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Review: The Hot Spot

Farmers market stand with a sign that says "Scott's Hot Spot"

If you subscribe to the daily edition of the Reading Eagle, then you have likely seen the full-page advertisement for the Boscov’s Fairgrounds Farmers Market that runs every Wednesday.

Lately, I have been using it as a checklist and for inspiration for my blogs as I eat my way through the Farmers Market.

What caught my eye over the past few weeks was the note under the Scott’s Hot Spot section: “UNDER NEW OWNERSHIP”

Scott’s opened in 2010. A health issue forced the owner to close the stand for several months in 2015, but otherwise, it has been a staple in the market for seven years.

On April 12, the restaurant’s Facebook account announced the new owners: Roseann Rothenberger and Brian Miller, who are now running the stand and will soon rename it, “The Hot Spot.“

We decided to make it our latest Friday night stop on our Farmers Market odyssey.

The Hot Spot was certainly one of the busiest stands at the market, with a line to order and several people waiting at any given time. While we stood in line to order, we heard another customer complain about his order. “I said no onions on both,” was the cry before his food was remade.

Our food took a little while because of the line that had been in front of us. We probably waited 20 minutes before it was called and I could pick it up at the counter.

gyro with beef, tzatziki sauce and shredded lettuce on an unrolled foil wrap

My entree choice was Scott’s traditional gyro, one of the items that had been a staple at the stand (and spawned a catering trailer called Scott’s Gyro Box).

Gyros are not something that I order very often. My only other gyro in my Berks County Eats journey was from Cafe Sweet Street so I was excited for another taste.

I really enjoyed it, especially the salad base. It had a flavor that I couldn’t quite put my finger on, but it complemented the meat and tzatziki sauce nicely.

boat of fresh-cut red-skinned potato fries

It was also very filling to where I probably didn’t need my side order of fries.

But I really wanted those fries, especially after I saw that they were red-skinned potatoes.

I was slightly disappointed with them. Red-skinned potatoes have such a strong flavor compared to Idaho or russet potatoes, but the natural flavor of the red skins didn’t shine through as much as I had hoped.

For French fries, they were good. They were a little oversalted, but good. But I was hoping for more.

styrofoam container with a tuna melt and two slices of pickle

Julie was a little perplexed by her order. She got the tuna meltaway, but was surprised to find that it really wasn’t a true tuna melt.

While the bread was clearly toasted, the cheese and tuna filling were still cold. That’s not to say it was bad, but you can’t call something a tuna meltaway and then not melt the cheese.

tuna melt cut in half with the top of one removed to show the tuna and tomato underneath

Her sandwich was much smaller than mine, though she wasn’t upset by that. For her, it was just the right size.

Also, her sandwich was supposed to come with a bag of chips, but we never got them (she wouldn’t have eaten them with her meal, but we would have taken them home for later).

Overall, there was confusion at the stand, as would be expected of a new business. Because of the setup at the farmers market, you can see the kitchen very clearly and the three people behind the counter seemed to be stepping on each others toes, leading to small mistakes.

I fully expect things to get better, especially as the menu shifts with the new owners. For now though, it’s a little scattered.

One thing that is still good is the pricing. Our meals (plus two bottles of water) cost $20 and change. That’s one great thing about all of the stands at the market – there’s low overhead costs so the prices are generally lower than if you ordered a similar meal at a restaurant.

The new Scott’s Hot Spot, soon to be The Hot Spot, has the makings of a great stand. It’s just not quite there yet.

Hopefully it reaches its potential because I want to come back in a few months and enjoy something new.

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

The Hot Spot
Fairgrounds Farmers Market
2934 N. Fifth St. Hwy
Reading, PA 19604

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Rebers Bridge Connector Trail
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Food Blogger vs. Fat: Week 3

After a hot start in my first week of Food Blogger vs. Fat, things slowed down for me as my weight stayed the same between Weeks 1 and 2. Week 3 was all about getting back on track.

The Successes

For the first time since I started I current wellness plan, I recorded seven consecutive days of exercise – a total of 15.14 miles walking for the week.

Rebers Bridge Connector Trail
Saturday’s 3.6 mile walk on the Rebers Bridge Connector Trail was my longest of the week.

