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20+ Restaurants We Lost in 2019

Looking back, 2019 was a great year for new restaurants in Berks County. Unfortunately we also lost a few restaurants – some old favorites and some new places that couldn’t make it. Here’s a last look back at some of the restaurants we lost in 2019.

Signatures Cafe by Angell
Morgantown

Signatures Cafe was the anchor eatery at the short-lived Morgantown Farmers Marketplace located just outside town (and just over the county line in Lancaster County). We had the opportunity to enjoy some of Signature’s soul food in January before the market closed in March.

Mad Anthony’s
Morgantown

Another Morgantown Farmers Marketplace vendor, Mad Anthony’s was a butcher and sandwich stand that closed along with the market in March.

Abigail’s Tea Room
Reading

Abigail’s Tea Room was in business for 13 years, offering breakfast and lunch in a beautiful Victorian home along Perkiomen Avenue in Reading. Unfortuantely the Tea Room closed in August. At the time, it was said that the business was looking to reopen in a large space – potentially in Boyertown – but there have been no updates since.

Brocmar Smokehouse
West Reading

When it opened in the Shillington Farmers Market at the end of 2017, Brocmar Smokehouse quickly became my new favorite barbecue place in Berks County. So I was very excited to hear it was opening inside the cafe portion of B2 Bistro in West Reading. Unfortunately the partnership lasted just a few months before closing in October when B2 began doing barbecue themselves in the space. The good news for Brocmar fans is that the Shillington Farmers Market location and the stand at the Santander Arena continue on.

Nectar’s Cafe & Juice Bar
Kutztown

Nectar’s was the food and beverage extension of the Yoga House in Kutztown. While the Yoga House continues (it was scheduled to move, then didn’t), the cafe closed in July.

Jake’s Place
Hamburg

Jake’s Place, a comfort food restaurant and bar located just outside Hamburg along Old Route 22, closed in June after completing the sale of its liquor license.

House of Jerk Dread
Reading

House of Jerk Dread brought authentic Jamaican food to Penn Street in Reading when it opened in 2017. And while the restaurant closed in early 2019, HOJD is still going strong. You can still enjoy their signature jerk chicken – and their many other offerings – at events throughout Berks County (or have them cater yours).

Le Pain Chaud
Wernersville

Le Pain Chaud billed itself as Berks County’s Haitian bakery and cafe. Operating in Wernersville, the cafe closed in early fall as the owners made the decision to concentrate on the catering side of the business.

1 Potato Two at the Fairgrounds Farmers Market

1 Potato Two
Muhlenberg

One of my favorite stands at the Fairgrounds Farmers Market, 1 Potato Two offered the Spudwich, a completely unique “sandwich” that featured potatoes instead of bread. The business had been for sale for a while, eventually closing in the fall. 1 Potato Two still has a food truck operation based n South Jersey. San’s Asian Food now occupies the market stand.

The Sandwich Shack
Muhlenberg

Another Fairgrounds Farmers Market stand that closed in 2019, the Sandwich Shack offered a range of breakfast and lunch sandwiches. The space now houses Tradicions, a stand offering street tacos, egg sandwiches and more.

Pit Stop Tavern/Decades Speakeasy
Boyertown

The Pit Stop Tavern had been a staple in eastern Berks County since the 1950s. New owners took over the space in 2018. A year later, the restaurant was renovated and reopened as Decades Speakeasy, closing just a few weeks later. The site is now home to Barrel & Ale, which offers German specialities among other American comfort foods.

Billy Burger & Bakery
Morgantown

While it operated, Billy Burger & Bakery was home to some of the best burgers in Berks County. Unfortunately the restuarant closed in early 2019.

The BBQ Bully
Reading

The BBQ Bully is one of the craziest stories of 2019. The eatery opened inside the Reverb nightclub in downtown Reading. Then after only a few days of regular hours, it closed. Though the owner promises to continue and find new avenues for bringing his barbecue to Reading and Berks County.

Irena’s Mexican and Italian Restaurant
Wernersville

This summer, Irena’s Mexican and Italian Restaurant moved from Auburn, Schuylkill County, to the former A&M Pizza in Wernersville. Unfortunately the new location didn’t stick and after just a few months in business, the lights were off and Irena’s closed.

On a Roll Grill
Wernersville

Suffering much the same fate as Irena’s, On A Roll Grill was also a short-lived restaurant. Opening and closing in a matter of a few months, On A Roll Grill originally posted on Facebook that they would be closing for a week. Then a sign appeared on the door that said they were closed for the season and would reopen in May. At this point, it appears as if the restaurant is closed for good.

Castaneda’s Mexican Restaurant
Robesonia

Castaneda’s, which opened in 2017, quickly became a popular spot on the west side of Robeosnia. A second location opened in January in Denver, Lancaster County. This summer, the Robesonia location closed as it prepared to move to a larger space on the other side of town. A “Coming Soon” sign has been outside ever since as we continue to wait for Castaneda’s return.

Belly Kitchen & Drinkery

Belly Kitchen & Drinkery
Reading

Belly Kitchen & Drinkery opened inside the Goggleworks to much fanfare in July 2018. Earlier this year, the restaurant partners announced they were leaving downtown to partner with the Barley Mow Craft Beer House in West Reading, which had previously operated without a kitchen. Belly officially closed at the end of October, but the Goggleworks will have a new bar and restaurant soon when the Den by Sly Fox opens in December.

Francesca’s Pizzeria & Restaurant
Reading

Francesca’s was the successor to Arner’s, the longtime area diner along Howard Boulevard in east Reading. The Italian restaurant operated from 2016 until this fall. Plaza Azteca, the Mexican restaurant chain, is set to open its second Berks County location in the space. 

