The Gorge Cafe in Reading

Some changes need to be made it’s need updating and maybe looking after the loyal customers More variety on the menu Lovely staff ! Maybe give them a uniform . Kept very clean I’ve seen the other cafe and it’s totally different to this one have the owners no interest in this one anymore?

Food was spot on. The ladies who served me where more wide awake than me that's for sure but thier chatter and banter made my 7 am morning hunger pains go away while waiting for my food. They were quite quick to cook the food and serve despite them having quite a few people coming in for take aways. Clearly l found a hidden gem.

Popped in for some food as we was only nearby for a conference, Food is very basic, boring, bland, cheap and borderline disgusting Sausages are cheap nasty frozen ones. Mushrooms , no idea how these were cooked. Vinegar jars have flies and some other stringy substance in, utterly gross. Decor is very basic and tired, if you are 6ft or more, dont even bother, they have a ceiling like cave and its all falling apart too. Save your money and go over the bridge to somewhere much better, Ever a proper lorry truckstop cafe would serve much better quality food than here Urghhh.

I have been to this cafe a multitude of times and only once had a semi bad experience. Today's visit was with my friend as it was her birthday. We went in and the young girl was singing at the grill. I startled her and we had a laugh about it. She came over to the table with our breakfast and sung happy birthday to my friend. The food was fantastic and the price was good. We travelled from Bracknell to have this food and it was really worth it.

Went for food at 10am on the 8th February 2023. We have a service dog and instead of asking for paperwork they proceeded to bad mouth us out loud behind the counter in which all customer could hear, they were swearing and making inappropriate and rude comments causing my friend (who owned the support dog) to suffer an anxiety attack at the table and no being able to eat. The service and respect from this please is dreadful and they really need to change their attitude toward vulnerable people. After I had sat and listened to them shout about the dog I approached the counter and said excuse me to the rude young girl and said he is the paper work and next time try asking for it instead of assuming in which her response was “whatever I don’t care” and turnt her back on me and carried on cooking. The whole experience was disgusting and I have never met any one in hospitality being that nasty and rude towards a vulnerable person with a disability, I will never be returning - worst experience I’ve ever had!!

Simple straight forward menu, ordered at the till. Friendly efficient staff and swift service. Down to earth, consistent, says what it is on the can and no pomp or frills! I cannot recommend highly enough. Options for vegetarians and children/smaller appetites available.

When upon arrival I was looking forward to eating here, the cafe was full of construction workers (which is always a good sign) however when the breakfast came I was utterly disappointed, the ‘prime sausages’ as they call them were cheap nasty 1% pork sausages, the hash browns were soggy and greasy (oil clearly not hot enough) the eggs and toast was ok and same said for the beans. Even my cold can of drink was sticky on the outside and dirty, the table was not clean and the condiments were in poor state. I now feel sick whilst writing this, I wouldn’t recommend eating here at all, I for sure will never return to pay £9.10 for a disgusting half English breakfast.

If you want an old school greasy spoon to serve you a ludicrously large and absolutely perfect fry up then this is the spot for you. Would give more stars if I could

The breakfast options here are clear and not overwhelming, with decent value for money and the ability to swap around some of your items with little fuss and extra cost. We liked our breakfasts a lot, as they were cooked nicely and tasted good. They did not take long to cook and this was welcomed for a breakfast. The décor in the café is terrible! Old wooden panels and dated furniture, with 'no smoking' signs on the wall above every table just demonstrates how long it has been since this place had a refurbishment (smoking ban in England came into force in 2006). The ceiling has some sort of papier-mâché orange 'rock effect', which makes for some self-inflicted issues with head room - I nearly knocked myself out of a smoke alarm. It took me a while to realise that this was a double entendre... the cafe is stylised as a gorge and you gorge yourself... get it? In a way, I don't think this would be to everybody's liking, but it does add to the charm and indeed so does the outdated decor. These would not put me off coming back and I would visit again as the service and food was good.

