Santa Claus stands with Mrs. Claus as guests are seated around them on a train ride in Kutztown, PA
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Brunch and Dinner with Santa Claus in Berks County 2025

Family-friendly restaurants are never in short supply in Berks County. But the holiday season brings Santa and even more family fun around the breakfast or dinner table. See our list of restaurants offering dining with Santa this holiday season: 

Friday, December 19

A view of the open kitchen, surrounded by a bar with stools at Judy's on Cherry

Judy’s on Cherry
Reading
December 19 | 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM

Judy’s on CherryJudy’s on Cherry is hosting Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus on Friday, December 19 from 6 to 8 p.m.

Route 61 Diner
Muhlenberg Township
December 19 & 20 | 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM
December 21 | 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM

Santa is spending the weekend at Route 61 Diner. On Friday, December 19 and Saturday, December 20, Santa will be at the diner from 4 to 8 p.m. On Sunday, December 21, Santa returns for breakfast from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Saturday, December 20

Pike Cafe
December 20 | 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM

Santa and Mrs. Claus are coming to the Pike Cafe on Saturday, December 20. Bring the family to meet them from 12 noon to 2 p.m.

row of booths by the window at Red Plate Diner

Red Plate Diner
Wernersville
December 20 | 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM

Santa will be spending the morning at Red Plate Diner on Saturday, December 20. Families can visit with Santa from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. During that time, all kids receive a free hot chocolate and gift. Reservations are recommended.

Snuzzle’s
Mertztown
December 20 | 5:00 PM

Santa will be making dinnertime appearances at Sunzzle’s on Saturday, December 20, at 5 and 7:30 p.m.

Bertie’s Inn
Exeter Township
December 20 | 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM

Bertie’s Inn is hosting a Shopping with Santa event on Saturday, December 20. From 12 noon to 4 p.m., guests can enjoy free photos with Santa, free make-and-take ornaments for kids, and shopping from three local vendors.

Playa Bowls
Wyomissing
December 20 | 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM

Playa Bowls’ Wyomissing location will be hosting Santa Claus on Saturday, December 20 from 3 to 5 p.m. The event is free with photos available on a first come, first served basis.

Smoothie Distillery
Hamburg
December 20 | 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM

On Saturday, December 20, the Smoothie Distillery and Elevation Beauty are presenting Hot Cocoa and Crepes with Santa. From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., guests can enjoy fresh-baked crepes, a hot cocoa bar, and photos with Santa Claus.

Sunday, December 21

sign on the side of a large building that reads "Mangia!"

Mangia Italian Restaurant & Pizzeria
Mohnton
December 21 | 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM

Enjoy breakfast with Santa at Mangia in Mohnton. On Sunday, December 21, Mangia will host brunch from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. with Santa joining for photos. Reservations are recommended.

lighted sign over a strip mall storefront that reads "Tosco" with pizzas for the two o's

Tosco Pizza & Family Restaurant
Wernersville
December 21 | 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM

Grab a slice with Santa at Tosco in Wernersville. The restaurant will host Santa Claus during dinner service on December 21 from 4 to 7 p.m.

Kutztown Tavern
Kutztown
December 21 | 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM

The Kutztown Tavern will host Santa on Sunday, December 21 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Every child who visits Santa during this time will receive a coupon for a free kids meal at the restaurant.

Liberty Taproom
Exeter Township
December 21 | 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM

The Liberty Taproom is hosting a Breakfast with Santa and Kids’ Bingo on Sunday, December 21 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The bingo gives kids a chance to win toys before the holiday. Reservations are strongly recommended.

Schaylor Brewing Company
Shillington
December 21 | 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM 

The annual Santa brunch at Schaylor Brewing Company will be held on Sunday, December 21. Brunch is served from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Monday, December 22

A view of the entrance to Temple Family Restaurant.

Temple Family Restaurant
Temple
December 22 | 5:00 to 7:00 PM

Not only is Santa coming to the Temple Family Restaurant, but kids will get free candy canes and ice cream with the purchase of a kids’ meal during his visit from 5 to 7 p.m. on Monday, December 22.