Sofrito Gastro Pub
Reading

Of all the closings, this may be the one that stings the most. Sofrito Gastro Pub was a neighborhood gem on the edge of the Centre Park Historic District in Reading. Sofrito shined bright, even opening a second location in Mohnton that operated for a short time. Now both locations are closed.

Hay Creek Snack Shack
Birdsboro

The Hay Creek Snack Shack closed in early October as a restaurant. The owners made the announcement on Facebook, citing a desire to concentrate on catering. They also offered baked goods around the holidays. In the announcement, the possibility of reopening as a restaurant was left open, but for now, the Snack Shack is closed.

Dryville Hotel
Dryville

The Dryville Hotel, located just a few miles south of Lyons in the village of Dryville, closed in November. The former owners, who operated the hotel for the past seven years, sold the location and their liquor licenese to the owners of the Liberty Taproom and Liberty Ale House. The Liberty at Dryville is expected to open at the spot sometime in early 2020.

Bistro 614
West Reading

After 15 years in business, West Reading’s Bistro 614 closed in early December. The fine dining restaurant suffered a devastating fire in 2014, reopening in 2015. Less than five years later, the restaurant is now closed. There is no word on what will happen to the location.

Talarico’s Sandwich Shop
Boyertown

One of Berks County’s longest running restaurants, Talarico’s Sandwich Shop closed after 68 years of business. The Boyertown landmark announced the closing with a letter on the door thanking its customers, family and friends.

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A plate with three enchiladas - one each with red, white and green sauce, with refried beans and rice from Norte Sur
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Review: Norte Sur Mexican Restaurant

A view of the exterior of Norte Sur, featuring a brick and stone facade with large picture windows

First impressions for a business are everything. I think they are even more important for a restaurant because when you think about it, your first visit to a restaurant is multiple first impressions.

What does the building look like? What does the dining room look like? How were you greeted when you walked in? How is the service? How long does it take to get your food or your check? And of course, what does that first bite taste like?

Wooden tables and benches beneath colorful strings of banners at Norte Sur

Opening in late 2019, Norte Sur Mexican Restaurant checks a lot of boxes.

Norte Sur opened in a former Turkey Hill Minit Market along Kutztown Road in Muhlenberg Township, right across the street from the former Freymoyer’s Restaurant.

The amount of work that was put in to transform the building shows that Norte Sur is serious about their business. The exterior has been given a touch of class thanks to the addition of a brick and stone facade.

Wooden tables and benches beneath colorful strings of banners at Norte Sur

That same motif carries inside to the dining room where brick arches set it apart from the take-out and kitchen areas. Otherwise, the decor is subdued compared to other Mexican restaurants in the area. Strings of small, colorful banners hang from the ceiling while the walls are decorated with paintings along with a few traditional men’s and women’s outfits. The seating is comprised entirely of booths made of high-backed wooden benches.

We were greeted and seated by a friendly hostess who also served us throughout our visit. We – Julie, Jakob and I – had arrived around 5 p.m. on Friday afternoon and were the only ones dining in at the time. Two other couples were seated before we left at 6 while we heard several phone orders coming through during that same time.

Norte Sur’s menu is pretty simple: tacos, enchiladas, burritos, quesadillas and a handful of additional entrees and appetizers.

A bowl of green poblano soup drizzled with sour cream and cheese and topped with red, green and yellow tortilla strips from Norte Sur

One appetizer that caught my eye was the crema de poblano, a creamy soup that started with a mix of chicken broth and poblano pepper. It was topped with tortilla strips, cheese and sour cream.

I had poblano soup once before, about a year ago at Alebrije in Wyomissing. I enjoyed this one just as much, though they had very different flavor profiles. Norte Sur’s version wasn’t as creamy, but I found it to be just as flavorful with a little more spicy heat throughout. I enjoyed the addition of the tortilla chips which added some texture. The shredded cheese was also a nice touch, helping to thicken the broth as it melted.

It was definitely something that I would order again. The same can be said for my tacos Norte Sur.

Three soft-shell tacos with steak, pico de gallo, cabbage and pickled red onion from Norte Sur.

The tacos Norte Sur are, as the name implies, a signature item for the restaurant. The three soft-shell tacos are filled with grilled steak, cabbage, pickled red onions, chipotle sauce, pico de gallo and cheese. It was a delicious combination.

The steak was nicely done in small-ish strips with a hint of seasoning, but the flavor of the toppings was outstanding. The pico was bright and fresh. The pickled onions added a vinegary note that paired well with the citrusy tones of lime juice which could be tasted throughout. I was very happy with my decision.

A bowl of refried beans with yellow rice on a plate from Norte Sur

Most entrees at Norte Sur are served with a side of rice and refried beans. Refried beans are not my favorite, but these weren’t bad. The yellow rice was also good. It had peas and a few bits of carrot throughout. I knew I couldn’t finish all of the food that I had ordered so I sacrificed some of my rice and beans in favor of the tacos and soup.

Julie and Jakob both had rice and beans with their meals as well. Julie always gravitates to enchiladas, and in this case, it was the enchiladas Norte Sur.

A plate with three enchiladas - one each with red, white and green sauce, with refried beans and rice from Norte Sur

The meal included three distinct enchiladas: one beef, one chicken, and one cheese, each topped with a different sauce. The beef was topped with a traditional red enchilada sauce that had more of a kick to it than the other two. The chicken enchilada was topped with a creamy white sauce that provided a cooling contrast. And the cheese was topped with green tomatillo sauce that was somewhere in the middle.

All three were very good, but Julie’s favorite was the cheese enchilada (it usually is).

