Piwnica Restaurant

You'll walk past this unassuming spot on London Road a dozen times before realising there's a proper Polish cellar bar hiding beneath street level. The name literally means 'basement' in Polish, and that's exactly what you get – a dimly lit, brick-walled space that feels more like a Warsaw drinking den than anything you'd expect to find between the town centre and Cemetery Junction. The pierogi are the real deal – fat dumplings stuffed with everything from traditional potato and onion to more adventurous fillings, all made fresh. Pair them with a proper Polish lager or one of their rotating craft taps. The portions are generous, the prices won't hurt your wallet, and the atmosphere strikes that perfect balance between cosy local and something genuinely different for Reading.