There are times when I wish I knew more about cooking, especially seasoning. Even with more than a decade of food blogs under my belt, there are times where I don’t have the words to do justice to the flavors that I’m tasting.
I first tried Sizzling Island in the fall of 2024 while they were operating a second location inside the Reading Downtown Food Court.
This wasn’t just my introduction to Sizzling Island, but it was my introduction to beef legume, the delicious Haitian stew that I instantly loved. In my Instagram post at the time, I described it as “bursting with flavor,” the most detailed description I could give.
The downtown location closed in late 2024, but the Fairgrounds location is still going strong. I visited the market stand during the summer of 2026. When I arrived, there was a short line ahead of me – a group of four college students who just barely beat me to the stand.
Sizzling Island is at the north end of the market near the Bellevue Avenue entrance. The stand looks a bit chaotic. Flags of countries in Central and South America hang above the order counter. There’s a faux-roof on the stand, green metal sheeting that matches the artificial turf that covers a small wall at the end of the stand. Along the base of the order counter were woven potholders and a pair of potted plants.
I placed my order – beef legume with a side of plantains – and waited. Most of the food at Sizzling Island can be found on the steamer table. A variety of stews, soups and sides sizzle in the pans. However, there were no plantains ready so all I could do was wait.
I normally eat an early lunch so with the clock passing 12:30, I was extra hungry. It was only 15 minutes from the time I ordered until I had my food, but if you had told me a half-hour had passed, I would have believed you.
The beef legume was everything that I remembered it being. The beef was melt-in-your-mouth tender with bursts of flavor – garlic, peppers and other mild spices – in every bite.
The “legume” part is a mostly mashed vegetable medley that the beef is stewed in. It’s not the prettiest dish to look at as it takes on a green-yellow hue from the spinach with little pops of orange from the larger pieces of carrots that haven’t been mashed up.
I don’t really care what it looks like, it tastes amazing.
On the side, I had black rice (duri djon djon), another Haitian specialty. Sizzling Island’s version uses long-grain rice with green peas that have been cooked with even more seasonings and spices to give it a unique flavor of its own.
The plantains, unfortunately, were not as sweet as I had hoped for. They were OK, but I wished I had ordered something that was already on the warming table instead of waiting for the plantains.
The beef legume meal cost $19. It’s on the higher side for the market, but the portion was enough for two meals so I felt like I got more than my money’s worth.
I may not be able to tell you every flavor or every spice I tasted at Sizzling Island, but I can tell you the food is worth trying for yourself.
BCE Rating Food: Very Good Service: Good Ambiance: Fair Price: $$
Sizzling Island at the Fairgrounds Farmers Market 2934 N. 5th Street Highway Reading, PA 19605
During the holiday season, one of the most popular dishes in Berks County is potato filling. A unique local side dish, filling is a mash-up of mashed potatoes and stuffing that has served as a side for Pennsylvania German families for generations. If you want to try this traditional dish, at the holidays or any time, here’s where you can find potato filling in Berks County in 2026:
Restaurants Serving Potato Filling
Kauffman’s BBQ Restaurant Bethel
While the restaurant is best known for its BBQ chicken (and with good reason), Kauffman’s also serves some of the best potato filling in the area. Get it alongside chicken, roast beef or ham any time of year. The restaurant also sells filling by the quart, pint and tray at Thanksgiving.
Berks County’s spot for Pennsylvania Dutch cooking, the Deitsch Eck offers potato filling among its many traditional entrees and sides. Other authentic PA Dutch offerings include scrapple and lettuce with hot bacon dressing. Filling is also available by the pound for holiday pre-orders.
Temple Family Restaurant is one of the many local diners that have potato filling on the menu. Most dinner entrees are served with a side – get your potato filling with their chicken croquettes, smoked sausage or roast beef.
Enjoy potato filling with your favorite entree or sandwich at the 5th Street Diner in Temple. Smoked sausage and roast turkey are served over filling while it’s available as a side for hot sandwiches, steaks and chops, and classic dinners.
Kutztown is Berks County’s hub of Pennsylvania Dutch culture, and the Airport Diner in Kutztown serves potato filling both with roast turkey and as a regular side.
American Diner West Reading
The American Diner in West Reading promotes its “home-made filling” as one its regular sides. Meatloaf, sausage, roast beef and roast turkey are all served over the classic Pennsylvania German side dish too.
Americana Diner Bechtelsville
Roast chicken over filling and smoked sausage over filling are among the regular featured items at the Americana Diner in Bechtelsville.