A large soft shell taco on a plate with refried beans and yellow rice from Norte Sur

Jakob’s favorite thing on his plate was the rice. Our two-year-old can sometimes be adventurous with his meals and sometimes not. We knew he would eat the rice – and he did, happily. We had hoped he would eat his beef taco, but after a couple bites he gave up on that.

We had the choice of soft shell or hard shell for his taco, and chose soft. It seemed like he was having difficulty holding it together which may have been why he stuck with the rice.

A basket of tortilla chips with a bowl of red salsa from Norte Sur

I should also mention that we had chips and salsa at our seat before we had even ordered our meal. The chips were served warm – always a nice touch. And the salsa was very good, and like much of our meal, had a kick to it.

The service and price both left good impressions as well. The two servers covering the dining room were attentive throughout, and our meals and my bowl of soup cost about $35.

After we left, Julie and I were both remarking about how good the food was and how impressed we were with what they did to turn a mini market into a real restaurant.

Our first impressions of Norte Sur Mexican Restaurant were very good all around.

BCE Rating
Food: Very Good
Service: Very Good
Ambiance: Very Good
Price: Reasonable

Norte Sur Mexican Restaurant
2610 Kutztown Rd
Reading, PA 19606

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5 Favorite Entrees of 2019

Our annual end-of-year tradition continues as we take a look back on the best things we tried last year. Here are our five favorite entrees of 2019:

Wagyu Steak with chimichurri sauce

Wagyu Beef Steak – Heritage Restaurant

Heritage RestaurantAt the chef’s tasting meal at Heritage Restaurant, the star of the show was unquestionably the Wagyu beef steak. It was finished with lemon-lime sea salt and chimichurri sauce. What an incredible combination, especially the zesty, salty flavor from the lemon-lime. It brought out the natural flavors of the beef. The end result was a perfect steak. Review: Heritage Restaurant

Belly Kitchen Brooklyn Pan Perdu

Pan Per Du – Belly Kitchen & Drinkery

One of the coolest experiences we had this year was attending the Sunday Jazz Brunch at Belly Kitchen & Drinkery. It also featured one of my favorite entrees – the pan per du. It looked like French toast, and it essentially is, but instead of a white bread, it’s made with Green’s chocolate babka, a sweet kosher bread. After an egg wash and some time on the grill, it was topped with a salted caramel maple drizzle and served with a yogurt “smear” with pieces of Cinnamon Toast Crunch. It was a melt-in-your-mouth meal that was packed with flavor. And while Belly may have closed their kitchen at the Goggleworks, the Sunday Jazz Brunch continues at their new home, the Barley Mow in West Reading. Review: Belly Kitchen

Lamb Burger – Other Farm Brewing Company

Burgers are good. The lamb burger at the Other Farm Brewing Company in Boyertown was great. Ground lamb makes an excellent base thanks to its rich flavors. But it was the sweet-and-sour tomato chuntey that really made it for me. (The Parmesan truffle fries on the side didn’t hurt, either). Review: Other Farm

1787 Brewing Company Honey Ham Flatbread

Honey Ham Flatbread – 1787 Brewing Company

Flatbreads are often enjoyed as appetizers, but I made a meal out of the honey ham flatbread at 1787 Brewing Company and it was one of my favorites of the year. The flatbread was topped with ricotta, shaved ham, fig puree and cranberries. The fig puree was sweet, but it was the cranberries that really popped against the savory ham. Review: 1787 Brewing Company

overhead photo of waffle topped with bananas, pecans and whipped cream with a cup of syrup

Southern Pecan Comfort – Four Twelve

I normally prefer French toast or pancakes to waffles, but that was before I tried the Southern Pecan Comfort from Four Twelve. The waffle had bits of bacon in it, and it was topped with bananas, whipped cream and pecans. It had notes of sweet, salty and savory with a nice crunchy texture from the pecans. It was almost like having dessert for breakfast. Review: Four Twelve

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A kids meal featuring Half a grilled cheese sandwich served in a 3D cardboard paper Ford Fairlane classic car
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Review: Pop’s Malt Shoppe

The stone exterior of Pop's Malt Shoppe in Kutztown

Who wants ice cream in the cold of winter? This guy.

I’ve never believed ice cream to be a summer-only treat. It’s year-round goodness. Especially on special occasions – like when mommy has to go away for work and leaves daddy home alone with a two-year-old.

But where to get ice cream – and a meal – in January? One option is Pop’s Malt Shoppe in Kutztown.

Red and white leather booths against a pink wall covered in retro signs in Pop's Malt Shoppe's dining room

Pop’s Malt Shoppe takes on the look and feel of a 50s/60s diner and soda fountain: the checker board floor, the red tables with stainless steel accents, the Elvis music playing through the speakers.

It’s not a unique concept in Berks County – Bel-Air in Bechtelsville and Scoupe DeVille in Birdsboro both have similar concepts. But unlike those, Pop’s is open year-round. So even when there’s snow on the ground and the temperatures are below freezing, Pop’s is open.

A close-up of the retro signs and a mirror on a pink wall in Pop's Malt Shoppe

That was one of the reasons I decided to stop in on a Sunday night in January – that and the fact that they had recently posted about their newly renovated dining area. It was just Jakob and I, and it took him a few minutes to realize where we were. “Ice cream shop?” he asked. My two-year-old is obsessed with our collection of Curious George books, including Curious George Goes to the Ice Cream Shop. I guess Pop’s has a look that’s easily recognizable.

Julie and I had actually never visited Pop’s while we were students at Kutztown. But we did stop in for ice cream a few years ago.

Jars of ice cream toppings in front of a chalkboard with toppings listed on it
Photo from 2016 visit to Pop’s

We were only in the take-out area, but it still had the same vibe as the dining room with pink walls covered in retro signs.

