Clay's Kitchen & Bar

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Reviews

1. James Culley ★★★★★

   We dined here recently and both said it was the best meal we'd had in a long time. The food was delicious - on the more expensive side but you do get what you pay for, with exquisite flavours and very well designed dishes. I particularly enjoyed the Apollo Fish and the lamb biryani, which I think is the best biryani I've ever had (not dry, lamb cooked to perfection). We can't wait to go back and have already recommended it to our friends and family.

   1 month ago
2. Kamini Manick ★★★★★

   Clay’s is a fantastic restaurant. The staff are warm and welcoming and the decor is modern and interesting. The food is great quality and authentic. Every dish is unique and completely moreish! Whenever we have friends and family visiting, we always try to book a table.

   1 month ago
3. Gina Soden ★★★★★

   I had the best curry of my life here the other night. Better still, it was on my 40th birthday so will forever be remembered. Clays Chicken Ghee Roast. I was warned it was the hottest curry on the menu, but I saved the chilies until the end. My husband had the Dawat Ki chicken. The paneer starter was absolutely delicious. The desserts were incredible. I can't rave about this place enough. I love cooking curries and just thought so much care and attention to detail was taken throughout these dishes. The service was attentive, the atmosphere was great. Had such a great night. My husband was also thrilled the best beer in the world Trappist Westvleteren was available too. Thank you Clays!!!!

   almost 2 months ago

1. Dave Westover ★★★★★

   Wow, Heaven! Indian meets fine dining. Upmarket, high-class feel, slick friendly & helpful staff. About ⅔ full on a Friday evening in summer. Portions were not small as many say! So rich, so succulent. Well worth the higher price of other Indian restaurants. A transformation from its London St days. Large bar, extensive drinks menu, wine, beer ... I drank 2 pints of Siren Soundwave, when I usually only drink a pint in an Indian restaurant. Bhooni Khaleji (chicken livers) 4½☆ ~ large portion! It needs an accompaniment; a little heavy going on its own, but a delicious reimaging of Indian cuisine. Bhuna Venison 4½☆ (semi-dry) John's Mixed Basket 4½☆ (paratha, methi roti, beetroot roti.) The beetroot roti was particularly good.

   almost 5 months ago
2. Václav Pavlík ★★☆☆☆

   Disappointing Experience at Clays - More Hype Than Substance We visited Clays in Reading on a Friday evening, hoping for a standout Indian dining experience given its generally positive reviews. Unfortunately, our visit was largely disappointing, marked by incredibly slow service and food that failed to live up to the premium price tag. Upon arrival, despite the restaurant only being at half capacity, we were left waiting a full 10 minutes before anyone approached our table to take a drink order. This set the tone for the rest of the evening. Our starters, once ordered, took a further 20 minutes to arrive. The most frustrating wait, however, was for our main courses, which took an astonishing hour from the time of order. When we enquired about the delay, we were simply told that the restaurant was "busy" and the kitchen was "overflowed" – an explanation that felt disingenuous given the visible half-empty dining room. The food itself was underwhelming. While perfectly edible, it tasted remarkably similar to what you'd expect from an average Indian takeaway, yet at three times the price. We had hoped for something more distinctive and refined, but it simply didn't justify the cost. We found the restaurant quite noisy, perhaps unlucky enough to be seated next to a loud table of four gentlemen. Overall, our experience at Clays left us thoroughly underwhelmed. For the prices charged, the slow service and ordinary food were simply not acceptable. Reading boasts numerous other Indian restaurants that offer superior food and a better dining experience, often at a more reasonable price point. I would recommend exploring other options before settling on

   almost 7 months ago
3. Peter Hodges ★★★★★

   We enjoyed a truly excellent meal at Clay's, following their relocation. We had been looking forward to this for some time and were not disappointed. Our main courses were the village style lamb and paneer and these are both to be recommended. The lamb was slow cooked in a clay pot and absolutely melted in the mouth. The paneer was deliciously spicy and accompanied by a rich, comforting sauce. We left very happy and intent on exploring more of the menu later.

   almost 2 years ago

1. Aneka T ★★★★★

   Delicious Hyderabadi cuisine on Prospect Street; the dishes we had were fresh, full of flavour and a refreshing twist to the Indian food we were used to. I would highly recommend visiting, but make sure you book well in advance as they’re usually quite booked up.

   almost 2 years ago
2. Lexie Newlands ★★★★★

   An incredible experience from start to finish. We went on opening night and it was flawless. Get a table booked before the waiting list is months long! They have fantastic local craft beer on tap which pairs perfectly with their food.

   almost 3 years ago
3. Isabelle Schreuder ★★★★★

   What a gorgeous place! Such unique flavours and dishes but all the spice and warmth that you’re used to from the Indian cuisine. We went for the pork belly, fried chillies, crab and chicken fry starters. The pork belly was sweet and aromatic and very good, but the winner were the fried chillies. Such a unique dish, never had anything like it! For mains we had village style lamb in a clay pot and paneer curry. Both absolutely gorgeous in their own way, the lamb was rich and earthy, the paneer curry was creamy and aromatic. Nothing was disappointing! Will come here again soon:

   almost 4 years ago

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