Address:  Arborfield Cross, Berkshire RG2 9QD

Telephone:  0118 976 2244

Website: www.thebullinnarborfield.co.uk

Date of visit: 4 January 2011

Costs:  Around £15 plus for 2 courses. Lunch time specials £8.50, baguettes £5-6. A la carte main courses from £10

Wines and beer: Courage best £3.20 a pint, short wine list with wines (vin de payes) from £11.95. Mad Fish at £21 – low marks ups.

Likes and dislikes: All good.

Cuisine: British and internationsl food

Summary:

There are several Bulls near Reading (Bisham, Arborfield, Finchampstead, Streatley etc) . I haven’t been here for well over a decade. The last time I dines here; I had lemon sole – tiny and bony – with loads of butter. I’ve heard that it has changed hands about a year ago – another pub taken over by the French.

I went one lunch time just before Xmas and was turned away because the place was full. I was there at 1pm today and to my surprise, the car park was nearly full again. Inside around 80% of the tables were occupied with mainly over 60s. I soon discovered why. The lunch menu has main courses at £8.50 and there were 8 dishes to choose from.

The inside of the pub can only be described as functional. It was packed with tables – all devoted to dining.

I settled for a whitebait starter and sausages, bacon eggs, beans and chips (£8.50) for my main course. I also had a pint of Courage Best to go with my meal. The bitter was excellent.

The starter soon arrived and for £4.95, I had a plateful of whitebait with a tub of tartar sauce and a small salad. They were all good. The whitebait was crisp on the outside and moist on the inside. This is probably the best whitebait sine The Five Mile House and The Hand and Flowers. The salad was crisp and fresh and the tartar sauce home made with the crunch of bits of gherkins.

For the main course, I was offered 2 rashes of streaky bacon, 2 eggs, 2 sausages, tub of bake beans and French fries. The worst bit was the streaky bacon. The sausages were firm and crisp on the outside, eggs came with runny yolks and a big pile of French fries – 10/10. Without a doubt, I haven’t had proper French Fries like this for years. This beats triple cooked chips hands down as triple cooked chips tend to be greasy because the fissures around the potato soaks up too much oil.

The food here is fairly non intricate but interesting and they are not too hot on presentation– it won’t get into the Michelin Guide. But it is really good and fantastic value.

If a place is packed on a weekday lunch time, that is a sure sign that it is good.

E