Some restaurants are very traditional with their offerings. They stick to their grandparents’ recipes. They make familiar food the familiar way.
But then there are those that dare to take chances – to take the traditional and turn it on its head.
Casa de Empanadas opened in early 2024 along East Main Street in Kutztown. Before branching out on their own, their empanadas could be found at another Kutztown spot, Hazel’s Cafe.
Walking through the doors, your eye is drawn to the back wall which has been painted to look like a row of brightly colored houses reminiscent of San Juan.
But the empanadas on the menu are likely not going to be found in Puerto Rico. Traditional empanadas are usually filled with beef and cheese or chicken and cheese. And while there is a beef and cheese on the menu, there’s nothing traditional about empanadas fillings like chicken bacon ranch, pizza, or shrimp and crab.
There’s also nothing traditional about an empanada place serving boba tea, but I wasn’t mad at it. The taro boba was deliciously sweet, and the purple color seemed at home among the decor.
My boba came first, and about 10 minutes later I got my empanadas – one spinach and one meatball parm – served on a bed of rice and peas.
The spinach empanada was an absolute home run. Filled with a mixture of garlic sauce, cream cheese, ricotta, mozzarella, spinach, and cream, it was indulgently creamy. But it was never too much, thanks in part to the deliciously crispy pastry shell.
While still good, the meatball parm came up a little short of the spinach. I wasn’t the biggest fan of the marinara sauce. A little change and I probably would have loved it like my other empanada.
I got the two empanadas as part of a meal so they came served over a bed of rice and peas. This was the most traditional item on the menu, and it was very good. The rice was well seasoned and nicely done. I didn’t really need it on top of the empanadas though. Next time, I would probably just get the empanadas and not do the meal deal.
I look forward to my next visit when I promise to get one of their dessert empanadas – caramel apple or chocolate chip brownie. Both sound amazing.
And the price is right, too. The two-empanada meal was $13 (empanadas are $5 each otherwise). The boba was a splurge that added $7 to the meal. Still, I felt like it was a very reasonable price to pay for everything.
Overall, it was a very good first impression. The food was good – and unique – and I look forward to more empanadas in the near future.
BCE Rating Food: Good Service: Good Ambiance: Good Price: $
Casa de Empanadas 9 E. Main Street Kutztown PA 19530
It’s been more than a decade since I graduated from Kutztown University. While I was there, I visited quite a few of the restaurants along Main Street – many are gone but many are still there, some exactly as they were and others under new management.
If you’ve followed my blog, you know I’m not a drinker so one place I didn’t spend a lot of time during college was at the bar. So I never had a reason to check out the Kutztown Pub – or just “The Pub” to students.
Things are different now – not with me (I still don’t drink) but with the pub. It’s not just a dive bar anymore, it’s also a place to get some really good barbecue.
The Pub rebranded in 2014 – renamed K’Town Pub Taphouse & BBQ to better reflect the new focus on both beer and food. A year later the space got a necessary makeover and is still looking pretty good to this day.
My first visit came in late 2023. I was by myself, stopping in at the Pub after a day working from the Ktown Hall coworking space. I went in by myself around 5 p.m. It was a light crowd, still early, and I grabbed a table for myself along the wall opposite the bar.
The menu is small as there isn’t much of a kitchen to speak of. Beyond barbecue, there are burgers, tacos, nachos and mac and cheese. But I was there for ‘cue so I ordered my go-to: pulled pork.
K’town Pub’s pulled pork comes topped with apple slaw, pickled red onion and your choice of sauce.
The sandwich was very enjoyable. Savory meat mixed with the sweet sauce – I chose the apple butter bbq sauce – and the slight sour notes of the pickled onions made for a great sandwich.
As mentioned earlier, the menu is limited. There’s no fryer so fries aren’t an option. Instead, every sandwich is served with a basic handful of chips and a pickle, not bad, but nothing exciting.
My meal was good enough that a few months later, I returned, this time with Julie. Like me, Julie had never visited the Pub during her time in Kutztown, not that it was anything like back then anyway.
Julie ordered the beef brisket, which like my pulled pork sandwich came topped with the same slaw and onions, and she liked it just as much. Normally, I’m a pulled pork guy but I think I liked the brisket just a little bit more than the pork.
I also really liked the smoked meatloaf sandwich that I ordered on this visit.
This was not your typical meatloaf. Instead, the patty was ground beef mixed with pulled pork, bacon, caramelized onions and peppers. (When I ordered it, I actually thought a few of these would be toppings instead of mix-ins).
It was very good, but also very rich. The pulled pork gave a very different texture. I really liked the caramelized onions which were strewn throughout for a nice little subtle sweet hit.
I skipped the American cheese and ate it with just barbecue sauce on top, but it was delicious like that. The only issue is that it fell apart easily – likely a result of the inclusion of the pulled pork.
All in all, we both enjoyed our meals – Julie’s first and my second at the Pub.
And likely we’ll enjoy a meal there again.
