I’ve recently gotten into the habit of reviewing more restaurants in my local area. I do this even if I am not invited as part of a collaboration, which supports the local businesses. I really want my readers to have as much information as possible at their fingertips, especially if they are planning a nice meal out. This week, some we met some of our friends at the George and the Dragon Swallowfield. Here is what we experienced in this charming country pub.
George and the Dragon Swallowfield: A Review
The Pub
The Sunday we visited the George and the Dragon Swallowfield was really icy. There had been a light sprinkling of snow from the night before, but the landscape was beautiful. We entered the pub and were greeted by two large fireplaces. This made the entire room lovely, warm and cosy.
The decorations were up and the Christmas music was playing. I personally felt that they nailed the festive feeling. We had a nice window table right by the fire, which was perfect to be honest. They had made the atmosphere just perfect for the day and time of year.
The Food
Of course, this is the part you care about most. Whilst we were cosy by the fire we were able to look at the menu. As it was a Sunday, there were a selection of roast dinners, including chicken, pork and beef. There were also other options, such as pies and burgers. Across the table of seven, we all ordered something different.
We decided on the mains only as we had to get to Sonning in the afternoon. I went for their classic burger, but, with extra cheese and bacon in it. After a short wait whilst we enjoyed our drinks, the food finally arrived.
The George and Dragon Swallowfield really did not disappoint with the attention to detail. The burger was loaded with thick, gooey cheese as well as extra-crispy bacon, and the top bun had also been charred, making it light and crispy. The only issue was trying to fit it in my mouth! The meat was soft and light and the burger was cooked at medium-rare. Because of this, you had a gorgeous mixture of soft meat with crispy bacon and bun.
I usually cannot eat much, but I polished the entire burger and chips (which were also excellent) off. Jack didn’t even help me, which is a rarity. Across the table, everyone seemed to love their food. The roasts were a good size, but came with the largest Yorkshire known to mankind. Perhaps slightly overkill, but nobody was complaining. At the end of the sitting, there was no food left on the plates, which is all the evidence you need of a top-lunch.
The Service
The service was good at the George and the Dragon Swallowfield. The staff were friendly enough and were as attentive as you like. I also thought that they really good at making conversation and welcoming us to the pub. We did have a two-month old with us, who of course was the topic of most chit-chat.
My one slight issue was that they did not allow us much time to decide on food etc. In fact, I only felt that I had just sat down. It is a tricky one as there is definitely a sweet-spot with timings, but I did feel ever so slightly rushed.
Nit-picking aside, I felt that the team at the George and the Dragon were helpful and polite. At the end of the day, what more do you really want.
The Verdict
I really enjoyed my time at the George and the Dragon Swallowfield. Set in a convenient location just outside of Reading, it was perfect for catching up with friends. The food was also delicious and reasonably priced. For both of us, it only cost £40.00, which is great in this area.
I certainly think that we will use it for future friendly meet ups and would definitely recommend it to anyone passing through.
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Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoyed my post! If there’s anything else that you’d like to know, or if you have any questions about the pub or local area, please let me know in the comments below.
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Happy exploring!
Love Victoria X
