The Speckled Hen Cottage Pub & Alehouse
30 S 4th St, Reading, PA, 19602
The Speckled Hen Cottage Pub & Alehouse Menu
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Address :
30 S 4th St
Reading, PA, 19602 - Phone (610) 685-8511
- Website https://speckledhenpub.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Tue
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : No
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : No
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Intimate
Noise Level : Average
Good For Dancing : No
Alcohol : Full Bar
Happy Hour : Yes
Coat Check : No
Smoking : No
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
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Will K.
Who's down for some good ole' fashioned pub food? The Food Hounds were uber-excited to kick back and enjoy a GREAT little treasure in Reading, Pennsylvania called The Speckled Hen Cottage Pub and Ale House. The overall vibe in the 'Hen' is laid back; perfect spot to go for a drink or a bite to eat. If you are a beer drinker, they actually change up their taps on a weekly basis - so it's always a bevy of fresh new flavor for their clientele. Now, if you are drawn to the sound of music like Lush and I... you'll be ecstatic to know that they have open mic night on Thursday's! It happened to be Thursday when we stopped in; but since the entertainment normally starts later in the evening... we missed out on getting in on the fun. The ambiance of the place is dark and romantic, perfect for college kids seeking an inexpensive spot to hang out, a first date or an older couple looking to head out for a night cap. On to the food... Starters, we tried the Classic Scotch Egg - WHOAH... first time ever sampling the taste of this bad boy! This sucker is just so ridiculous that it works... a hardboiled egg, enclosed in a pocket of seasoned ground sausage and then FRIED!!! This egg is slammin' and served on a spicy grain mustard sauce. The Char Grilled Pub Burger sported a 6oz slab of ground sirloin doused with cheddar cheese (Mmmm CHEESE!!!) and bacon... Bacon... BACON! Add the delectable fries and POW... a great meal for the guy on the go looking for a quick bite. The Baked Braided Pretzel with Crab Cheddar Au Gratin was a VERY unique creation. A large homemade pretzel drowning in cheddar and huge chunks of tender crab... Mmm CHEESE! The WIN for me was quite simply the Cottage Sheppard's Pie. A hefty portion entombed in a small crock-pot of love. This is comfort food at its finest; seasoned ground sirloin topped off with buttery mashed potatoes... Off the hook! I could eat that all night long... it was like buttery heaven on my tastebuds! They have a lot to choose from at Speckled Hen, make sure you stop on in and try them on for size, you certainly won't be disappointed.
(3)Stephanie R.
We love it here. Not only is the food delicious, but it is so cozy! The only downside is that it is so cozy, it gets packed fast and when it's packed, you are not too far from the other diners! My husband adores the Scotch egg and garlic fries! I love the chicken wings and cheesy crab pretzel. We usually bring out of towners here to get a flavor of Reading and see the oldest standing building.
(4)Nils J.
Pretty surprisingly good beer selection. Neat, cozy atmosphere. Plus, they don't even allow smoking, which is somehow still allowed in this part of the country.
(4)Kimba Z.
The Speckled Hen is in the same building as Judy's on Cherry, one of Reading's nicest restaurants. The Hen is formerly Widow Finney's and in one of the original log cabin buildings in town. It was once a fancy formal restaurant that I never went to, because I was poor then and intimidated by it, but I later worked on a board with one of the women who restored and ran it and loved hearing her stories. She even brought in her files of the building's history, old menus, etc. to show me. Thanks, Arlene! The building has long been rumored to be haunted, and I have heard a few testimonies of weird events from friends who are normally very skeptical types. So I am always on the lookout for an odd occurrence or feeling, but this never happens to me, darn. The bathroom is down a lonnnng flight of stairs, so hold on to the railing! You can walk through a corridor (not near the bathroom) to get to the other side of the building, where Judy's is. I have never had a problem parking on the street, but there are free spaces in the adjacent garage too. I believe they share a kitchen with Judy's, because I have been able to get Hen food while in Judy's. The fireplace is a great place to warm up in the winter, and it is nice and dark in there, which I love. You can also sit in the garden area or in an outer room. In the spring and summer, the Hen is closed (update -- it won't be this year!), and the area is a bit rearranged to become Plein Air, a French country themed outdoor spot (alleyway) that is truly lovely and relaxing. They go for an Old English pubby atmosphere and succeed. Beers are usually great, wines good, and they recently added two vegetarian items, one of which is vegan. The bulghur wheat and broccolini dish can be made without the cheese, and the falafel sandwich is light and fresh and gives Aladdin a run for best falafel in town. I used to skip this place because of the lack of food diversity, so I am delighted to see their additions. The sweet images of hens in old ads on the walls are incredibly cute to me. There are even more in the bathroom. Bock bock!
(3)Katie R.