Wednesday, December 24

stainless steel diner with a sign out front that reads "5th Street Diner"

5th Street Diner
Temple
December 24 | 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM

Before he starts his deliveries, Santa is making one last stop in Berks County. The 5th Street Diner in Temple is hosting Breakfast with Santa from 9 to 11 a.m. to Wednesday, December 24.

Past Events

1787 Brewing Company

1787 Brewing Company
Hamburg
November 29 | 1:00 PM to 3:00

Santa will be visiting 1787 Brewing Company as part of the restaurant and brewery’s Small Business Saturday promotion on November 29. See Santa from 1 to 3 p.m.

Sign reading "Bowers Hotel"

Bowers Hotel
Bowers
December 6 | 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM

The Bowers Hotel is hosting Saturday with Santa on December 6. The man, himself, will be arriving by fire truck at 12 noon. Visits with Santa are free, and all those staying for lunch receive 10% off their food bill.

Walking into the simply appointed dining room

The Heritage Restaurant
Morgantown
December 6 | 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM

Santa will be coming for a buffet breakfast at the Heritage Restaurant in Morgantown. Brunch is served from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Reservations are strongly recommended.

exterior of Kauffman's Bar-B-Que restaurant with large banner celebrating their 40th anniversary

Kauffman’s Bar-B-Que Restaurant
Bethel
December 6 | 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM

Kauffman’s will be hosting Santa on Saturday, December 6 from 12 noon until 4 p.m. Santa will arrive via fire truck at noon. Photos will be available on a first-come, first-served basis between noon and 1:30 p.m., and again from 3:30 to 4 p.m. Timed sessions between 1:30 and 3:30 have all been reserved.

Dark wooden tables with gray chairs inside Doc & Bubba's in Mohnton, PA

Doc & Bubba’s
Mohnton
December 7 | 11:30 AM

On Sunday, December 7, Santa will be joining Doc & Bubba’s weekend brunch. Brunch is served from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., with Santa scheduled to arrive at 11:30.

The exterior of Grind Restaurant, Boyertown, at twilight

Grind
Boyertown
December 7 | 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM

Grind in Boyertown is hosting a brunch with Santa on Sunday, December 7. From 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., guests can meet with Santa while enjoying a kid-friendly buffet brunch. Adults are $28.99, children ages 3-12 are $16.99, and kids 2 and under are free.

facade of the Reading Country club from the side. A sign next to a turret reads "Jack's on the Green"

Reading Country Club
Exeter Township
December 7 | 5:00 PM

The Reading Country Club is hosting the Festival of Lights, a free community event on Sunday, December 7. Santa arrives at 5 p.m., and the evening includes photos with Santa, crafts, hot cocoa and cookie bar, tree decorating contest, LEGO display, and visits with Rudolph from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Large picture windows with door in center and word "CAFE" over it

Rollie’s Place
Reading
December 10 | 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM

Abilities in Motion, in conjunction with Rollie’s Place, is hosting a sensory-friendly Santa from 3 to 6 p.m. on Wednesday, December 10. The event includes “low lights, gentle sounds, smaller groups, and festive treats from Rollie’s Place.” Guests must reserve a spot in advance. 

Leesport Diner
Leesport
December 12 & 13 | 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM

Guests have two chances to catch Santa at the Leesport Diner. On Friday, December 12, and Saturday, December 13, Santa will be at the restaurant from 5 to 8 p.m. for photos with anyone dining.

Michael’s Restaurant
Douglassville
December 12 | 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM

Micahel’s Restaurant in Douglassville is hosting Santa and Mrs. Claus from 5:30 to 7 p.m. on Friday, December 12. Photos are free with guests invited to take their own pictures.

pair of cowbgirl boys and a matching white hat on the wall of Lilli's Ranch House

Lilli’s Ranch House
West Lawn
December 13 | 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM

Santa is stopping for brunch at Lilli’s Ranch House in West Lawn. Lilli’s will be offering “delicious food, festive drinks, and holiday cheer” from 10 a..m to 1 p.m.