At the Bally Family Diner, chicken croquettes are served over potato filling while filling is also available as a regular vegetable item.
Crossroads Family Restaurant Muhlenberg Township
While the menu doesn’t have many Pennsylvania Dutch foods, Crossroads Family Restaurant does offer potato filling in his vegetables of the day rotation – and it’s always available on holiday menus.
Mondays at the Heidelberg are all-you-can-eat chicken pot pie nights, but potato filling is available on the menu every day at the Robesonia diner.
Jak’s Downtown Diner Topton
Potato filling is one of nine side dishes available at Jak’s Downtown Diner in Topton. It pairs well with oven-baked meatloaf, a hot roast beef sandwich or sausage.
Kempton Hotel Kempton
The Kempton Hotel has a small selection of PA Dutch dishes on the regular menu, including potato filling. You can also try another local specialty, Dutch fries – a cross between French fries and potato chips – or chicken pot pie.
Main Street Pub Bally
Potato filling is one of more than a dozen side options at the Main Street Pub in Bally. The restaurant offers a varied menu that includes steaks, seafood, pasta and build-your-own burgers.
Perry Restaurant Shoemakersville
Filling is always on the menu at Perry Restaurant. The Shoemakersville spot serves roast turkey, beef and pork over filling. And all hot sandwiches are served with the choice of mashed potatoes, filling or fries.
Route 61 Diner Muhlenberg Township
Several items at the Route 61 Diner are served over filling: chicken croquettes, roast beef, roast turkey and smoked sausage all come with the classic PA Dutch side dish.
Farmers Markets
Betty’s at Shillington Farmers Market Shillington
Betty’s is one of the longest-running local producers of specialty salads and sides. Their Shillington Farmers Market stand offers more than 30 products, including potato filling.
Blue Spruce Market Stouchsburg
Blue Spruce offers homemade potato filling in their Stochsburg market, available in trays at the holidays.
Smucker’s PA Dutch Farmer’s Market of Wyomissing Wyomissing
Smucker’s Salads is the place to get potato filling at the Wyomissing Farmers Market. The stand also offers pineapple filling at Easter and other traditional PA Dutch prepared meals throughout the year.
Twilight Acres Creamery Stouchsburg
Twilight Acres is more than a dairy store, it is also a place to get some excellent prepared meals and sides including potato filling and other Pennsylvania German foods.
2026 Holiday Sales
Kutztown Grange Kutztown
The Kutztown Grange is taking orders for potato filling and bacon dressing through November 13. Filling is available in two-pound ($9) and three-pound ($11) pans while dressing is available by the pint ($6) or quart ($10). Pick-up is Tuesday, November 24. Facebook Post
Pioneer Grange Topton
The Pioneer Grange is taking preorders for homemade filling. The cost is $7 for 1.5 pounds or $9 for 2.5 pounds. Orders must be placed by November 9 for pickup on November 25. Facebook Event
Zion Lutheran Church Womelsdorf
The Women of the ELCA at Zion Lutheran Church in Womelsdorf are once again hosting a potato filling sale this year. Preorders will be available starting in October with pickup scheduled for November 20.
Where do you get your potato filling? Let us know in the comments below or email berkscountyeats@gmail.com.
One of the best parts of shopping at the Fairgrounds Farmers Market is grabbing a meal while you’re there. Most of my visits are at lunch because it’s the easiest time for me to get there. But after a recent breakfast at Brenda’s Fresh Start Cafe, I now have a reason to shop early.
Brenda’s opened in early June, taking over the space that the Hot Spot most recently occupied at the north end of the building.
The stand is part diner, part sandwich shop with a menu that includes both breakfast and lunch/dinner items. Both parts of the menu are robust. On the breakfast side, it’s French toast, pancakes, omelettes and egg platters. For lunch, it’s burgers, quesadillas, sandwiches and wraps.
But while the menu headings all look familiar, Brenda’s offers some unique twists. Especially at breakfast. And especially with French toast.
French toast doesn’t just come with white bread or brioche. Instead, there are varied options that include raisin bread and banana cake, plus weekly specials. And during my visit, they were offering French toast flights. Each flight came with three slices of your choice from among six styles: banana peanut butter, pumpkin cream cheese swirl, banana cake, blueberry cream cheese swirl, strawberry cheesecake and chocolate cream cheese.
I opted for the pumpkin, banana and blueberry.
The cafe has limited seating – a single row of four or five stools adjacent to the order counter – so meals are packed to go. After a short 10-minute wait, I grabbed my bag and took a seat at a nearby table in the market’s communal dining area.