I hadn't been to the Speckled Hen in years, and quite frankly, the last time I ate there (5 years ago?), I was not impressed with the food. We decided to try it again last night, knowing how cozy it would feel on a cold winter's night. The atmosphere at the Speckled Hen is fantastic--it's a beautiful old building which is charming and quaint. We were seated right next to the fireplace in one of the smaller rooms. Perfect on a cold night. There was live music, which to me is a nice bonus. We had the yummy crab soft pretzel appetizer. I had the crab cake sliders (good) and I thought the fries were excellent: perfectly crisp and salty. My husband liked his burger. For dessert, my husband ordered the apple cake, which I don't usually like all that much but somehow I could not help myself from taking bites of his. The service was very friendly. The hostess was welcoming and our waitress was knowledgeable. She did seem pretty busy and sometimes it took her a while to check in with us. It appeared that they might have been busier than expected, and it wasn't a big deal. They also have an interesting selection of beers on tap--though not a huge one. I'm glad I gave this place another try, and I will definitely be headed back soon!
(4)Greg S.
With great regret - I must revise downward one of my few 5 star reviews down to 3 stars. I'll leave my original notes below and explain what happened. It started 2 summers ago when I arrived with my wife on a "date afternoon" only to find the Hen was closed in lieu of some other type of offering for the summer months - which was forgettable at best. The next few visits to the Hen were disappointments and by themselves would constitute 1-2 stars considering. Our most recent visit was 1-star worthy and leads to the removal of the Hen from my rotation, and I'll stop recommending it to out of towners and newcomers. We had a rough start as the hostess could not find our reservation, and proceeded to complain about her manager "always doing this to her" and continue to complain to other customers with no discretion throughout the evening. On the other hand - our waitress was very good, attentive and non-intrusive - like you'd want on a double date night. My bangers were fine, but the mashed came out bland and sticky with uninspired gravy - nothing like what I describe below. My wife's devonshire pork pie was almost embarrassing with very little, but very greasy food under the puff pastry and certainly very little pork. Our one companion's crab cake was comically small and generic. Her husband had a decent steak, which was the special for the evening. Cross this one off your must try list when visiting Reading/Berks. ---ORIGINAL REVIEW--- Speckled Hen = my favorite restaurant in Reading. I've been here at least 2 dozen times total, and never had a bad experience. Between my wife, friends, and myself - I probably tried about 75% of the items, although it's not the largest menu you'll see. The food is the real draw, but the atmosphere and service (with one small hiccup) can't be beat either. The location isn't too bad, and you'll find plenty of parking. It really looks and feels like an English pub, although they also have a garden room since the main dining area is so small. In fact, the building itself is a restored log house. They have outstanding beers on tap, with a small rotating list of European beers in addition to some locals and micros. My fav dinner by far would be the bangers and mashed, with the fish and chips and cottage pie right up there. Try the scotch egg and wedge salad as well. They also make darn good wings, and I really enjoy the buffalo shrimp from time to time. A few slight criticisms include the fact that they are NOT kid friendly, are only open Wed-Sat, and close to make way for a different restaurant during the warmer months. I can't really suggest anything to avoid on the menu, so I recommend this place 100%
(2)Lorie G.
Mmmmm, my husband and I tried this place because we had a DoubleDeal certificate. We were pleasantly surprised by the food and the quaint setting. Agree with another poster that you must try the Scottish Egg ($6). It was a delicious starter! The entree menu is very limited. But my husband had the Fish and Chips ($11) and they were the best he's ever had. The cod was perfectly flaky and moist and he said the french fries were amazing. I had the pot roast ($16) and was a bit disappointed. The meat and overall flavor were great, but the potatoes were undercooked and the dish was missing carrots. The dish was definitely overpriced for what I got. A nice touch though was the bread that came with our meal, baked in a little terra cotta flower pot - delicious! We felt good patronizing a locally owned, non-chain restaurant and will be back for the amazing Fish and Chips.
(4)M F.
Rustic, cozy, warm, and romantic.... All ways I would describe the Speckled Hen. What a gem in Reading! Who would have thought that the oldest building in Reading would be a cute little log house cottage turned into a restaurant?? This was the perfect Friday night relaxing dinner. Everyone was so friendly and welcoming. The atmosphere, service, and food were delicious. We started dinner with the Irish fries which were delicious... a little bit of bacon, cheese, and diced tomatoes made this appetizer marvelous! The Irish fries went great with our European beers (Leffe Blonde was very good). My main entrée was the country turkey salad with sweet and sour vinaigrette dressing, which was so refreshing. My boyfriend had the crab cake sliders and the macaroni and cheese. I managed to snitch a little bit of both and boy were they tasty. It was so hard to choose what to order; I would have loved to try the Scotch egg or the bangers and mashed but maybe next time. We were finishing up dinner and live music started to play- an extra bonus! Some tips to remember- Speckled Hen is only open from Wednesday to Saturday.... so sad. Also Speckled Hen closes in the summer because the outdoor garden restaurant (right next to the Speckled Hen) opens. Overall I would highly suggest this place to anyway! The food was very good, the atmosphere was cozy and comfy and the prices were reasonable as well.