It started on Saturday – weigh-in day. After a flat week, I decided to start off in a big way: a 3.67 mile walk along the Rebers Bridge Connector Trail.

Starting from the parking lot at Rebers Bridge, we walked west along the trail to the entrance of the Blue Marsh stilling basin. It’s a hilly walk with about 120 feet in elevation change, but a rewarding one as well.

We stopped short of the ascent to the Visitors Center, about another .25 miles further along the trail, saving that for another day.

Flowers along the Rebers Bridge Connector Trail
The flowers are starting to bloom along the trail

The weather this week could not have been better, and it was evident along the trail with the beautiful flowers that were starting to poke up.

Following up on our Saturday success, Julie and I ventured out on a 3.5 mile walk on Sunday.

Robesonia's Furnace Creek
Furnace Creek was flowing nicely on Sunday during our walk around Robesonia.

We were visiting my parents in Robesonia so we did a walking loop that we used to do when we were still dating, climbing the hill around the former Robesonia Furnace property before descending along Freeman Street and returning by the Conrad Weiser Middle School.

I walked every day during my lunch break at work, except Wednesday when Julie and I instead did a 2.5 mile walk into West Reading.

The Challenges

On Tuesday night, I was at Citizens Bank Ballpark for my first Philadelphia Phillies game of the season.

selfie from a box seat at Citizens Bank Park
The view from the Club Box.

I was in a Club Box with my colleagues from work, staring at a mini smorgasbord of cheesesteak, hot dogs, hamburgers, chicken fingers, potato salad and coleslaw.

With my Lose It app by my side, I made the healthiest decisions I could – vegetable dippers for an appetizer, two sliders, one chicken finger and a heap of coleslaw: 800 total calories. I did so well with my afternoon walk and my lunch that I was able to splurge for a slice of brownie for dessert.

players line up along the baselines for the National Anthem at a Reading Phillies game
Opening night at the Reading Fightin’ Phils.

Thursday night, I had to navigate another minefield at FirstEnergy Stadium.

Avoiding the hot dogs and churgers, I opted instead for a bowl of chili and chips from Pauline’s Soups, leaving me with enough calories for a hot chocolate to warm up with.

The Results

So did the exercise get the job done? Or did I overdo it at the ballpark?

Current Weight: 182.6
Weekly Weight Loss: -3.8
Weight Loss Since Start: -6.8

After a slow week, it was a fantastic result. But I would prefer to be losing at a more gradual pace. I was almost 2,000 calories under my weekly budget. This week, I want to be much closer to my goal number in hopes to be closer to the one-pound mark.

The Week Ahead

Weigh-in day is Saturday so I consider it the start of my new week. That means Easter Dinner (or more appropriately, two Easter dinners) on Sunday. And Wednesday evening I will be at a networking event at Dave & Buster’s in Plymouth Meeting – not exactly the healthiest place to grab dinner.

There’s also a little more trouble in the forecast with rain expected, especially during the second half of the week. That could slow down my walking and force me to use the exercise bike (blah).

See the full Food Blogger vs. Fat journey here

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Food Blogger vs. Fat: Week 2

It’s the second week of Food Blogger vs. Fat. In my first week, I dropped three pounds. Here’s a look at my second week in search of healthier living.

The Challenges

JW Marriott Starr Pass Resort
My home away from home last week – the JW Marriott Starr Pass Resort

If you read last week’s blog, you know that this week was a travel week for me. I was attending a digital marketing conference in Tucson, Arizona. That meant two cross-country flights, seemingly unlimited amounts of food and a lot of sitting.

I flew out on Sunday and missed my calorie target by nearly 300 thanks to a poor selection of food at the airports in Philadelphia and Phoenix. In Philly, I picked up an Auntie Anne’s pretzel as my in-flight snack. In Phoenix, my lunch was two slices of cheese pizza (not my choice, they were sold in twos).

Sonoran omelette - JW Marriott Starr Pass Resort
The Sonoran omelette with refried beans and tortillas was probably not the healthiest breakfast choice, but it was delicious.

While I managed to stay under my calorie count for the remainder of the trip, I did splurge with ice cream twice and did not have the healthiest breakfast options.