Exterior of a three-story brick building iwth a yellow sign on black reading "West Reading Motor Club"

West Reading Motor Club
West Reading
December 13 | 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM

The West Reading Motor Club will host a holiday brunch on Saturday, December 13. Brunch is served from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., and Santa will be joining the festivities from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The brunch menu will be ala carte.

Boscov’s Fairgrounds Farmers Market
Muhlenberg Township
December 13 | 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM

The Boscov’s Fairgrounds Farmers Market welcomes Santa Claus on Saturday, December 13. Santa will be at the market from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. to meet with shoppers and diners.

Spectators Bar & Grille
Kutztown
December 17 | 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM

Santa arrives at Specators on December 17. He will be on-hand at the restaurant from 6 to 8 p.m.

Camillo’s Italian Restaurant, Pizzeria & Bar
Kutztown
December 8, 15, 17 | 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM

Camillo’s offers three chances to meet Santa. The man in red will be on hand for photos on December 8, 15 and 17. He’ll be available from 6 to 8 p.m. each day.

Nuse’s Deli
Morgantown
December 17 | 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM

Nuse’s Deli is hosting Sandwiches & Scoops with Santa on December 17 from 5 to 7 p.m. Seating is limited and reservations are required.

More from Berks County Eats

Leone’s BYOB
Morgantown
December 13 | 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM

Leone’s BYOB in Elveson will be hosting Santa & Mrs. Claus on Saturday, December 13 from 4 to 8 p.m. There will also be a hot chocolate bar available. Reservations are strongly recommended.

Pagoda City Brewing
Reading
December 13 | 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM

Pagoda City Brewing is hosting a Toys for Tots kickoff event at their Brewhouse on Carroll Street. The Brewery will be accepting in-kind, monetary, and toy donations during the event, which runs from 12 noon to 4 p.m. The event also features free food from St. Mark’s food truck, live music, and drink specials.

castle-like building lit by three lights at the top in a nighttime scene

Folino Estate Winery
Kutztown
December 14 | 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM

A brunch buffet is served at Folino Estate on Sunday, December 14. The full menu will be announced soon, but one thing that is known is that Santa will be there from 12 noon to 4 p.m.

Saucony Creek Franklin Station Brewpub Interior

Saucony Creek Franklin Station Brewpub
Reading
December 14 | 11:00 AM to 1:00 Pm

Santa will be brunching at Saucony Creek Franklin Station Brewpub on Sunday, December 14. From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., guests can visit with Santa Claus and enjoy live holiday music at Saucony Creek’s location in downtown Reading.

Craft 2700 at Freymoyer’s
Muhlenberg Township
December 14 | 9:30 AM to 2:00 PM

Craft 2700 is opening its doors early on Sunday, December 14, as it hosts Santa’s Workshop. The restaurant will be offering breakfast favorites, family crafts, and meet-and-greets with Santa from 9:30 a.m. until 2 p.m.

Pennside Drive-In
Pennside
December 18 | 4:00 PM

The Pennside Drive-In is hosting a special holiday event on Thursday, December 18. Starting at 4 p.m., guests can enjoy photos with Santa, horse-drawn carriage rides, hot chocolate, s’mores, and more. In addition, the restaurant is hosting Polish night with a special menu including kielbasa, halushki, and pierogi.

More from Berks County Eats

Holiday Dining Guides
Curved rectangular black serving tray with a white bowl filled with potatoes and cheese topped with aioli and a small glass dish with strawberries and blueberries from White Magnolia Coffee Co in Frystown, PA
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Review: The White Magnolia Coffee Co.

Side view of a white building with a front awning and a black sign with white letters hanging over it reading White Magnolia Coffee Co in

Frystown feels about as far away as any location in Berks County. The village, located in the western tip of the county, is one of the smallest in the county with only about 400 residents. 

It doesn’t feel like the kind of place that needs a coffee shop, but that’s where I found The White Magnolia Coffee Co. 

bakery case filled with cupcakes, cinnamon rolls, and scones at White Magnolia Coffee Co in Frystown, PA

White Magnolia started as a mobile coffee trailer based in Myerstown, Lebanon County. In June of this year, the business took over the former Baked Sweet coffee shop and bakery on Frystown Road. 