Had the Monster Grill for breakfast this morning and it was so good, it's made me write my first review! Every item was delicious; quality ingredients, perfectly cooked. I shared the breakfast with my partner and even the items which I might not usually choose were wolfed down... one bite of fried bread is usually enough to make me think 'I should have chosen toast' but this was piping hot, crispy and not at all cloying or overly oily. The mushrooms were the best I've ever eaten in all day breakfast, bacon was amazing, eggs were flavourful and fried to the perfect level for dipping! Service was impeccable, with a great vibe in the cafe, wonderful staff and I'm already planning my next visit!

Went in with some friends and we had a very nice breakfast. Well cooked and fresh. only down side is the coffee which was strong. Overall enjoyed

Amazing ‘early bird breakfast’ (pre 10am) and ‘brunch special’ including toast, tea/coffee or cold drink £12 for both. Brilliant speedy service, great portions and covid precautions still in place 👍 Love this place!

The Gorge is located on the roundabout at Caversham Bridge. This Cafe is all about all day English Breakfast. Before 10am it's the Early Bird; egg, bacon, toast, sausage beans or mushrooms. You have option to swap items. If you are up for it The Gorge Special is ginormous. Staff are friendly. The tables are kept clean. The decor is basic but then it's all about the food ! Car parking is available round the back.

Today we visited this cafe for breakfast as we have done on a Sunday for the last few months and were refused entry for not wearing a face mask, after informing the owners we were exempt we were told we had to provide proof………. Government advice clearly states proof is NOT required at any time……. Rather hypocritical considering staff WERE NOT WEARING MASKS!!!!!!!!!!!!! This is disability discrimination and a criminal offence under disability discrimination act 2010…….. YOU SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF YOURSELVES!!!!!!!!!!!

Thank you for my lovely takeaway breakfast on Saturday 22 May. I chose the vegetarian option and swapped the egg for plum tomatoes to 'veganise' it. My brother had the monster grill with black pudding, which he enjoyed very much too - he did confess his eyes where bigger than his belly -he was stuffed 🤣 Everything was cooked fresh, the service was impeccable and inside was all made COVID safe. Will definitely be back. Can't beat great service and good food. Thank you once again.

Good breakfast to start the day, decor is from previous century but did not bother me. Quick service, asked for extra crispy bacon and they did delivered. Will return if back in town

Visitamos Cafe George durante una visita a Cheddar Gorge y nos quedamos impresionados por lo deliciosa que era nuestra comida. Recomiendo encarecidamente el labrador y la selección de pasteles fue increíble. El personal fue muy amable y estuvo bien dirigido bajo las nuevas pautas de COVID-19. ¡Sin duda nos encantaría volver a visitarnos cuando volvamos a la zona!

Popped in for a all day breakfast, still the best Café in Reading/Caversham. Good food and very friendly front of the house lady who serves people with a lovely smile and a warm welcome

An iconic cafe in Reading. Food is OK but I think it is expensive for what it is. Parking can be tricky too. Has had the same interior for years and could benefit from a makeover.

Amazing find. Lovely service, very quick and freshly cooked to order. Food excellent. Happy to not change the set breakfast to exchange bacon for mushrooms. We will be back!

A super little cafe on the edge of Reading offering a brilliant all day breakfast and the owners/staff are just lovely. Only negative is the coffee which is instant.

BAIT AND SWITCH - uno de los trucos más antiguos y más malos del capitalismo.  4) 50 parece razonable para un desayuno, hasta que entras y te cobran 8. 50 ¡En términos relativos, un aumento deshonesto de casi 200%!Buena comida pero la publicidad deshonesta deja un mal sabor de boca. ¡También el peor café de todos!

I have been coming here for years and the most recent visit didn’t disappoint. Excellent no frills fry up that arrives freshly cooked, piping hot and served with a smile. Decor unchanged which brings back good memories from my youth going there after a big night to try and cure a hangover.

Great little gem of a cafe in Reading! Went for late Breakfast/Brunch with the family and staff were super freindly, service was quick and food was tasty! Parking is the only issue, its limited.