The cookie monster sundae featuring chocolate chip cookies, whipped cream and a cherry in a to-go cup
Photo from 2016 visit to Pop’s

On that visit, we both ordered sundaes: a brownie sundae and a cookie monster sundae. The latter featured Pop’s fresh-baked cookies with choice of ice cream. Photos of fresh-baked cookies have been a staple on Pop’s social media accounts and taste as good as they look – especially with ice cream.

A brownie sundae featuring brownie bites, whipped cream and a cherry in a to-go cup
Photo from 2016 visit to Pop’s

Similarly, the soft, chocolatey brownies were baked in-house as well. It’s a nice touch that helps to set Pop’s apart from other places.

For Jakob and I, ice cream would have to wait until after dinner.

Pop’s food menu is what you would expect – burgers, dogs, a handful of sandwich options, lots of fried foods and salad, in case you want to feel a little less guilty about that ice cream afterward.

A sloppy Joe sandwich, pile of fries and a cup of ketchup on checkered paper

I decided to order Pop’s homemade barbecue sandwich with fries. It was a standard sloppy Joe – ground beef with onion and tomato mixed in with a little barbecue sauce. The roll was smaller than I was expecting, though that could have just been from its obvious trip to the panini press. It was good, but nothing to write home about. The meat was falling out of the bun so it was still a hearty meal, too.

The fries were good, as well. They were crinkle-cut and done well, though I needed to add a little salt for some extra flavor.

A sloppy Joe and fries with a cup of ketchup served on checkered paper atop a melted vinyl record plate

One cool thing that I only picked up on because I heard another table mention it is that the food is served on plates made of melted vinyl records (or at least are made to look that way).

A kids meal featuring Half a grilled cheese sandwich served in a 3D cardboard paper Ford Fairlane classic car

Jakob’s meal also arrived in style. Kids meals are served in paper models of classic cars, and Jakob’s grilled cheese and mac and cheese bites cruised in on a Ford Fairlane.

Close-up of Half a grilled cheese sandwich served in a 3D cardboard paper Ford Fairlane classic car

He enjoyed the grilled cheese. The kids meal is actually a half sandwich using a single slice of bread which actually works out well because it means less crust, which Jakob is currently rejecting.

Four fried mac and cheese triangles on checkered paper

But he certainly didn’t reject the mac and cheese bites. The meal came with four of them, and he happily finished them off without leaving a trace. They were a simple, kid-friendly side not unlike anywhere else, but Jakob enjoyed them, and that’s all that mattered to me in the moment.

With our meals finished, I couldn’t resist ordering us a treat (this is what happens when dad is left in charge for the night). We got a soft-serve sundae with Oreo cookies, strawberries and chocolate syrup (plus the obligatory whipped cream and cherry on top).

An ice cream sundae with vanilla soft-serve ice cream topped with chocolate syrup, strawberries, Oreo cookie crumbles, whipped cream and a cherry

It was wonderful. The vanilla soft serve was nice on its own, but the toppings are what made it. There were 22 toppings to choose from so narrowing it to three (the first topping is free, the rest are 50 cents each) wasn’t easy, but they were all good decisions.

There wasn’t an overwhelming amount of any single topping.  The Oreos were concentrated on one side and the strawberries on the other so every bite was a little different, but no less enjoyable. The ice cream was easily the best part of the meal.

During our visit, the dining room was filled mostly with college students (a few had family members with them) returning for the spring semester, but Pop’s is certainly a family friendly destination in the college town. The price is right for a family meal as well. With dessert, it was about $25.

Our service was good as well. Two different waitresses helped us at different times as they worked as a team to cover a fairly busy dining room. At one point one of them apologized for the wait and said there was a mix-up with my meal. I honestly would not have even known because it was only about 15 minutes from the time we ordered until the food arrived.

It wasn’t a gourmet meal, but it didn’t need to be. We were there for the ice cream, and that didn’t disappoint.

BCE Rating
Food: Fair
Ice Cream: Very Good
Service: Very Good
Ambiance: Very Good
Price: Reasonable

Pop’s Malt Shoppe
208 W. Main St
Kutztown, PA 19530

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sundae topped with a pretzel and a cherry
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5 Favorite Desserts of 2019

Our annual end-of-year tradition continues as we take a look back on the best things we tried last year. Here are our five favorite desserts of 2019:

sundae topped with a pretzel and a cherry

The Bull Dog – Ranch House

Who can resist an ice cream sundae? The Bull Dog (named for the Wilson School District mascot) is a beast of a dessert with four scoops of ice cream, crushed peanuts, strawberries, peaches, pineapple and whipped cream – and a cherry on top, of course. Everything about it was delicious, but the best bites were those with the combination of chocolate ice cream and fresh strawberries. Review: Ranch House

Strawberry Sponge Cake

Strawberry Shortcake – Heritage Restaurant

The last impression of a meal is almost as important as the first, and the strawberry cake was the perfect ending to the chef’s table meal at Heritage Restaurant. Each plate featured a sponge cake topped with fresh strawberries, chocolate mousse, chipotle raspberry sea salt, another layer of sponge cake, banana whipped cream and a strawberry sugar dust. There were layers of flavor that you don’t normally find in a dessert, and too much to recap here. Review: Heritage Restaurant

Mecca Caribbean and Soul Food Pumpkin Pie

Pumpkin Pie – Mecca Caribbean and Soul

Mecca was a surprise hit all around, including the slices of pumpkin pie that were included with our meals. It was simple, a little sweet with the right amount of pumpkin spice, but enjoyable nonetheless. Review: Mecca Caribbean and Soul Food

cup of vanilla ice cream and a tall milkshake in a paper cup

Black and White Milkshake – Just Mom’s

I love a good milkshake so when we visited Just Mom’s in Elverson, I couldn’t help myself. I ordered the black and white – a mix of vanilla and chocolate ice creams that I think makes for the best milkshake base. It did not disappoint. Review: Just Mom’s

A half-size Mason jar of lemongrass creme brulee from Go Fish.

