson
Sunday Lunch at City Inn Westminster
Spice Bollywood Restaurant
The Tamarind Tree
Pizza Express
De Vere Slaley Hall,
Oakley Court Hotel
The Red House
Oakley Court Hotel
The White Hart Hotel Restaurant, Dorchester-on-Thames
Old Thai House, Newbury
Wyndham Grand Harbour Chelsea Hotel
Tiger Garden, Eton
Cinnamon Tree, Reading
Ragdale Hall, Melton Mowbray
Ha Ha Bar & Grill
Fishworks in Christchurch
Nando\'s Reading
Westover Hall Hotel
The White Hart, Dorchester
The Walter Arms, Sindlesham
Daruchini, Bracknell
Fredrick\'s Hotel, Restaurant and Spa
Chennai Dosa, Reading
Chennai Dosa, Reading
Chennai Dosa Reading
Rupali Restaurant, Newcastle-upon-Tyne
The Black Boy, Shinfield
Spice Bollywood Restaurant, Sunderland
Breakfast Disaster.