Bill’s Restaurant & Bar in Newbury has recently had a big makeover and it was a real treat to be invited along to check out the new look.
The decor draws you in with vibrant colours and an eclectic mix of features. Decadent chandeliers, a glitzy necklace clad dog statue and plush velvet seating segue perfectly with leafy plants, exposed extractor tubes and rustic wood clad walls.
I met my sister for a child free lunch and the chilled out ambiance was perfect but I could easily come back with my kids. There was a real variety of diners from Mums and kids to business lunchers and shoppers stopping in after splashing their cash. Bill’s is just a couple of doors away from the Corn Exchange theatre and would a great before or after show stop. My visit coincided with a miserable rainy October day so I’ll be back to try out the secret garden nestled at the back another time.
Bill’s menu has something for everyone, whether you’re looking for healthy or indulgent, a big meaty burger or a vegan glow bowl salad. Expect a genuine focus on fresh with founder Bill’s greengrocer routes influencing the seasonal drive and regularly changing menu. Veggies get more than lip service with almost half of the dishes ready to tantalise tastebuds with interesting vegetarian and vegan dishes. There’s a kids menu too with good straightforward choices like hamburgers and macaroni cheese and there’s even a children’s breakfast menu with buttermilk pancakes as one of the options.
I started my lunch with chicken & sesame dumplings with a spicy chutney. There was no scrimping on the portion sizes which was lucky as my sister dived into share. Parcels of deliciousness with just the right amount of crispness to the outside.
Keeping with an oriental theme, I followed with an Asian Chicken Salad. I don’t usually choose salads as they often leave me bored and hungry but there was something about this one that tempted me. The salad was packed full of flavour with the chili, coriander and lemongrass dressing complementing the leafy salad, tender chicken and welcome edamame and mixed grains.
My sister is a self confessed poached egg connoisseur and chose the Butternut Squash Hummus on Sourdough with Poached Eggs. The dish was topped with thin ribbons of crunchy carrot as well as radish, squash, sprouts and miso dressing. The first test comes when you slide the knife in to cut the egg and the yolk oozed out faultlessly. The eggs got the thumbs up as did the overall dish.
If you’re dining out at Bill’s, you’ve got to stay for a dessert. My sis and I shared a Chocolate and Hazelnut Praline Sphere. There was that wonderful sound of cracking as my spoon split open the indulgent ball of chocolate coated salted caramel ice cream with a chocolate and hazelnut mousse.
Throughout the meal, the staff were friendly and attentive (thank you Helia) and one of the first questions asked was if anyone had allergies. She also brought a big jug of tap water to the table without prompting which I found refreshing rather than the usual reply of ‘still or sparkling’.
Bill’s Newbury kindly provided the lunch as complimentary to give me the chance to check them out. However, no payment was taken for the review and all reviews on Red Kite Days are my personal, honest opinion.
