black bowl with rigatoni pasta and tomatoes topped with cheese and breadcrumbs
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Review: Austin’s Restaurant and Bar

front door of a building with the word "Austin's" over the door

As long as I have had my list of 10 Favorite Restaurants in Berks County, Austin’s has been on it. 

The restaurant was among our first reviews and has remained a favorite, even as our meals have transitioned from date nights to family dinners. 

We visit Austin’s a few times a year, most times in the dining room, sometimes to pick up takeout. It’s a convenient stop for us being just a short drive from our home in Wyomissing Hills. 

And the food and service are always very good. 

That was again the case on our most recent visit. 

We were seated at one of their booths – Julie, Jakob and I sat in the cushioned seats while Lukas sat in his high chair. 

white plate with a loaf of dark brown bread and a metal cup filled with butter

Not long after we were greeted by our server, a loaf of their famous honey wheat bread arrived on the table. While it is no longer complementary, we get it every time. The sweet bread with the honey-infused butter is the perfect start to any meal. And even as a family of four, there’s enough to take a few slices home for later. 

black bowl with rigatoni pasta and tomatoes topped with cheese and breadcrumbs

I go back-and-forth between pasta dishes and barbecue on our visits. My favorite pasta dish is the chicken bruschetta pasta, which features tomatoes, bread crumbs and a balsamic drizzle. It’s delicious, but I can never finish a full order. 

But that’s usually the case no matter what I order because the portion sizes are so large. But knowing that leftovers are coming home no matter what also makes it easier for me to order some of my favorites. 

large white plate with half a rack of ribs, three chicken tenders, a cup of bbq sauce, a cup of apples and an order of fries

That’s why I got the chicken and ribs combo on this visit. 

While Austin’s is not a typical barbecue joint, I absolutely love their ribs. The meat falls off the bone, and the half-rack is slathered in a deliciously sweet sauce. 

I could just order a half-rack or full-rack of ribs, but I also love the Texas tenders. These fried delights have a breading unlike any other around. Each piece is so light and crunchy, and they are perfect for dipping. 

Austin’s also has some excellent sides, both familiar and unique – some a combination of both. Their fries fit that description as they are some of the smallest cuts I’ve found. They eat almost like potato sticks rather than fries, but they are delicious. I tried to be “healthy” with my second side by ordering fruit in the form of cinnamon glazed apples. Of course the apples are served in a sugary, cinnamon sauce that takes away any of the nutritional value, but they’re oh so good. 

large round white plate with a piece of grilled salmon and fries with a lemon wedge and cups of ketchup and tartar sauce for dipping

Julie made a much more senisble decision by ordering salmon for her entree. It’s one of her go-tos at Austin’s. The fish came out with grill marks that made a beautiful criss-cross pattern across the perfectly cooked fish. It comes topped with a honey glaze for an extra bit of flavor that takes it from good to great.  

white round plate with a Caesar salad topped with dark brown croutons

For her sides, Julie chose fries (she, too, cannot resist) and a side Caesar. Of course because Austin’s portions are so large, the side Caesar is almost large enough for a meal. The salad comes topped with toasted homemade breadcrumbs, a light dressing, and freshly grated Paremsan cheese.  It’s a small upcharge for a Caesar, but worth it. 

If you find us at Austin’s, it will most likely be on a Sunday night. That’s because kids eat free every Sunday at Austin’s and its sister restaurant, Coastal Grille. 

white plate with a cheeseburger with the top bun set to the side

But it’s not just that we love the free meals, it’s that the kids love the food, too. On this visit, he had a cheeseburger with a cup of baked beans. 

The cheeseburger is large enough that I could probably eat it for a main dish and feel satisfied, but Jakob still managed to eat the whole thing. 

He didn’t particularly care for his baked beans, but I really like them. They are saucier than you’ll find at other places, a sweet barbecue-style sauce, and the beans are smaller so they’re a little different. The good news was that the burger, and a few of Julie’s fries, were more than enough for him. 

close-up of a black plate with ziti topped with cheese

For Lukas, we ordered mac and cheese. Of course, Austin’s doesn’t actually use macaroni and instead uses penne for their version of the dish. And the crock comes filled with them. 

The cheese sauce tends to the settle to the bottom, but once mixed, the kids both enjoy it. 

With the kids’ meals being free, we saved between $15-$20 on our visit. Our final total for the evening coming in around $60. When you also factor in that my Texas tenders came home for lunch the next day, we felt like we got our money’s worth and then some. 

From the food to the portions to the family-friendly Sunday nights, there are plenty of reasons why Austin’s has been, and continues to be, one of our favorites. 

BCE Rating
Food: Very Good
Service: Excellent
Ambiance: Very Good
Price: $$

Austin’s Restaurant and Bar
1101 Snyder Rd
West Lawn, PA 19609

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Original Review: February 9, 2014

It’s hard not to notice the lights.

The dining room is dimly lit. Small lamps at each table mimic the glow of candlelight. The dark brick walls, only partially lit by interspersed overhead lights, stand in stark contrast to the brightness of the kitchen, which sits in full view of customers through large glass windows.

A team of waiters and waitresses buzz by, their black clothing blending into their dark surroundings.

There is something romantic about the low lighting at Austin’s Restaurant and Bar. Though there are plenty of families there on any given night, it still feels like the perfect date night restaurant.

Austin’s is part of a small chain of restaurants in southeastern Pennsylvania and Delaware. The other three – located in Lancaster, Langhorne and Christiana, DE – operate under the J.B. Dawson’s banner.

The menus among the four restaurants are nearly identical. Burgers and sandwiches are popular, but so too are the surprisingly good barbecue selections like baby back ribs and pulled pork. Fresh seafood and pasta dishes, flatbread pizza and six different cuts of steak round out a menu that is so much more than bar food.

No meal at Austin’s is complete without a loaf of their signature honey wheat bread. Though no longer complimentary, the bread is well-worth the nominal charge.

loaf of wheat bread on a plate with a small cup of butter

The loaves are fresh-baked, served warm with a dab of honey butter. You can taste the honey, but it’s a subtle sweetness, not overpowering to the bread as a whole. I never would leave a slice of bread at the table at Austin’s like I would at most restaurants.

For your main course, it is hard to go wrong with any of Austin’s options. I enjoy the baby back ribs (all-you-can-eat every Monday night) and pulled pork, though they don’t reach the heights of some other barbecue joints.

Another go-to of mine (and on this occasion, my wife) is the Texas Tenders. The breading is different from any other fried chicken I have tried. It’s very thin, giving the dish a light and airy feel (which is the exact opposite from most fried chicken dishes) while still providing a nice crunch. The tenders blend perfectly with the house barbecue and honey mustard sauces.

chicken tenders coated in a light breading with shoestring french fries and a cup of cinnamon apples

Of course if you order chicken tenders, fries have to be the default side. Austin’s French fries are sliced exceptionally thin, which gives them a unique look and feel compared to other local restaurants.

penne pasta topped with diced tomatoes and cream sauce

Austin’s menu also includes a handful of pasta options. On our last visit, I ordered the Chicken Florentine Pasta: grilled chicken and penne in a spinach cream sauce, topped with diced tomatoes. The tomatoes were marinated in a balsamic vinegar, which blended well, never overpowering the richness of the cream.

The food was more than enough for two whole meals, so we packed up half of our meals to save room for dessert. We were not disappointed.

dollop of pudding with four slices of banana, all topped with whipped cream and graham cracker dust

We opted for the banana cream delight. Essentially a deconstructed pie, it featured whole sliced bananas, graham cracker crumbs and banana custard topped with whipped cream and drizzled with caramel sauce. The graham cracker helped temper the sweetness of the other ingredients, adding a flavorful crunch that put this on par with a really good banana cream pie.