BCE Rating Food: Good Service: Good Ambiance: Fair Price: $$
One of the best parts of Berks County Eats is that I get to be intentional about exploring parts of Berks County. It gives me an excuse to go to all corners of the county and reminds me how close everything really is.
A few years ago, when my daily commute included the Turnpike, I spent a lot of time in Morgantown. It feels so far away, but it’s not much more than 20 minutes from my home base in Wyomissing. In the early days of the blog, I discovered a great spot in Morgantown called Billy Burger – it quickly became my go-to spot for burgers.
Unfortunately, Billy Burger closed several years ago, and the location – an old Dairy Queen in the Wal-Mart shopping center (technically, the address is Elverson) – sat empty. That is until Taco Fest opened in the space in February 2023.
The first thing you notice when you walk into Taco Fest is the photo station – a little corner with two wicker chairs in front of a large green wall with the restaurant’s logo shining bright in the middle.
All around are bright colors – streamers outside and inside, bright pink walls by the restrooms, and chairs of yellow, green and orange at tables and counters throughout the dining area.
Ordering is done at the counter where the ingredients are shown off behind the glass, ala Moe’s or Chipotle.
I ordered the birria tacos with a side of chips and salsa and a glass of horchata.
Of course I had to take a quick sit in the photo area for a selfie with my cup of horchata.
For those who haven’t tried it, horchata has the consistency and look of milk, but it’s actually rice-infused water with cinnamon and other flavors. Taco Fest’s version was very good – nice and creamy with cinnamon spice.
It was a few minutes later when they brought my meal to the table. (The birria tacos being one of the few items that weren’t made in front of you).
The tacos come three to an order, more than enough for a meal. Birria tacos feature slow-roasted, marinated beef that are added with cheese (and onions and cilantro) to a taco shell, which has been dipped in broth and fried to a crisp. It comes served with a cup of broth for dipping to make it a cross between a taco and a French dip.
I love birria tacos, and I really liked those I got at Taco Fest. The meat was tender and flavorful. I squeezed a little lime juice on for a little tart acidity. Overall, they were good, though I could have probably stopped after two instead of eating all three.
Because I didn’t stop, I didn’t have room for the side of tortilla chips that I ordered. Instead, I ate a handful while I was there and saved the rest for later. The chips were delicious and seemed just a little thicker than other places. The salsa was good – not too spicy – the perfect vessel for the tortillas.
Overall, I spent about $20 for the meal. It’s more than I would normally pay for a lunch for myself, but I knew I was going to spend a little more because I was splurging for the horchata and the side of chips. At $12.99, the birria tacos are priced right for a hefty lunch or solid dinner.
I don’t get to Morgantown often, but I would definitely stop in again if I was in the area and in the mood for some solid Mexican food.
It’s not Billy Burger, but it’s good.
BCE Rating Food: Good Service: Very Good Ambiance: Very Good Price: $$
For someone who lives in Wyomissing, I make a lot of trips to Boyertown. I’m a member at the Boyertown Museum of Historic Vehicles, Jakob is obsessed with the Brickworks (a LEGO store in downtown), and there are some great restaurants.
But I also drive past a lot of restaurants on my way to and from Boyertown. On a recent visit, I finally stopped at one of them – Antonio’s Trattoria.
Antonio’s operates in the former Woods Pub building along Route 73. I had driven past the building many times in recent years – and every time the electronic sign attached to the Woods Pub sign had the same message – closed.
It was pretty apparent that the temporary closure was permanent. And eventually, after a lengthy renovation process, Antonio’s opened in August 2023.
My first visit came a few months later in November. With baby carrier in tow, I stepped into the dining room for the first time and was extremely impressed by the work inside.
Outside, the building doesn’t look like much (though it looks a lot better in the shades of white and gray than it did when it was painted green). But inside, the work that was done was evident.
There were new floors throughout – some hardwood, some tile. In one corner was a quaint fireplace. And the bar had a cool factor thanks to the sheet metal base and wooden top.
I was seated near the window looking out on Route 73. It was a small annex that originally would have been a porch that was enclosed years ago.
The waitress was very friendly and I had my food a short time after I placed my order – a Brooklyn cob pizza with a side of hand-cut fries.I ordered more food than I could eat, knowing that I would be taking some home for leftovers.
The Brooklyn cob pizza was a special offering – sharp provolone under marinara sauce, sprinkled with Parmesan cheese.
With the light cheese on top combined with the sweet sauce, it had the feel of a freshly made tomato pie. But with a crust that was nice and crisp. It was a great offering, and one that I hope comes back some day because I would definitely order it again.
It was a great first impression with delicious food and friendly staff that will definitely have me coming back.
Next time, I’ll bring the family so I don’t have to eat it all alone.