The Successes

Knowing that I’d be spending most of my days sitting, I drug myself out of bed early each morning (5:30 local time) to start my day with a morning hike.

The trails in the Tucson Mountain Park are a world away from Berks County.

The conference’s resort – the JW Marriott Starr Pass – is located on the edge of the Tucson Mountain Park and features a two-mile loop trail, as well as a connection to the larger trail network.

Monday morning, I took to the loop trail for the first time, taking my time on a trip through the mountains before the Arizona sun became unbearable.

Can you spot the deer?

On my trip, I came across two herds of deer scaling the nearby hillside before climbing myself. The trail ascends 300 feet to the top before winding its way back down the other side. The elevation change is constant – and, at times, steep – making the descent back to the resort feel so much better.

Tuesday was the most exciting of my three hikes as I followed the Bowen’s Trail into the heart of the park.

Bowen’s Trail is named for Sherry Bowen, a newspaperman who moved to the area with his wife and built a stone house in the mountains. The home still stands, abandoned, in the heart of the park. It was almost exactly 1.5 miles from the resort, and a great goal for my hike.

A Panoramic View of The Bowen Homestead in Tucson Mountain Park
The Bowen Homestead was the destination for my Tuesday morning hike.

The hike was flatter – only a 150-foot elevation change – but a little longer and no less challenging. The reward at the end was the homestead, an oasis that is completely out of place in the wilderness.

The roof is gone, but the foundation and walls still stand. In one corner of the home, you can still see the fireplace. A few vandals have left their mark in graffiti on the floor, but the house is largely untouched.

It was definitely worth the hike.

The view from the top.

Wednesday morning I took one more morning trip along the loop trail – one more climb to the top before returning home the next day.

The Results

So, how did I do during my week away?

186.4 lbs.
Loss Since Last Week: 0.0 lbs.
Loss Since Start: -3.0 lbs.

It was a break-even week for me. Part of me was hopeful after all of the hiking, but with so much time sitting – in the conference, on airplanes and in terminals – it wasn’t enough to make up for it.

But coming off a first week where I lost three pounds, I knew week two would be hard no matter what. I still feel good about where I am at.

The Week Ahead

It’s a beautiful week in the neighborhood.

I brought a little bit of warm weather home with me as temperatures are expected to rise to more than 80 on Tuesday. That means there is no excuse for me to get outside and exercise.

And with the office closed on Friday, I will have a whole day for a walk, hike or bike ride.

The biggest obstacle this week comes Tuesday when I join my marketing team colleagues at the Philadelphia Phillies in a club box. The box includes dinner – in the form of an unlimited buffet. If my will power can hold out, it’s the only roadblock to a great week.

See the full Food Blogger vs. Fat journey here

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Review: Monte Lauro European Gourmet

Man standing at the order counter of a stand with a sign that says "Monte Lauro European Gourmet Foods

A trip to Fairgrounds Farmers Market can be overwhelming for the unprepared.

There are sixty stands inside the Fairgrounds Farmers Market and at least 20 of them offer dine-in meals or snacks.

Even for Julie and I, deciding where to grab our meal is a daunting task.

On a recent Friday evening, we arrived at the market not yet knowing where to go. We surveyed our options as we paced up and down all of the aisles, hoping that something would catch our eyes.

That something was Monte Lauro European Gourmet.

Menu board at Monte Lauro in the Fairgrounds Farmers Market

The flagship location for the deli is on Mount Laurel Road in Temple (Monte Lauro is Italian for Mount Laurel) and is open on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Sundays while the Farmers Market is open Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

One of the advantages that Monte Lauro has over other dining options is the common dining area across the aisle. On a Friday evening, when things are a little slow, there are plenty of seats to be had (you just may need to take a napkin and clean it yourself).

The selection is both limited and expansive at the same time, with eight cold sandwiches and five hot sandwiches, many of which are also available as paninis. There are also select salad options both as entrees and sides. The only other side available is French fries.

We placed our order, took our number and grabbed a seat. It was a short wait – maybe 10 minutes – until our number was called and I retrieved the tray.

