Address: Riverside, Oracle Shopping Centre, RG1 2AG

Telephone number: 0118 90708078

Website: http://www.jamieoliver.com/italian/

Date of visit: 10 May 2010

Approximate cost per head: £15 for 2 courses

Comments on wine list/beer: Basic wines list with most wines around £15-25

Summary:

Jamie’s Italian has taken over from what used to be Chillies on the Kennet Canal in the Oracle complex.

When I tried this place a week ago, customers were made to queue outside – I didn’t – even though the whole of upstairs was empty. This time, I was invited to go upstairs even though the ground floor was half empty.

The building is circular and has a glass wall on the side facing the Kennet. Inside, they have a counter which is lined  with bottles of wine and crates of vegetables as well as legs of Parma ham and salamis. However, unlike Carluccio’s they do not sell deli products. They only sell mugs, tea towel and books etc.

The menu is dived into antipasti, pasta and main courses. Today’s special is chalked up on several blackboards.

We had tomato bruschetta to start with – it was not what I expected. Instead of it covered in tomatoes, we had sliced of tomatoes covered with cream cheese on 2 small slices of toasted bread – wrong order? Then we had starter portions of ravioli and truffled tagliatell with green side salads and a bowl of polenta chips. They are all priced at £4-£6. The polenta chips were chunks of deep fried polenta – very crispy but tasted of  nothing – to be fair, polenta tastes very bland and I usually jazz it up with grated cheese or bacon. The two pastas were ok. We also had a bottle of Primitivo 2008 (£16.25). The whole bill came to £40 – no service charge included.

I have heard lots of goods reviews about the place but to me, it trades strongly on Jamnie’s name. It’s very similar to Carluccio’s and in the same price bracket. For a similar amount of money, you can get a better meal at Pepe Salle (Queens Walk, Reading) or if you want to blow money, go to Caldesi in Bray. Don’t get me wrong, there is nothing wrong about the place its just NOT special. Its not a cheap version of the River Cafe where Jamnie was trained.

E

PS they do not take bookings. Just turn up and try your luck.

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