BCE Rating Food: Good Service: Excellent Ambiance: Very Good Price: $$
Antonio’s Trattoria 1636 W. Philadelphia Avenue Boyertown, PA 19512
When I was working in King of Prussia, I had heard a lot about Annamarie’s Place in Royersford. By that point, the restaurant was 20 years old, cash-only, and had long since been known for its incredible breakfasts. Unfortunately I never had the opportunity to make it to Royersford for a taste.
Thankfully, Berks County has its own Annamarie’s now. Annamarie’s on Main opened in Birdsboro in early 2023, taking over the location that most recently housed Susie Q’s Breakfast & Lunch Cafe. Other restaurants that have come and gone from the space include Dino’s Wings & Things and the Maple Springs Café.
Julie and I visited the café for breakfast in May, making the short drive to Birdsboro after dropping Jakob off at daycare. We were the first customers to arrive and were seated toward the rear of the dining room.
I’m not sure how much work was done by Annamarie’s or how much was done previously, but the dining room was extremely inviting with wooden tables and chairs and brick accents on the interior walls. An oversized black and white photo of a tree loomed large on the opposite wall.
Our server was providing training to a new staff member so we had double the attention during our meal. They were at the table quickly, but with a large menu, we had to tell them to come back for our food order.
There are a seemingly endless number of omelets, French toast, pancakes, waffles and breakfast sandwiches to choose from, along with a laundry list of sides. Ultimately, I decided on the cinnamon swirl pecan stuffed French toast with a side of homefries.
The French toast came out stacked with one atop the other, but slightly askew (there was an option to get three slices, but I stuck with two). Where the two came together was a swirl of cinnamon-sugar sticky bun filling that was drizzled on top with pecans and powdered sugar.
One look at it and I knew there was no need for the bottle of syrup that was on the table. It was sweet enough without it, though not overly sweet. The cinnamon-sugar filling had a deeper flavor than I was expecting, but one that I enjoyed, especially when mixed with the nuts.
Did I need the homefries? No. But I couldn’t resist giving them a try and was glad that I did. The homefries were made with red skin potatoes which, in my mind, make any potato dish better. They were cooked to the perfect soft inside with just a little texture on the outside. Next time, I would look for a smaller main dish and definitely order the potatoes again.
Because I went French toast, Julie ordered pancakes – lemon ricotta blueberry poppy pancakes. For me, these were the best that we got between us. I especially love the pairing of the tart lemon with the slightly sweet ricotta. Adding the fresh blueberries on top made it even better. Julie gave me a taste, and I stole a few more bites at the end, too, because it was so good.
Overall, Annamarie’s provides a good value. Both my French toast and her pancakes were more specialty items, but even with the homefries we spent less than $25 between us. And you could easily spend less. A plain pancake (which the menu warns is the size of three pancakes in other places) is less than $6 for a single. The highest priced item on the breakfast menu is a Cajun shrimp benedict that comes in at $16.99.
I may not have made it to the original Annamarie’s yet, but I’ve now been to Annamarie’s on Main. And I can say that for me, it lived up to my expectations.
BCE Rating Food: Very Good Service: Very Good Ambiance: Very Good Price: $
Annamarie’s on Main 339 W Main St Birdsboro, PA 19508
Five years ago, our family made the drive to the Oley Turnpike Dairy for the first time. The out-of-the-way diner was okay, but nothing special (the ice cream was great, though). The combination restaurant and ice cream parlor was open for 52 years before closing in August 2022.
But the space didn’t remain empty for long as the new Redvo Restaurant opened in February 2023. The restaurant is a new venture from the owners of Penn Steak & Fries, which operated in the Coventry Mall in Pottstown from 1989 until it closed prior to Redvo’s opening.
The space has certainly received an upgrade since our visit in 2018. The wood paneling has been painted a light gray and the dining area is much brighter. The wood-top tables are a big improvement over the vinyl tablecloths that I remember from our first visit.
On the other side of the building, what was once the ice cream parlor is now empty. But when I stopped in for lunch on a Tuesday afternoon, quite a few tables were full in the dining area.
The sign said “seat yourself” so I grabbed a booth at the far end of the room and was quickly greeted and offered a menu. A minute later she was back with my drink and my order was in.
With Redvo’s predecessor being Penn Steak & Fries, I was always going to order a cheesesteak. In addition to creative sandwiches like the pepperoni cheesesteak, spicy pesto chicken cheesesteak and chipotle chicken cheesesteak, Redvo has a build-your-own option with a dozen toppings, an equal number of sauces and three different cheeses.
Though I really wanted to try the spicy pesto, I decided to stick with a more traditional “Berks County” style cheesesteak with Provolone cheese, onions and marinara sauce.
After one bite, I was hooked. The sandwich was packed with perfectly prepared steak. The sauce was on the sweeter side which balanced nicely with the savory meat. And rather than a cold slice of cheese sitting on the bun, the Provolone was melted throughout so every taste was as good as the last.
The best part was that the fries were just as good. The fresh-cut style fries were crispy and flavorful – never once did I have to reach for the salt and pepper shaker. And they made for a great utensil to pick up the excess meat and onions that had fallen onto the plate.