Aside from the styrofoam container, the presentation was beautiful. Each one was uniquely topped (though everything was dusted with powdered sugar).
I dug into the banana cake first. It was topped with fresh bananas and a sprinkle of cinnamon. The bread, itself, was delicious but a little dry before I added syrup. It had a strong banana flavor even without the fresh bananas on top.
The pumpkin bread was probably my favorite. It had a blend of spices that reminded me of a spiced cookie you eat at the holidays. With the addition of the cream cheese on top, it was more like a pumpkin roll. I could have eaten several slices of it.
The blueberry swirl was the last on the plate. Not only was it topped with fresh blueberries, there was fruit baked into the bread. The cream cheese made it extra sweet and decadent, the perfect ending to a breakfast that felt more like dessert.
At least during my visit, the French toast flight was a weekly special for $11. On the regular menu, French toast ranges from $7 for a plain short stack to $13.50 for a full stack of one of their specialty breads.
Everything coming out of Brenda’s kitchen looked good, and with decent prices across the menu, I’ll definitely come back to try more of their menu.
BCE Rating Food: Very Good Service: Very Good Ambiance: Fair Price: $
In addition to great restaurants and food trucks, Berks County has some amazing bakeries. One of those that I recently discovered is Laissa’s Baked Goods.
I first saw her stand at the pop-up farm market at the Berks County Heritage Center in September. A few weeks later, I was invited by Laissa to try some of the most popular items.
Laissa’s began two years ago. Since then, sourdough breads and other products have been sold at Mediterranean Medley inside the Fairgrounds Farmers Market. This year, the business has expanded to include pop-up events with a full schedule through the early fall.
We caught up with Laissa’s at one of those pop-up events, the one-year anniversary celebration for HoneyPop, the West Lawn-based dirty soda trailer.
Laissa’s table was filled with breads and sweet treats, and we were treated to four favorites: a loaf of sourdough, a brown butter honey Rice Krispie treat, a vanilla chai cinnamon roll and a dirty chai cookie.
We had to try the Rice Krispie treat before we left the event. With brown butter and honey, this treat was anything but traditional. It was very rich and had almost a caramel-like quality to it. In addition to the marshmallow that held the whole thing together, there were large, melty chunks of marshmallow throughout. Our youngest was obsessed over it so we relented and let him have most of it.
Julie and I saved the cinnamon roll for ourselves. It was billed as a vanilla chai cinnamon roll. Both flavors came through in the icing – it was extra sweet with hints of spice from the masala chai that also gave it a darker hue. Coffee mixed with the cinnamon filling reminded me of tiramisu where the coffee is more of a background flavor.
There was a slightly stronger coffee flavor from the espresso in the dirty chai cookie. The cookie was about the size of a hockey puck but incredibly soft on the inside with the consistency and flavor reminiscent of a molasses cookie. The chunks of white chocolate made it a more indulgent sweet treat.
Laissa’s is not all about the sweets. A big part of the product line is sourdough loaves which come in a range of flavors including everything bagel, cheddar jalapeno and garlic rosemary.
We only tried the plain sourdough, but it was very good. It was crusty on the outside and soft in the center with the familiar flavor of a sourdough loaf. It served us well on egg and cheese breakfast sandwiches for several days after.
Laissa’s Baked Goods is popping up at events in Berks County and beyond, but you can also find sourdough loaves and select treats at Mediterranean Medley and Cafe 372 at the Reading Fairgrounds Farmers Market while supplies last.
Having done Berks County Eats for more than a dozen years, there aren’t many places to eat in Berks County that I don’t know about at this point. But head outside of Berks – even just a mile or two – and there are still a lot of surprises.
One of those surprises was the Inn at Twin Linden. The Inn is located along Route 23, less than five miles from the Berks County border in Narvon, Lancaster County. Throughout the year, the Inn at Twin Linden is a bed-and-breakfast and special event venue. But on select Saturday nights in late summer and early fall, the Inn hosts a farm-to-table dinner.
I hadn’t heard of the Inn, nor had I heard of the dinners, until their event manager reached out and invited Julie and I to experience it for ourselves.
On a late September evening, we made the 30-minute drive south from Wyomissing to just outside Morgantown. Because of the limited parking on-site, we parked at a church across the street.
The forecast was calling for heavy rains, but there was just a light mist in the air when we arrived, giving us a chance to explore the grounds before dinner. A large firepit encircled with a dozen Adirondack chairs overlooked rolling hills of Lancaster County farmland. Behind it, a vegetable and herb garden. In front of it, bright red, yellow and purple flowers brightened an otherwise gloomy evening.
