L'Ortolan

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{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2021}}

{{Infobox Restaurant

| image = L'Ortolan Restaurant - geograph.org.uk - 3745905.jpg

| image_width = 300px

| image_caption = L'Ortolan in 2013

| established = {{Start date and age|1986}}

| closed = {{End date and age|2024}}

| name = L'Ortolan

| city = Shinfield, Reading, Berkshire

| country = England

| rating =

| website = [https://www.lortolan.com/ www.lortolan.com]

}}

L'Ortolan was a gourmet restaurant in the village of Shinfield, {{convert|6|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} south of the centre of Reading, Berkshire, England. The restaurant closed its doors for the final time in August 2024.{{Cite web |last=McBride |first=Nicole |date=2024-07-24 |title=Established Reading restaurant closes its doors after 38 years |url=https://www.readingchronicle.co.uk/news/24473451.lortolan-restaurant-closes-doors-38-years-reading/ |access-date=2025-04-06 |website=Reading Chronicle |language=en}} It was located in the village's old vicarage building, which is a Grade-II listed building dating back to the 1840s.{{Cite news |last=Batt |first=Andrew |date=2023-12-01 |title=Plans submitted for top restaurant in Shinfield |url=https://rdg.today/plans-submitted-for-top-restaurant-in-shinfield/ |work=Reading Today}} Originally a three-story structure, the building endured substantial fire damage during World War II, resulting in the loss of its top floor.{{Cite web |last=admin |date=2021-02-18 |title=Memories of L'Ortolan Fine Dining Restaurant Reading |url=https://lortolan.com/restaurant-reading-berkshire-lortolan-memories/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230530151234/https://lortolan.com/restaurant-reading-berkshire-lortolan-memories/ |archive-date=2023-05-30 |access-date=2023-06-20 |website=L'Ortolan |language=en-GB}}

The building was first opened as a restaurant by chef Richard Sandford in 1978, when it was known as Milton Sandford, winning a Michelin star in 1982. It was then purchased by Nico Ladenis, who left the restaurant he renamed as Chez Nico, less than a year later in 1986. A few months later, John Burton-Race opened the restaurant, calling it L'Ortolan.{{Cite web |date=2016-12-08 |title=Restaurant Review: L'Ortolan, Shinfield (Dec 2016) {{!}} Fine Dining Guide |url=https://fine-dining-guide.com/restaurant-review-lortolan-shinfield-december-2016 |access-date=2025-04-06 |website=fine-dining-guide.com |language=en-US}}

Run by John Burton-Race for 13 years, the restaurant was purchased by Peter Newman in 2000, who appointed Alan Murchison as head chef.{{cite web |title=L'ortolan - Legal and Ownership |url=http://www.lortolan.com/Legal_and_Ownership |accessdate=28 February 2013 |publisher=L'ortolan |location=Shinfield, Reading, UK |archive-date=7 March 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130307151953/http://www.lortolan.com/Legal_and_Ownership |url-status=dead }}

Murchison left the restaurant in 2003, and Daniel Galmiche took over for a year. Alan Murchison returned in 2004 as executive head chef with the option to buy the restaurant.{{Cite web |date=2004-10-01 |title=Third time lucky for Murchison |url=https://www.thecaterer.com/news/restaurant/third-time-lucky-for-murchison |access-date=2023-03-29 |website=The Caterer |language=en}} Murchison left in 2014,{{cite news |last=Gerrard |first=Neil |date=4 September 2014 |title=Alan Murchison resigns from L'Ortolan |work=The Caterer |url=https://www.thecaterer.com/news/restaurant/alan-murchison-resigns-from-lortolan |access-date=16 January 2021}} and Peter Newman took over the running of the restaurant. James Greatorex took over as head chef in 2020,{{Cite web |last=Witts |first=Sophie |date=2020-03-03 |title=James Greatorex to take over as L'Ortolan head chef |url=https://www.restaurantonline.co.uk/Article/2020/03/03/James-Greatorex-to-take-over-as-L-Ortolan-head-chef/ |access-date=2025-04-06 |website=restaurantonline.co.uk |language=en}} serving till June 2024, when Jamie Pierce was appointed in the position.{{Cite web |title=Jamie Pearce appointed L'Ortolan head chef |url=https://www.thecaterer.com/news/jamie-pearce-appointed-lortolan-head-chef |access-date=2025-04-06 |website=The Caterer |language=En}} However, the restaurant announced its closure just a month after Pierce's appointment,{{Cite web |title=L’Ortolan announces closures ‘with a heavy heart’ |url=https://www.thecaterer.com/news/lortolan-announces-closures-with-a-heavy-heart |access-date=2025-04-06 |website=The Caterer |language=En}} and closed its doors for good in August 2024.

The restaurant had held a Michelin star from 2003 until 2022 when the award was rescinded,{{Cite web |last=Scott |first=Hilary |date=2014-09-25 |title=Shinfield's L'Ortolan restaurant retains its Michelin star |url=https://www.getreading.co.uk/lifestyle/food-drink/shinfields-lortolan-restaurant-retains-michelin-7830010 |access-date=2025-04-06 |website=Berkshire Live |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Nightingale |first=Laura |date=2022-02-16 |title=Three Berkshire restaurants lose Michelin stars |url=https://www.getreading.co.uk/whats-on/food-drink-news/michelin-guide-three-berkshire-restaurants-23113361 |access-date=2025-04-06 |website=Berkshire Live |language=en}} and had three AA rosettes in 2023.{{Cite web |date=2023-04-29 |title=L'Ortolan |url=https://www.ratedtrips.com/establishments/lortolan |access-date=2023-06-20 |website=AA RatedTrips.com |language=en}}