Overall, I was really impressed by both the food and service – and the price was right at about $15 for my sandwich, fries and drink.
While the menu does offer more than just cheesesteaks (they even serve breakfast from 6 a.m. to 12 noon every day), there’s too many cheesesteak options to explore before I branch out from there.
And I can’t wait to try them all.
BCE Rating Food: Very Good Service: Excellent Ambiance: Good Price: $
Redvo Restaurant 6213 Oley Turnpike Road Oley, PA 19547
Some were old favorites. Some we never tried. Here’s a look back at the more than 20 restaurants and eateries in Berks County that closed in 2022.
Noom Nums Caribbean Kitchen
Shillington Farmers Market
With Saturday, December 31 as their last day, Noom Nums Caribbean Kitchen has closed at the Shillington Farmers Market. Noom Nums was sharing a stand with Southern Side Kitchen, which is continuing at the location. In a Facebook message, it was announced that Noom Nums was hiring as the business is restructuring. No additional details are available.
Chef Alan’s American Bistro
West Reading
After 35 years in business, Chef Alan’s American Bistro in West Reading closed its doors for the final time on December 17. The namesake owner Chef Alan Rutter decided to close the restaurant as he retires from his role as chef. A cigar lounge is slated to open in the location early in the new year.
The Angry Anvil
Birdsboro
After four years serving Birdsboro and Berks County, the Angry Anvil closed its doors in early November when their lease expired. The owners are continuing to operate the Oakbrook Brewing Company in Reading.
Canal Street Restaurant & Pub
Reading
A popular spot in the City of Reading since it opened in 1995, the Canal Street Pub is now closed. The owners announced in a Facebook post that the space has been sold and that Friday, November 4 was the last night in business for the restaurant. There is no word on who purchased the space or what they intend to do with it. The Pub owners said they will continue hosting already booked private events.
The Off Post Pub
Bechtelsville
After a short six-month run, the Off Post Pub in Bechtelsville has closed. The business shut its doors on October 31. The Off Post Pub occupied a historic inn at 2116 Old Route 100 since May 24. The building has housed a number of short-lived businesses in recent years incuding Cheers Tavern, Bandit’s Public House and 2116 Taproom.
The Market Cafe at Shillington Farmers Market
Shillington
After five years, the Market Cafe at Shillington Farmers Market is now closed. The announcement came via a Facebook post dated September 24 with that being the business’ last day in operation. A new stand – The Shillington Market Breakfast & Brunch – opened in its place.
SusieQ’s Breakfast and Lunch Cafe
Birdsboro
After three years in business, SusieQ’s in Birdsboro closed its doors for the final time on August 28. In a Facebook post to customers, the owners cited the “current economic state” as the reason for the closure. The location has gone through several restaurants over the years including The Cafe at Maple Springs and a second location for Dino’s Wings & Things.
Oley Turnpike Dairy
Oley
After more than five decades, the Oley Turnpike Dairy closed on August 20 with the owners announcing their retirement on social media. The closure includes the diner, ice cream bar and petting zoo.
The Tavern on Penn
West Lawn
After a 10-year run, the Tavern on Penn in West Lawn closed its doors on July 16. The restaurant’s owners put a heartfelt message on Facebook announcing the closing, saying “Owning and operating the TOP has been one of the greatest joys of our lives and made this decision all the more difficult to make. We feel this is the right time to walk away. Time with our family, children, and grandchildren has flown by before our eyes. It’s time to focus on those relationships and make them a priority. Out of the many trials the pandemic presented, there was one positive we found. The appreciation of time and the limited amount we have together.”
8899 Chinese Restaurant
Muhlenberg Township
8899 Restaurant, formerly located along Kutztown Road in Muhlenberg, closed in 2022 with little to no warning. The restaurant had aced its December health inspection (no violations), then closed in early summer.
Bad Biscuit Co.
Reading
After 15 months in business, Bad Biscuit Co. closed its doors on July 1. The restaurant opened in the former Fiesta Mexicana along Columbia Avenue in early 2021, focusing on breakfast and lunch, especially the scratch-made biscuits.
10 & 23 Tacos
Morgantown
10 & 23 Tacos, the small taco truck at the corner of the namesake routes in Morgantown, closed in June. The business opened in March 2021 and focused on quick service tacos and Mexican food.
Aunt Patti’s Tack Shack
Reading
Aunt Patti’s Tack Shack, inside the CITGO Gas Station on Lancaster Avenue, closed its doors in early June. According to a Facebook posting at the time, the closing stemmed from a falling out with the landlord. The Tack Shack was the reincarnation of Tack’s Sandwich Shop, which operated at the corner of 16th and Cottonwood in Reading for decades before closing in 2020. The owners say they are seeking a new location. In the meantime, pre-made subs, mac salads and more are available at select gas stations in Berks, Lancaster and Montgomery Counties.