I have come here on and off for many years as there is parking and you an get a decent breakfast. I particularly like the omelette and chips. The staff are very pleasant but I do agree with earlier reviews about hygiene. The whole place looks a bit grotty and could do with a refurbishment. We needed a high chair and had to give it a thorough clean ourselves. I also think it is a touch overpriced for what you get however the food was good.

Been many times here whenever I fancy a traditional greasy spoon breakfast. Never been disappointed, the portions and prices are good and they also very flexible allowing to swap items within their set menus.

I would like to say we only visited this place due to the good reviews. Food was bland, staff were unpleasant and the cleanliness was appalling. Once bitten, twice shy unfortunately.

Dos amigos y yo visitamos aquí un lunes por la mañana.

The Gorge Cafe es uno de mis lugares favoritos para freír en Reading. Es nostálgica y sin lujos, comida tradicional inglesa. No vengas aquí si esperas tostadas de aguacate con huevos escalfados. Este es el lugar para venir para un gran plato de huevos, frijoles y tocino con una taza fuerte de té de constructor. El personal es siempre cálido y amable. El interior es muy peculiar también. No hay lugar como El Desfiladero.

No daría de comer lo que me dieron a mi perro, el peor desayuno que he visto o comido. También se presentó con un líquido marrón caliente que se suponía que se asemejaba al té. La peor taza de té que también he visto tenía 2 sorbos y lo dejó. No comas aquí consigue un mcmuffin de salchicha en su lugar.

We have been here several times and never disappointed the food is lovely the staff are brilliant the cafe is fantastic well worth going out of your way for a visit and the prices are very good

Fabulous; Superb Customer Service😀 pleasant attitude. Quick Food Delivery/Table cleared; Lge Meals.

Stayed in reading town centre for a night out and stopped on the way home at the gorge cafe. Friendly welcome by the staff service was quick and food was great!!!

Really good food and fast service.. inexpensive and tasty... The team all work well together and one guy was constantly cleaning down tables and taking away finished plates... so there was always a clean, free table, impressed..

A popular place for locals and overnight workers hearty it may be but greasy spoon - typical english breakfasts cooked in traditional cooking fats - it is and doesn't ascend higher

Mi novio y yo decidimos pasar por un desayuno antes de ir a Londres por el día. Hemos estado unas cuantas veces antes y cada visita es igual de buena. La comida siempre es excelente, muy bien presentada y con un personal tan encantador, ¡no se puede superar! Hay un estacionamiento limitado junto a la estación de servicio, sin embargo, está bastante cerca de la ciudad, así que puedes caminar fácilmente si eres local. ¡Definitivamente los dos recomendaríamos!

first visit here and the service was great, decent priced breakfast and served super quick and fresh. It hits the spot if you want something greasy to eat and not feel bad after wards!

Food; above average for a greasy spoon. This doesn’t mask the fact I had to wash it down with instant coffee. Bit pricey.

Muy bonita cafetería de la vieja escuela, con un ambiente acogedor.

Popped in for a late breakfast and we were not disappointed.

Place has gone downhill. The breakfast taste oily and greasy. The bacon and egg rolls just fall apart so I couldn’t even eat it. Certain member of staff were rude to me.

A perfectly quaint eatery offering an extensive menu for all. The prices don’t reflect the quality and quantity of food and service provided by staff. It’s lovely! Whether you’re a passer by or local hankering for something delicious. The decor is a truly unique setting. Comfy seating and old school dining.

Called in here whilst walking the Thames Path, which is 100m away. It had been recommended by locals.

The food is always outstanding(and accommodating as someone with many allergies can personally attest to) The staff are friendly and facilitating in what is already a friendly town(I've lived in SE London, Essex and Germany - so I know rude, trust me on that) the prices are OK but the quality of service more than makes up for it! If I were showing an outsider like me the cafe to go...this would be it!

I love coming here for a proper English breakfast. The staff are so friendly and helpful and give great service with a smile. The food is tasty and always comes out promptly.

I regularly take a walk along the Thames on a Sunday morning. This morning I decided to pop in here for an ‘early bird’ breakfast. This is reasonable value at £4.10 for 1 each of bacon, egg, sausage, beans and toast, with tea or coffee included.