(4)Julie S.
My mom and I had dinner here tonight and it was great! We started out with the Scottish egg, this is a must, you only get one egg so get your own! Then we had ham and white bean soup which was really good too! For our entree we both got fish and chips and it was so good, the fish was perfect and super moist! Service was great also; our waiter, Jerrell,was very nice! We will be coming back!
(5)S E.
My husband and I went here for our anniversary and loved it! We were looking for something different with more of an atmosphere than your typical chain restaurant and we absolutely got what we wanted. The Speckles Hen has lots of rustic charm and there is even an outside garden to eat in if you prefer. The atmosphere was romantic and cozy, the server was great, and the food was delicious...what more could we ask for. We had Irish fries and wings for starters both of which I would recommend trying. I had seafood mac and cheese that was to die for and the hubby had a burger. We we very happy and will be back.
(5)Marcos O.
Fantastic place to get some great pub food with your favorite beer. I stepped into this all wood building that is apparently the oldest structure in Reading and were blown away by its simple and homey atmosphere. When you walk into the dining room you are greeted with a full bar with seasonal beers on tap. In the center of the dining room is a fireplace for that lets you know that you can stay a while and warm yourself from the Pennsylvania chill. While I was there I had some Northeaster pub favorites the Scotch Eggs and some Old Bay Fries. The fries were fantastic with just the right amount of Old Bay sprinkled over the whole basket. Try them with the tartar sauce to balance them out. The Scotch Egg was ok but I think that I should have ordered the fish and chips which looked and smelled fantastic. All of which go great with a hand poured ale. Enjoy!
(4)Bonnie R.
I love this gem of a bar. So classic and rustic with really awesome people. I was there on vacation.... I just hope I get the chance to return!
(5)Karima K.
I had to give it a 5 stars because the flavor and presentation of the food was five stars. Very delicious food.. My boyfriend and I reserved sitting by the fireplace over the winter and it was sooo fun cozy warm and awesome! I truly did enjoyed. We had a great meal and it was very reasonably priced. lol their items are five stars!
(5)Jessica C.
The speckled hen is beyond adorable. Our waitress told us that the building is actually the oldest building in reading. The service was great. Our waitress was really nice and attentive. The complementary bread in a flower pot was both adorable and delicious! The food was also good. Well, mine at least. I ordered the fish and chips and it was crispy and not soggy and the batter was seasoned with all sorts of spices. Probably one of the best fish and chips I've ever had. My boyfriend ordered a burger -- medium well. It came out, and it was closer to rare. He was so hungry he was just going to eat it. But our very attentive waitress immediately pointed out that it was under cooked, so she took it out and got him a new one. Then the new burger came out, also undercooked. At this point, he was just so hungry he ate it anyways. The waitress noticed that it was cooked incorrectly again and was incredibly apologetic. The restaurant ended up comping the burger because of the whole ordeal. Despite the burger mishap, the overall experience was great. Everyone makes mistakes sometimes and the restaurant owned up to it. Definitely handled it well. We will definitely be back!
(4)Allison G.
It's a cozy little place. I was in for an open mic and it was a good atmosphere. It was great to hear and see people come out and share. It shows the care the place shows for anyone who wants to have their voice heard. It's a good place for a get together of friends.
(4)Cat P.
The beer selection here is fantastic. Kudos, Speckled Hen. I really wish I could rate them higher, but I have to admit that I was pretty concerned by their understanding of food allergies. I asked if one of their dishes that was marked "vegan" on their menu was safe for me, only to find out that it contained butter in the rice. Huh? I explained that I absolutely could not do any kind of dairy and they helped me pick out another dish that they said was safe, yet it came out with some sort of parmesan-crusted artichoke on top! I feel badly giving them so few stars because what I could eat from my dish was actually really good. I really hope that they take a step back and educate their servers so that they don't inadvertently send someone to the hospital.
(2)Benny L.
Weird parking and kind of in a shady part of town. Good food and drink menu. I really like the atmosphere in there. It's a cozy, intimate kind of place. I'd go there again.
(4)Samantha R.
