Picnic Foods in Reading

A real GEM in the centre of Reading. Picnic never fails to delight, truly delicious food , life changing cakes ( we ate salad box #1 with feta, lentils, salad leaves and broccoli with a bright kick of chimmichuri and WONDEROUS cinnamon cake thank you for asking) and the best coffee in Reading, bar none. Comfortable, relaxed and friendly atmosphere with excellent staff who can’t help but make you smile. Go once, go often. You won’t regret it,

Great coffee and breakfast - the porridge is really good and good selection of pastries. Really friendly staff and decent value for money

I’ve been frequenting Picnic for a while now. I think it’s about 2 years. I visit 3-4 times a week and always order the same boring earl grey tea. Staff are always friendly and amazing. Owner is great. Food looks brilliant and the cakes are mind blowing. All made in house and baked fresh daily. It’s these little gems that make reading great! Cheers

We had sausage rolls!! You should try the one with chilli!! Loved it! We also had carrot cake and was really nice! All the cakes etc are homemade!! And they offer great salads! Definitely going back there!

Extremely expensive…£3.20 for a cup of tea (not a pot, literally a cup), and £3 for a cup of peppermint tea. Absolute rip off. Service not great, kind of a conveyor belt system with no sense of service with a smile. Certainly wouldn’t go here again.

Love this place, fabulous cakes and sausage roll, go to place for snack. Always welcoming, better than other places

Only been in Reading couple years and just couldn’t find a decent coffee shop that knew how to make a proper black Americano. All the other coffee shops were serving up terrible Starbucks tasting weak black coffee, should be a law against it 😱. The coffee here is the best in Reading by miles. Great cakes etc. Nice people working there.

Always have delicious salads and cakes. It’s a go to treat if the budget allows it. Always staffed by young caucasian women or the owner, would like to see more diversity amongst it’s staffing, mind. Can we please get an update of opening times?

Being new to the area, I googled best breakfast venue and this place came up. Sadly, they don't actually have a breakfast menu! It's either cake, cake or more cake / Danish. The coffee was okay, Danish was okay. Place was cramped and noisy, not relaxing. It's probably good for takeaway, but don't bother if you actually want breakfast or to relax or need the loo.

Great homemade cakes, Carrot cake and Cinnabon were delicious. Lovely hot chocolate, coffee and specialist teas. Friendly staff

My friend and I met here for lunch and had the most delicious vegetarian salads of smoked aubergine with ricotta and couscous with preserved lemons on a bed of lettuce. One of the most delicious salads I have ever had. Followed by yummy pistachio tiffin and apple cake. What a great little independent cafe. Looking forward to going back for more.

Some of the best food I've ever eaten. Lovely salads, lovely roasted sandwiches and a great selection of other snacks and drinks as well. Nice atmosphere although I usually do takeaway which is also convenient! Cutlery occasionally breaks but rarely and not a huge problem. Very environmentally conscious as well, all organic so all round very good, highly recommend. :)

Always get my decaff from here as it is excellent. Yesterday had 2 salad boxes and 2 cakes (lemon polenta and blueberry and coconut - huge portions). Top notch. Highly recommend this place.

Yummy food, nice atmosphere, cute outside seating. And great service! Good to support local independent businesses too.

A good range of good and drinks made by this locally owned business. Often busy with seats inside and outside. Well worth a visit.

Wonderful visit to Picnic today. Had the most wonderful halloumi and butternut squash salad. It was so busy but the staff were friendly and attentive. Will definitely return.

Outstanding coffee and service, the chilli and apricot sausage roll was one of the best I have ever had ... and I've had a few.

Good food, good people, good place! Fresh food!!!!! Keep on the good work!! I know where to go next time I'm in Reading!!!

You won't find a better breakfast, brunch or lunch café in the town centre with a people watching extravaganza. Jon has created a Reading institution. Well known for its weekly rotating choice between two salad boxes, with classics and new arrangements, always tasty and well...

