Mya Lacarte

So happy to find this place in out of the way Caversham. We happened upon it when visiting another restaurant in Caversham and was amazed to find out it had been there for a year.

The restaurant has a really Brighton-esque feel to it, with a smart but laid back vibe. The decor is in muted shades of green with dark wood tables. One of the owners (Matthew. The name Mya is a mix of his name and Yasmin, his sister the chef) is an experienced hand from London Street Brasserie in the centre of Reading (and it was nice to be recognised when we arrived - a nice touch).

Now, on to the food. The food is all British, with as much sourced locally as possible. The menu changes seasonally (the night we were there the broccoli was off and was replaced by new season asparagus) and they promise that 80% of waste is recycled. So all good.
Finally the food is delicious. I had the asparagus starter, with hollandaise sauce and boiled egg, then I the fillet steak with a peppery potato rosti, braised shallots with a delicious sticky sweet gravy. And finally a light-as-a-feather treacle tart with a hint of lemon, vanilla ice cream and cream. It was all beautifully done. The only complaint I could make is that my steak was medium rare rather than rare, but it was such a delicious cut that it was hard to care.

Service is excellent - friendly and informal with just the right amount of presence that is so hard to get right.

I shall be returning later this month for the British Tasting Night. I can't wait.