Characters Cafe — Restaurant in England

I’ve visited Characters Coffee Shop in Wokingham several times before and always appreciated the good quality of food, drinks, and the friendly service from a Portuguese lady and the South African couple. However, my recent visit on Thursday, 10th October 2024, was disappointing. I went with a friend, and while we were enjoying our hot drinks, one of the waitresses approached us and touched my friend’s son without asking for permission. She then commented that he shouldn’t be watching videos on a phone because he is a child, even though the volume was muted, so noise was not an issue and the child was just watching a video for a couple of minutes. She later returned, touched the child a second time, and to give more unsolicited parental advice and touching, which was completely unnecessary. It made the experience uncomfortable and felt very intrusive.

I raised my concerns with who I believe was the manager (a middle-aged lady), but she did not offer an apology or even acknowledge the issue. This kind of behavior shows a lack of respect for customer boundaries, and frankly, it was rude and unprofessional. Very poor service overall, and unfortunately, I won’t be...

This is a wonderful little cafe!

I stumbled upon this place quite by accident. I was walking by and simply admiring the wonky old building when my partner noticed it was a cafe, and then we noticed the South African flag in the window and had to give it a go.

The Inside is an unusual layout but really pleasant too.

The people (who I assume are the owners) were friendly, chatty and seriously helpful! Lovely people.

There was a large array of pastries and cakes as well as a great sandwich menu. And a good amount of South African treats.

The toasted sandwiches are fantastic. We also had coffee, a milkshake and a few small bits. All tasty and reasonably priced too! (The coffee seems to be a bit more on the dark roasted side. Hints of acidic notes - not my usual preference but I still enjoyed it)

I will certainly be going back. And I would encourage others to do the...

I recently visited for the second time, and I can confidently say that I love it here.

The staff at this restaurant are some of the friendliest I've encountered in the hospitality industry. They go out of their way to make you feel welcome and ensure that your dining experience is enjoyable.

The restaurant serves South African food, which is a unique and exciting cuisine to try. During my visit, I had the pleasure of enjoying a boerewors roll, which were absolutely delicious. It was a flavour explosion in my mouth!

Overall, I would highly recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for a memorable dining experience. The friendly staff, delicious food, and unique cuisine make it a standout spot that you won't want to miss. I can't wait to go back and try more...