The ambiance of Austin’s may feel like fine dining, but the prices are much more reasonable. Our dinner for two, complete with dessert was under $40. There is always a long wait during the dinner rush, especially on weekends, but you can always grab a few drinks at the bar to pass the time or plan your trip for off-peak hours.

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

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cafeteria tray with a milkshake and a takeout boat holding a BBQ sandwich and fries
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Review: Herman’s Drive-In

bright pink sign celebrating 30th anniversary against the backdrop of a white building and wood-fenced patio

I love drive-ins. These simple eateries are not just roadside relics of a times gone by; they’re community hubs. A place where people gather for good food at good prices. 

Berks County has its fair share of retro fast food spots. Those include Herman’s Drive-In, the Topton restaurant in the northeast corner of the county. 

Herman’s began life in the early 60s, becoming Herman’s shortly thereafter. The current owners purchased the stand more than 30 years ago and have kept the retro feel inside and out. 

looking out at takeout counter of a restaurant over the top of a plastic chair

The square, white building is found along Weis Street on the southern end of town. A large porcelain sign on the roof proclaims “Homemade Bar-B-Ques” along with “Ice Cream,” “French Fries,” and “Hot Dogs.” 

Walking in is a nostalgia trip. There’s a lamp hanging near the food counter that at first glance looks like it was plucked from Pizza Hut in the 90s, but on closer inspection you can see the pattern of pretzels and ice cream cones in the glass. 

dining area with tables for four surrounded by wood panel walls and a wooden ceiling

Yes, from the purple cushioned booths on the tile floors to the wood paneled walls to the thin wooden slats that make up the ceiling, you quickly realize they don’t make places like this anymore. 

On my first visit, I got the full Berks County drive-in experience with a hamburger BBQ and fries.

burger and fries in a takeout boat sitting on a table in an outdoor dining area

Hamburger BBQ is a staple around here, the Berks County take on a sloppy Joe, and Herman’s has a good one. The roll was filled with ground beef in light sauce, exactly how it should be. 

The fries were typical fast food fries, thick cut, a ready vessel for salt and pepper that were easy to eat. 

I took my meal outside to enjoy under their covered patio which doubles the seating that’s available inside, a great asset for busy days and nights. 

cafeteria tray with a milkshake and a takeout boat holding a BBQ sandwich and fries

When I returned, I decided to try the pork BBQ. It was good, too. Nothing special, just a solid meal that came out quick and hit the spot. 

I also splurged this time on a vanilla shake. While I appreciate a well-made milkshake made with hard ice cream, there’s just something about a soft-serve shake that feels right when you go to a place like Herman’s. It’s a little thick, but so refreshing.

It’s definitely a worthwhile splurge, especially with how reasonably priced the meals are. A hamburger BBQ and fries cost less than $10. Add on another $6 for a milkshake, and it’s still a great deal for lunch or dinner. 

The price combined with the nostalgic feel and fast service are what make retro drive-ins like Herman’s so popular, and why I’ll keep coming back. 

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

Herman’s Drive-In
50 W. Weis Street
Topton, PA 19562

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square plate with a crepe topped with blueberries and a cream drizzle
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Review: PA Dutch Farmers Market of Wyomissing

view of an aisle at Wyomissing Farmers market with white tile floors, seats to the left, and coffee beans in glass jars on display to the right

Almost since it opened in 2010, we have been making weekly trips to the PA Dutch Farmers Market of Wyomissing. 

In those 15 years, we have seen the market explode in popularity, especially with its dine-in options. The market grew to the point where it underwent an expansion in early 2025, allowing the stands to increase their offerings while adding more seating for dine-in. 

Interestingly, there are actually fewer vendors today than when the market opened, but it still retains its original character with each stand being completely unique to the others. 

With our weekly trips, we have had more than our fair share of breakfast and lunch at the market and certainly found our favorites, both old and new. 

Indoor farmers market stand with food in warming trays behind a glass display

Fisher’s BBQ

Fisher’s has traditionally been my go-to spot for a hot meal at the market. The stand serves a wide range of meats and sides with a focus on BBQ meats like BBQ chicken, pulled pork and ribs while also offering fried chicken, pot roast and other savory entrees. 

overhead photo of a paper plate with three compartments - one with pot roast, one with mashed potatoes, one with green beans

My favorite entree is the pot roast. It’s always exceptionally juicy with a little peppery taste to it that I enjoy. It’s not so much barbecue as it is a take on a diner classic. 

If I’m not ordering the pot roast, I’m getting their chicken tenders. They are simple, but oh so good. I especially love their housemade barbecue sauce for dipping. It’s sweet and a little tangy and just seems to match up perfectly with the fried breast meat. 

overhead photo of a paper plate with three compartments, one with three chicken fingers, one with potato wedges, and one with roasted carrots

On the side, I have three that I really like, which makes it tough to choose because platters only include two choices. 

Rarely do I get a platter without an order of their potato wedges. The seasoned wedges are better than most French fries that I’ve tried (also great for dipping in the BBQ sauce). I also really enjoy their carrots, whole carrots that are cooked until tender. But then there are the green beans, which are served with bacon and a little bit of BBQ sauce. 

I know I can’t go wrong with any of those choices, especially with all of them priced around the $10 mark. 

BCE Rating
Food: Good
Service: Very Good
Price: $

indoor farmers market stand with a counter that is filled with stuffed pretzels

Soft Pretzel Corner

If we’re feeding our family, this is usually our go-to stand. The Soft Pretzel Corner specializes in stuffed pretzel wraps, though you can get plain pretzels, sweet-filled dessert pretzels and ice cream. 

My favorite among the savory options is the brisket wrap, which features beef brisket, mushrooms and Cooper Sharp. Though they do have a cheesesteak wrap that includes American cheese and steak meat, the brisket wrap feels more like a really good cheesesteak to me. And I love how the saltiness of the pretzel meshes with the creamy cheese to create a unique flavor profile. 

soft pretzel log on a piece of alumnimum foil with a cup of iced tea

Julie has her favorites, too. The brisket wrap is on the top of the list but the pizza wrap has been a favorite since the start of the market. It tastes like a pizza made with pretzel dough and is delicious. The chicken bacon ranch wrap is also a solid choice.

No matter what time of day we go, Jakob will always order a breakfast wrap: sausage, egg and cheese. It’s not much different than your typical breakfast sandwich, except with the added sweet and salty flavor of the pretzel. 

Pretzel wraps run about $5-7 each. You can also get their Auntie Anne’s style pretzels – which I think are much better – for around $2 apiece. 

BCE Rating
Food: Good
Service: Very Good
Price: $

Stoltzfus Luncheonette

white plate with an egg omelette, hash brown, wheat toast and two strips of bacon

Formerly the Sunrise Grille, Stoltzfus Luncheonette is the market’s breakfast and lunch counter, offering pancakes, eggs, and other breakfast favorites in the morning with hot and cold sandwiches and wraps at lunch. 

overhead view of a plate with blueberry pancakes

I like the other stands a little more for lunch, but the Luncheonette offers a solid breakfast. Pancakes are fluffy and hearty. And they have pretty good sides with their homefries and hash browns. 

BCE Rating
Food: Good
Service: Good
Price: $

menu page that reads "Crepe corner" with pictures of crepes

Crepe Corner

With the recent renovation of the restaurant, the Luncheonette expanded to include the Crepe Corner. Separate from the main dinette, the Crepe Corner has its own menu of sweet and savory crepes to choose from. 

square plate with a crepe topped with blueberries and a cream drizzle

On a recent visit, I tried the blueberry lemon crepe which had a cream cheese filling and came topped with blueberries, lemon sauce and powdered sugar. 