Typically, the spacious backyard would play host to the dinner, but the forecast forced us inside the renovated barn toward the rear of the property.
While the barn has received some modern upgrades – some new inside walls for insulation, new windows and improved lighting – much of the charm comes from the original features. The dark-hued wood floorboards are uneven with age. One original, wide barn door still maintains its white paint, chipping with age. In one corner, a horseshoe hangs above a mystery door with its original iron hinges.
Dinner was scheduled to start around 6 p.m., and as the time came, we all settled in to our assigned seats. Five tables of 10 were set around the barn. Ironically, we were seated next to another couple from Wyomissing along with a husband and wife from Blue Bell, Montgomery County, who were staying in one of the suites on the property.
On a nicer evening, the first course would be enjoyed cocktail hour-style as we wandered the grounds. Instead, the small plates with a teaser of a pastry were delivered to our tables inside the bar. Aptly named, the “first bite” was a small brie and apple phyllo crisp. It was merely a taste of what was to come, but it was a great first impression. The flaky crust on the inside with the creamy brie on the inside was a perfect match. It was sprinkled with parsley to give it a little earthiness to match the sweetness of the apple. It was a shame that it was gone in just a couple bites.
The first course was our first chance to experience the parade of young servers. The team consisted of mostly girls, elementary through high school, in their long black dresses and hair braided indicating they were Amish or Mennonite. (There were a few exceptions, including some older teens in black shirts and pants and at least one boy who wore a black cowboy hat). We found out at the end of the meal that these were neighbors of the Inn and its owners, recruited to learn the basics of the hospitality industry as they alternated between clearing dishes and setting each course.
Our second course for the night was a trio of appetizers: a roasted pear tart, a short rib spring roll and a crab-stuffed crimini mushroom.
The roasted pear tart was my favorite of the three. It wasn’t too far removed from the first bite, but it had its own unique flavor thanks to the strength of the Gorgonzola and the slightly sweet caramelized onions. The pastry was also a little thicker, though it still flaked with each bite.
Julie’s favorite was the short rib spring roll, which I also enjoyed. It was a very light outer shell stuffed full of tender short rib. It came on a bed of melted, smoked Gouda that was very strong.
I’m not a big fan of any seafood, but I found the crab-stuffed mushroom to be less about the crab and more about the filling and the thick-walled, earthy mushroom it was served in.
All three were very different but very good in their own way. And with small bites of everything, we were able to experience a diversity of flavors over the course of the two-hour meal.
Following the appetizers was the salad course. Everyone at the table agreed that this was one of the best salads we had ever tried. It featured organic mixed greens with roasted butternut squash, sliced apples, pomegranate, shaved fennel, toasted pecans, sharp cheddar and cider vinaigrette. The squash, cooked until soft, was a salad ingredient that I didn’t know I was missing before. Because the squash was roasted, it added a bit of a smokey flavor that was countered nicely by the sweetness of the pomegranate and the thin-sliced apples.
By this point, I would have been satisfied if we had skipped right to dessert. Instead, we still had steak and seafood to come.
Our first entree was NY strip steak served with potato gratin, root vegetable hash, red wine demi glace and fresh sage Hollandaise. The steak was cooked perfectly with the right amount of pink in the middle. The demi glace was sweet, but there was also a teriyaki-like aftertaste that was surprising. The potatoes were very well prepared, thin slices that were slightly crisp on the outside layered with creamy cheese on the inside. And the hash was very good, as well, featuring some of the same squash from the salad plus carrots and parsnips, the latter being an unexpected addition.
As the meal went on, every course seemed to be better than the last so despite having had more than enough to eat, we were excited for our next taste.
The penultimate course featured fish, a maple and Dijon-glazed pompano with autumn squash risotto, roasted Brussels sprouts and a white wine herb beurre blanc. Again, I’m not a fan of fish, but I thought the glaze was very flavorful. You could see the mustard seeds across the top of the white fish, and I really liked the combination of the sweet maple with the sharp Dijon. It wasn’t a heavy mustard consistency, but a lighter, more subtle flavor.
The risotto was amazing. It was thick and cheesy, the rice reduced to the perfect consistency. And the squash gave little pops of flavor throughout. I am going to try to recreate it at home (and will likely fail). If I had one criticism of the meal, it would be that the Brussels sprouts were a little overcooked. Honestly, I wouldn’t have missed them even if they had been cooked perfectly.