Walking around Reading I came across this little cafe which had a great little warm position in the sun , away from the hustle and bustle of the main streets and down a quirky little lane . It reminded me of Italy with its little...

I’ve been visiting Picnic regularly for over a decade now. I used to stop by for a coffee when cycling to work. When Covid struck, Picnic was one of the few businesses who were nimble enough to open quickly just to serve takeaways. It was...

Perfect coffee every time. The carrot cake is also to die for! Often go here for a takeaway coffee when walking through town :)

Made a call to enquire about booking a table, and the man on the other end of the phone was extremely obnoxious before putting the phone down on me. Very, very strange and can only assume I caught him on a bad day.

Always really lovely freshly prepared food. Cakes are delish and coffee good too. Always enjoy my lunch from here.

Best coffee around. We go specifically out of our way to get coffee here as a treat on our weekend walk. Over Christmas treated ourselves to some of the yummy bakes as well - the mince crunch slice was the best thing I ate this...

Good wholesome freshly prepared food and drink. Good choices of food and drink. The weather was not great, nothing new there then, so it was busy inside. Worth any wait. Well done and thanks.

Coffee was one of the better coffees I've had in Reading. Lovely place to stop for a quick bite to eat as it's well valued. However, they are lacking floor space. Even though it didn't have a cramped feel about it. If they had more...

Excellent coffee and service. Very friendly staff.great cake. Very well managed. Nice atmosphere. Super location. Small but perfectly formed.

I had an hour to kill first thing in the morning and stumbled across Picnic. I had the most wonderful (home) baked porridge with dates, berries and almonds -fresh out of the oven - delicious! The service was brilliant and friendly, I will definitely visit...

After reading the reviews, i decided I would visit. The coffee and cake were superb. Cafe cozy and the staff friendly. A must visit.

It is that kind of place that oozes of authenticity, ethically sourced products and efficiency. I deliberately go during the busy lunch hour to just marvel efficiency at its best. Despite queues snaking outside quality is not compromised. It’s that kind of place where you...

I come here to get lunch 2 or 3 times a week, amazing variety of salad boxes and delicious cake. Fresh tasty ingredients and lots of choice, highly recommend!

So we went in to have coffee and dessert. The place offers a great variety of desserts that are gluten free and are vegan friendly. We personally tried the lemon cake and the apple pie, both were great. The coffee was also good. It’s a...

Great for Lunch. Only limited options but that means they are always done extremely well and they will adapt a little to please if you ask.

Was looking for some breakfast early morning in Reading centre. Didn’t want the bland national coffee chains and was lucky enough to stumble upon Picnic Foods. Very nice. Will be back next time in the area.

Popped in for a coffee and lemon drizzle polenta cake (of course). Still good particularly as there are five other coffee / bars within 50m! Not able to provide lacto free milk but everything else OK.

I come here often for their salad boxes, they always have a meat or veggie option. Always delicious, generously proportioned and delicious... nowhere in Reading like it!

This is a small cafe and the space inside is limited. The food is good - very tasty and a good sized portion. It may not be the cheapest lunch, but it is worth the extra.

I eat here everyday and always different and delicious! 100 % recommended Also, cake options are incredible 🤩

Food was really tasty and fresh. Ordered a. Goat cheese and walnut sandwich and a coffee. Quality or ingredients was good. Even coffee was of excellent quality. Far better than any other coffee shops in and around reading. Next time want to try salad boxes, looks interesting in the pictures. Well done guys keep up the good work! See you guys soon

With all the chains in Reading its nice to have an independent. Lunch choices include two salad boxes (one vegetarian one meat), a hot stew - vegetarian, a soup and a range of sandwiches. Overall i'd describe the cafe as vegetarian friendly rather than totally vegetarian.There are also plenty of home made cakes including vegan and gluten free and choice of teas (they are much better at tea than the horrible mess you get in chain coffee shops). Its quite busy at lunch time and the tables are close together but there isn't too much background noise so you can easily chat to the person you are meeting.Only inconvenience is the lack of a toilet - not a problem if you work in an office nearby but if you are a visitor to the town more of an issue. Ended up having to go into Starbucks next door, buy some biscuits I didn;t want to get the electronic code to be able to use their toilets.