The combination of sweet with just a little bit of sour from the lemon cream was perfect. Each bite felt like an indulgence with the thin crepe serving as the perfect vessel for the fruit and cream. 

The crepes may be my new favorite food in the market, and they are priced right, too, with no crepe over the $10 mark. 

BCE Rating
Food: Very Good
Service: Good
Price: $

trays of donuts behind a glass display case

Becca’s Coffee & Donuts

Sometimes we’re in the mood for something a little sweet, and there is no better spot than Becca’s. Their donuts are probably our favorite in Berks County, indulgences that come iced or filled with cream and fruits. They also have unique toppings like Fruity Pebbles and Gummi Bears (Jakob’s favorite). 

I also can’t go without getting myself a chai. It’s very much the Americanized version of chai, and I’m not sure if there is any real tea in it (they are using a powder to make it each time), but it’s so sweet and surprisingly refreshing. 

Besides, it’s OK to splurge every now and then, right? 

And the market is a great place to treat yourself with good food without breaking the bank.  

BCE Rating
Food: Excellent
Service: Very Good
Price: $

PA Dutch Farmers Market of Wyomissing
845 Woodland Road
Wyomissing, PA 19610

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Original Post: January 2014

Woman in Amish dress serves a customer at the counter of the Sunrise Grille

Editor’s Note: The Sunrise Grille at the PA Dutch Farmers Market of Wyomissing is now closed. A new stand – Stoltzfus Luncheonette – operates in its place. Fisher’s BBQ continues to operate as it has since the market opened.

There are hundreds of farmers markets across the state of Pennsylvania, with dozens of them spread throughout Berks County.

From roadside stands to indoor/outdoor markets with 100s of vendors, all of these markets deliver fresh produce, locally raised meats and delicious baked goods.

Farmers markets support area farm families, boost the local economy and help customers find healthy ingredients for home-cooked meals.

They are also a great place to get amazing meals.

I am lucky enough to live within walking distance of Berks County’s best farmers markets. Now in its third year, the PA Dutch Farmers Market of Wyomissing only has 14 stands, but every one of them is different.

There’s a stand for seafood, one for bulk foods, another for soft pretzels and separate stands for beef, poultry, seafood, deli meats and organics. The same is true for their dine-in options: the Sunrise Grill and Fisher’s BBQ.

The two stands are set directly across from each other at the back of the market. Fisher’s sits in the far-right corner. Beef brisket, ribs and barbecued chicken swelter under the heat lamps in the display case.

Everything is hot and ready-to-serve. Catch the stand at the wrong time though, and you may need to wait a while. Friday nights are all-you-can-eat nights, and the line backs up quickly.

plate with pulled pork, green beans and carrots

The best entree on the menu has to be the pulled pork. It’s cliché, but the meat really is tender and juicy. Instead of loading the meat up with barbecue sauce, I mix it with a side of green beans, which are mixed with a little bit of sauce and bacon. The beans are delicious, and the juice helps bring out more flavor in the pork.

Every platter at Fisher’s comes with two sides so for your second, I recommend the carrots. The carrots have a crispy outer coating, with charred black edges, but inside they are a beautiful vibrant orange and sweet as honey. And if that’s not sweet enough for you, grab a cup of fresh-brewed sweet tea to complete your meal.

Across the aisle, the Sunrise Grill serves up some great breakfast options like French toast, omelets and pancakes, but I love it for lunch.

sausage sandwich topped with onions, peppers and barbecue sauce

Sunrise offers some great cold and hot sub options for lunch and dinner. They’re sausage sandwiches are excellent (especially if you get the pepper and onion sausage) and come with a “barbecue” sauce, a thin sauce with a taste closer to ketchup than barbecue, but perfect for the sandwich.

plate of French toast with a side of homefries

But my favorite meal at Sunrise Grill is their hot roast beef. The meat is so tender, more like pot roast than the slabs of roast beef you get at some diners, and it is piled high on top of a Kaiser roll.

I rarely get something at Sunrise Grill without a side of fries. They are fresh cut, not frozen fast food fries. For me, these are the kind of fries that just taste that much better with a spritz of vinegar.

Like every farmers market, the prices at these two stands are very reasonable. Platters at Fisher’s range between $8-12, and a sandwich, fries and drink at Sunrise Grill comes in right around the $10 mark.

The biggest downside to the market, and any farmers market for that matter, is the hours. The market is only open three days a week, Thursdays through Saturdays, and only have evening hours on Friday nights. If you have a supersized appetite, Friday night is the best time to go because Fisher’s offers some great all-you-can-eat specials for the price of a single meal.

BCE Rating – Fisher’s BBQ
Food: Good
Service: Very Good
Ambiance: Good
Price: Very Reasonable

BCE Rating – Sunrise Grille
Food: Good
Service: Fair
Ambiance: Good
Price: Reasonable

PA Dutch Farmer’s Market of Wyomissing
845 Woodland Rd
Wyomissing, PA 19610

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railroad crossing sign on a green lawn in front of a renovated train station
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Review: BeBe’s Kitchen

building on a green lawn with a sign out front that reads "BeBe's Kitchen"

It takes more than great food to make a great restaurant. We always rate restaurants on food, service, ambiance and price. But those four categories can’t always encapsulate everything. Sometimes there are intangibles, little touches that take a restaurant from good to great. 

That’s what we found on our visit to BeBe’s Kitchen in Birdsboro. 

tall windows with curtains that are tied to hold them open

BeBe’s is located at the corner of Furnace and First in what was once a railroad station. The building’s former life is not as obvious as Saucony Creek’s Franklin Street Station, but there are hints. Out front, a railroad crossing sign stands alone in the grass. Inside, the tall front windows were clearly not meant for a residence. And a pair of bench seats can be found inside the entrance, now a convenient spot to wait for a table to open up. 

We didn’t have to wait for a table when we stopped for an early Saturday lunch. (There was a brief wait for our server to take our order, but not too long). 

Before we were seated, we were asked if we wanted breakfast or lunch. Unable to decide, we got both menus and ended up splitting our decisions. 

scrambled egg with ham and peppers topped with cream chipped beef on a plate with two half slices of toast

I ended up deciding on breakfast in the form of the Landfill (appropriately named given the Mascaro-owned landfill just about a mile north). It was their country scramble – ham, onions, green peppers, hash browns and scrambled eggs – topped with cream chipped beef and served with a side of toast. 

At $12, it was the most expensive item on the breakfast menu, probably the most filling as well. It was also absolutely delicious. 

What really did it for me was the cream chipped beef. This is also a hit-or-miss item but BeBe’s was a hit. It was the perfect consistency, not overly salty, and in the absence of any cheese, it really helped bring everything on the plate together. 

plate with three silver dollar pancakes, two sausage links and a cup of Mott's applesauce

Jakob also ordered breakfast, but his came from the kid’s menu where you get to choose from pancakes, French toast or eggs as a main, sausage or bacon on the side, and a cup of applesauce, mandarin oranges, or peaches. 

The fruits are prepackaged cups, like the ones you get from the grocery store, but that’s actually helpful if your child can’t finish their meal. (That’s how we ended up taking home an applesauce). The mains were definitely prepared fresh with Jakob’s order of three silver dollar pancakes coming out perfectly. 

bowl of macaroni and cheese with light yellow cheese sauce

We got Lukas a kids’ meal from the lunch menu. These include a main and two sides. For him, that meant macaroni and cheese with fries and a cup of applesauce. (We had originally asked for mandarin oranges for both, but they were out of orange cups). 