Lemongrass Creme Brulee – Go Fish! Seafood Restaurant and Sushi Bar

Our last review of 2019 was Go Fish! Seafood, and it featured one of our favorite desserts of the year: the lemongrass creme brulee. It was creamy and decadent with hints of citrus. It was a delicious end to a very good meal. Review: Go Fish!

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A styrofoam container with a stir-fry, including chicken, carrot, green beans, onion and red and green bell peppers from Eve's Thai Kitchen
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Review: Eve’s Thai Kitchen

A look at the owners working behind the counter at Eve's Thai Kitchen

In the last two years, I have found myself more and more at the Shillington Farmers Market. The Farmers Market of Wyomissing – just a few blocks from our house – is still our go-to for our fruits, vegetables, meat and dairy, but it just can’t compare with Shillington when it comes to take-out meals.

Brocmar Smokehouse has been one of my favorites since it opened. Mi Casa Su Casa Cafe is always good. And we even enjoyed our simple breakfast we tried at the Market Cafe.

Last year, the market added a new stand that brought even more variety to the market: Eve’s Thai Kitchen.

The Specials of the Day sign at Eve's Thai Kitchen with menu items written in colored chalk

Eve’s Thai Kitchen opened in May, offering a selection of made-to-order dishes from southeast Asia. The menu is limited but still offers variety with both noodle and rice dishes and appetizers that include spring rolls, cheese rolls, soup and chicken satay.

Like most farmers market stands, Eve’s has a pretty simple setup. Guests order at the counter and wait, either hanging out until the food is ready or making a couple stops around the market while the food is prepared. Eve’s does have the advantage of having two dedicated tables with six chairs across the aisle.

Pineapple fried rice with chicken, broccoli and carrot from Eve's Thai Kitchen

I made my first visit to Eve’s back in August and was very impressed with both the service and my order of pineapple fried rice with chicken.

The dish is a great blend of savory and sweet. The pineapple is wonderful and the fruit definitely stars in the dish. But there are more hits of sweetness from the dried cranberries that were mixed in. Cashews added some crunch while the addition of broccoli and carrots both added color and made me feel less guilty about finishing the whole thing.

My first impression made me want to come back and try even more, but it took several months before I found time to return. This time, I brought along Julie and our little man, Jakob.

A styrofoam container of pineappel fried rice with shrimp and vegetables from Eve's Thai Kitchen.

Like me, Julie couldn’t resist the pineapple fried rice. But instead of chicken, she ordered hers with shrimp. And she enjoyed it just as much as I had. She had enjoyed the addition of the shrimp.

She shared everything with Jakob. While he refused the shrimp, he loved the rice and kept asking for more. He also liked the baby corn, which I hadn’t remembered from my order of the pineapple rice. The baby corn is a favorite of mine as well and was a nice addition.

For my second visit, I decided to try something different. On the specials menu, I saw a basil stir-fry. It included your choice of meat (chicken, for me), green beans, onion, carrots and bell peppers over white rice.

A styrofoam container with a stir-fry, including chicken, carrot, green beans, onion and red and green bell peppers from Eve's Thai Kitchen

It was very good and used fresh basil that gave the deep brown sauce a nice herby flavor. I enjoyed everything about it. I especially liked that it was served over white rice instead of fried. While fried rice is good, I always prefer white rice because it soaks up the flavor of everything around it so well. It makes for a much more complete dish, in my opinion, and in this case it allowed the basil sauce, chicken and vegetables to really shine.

Also, I should mention that Eve’s allows you to choose your level of spice: none, mild, medium, hot or Thai hot. Julie went with “none” while I went with “mild.” I didn’t find mild to be very spicy at all, but that doesn’t mean I’m brave enough to raise my spice level next time.

Our food didn’t take long either. Though it was obviously made fresh, it wasn’t more than 15 minutes before it was ready for us. And the price was right as well. Adding on two bottles of water, it was less than $25 for our meals.

On both of my visits, Eve’s Thai Kitchen really delivered with impressive food done well – and done quickly – at a very reasonable price (as you would expect at a farmers market stand).

And it fits in well at the Shillington Farmers Market, which has become a destination for great food here in Berks.

BCE Rating
Food: Very Good
Service: Very Good
Ambiance: Good
Price: Very Reasonable

Eve’s Thai Kitchen
10 S. Summit Ave
Shillington, PA 19607

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5 Favorite Appetizers of 2019

Our annual end-of-year tradition continues as we take a look back on the best things we tried last year. Here are our five favorite appetizers of 2019:

Corn soup topped with pico de gallo, pork belly and avocado crema

Corn Soup – Heritage Restaurant

One of my favorite meals of the year came courtesy of the Heritage Restaurant and their chef’s tasting dinner. All five courses were delicious, but for me, the soup outshone the salad (if only barely). The creamy soup featured fresh pico de gallo, pork belly and avocado crema with lime. It was the pico, especially the bursts of flavor from the tomatoes, was really what set it apart. Review: Heritage Restaurant