I turned up towards the end of lunch time to find the only remaining sandwich, brie and cranberry I think. It was on (what looked like) homemade bread with a nice salad and creamy brie. I also got a latté which was really smooth and tastey, and a small almond cake/bun. All of this was only £5-6 which I was very happy with. Friendly staff and great looking interior (I wish I'd stayed in). I'm going back for lunch next time I'm here.

Have been here a few times and really like it. Great coffee and a good selection of homemade cakes and light lunches. Also very good service. Very small inside and no toilet but other than that it’s great

Great coffee,the staff is very friendly and happy.No toilets,tho...that is why I am not staying there more than 30minutes.

Great food and always a good vibe when the youngsters are on duty.... Nice to be helped by people who like and appreciate having work. The food is fresh and diverse. They keep it simple and cost effective by having limited 'on the day' choices on the chalkboard.... Don't ask for a menu..... And the selection of cakes on display is wicked.

I fancy a soup and a roll, so I go hunting and stumble across this little gem. Outside there are tables, an awning, smart paintwork, and lots of labels in the door, which for some reason in my mind say 'quality'. Inside it's busy. Really busy, with about ten small tables almost all occupied by a very middle class clientele (you can tell by the clothes, the tasteful handbags, modulated tones and copies of the Daily Telegraph). The space is small, which makes it seem cosy, and the decor is colourful and modern, with wood flooring and lots of trendy retro framed posters on the wall. I'm greeted by an inviting display of homemade cakes and various artisan cheeses and by several young, pretty, energetic and happy-looking female staff. They're all so nice, it makes me want to be nice too. I feel a happier, nicer person already and I haven't even sat down yet."What would you like?" By happy coincidence, there's soup, written on a small board behind the little counter. So I order that. "Anything else?" I want to please her, so I ask for a mug of green tea, even though I don't really need it. "OK, I'll bring it right over."A pleasant-enough bowl of tomato and basil soup with a large slice of artisan-type bread later I'm still hungry, still enjoying the atmosphere, with most of my newspaper still unread. I need to give my useless green tea a purpose in life, so I go up to the counter again and order a slice of lemon and polenta cake (a mere £3.50!).It's with me quickly and, I'm pleased to say, very nice – moist and aromatic – and I feel it provides sufficient reason for my tea to exist. The soup was fine, but the cake is in a different league. I devour the cake, then before I realise, I've nothing left to consume and no excuse for lingering, especially as all the tables are now occupied and more people are popping their heads in. It's been all too brief and I want to stay longer in the company of these nice, happy people. I could go up and order a coffee and a scone or something, but that would just be greedy. And a bit pathetic.

A great place just by Market Place and 2 minutes walk from the Oracle. Hidden away and once inside it is an independent's coffee shop/restaurant drew. Friendly, local And great food and choice of drinks in a relaxed atmosphere.

This is a very lovely place to go for a coffee/snack and even lunch. I believe this is a local store run by a group of very lovely people, always smiling and polite and always there to serve you. The coffee is good, pretty much the same as any other coffee place, but what i like the best is their lunch menu. They have a couple of standard dishes but they also have specials every week i believe and i have to admit, it is damn tasty :) :) :).Nice cosy atmosphere, with about 7-8 tables max which feels a bit cramped when full but its worth visiting. Especially in the summer or when the weather is nice, you can sit outside and it is very very nice.Recommend it A+++

This is one of the only places you can get decent healthy food in Reading, would recommend the salads, they’re kind of like nourish bowls!

Since Tutti Frutti is no more this has become our default place for a coffee in Reading. Overall pretty good, coffee is good and the lemon polenta cake is excellent. Decor is a bit gloomy and not keen on food products being out on counter under where customers hand over money and ferret about in their bags and pockets. Still overall grateful for this slightly quirky place when all around are franchise outlets of big national brands.