I was pleasantly surprised that the mac and cheese wasn’t just a box of Kraft, which we’ve found at many local restaurants. Instead of the bright yellow-orange, the cheese was soft white and creamy, the pasta cooked perfectly for the two-year-old to slurp down. 

jar filled with red sand with small toys poking out of the sand

Overall, BeBe’s is exceptionally kid-friendly. In addition to reasonably-priced kids menu items, they also have a little “I spy” type game on every table. A small jar is loaded with colored sand about 20 little trinkets and kids are encouraged to shake around the sand to find all of the items on the laminated card that sits in the middle of the table. 

club sandwich with turkey and bacon cut in two with a blue bag of potato chips

There’s also plenty for the adults to enjoy. Julie really liked her turkey bacon club. It came piled high with meat, cheese, and veggies to the point that she had to stop eating the bread so she could enjoy the good stuff inside. The sandwich came with a bag of Dieffenbach’s chips which we took home after sharing some of Lukas’ fries. 

With a total price tag of around $40, BeBe’s was also friendly on the wallet, as all of us had more than enough food for less than $10 a person (that included drinks with both boys getting milk with their meals while I had an iced tea). 

whitei wall with red brick fireplace and a mantle filled with knickknacks

But what really sold us on BeBe’s was the community feel. There were clearly a number of regulars who came through during our visit. And at one point, an employee’s dad stopped in to eat lunch with his son. And when their meal was over, the staff brought out a slice of chocolate cake with a candle in it and led the dining room in singing happy birthday. 

Sure, you can get a slice of cake for your birthday at many area restaurants, but this was authentic. 

Good food, good prices, community connections: it’s everything you could hope for in a neighborhood gathering place. 

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

BeBe’s Kitchen
101 W. First Street
Birdsboro, PA 19508

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bowl of hummus from Aladdin Restaurant
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Review: Aladdin Restaurant

white painted exterior with black awning and a sign on the roof that reads Aladdin

In a county that has what feels like an endless number of pizza places, sandwich shops, Mexican restaurants, and bars, Aladdin stands out.

Even in the dining-heavy downtown of West Reading, Aladdin is unique with its shawarma, falafel, and other Mediterranean dishes. 

Aladdin changed hands since we reviewed it in 2020 (See the original post below). It was a great – and hearty one – with lamb kebabs, chicken saute, baba ghanoush, stuffed grape leaves, and tabbouleh. (Jakob also had chicken fingers and fries as any three-year-old would). 

dining room at Aladdin Restaurant

The dining area remains mostly unchanged – the same yellow-hued walls against burnt orange floor tiles. Wooden chairs at tables covered with off-white tablecloths and booths with light blue-green padding. 

Much of the menu remains the same, as well. My tastes have evolved and expanded since our last visit, though. So rather than go with a shawarma or similar meat dish, the moujardara caught my eye. 

rice and lentils with side of baba ghanouj from Aladdin Restaurant

Found on the vegetarian menu, moujardara is a dish of seasoned and simmered lentils and rice topped with caramelized onions. It came served with my choice of side, which will always be baba ghanoush for me. 

It was a very impressive meal. I couldn’t tell you what spices were in it, but they came together for a savory dish that was delicious and complex in flavor. And the lentils were meaty in their function, proving to be extremely filling, especially with the portion size. 

And the baba ghanoush is one of my favorite things anywhere. For the unfamiliar, it’s similar to hummus but instead of chickpeas, it’s made with roasted eggplant. I love the smoky flavor that comes through. Even though it’s served cold, it tastes warm and inviting. 

kebab skewer with salad from Aladdin Restaurant

While Julie’s horizons have also been stretched since we began the blog, she once again ordered the lamb kebabs. They were prepared very similar to how we remembered them with six or so large chunks of lamb skewered with layers of onions served atop a bed of rice. The meat was tender and flavorful and there was a delicious char on every savory piece. Overall, an excellent dish. 

Julie opted for fattoush for her side. The tomato and potato salad was topped with crispy pita chips, which was a great little touch to add a crunchy element to the plate. 

chicken schwarma and rice kids meal at Aladdin

Neither of us were able to finish our entire meals. Neither was Jakob who got the kids chicken shawarma with rice. It was a full plate with a tzatziki sauce on the side for dipping or pouring over the meat. Aladdin does a very enjoyable shawarma and Jakob seemed to enjoy his. 

bowl of hummus from Aladdin Restaurant

And because we couldn’t resist, we also ordered a side of hummus for the table. We absolutely love their hummus. It’s so much fuller in flavor than the one-note store-bought kind. Maybe it’s the olive oil drizzle, maybe it’s something in the recipe. Either way, it’s a must-have if you go to Aladdin. 

For our meals, the total was around $70. It’s not a cheap meal, but you’re also getting a lot of food for your money so it doesn’t feel outrageous at all. 

The new owners are doing right by the Aladdin name, and we are certainly glad to have them here in Berks County. 

BCE Rating
Food: Excellent
Service: Very Good
Ambiance: Very Good
Price: $$

Aladdin Restaurant
401 Penn Avenue
West Reading, PA 19611

More Restaurants in West Reading, PA

Original Post: February 24, 2020

An exterior view of Aladdin Mediterranean Restaurant

When I was working in King of Prussia, there were options when I wanted Mediterranean food – schwarma, falafel, kebabs, etc. In Berks County, those are rarities on our restaurant menus.

But I did find all of those and more at Aladdin Mediterranean Restaurant in West Reading.

Aladdin has been around since 2009 when the restaurant renovated a former gas station adjacent to the West Reading Diner (now Americana Diner). More than 10 years later, Aladdin is still going strong, as we found out on a recent Saturday night.

A view of one of the dining areas at Aladdin Mediterranean Restaurant with a table for four in the foreground and a fireplace in the background

We arrived around 5:30, a little early for dinner, and found just a couple other tables taken in the dining room. Aladdin offers two dining areas. We were seated in a booth by the window in the standard dining room. It featured a large fireplace at one side with photos of beautiful coastal towns, musical instruments and other keepsakes from the old country adorning the walls.

A look at one of the dining areas at Aladdin Mediterranean Restaurant with red cushioned seats with pillows along a wall in front of large windows covered with red curtains.

The second room (on the right-hand side when entering the restaurant) has a completely different feel to it. Red curtains cover the windows behind a long row of cushioned bench seats with red and black throw pillows to support diners.

I didn’t remember until I did a little research that the building that currently houses the restaurant was formerly a Getty gas station. It certainly shows no signs of that today.

A plate with six rolled and stuffed grape leaves and a side of yogurt for dipping from Aladdin Mediterranean Restaurant

At our table, I was struggling to make a decision as I looked over the menu. Aladdin promotes itself as offering the “best quality Lebanese and Mediterranean dishes,” and there are a lot to choose from. The one easy decision was choosing an appetizer – Julie and I agreed on stuffed grape leaves.

I first discovered stuffed grape leaves at the annual Greek Food Festival. I really enjoyed them there. And I enjoyed them even more at Aladdin.

Stuffed grape leaves opened to show a mixture of seasoned rice and ground beef from Aladdin Mediterranean Restaurant

The stuffed leaves were shaped – and sized – like cigars and filled with rice and seasoned ground beef (a vegetarian option is available). The filling was very good; the beef had hints of many different seasonings and spices that I couldn’t immediately identify. The tangy leaves were done well, and it was a great beginning to the meal. Even Jakob, our often fussy two-year-old, ate his (the filling, at least).

Deciding on the main course was more difficult. Entrees at Aladdin include kebabs; schwarma; rack of lamb and lamb chops; various sautes and a range of vegetarian options. I settled on the chicken saute.