Decent breakfast, very popular with local workers standard choices of food for the type of cafe make a nice mug of tea too.

My Grandad took myself and my partner here upon recieving some less then fortunate news. The atmosphere and the food really made up for the depressing day we’d had. The food was fast and delicious as well as the staff being attentive and kind. Would definitely eat here again given half the chance!

Family, Father, Daughter Sunday Brunch, The Gorge Cafe never let's you down, cooked to order, high quality, lots of choice, helpful friendly staff, a local institution. This is not a greasy spoon its a great little restaurant.

I’ve been to every cafe in reading to find the best one. This is the best in reading by some distance. Im not sure why most cafes serve cold beans it says a lot when a cafe can’t do the most basic of things. They do everything right here. Quality food the staff are so nice.

still searching for a better cafe in the Reading area, yet to find one. Old school English food with good sized portions. A cafe that actually is a cafe

I visit this place every time we work in caversham. It’s a proper old school cafe. They do fried beard which is of of my favorite things to have with beans not many cafes do that these days. The staff are lovely always smiling and polite. This cafe isn’t posh it’s just a cafe that dose everything You would expect to find. I’ve eaten in all the cafes in reading this is by far the best.

Love this place! Decent plate of food, including veggie full English. Clean with washrooms to the rear. Service is swift and friendly. We love going here.

Always will recommend Gorge cafe. Great sizes although I’m always defeated! Friendly, welcoming staff - always. Forever a returning customer.

Have been going here for quite a few years, tackling the legendary Full English! Whilst himself manages to finish the huge amount you get, I am still working valiantly on eating the lot. Always hot, always well cooked, always tasty - love getting the cup of tea first as by the time the food comes (never have to wait more than about 5 minutes, if that) we can't stand the enticing aromas any more! Really good value, great staff and plenty of them to keep the place buzzing, and the surroundings always make me Smile. Go there, tackle the full English......if you dare :o)

great portions of food, you can mix and match what you order, eg no eggs and get extra sausages..nice friendly people and a good cup of tea as well..what more could you ask for ??

On the outside the gothic script writing and white paint job makes you think of an old English pub... Then you step inside and go WTF where'd this cave come from?The interior is modeled after a cave, painted in pink with wooden booth style seating. To say it's unique is an understatement... If you come to just look at its strangeness you'll be pleased to find the food is as lovely as the surrounding is weird. All you'd expect from a traditional greasy spoon, fair price (£4.10 for a full English with a drink, £10 if you want a monster grill), and friendly staff. There's a couple of parking spots as well.Only reason it didn't get 5* was they don't have fresh orange juice and the booths are a little cramped for the large of frame. In fact I'm changing it back to 5* as I think it deserves only half a star off for that, and om rounding up to 5* :-)

This is a great traditional greasy spoon serving traditional full English breakfasts and great quick service and big portions all reasonably priced.. Well worth a visit and more than just english.

Two of us had the veggie 'All Day Breakfast' one lunchtime with a can of soft drink - all for about £6.20A good amount and all piping hot. Eggs done perfectly.One minor gripe was some of the mushrooms when we went this time were very small and over cooked, but it didn't spoil the meal - just maybe something for the staff to consider.It wasn't very busy when we arrived so we had a good window seat and could see all the traffic careering around the Caversham Bridge roundabout! Staff very friendly. I've been before and will certainly go again.

Very popular cafe loads of food just a little greasy not the finest pork sausages very nice and friendly staff

Was a fabulous and quick service. We had limited lunch time to go eat and service was very quick. Staff all very happy in there too. Love the quirky decor. x

Hard to get a seat, a parking space and always busy says it all . A great place, good food and relaxed atmosphere

The breakfast was filling and cooked beautifully, and the service was very quick. Excellent value for money, and I would certainly visit again.

"Gorge" refers to the decor, not what you're supposed to do when you get there. Traditional all-day breakfast with drink from £3.85 (coffee from Costa costs 2.30, how can you beat this?) up. Substitutions encouraged, not just tolerated. Nicest people. Fast service. Real tradesman-on-his-way-to-work place.