Rangoli Indian Street Food Exploding Samosa

Exploding Samosa – Rangoli Indian Street Food

Rangoli is one of my favorite new restaurants of the year, and my exploding samosa made a great first impression. The “exploding” samosas take the dumplings and load them up with a mountain of toppings that includes chickpeas, tomatoes, onion, green chutney, tamarind and yogurt sauces and crunchy noodles (I also added chicken to mine). Each bite was a little different, but I really enjoyed the cool, refreshing, sweet-and-sour profile that the yogurt sauce added. Review: Rangoli

A square-shaped bowl of deep green poblano soup from Alebrije in Wyomissing

Poblano Soup – Alebrije (State Hill Road)

One of our first reviews of the year provided one of my favorite appetizers. In January, I had my first taste of Alebrije’s poblano soup. It was one of the best soups I have tried on Berks County Eats. It was creamy; it was flavorful (but not spicy); it was just exactly what I was hoping for. Review: Alebrije Wyomissing

An aluminum foil pan with two rollatini (pepperoni rolls) and two cups of tomato sauce from Tony's al Taglio in West Reading, PA

Rollatini – Tony’s al Taglio

There is a lot to love about Tony’s al Taglio. Their unique pizza is a must-try, but it was the rollatini that earned a place on this list. Looking like pinwheels of meat and cheese, the rollatini were filled with prosciutto and crescenza strachino cheese, topped with a pistachio pesto. The sweet, salty, nutty food earned a place on my favorite appetizers list. Review: Tony’s al Taglio

square plate with thick-cut fries topped with shaved cheese and scallions

Duck Fat Fries – Beer Wall on Penn

Duck fat fries are my weakness. I love the rich flavors that come from frying in duck fat instead of oil, and Beer Wall on Penn’s did not disappoint.  The addition of scallions and shaved Parmesan cheese took the fries to another level. Review: Beer Wall on Penn

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Appetizers Best of Berks County Eats
A plate of tortellini topped with meat sauce, peas and mushrooms from Gino's Cafe in Shillington
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Review: Gino’s Cafe

A view of the front window of Gino's Cafe from the parking lot

In October 2017,  we made a visit to Gino’s Grille just outside Shillington. The restaurant had just opened two months prior, giving Gino’s a second restaurant. The original – Gino’s Cafe – continued to operate a few blocks away.

Despite what appeared to be creating its own competition, Gino’s Cafe is still going strong. A few weeks ago, we made our first visit to the flagship restaurant in Gino’s portfolio.

Unlike Gino’s Grille which sits right along Lancaster Pike, the Cafe is located off the main drag in a strip mall on Broad Street, across the street from Geoff Penske Buick GMC.

Tables along a wall decorated with generic images of Italy at Gino's Cafe in Shillington

Taking up just one storefront in the strip, Gino’s certainly doesn’t have the largest dining room in Berks County but the tables are packed in, and they needed everyone of them when we visited on a recent Saturday night. We arrived early – Julie, Jakob and I. It was around 4:30, and the Cafe was already busy. It only got busier. By the time we left, there wasn’t a seat left.

Our waitress arrived fairly quickly to take our orders and we had our salads within 10 minutes of sitting down.

A salad plate with lettuce, red onion, cucumber, two cherry tomatoes and a disposable cup of ranch dressing from Gino's Cafe in Shillington

The salads are simple with lettuce, some tomatoes, a slice of cucumber and red onion that was sliced paper thin. It wasn’t anything special, but it served its purpose.

We had a much longer wait after the salads. Twenty minutes went past and instead of food being delivered to our table, we received a basket of garlic bread that we assume was meant to be delivered with the salad, if not before. “I think this is for your table,” I heard our waitress say.

A basket of thin-sliced garlic bread from Gino's Cafe in Shillington

In the cramped confines of the Cafe, the waitresses had nowhere to hide their frustration – and sometimes, confusion. We were seated in the first row of tables, right in front of the counter and the soda fountain where drinks were refilled. I heard the waitresses trying to figure out who should take the next table that arrived. I heard confusion in the take-out area about order numbers.

It’s the type of confusion and controlled chaos that probably happens at a lot of places. But here, with no place to hide, I could see and hear it all unfolding in front of me.

The good news is that our meals were delivered right after the bread. I should also note that the garlic bread was very good. The bread was sliced thin and every piece was very buttery with just enough garlic to give it a nice flavor. I could have eaten them as a snack.

For my entree selection, I had a hard time deciding. For a small restaurant, the menu is disproportionately large. There are more than 25 options in the pasta section of the menu, and that doesn’t include another 25 or so dinners that are served with pasta on the side (not to mention the subs, burgers, pizza, salads and wraps).

A plate of tortellini topped with meat sauce, peas and mushrooms from Gino's Cafe in Shillington

Eventually I settled on the “Chef Tortellini” which had tortellini pasta with Bolognese sauce, peas and mushrooms. I always enjoy tortellini, and I’ve had it plenty of times before on the blog, but I’ve never had it with Bolognese.

I enjoyed the combination of the tortellini with the flavorful meat sauce. I thought it went very well together. The Bolognese had a nice, meaty flavor to it. But I didn’t think the mushrooms and peas added much to the overall dish. I certainly didn’t mind them being there, but neither flavor really stood out against the strong sauce.

It was also a heavy dish. I had to take half of it home with me when the meal was done.

A plate of baked ziti topped with mozzarella cheese from Gino's Cafe in Shillington

The same was true for Julie with her baked ziti. It was your typical baked ziti with a sweet marinara sauce topped with mozzarella. The addition of a little ricotta cheese gave the dish a bit of creaminess and a little different texture from other baked ziti dishes we’ve tried. It was very good, but like my own, half of it came home with us at the end of the meal.

Gino’s has a decent kids menu, mostly pasta with a few sandwiches thrown in (and pizza, of course). We ordered Jakob the kids’ ravioli. The pockets of pasta were smothered in a mound of mozzarella cheese. The full-size raviolis were good, but Jakob probably would have been happy just eating all that cheese.

