Reading Roars!

I’m constantly reminded of the need to eat more fruit and vegetables. Sadly, five Frulis a day do not count.

On Sunday, I decide to make it happen - by eating at Cafe Iguana, the only vegetarian restaurant in Reading (amusingly, it is located next to Perfect Chicken, a fast food outlet of the very non-vegetarian kind that is anything but perfect), as excitingly different as the Global Cafe.

The first thing that struck me was the quality of the furniture. The heavy, wooden tables and chairs were beautiful. I wanted to stroke my seat (”Ma chair-ee”), but I restrained myself and concentrated on the menu instead.

The menu was ok, but I was more interested in the specials scribbled on a board on the far wall.

Hmm, what to have, what to have. The starter seemed scrumptious: Chinese spring onion pancakes with Japanese mushrooms. And so it proved. The pancake was far from crepe; crisp, rather than a gooey rag. The mushrooms, to my surprise were cold, but juicy and flavoursome. There was an unnecessary bit of salad on the side of the plate, like an afterthought (it seemed that there was mush room left on the plate for the cooks to fill), but on the whole the dish was good.

Then came the biggie, Mexican quinoa with chilli (if I remember correctly). A mean, bean dish, simple, but delicious. And it filled me up (shame - I wanted the Thai banana in coconut milk for dessert). My partner had the traditional crowd-pleaser, nachos with cheese and guacamole.

Of course, Iguana is not just about sturdy seating and vegetarian food. Head upstairs and you will find one of Reading’s best bars, the Iguana Bar, offering cocktails, Cannabeer, a cane bar and reggae. Irie!

So if you want to eat somewhere alternative in Reading, don’t ignore the Iguana!