Carluccio's

You know that spot you duck into when you're meeting someone off the train and need somewhere reliable that won't embarrass you? That's Carluccio's for most of Reading. Tucked into Davidson House near the station, it's got that warm Italian thing down pat without feeling too try-hard about it. The menu does what you'd expect – decent carbonara, proper burrata, and those little Italian groceries dotted around that make you feel like you're shopping in someone's nonna's kitchen. It's not going to change your life, but when you want something better than chain pub food and fancier than Pret, this hits the spot. The staff actually seem to care, which counts for a lot when you're dealing with the usual Reading station chaos outside.