Of course, the chef saved the best for last. Dessert was a caramel apple Devonshire cheesecake. It was so decadent with thick caramel and bright fresh apples sitting atop a delicious cheesecake base. The whole thing was topped with tiny fall-colored sugar sprinkles that gave little extra pops of sweetness. We may not have had any room left after the previous five courses, but we were not about to leave a speck of that delicious dessert on the plate.
The apples were locally grown by Zimmerman’s Orchard, and many of the ingredients came from local purveyors – the steak, the cheese and the vegetables all were from local farms and markets. Some ingredients – like the butternut squash, eggs and potatoes – were even more local, grown in the backyard garden at the inn.
The cost per person is $125 which includes a true farm-to-table six-course meal. Though it is BYO, there was also a complementary cocktail – the fireside fizz with Fireball, Prosecco and cider. While the price may scare many away, it is worth it. It was an amazing meal and an amazing night. From the first bite to the last, the meal was exceptional. It was a true dining experience with a familiar, yet elevated menu. Experiences like this are few and far between in our area.
As beautiful as the barn was, I still wish the weather would have cooperated to enjoy the meal under the stars in the backyard. I can only imagine how that would have added to the ambiance of the evening.
But as it was, I would not have traded this meal for anything.
The last dinner of 2026 will be held on October 24. Look for the 2027 schedule in the new year.
BCE Rating Food: Excellent Ambiance: Very Good Service: Excellent Price: $$$$
The Inn at Twin Linden 2092 Main Street Narvon, PA 17555
After Cafe Folino opened in Wyomissing two years ago, it quickly became one of my favorite breakfast spots in Berks County.
Apparently others agreed because the Italian-style cafe has done well enough to expand to a second location in Temple, which opened in early 2026.
The new Cafe Folino is located in the former Oliver’s Place along Mount Laurel Road. The space received an interior makeover with dark tables set against bright yellow walls. On one wall, a floor-to-ceiling mural depicts a cobblestone street in Rome. A coffee cup set on a bistro table with white tablecloth in the shadow of the Colosseum. An adjacent wall features a large image of a coffee cup with “affogato,” “latte,” and “mocha” scrawled in calligraphy.
Like its Wyomissing counterpart, it’s not a large dining room, but it feels like plenty of space – mostly tables for four with a few two-seaters like the one I sat down at along the short wall separating me from the employees’ area.
It was a short wait, less than 10 minutes from ordering before my food was placed in front of me.
There are a lot of opportunities to indulge with Cafe Folino’s menu – with decadent versions like Bananas foster and cannoli stuffed, most of the pancake and French toast options could double as dessert. I went for the simple sweet cream pancakes.
The pancakes come in a stack of two, round enough to fill the large white plate and incredibly thick. A pad of butter and dusting of powdered sugar top the breakfast treats that came with a small cup of syrup on the side.
Despite the fact that there were no “fancy” toppings, these pancakes were still incredibly sweet. There was something like a light sugary crust around them that reminded me a little of a creme brulee.
All of the butter and syrup were quickly absorbed by the top pancake so I found myself reaching for a bottle of sugar free syrup by the free water at the back of the dining area, but I had no complaints as I savored each bite.
I know Cafe Folino’s portions so I knew I didn’t need anything on the side, but I ordered hash browns anyway just so that I would have a little change of pace as I ate. The shredded potatoes were done well, and I had a generous portion of them.
For the pancakes and hash browns, my total bill was around $15, not a bad price to pay for a lunch that filled me for the rest of the afternoon.
I finished my meal and hung out for another hour or so as I got some work done. It was a quiet day with only a few other customers coming and going in the time that I was there.
With the Wyomissing location so close, I probably won’t be making too many more trips to Temple, but I was glad to see the same quality, service and portions can be found at the new location, too.
BCE Rating Food: Very Good Ambiance: Very Good Service: Very Good Price: $$
It’s never been easier to be vegan in Berks County. WIth vegan cafes and meatless options at some of the area’s best restaurants, Berks County is vegan-friendly. Check out our list of vegan restaurants in Berks County:
Vegan Restaurants
Chen Vegetarian House West Reading
Chen Vegetarian House has been serving vegan versions of Asian food staples since 2013. In addition to fried rice and Thai curries, Chen offers meatless takes on General Tso’s chicken, orange beef, and teriyaki duck. Pair your meal with a delicious juice or smoothie.