A mound of mozzarella covers an order of kids lasagna at Gino's Cafe in Shillington

(At one point I gave him one of my tortellini and he kept asking for more of my food instead of eating his own).

Our final bill at the end of the night was right around $40. It’s a fair price, especially for the hearty portions. And other than the garlic bread arriving late to the party, our service was good. What I saw and heard just seemed like the staff wasn’t exactly working like a well-oiled machine, at least during our visit.

Still, we found Gino’s worth a visit. Maybe next time I’ll request a table by the window, at the far end of the dining room, away from the commotion.

BCE Rating
Food: Good
Service: Good
Ambiance: Good
Price: Reasonable

Ginos’ Cafe
400 W. Broad St
Shillington, PA 19607

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Italian Lunch & Dinner Reviews
Three scallops with risotto, spinach and a lemon in a round shallow bowl from Go Fish Seafood in Sinking Spring
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Review: Go Fish! Seafood Restaurant and Sushi Bar

The front steps of Go Fish Seafood decorated with bluish-purple Christmas lights and a wreath above the door.

In March 2018, a fire tore through the former Go Fish Seafood in West Reading. Instead of staying and rebuilding, the restaurant took the opportunity to make a move.

Eighteen months later, in September 2019, the new Go Fish Seafood & Sushi Bar finally opened in Sinking Spring.

A handprint and the words "Go Fish 2019" imprinted in a sidewalk panel.

Go Fish is tucked away along Hull Avenue, several blocks removed from the Penn Avenue traffic. Kline Building & Design Group were the most recent occupants of the site. To make the building restaurant-ready, a ramp entrance was added along with a sidewalk that runs from the parking lot to the front door. A single handprint can be found in the corner of the sidewalk, the words “Go Fish 2019” etched beneath it.

A fireplace is flanked by two sitting chairs in the waiting area of Go Fish

The ramp is a necessity not only for wheelchairs but for anyone who struggles with stairs as the front entrance features a tall, steep staircase. Stepping through the front door, you would never know that this was anything other than a restaurant. After checking in at the desk, we were led through the waiting room, complete with sitting chairs and a fireplace, into the dining area.

The dining room of Go Fish with exposed brick walls, hardwood floors and Edison bulbs hanging from the ceiling.

Exposed brick walls and pillars, Edison bulbs hanging from the ceiling and hardwood floors combine to give it the restaurant an upscale feel. The gorgeous bar is separated from the dining area by a half-wall. In the middle, above the TV displaying the night’s drink specials, “Go Fish” was lit in blue lights.

A black napkin folded in the shape of a fish.

And at our tables, the black napkins were neatly folded in the shape of a fish.

With our toddler at his grandparents’ house for the evening, Julie and I were on our own for a Friday night date night. There was a decent crowd when we arrived at 5:30, and it only got busier in the restaurant while we were there.

Our server was attentive throughout the night and was with us quickly to take our drink order. Julie ordered the “Pear Fizz,” a mocktail with pear nectar, lemon, honey ginger simple syrup, Jamaican ginger beer and seared thyme.

The pear fizz, a mocktail featuring pear nectar and a sprig of thyme sticking out the top of the glass.

We could smell the thyme before the drink was even on the table, and the aroma of the herbs in the glass continued to waft throughout. It was certainly fizzy – a product of the ginger beer – and a little sweet but the ginger helped to balance it out.

In addition, we also ordered water and were given the choice of spring, seltzer or chilled. Note: chilled means tap water. Spring is $4 a bottle, as we found out at the end of our meal.

The restaurant menu is carefully curated with only a few selections for entrees. Though it leans heavily toward seafood, the choices include chicken, steak, pork chop and gnocchi (also available with shrimp or salads). Sushi lovers probably already know this, but the sushi selection is the largest part of the menu.

Three scallops with risotto, spinach and a lemon in a round shallow bowl from Go Fish Seafood in Sinking Spring

I’m not a sushi fan – I’m not even that big of a seafood fan – but the one seafood item I have learned to like is scallops, and Go Fish’s version sounded too good to pass up.

The three seared scallops were served with lemon mascarpone risotto, baby spinach, garlic confit and lemon brulee.

The scallops were cooked very well, but what I enjoyed most were the bites with the garlic confit. I absolutely loved the garlicky sauce; I only wish there had been more of it. There were a couple small dollops on the plate, but I thought it was the perfect complement to the buttery scallops.

I was also a fan of the risotto. I was expecting it to have a little more sweetness to it with the mascarpone, but it was more of a hint than an in-your-face flavor.

Fish and chips (fries) with cups of cocktail sauce and grimiche.

Julie opted for the Go Fish and chips, a more casual offering of battered cod, rosemary frites (French fries) and sides of gribiche and cocktail sauce for dipping.

The cod was a very mild fish, and it was tossed in a light batter. I really enjoyed my taste with the gribiche sauce – think of it as the French version of tartar sauce. It was cooling and a little tangy and was a nice addition. It also went well with the fries, which we both enjoyed.

Neither of us really needed dessert, but it was a date night and the food had arrived so quickly that we felt obligated to stay a little longer and enjoy a post-dinner treat.

A half-size Mason jar of lemongrass creme brulee from Go Fish.

Our dessert of choice was the lemongrass crème brulee. We were not disappointed by the decadent creamy dessert. The lemongrass was a nice touch, adding just a hint of tang.

It was served in a very short Mason jar, which looked really cool but added a level of difficulty when trying to get to the cream at the sides.

The bar area at Go Fish, complete with the restaurant's name in blue lights with red accent lighting on the shelves.