A plate with a stir-fry mix of chicken, green peppers, onions and tomatoes and a side of rice pilaf at Aladdin Mediterranean Restaurant

Though it sounds boring, it was anything but. The chicken breast was sauteed with green peppers, onion and tomato in a garlic sauce. I really enjoyed the olive oil-based sauce. It had enough garlic to really pop without overpowering the flavors on the plate. The tomatoes really stood out for me, too. They were diced and cooked so tender that they practically melted away. The tomatoes were like little bites of marinara sauce throughout the dish.

Many of the entrees, including both mine and Julie’s, are served with rice pilaf. The pilaf was lightly seasoned, but good. I did enjoy using it to soak up some more of the garlic sauce at the end.

A dish of baba ghannouj with olive oil drizzle from Aladdin Mediterranean Restaurant

Because that wasn’t enough food, the meal also came with a side: your choice of hummus, baba ghannouj, tabbouleh or fattoush.

A plate with three thin pitas in the foreground with a glass of rose iced tea and a plate of stuffed grape leaves from Aladdin Mediterranean Restaurant

I love baba ghannouj and was excited to try Aladdin’s version. I didn’t have to wait long as it was actually served as an appetizer along with a basket of pitas. Baba ghannouj, if you’re not familiar, it is basically hummus but it’s made with pureed eggplant as the base instead of chickpeas. It’s more moist than hummus, a texture I like better. I also prefer the flavor as it’s less nutty.

Aladdin’s version was everything I wanted it to be.

A skewer of lamb and onions atop a bed of rice pilaf with hummus in the background at Aladdin Mediterranean Restaurant

While this was my first visit to Aladdin, Julie has actually been there twice for business lunches. And she has had the same thing on each visit: lamb kebabs.

The skewers feature large chunks of lamb mixed with onions, served over rice pilaf and choice of two sides. Lamb meat is so rich; I always enjoy it. But while it was grilled, it picked up this nice char that trapped in even more flavor. It was very good, and I understand why Julie loves it so much.

For her two sides, Julie ordered tabbouleh and hummus. The hummus came on the plate with the kebabs. It’s a very good hummus, but I still prefer the baba ghannouj (that’s just me, though).

A small plate of tabbouleh (parsley salad with tomatoes and lettuce) from Aladdin Mediterranean Restaurant

The tabbouleh actually arrived early as an appetizer. Tabbouleh is a Mediterranean salad that uses parsley as the base green. Aladdin makes theirs with cracked wheat, tomato, oil and lemon juice (with some lettuce thrown in).

It’s really flavorful. I think the lemon juice shines nicely giving the whole salad a bright citrus flavor. I would order the salad as an entree on a return visit.

A plate with three chicken fingers and a handful of fries from Aladdin Mediterranean Restaurant

Not knowing how Jakob would take to the cuisine, we played it safe and ordered him chicken fingers and fries off the kids menu. We hadn’t anticipated that he would fill up on grape leaves and tabbouleh before it even arrived. Though he did eat some, we brought most of it home for him to have later in the week.

Two glasses of rose iced tea on a table at Aladdin Mediterranean Restaurant

We were all stuffed by the end of the meal and didn’t have room for the baklava sundae that we really wanted. We did splurge a little when we ordered rose tea for our drinks. The iced tea was given a little rose flavoring (I believe it was from a syrup). It was almost like sweet tea but with a little extra herbal flavor that we found refreshing.

I have to admit that the meal was more expensive than we had anticipated at $78. Part of that was our rose tea ($4 each) and also the fact that we ordered an appetizer ($12). The entrees were $22 and $25, respectively. When you look at the portion sizes, though, I didn’t feel cheated at all.

Aladdin’s food is serving a niche here in Berks County, and I’m glad for it. The next time I have a craving for baba ghannouj, I know where to turn.

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

Aladdin Mediterranean Restaurant
401 Penn Ave
West Reading, PA 19611

Lunch & Dinner Mediterranean Vegan & Vegetarian
takeout container with lamb meat topped with white sauce, pita chips, and salad from Zaytoon Kabob & Grill in Wyomissing, PA
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Review: Zaytoon Kabob & Grill

brick facade of the stripmall storefront for Zaytoon Kabob and Grill in Wyomissing, PA

Having been blogging now for more than a decade, I can say with certainty that Berks County has grown tremendously in the diversity of its food offerings. It’s almost night and day to compare today to when I started in 2014. 

Not every new addition has been a hit, and restaurants continue to come and go. But one restaurant we hope sticks around is Zaytoon Kebab and Grill. 

Zaytoon opened in spring 2025 in the former Zoup!, in the strip mall known as the Shoppes at Wyomissing. It’s a halal grill, one of the few halal spots in the area (Aladdin in West Reading and Sajal in Kutztown being two other notable ones). 

view from a booth with green cushions looking at a selife wall with black background and green neon light that reads "Zaytoon"

The restaurant is cozy with green-tinted booth seats lining one of the walls – half of them built for four, and the other half built for two – with tables dotting the open space surrounding the order counter. A soccer match can usually be found on the lone TV in the corner. 

Zaytoon’s menu is highly focused and rooted in Middle Eastern cooking. That means beef, chicken, lamb and falafel as the stars of the dishes. On my first visit, shortly after they opened in the spring, I decided to try their lamb platter. 

takeout container with lamb meat topped with white sauce, pita chips, and salad from Zaytoon Kabob & Grill in Wyomissing, PA

It came served in a compartmentalized takeout container with the lamb meat over a bed of rice, topped with white sauce. A small salad and two pieces of pita filled the other two spaces. 

The lamb was absolutely one of the best things that I have had. It was so tender and juicy, almost melt-in-your-mouth. And the white sauce was perfect. It’s tzatziki-like in consistency, but I feel it has a more subtle flavor than most similar sauces. It really was there to enhance rather than overpower. 

About a week after my own visit, Julie stopped in with one of her coworkers. She ordered the exact same meal as I did. She also gave it a rave review. 

two takeout containers with lids open, one with a gyro topped with lettuce and the other with an order of golden colored French fries

It was so good that on my second visit, I once again got lamb. But this time, I got it in a gyro. 

The gyro was over-stuffed with meat and veggies (tomato, cucumber, shredded lettuce, and onion). Like the platter, everything was smothered in that white sauce. 

And again, the flavors were excellent. Even the few bites where I didn’t have the sauce – just meat and pita – were very good and highlighted just how flavorful the lamb is. 

My only regret with the trip was that I had ordered a side of fries that I quickly realized I didn’t need. The fries were fine, nothing special, but I didn’t need them anyway because the gyro was so filling on its own. 

Back on my first visit, I also tried their pink chai. As a lover of chai, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to try this unique variation. 

It was strong, definitely real tea and not made from a powder or syrup that some coffee shops use. It had spice to it, not as easy to sip as the more Americanized lattes that are more sugar than spice, but I enjoyed it and would get it again if I needed a pick-me-up with my lunch or dinner. 

order and food prep counter at Zaytoon Kabob and Grill in Wyomissing, PA

In addition to serving delicious food, Zaytoon has good prices. Meals are priced under $15, and with it being a quick counter-service spot, it’s a great place for a quick lunch or a no-fuss dinner. 

The lamb will definitely keep me coming back. Maybe I’ll eventually try something else on the menu. But even if I just get the same thing every time, I’m glad to have it here in Berks. 

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

Zaytoon Kabob & Grill
760 Woodland Road
Wyomissing, PA 19610

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Review: Spuds Food Truck

side of a food truck with a cartoon potato and basket of fries and the word "Spuds"

When I was in college at Kutztown University – which feels like a lifetime ago – my favorite restaurant, hands down, was Spuds. 