Chicken cutlet sandwich with roasted peppers, cheese and broccoli rabe cut in two halves and sitting on a paper plate

For food being served on a cafeteria tray, it looked beautiful, especially my chicken cutlet sandwich.

Sliced in half, you could see the bright colors of the roasted red peppers and spinach that the cutlet sat upon.

I enjoyed the sandwich – particularly the roasted reds – but I wanted something a little more. The cutlet was OK, but nothing special, and I would have loved another slice of sharp Provolone.

Also, the roll was very good. It was heavy enough to soak up the juice from the roasted reds, but not too heavy to overpower the rest of the ingredients.

meatball Parmesan panini cut in half and sitting on black and white checkered paper

Julie’s homemade meatball panini looked just as good with beautiful grill marks on top, a hint of red from the marinara sauce and meatballs sliced perfectly for the grill press.

It was a good sandwich. The meatballs were solid though we’ve tried better. And I would have liked a little more sauce.

With little other choices, we decided to split a side of French fries to go with our sandwiches.

order of French fries inside a paper bag

The thin cut fries were in the traditional fast-food style: skins off, cooked to a shade of golden brown and served in a paper bag. They were good and certainly helped fill us up, which is all you can really ask for from an order of fries.

Overall, we enjoyed our meal at Monte Lauro. It was fast, it was tasty and it was right around the $20 mark for the two of us.

I’d like to go back again to try the homemade sausage or one of Monte Lauro’s take-and-make Italian specialties.

Of course, we have many other stands to try first.

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

Monte Lauro European Gourmet
Fairgrounds Farmers Market
2930 N. Fifth Street Hwy
Reading, PA 19605

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Food Blogger vs. Fat: Week 1

Last week, I introduced Food Blogger vs. Fat, a new feature that will chronicle my journey to better health.

Writing that blog was easy. Now, the hard part – the weight loss goal of 30 pounds in 30 weeks has begun.

My starting weight for the challenge: 189.4.

The Successes

Overall, my first week was a success. On Wednesday, I dodged the raindrops for a 1.5 mile walk around our office complex, tracking everything with my Endomondo app.

screenshot of Endomondo app showing a 1.58 mile walk
The .8-mile loop around our office complex would make a great go-kart track.

A lap around the buildings and through the parking lots is .8 miles (there is actually a mapped out route with signs every one-tenth of a mile). I was able to complete two laps in 30 minutes before the rain reappeared.

screenshot from Endomondo app showing a 3.15 mile walk
From Reber’s bridge, the trail west is full of hills. We climbed 150 feet during the short walk.

On Thursday night, Julie and I met up with my friend Heff (you can call him Matt) at Reber’s Bridge for an evening trail walk. We went westward along the trail for a three-mile round trip, avoiding the fresh puddles and racing the sunset back to the parking area.

a pair of train tracks run next to an old factory building
The Park Road bridge is one of my favorite stops for photos.

On Saturday morning, I went on another three-mile walk. My route takes me from our neighborhood to the Wyomissing Post Office, into West Reading, and back across the bridge into Berkshire Heights.

The Challenges

Using my Lose It app, I log every calorie that I take in and every calorie-burning exercise that I do. My daily budget to start is 2,096 net calories. This is a moving target as the more weight I lose, the fewer calories I am allowed.

screenshot from the Lose It app showing 314 calories over budget
Monday was not a good day, but I made up for it the rest of the week.

On Monday, I missed my goal, coming in 314 calories over budget thanks to a (delicious) dinner at Mission BBQ. That night, I was in Philadelphia for WWE Monday Night Raw so the only exercise I was able to get was the walk from the parking lot to the Wells Fargo Center and back (and a very slow lap around the concourse).

Friday, I came in 297 calories under budget, but it was the only day that I logged no exercise. The persistent rain left no opportunity for outdoor exercise, and after logging my dinner, I took a night off.

The Results

So how did I do in Week 1?

186.4 lbs.
Loss Since Start: -3.0 lbs.

It was a strong start, for sure. But there is no way that this weight loss rate is sustainable, even if I continue coming in under my calorie count. The results will slow down and normalize, now that the recently-gained weight is gone.