Very nice place to eat: clean, fast service and great food quality for the price. I choose one of the meal and 2 minute after was ready. Next time I'll try cake and coffee (cakes look amazing).

Excellent little place and has the added pleasure of not being one of the humdrum chains that have not changed in years. Great cake selection and service.

Picnic do the best bacon sandwiches in Reading, not just beautiful vegetarian food. They cater for most tastes but major on flavour. Their coffee is also special. Well worth a visit if you are going shopping in Reading

I was working Reading for the second weekend in a row and my hubby joins me for a night out after work. We'd gone for a shopping slurge at Decathlon and were walking back to the hotel and fancied a coffee on the way. Hubby would prefer an independent he said so we tried this place.Lovely place, people and cake - great little outside space too. Loved it - will be back when I'm next working in town!

This place has been here for a while now, it 8s still the greatest. Delicious cakes, strong coffee and incredible staff make this a wonderful trip any time of any day.

Lovely people, lovely food, (lunch boxes are a real treat) the best coffee in town - I don't bother with the chain coffee shops..

I have lived and worked in Reading for many yrs, but due to my quick in and out bus trips seemed to have missed this little gem but as I now work near here I visit regularly. To say this cafe is a great find is an understatement, I love the fact that in a town where is it’s extremly difficult to find British home cooked food, here is a place that does just that. Be it caked, porridge salad or sandwiches all is catered for here, as well as servers dietary requirements. Good old fashioned British/English food.. wholesome ingredients and very reasonable to boot. If I had to write one criticising point it would be I have noticed that where people tend to stand and pay, there are uncovered pastry’s, cakes and other food items which I feel, based on people being so close breathing on that area, should be covered, as are all other items. Maybe the ones placed higher up on the glass cupboard could be “ display “ and the others lower by the til cover.. however I would still always visit my now discovered Jewel of Reading.

I regularly visit Picnic to get one of their boxed salads that change weekly. They do a really tempting range of cakes to go perfectly with their excellent coffee too. It’s a little tight to sit inside so worth arriving near 12 for lunch. Expect to pay about £10 for a salad, coffee and cake but you’ll leave full and very happy. Friendly staff too. Gluten free and vegetarian options available.

I moved to Reading last year and having heard reviews of this place, I decided to go. I can't help myself now at least once a week popping in and getting a salad box, on the rare occassion a scrumptious cake and a delicious latte. Fresh, delicious and very generous portion sizes. I have eaten inside the cafe as well as taking away my food, and the service has always been lovely and friendly. One of m favourite places in Reading :) Fantastic vegan and vegetarian options.

Been with my friends a few times , nice food , nice deserts . The staff is very helpful and nice . It's my fav place fost quick lunch . Def worth to visit

Tend to just drop in for a coffee. Service and coffee good to very good. Service friendly. Good array of snacks and pastries though have not tried any.

My husband and I often visit Picnic when we are in town. The staff are so welcoming and I cannot fault their customer service. Prices are extremely reasonable, the coffee is excellent too, they offer discounts to those to bring a reusable cup rather than paper cups if you’re having takeaway which is an excellent initiative. Today we had sausages rolls and a slice of Cinnabon, the Cinnabon was THE BEST cake I’ve probably ever had!! I cannot recommend this cafe highly enough!!

I wondered why I am always drawn back to this little cafe. Is it the bijou and cosy setting of the place? Or the friendliness of the owner and his team who talk to you through their offerings? Maybe it’s the knowledge that they locally source their ingredients and support small independent artisan drink makers? Forgot the artwork on the wall? I think it’s all of the above and I think for many customers as well, they come back for the same reasons. The place is always packed and this adds to the vibe. My favourite in summer is the salmon and avocado sandwich on sourdough bread. They do brilliant salads and sandwiches as well. Today I saw a group of women knitting and on another table a group of friends catching up. There was a guy tucked in one corner busy on his laptop. Someone looking for an empty table but unfortunately it was full, that’s the only drawback but I think if it was bigger then it would lose its identity and feel. There are outdoor tables available and ideal on a sunny day especially in summer. To conclude this is a five star cafe passionately managed by the owner and his team.

