COSMO Reading Review – Press Trip
COSMO Reading is a world buffet restaurant situated on Friar Street. It was a place I had never been to before, but to celebrate their 10th anniversary I was invited to go along.
I took my lactose and soya intolerant husband and my fussy 7 year old daughter, hoping we would find something we could all enjoy (as quite often we struggle when we eat out).
When we first arrived, we waited to be seated in the modern entrance. There was a ballon arch with ‘COSMO 10 Years’ in gold and black which was a nice touch. I could also see an area where all the pushchairs were kept – I could see it was family friendly restaurant. We were then taken through the buffet area as we were shown to our table, so we had a good idea of how it worked.
The friendly waiter explained that it was all you can eat, and he would bring over our drinks order. I liked the combination of having a waiter on hand and the freedom to go and choose what I wanted. Everything is on display – so there’s no food envy when the meals come out. You can see what there is. It was especially good for 7 year old Eva to see her food before choosing.
There was a huge selection of dishes to choose from. You could pick Mexican, Indian, Chinese, carvery, pizza and so much more. You could mix it up, stick to one or come back for something else. There was also an area for hand washing and plenty of hand sanitisers around.
Each dish was labelled clearly so you were able to see the food allergens – which was particularly good for my husband. It meant he could see for himself what he could have without having to ask each time. Although there was a lot he couldn’t have, he certainly didn’t go home hungry – and he had a good selection of dishes.
Something for everyone
There really was something for everyone. Even if you just wanted chicken nuggets and chips – everyone is catered for. It’s perfect for large groups of people when it’s difficult to please them all, and definitely great for picky eaters – like Eva. I also like the fact I was able to put the right amount of food on my plate without being over faced with too much. If it wasn’t enough, I could just go back for more. Eva went with pizza, which is something she always enjoys and I went for the Mexican as a change for me.
There was also a large selection of hot and cold desserts. There were mini cheesecakes, brownies and cakes which were nice to try. Plus churros, sticky toffee pudding and plenty of fresh fruit. There was also a chocolate fountain and marshmallows on skewers which was fun for the kids.
I also enjoyed a mocktail from the drinks menu (they do regular cocktails too – as well as other drinks) which was delicious.
We went on a Saturday night and it was busy – but not too busy that you couldn’t comfortably navigate round. There wasn’t any feeling of being rushed (you’re not in a long queue for your food, just go for what you fancy).
COSMO Reading – the verdict
This is a great night out and I will certainly be suggesting COSMO Reading to my 19 year old son. When he’s home from uni, he often goes to Reading with his friends – and I think they would enjoy it here.
Fancy going to COSMO Reading world buffet? Find the details here:
- 35-38 Friar Street, Reading, Berkshire. RG1 1DX
- Opens Mon – Thurs 4:30pm – 9:30pm, Fri 4:30pm – 10:30pm, Sat 12pm – 10:30pm, Sun 12pm – 9pm.