Best english breakfast in Berkshire! The staff are always wonderful. Every fought night i make sure to vist the Gorge! Great value for money and big portions, you won't be disappointed.

Ate Sunday breakfast here with all my family. Really happy, friendly staff. Very healthy portion sizes and very good quality food. Not greasy at all . They also have rooms available to stay. Was very popular with visitors and locals alike.

Wandering around earlyish breakfast. Full English Breakfast lite is 3.85, top value in my opinion. Sausages not premium but nor is price. Friendly staff, clean cafe, quick service for fresh cooked. All good thank you.

what could be better than a cooked breakfast after a walk by the river? good traditional fare served by friendly staff on spotless tables. all day breakfast recomended

You get what u ask for be it scrambled egg on toast or a monster fry up! Good price and always clean

As greasy as it gets - but traditionally eccentric and great for being so. The special drinks cabinet is a treat if you can open it. The salty aftertaste is guaranteed to last till bedtime.

I work in London in construction and I'm up there early to beat traffic so I'm often sat in a cafe before work. This place is a good as it comes great greasy spoon it's allround good cafe they let you go beans tomatos half and half in stead of one or the other . And will happily swap anything on the menu

Love the seating in here, very retro. Although you'd struggle to get more than 2 blokes around the tables. Breakfast options reasonably priced and you can swap items if you want. Ingredients are all cheap but then what do you expect from a greasy spoon.Service friendly and jovial.

Had a brilliant breakfast a great start to a Sunday the manageress is a lovely lady who has banter with all her customers and staff worth a visit if you love a cooked breakfast.

Unfriendly staff (does the owner treat them badly?), slow service, barely average portions, awful coffee, overcooked bacon, cheapest sausages you can buy, expensive.If you can wait till 7.30am, Early Cafe on the Wokingham Rd is very friendly and food so much better for less money. If you can wait until 8am then the Hope Tap in Friar Street does some good breakfasts plus free coffee re-fills of reasonable quality - also friendly staff.

My husband and I visited on Monday morning for a delicious full English breakfast. It was lovely and fresh. The staff were really friendly too. Highly recommend.

The Gorge has been a Reading institution for years and does the normal all day breakfast and variants around that theme very nicely. It is situated on a roundabout just by Caversham Bridge and has some dedicated parking spaces. If they are full there is a carpark near the river just the other side of the road. The cafe interior is hilarious with a salmon pink cavern ceiling and sort of Swiss tables/seats that are a tiny bit cramped. This along with the friendly and helpful staff make it a completely charming place to eat. The food is very good value, plentiful and generally good. The sausages are a little bit "bready" but other than that it is all good stuff. I moved away from Reading maybe ten years ago but Sunday brunch at the Gorge is a "must do" whenever my family and I visit. If you fancy breakfast in Reading then it really is the place to go and way cheaper than the typical hotel breakfast.

Friendly staff. The cafe and got very busy mid-morning! Food was good, but choices somewhat limited.

Best breakfast ever with great cup of coffee. Sausages not the best and was missing black pudding. Overall nice place and welcoming staff.

We have breakfasted at The Gorge Cafe on 2 consecutive days this past weekend and have been very impressed by its good value. The breakfasts were well cooked and all items were served hot.Service was fast and friendly. It’s well worth a visit.

Had a full English brekkie this morning. Egg bacon mushrooms sausage beans bubble two toasts and a cuppa tea. £5.85 and very tasty. Staff were attentive and smart.

Been here for as long as I can remember. Unique interior that would have you thinking that's you are eating in a cave....... Standard cafe fayre if you're looking for a full monty fry up...!

Just left his place which I found quite by accident on a motorcycle tour. Great food great staff great prices. A+ from me.

Enjoyed the Gorge Special. Good quality bacon, fresh eggs, toast, tinned tomatoes, sausage and a cup of tea. Staff very helpful and friendly. Hint: sit so you have a view of the roundabout and enjoy watching the traffic, idiot drivers, road rage etc.