Visited for lunch and had a fantastic bacon and garlic roasted tomato sandwich with mayo. The bread was gorgeous thick bread, the bacon cooked to perfection and just the right amount of garlic tomatoes to really enhance the flavours. Couldn't fault the food.The cafe was very busy and a tight squeeze but that's just the style of the small cafe so no problems here. The only complaint I have is that there were not toilet facilities. Yes it's a small place but there are a good number of tables and chairs - all filled - plus more tables and seats outside. I find it bizarre that they aren't obliged to provide toilet facilities on the premises. We were advised there were toilets next door (next door is Starbucks and while they have a toilet, u need to be a paying customer and get a fob from the staff to use it) or go to M&S further up the street. While this wasn't a huge problem for us, not great if you need to use the bathroom during your visit and have to walk up the street. And what about people with a disability.I think they really need to address this issue, but apart from that - great sandwiches and will be back to try out the cakes (making sure to plan bathroom trips accordingly!!!)

Super excited about this cute and cozy coffee/ restaurant place! They do some really tasty vegan foods like the samosa and avocado toast! I also tried the soya cappuccino (I usually regret it after my first sip) but it was so well made and satisfying! Definitely one of the bests in Reading

After my previous glowing review and longstanding use of this venue, I recently had a really disappointing experience which has changed my view. My daughter has a nut allergy and so we asked the server on the front counter at Picnic if the cake she wanted (apple crumble cake) contained any. She checked with someone back-of-house and we were told that product had no nuts and was safe for her to eat. The second my daughter took a mouthful she could taste almonds. Fortunately, almond is not one of the nuts she's allergic to, but we steer clear of all nuts to be on the safe side. Cross-contamination is more likely in a product that contains some form of nut.On highlighting the situation, the owner told us we should have asked when we ordered. We told him we had asked, at which point he said that we should have asked him. So the onus was on us to ask the right person? There was no apology and we were made to feel this was our fault.He offered us a different product, but it transpired that all but one of the cake products contained almond oil. We were asked if that was OK as it was just oil rather than nuts.Almond allergens are generally found in almond oil and, if an allergy exists, a reaction could be pretty serious.This is such a shame and I feel the response we had was rather arrogant. I wouldn't normally boycott a venue for one bad experience, but this was so poor, sadly I won't be going back.

Yes indeed..Whilst in Reading do pop into this delightful Cafe..Proof if it was ever needed that TripAdvisor works..Stood in Reading town centre..Typed in best Cafes in Reading and hey Presto!!..Our 1st visit..More to come I hope..

Stopped by for a quick business lunch, chosen by the other party.What a delight, a diamond found in the rough for sure. I had the salad box 2, which was thick cut local gammon with couscous, glazed plum sauce and a few other salady bits. I washed it down with a lovely chai latte and finished off with a piece of their homemade cinnamon cake. Will definitely use this as one of my meeting venues for business lunches.

Most lovely and quaint place, staff are kind and helpful and the coffee and food is delicious. Highly recommend!

Had the home made sandwiches, and sausage roll. Lovely little place friendly staff and tasty food, much better than chains that surround it.

Good for quick and healthy lunch, there is always a choice of two salad bowls. Also good for coffee and homemade cakes.

I am a regular visitor to Picnic, which is a small coffee shop in the city centre. I have tried different kind of cakes (e.g. polenta-lemon, plums-marzipan, yogurt-red berries) and a soup (carrot-sweet potatoes) and I must say they are all delicious.The shop itself is pretty small but cozy - and I like the coloured and wooden pieces of forniture and the pictures on the walls too!Lovely and kind staff too.Can't wait to visit it again!