My roommates and I absolutely loved their oversized, creative burgers and the delicious shoestring fries. And when I started Berks County Eats, it was one of my earliest reviews. 

Sadly, Spuds no longer has their downtown outpost. (That’s a joy that today’s KU students won’t get to experience). A fire in 2019 shuttered the restaurant, but those burgers and fries that I loved so much back then can still be found around Berks County. You just have to look for the Spuds food truck. 

(You can read our original review of the restaurant below).

white food truck with two windows on the side that are open and a logo in the back showing a potato holding a burger in one hand and a basket of fries in the other

We’ve found them at various stops throughout the region, including events like the Taste of Hamburg-er Festival and Art on the Avenue in West Reading. 

But Spuds also has some semi-regular locations in and around Kutztown, including pop-ups at the Kutztown Fire Company. 

That’s where I found them on a late spring afternoon. 

The truck is rather plain – painted white with the Spuds logo, a cartoon potato in a cowboy hat holding a burger in one hand and fries in the other, gracing the space at the back next to the order window. 

takeout container with a burger toped with coleslaw next to a pile of fries

While the truck may be bland, the food is anything but. In addition to the “plain” cheeseburger there were three specialty burgers on the menu for the event: the California cheeseburger, the wild mushroom burger, and the chipotle slaw burger. In addition, they were offering a chicken sandwich, pierogies, and fries – regular, loaded, garlic herb, and truffle. 

I opted for the chipotle slaw burger and a side of regular fries. 

The chipotle burger comes topped with a homemade spicy slaw and arugula (I skipped the cheese). The slaw had a good kick to it, a pleasant burn to complement the creaminess. The slightly bitter arugula was there to provide some subtle flavor notes. 

But even a plain burger from Spuds is a great offering because the thick patties, probably around half-pound each, are grilled to perfection and are solid on their own. With the addition of the slaw, it’s one of the best burgers around for my money. 

And then there are the fries. With the size of the burger, they are a completely unnecessary indulgence. But I will always indulge because they are that good. They’re fresh-cut style and fried to a perfect crisp. I can – and have – eaten them long after I was already full. 

burger smothered in mushrooms and cheese with a boat of fries

I mentioned before about Spuds’ appearances at local events, and we’ve had the the opportunity to check them at out several around Berks County. At a recent Taste of Hamburg-er Festival, we had the wild mushroom burger, which comes topped with mushrooms, melted brie, arugula, and balsamic drizzle. 

At home, we often make blended burgers with both chopped mushrooms and ground beef. They don’t come close to this burger which hits the right notes at every turn. The balsamic drizzle has the right balance of sweet and sour, mixing perfectly with the earthy flavors of the brie and mushrooms. All around, an excellent offering. 

basket with checkered paper filled with fried cheese curds and a cup of marinara for dipping

So too are the fried cheese curds. We had those during Art on the Avenue last year. 

Cheese curds are one of our favorite apps, and Spuds’ did not disappoint. The curds were a beautiful golden hue, served with a delicious pepper sauce for dipping. 

While I may not be able to walk into a downtown storefront to get my Spuds fix, I’m very glad that they are still around and still serving those same great burgers, fries, and more.

And we’ll keep enjoying them wherever we find them. 

BCE Rating
Food: Very Good
Service: Very Good
Price: $$

More Food Trucks in Berks County

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Original Post: June 23, 2014

sign that reads "Spuds" with a cartoon potato in a cowboy hat and a basket of fries

Editor’s Note: Spuds is now closed. The restaurant suffered a fire in the summer of 2019. Instead of reopening a brick-and-mortar store, Spuds now runs a food truck serving burgers and fries around Berks County.

Berks County is a land of extremes when it comes to food.

On one hand, you have the finest dining establishments, places with white table linens, strict dress codes and suits and ties.

On the other, you have the celebrated greasy spoons, locally renowned holes-in-the-wall serving great food without any of the frills.

There may be no better, or greasier, greasy spoon in Berks County than Spuds in Kutztown.

Spuds doesn’t pretend to be something it’s not. There are no fancy decorations on the walls, only the photos of those brave souls who have conquered “The Beast,” the restaurant’s three-pound burger challenge (the current record holder finished it in a very impressive 13 minutes).

The menu, a single piece of paper printed front and back, is headed by the “Assembly Line,” where you build your own burger, hot dog, steak or chicken sandwich from a list of toppings and “over the top-pings” which include corned beef, ham, mozzarella sticks and onion rings.

A handful of salads appeal to those who want to trick themselves into thinking they are eating healthy, though I doubt the cheeseburger salad (which includes, you guessed it, a freshly grilled cheeseburger) or The Mob (topped with ham and pepperoni) have much redeeming nutritional value.

And then there are the famous fries from which Spuds takes its name. The original fries and curly fries are great, but why settle when there are 30 topping options, including Sweet Heat (Cajun seasoning, sweet chili sauce and mozzarella), San Antonio (ground beef, fried onions, cayenne ranch, mozzarella and bacon) and Lonely Hearts (mushrooms, peppers, onions, parmesan pepper sauce and mozzarella).

burger topped in barbecue sauce and onions

I decided to splurge on the burger, topping it with barbecue sauce, onions and pulled pork. The quarter-pound burger on its toasted bun would have been plenty filling, but not nearly as much fun. The pulled pork was tender and moist, and it would have made an excellent sandwich on its own. Together, it was a deliciously messy dish that no bun could contain.

basket of fries tossed in Old Bay seasoning

Of course no meal at Spuds is complete without fries. The Chesapeake fries, which are tossed in Old Bay and olive oil, are one of the simpler creations available, but sometimes less is more. The thin-cut fries were dripping of oil and doused in seasoning. The cook could have probably held off on the extra salt, but the fries were as good as any that you are going to find.

burger topped with cheese, lettuce and tomato

Taking the opposite approach, my wife went with a simple cheeseburger with lettuce, tomato and mayonnaise while loading up on the spuds, literally, with an order of loaded fries. The “gall bladder goodness,” as my wife calls it, is like eating a fried baked potato, with cheddar, ranch, bacon and chives.

basket of fries loaded with sour cream and chives

A fork is a must as the cheese hardens atop the potatoes, but it is worth the extra effort it takes to eat the extra special fries.

Though reasonably priced (with drinks, our meals came in at under $25.00), don’t confuse Spuds with fast food. All of the burgers and fries are made to order, which can mean long waits during the dinner rush, especially when class is in session a Kutztown University. Of course, you can always call in your order (and probably should if you need more than two or three meals).

Spuds is a favorite of students, especially those looking for a late-night meal. But the food is too good to dismiss it as a college town dive.

So if you’re in the mood for a burger and fries, and if you have a few thousand calories to spare, skip the fast food and gorge on some greasy gourmet instead.

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

Spuds
163 W. Main St
Kutztown, PA 19530

Closed Food Trucks Lunch & Dinner
the breakfast Bernville Special, potoates topped with egg and cheese sauce
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Review: Plum Creek Farm Market & Creamery

Order counter at a restaurant with a sign above that reads "the Creamery at Plum Creek"

If you’re a long-time follower of our blog, you’ve seen our family grow over the years. After Jakob was born in 2017, we started spending a lot more time at family-friendly restaurants. WIth the arrival of Lukas in 2023, we definitely try to make sure to find places that are great for kids. 

And it’s more than just seeking out the best kids menus. It’s visiting places where the food is good, the wait times aren’t bad, and we don’t have to feel guilty about having our kids heard and seen. 

One place that ranks near the top of our list these days is Plum Creek Market & Creamery in Bernville. 

We first visited Plum Creek in 2018 around the time it opened along Route 183 as a small market with a takeout window for hot food and ice cream. (See the original post below).