Smoothies and bowls are the stars at Cup of Joy in Kutztown. The cafe focuses on foods that are organic, gluten free, and vegan and vegetarian friendly – with no sugars added. A limited menu of toasts and sandwiches is also available.
HIVE Local Food is a vegan outpost in Kutztown serving lunch every Friday and Saturday. Get a HIVE Burger and a Bigfoot Milkshake (made with oat milk ice cream) or try a noodle bowl, salad or vegan cheesesteak.
The Pottstown-based Charlotte Street Coffee Company expanded to Boyertown in 2023, bringing their vegan pastries with them. Stop in for a cup of coffee or tea, and treat yourself to a muffin, bagel, or donut.
Food4All Cafe Alsace Township
The Kula Kamala Foundation is home to the Food4All Cafe, a pay-what-you-can eatery that is open every Sunday for brunch as well as select Fridays and the first Saturday of every month. According the Foundation’s website, the meals served by the Cafe “are predominantly vegan, whole food based, organic when possible, always gluten free.”
Firefly Forest Bakehouse
Though the Firefly Cafe is now closed, the business continues through the Firefly Forest Bakehouse. Find them at the West Reading Farmers Market, along with other regional markets and pop-ups for vegan baked goods, take-and-bake meals, and hot items. The owners also host pop-up dinners and cooking classes.
Vegetarian and Vegan-Friendly Options
You’ll find many restaurants in Berks County that may have one or two plant-based options, but the following retaurants, though not fully vegan, have some of the largest selections of vegan and vegetarian menu items.
Aladdin Restaurant West Reading
Specializing in Mediterranean cuisine, Aladdin Restaurant in West Reading has a vegetarian section on the menu which includes dishes like moujadara, rice and lentils cooked with onions and spices served with a fattoush salad, hummus, or baba ghannouj.
One of our favorite restaurants in Berks County, Andy Pepper’s is also one of the most vegan-friendly. The regular menu includes options like oatmeal pancakes and the Grateful Egg (vegan sausage, egg and cheese bagel). You can also customize most sandwiches to meatless versions with vegan alternatives to chicken, bacon, burgers, sausage, cheese and mayo.
Farmhouse Kitchen West Reading
The Farmhouse Kitchen, West Reading’s farm-to-table cafe, is also a great option for vegan dining. Menu options include baked oatmeal, parfaits with dairy-free yogurt, wraps, salads, hummus and bowls.
Jimmie Kramer’s Peanut Bar Reading
While not widely advertised, Jimmie Kramer’s Peanut Bar has a special vegan features menu including made-to-order vegetable lasagna (and other pasta options), portobello steak, and vegan burgers.
Rangoli Indian Street Food Shillington
While Rangoli does have meat dishes on the menu, the Shillington restaurant has an extensive selection of vegan dishes like chana masala or spinach dal. Pair it with a vegan chai.
Thaiwat offers tofu and mixed vegetables as an option for all of its curries and entrees. This is in addition to salads and vegetarian appetizers, like edamame, deep fried tofu, and chive dumplings.
Toss of the Town Boyertown
The reopening of Toss of the Town in Boyertown brought more meatless options back to the eastern Berks County borough. The specialty menu items have limited meatless options, but there are endless possibilities with the build-your-own salads, wraps and paninis. Toss of the Town also offers fruit smoothies, always made with almond milk and plant-based sweetener.
Do you have a favorite vegan spot in Berks County? Let me know who to add to the list by emailing zach@berkscountyeats.com.
Looking to save a little money on your next family night out? Our local restaurants are here to help! Check out these Berks County restaurants where kids eat free, and enjoy a family dinner without breaking the bank.
*Berks County Eats strives to provide the most up-to-date information but deals offered by restaurants are constantly changing. Always check with the restaurant to confirm the deals are still available.
Aladdin Restaurant West Reading Sundays
On Sunday nights, Aladdin Restaurant offers a kids-eat-free promotion with the purchase of an adult meal. Aladdin’s kids menu options are for children 12 and under and include chicken schwarama (pictured) or chicken kebab with rice pilaf.
Alebrije Exeter and Wyomissing Sundays
Kids eat free every Sunday night at both of Alebrije’s locations – Perkiomen Avenue and State Hill Road. Mexican-inspired options on the kids menu include tacos, grilled chicken with rice, quesadillas and enchiladas, but Alebrije also offers chicken nuggets and cheese pizza for the pickiest of eaters.
Annamarie’s on Main Birdsboro Wednesdays
Wednesday is kids day at Annamarie’s on Main in Birdsboro. Kids 8 and under can get a free meal with the purchase of an adult entree on Wednesdays. Menu options for the little ones include cheeseburgers, fish sticks, mac and cheese, chicken fingers, and buttered noodles.