It was a brave move to set up a tiny independent café next to Starbucks and opposite Costa, but this one is so good that it more than holds its own. If anything, it highlights how much better a local business can be when it's well managed. The interior is bohemian and eclectic, a little cramped but I quite like that. It makes for a friendly atmosphere.On my last visit, I had plum and almond cake warm from the oven which is probably one of the best cakes I have ever eaten. The macaroons are always wonderful, the coffee is very good and the salad boxes and soups are excellent too. Well worth a visit and sometimes quieter at weekends as they seem to attract a lot of regular lunchtime queues in the week, presumably from people working in town. The only downside is the lack of space makes it impossible to find a table at peak times and no toilet facilities.

Great little cafe. We had a picnic box which was great. Freshly made. Reasonably priced and enough seats. Nice to go for a change from the chains. Great for a tea or coffee too👍

Always nice to be able to have food at a place which is not a chain. The owner is also the one doing all the food so you can be sure that everything is tasty, fresh and creative. Taste the sandwiches or the salads and then indulge in one of the famous cakes. We should have more entrepreneurs of the like in Reading rather than all those chains with industrial pre cooked food.:)

Excellent coffee and great range of cakes but breakfast was limited to toast (£2.99 and 50p for Marmite). However it was lovely hand crafted bread and huge slices so worth it.Flat white was nice (£2.50) as was the Americano at circa £2.20. Good customer service and obviously loyal regulars make this a little town centre gem.

We'd just broken the back of the 'back to school' shopping and decided that we needed a well earned drink and slice of cake. We were about to go into a 'chain' coffee shop when I noticed this place. We went in without any idea of what to expect. We decided to give it a try, swayed by the sight of the counter which was crammed full with cakes! It is quite small inside and there were only 2 spare tables. I decided to have an Americano and the apple crumble cake and my sister had a chai latte and the cherry loaf cake. My daughter had a mixed fruit pot with apple juice. All were delicious. The staff were attentive and cleared items off our table when they noticed it was finished with. The staff were working non stop and there was a constant flow of bagged sandwiches going out the door and a regular flow of customers in and out. It was really buzzing. I'd definitely pop in there again if I'm shopping in Reading again.

Lovley place to eat lunch, lovley soups good price lovley staff, amazing cakes. Definitely worth the money. Clean, quite busy but services is fast.

This is such a cute place. The staff are always smiley and friendly and the food is very nice. Pleased with their vegetarian options as well. The only thing is that it's quite small so there's not always seating available! But if you're looking for a nice lunch spot, certainly pop in!

The best coffee place in town. Surely the best selection of cakes as well, all of them homemade and delicious. Really good friendly service as well. This adorable family run coffee shop is a pure gem in town !

The salad boxes here are great! They make eating healthy fun and tasty! They also give a good portion in their salad boxed which is more than can be said for other similar cafes. I'm a big fan of their cakes too - all made there and very delicious! I love the fact that they update Twitter weekly to share their boxes for the week as well. My colleagues and I always check it on a Monday morning haha

A real treasure amongst Reading's many chain coffee shops. Delicious, homemade food - you must try the cakes! - and you don't feel as if you will be kicked out as soon as you put your fork down! It can feel a little cramped when the cafe is busy, but the food and excellent service more than make up for this.

Didn't fancy going anywhere I've been before and In Reading it's clustered with great coffee shops. I walked in on a mid Wednesday morning to be greeted by two lovely smiles and a nearly full coffee shop.I went to the counter and order my coffee and cake they asked me to take a seat and with a wisp it was straight over. Beautiful coffee and a lovely cake. The other food looked great too. Great vibe

Amazing salads and delicious cakes. This is such a gem and it's always my first choice for lunch in town. There is a nice place to sit outside - inside is a bit on the diddy side, but the food is worth the squeeze.