With dessert added onto our bill, we ended up paying around $75. That’s a little more than we usually pay for a meal but a little less than we have paid at other finer dining restaurants around Berks County. And to us, it was well-worth it (though, maybe not the $4 spring water).

Go Fish is what the name implies – a place for seafood lovers. And it’s a great date night spot that has a finer dining feel to it.

It’s a place I would definitely recommend.

BCE Rating
Food: Very Good
Service: Excellent
Ambiance: Excellent
Price: A Little Pricey

Go Fish! Seafood Restaurant & Sushi Bar
301 Hull St`
Sinking Spring, PA 19608

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Dessert Finer Dining Lunch & Dinner
An order of chicken Paremsan, featuring an extra large chicken breast topped with red sauce on a bed of spaghetti, from Temple Family Restaurant.
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Review: Temple Family Restaurant

A view of the entrance to Temple Family Restaurant.

I have always enjoyed a good diner, but I’ve found that I appreciate them even more since becoming a father because I know they are a safe bet for a night out with my son.

Diners always have plenty of seating (including high chairs), the service is quick and there are always kids options on the menu.

So when we were struggling to decide on a place to go for a family dinner on a Sunday in December, my mind went to diners. And that’s how we ended up at the Temple Family Restaurant.

A view of Temple Family Restaurant's large dining room, featuring tables, booths and blue accent lighting at the ceiling.

It had been years since Julie and I last visited Temple Family Restaurant – at least five because we hadn’t been back since Berks County Eats became a thing. We had always enjoyed it, but with so many places to visit, it had fallen off our radar.

Julie, Jakob and I arrived around 5 p.m. and found the restaurant to be busy, but not crowded. The dining area is very large with booths lining every wall and free-standing tables in the middle.

Our waitress was very attentive, arriving at our table within moments of being seated. She was happy to help as we worked to keep Jakob occupied – providing us with an extra menu for him to entertain himself with and also ensuring that his applesauce arrived with our salads.

Mixed greens topped with croutons, cheese and red onions, served with a side of Ranch dressing at Temple Family Restaurant

The menu is large and varied, but all of the “American Classics,” “Pasta Specialties,” and “Steaks and Chops” are served with a choice of soup or salad.

The salads were simple, mostly greens and croutons topped with shredded cheese, onions, green pepper slices and cherry tomatoes. It also came with more than enough salad dressing – at least twice as much in the cup than we usually see with diners.

A pair of dinner rolls in a basket with 10 packets of butter

Our meals were also served with fresh rolls and butter. The rolls were served warm and were very good. They also came with a pile of butter packets (I think I used half of a packet for mine).

For my entree, I chose the chicken croquettes. I have always enjoyed the fried chicken dish, but it’s not something I order very often. I was, however, very glad that I ordered it here.

Two chicken croquettes and a side of potato filling, smothered in gravy, from Temple Family Restaurant

The croquettes were delicious. The breading was nicely seasoned and the chicken had a great flavor to it. And as simple as it was, the bed of mashed potatoes the croquettes were served on were a perfect complement. And the croquettes were huge. I decided to save one for later rather than overdoing it at the restaurant.

Was it a steak dinner at a five-star restaurant? Absolutely not. Was it delicious comfort food? Absolutely.

Not taking the time to study the menu as much as I should have, I ordered potato filling as a side – even though the meal already came with mashed potatoes. (Full disclosure: when I was a teenager, I would do this on purpose when we went to diners. That was not the case here). The filling was fine, but nothing special. I actually enjoyed the mashed potatoes a little bit better.

An order of chicken Paremsan, featuring an extra large chicken breast topped with red sauce on a bed of spaghetti, from Temple Family Restaurant.

Julie had ordered the chicken Parmesan (both of our meals were listed as “homemade” in the menu and had pictures to further sway us on our decisions). It, too, was very good. The chicken breast had a crisp breading on the outside. The sauce was a little sweet and a little thicker than some places. But I thought it all came together very well.

And it was also huge. The chicken breast covered nearly the full length of the oblong plate. Julie didn’t even attempt to finish the whole thing, bringing home half for a later meal.

Her meal also came with a slice of garlic toast. It was not as good as the dinner roll. I thought it tasted more like Texas toast. Either way, it was completely unnecessary given the size of the chicken breast and the fact that we already had bread at the table.

The kids personal pan pizza at Temple Family Restaurant

The kids menu isn’t huge, but there are enough choices to keep most children happy. Jakob was pleased with his personal pan pizza. It didn’t look like anything I would eat, but Jakob finished every bite so I guess it served its purpose well.

He did not want his applesauce, though, so I ended up giving him my buttered corn, which he happily ate for me.

A small cup of rice pudding topped with whipped cream and dusted with cinnamon from Temple Family Restaurant

At the end of the meal, having saved a little bit of room, Julie decided to splurge for some rice pudding for her and Jakob. It came topped with whipped cream and was dusted with cinnamon. Rice pudding is not my favorite – it’s a texture thing for me, mostly – but Julie loves it, especially at diners. Jakob didn’t have much interest in anything other than the whipped cream so I ended up eating most of his share.

We certainly got a lot for our money during our meal as our two entrees, kids meal and rice pudding cost us $31.

It was an enjoyable meal, and kid-friendly at that. Mommy, daddy and Jakob all enjoyed our food and were happy with our decision.

Diners are once again moving to the forefront for me. And Temple Family Restaurant has earned a place near the top of our list.

BCE Rating
Food: Good to Very Good
Ambiance: Good
Service: Very Good
Price: Very Reasonable

Temple Family Restaurant
4949 N. 5th Street Hwy
Temple, PA 19560

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