Inside seating area at Plum Creek Farm with leather chairs and a large fireplace

The market has only grown since then. In 2020, they opened a brand new space, half of it devoted to a true market with fresh produce, bulk foods, baked goods and prepared items, and half devoted to indoor seating for the creamery. 

child playing with sand toys in an outdoor playground at Plum Creek Farm.

Outside, Plum Creek now boasts a large play area with swings, slides and a sandbox full of shovels and trucks for digging. 

With the expansion came an expanded menu – more options for lunch, dinner and dessert. Then in 2024, Plum Creek added breakfast to its offerings. 

At first, it was only on Saturday mornings though they have now added daily breakfast. But it was on one of those early Saturdays when we made our first visit for breakfast. That’s when I had my first taste of their breakfast burrito that has kept me coming back. 

breakfast burrito cut in half and stacked one on top of the other to show the eggs inside

The burrito comes filled with your choice of meat (sausage for me), egg, cheese, and homefries. It’s delicious on its own – the inclusion of the crispy pieces of potato is excellent – but what makes it one of my favorites is the chipotle sauce. It has just the right amount of heat, and it really brings the whole dish together. 

It’s also the closest I can find to my all-time favorite from the former Squawk Cafe in Wyomissing. 

the breakfast Bernville Special, potoates topped with egg and cheese sauce

One of Julie’s favorite dinner items is the Bernville Special – pit beef over fries with barbecue sauce, cheese, scallions and sour cream. So of course she had to try the Breakfast Bernville Special. 

The breakfast version features a bed of potatoes topped with cheese, eggs, bacon and Hollandaise sauce (with scallions and sour cream). It’s a great skillet-type meal for those with a big appetite at breakfast – very hearty and full of flavor. 

plate with a large pancake next to a cup of syrup.

No breakfast menu would be complete without classics like pancakes, and that’s exactly what Jakob ordered. The thick pancakes are as wide as the plate and served with two per order – more than enough for adults, let alone a kid. But they are very good, nice and fluffy, and a worthy meal. 

Two milkshakes and a glass bottle of orange soda on a table at Plum Creek Farm

Of course, Plum Creek has stayed true to its roots, and we still enjoy stopping in for dinners, especially when we save room for dessert. Their Creamery treats, like their Twisters (their version of a Flurry or Blizzard), are always delicious. The regular menu has great options like Oreo and Peanut Butter, but watch for their monthly specials featuring their soft serve of the month. 

And for Jakob and Lukas, Plum Creek’s play area is the perfect place to get out some of that energy before dinner or after dessert. 

Food, fun, and family time: three things that all make Plum Creek one of our favorite spots. 

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

Plum Creek Farm & Market
5035 Bernville Road
Bernville, PA 19506

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Original Post: July 2, 2018

people lineup in front of two windows at a wooden building with the words "The Creamery" on digital menu boards

Last summer, my brother clued me in to a new ice cream place called Plum Creek Farm.

The small place had recently opened, and they were serving homemade soft serve ice cream. We checked it out and quickly fell in love with both the ice cream and the small farm market store.

Plum Creek operates seasonally so we got our last taste of it in the fall and awaited its reopening in April. This year brought an expanded menu of hot food items, new hard ice cream (not homemade but locally made) and more treats.

The hot food menu was definitely something we wanted to try. Last year, it was an evolving menu but it finally seems to be set, with sandwiches that include pulled pork, smoked sausage, pit beef and hot dogs; fresh-cut fries; homemade soups; and soft pretzels. (There are also salads if you want to save Calories for dessert).

Three digital menu boards above two order windows with a logo that reads "The Creamery" behind the menu items

We stopped by on a weeknight in early June and the line to order showed that the word is definitely out about Plum Creek.

It was a long wait for our dinners. That wasn’t the case for ice cream cones as an efficient ordering system had cones delivered before the customers even had paid. But for hot food, and for specialty desserts, it took time.

I stood and watched as cone after cone was handed off. Then a cup of soup. Occasionally, a sandwich. Finally, after what seemed like hours (it was probably 20 minutes), my name was called and our sandwiches were ready.

We dined at one of many picnic tables that make up the “dining area.” There are also Adirondack chairs, benches, all outside.

pulled pork sandwich topped with barbecue sauce

Maybe I was just really hungry, but from the first bite, I really enjoyed my pulled pork sandwich.

Now, I fully recognize that this pulled pork will never win a barbecue competition. But it was still very good. The sauce was sweeter than most, almost a little too sweet, but I think what really made the sandwich was Plum Creek’s seasoning. It was sprinkled on as the sandwich was constructed. The basic salt and pepper were there with additional spices. It wasn’t spicy, but it added little hits of flavor to every bite.

pit beef sandwich topped with cheese sauce and barbecue sauce

The seasoning was even better, in my opinion, on Julie’s pit beef sandwich. She thought it was a little salty, but I thought it worked.

Her sandwich was served with cheese (that’s the standard at Plum Creek; I opted for mine without). It’s not the norm for barbecue, but Julie enjoyed this change of pace.

Both sandwiches were served on Kaiser rolls that served their purpose, holding in all of the meat and sauce without crumbling.

clamshell package with fries

We both really enjoyed the side of fries that we shared. They most closely resembled the shoestring fries that you’ll find locally at Austin’s and Coastal Grille. The fries were cut very thin and short, making it easy to pick up a handful at once. And they came out piping hot – I can only assume this was what delayed our order.

Of course we couldn’t come to Plum Creek without getting ice cream. And even though we were comfortably full after dinner, we couldn’t resist trying some of their signature desserts.

clear plastic plate with a slice of shoofly pie topped with whipped cream next to a helping of vanilla soft serve

My sweet of choice was the pie a la mode. I chose the shoo-fly pie (strawberry is also available) and have to admit that I was a little disappointed in the pie. It drier than it looked with a rather plain crust. But the homemade vanilla soft serve was excellent. It’s a heavy ice cream that is better and more flavorful than your typical soft serve mix.

I probably would have been happier – and certainly more comfortable – had I just settled for a cone of vanilla.

cup with strawberry shortcake and ice cream topped with whipped cream

Julie was not disappointed with her strawberry shortcake, though she would also admit that she didn’t need that much food.

The shortcake was topped with strawberries (you can buy Plum Creek’s fresh-picked strawberries from their store), strawberry sauce, vanilla ice cream and whipped cream. Everything about this was excellent, but there’s just nothing better than fresh strawberries and a homemade strawberry sauce on a shortcake.

smiling baby wearing a monkey bib holding a stuffed fox

One downside of the way we did things was that we had to go through the line a second time. While Julie stood in line for dessert, I gave Jakob a bottle so it worked out. But we spent a long evening – and around $35 – at Plum Creek.

Last year, I could have argued that Plum Creek Farm was a hidden gem. But with long lines on an ordinary weeknight, I’d say the word is already out.

But those crowds won’t scare us away this summer, and they shouldn’t scare you away either.

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

Plum Creek Farm
5035 Bernville Rd
Bernville, PA 19506

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Review: Midtown Sip, Savor, Social

entrance to Midtown West Reading with two bistro tables in front and large green plants flanking the door

It has felt weird for the last year to walk through West Reading and not see Say Cheese on the corner of Sixth and Penn Avenues. Before its closure last June, the restaurant had been a West Reading staple for 13 years. 

But thankfully, the space is alive again with the arrival of Midtown Sip, Savor, Social; an upscale dining spot from the team behind another West Reading staple, Nonno Alby’s. 