Came here about a month ago with my boyfriend for dinner. We sat outside since it was nice out and the vibe in the outdoor seating section is pleasant (gardeny feel with flowers, brick walls, and umbrellas). The bread that they serve in that little plant pot before your dinner? YUM! I love places that offer something small to munch on before getting your meal. Since I am a vegetarian I ordered the Chilled Napoleon of Roasted Summer Vegetables. VERY GOOD. The portion size was a tad small, especially when considering the price (11$ for something the size of a hand clasp), but it was all worth it since the boy also approved! As for the meat eater of the bunch - he ordered the chicken pot pie. It looked and smelled yummy (also receiving good reviews from the carnivore) but again was a tad small and I think he may have walked away still hungry. I would definitely go back, but I wouldn't plan on going if I was starving and felt like I could "eat a horse" because well, the portion sizes simply are more like 1 hoof.
(4)Allison F.
What a cool little place! The food was delicious - we had the calamari, burger, and Devonshire pork pie (AMAZING)! The only negative was the service seemed a little overwhelmed - it was a few minutes before a hostess came over to seat us, but we didn't have a reservation and most people seemed to. But we sat at the bar and the service was excellent and the atmosphere is super cozy. The live music was relaxing. It was overall quieter and an older crowd than we expected, but it was relaxing and fun.
(4)Vickie F.
When your website says you're open until 12:00 am you may want to mention the kitchen closes at 9:00. We drove 20 minutes for dinner after reading the reviews on Yelp only to find this out! There was a sign reading Burger Night 5:00-10:00. We arrived at 9:30ish and told the kitchen was closed.
(1)Jim H.
Food was very good. It was kind of expensive which is understandable because it is a little more upscale for the center of Reading. Bartender was very friendly. Great atmosphere.
(4)Mike L.
I performed a comedy show here on a Sat night. Lots of fun. The setup is fantastic and the bartenders are friendly. I heard that this is the oldest building in Reading, which is pretty rad. Next time I'm in town, I'll stop by for the food :)
(4)Krystle B.
Had an amazing steak here
(5)Casey K.
The wife and i went here for dinner last night for the first time. The setting was romantic, the food was very good and the waitstaff was very friendly and attentive. The restaurant is very cozy, somewhat dimly lit (not in a bad way) pub/ale house that may remind you of a small Irish/English pub, completely made of dark wood. Its also the oldest building in Reading, made in 1784, which adds to its history. Complete bar, including lots of micro-type brews, which they rotate often, so there's always a different selection. For an appetizer, we had Phenomenal Fries with Parmesan and Garlic pesto dipping sauce, which was very good. Their fries are similar in size to McDonalds, but crispier and much better tasting. Add the Parmesan, garlic and pesto sauce, and you have a winner. Good, but not too filling. For entrees, we had the fish and chips, and the Shepard's pie. Both were very good. The fish was crispy on the outside, but tender and fresh on the inside. The pie was well portioned and well seasoned. With dinner, we also had a side of Macaroni and Cheese, with a crispy top and creamy inside, also very good. We didnt have room for dessert. Easily a great find, especially amongst downtown Reading, and we are eager to go back again.
(5)Ann C.
Visited for St. Patrick's day and loved the oyster pie! Listened to Irish Mist band and sat by the fire! Looking forward to going back!
(5)Joseph L.
Amazing food and drinks. Can't beat the atmosphere. Oldest building in reading. The food is great. Get the Irish nachos. The burger I had was excellent. Also the fries are amazing. Great beer selection to. Overall this is a one of a kind place. Reading is so fortunate to have a pub of this quality.
(5)T J.
I recently had dinner at the Speckled Hen in downtown Reading Pennsylvania. We had to pay to park in the parking garage across the street from the restaurant. I ordered their crab cake entree. The entree was listed on their menu in the following manner: "Crab cake with french fries and arugula salad". I substituted a vegetable for the fires. The entree came out with a very small crab cake, and small portion of vegetables, but no arugula salad. I asked the waitress why I didn't get the arugula salad that was listed on the menu with this entree, and she told me "it's really just a garnish". The restaurant should not list an entree "with a salad" on their menu if they're only going to put a garnish on the plate, and whatever the amount of arugula they usually serve with this entree should have put been put on my plate. I ended up ordering an ala carte salad. My food came out barely warm, (a pet peeve). I didn't send it back because I had already asked the waitress about the missing salad on my plate. The food portions were so small that I left hungry. It amazes me when a restaurant makes these type of mistakes. People go out to eat and are looking for decent food, at a decent price, served warm. Simple! I would not go to this restaurant again. Food was mediocre and barely warm when served. The menu is very limited and misleading, and the portions are extremely small for the price of the entrees.
(1)Elizabeth M.
I am only giving a 2 star rating because our waitress was so nice. Otherwise it would be one at best. Where do I begin? They seemed surprised that we had a reservation despite the fact that the owner herself confirmed with me that she had it, including that I was bringing my parents for their 50th Anniversary. My father had to order 3 times because they came back the first 2 and said they were out of what he ordered. Then the chicken pie tasted like detergent and bad chicken. To be fair it was taken off my bill. My crab cake was cold and my husband was brought the wrong wings which they acknowledged were wrong. The evening wrapped up with a bug on our table (I have a pic) and the people at the next table saying they will never come back because their experience was horrible. I'm sure none of this matters as Judy's seems to do a great business. Any place can have a bad night but wow!
