L’Ortolan

Opened in 1984, L’Ortolan is a storied name in British fine dining. Nico Ladenis, John Burton-Race, Daniel Galmiche and Alan Murchison have all led the kitchen of this wisteria-clad former vicarage in Shinfield, near Reading. Jamie Pearce, a young chef with Cliveden House, Moorhall and Whatley Manor on his résumé, joined as head chef in June 2024. He cooks in the elegant modern British style, with an emphasis on seasonality. You can watch him at work from the chef’s table; L’Ortolan is one of the first restaurants in the country to offer one.