Austin’s Restaurant & Bar West Lawn Sundays
Every Sunday night, Austin’s Restaurant & Bar in West Lawn offers a free child’s meal with the purchase of an entrée. Kids meals at Austin’s include grilled cheese, chicken tenders and chicken sandwiches, pizza, and cheeseburgers.
Bertie’s Inn Exeter Township Mondays
Kids eat free on Monday nights at the New Bertie’s Inn in Exeter Township. The children’s menu is filled with kid-approved dishes like mac and cheese, chicken fingers, and mini corn dogs.
Coastal Grille Wyomissing Sundays
The sister restaurant to Austin’s, Coastal Grille, also hosts a kids-eat-free night every Sunday. In addition to mac and cheese and chicken tenders, Coastal Grille offers signature seafood items on the kids’ menu, including grilled shrimp, popcorn shrimp, and fish and chips.
Copperz Brewing Company Hamburg Sundays
On Sunday nights, kids eat free with any adult entree purchase at Copperz Brewing Company. The Hamburg brewery offers smashburgers, grilled cheese, chicken nugz and flatbread pizzas on its kids menu. (The physical kids menu is also an activity page with word search, tic-tac-toe and coloring).
Heidelberg Family Restaurant Robesonia Tuesdays
Robesonia’s Heidelberg Family Restaurant has added a kids-eat-free day to their weekly lineup. Now, every Tuesday kids can enjoy a free meal with adult entree purchase.
Mondays nights after 5 p.m., kids eat free at Isaac’s in Wyomissing. Free kids meals – including rainbow bread sandwiches – are available with the purchase of a salad or sandwich.
Salute Ristorante Italiano Sinking Spring Sundays
At Salute Ristorante Italiano in Sinking Spring, kids orders of chicken Parmesan, spaghetti, fettucine alfredo and pizza typically run $10 but are free with adult entrée purchases on Sunday nights.
Wyomissing Restaurant & Bakery Wyomissing Daily
Here’s a deal for parents with real little ones – Wyomissing Restaurant & Bakery offers free meals to any child age 3 or under with the purchase of an adult buffet.
Know of another restaurant offering free kids meals? Let us know by emailing zach@berkscountyeats.com.
They say breakfast is the most important meal of the day. In Berks County, it may also be the best meal. Area restaurants are serving up both traditional and inventive meals to start the day, and we’ve tried a lot of them. Here are our favorite breakfasts in Berks County.
Andy Pepper’s Limekiln
One of our favorite places for breakfast and lunch, Andy Pepper’s never disappoints. The restaurant tucked away in the former Limekiln Post Office near Oley has a lot of delicious options for breakfast, but we’re partial to their oversized pancakes.
The original Annamarie’s in Royersford is known for its breakfasts, and Annamarie’s Birdsboro location, which opened a few years ago, delivers in that department as well. I highly recommend the lemon ricotta blueberry poppy seed pancakes, but there are lots of great options to choose from.
One of my favorite breakfasts in Berks County doesn’t come from a restaurant or coffee shop, it comes from a truck. In addition to an excellent chai, Beansie’s serves a sausage and egg bowl that has me standing outside the truck any time they have a public event. I also love their polenta topped with bananas Foster, and my son is crazy about their mini pancake dippers.
Cafe Folino, an Italian coffee shop from the owners of Mangia in Mohnton, has quickly become one of our favorites since it opened in late 2023. The breakfasts are amazing: apple pie French toast, croissant breakfast sandwiches, pumpkin roll pancakes – I could go on and on.
Cloud 9 Cafe isn’t the fanciest place on this list, but they have great service and consistently good food. (And because it’s not far from my house, it’s an easy go-to). Everything on the menu is good, just make sure you get a side of homefries.
Exeter Family Restaurant is Berks County’s quintessential diner. They have great options, both sweet and savory. I love a good skillet, but it’s hard to pass up their creative French toasts.
Morning Fuel has one of my favorite breakfast entrees: the breakfast chorizo bowl. It features chorizo sausage, potatoes, black beans, eggs (I order mine scrambled), pico, cheese, avocado, and chipotle crema. A cup of hot matcha is a great addition to any breakfast.
Plum Creek Farm is most known for their ice cream, but since they’ve added breakfast to the menu, it’s been on my short list. Their breakfast burrito is the best around (the chipotle sauce puts it over the top). The breakfast Bernville Special, potatoes topped with eggs, cheese sauce, bacon and hollandaise is another favorite in our family.