(2)Stephanie R.
We love it here. Not only is the food delicious, but it is so cozy! The only downside is that it is so cozy, it gets packed fast and when it's packed, you are not too far from the other diners! My husband adores the Scotch egg and garlic fries! I love the chicken wings and cheesy crab pretzel. We usually bring out of towners here to get a flavor of Reading and see the oldest standing building.
(4)Cat P.
The beer selection here is fantastic. Kudos, Speckled Hen. I really wish I could rate them higher, but I have to admit that I was pretty concerned by their understanding of food allergies. I asked if one of their dishes that was marked "vegan" on their menu was safe for me, only to find out that it contained butter in the rice. Huh? I explained that I absolutely could not do any kind of dairy and they helped me pick out another dish that they said was safe, yet it came out with some sort of parmesan-crusted artichoke on top! I feel badly giving them so few stars because what I could eat from my dish was actually really good. I really hope that they take a step back and educate their servers so that they don't inadvertently send someone to the hospital.
(2)Benny L.
Weird parking and kind of in a shady part of town. Good food and drink menu. I really like the atmosphere in there. It's a cozy, intimate kind of place. I'd go there again.
(4)Ann C.
Visited for St. Patrick's day and loved the oyster pie! Listened to Irish Mist band and sat by the fire! Looking forward to going back!
(5)Vickie F.
When your website says you're open until 12:00 am you may want to mention the kitchen closes at 9:00. We drove 20 minutes for dinner after reading the reviews on Yelp only to find this out! There was a sign reading Burger Night 5:00-10:00. We arrived at 9:30ish and told the kitchen was closed.
(1)Jim H.
Food was very good. It was kind of expensive which is understandable because it is a little more upscale for the center of Reading. Bartender was very friendly. Great atmosphere.
(4)T J.
I recently had dinner at the Speckled Hen in downtown Reading Pennsylvania. We had to pay to park in the parking garage across the street from the restaurant. I ordered their crab cake entree. The entree was listed on their menu in the following manner: "Crab cake with french fries and arugula salad". I substituted a vegetable for the fires. The entree came out with a very small crab cake, and small portion of vegetables, but no arugula salad. I asked the waitress why I didn't get the arugula salad that was listed on the menu with this entree, and she told me "it's really just a garnish". The restaurant should not list an entree "with a salad" on their menu if they're only going to put a garnish on the plate, and whatever the amount of arugula they usually serve with this entree should have put been put on my plate. I ended up ordering an ala carte salad. My food came out barely warm, (a pet peeve). I didn't send it back because I had already asked the waitress about the missing salad on my plate. The food portions were so small that I left hungry. It amazes me when a restaurant makes these type of mistakes. People go out to eat and are looking for decent food, at a decent price, served warm. Simple! I would not go to this restaurant again. Food was mediocre and barely warm when served. The menu is very limited and misleading, and the portions are extremely small for the price of the entrees.
(1)Kimba Z.
The Speckled Hen is in the same building as Judy's on Cherry, one of Reading's nicest restaurants. The Hen is formerly Widow Finney's and in one of the original log cabin buildings in town. It was once a fancy formal restaurant that I never went to, because I was poor then and intimidated by it, but I later worked on a board with one of the women who restored and ran it and loved hearing her stories. She even brought in her files of the building's history, old menus, etc. to show me. Thanks, Arlene! The building has long been rumored to be haunted, and I have heard a few testimonies of weird events from friends who are normally very skeptical types. So I am always on the lookout for an odd occurrence or feeling, but this never happens to me, darn. The bathroom is down a lonnnng flight of stairs, so hold on to the railing! You can walk through a corridor (not near the bathroom) to get to the other side of the building, where Judy's is. I have never had a problem parking on the street, but there are free spaces in the adjacent garage too. I believe they share a kitchen with Judy's, because I have been able to get Hen food while in Judy's. The fireplace is a great place to warm up in the winter, and it is nice and dark in there, which I love. You can also sit in the garden area or in an outer room. In the spring and summer, the Hen is closed (update -- it won't be this year!), and the area is a bit rearranged to become Plein Air, a French country themed outdoor spot (alleyway) that is truly lovely and relaxing. They go for an Old English pubby atmosphere and succeed. Beers are usually great, wines good, and they recently added two vegetarian items, one of which is vegan. The bulghur wheat and broccolini dish can be made without the cheese, and the falafel sandwich is light and fresh and gives Aladdin a run for best falafel in town. I used to skip this place because of the lack of food diversity, so I am delighted to see their additions. The sweet images of hens in old ads on the walls are incredibly cute to me. There are even more in the bathroom. Bock bock!