The Week Ahead

This week is when the weight loss goal really kicks in, and it’s also one of the hardest weeks that I have. As you read this, I am attending a conference in Tucson, Arizona. That means two cross-country flights, and at least two airport lunches.

With breakfast and lunch provided at the conference (and the hotel’s relative isolation from downtown Tucson), it means no real choices for four of my meals.

However, there are several hiking trails nearby, an opportunity to explore downtown on Tuesday night, and perfect weather for doing laps in the pool (no poolside selfies, I promise).

If I can stick to the plan, I will be back here with more good news – and great photos from the dessert – next week.

See the full Food Blogger vs. Fat journey here

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Review: 1 Potato Two – CLOSED

1 Potato Two at the Fairgrounds Farmers Market

Editor’s Note: 1 Potato Two is now closed. August 10, 2017 was the stand at the Fairgrounds Farmers Market. The location is now home to Sans Asian Food.

Berks County has never really been known for creativity – at least when it comes to food.

The Pennsylvania Dutch are not exactly the most adventurous eaters in the world either.

Sometimes it takes an outsider to introduce something new, something different, something unique.

Unique is the best word to describe the spudwiches at 1 Potato Two at the Fairgrounds Farmers Market.

The concept for 1 Potato Two began as a food truck in New Jersey. The best in the state, according to the USA Today article that hangs from one wall at the stand.

1 Potato Two Features a Rotating Menu of Spudwiches

(Almost) everything at 1 Potato Two is built around – you guessed it – potatoes. There are tater tots with multiple topping choices. There are potato balls, deep-fried bites filled with potato, meat and cheese. And then there are the spudwiches.

So what exactly is a spudwich?

It’s a sandwich, but with no bread. Instead, the filling is placed between two carved out potato halves.

It’s genius.

Over the weekend, I visited the stand with my friend Dennis, already a fan of the spudwich. We ordered our two spudwiches and waited for a few minutes while the potatoes and some of the ingredients took a quick bath in the deep fryer.

The selection of spudwiches rotate weekly, and there is quite the variety. I ordered the eggplant parmigiana while Dennis ordered the buffalo chicken.

baked potato stuffed with eggplant and mozzarella

Our spudwiches were delivered to our seats. “You’re nice guys so I’m going to leave you these,” said the cook as he laid down some extra napkins. They came in very handy.

My spudwich was fantastic. The fried eggplant was light and tender. The mozzarella and tomato sauce were nicely portioned. But the best part about it is the potato.

baked potato stuffed with eggplant and cheese

I could have eaten the potato by itself. Give me three or four of them, and it would be the best potato skin appetizer I have ever tried. But as part of the spudwich, it is actually very complementary to the other ingredients.

Now, I have to point out that it is greasy – the potato and eggplant having both come out fresh out of the fryer – so if that does not appeal to you, you probably won’t enjoy the spudwich. If you don’t mind a little fried food every now and then, this is right up your alley.

Dennis’ spudwich, I dare say, may have been better than mine. It was certainly more robust than my own, with chicken strips spilling out over the sides.

Baked potato with chicken wings

The chicken was delicious. I’m not a big fan of buffalo sauce, but Dennis allowed me a small piece and I was impressed.

What really worked – and what Dennis found to be the best part – was the combination of the buffalo chicken with the bacon. And the potato made for the perfect addition.

It was so good that he completely forgot about the cup of blue cheese on the side. Quite frankly, it didn’t need it.

Together, our two spudwiches were just short of $20 ($8.99 each). For me, the spudwich was hearty enough on its own that I didn’t need anything else for my lunch.

One other note: the challenge of dining at the Fairgrounds Farmers Market is seating. We were lucky to grab two of the four stools at 1 Potato Two’s counter. It was a win for us because the Saturday lunch rush makes it hard to find a seat in the Market’s main dining area.

1 Potato Two certainly brings a new perspective and a whole new idea to Berks County.

And it’s an idea that I can really get behind.

1 Potato Two
Fairgrounds Farmers Market
2934 N. Fifth Street Hwy
Reading, PA 19605

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Introducing: Food Blogger vs. Fat

The Bad News

Berks County Eats is making me fat.