Kelsey O’Shays Pub & Grille
Douglassville
Kelsey O’Shays, the Irish Pub along Route 724 in Douglassville, is listed as permanently closed on Google, Facebook and Yelp. The last update on the restaurant’s Facebook page came in April so the closure happened sometime in spring or early summer. There has been no word on any new business for the location.
Stonersville Hotel
Douglassville
After reopening under new ownership in 2021, the Stonersville Hotel closed its doors once again in May, at least for the forseeable future. The announcement came via Facebook that it is a “temporary closure” and that the woners “hope that this closure will not be permanent.” No other details were provided.
Mad Dogs Kutztown
Kutztown
Mad Dogs, the hot dog shop along Constitution Blvd in Kutztown, is now closed. The restaurant shut its doors on May 3. The business had been for sale since last year, but without any buyers, the owners have shut it down to focus on Mad Dogs’ Macungie location. The building has served as a restaurant for many years, formerly housing Potts U and before that CC’s Wood-Fired Girll.
Sazon Caribbean Restaurant
Blandon
After just two months in business, Sazon Caribbean Restaurant in Blandon is closed. The announcement was made on the restaurant’s social media on May 4. In the post, it was alleged that two business partners left without warning, and there was no choice but to close. The restaurant was located in the former Main Street Pizza.
Circle S Ranch House
West Lawn
One of Berks County’s longest-running restaurants is now just a memory with the closing of Circle S Ranch House on April 8. The restaurant had been in business for 49 years. The owners cited a desire to spend more time with their families as the reason for the closing. The family continues to operate Schell’s and the Dairy Swirl in Temple. A new ownership group has reopened the space as Lilli’s Ranch House.
Sweet Street Baked
Muhlenberg
Sweet Street Baked, the Fairgrounds Farmers Market outpost of Cafe Sweet Street, closed its doors on January 11 after less than a year in business. The stand served a limited menu that failed to take off the same as the cafe.
Wild Sage Coffee & Kitchen
Reading & Muhlenberg
The first restaurant to close in 2022, Wild Sage Coffee & Kitchen announced the closure of both locations on January 9. Wild Sage ran a downtown Reading cafe and a second location at the Fairgrounds Farmers Market in Muhlenberg Township. The market location is now home to Oola Bowls while the Washington Street Cafe became home to Sweets Cafe & Juice Bar.
Editor’s Note: The Greenhouse Cafe closed in February 2023 after three years in business at their Wyomissing location. In early 2024, they opeend The Greenhouse Kitchen on Evans Avenue. That location closed in November 2024. The original location in this blog is now home to City Girl Juice.
It’s been nearly three years since I first visited the Greenhouse Café, the vegan coffee shop and eatery in Wyomissing. That visit came in early 2020, shortly after the café opened. Since then, the Greenhouse has become one of my favorite restaurants.
I love sitting in the namesake “greenhouse” dining area. Surrounded by windows, the room is always bright and sunny and a great place to sit down with my laptop and doing some work-from-home away from home.
The room has changed since the cafe opened – gone are the sofa, the round metal table, and the narrow high-top table. In their place are more functional seating – four tables for two along the brick wall and two larger tables that can seat six by the windows. What hasn’t changed is the quality of the food.
But I didn’t become a regular until the fall of 2021 when I signed up for their “soup CSA.” I pre-paid for 10 quarts of soup – a different variety each week. There were some really great ones along the way like mung bean, kale and coconut (pictured); adzuki bean chili; carrot ginger; and chickpea and rice. There were so many delicious offerings that I signed up for a second round in the beginning of 2022.
Then earlier this year, Julie and I attended the Greenhouse Cafe’s “Intro to Chai” event where owners Uday and Nikki offered tastings of three variations of chai along with a variety of traditional foods (and some unique offerings, as well).
But the regular meals at Greenhouse are just as good. In early 2022, the cafe cut back its hours. Instead of offering breakfast and lunch, the cafe serves brunch daily from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. (closed Mondays).
Through my many visits, I’ve been able to try many menu items, and I definitely have some favorites.
On the breakfast side, I really enjoy their French toast. Each order comes with four thick slices dusted with powdered sugar and swimming in syrup. The French toast has a nutty flavor to it that I enjoy and sets it apart from the usual.
On the lunch side, I’ve found three dishes that I prefer above the rest. My favorite among them is probably the kati rolls.
Filled with chana masala – chickpea stewed with tomatoes, onions and spices– and topped with pickled red onion, it features a flaky, crunchy roll. It’s like a crunchier version of a pita or naan. The dish comes together really well. It’s a little savory and the pickled onions really pop. And the two rolls are filling on their own (it doesn’t mean I won’t splurge for a cup of soup on the side, though).
Another favorite is the falafel wrap. Falafel is a lot easier to find around Berks County than chana masala, but Greenhouse does a very good version of the dish with hummus, vegetables and tahini. While the falafel and wrap are on the dry side, the hummus and tahini give it a sauciness and help to bind everything together.