We made our first visit about a month after the restaurant opened. So much of the space feels new, and it’s not just that it recently opened. There was clearly an intentional redesign. You first feel the difference outside where the removal of the awning over the front entrance has revealed beautiful green, red and blue plate glass that stands out against the brick facade. 

blueberry drink sitting on a table next to a gold lamp shade

Inside, the dining room is elegant but cool. One of the most notable elements is the large crystal ball that hangs in the back room, but small touches include the white and gray tabletops with bronze lamps. 

Our server, Joe, was extremely attentive, first arriving quickly after we were seating and checking in on us often throughout the meal. 

The first thing to be delivered to the table was Julie’s drink, a blueberry lavendar lemonade that she really enjoyed. 

basket with a small loaf of Italian bread in front of a small dish with butter

That was followed by a loaf of Italian bread which came with a small plate of garlic butter. The infused butter was strong on the garlic, but I love garlic so I really enjoyed it. Julie liked it, too. We ended up finishing most of the loaf, leaving just a couple slices at the end. 

round plate with a Caesar salad sitting on a white table

Both of our entrees came with salads. Julie opted for a standard house salad while I went with the small upgrade to a Caesar. Both were good with plenty of fresh lettuce and toppings. I liked that the dressing on mine was lighter and not as dense as some Caesar dressings. 

For our entrees, we both went toward the lighter side of the menu. I had contemplated the Midtown burger – the combination of Cooper sharp, crispy onion, lettuce, mushrooms, caramelized shallots, and truffle aioli on a pretzel bun almost sounded too good to pass up, but ultimately I didn’t think I’d be able to finish it. 

Instead, I went with something more unique: the risotto trio. I’ve had risotto plenty of times before. Sometimes it’s done well, sometimes not so much. At Midtown, though, it’s not just one bowl of risotto, it’s a plate with three distinct flavors. 

long rectangular plate with three different types of risotto, one yellow-green, one yellow, and one dark purple

First, there was the black truffle and Parmigiano Reggiano. This was probably the closest in flavor to the risotto dishes I’ve had in the past. Though it wasn’t as creamy as the others, it had a really nice flavor with earthy undertones. 

On the other end of the spectrum was the red endive and Gorgonzola. The flavor of the cheese was unmistakable, but it paired very well with the slightly bitter tones of the red endives to create something completely unique. 

My favorite, though, was the saffron and Crescenza. It’s a naturally soft cheese which I think helped make it the creamiest and thickest of the three risotto. The saffron just added a nice herbal punch to it.

All three were very good, and I definitely didn’t have any regrets about my choice. 

Julie also had several items that she was considering, including the picanha steak and lobster mac and cheese, but she ultimately decided on the branzino (Mediterranean sea bass). 

plate with two cuts of branzino with tails on along with lemon wedges, roasted potatoes and zucchini slices

The fish was halved and served with tail on and garnished with orange and lemon wedges, with sides of rosemary potatoes and medallions of yellow squash and zucchini. She enjoyed everything on her plate. The fish was cooked to perfection, and the potatoes were crispy and delicious. 

Despite the somewhat lighter meals, we left without room for dessert and closed out our night with a bill of around $75 for our two meals plus drinks (mine was an unsweet tea). That felt fair for the amount of food that we had, but there are some higher priced entrees and appetizers that could easily put the bill over $100. 

It was, in my opinion, a great meal and a great experience. The team has done a great job with both the restaurant space and the menu, and I’m sure they will continue to grow and build upon these early successes to become a staple on the Avenue for years to come. 

BCE Rating
Food: Very Good
Ambiance: Excellent
Service: Excellent
Price: $$$

Midtown Sip, Savor, Social
600 Penn Avenue
West Reading, PA 19611

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Finer Dining Reviews
round plate with a meatloaf sandwich and pickled vegetables from Heart & Hearth in Kutztown, PA
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Review: Heart & Hearth Deli & Smokehouse

Open flag hanging next to the large picture window with the words Heart & Heart dlicatessin and smokehouse on the window

During my school years at Kutztown, I didn’t appreciate all the dining options that it had. Our adventures off-campus were mostly limited to Spuds, the Airport Diner, and poker nights at TC’s (now Ozgood’s). 

As such, I was never a regular at the Uptown Espresso Bar, the small cafe that was located near the top end of Main Street near the University. In more recent years, I stopped in from time to time for a chai. The best way to describe it would be “eclectic.” 

table with a blue chair and wood chair in front of a mural featuring Shrek, Donkey, Bart Simpson and Harry Potter

There were the random photographs and signs haphazardly hung throughout the crowded space, practically hiding the chalkboard menu from view. There were the mismatched tables and chairs – black metal chairs with orange-brown padding by the windows and wooden chairs and benches of various colors by the order counter. And then there was the mural where the likes of Shrek and Donkey, Bart Simpson, and Harry Potter looked out on the customers. 

It was unique, to say the least, but it had been there as long as I could remember. When it closed a little more than a year ago, it was the end of an era. But it was followed by something new, different and exciting. 

Enter Heart and Hearth Deli and Smokehouse. 

farmers market stand with a cooler and a sign that reads "Heart & Hearth Deli & Smokehouse"

I first tasted Heart and Hearth at the stand at Renninger’s in February 2023. I had their pork sandwich with apple cabbage slaw and spicy vinegar dressing. It was a delicious introduction with perfectly slow-cooked pulled pork with a nice little sweet and spicy kick. 

small shack-like building with the words "Heart & Hearth BBQ" over an opening for ordering

Later that year, I sought them out again, this time at the Kutztown Fair. This time I had the pepper peach pork with jalapeno peach sauce and a splash of peppered vinegar. Again, it was that mix of sweet and spicy that pulled me in. More than that, though, it’s unique. Plenty of places offer pulled pork, but no one else is doing jalapeno peach sauce. 

Fast-forward to early 2024 and Heart and Hearth now has a brick-and-mortar in Kutztown, the former Uptown Espresso. 

brisket sandwich and chips on a white plate

I did takeout from them soon after they opened, but it wasn’t until this spring that I dined in for the first time.

wall of farmers market items at Heart and Hearth in Kutztown, PA

The space is much more open and less crowded. Two chalkboards behind the counter display the full men of both BBQ and deli selections. The left wall is home to a mini farmers market with baskets of produce and shelves filled with oil, vinegar and honey. As was the case at their deli stand, the focus is on local and organic ingredients, both in the foods they sell and those that they make.  

On a recent visit in March, I discovered the back dining room – a space I didn’t even know existed because it’s down a small hallway, past the order counter, and around a corner. 

antique wooden table and chair in the dining room of Heart & Hearth

The dining room may be the most impressive part of the building. It has a rustic charm with what appear to be original wood floors and homey wood tables and chairs. There’s a record player in the corner where you’re welcome to put on a vinyl of your choice from their library. Artwork from locals and students lines the walls, providing pops of color and modernity to an otherwise earth-toned space.

Unable to make up my mind on this visit, I got some help from the owner who recommended the Heatloaf, a blend of beef, pork and smoked jalapenos. 

round plate with a meatloaf sandwich and pickled vegetables from Heart & Hearth in Kutztown, PA

This was not something I would typically order, but I was glad I did. There was some heat, but it was mild and flavorful, not burn-your-tongue heat. And the little side of thin-sliced cucumber, apple and melon helped tone it down even more. 

Next time, I would probably go back to pork or brisket, but the Heatloaf was a solid sandwich that’s worth a try. 

I bought a bag of Route 11 potato chips and a bottle of iced tea to go along with it. It was more than enough for a meal (probably would skip the chips next time) and felt reasonably priced at $20. 

And the unexpected coziness of the back dining room was a nice touch. I’ll definitely be doing more dine-in in the future. 

BCE Rating
Food: Good
Ambiance: Very Good
Service: Excellent
Price: $$

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