OK, that’s a bit of an overstatement, but my love of food and my lack of self control has led to me ballooning to my heaviest weight in more than 10 years.

On a recent wellness visit to my doctor, my official weight was 194. That may not seem too bad to a lot of people. But I was in the mid-170s just a few years ago. The doctor also told me that I had high blood pressure, this for someone two months shy of 32 years old.

With that reality check, I knew it was time to make a lifestyle change before my weight and blood pressure continued to trend upward.

man on an exercise bike with display cases of cars in the background
Hitting the stationary bike in the man cave, surrounded by my NASCAR collection.

The Good News

Good News: Berks County Eats isn’t going anywhere.

Better News: I’m bringing my readers along for the ride, whether you like it or not.

My goal is to lose 30 pounds in 30 weeks. And in order to hold myself accountable, I’m going to be doing weekly check-ins here on the blog in a new feature: Food Blogger vs. Fat.

I’ll share everything, including my weight and weekly caloric intake.

But I’ll also share fun stuff, too. This is an opportunity for new experiences in and around Berks County. I’ll take you with me on hikes, let you ride along on my mountain bike and hit the links for a round of golf (or disc golf). Julie’s even threatening to take me to a yoga class.

My new diet and exercise regimen has already begun. On Saturday, Julie and I went for a 2-mile walk through Wyomissing. And on Sunday, I dusted off my stationary bike for a 30-minute ride.

View of a road with a line of snow that hasn't melted along the sides
The view from the top of Berkshire Heights on our regular walking route.

The Weekly Check-In

Admittedly, my home scale weighs significantly less than the doctor’s office. But in order to track my weight every week, I have to base it on my home scale. So here’s my official starting weight:

189.4

This is my first full week of calorie counting so next week’s blog will feature the first full check-in.

Look for my next weekly check-in on Tuesday, April 4.

See the full Food Blogger vs. Fat journey here

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Wilson Iron Chef 2017

Teams compete on-stage during the Wilson Iron Chef competition 2017

The fourth annual Wilson Iron Chef competition was held on Sunday, March 26. The event pitted three of the area’s top chefs against each other in a timed competition. Chef Josh Haines of Jimmie G’s Beverly Hills Tavern earned the victory over Chef Tim Twiford of the Crowne Plaza and Chef Mike Rauenzahn of the Bernville Eagle Hotel. Each of the chefs had to incorporate four ingredients in their dish: sausage, red cabbage, Greek yogurt and cheese curls.

In the People’s Choice competition, nine restaurants were competing for two spots in next year’s Iron Chef competition. All nine competitors had to incorporate cheese into their featured dish. Don’s Food Products & Melanie’s Medley’s earned first place with its Champagne and Gouda bisque. Second place went to Ganley’s for its smoked bacon and Gorgonzola stuffed dates with spicy Jameson glaze.

Also part of the day again this year was vendor row with more than 20 vendors offering samples of their foods and products. Check out our photo gallery to see some of the highlights of this year’s competition:

The Penn Werner Hotel mixing up some smoked chili mac and cheese
The chili mac looks good.
Lake Wynonnah Lodge had three offerings in the People’s Choice competition: apple glazed chicken with Gorgonzola foam, red beet risotto with chevre cream, and bacon broccoli cheddar slaw with a Parmesan frisco.
Bella’s brought its signature “Grandma” pizza and select hoagies to the People’s Choice competition.
The winning dish for the People’s Choice competition was this Champagne & Gouda bisque from Don’s
The People’s Choice runner-up: bacon and Gorgonzola stuffed dates with spicy Jameson glaze.
Adelphia’s Seafood brought crab salad to the People’s Choice.
GNA’s cannoli was the only dessert among People’s Choice competitors
One of the more original People’s Choice offerings was the chicken, bacon, ranch mac and cheese bites from the Berkshire Country Club.
The pulled pork tacos with homemade slaw are always a hit in the vendor area.
ViVA was making two pastas at their stand, including this shrimp penne with vodka sauce.
Gourmand was cooking up pulled pork for its tostada bites in the vendor area.
What’s an Iron Chef competition without dessert? Sweet Ride ice cream had four flavors to choose from.
The calm before the storm on the Iron Chef stage.
Chef Mike Kratz samples the winning dish from Chef Josh Haines.
Judge Linda Bell discusses the merits of Chef Rauenzahn’s dish.
Chef Tim’s presentation is always picture perfect.