During the Intro to Chai event, I had the chance to try another menu item for the first time – strata. It’s a baked dish that uses chickpea flour that has a grainy, but not unpleasant texture. At the event, it was served plain, but on the menu it comes beneath a creamy herb sauce.
Without the sauce, the strata is good, but dry. With the sauce, it’s a very good dish that goes down easy. Non-dairy cream sauces can be hit or miss, but the Greenhouse Café’s is definitely a hit. And unlike the other menu items, the strata comes with a side of herbed potatoes that shine on their own.
Though they haven’t offered the soup CSA again this year, I always get a cup of soup with my lunch orders. A recent favorite is the quinoa bean soup, a hearty soup that made a great plant-based chili.
And whether I’m ordering breakfast or lunch, it’s always accompanied by a large mug of chai. This isn’t a Starbucks-style chai that’s loaded with sugar and syrup, it’s a homemade black tea blended with oat milk with spices that’s warming and satisfying.
I love a good burger as much of the next person, but I also love Greenhouse Café so whether you’re a practicing vegan or just looking for a unique meal in a cool setting, the Greenhouse should be near the top of your list.
BCE Rating Food: Very Good Service: Excellent
Ambiance: Excellent Price: $$
The Greenhouse Cafe 18 State Hill Rd Wyomissing, PA 19610
The arrival of a new restaurant to Berks County is always welcomed. But when that eatery offers something different – when it adds a little more variety to the dining scene – it’s a little more exciting.
A little something different is exactly what the Greenhouse Cafe promises as Berks County’s newest vegan spot.
The Cafe is located in an outbuilding on the property of the Bell Tower Salon & Spa in Wyomissing (just off of State Hill Road near the intersection with Penn Avenue). I have never had a reason to go to Bell Tower myself, but Julie tells me the space was at least partially a retail store previously.
Walking in the door, you don’t get the Greenhouse feeling. It’s very minimalist with plain brown walls and simple silver-colored tables and chairs opposite the large windows. The dining room to the right is where you really feel the Greenhouse and feel at home. Natural light pours in from the sides and from above. The seating is varied with both high-tops and more relaxed sitting areas. We sat on cushioned benches around a low-top table. A faux fireplace was unlit on the wall next to us.
With the opening of the Greenhouse Cafe, Berks County now has four fully dedicated vegan eateries with Chen Vegetarian House in West Reading, the Firefly Cafe in Boyertown and HIVE in Kutztown being the other three.
The Cafe opened at the end of November with just drinks and baked goods. They slowly expanded their food offerings to include hummus and soups. The full lunch menu debuted on February 15.
Small plates include hummus and bean dips. There are several homemade dressings for your salad or grain bowl (including lemon tahini and ginger sesame). And entrees include chickpea by the sea (mock tuna), an egg-less salad sandwich and hummus and veggie sandwich.
When it came to deciding on an entree, I was torn between the hummus sandwich and the rotating special, a chana masala sandwich. The special sounded too good to pass up.
Masala is an Indian tomato sauce (chicken tikka masala is probably the most well-known version of the dish in America); chana masala features chickpeas as the primary “protein” in the dish. For the special, the chana masala came served on a hoagie roll topped with pickled cabbage.
It was an excellent entree. The masala sauce was very nice and the chickpeas were cooked well but still had texture to them. There were times while eating the dish where the sauce and the roll reminded me of a Berks County cheesesteak. (The roll was delicious, by the way).
The sandwich came served with a side of cucumber salad. It was good, but there wasn’t much to it.
Julie made a meal out of a small plate of hummus and a side grain bowl of edamame, chickpeas, cranberry and quinoa.
The bowl came out first with my sandwich. The server then appeared with a hummus sandwich only to retreat back into the kitchen for the plate of hummus that Julie had ordered.
Julie started on the bowl, which was very good. We make a quinoa dish at home with dried cranberries that we really like and this was even better. The edamame was softened just enough that it wasn’t crunchy but was still a little firm. The cranberries and (surprise) golden raisins added the sweetness that it needed to tie everything together.
When Julie’s hummus plate arrived a few minutes later, it was worth the wait. The hummus was much thicker and more textured than store-bought hummus. It was also more flavorful with a nice dusting of spices on top. Julie was excited to come back and buy some hummus to-go so she could enjoy it at home, too.
It wasn’t just the hummus, though. The pita it was served with was as good, if not better, than we have found elsewhere. It was more dense than others and was packed with flavors (of course neither of us could put our fingers on what those flavors were that were shining through). We loved everything about it.
The only thing that was a little confusing to me was the menu said it was topped with shawarma. I only know shawarma as the meat that is sliced from the spit. I can only assume that it was a shawarma spice that was on top.
Beyond the food, I was very excited to try their house blend chai tea.
I don’t drink coffee, but I love a good chai latte. The Greenhouse has their own special chai spice blend and they use oat milk to keep it vegan. It didn’t have a foamy head like a lot of chai that I’ve had, but it had a nice aroma and flavor from the spices. The oat milk even added a little bit of an earthy flavor as well that I really enjoyed.