Just been in here again all the way from bracknell for the finest breakfast in Berkshire, 3 very happy people after there meal. 5 stars from us

We ended up here because our favourite breakfast place had stopped serving for the day. It was ok. Nothing to rave on about. The food was cooked fresh, came out hot and was ok value. The only real issue was the sausages. They used cheap and low meat content 'bangers'.

Got to be the best breakfast in the area.Proper cafe.Really tasty good value fry up.Staff really nice too.

I believe this is a nice place to eat, but, we didn't have a good first impression. They delayed too much to bring the breakfast and when they finally did, brought a different order. It was busy, I totally understand. Maybe next time we could be luckier.

Good service from all members of staff. Reminds me of a little french grotto when skiing- window glass is thick enough to not hear any traffic outside which is great.Very fast service for the full english breakfast and veggie breakfast- veggie sausages are very good with a good amount of baked beans and hash browns (someone which you don't get a lot of at some other places!)Only thing which slightly put me off was the fact that the chef had very long hair and although it was in a pony tail maybe it could be put in a bun or hair net (could sport a fashionable hair net you never know!)Overall a nice experience-happy staff, good food = happy customers!

Have driven past here so many times dropping my daughter off at school so decided on the way back home to stop and have some breakfast as I was starving. I parked in the Shell car park where they have a few parking spots.I had a brunch at £4.95 and a mug of coffee - the brunch has one of everything and I thought wouldn't be to big. I sat down with my mug of coffee and waited a little bit for my food to turn up, which didn't take long. Nice breakfast and it hit the spot, filled me up and didn't take long to come out - a nice little greasy spoon that offers much bigger breakfasts if you are mega hungry.

The Gorge Cafe ticks all the boxes. Quick service, friendly and helpful staff, clean and good food. Thank you.

I love this place been using it for years and always lovely food and my favorite in Berkshire and even worth the travel from bracknell on a Saturday for the food, well worth it and don't drive by. 100% and 5 stars from me every time

Good food, clean enough, friendly staff etc The food was dripping with a bit more oil than I'd like, but this is normal for a greasy spoon cafe. I've had better breakfasts, but this place isn't bad.

Lots of seating, speedy service and food was ready in 5 minutes or so after ordering. We did have a late breakfast at 1pm. Food was good, although would benefit from seasoning their scrambled egg and having better quality sausages. Not quite sure they are prime sausages as advertised. Overall a good greasy spoon.

It does what all cafes should do, it serves good food at reasonable prices with the minimum of waiting time. I would recommend it to anyone!

Ate here recently while staying across the road in the Crowne Plaza. It does what it says on the tin. A nice greasey spoon with an extensive breakfast menu, very reasonably priced. The service was good and the place is very busy so it must be good. In a prime location on the roundabout on the bridge. Would definitely eat here again if we were in the area.

Had breakfast here a couple of times whilst staying at the Crowne Plaza opposite. Big breakfasts at a low price, can't fault them. Staff all very friendly, as were the regulars who had great banter. Gets very busy but they turn the orders around very quickly.

One of the few places in reading that dose a full English properly. The gorge serves fried bread black pudding all the greasy spoon classics or a simple bowl of cereal without trying to be continental. A place to go with the family/partner or just workmates all are welcome. It's very clean and tidy

Exactly the place we needed - standard Sunday fry up, walking distance from our hotel (where the breakfast was ridiculously expensive) and busy - a sure-fire way to know it's a good spot -but we were able to get a table. Magic.Interesting ceiling....!

Myself and wife came here one morning for some breakfast while visiting Reading. We were seated fairly quick and placed our order even quicker. The cafe was very busy and the staff were running about and preparing the food and drinks very very quick.The food arrived after approxmatley 10 minutes, the food was nice however we felt as soon as we finished we had to up and leave because it was so busy and they were no places for people to sit.Overall nice breakfast but we wouldn't rush back.

me and my partner came here whilst stopping at the premier inn, the food was great but the woman really needs to smile she had a attitude of a fly! but credit to the woman chef food was great!