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bowl of spaghetti and meatballs in red sauce
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La Cantina Italian Restaurant & Pub – CLOSED

sign for La Cantina Italian Restaurant

Editor’s Note: La Cantina is now closed. The restaurant closed its doors in early July 2021. After months of construction, a new restaurant – Doc & Bubba’s – opened in 2022.

Sometimes, the most interesting part of a restaurant discovery story is how you find them in the first place.

La Cantina, located along New Holland Road in the village of Knauers, is a place that I’ve passed countless times without ever giving it a second glance.

Now I’m a regular.

I started frequenting La Cantina on Thursday nights after a friend told me it was a venue for the Riverchasers Poker Tour – a free poker league that hosts events in bars and restaurants throughout the Mid-Atlantic.

The weekly poker events are held in the Pub, a smaller room located behind the main dining room. The Pub features a full bar and an assortment of four-seat tables and high-tops.

In the months since I have been going to La Cantina, I’ve tried many of the items on the menu. I am a big fan of La Cantina’s pizza. If you’re looking for a gourmet pie, this isn’t the place. If you’re looking for something with a little more greasy goodness, this is your place.

Of course you can get a full-size pie, but the pizzas are also available by the slice (always appreciated) and in personal 12″ versions.

meatball Parmesan sandwich with a side of fries

Also among my favorites is the meatball sub. It seems like such a simple thing – every Italian restaurant in the county has one – but I just really enjoyed La Cantina’s version.

Four large meatballs topped with cheese and sauce, lightly toasted: not much different than anywhere else. But these meatballs were well-seasoned and perfectly cooked. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

After weeks of pre-poker handheld meals, I asked Julie to join me for a sit-down meal.

The restaurant features two dining rooms. On the right is the smaller of the two. One wall is completely covered in family photos.

On the left side is the main dining room. There were only a few tables claimed on our visit and the two of us had room to spread out at a table for four.

salad with a cup of ranch dressing

La Cantina’s entrees are served with a starter salad. It was nothing remarkable, except for the fact that I found a tiny ice cube in my salad. I’m not sure what ingredient was on ice before arrival, but safe to say I wasn’t expecting it.

cup of tomato soup next to a basket of bread

A more redeeming dish is the homemade tomato soup. It was a creamy tomato soup that had just the right amount of herbs (basil chief among them). I would have gladly traded my salad for more of this delicious soup.

For my main entree, I went with the boring dish of spaghetti and meatballs with La Cantina’s homemade marinara sauce.

bowl of spaghetti and meatballs in red sauce

One look at it and I knew I would never be able to finish the whole thing. Three large meatballs topped the oversized bowl of pasta. A smattering of greens were scattered across the top of the dish for garnish – a nice touch to give a little character to the dish.

I have no complaints about the dish, though I found that I enjoyed the meatballs much more in the sandwich than on the pasta. I can’t say for sure what the difference was, but I could tell that it wasn’t quite the same.

The marinara sauce was good. It was thick and chunky, still holding the texture of the crushed tomatoes. With sauces like this, it sticks to the pasta in weird ways so some bites had plenty of sauces, others not enough.

eggplant Parmesan covered in cheese with a side of ziti with red sauce

Julie’s eggplant Parmesan was definitely a highlight of the meal. The breaded eggplant was tender and light. There was lots of cheese and plenty of sauce to compliment it.

Again, like my dish, there was no way that Julie would be able to finish this in one sitting so both of us had leftovers to take home after the meal.

On this night, our total bill was $36. When I’m on my own, I generally spend a little more than $10 for my sandwich, fries and iced tea.

Poker brought me into La Cantina for the first time. Good food and an attentive wait staff keeps me coming back every week.

You’ll know where to find me on Thursday nights.

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

La Cantina Family Restaurant & Pub
4312 New Holland Rd
Mohnton, PA 19540

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Burger and Fries from the Pike Cafe
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Review: The Pike Cafe

Yellow building with red awning and a sign that reads "The Pike Cafe"

We’ve spent a lot of 2017 visiting restaurants that are new to Reading and Berks County.

