REVIEW: BREAKFAST AT BILL'S

As far as chain restaurants go breakfasts can often be disappointing for anyone who doesn’t fancy a typical hangover fry-up or cheap and cheerful beans on toast but Bill’s offers a refreshing alternative. Entering the eatery in Reading town centre, located away from the high street by the picturesque St Mary’s church, I was struck at first by the homely and bright environment, which was tastefully decorated in a kitsch and homely, rustic, country style. The atmosphere was relaxed and the tables where almost half full of mostly middle aged couples. We seated ourselves and immediately pounced on the national newspapers which were available to read and more importantly took advantage of the free wifi.

We were soon seen to by a friendly waitress who took down our drink orders. Tea was ordered at 1.95 per person. I additionally asked for Bill’s super green smoothie – made up of apples, spinach and yoghurt which was thick and delicious, if a little pricey at £3.25 for a small and £4.30 for a large.  

The menu ranged in price from £3.95 for a bread basket of toasted sour dough, mini croissant and pain au chocolat with a selection of marmalade and jams to £7.95 for the full English style Bill’s breakfasts and the eggs royale.

Two of the group were not particularly hungry and asked to order simply poached eggs on toast, which was totally fine. I ordered the vegetarian Bill’s breakfast of poached free range eggs (all of Bill’s eggs are free range), piled atop two thick slices of rustic bread slathered with creamy guacamole and tangy tomato hummus alongside fresh slices tomatoes, deliciously chewy chunks of fried Portobello mushrooms, all flavoured with a few drops of sweet chilli and garnished with basil. This was a marvellous antidote to the usual quorn-subsidiary-laden veggie full English. The poached eggs were just how I like them, as runny as possible without being raw, and the addition of sweet chilli along with the guacamole and hummus made for a very flavoursome and hearty morning meal, which on top of it all felt healthy and nutritious.

The meaty Bill’s breakfast which was ordered by my other companion, was a smaller, tidier, much more artisan take on the full English, comprised of fried eggs, a Cumberland sausage, two rashers of streaky bacon and fresh sliced tomatoes and the Portobello mushroom piled on top toast. This option was a touch dry. Baked beans or fried potatoes can be added to both the Bill’s breakfasts for an extra pound and £1.25, although the last mouthfuls were already a bit of a struggle without any add ons.

It can feel like a defeat when one’s desire to find an independent bistro is thwarted by time constraints or overwhelming hunger, but all of my fellow dinners expressed complete shock when told that Bill’s is a chain. “I thought it was a complete one off,” said one companion who is, it has to be said, a major food snob who would rather go hungry than even take a cursory glance at a Whetherspoons menu. The breakfast menu is available until noon on weekdays and one o’clock on Saturdays and Sundays, making Bill’s perfect for a lazy, low risk and relatively affordable rise and dine.  

REVIEW: BREAKFAST AT BILL'S

As far as chain restaurants go breakfasts can often be disappointing for anyone who doesn’t fancy a typical hangover fry-up or cheap and cheerful beans on toast but Bill’s offers a refreshing alternative. Entering the eatery in Reading town centre, located away from the high street by the picturesque St Mary’s church, I was struck at first by the homely and bright environment, which was tastefully decorated in a kitsch and homely, rustic, country style. The atmosphere was relaxed and the tables where almost half full of mostly middle aged couples. We seated ourselves and immediately pounced on the national newspapers which were available to read and more importantly took advantage of the free wifi.

We were soon seen to by a friendly waitress who took down our drink orders. Tea was ordered at 1.95 per person. I additionally asked for Bill’s super green smoothie – made up of apples, spinach and yoghurt which was thick and delicious, if a little pricey at £3.25 for a small and £4.30 for a large.  

The menu ranged in price from £3.95 for a bread basket of toasted sour dough, mini croissant and pain au chocolat with a selection of marmalade and jams to £7.95 for the full English style Bill’s breakfasts and the eggs royale.

Two of the group were not particularly hungry and asked to order simply poached eggs on toast, which was totally fine. I ordered the vegetarian Bill’s breakfast of poached free range eggs (all of Bill’s eggs are free range), piled atop two thick slices of rustic bread slathered with creamy guacamole and tangy tomato hummus alongside fresh slices tomatoes, deliciously chewy chunks of fried Portobello mushrooms, all flavoured with a few drops of sweet chilli and garnished with basil. This was a marvellous antidote to the usual quorn-subsidiary-laden veggie full English. The poached eggs were just how I like them, as runny as possible without being raw, and the addition of sweet chilli along with the guacamole and hummus made for a very flavoursome and hearty morning meal, which on top of it all felt healthy and nutritious.

The meaty Bill’s breakfast which was ordered by my other companion, was a smaller, tidier, much more artisan take on the full English, comprised of fried eggs, a Cumberland sausage, two rashers of streaky bacon and fresh sliced tomatoes and the Portobello mushroom piled on top toast. This option was a touch dry. Baked beans or fried potatoes can be added to both the Bill’s breakfasts for an extra pound and £1.25, although the last mouthfuls were already a bit of a struggle without any add ons.

It can feel like a defeat when one’s desire to find an independent bistro is thwarted by time constraints or overwhelming hunger, but all of my fellow dinners expressed complete shock when told that Bill’s is a chain. “I thought it was a complete one off,” said one companion who is, it has to be said, a major food snob who would rather go hungry than even take a cursory glance at a Whetherspoons menu. The breakfast menu is available until noon on weekdays and one o’clock on Saturdays and Sundays, making Bill’s perfect for a lazy, low risk and relatively affordable rise and dine.