(3)Katie R.
I hadn't been to the Speckled Hen in years, and quite frankly, the last time I ate there (5 years ago?), I was not impressed with the food. We decided to try it again last night, knowing how cozy it would feel on a cold winter's night. The atmosphere at the Speckled Hen is fantastic--it's a beautiful old building which is charming and quaint. We were seated right next to the fireplace in one of the smaller rooms. Perfect on a cold night. There was live music, which to me is a nice bonus. We had the yummy crab soft pretzel appetizer. I had the crab cake sliders (good) and I thought the fries were excellent: perfectly crisp and salty. My husband liked his burger. For dessert, my husband ordered the apple cake, which I don't usually like all that much but somehow I could not help myself from taking bites of his. The service was very friendly. The hostess was welcoming and our waitress was knowledgeable. She did seem pretty busy and sometimes it took her a while to check in with us. It appeared that they might have been busier than expected, and it wasn't a big deal. They also have an interesting selection of beers on tap--though not a huge one. I'm glad I gave this place another try, and I will definitely be headed back soon!
(4)Greg S.
With great regret - I must revise downward one of my few 5 star reviews down to 3 stars. I'll leave my original notes below and explain what happened. It started 2 summers ago when I arrived with my wife on a "date afternoon" only to find the Hen was closed in lieu of some other type of offering for the summer months - which was forgettable at best. The next few visits to the Hen were disappointments and by themselves would constitute 1-2 stars considering. Our most recent visit was 1-star worthy and leads to the removal of the Hen from my rotation, and I'll stop recommending it to out of towners and newcomers. We had a rough start as the hostess could not find our reservation, and proceeded to complain about her manager "always doing this to her" and continue to complain to other customers with no discretion throughout the evening. On the other hand - our waitress was very good, attentive and non-intrusive - like you'd want on a double date night. My bangers were fine, but the mashed came out bland and sticky with uninspired gravy - nothing like what I describe below. My wife's devonshire pork pie was almost embarrassing with very little, but very greasy food under the puff pastry and certainly very little pork. Our one companion's crab cake was comically small and generic. Her husband had a decent steak, which was the special for the evening. Cross this one off your must try list when visiting Reading/Berks. ---ORIGINAL REVIEW--- Speckled Hen = my favorite restaurant in Reading. I've been here at least 2 dozen times total, and never had a bad experience. Between my wife, friends, and myself - I probably tried about 75% of the items, although it's not the largest menu you'll see. The food is the real draw, but the atmosphere and service (with one small hiccup) can't be beat either. The location isn't too bad, and you'll find plenty of parking. It really looks and feels like an English pub, although they also have a garden room since the main dining area is so small. In fact, the building itself is a restored log house. They have outstanding beers on tap, with a small rotating list of European beers in addition to some locals and micros. My fav dinner by far would be the bangers and mashed, with the fish and chips and cottage pie right up there. Try the scotch egg and wedge salad as well. They also make darn good wings, and I really enjoy the buffalo shrimp from time to time. A few slight criticisms include the fact that they are NOT kid friendly, are only open Wed-Sat, and close to make way for a different restaurant during the warmer months. I can't really suggest anything to avoid on the menu, so I recommend this place 100%
(2)Lorie G.
Mmmmm, my husband and I tried this place because we had a DoubleDeal certificate. We were pleasantly surprised by the food and the quaint setting. Agree with another poster that you must try the Scottish Egg ($6). It was a delicious starter! The entree menu is very limited. But my husband had the Fish and Chips ($11) and they were the best he's ever had. The cod was perfectly flaky and moist and he said the french fries were amazing. I had the pot roast ($16) and was a bit disappointed. The meat and overall flavor were great, but the potatoes were undercooked and the dish was missing carrots. The dish was definitely overpriced for what I got. A nice touch though was the bread that came with our meal, baked in a little terra cotta flower pot - delicious! We felt good patronizing a locally owned, non-chain restaurant and will be back for the amazing Fish and Chips.
(4)Casey K.
The wife and i went here for dinner last night for the first time. The setting was romantic, the food was very good and the waitstaff was very friendly and attentive. The restaurant is very cozy, somewhat dimly lit (not in a bad way) pub/ale house that may remind you of a small Irish/English pub, completely made of dark wood. Its also the oldest building in Reading, made in 1784, which adds to its history. Complete bar, including lots of micro-type brews, which they rotate often, so there's always a different selection. For an appetizer, we had Phenomenal Fries with Parmesan and Garlic pesto dipping sauce, which was very good. Their fries are similar in size to McDonalds, but crispier and much better tasting. Add the Parmesan, garlic and pesto sauce, and you have a winner. Good, but not too filling. For entrees, we had the fish and chips, and the Shepard's pie. Both were very good. The fish was crispy on the outside, but tender and fresh on the inside. The pie was well portioned and well seasoned. With dinner, we also had a side of Macaroni and Cheese, with a crispy top and creamy inside, also very good. We didnt have room for dessert. Easily a great find, especially amongst downtown Reading, and we are eager to go back again.