I couldn’t wait to visit highly anticipated restaurants like Gettin’ Crabby at the Crab Barn and Fork & Ale.

But sometimes, you have to also experience the classics that we’ve neglected, places like Reading’s Pike Cafe.

The “World Famous” Pike Cafe is a true gem in the city. The corner of Pike and Moss isn’t exactly in a part of the city that sees a lot of outside traffic – except for those coming to the Pike.

One of the best parts about the Pike is that it has one of the largest parking lots in the city. And it needs it. We arrived at about 5:15 p.m. on a Saturday night and got the last available table.

Take my advice and make a reservation, especially for the weekend dinner rush.

We were led around the U-shaped bar and into the back corner where they packed in the two-seat tables.

White plate of wings with carrot and celery sticks and a cup of ranch for dipping

It was our first time at the Pike so we had to try the wings – a perennial contender in every “Best Of” competition.

After my first bite, I get it.

The wings are advertised as Bell & Evans organic wings. Anytime you are ordering an organic protein, you can expect it to be smaller – without the growth hormones, the animals are a more natural size.

But what the organic wings lacked in size, they made up for in flavor. It’s everything that chicken should taste like, and without the excess meat, there’s a crunch to every bite. The wings were also able to absorb more of the flavor from the Montreal dry rub we chose.

Sauces and dry rubs aside, these are the only wings in Berks County that I would order naked (the wings, not me).

plate with a chicken sandwich and fries. the top bun has the word "Pike" burnt in

I got another taste of Bell & Evans chicken with my entree, the chicken bruschetta sandwich.

The sandwich featured a grilled chicken breast with house-made bruschetta, asiago cheese, balsamic drizzle and a bun branded with the Pike logo, just so there are no doubts where the sandwich came from.

First, the chicken was excellent. It was juicy, flavorful and clearly not processed. The bruschetta was very good, though I would have preferred smaller pieces of tomato (the large chunks tended to fall out of the bun). The asiago cheese was the perfect choice for the sandwich, and it had just the right amount of balsamic.

Toasting the bun didn’t just add branding, it added a crunchy texture that the sandwich needed to make it truly feel like bruschetta.

I almost forgot to mention the fries. Hand-cut, skin-on, golden brown – this is how fries are supposed to be. I wouldn’t call them the best in town, but I definitely enjoyed them.

Wrap filled with pepperoni and steak meat with a side of chips

Julie went with another Pike Cafe original dish, the pepperoni cheesesteak supreme wrap.

Ribeye chipped steak, pepperoni, mushrooms, caramelized onion, marinara and Provolone were combined in a flour wrap.

It tasted exactly as I imagined it would. While the steak was the base, the pepperoni came through strong. In the one bite Julie allowed me to have, I could pick up the onion and mushrooms, and the melted Provolone helped pull everything together.

Skipping the fries, Julie opted instead for the potato chips – Sweet Maui onion flavored. If you like onions, you’ll appreciate this as a refreshing change from a typical kettle chip. If you don’t like onions, get the fries.

plate of fried ice cream topped with whipped cream, cherry and chocolate drizzle

We were comfortably full after our entrees, but I couldn’t leave the Pike without dessert, or more specifically, the Pike Crème Cafe.

The crème cafe features deep-fried ice cream with whipped cream, honey and chocolate syrup served on a powdered sugar tortilla. Admit it, you couldn’t pass that up either.

We probably would have been more than satisfied with the fried ice cream. The addition of a crisp outer shell is always welcome with vanilla ice cream. The tortilla was good – a fried tortilla shell like you would get in a taco salad – but it was almost too much fried food for dessert.

Still, I didn’t regret it.

That was more than enough for us to leave the Pike Cafe satisfied. Our total was just shy of $40 (one iced tea was also included in that). All told, it felt like a reasonable price for everything that we had.

I don’t know if the Pike Cafe really is “World Famous,” but it’s definitely famous in Reading and Berks County for good reason.

Once you visit for the first time, you’ll get it, too.

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

Pike Cafe
930 Pike St
Reading, PA 19604

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