Reading - People Matching

Riverside Tapas House

Riverside Tapas House offers Spanish-style small plates, so groups can share and try many different flavours. It is a lively place, especially on Friday nights, and it stays open until midnight. After 8 p.m. you can still book a table, but there is a minimum spend per person for groups of eight or more. The menu includes meat, fish, and vegetarian plates, but gluten-free choices are limited because many dishes include bread or fried items. The restaurant is next to the river, about ten minutes from the tram stop, and it can be hard to park nearby.

Green Table Bistro

Green Table Bistro is a modern place near Central Station, so it is easy to reach by train and several bus lines. It is popular with groups, and you can book a long table online for up to 25 people. The menu is mostly vegetarian, but there are also a few chicken and fish dishes for mixed groups. You will find several vegetarian main meals, including pasta, vegetable curry (mild or spicy), and a bean burger. Soft drinks are free if you book for more than ten people. The restaurant is calm, with no loud music, and it is open every day until 10 p.m.

Quiet Corner Italian

Quiet Corner Italian is a small restaurant on a side street, away from traffic. It is a good choice for conversation because there is no music and the tables are well spaced. The staff are trained to explain ingredients, and the menu clearly marks gluten-free options, including gluten-free pizza bases and pasta. You can also ask for sauces without flour. The restaurant does not use peanuts, but it does use almonds in one dessert, and they can prepare desserts separately if you tell them. It is best for small groups, as it only seats 18 people, and booking is essential.

Sunset Family Café

Sunset Family Café is designed for families and mixed-age groups. There is a children’s menu, high chairs, and a small play corner, so younger guests can stay busy. The café offers an early-evening set menu from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., and students get 15% off with an ID card. The food is simple: soups, sandwiches, pasta, and grilled chicken, with a few vegetarian options. The café closes at 8 p.m., which is ideal if you want to finish early. It is on the main road and stops for two bus routes are right outside.

Spice Route Kitchen

Spice Route Kitchen serves Indian and Thai dishes with strong flavours. Many meals are spicy, but you can ask for a mild version. The restaurant is proud of its gluten-free choices, but it uses peanuts and cashew nuts in several popular sauces, and the kitchen is small, so it cannot guarantee nut-free food. At weekends it becomes lively, and there is a DJ after 9 p.m. The restaurant is large and can take groups of 30, but it is outside the city centre and the last bus back is at 9:15 p.m., so some guests may need a taxi.

Harbour Street Grill

Harbour Street Grill is known for huge portions of steak, burgers, and ribs, and it is a favourite for people who love meat. On Fridays there is a live band from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m., and the place can get quite noisy. You cannot reserve tables after 7 p.m., so groups usually arrive early and wait for space. It is a 20-minute walk from the nearest train station, but there is free parking nearby. Vegetarian choices are limited to one salad and a side dish. The kitchen cannot promise nut-free meals because it uses nuts in several sauces.

Skyline Rooftop Lounge

Skyline Rooftop Lounge has great views and a fashionable atmosphere, but it is not ideal for everyone. The music is loud most evenings, and people often stand rather than sit. The menu is expensive and focuses on small plates, so it may not suit anyone who wants big portions. The building has an elevator, but the accessible toilet is on a different floor and sometimes the lift is busy. They do not offer clear allergy information, and they cannot change dishes much because the food is prepared in advance. It is open late, but booking for groups is difficult.

City Diner Classic

City Diner Classic serves familiar food like grilled chicken, pasta, baked potatoes, and homemade soups. The building has step-free entry, wide spaces between tables, and an accessible toilet. Staff ask about allergies when you order, and they can prepare several dishes without nuts because nuts are not used in the main kitchen area. The menu is not spicy, and it is easy to choose simple meals. It is in a shopping area with a bus stop right outside. The diner is open until 9:30 p.m., and it accepts bookings for groups up to 20 people.