Every day picnic offers a different salad box special, always lots of food! The cake selection is wonderful and guaranteed to make your mouth water. Not the best coffee in town but definitely worth a visit. Lots of space to sit outside when the weather is nice!

simple bright wholesome and nutrutious cafe, summer it's a magnet,especially with outdoor tables but inside the room, tables are comapct, and a bit of a scramble despite the lovely food selections on offer

Best Coffee in town by far, and very nice atmosphere and friendly service from the ladies food was great and quick service, would highly recommend, The Espresso was gorgeous and very nice Coffee

So glad I found this gem in Reading! Although it is a small cafe they have a surprisingly large variety of sweet and savoury food which goes above and beyond your average cafe (hot/cold/healthy/stodgy etc). You can get sugarfree, dairyfree, gluten free across the board and service is always with a smile! Only drawback is no bathroom on site :(

The centre of Reading is packed with chain coffee shops but this independent shop stands out for quality. I have stopped here for breakfast several times and always been impressed by the quality of the coffee, the pastries and the pleasant atmosphere and warm welcome. If you are looking for somewhere to have coffee in the centre of Reading I would heartily recommend this place over any of the competition.

Small, cosy café near all the shops. Excellent coffee and hot chocolate. Huge selection of cakes. We went back for lunch and had yummy soup. Good portions and very good value. Friendly helpful staff. We would definitely go back. So much better than the chain coffee shops near by. There are no toilet facilities, but there are stores nearby with facilities.

We discovered this independent cafe and now have breakfast here every time we are in Reading - which is quite often. The pastries and cakes are divine - sandwiches etc fresh and tasty. The inside has small tables and chairs - one of which the owner could remove to make a bit of extra space but this is just nit picking. This is an excellent place to relax and eat something gorgeous.

Having decided to pop in here for coffee & cake after seeing the reviews on TripAdvisor, I can confirm the place does not disappoint! A warm welcome on our arrival before delving into the vast array of nibbles they had on offer. A colourful interior & friendly staff made it all the more better. Situated near Starbucks & Costa Coffee, you would be silly to go into one of those chains when you can discover the delight of this independent ethical cafe

Amazing veggie sandwiches, and even better salads. Love visiting this place. The staff is always friendly and very helpful. It can get busy at times so you might feel cramped as the tables are very small. But all the goodness this place has to offer makes up for all of it :)

Once found, you won't go anywhere else. Definitely the best cappuccino in town. Definitely the best cakes in town. Definitely the best couscous salad in town. Did I say it's the best place in town?

Great service, warm welcome, great food and lovely coffee. Literally couldn't ask for more. Affordable, tasty food and a lovely environment. It's cosy as there are only about 30 seats, and consistently busy as it's so good. One of the best lunch spots in town, in my opinion

Delicious home-made food with friendly welcoming service and a warm homely atmosphere. The hot dishes and salads looked amazing too but I had a huge piece of cake made a few hours earlier instead! The cinnabon one was the best I have ever had. The food is not expensive and great value. Picnic has to be sampled - for me it is the best place in Reading.

We had an excellent lunch of home made soups and home made cakes. What a contrast from chains where food is bland and staff don't care

Picnic is my favourite lunch stop and I probably come here once a week for their salad boxes. The base is always packed with cous cous and salad leaves, and a choice of two different toppings rotate every week, usually one meat, one vege. Whichever topping, they're always good quality, tasty and filling, but my favourites are the baked goats cheese parcel and the roasted aubergine. There are also sandwiches, but they're often on the small size.The tempting cakes on the counter are also a highlight. The lemon drizzle is excellent and the chocolate brownie is crumbly and sticky and intense, it's also a big enough portion for two to share. Americano coffees are strong and rich, but cappuccinos have often been weak and slightly watery, which is the only downside here.

Perfect coffee Amazing people Delicious muffins No need for more comments right? Oh, wait. Salads are really good too and they charge less if you bring your reusable cup 👌

I love this place where i often stop on my way to work. I love the friendly atmosphere and the energetic/smiling owners. There are so many coffee bars around, this one is special. I love to sit and read the newspapers. I highly recommend Picnic !