The sizing of our drinks didn’t make much sense, though. Julie ordered a small while I ordered a large. They were served in the exact same size cups. Hers was just filled slightly less than my own.
Our lunch was a little on the pricey side at $37 (about $10 of that were the drinks), but we thought it was worth it. The service was definitely a little off. It wasn’t just the sandwich/hummus plate mix-up either. As we were leaving, a line was growing as two employees looked over the screen of their point-of-sale system trying to find the menu item the customer wanted to order.
Those hiccups will get better with more time and practice. The food is already on-point, and that’s the most important part.
BCE Rating Food: Very Good Ambiance: Excellent (in the Greenhouse Dining Area) Service: Good Price: A Little Pricey
Long-time followers of Berks County Eats know how much we have enjoyed our visits to Klinger’s pubs across the county over the years.
While I will always love the original Klinger’s on Carsonia, Klinger’s at the Airport has recently become our family’s go-to for both the food and the look on our son’s face when he sees a plane takeoff outside the window.
Our most recent visit reaffirmed how much we enjoy the restaurant by the runway at the Reading Regional Airport. Jump to Original Review from 2017
We stopped in on a Friday night around 5:30. The bar was full and the restaurant was bustling but there was still plenty of seating in the dining area and we were lucky enough to get a table by the window.
Even though it was already dark outside, the lights of the planes illuminated them just enough so that Jakob could watch them take off while we waited for our food to arrive.
For my meal, I ordered Klinger’s boneless wings – half Parmesan peppercorn and half Jameson Whiskey BBQ. The boneless wings were always a favorite of mine at the Carsonia location and they did not disappoint. Klinger’s BBQ sauce is one of my favorite wing sauces I’ve found – smokey and sweet. And the Parmesan peppercorn was creamy and mild.
The best part, I ordered 10 wings and got a full baker’s dozen in my basket.
Julie had the Cadillac quesadilla. The name is an homage to Klinger’s former location in Fleetwood and is a delicious take on a cheesesteak. In addition to the steak, cheese and grilled onions, the quesadilla is drizzled with barbecue sauce.
Though it comes served with salsa and sour cream on the side, the barbecue sauce adds a sweetness to the dish that makes the other sauces almost unnecessary.
For Jakob’s meal, we got him pasta and tater tots. The pasta was curly noodles that he didn’t need to cut which made it easy for him to clear his bowl. He did the same with his tots, leaving just three left when he declared “I’m full” at the end of the meal.
It took him a little longer than the rest of us to finish his food because there were at least 10 planes landing or taking off while we were there, and for a five-year-old, each one is an event that can’t be missed.
Joining us on our visit was my mother-in-law, Peggy, who loves Klinger’s fries – beer-battered and crispy. She enjoyed them alongside her cheeseburger.
Overall, it was a great meal and a great experience – exactly what we were hoping for with this family meal. And for the four of us, our total was under $80 (and we had a $5 off coupon).
BCE Rating Food: Very Good Ambiance: Very Good Service: Very Good Price: $$
Klinger’s at the Airport 2385 Bernville Rd Reading, PA 19605
Every great movie franchise is built on the trilogy. Think Lord of the Rings, the Dark Knight and Star Wars (the originals, obviously). That formula apparently works for restaurants, too.
With the opening of Klinger’s at the Airport at the end of 2016, the Klinger’s trilogy is now complete.
Berks County Eats has already visited the original Klinger’s on Carsonia, and last year, we visited the new Klinger’s of Fleetwood.
If I were starting a restaurant, the Reading Regional Airport would not be my ideal location. The airport hasn’t had regular passenger service since 2004.
But with the closing of Malibooz early last year, the space was open and Klinger’s stepped in.
The lights were mostly off in the terminal when we arrived, but Klinger’s was alive and well, tucked in a corner on the left side of the building.
It looks like a hole in the wall, but the dining area opens up from the entrance. To the right is a 360-degree bar. A large mural dedicated to aviation history decorates the wall behind it.
The rest of the dining room is filled with booths and tables, definitely the largest dining area of the three Klinger’s restaurants.
Our table was by one of the windows overlooking the airstrip. During our visit – a Tuesday night where we played Challenge the Pub trivia – we saw exactly one plane out the window, though whether it was coming or going, I couldn’t say.
Klinger’s is known for their bar food and for me, their wings are some of the best around. So we had to start our night with a basket – five Old Bay and five Jameson Whiskey BBQ.
Both flavors can be found at Klinger’s other restaurants, the Jameson Whiskey BBQ being the signature flavor. It’s sweet, and a little bitey. When I’ve had the wings at Carsonia, the sauce is laid on much thicker. This was lighter, but the flavor was still there. And the Old Bay is exactly what it sounds like, wings rubbed down in the classic seasoning, Julie’s favorite.