(5)M F.
Rustic, cozy, warm, and romantic.... All ways I would describe the Speckled Hen. What a gem in Reading! Who would have thought that the oldest building in Reading would be a cute little log house cottage turned into a restaurant?? This was the perfect Friday night relaxing dinner. Everyone was so friendly and welcoming. The atmosphere, service, and food were delicious. We started dinner with the Irish fries which were delicious... a little bit of bacon, cheese, and diced tomatoes made this appetizer marvelous! The Irish fries went great with our European beers (Leffe Blonde was very good). My main entrée was the country turkey salad with sweet and sour vinaigrette dressing, which was so refreshing. My boyfriend had the crab cake sliders and the macaroni and cheese. I managed to snitch a little bit of both and boy were they tasty. It was so hard to choose what to order; I would have loved to try the Scotch egg or the bangers and mashed but maybe next time. We were finishing up dinner and live music started to play- an extra bonus! Some tips to remember- Speckled Hen is only open from Wednesday to Saturday.... so sad. Also Speckled Hen closes in the summer because the outdoor garden restaurant (right next to the Speckled Hen) opens. Overall I would highly suggest this place to anyway! The food was very good, the atmosphere was cozy and comfy and the prices were reasonable as well.
(4)Julie S.
My mom and I had dinner here tonight and it was great! We started out with the Scottish egg, this is a must, you only get one egg so get your own! Then we had ham and white bean soup which was really good too! For our entree we both got fish and chips and it was so good, the fish was perfect and super moist! Service was great also; our waiter, Jerrell,was very nice! We will be coming back!
(5)S E.
My husband and I went here for our anniversary and loved it! We were looking for something different with more of an atmosphere than your typical chain restaurant and we absolutely got what we wanted. The Speckles Hen has lots of rustic charm and there is even an outside garden to eat in if you prefer. The atmosphere was romantic and cozy, the server was great, and the food was delicious...what more could we ask for. We had Irish fries and wings for starters both of which I would recommend trying. I had seafood mac and cheese that was to die for and the hubby had a burger. We we very happy and will be back.
(5)Marcos O.
Fantastic place to get some great pub food with your favorite beer. I stepped into this all wood building that is apparently the oldest structure in Reading and were blown away by its simple and homey atmosphere. When you walk into the dining room you are greeted with a full bar with seasonal beers on tap. In the center of the dining room is a fireplace for that lets you know that you can stay a while and warm yourself from the Pennsylvania chill. While I was there I had some Northeaster pub favorites the Scotch Eggs and some Old Bay Fries. The fries were fantastic with just the right amount of Old Bay sprinkled over the whole basket. Try them with the tartar sauce to balance them out. The Scotch Egg was ok but I think that I should have ordered the fish and chips which looked and smelled fantastic. All of which go great with a hand poured ale. Enjoy!
(4)Nils J.
Pretty surprisingly good beer selection. Neat, cozy atmosphere. Plus, they don't even allow smoking, which is somehow still allowed in this part of the country.
(4)Karima K.
I had to give it a 5 stars because the flavor and presentation of the food was five stars. Very delicious food.. My boyfriend and I reserved sitting by the fireplace over the winter and it was sooo fun cozy warm and awesome! I truly did enjoyed. We had a great meal and it was very reasonably priced. lol their items are five stars!
(5)Bonnie R.
I love this gem of a bar. So classic and rustic with really awesome people. I was there on vacation.... I just hope I get the chance to return!
(5)Elizabeth M.
I am only giving a 2 star rating because our waitress was so nice. Otherwise it would be one at best. Where do I begin? They seemed surprised that we had a reservation despite the fact that the owner herself confirmed with me that she had it, including that I was bringing my parents for their 50th Anniversary. My father had to order 3 times because they came back the first 2 and said they were out of what he ordered. Then the chicken pie tasted like detergent and bad chicken. To be fair it was taken off my bill. My crab cake was cold and my husband was brought the wrong wings which they acknowledged were wrong. The evening wrapped up with a bug on our table (I have a pic) and the people at the next table saying they will never come back because their experience was horrible. I'm sure none of this matters as Judy's seems to do a great business. Any place can have a bad night but wow!
(2)Samantha R.
