A thousand 5-star reviews, calls for a franchise, and plans for the future - I had brunch with the owner of Reading's Cafe Yolk to find out: why is this small brunch spot away from the town centre getting rave reviews?

Following our well-read trip to the town's TGI Fridays for a food review amid the brand's woes last week, we're now reviewing an independent business that appears to be weathering the hospitality crisis. 

A reported 500 restaurants across the UK closed in the final quarter of 2023, with 35 TGI Fridays being the latest casualty of soaring food and staff costs.  

Now is a good time for a cafe to have more than 1,000 5-star reviews on Google, as well as a series of awards - which is the position Cafe Yolk has worked hard to achieve. 

The venue is a Good Food Awards 2024/25 winner, as well as being shortlisted in the Food Awards England 2022, and the business is currently nominated in the England Business Awards. 

My expectations were high, but visiting on a rainy Sunday morning before 10am, I wasn't expecting there to be a queue of people outside the front door.

But there was - throughout my meal, people spent a short time queuing outside, huddled under umbrellas or the restaurant's canopy, seemingly perfectly happy to wait in the autumn drizzle for a chance to grab brunch. 

But the proof is in the pudding, as they say - or, in my case, The Canadian breakfast. 

This is two eggs - done to any style - two bacon rashers, two sausages, grilled tomato, mushrooms, baked bans, "herby potatoes", two pancakes with maple syrup and a side of fruit. 

The Canadian BreakfastThe Canadian Breakfast (Image: NQ)

There was the temptation to give this review the headline "I ate at one of the best cafes in Reading and here's why I couldn't finish my meal," but the cafe deserves better: I couldn't finish the meal because the portions were great value for money. 

I paid £15.50 and I was stuffed halfway through. This wasn't a case of quantity over quality - the food was tasty, well-cooked, and seemed good-quality. And the meal arrived within 15 minutes. 

The pancakes came topped with watermelon - a Canadian quirk? A Google search revealed only one relevant result, which was a Catholic YouTube channel with a video titled "Watermelons Should Be Banned From Canada."

But I'm going to defer to Cafe Yolk's owner, Alexandra Langlais, who was born and raised in the North American nation. 

"I'm French Canadian," she said. "Back home my dad had 50 restaurants and bars. I have worked in this industry for many years."

But it hasn't been an effortless experience creating one of the best cafes in Reading - and things remain "tricky," Alex said. 

"When I first opened, people expected a greasy spoon, they had to get used to what we were offering," Alex said. 

"Now, everything is a challenge at the moment - its the whole cost of operating. The cost of food, the cost of staff."

But you wouldn't think it while visiting the cafe, with Alex ascribing the business's success to attention to detail. 

As an example, the straw for my banana and strawberry smoothie seemed to be plastic, but was actually a durable but recyclable compost material, according to Alex. 

She said: "They break down under hot water - but they cost a lot more. 

"I think the secret is a lot of small details put together. You need to make the right choices at the right time."

So should we expect this success replicated in a Cafe Yolk in Broad Street or Friar Street sometime soon?

"If I had a penny for every time that someone asked me if I'm going to make a franchise, I would be a millionaire," Alex said. 

"With AI and people losing their jobs, I think the town centre is going to feel more run-down. 

"I'm going to focus on this venue."

And the business owner's dim view of Reading Borough Council doesn't encourage expansion plans. 

Alex said: "They don't encourage you, they don't help."

Gesturing to the well-lit and spacious seating area adjoined to the main building, she said: "I had to fight for three years for this extension."

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But Alex still has plans to keep Cafe Yolk fresh. 

She said: "I'm going to change the interior in 2025. I try to change it every two years."

But she has words of reassurance for her regulars - there's no plans to change the menu. 

"People don't like us taking things out," Alex said. 

After my visit, I can understand why. 

Cafe Yolk also runs a loyalty card where your seventh coffee is free, and gift vouchers are available. 

Cafe Yolk in 44 Erleigh Road is open 8am to 4pm every day.