A tiny diner with big (and I mean big) portions, Selena’s took over the former Letterman’s Diner in Kutztown in early 2026. I was impressed from my first visit – good food, excellent service and great prices for the portions.
As the name suggests, Taste of Crepes is all about crepes – both sweet and savory. I prefer things on the sweet side. Might I suggest the bananas Foster crepe?
For many, the coffee shop is their comfort zone. Whether relaxing by the fireplace with a cup of coffee or plugging in to the Wi-Fi to answer emails, you’ll find a seat waiting for you these Berks County coffee shops where they are serving some of the best coffee, tea, breakfast and lunch that you’ll find in the county.
The Bagel Bar Kutztown
While I love a good bagel, I love the Bagel Bar for their unique drink specials, especially their tea lattes made with freshly brewed tea. But the bagels and bagel sandwiches are a hit, too, if you’re looking for a reasonably priced breakfast or lunch.
Brakeman’s Cafe Boyertown
Located across from the Colebrookdale Railroad in Boyertown, Brakeman’s Cafe is one of the best breakfast and lunch spots in the area. The outdoor seating area overlooks the rail yard and is the perfect place to relax on nice days.
Opened in fall 2023, Cafe Folino has quickly become a popular spot for Italian coffee, along with creative breakfast and lunch items. (It’s so popular that they opened a second location in Temple in 2026). We recommend the sweet pancakes/French toast options like apple pie and bananas Foster.
One of the newest stops on the list, Comb Coffee Co. opened in October. The coffee shop vibe is a little different here as Comb is an outdoor, walk-up stand in a parking lot in Topton, but the drinks are great, and the outdoor seating area is perfect for sunny days.
Crave Cafe Sinking Spring
Now under new ownership, Crave Cafe continues to deliver quality meals and drinks to western Berks County. Breakfast and lunch sandwiches are always good, the display case is always full of delicious baked goods, and the coffee and drinks are priced right.
A true farm-to-table cafe, Deep Roots Cafe in West Reading is an extension of Deep Roots Valley Farm. The cafe has a wide range of drinks while the food menu features their own grass-fed beef.
Probably the most unique location among our favorite coffee shops, Kim’s Cafe is a destination on its own inside the Weaver’s Orchard farm store. Every August, I visit for their peach pie chai. They also serve up breakfast treats and delicious paninis at lunch.
The Market Cafe Topton
Located in the former train station, The Market Cafe is a laid-back breakfast and lunch spot along the tracks in Topton. The lunch wraps are really good, as are the breakfast options and wide selection of drinks.
Morgantown Coffee House Morgantown
Located on the southern edge of Berks, the Morgantown Coffee House offers a seasonal brunch menu with creative ingredients. (Bacon and sweet corn cake has, anyone?). The restaurant also offers Collective Coffee Project coffee and loose leaf teas among its cafe drinks.
In 2024, Reading Coffee Company expanded, opening a cafe with full breakfast and lunch menu in addition to their coffee and specialty drinks. The breakfast sandwiches are served on waffled hashed browns (yum!) and the vibe is cool and modern.
The newest addition to this list, Rooted & Grounded Cafe opened in January 2025 in a small corner spot along Lancaster Avenue. The cafe serves breakfast and lunch paninis, acai bowls and assorted baked goods. They also have a kids’ closet – a corner filled with toys for the littles.
Located along 5th Street in downtown Reading, Salt & Light Cafe focuses its menu on two things: drinks and crepes. And both are done to perfection. There are 38 mix-ins and toppings available for crepes and more than 20 drink options.
When Simply BOLD first opened, it was located in Wyomissing and called Park Road Cafe. Even then, it was one of my favorite spots. The food menu is good, but limited. But there are plenty of options for hot and cold pick-me-ups. They also have a small boutique with unique and local goods to browse while you wait.
Sweetie’s Back Porch Cafe Oley
Sweetie’s Back Porch Cafe opened in the fall of 2025, bringing cozy coffee shop vibes to the Oley Valley. Though they have a limited food menu, the choices they do have are solid. Enjoy a breakfast sandwich in the morning or a rice bowl at lunch – the soup is homemade and fresh, too.
The tiny hamlet of Frystown is an out-of-the-way destination for many in Berks County, but White Magnolia Coffee Company is worth the trip for both drinks and food. Order the farmer’s breakfast bowl (only if you like garlic) or indulge in a specialty chai, matcha or coffee.