The menu looks similar to the other two locations, though each one has its own unique offerings. For instance, all three feature different varieties of chili. I had an opportunity to sample the habanero chili during the chili cook-off at this year’s Fire & Ice Festival and loved it. It was a little sweet with enough heat to make you take notice, but not enough to overpower everything else.
Another twist comes with the sandwiches. All three locations have a section for steak sandwiches, but only Fleetwood and the Airport have the Lone Star Style steak sandwich featuring sautéed onions, barbecue sauce, beer cheese and bacon.
It is a phenomenal mix of ingredients. The steak meat – real cuts of meat, not Steak-Ums – is a great base. The beer cheese and the barbecue sauce blend together really well for a sweet and smoky flavor. The thick-cut bacon adds a salty note and more smokiness. And the sautéed onions are the perfect finish.
This is no Philly cheesesteak, but it is one of the best sandwiches that I have tried in more than three years of Berks County Eats.
One of the only-at-the-airport menu additions is Stromboli – seven varieties made with beer dough. Julie decided to try the Classic – pepperoni, ham, mushrooms, onions, green peppers, mozzarella and marinara.
Klinger’s did a good job with this. The doughy shell is very good, though I couldn’t taste anything uniquely “beer dough” about it. What really stands out though is the sauce. It’s a thick, deep red sauce that is quite enjoyable for a place that doesn’t qualify as an “Italian restaurant.”
We were joined on our visit by our friends Matt and Hannah, who were very excited to see a cookie sundae on the dessert menu.
I have to say, after the meal, the sundae was a bit of a letdown. The chocolate chip cookie, though it looked cute with a faux face made of chocolate chunks – was disappointing. It was hard so it was difficult to cut and share. We finished off the ice cream and chocolate syrup but left some of the cookie behind.
For Julie and I, our total bill was around $30 (that included our two entrees, wings and an iced tea as Matt and Hannah picked up the tab for the cookie). Good luck coming in under $30 for dinner at PHL.
The new Klinger’s, despite its location, should prove successful. It follows a similar formula as its two sister restaurants: a cool atmosphere, rotating craft beers for the bar crowd, and great food.
Now that they have the three-peat, will Klinger’s try for four?
BCE Rating Food: Good Service: Good Ambiance: Very Good Price: Reasonable
Klinger’s at the Airport 2385 Bernville Rd Reading, PA 19605
Five years ago, I posted about La Cantina Restaurant, an Italian restaurant and bar along New Holland Road that I was frequenting during my poker-playing days. Fast-forward to July 2021 and La Cantina closed its doors.
While the barroom at La Cantina was very much of a dive, Doc & Bubba’s is anything but. The new restaurant is gorgeous and gives off a finer dining ambiance with dark wood tabletops and gray metal chairs with a modern flair.
The bar, itself, has been set apart. Assorted bottles peek out from windows above the bar, watching over customers and the high-top tables that flank the bar area. (Our visit came in October so the bar was also adorned with ghosts that hung from the overhead liquor cabinets).
The outside patio – open year-round thanks to heat lamps – is the more casual space with a mix of standard dining tables along with Adirondacks and more relaxing seats. A second bar serves those sitting outside.
Julie and I visited for lunch and were among the first to arrive after it opened at 11, allowing us our choice of seats. We settled in at a table in the back of the dining room where we could look out the large picture windows and admire the back patio.
The lunch menu at Doc & Bubba’s consists of sandwiches, burgers, salads and pizza (with a few shareables). The menu is seasonal so items rotate on and off. During our visit, the sandwich calling my name was the South Philly roast pork – a traditional roast pork sandwich with broccoli rabe, Sharp provolone, but with the addition of pizzaioli sauce and roasted garlic aioli.
It was good and hearty. Roast pork sandwiches typically aren’t served with sauce, but I liked the addition of the pizzaioli sauce on this. I actually wished there was a little more of it spread throughout so I could have gotten the flavor in every bite.
Julie really enjoyed her salmon BLT. Served on perfectly toasted bread, the salmon blended well with the traditional BLT. And it was perfectly portioned for lunch – not too light to leave her hungry, but not too heavy either.
We both enjoyed the fries which were served in their own little fryer basket along with an individual sized bottle of ketchup – a nice little added touch. The fries were topped with sea salt and pepper, but I found myself adding just a pinch more salt to them. Otherwise, they were nearly perfect.
At $40, our lunch was on the expensive side (I did also have an iced tea), but it didn’t feel like we had overpaid because the food was definitely a higher quality than we would get at many other lunch spots.
The dinner prices are a little higher, but most entrees fall in the $20-$30 range with steaks and select seafood dishes coming in higher.
Doc & Bubba’s may not be weekly stop for me like La Cantina was at one time, but it’s we will definitely return – whether for an elevated lunch or a nice dinner.
BCE Rating Food: Very Good Ambiance: Excellent Service: Good Price: A Little Pricey
Doc & Bubba’s 4312 New Holland Rd Mohnton, PA 19540