Came here about a month ago with my boyfriend for dinner. We sat outside since it was nice out and the vibe in the outdoor seating section is pleasant (gardeny feel with flowers, brick walls, and umbrellas). The bread that they serve in that little plant pot before your dinner? YUM! I love places that offer something small to munch on before getting your meal. Since I am a vegetarian I ordered the Chilled Napoleon of Roasted Summer Vegetables. VERY GOOD. The portion size was a tad small, especially when considering the price (11$ for something the size of a hand clasp), but it was all worth it since the boy also approved! As for the meat eater of the bunch - he ordered the chicken pot pie. It looked and smelled yummy (also receiving good reviews from the carnivore) but again was a tad small and I think he may have walked away still hungry. I would definitely go back, but I wouldn't plan on going if I was starving and felt like I could "eat a horse" because well, the portion sizes simply are more like 1 hoof.
(4)Mike L.
I performed a comedy show here on a Sat night. Lots of fun. The setup is fantastic and the bartenders are friendly. I heard that this is the oldest building in Reading, which is pretty rad. Next time I'm in town, I'll stop by for the food :)
(4)Krystle B.
Had an amazing steak here
(5)Will K.
Who's down for some good ole' fashioned pub food? The Food Hounds were uber-excited to kick back and enjoy a GREAT little treasure in Reading, Pennsylvania called The Speckled Hen Cottage Pub and Ale House. The overall vibe in the 'Hen' is laid back; perfect spot to go for a drink or a bite to eat. If you are a beer drinker, they actually change up their taps on a weekly basis - so it's always a bevy of fresh new flavor for their clientele. Now, if you are drawn to the sound of music like Lush and I... you'll be ecstatic to know that they have open mic night on Thursday's! It happened to be Thursday when we stopped in; but since the entertainment normally starts later in the evening... we missed out on getting in on the fun. The ambiance of the place is dark and romantic, perfect for college kids seeking an inexpensive spot to hang out, a first date or an older couple looking to head out for a night cap. On to the food... Starters, we tried the Classic Scotch Egg - WHOAH... first time ever sampling the taste of this bad boy! This sucker is just so ridiculous that it works... a hardboiled egg, enclosed in a pocket of seasoned ground sausage and then FRIED!!! This egg is slammin' and served on a spicy grain mustard sauce. The Char Grilled Pub Burger sported a 6oz slab of ground sirloin doused with cheddar cheese (Mmmm CHEESE!!!) and bacon... Bacon... BACON! Add the delectable fries and POW... a great meal for the guy on the go looking for a quick bite. The Baked Braided Pretzel with Crab Cheddar Au Gratin was a VERY unique creation. A large homemade pretzel drowning in cheddar and huge chunks of tender crab... Mmm CHEESE! The WIN for me was quite simply the Cottage Sheppard's Pie. A hefty portion entombed in a small crock-pot of love. This is comfort food at its finest; seasoned ground sirloin topped off with buttery mashed potatoes... Off the hook! I could eat that all night long... it was like buttery heaven on my tastebuds! They have a lot to choose from at Speckled Hen, make sure you stop on in and try them on for size, you certainly won't be disappointed.
(3)Jessica C.
The speckled hen is beyond adorable. Our waitress told us that the building is actually the oldest building in reading. The service was great. Our waitress was really nice and attentive. The complementary bread in a flower pot was both adorable and delicious! The food was also good. Well, mine at least. I ordered the fish and chips and it was crispy and not soggy and the batter was seasoned with all sorts of spices. Probably one of the best fish and chips I've ever had. My boyfriend ordered a burger -- medium well. It came out, and it was closer to rare. He was so hungry he was just going to eat it. But our very attentive waitress immediately pointed out that it was under cooked, so she took it out and got him a new one. Then the new burger came out, also undercooked. At this point, he was just so hungry he ate it anyways. The waitress noticed that it was cooked incorrectly again and was incredibly apologetic. The restaurant ended up comping the burger because of the whole ordeal. Despite the burger mishap, the overall experience was great. Everyone makes mistakes sometimes and the restaurant owned up to it. Definitely handled it well. We will definitely be back!
(4)Allison G.
It's a cozy little place. I was in for an open mic and it was a good atmosphere. It was great to hear and see people come out and share. It shows the care the place shows for anyone who wants to have their voice heard. It's a good place for a get together of friends.
(4)Joseph L.
Amazing food and drinks. Can't beat the atmosphere. Oldest building in reading. The food is great. Get the Irish nachos. The burger I had was excellent. Also the fries are amazing. Great beer selection to. Overall this is a one of a kind place. Reading is so fortunate to have a pub of this quality.
(5)Allison F.
What a cool little place! The food was delicious - we had the calamari, burger, and Devonshire pork pie (AMAZING)! The only negative was the service seemed a little overwhelmed - it was a few minutes before a hostess came over to seat us, but we didn't have a reservation and most people seemed to. But we sat at the bar and the service was excellent and the atmosphere is super cozy. The live music was relaxing. It was overall quieter and an older crowd than we expected, but it was relaxing and fun.
(4)