The coffee shop was certainly doing great business while I was there. It was the day before Thanksgiving, a day off for many, which likely added to the crowd. With no spaces on the main lot, I followed the signs for additional parking to a secondary lot behind the building. The dining room wasn’t filled to the brim, but there weren’t many open tables. And I had two groups ahead of me in line to order breakfast. 

Dining room of White Magnolia Coffee Co in Frystown, PA with a table for four on a wooden floor in front of a tall white wall

The dining room felt spacious for a coffee shop with between 8-10 tables plus two counters with tall stool seats. I didn’t notice until I was ready to leave that there’s a second dining room in the back with more low tables and one high table with a live-edge wooden top. 

At the front of the room, large windows on either side of the door let in the natural sunlight. Next to one window, guests could sit on a pair of wicker chairs with a small table in between. At the other window, a brown couch with tan cushions sat next to a toy kitchen where kids could play. 

Triptych black-and-white floral design on a white wall behind two tables for four at White Magnolia Coffee Co in Frystown, PA

Throughout the room, the white-on-white motif brightens the space, even on an overcast day. Behind the order counter, a white menu board is affixed to the white wall. On a side wall, a triptych of white canvas with black floral print offers words of wisdom: “The whole world is a series of miracles, but we are so used to them that we call them ordinary things.” 

Not wanting to take seating away from the larger parties, I grabbed a chair at the counter next to the barista stand where I watched a constant flow of drinks being mixed, steamed, and poured as I waited. 

large black coffee mug filled with a chai latte sitting on a marble countertop in front of a a small sign with the number 16 on it

That included my own cinnabun chai. It was one of the featured specials for November, and I just couldn’t resist. It was sweet with cinnamon and sugar, definitely a bit of an indulgence. Because of how busy it was, it took about 20 minutes from the time I arrived until my drink was at the table, but it was absolutely worth the wait. 

I had barely taken my first sip when my food arrived. I had ordered the farmhouse breakfast, a bowl featuring home fries, scrambled eggs, sausage, bacon, cheddar cheese, sauteed peppers, and sauteed onions topped with garlic aioli and chives. 

Curved rectangular black serving tray with a white bowl filled with potatoes and cheese topped with aioli and a small glass dish with strawberries and blueberries from White Magnolia Coffee Co in Frystown, PA

The presentation was gorgeous as the white bowl came out on a small black tray with a little side cup of fruit (strawberries, grapes, and blueberries). It looked delicious, and the first bite did not disappoint. It was a hearty dish with flavorful elements – the potatoes were seasoned and the sausage and bacon added savory notes. But the aioli was what really made the dish. I love garlic, and you probably have to if you’re going to love this dish as much as me because the aioli was definitely garlicky. But I thought it turned a very good dish into an excellent one. 

spinning black rack filled with greeting cards next to a black wire rack of books at White Magnolia Coffee Co in Frystown, PA

And even though it was busy, I didn’t feel rushed as there were always seats available. So I lingered for a while, working from my perch at the bar while I savored my meal. 

It was a little pricey at $25 for the drink and the bowl, but I didn’t feel cheated. The bowl was $16 and the drink was $8 (it was $2 more than a regular chai) plus tax. I would gladly pay that again for a quality meal like I had. 

Frystown may be a bit of a hike, but I would gladly make that drive again for another farmhouse breakfast.

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

White Magnolia Coffee Co.
429 Frystown Road
Myerstown, PA 17067

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Breakfast & Brunch Cafes & Coffeeshops Reviews
round white plate with noodles stir-fried with onions, carrots, and shredded chicken from San's in Wyomissing
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Review: San’s Sushi, Poke, Ramen

small building with a triangular roof and gray siding and a sign above w window reading "San's Sushi Poke Ramen"

Seemingly every day since it opened in late 2024, Julie and I have driven past San’s Sushi, Poke, Ramen along State Hill Road in Wyomissing without stopping. Sometimes we would comment, “we need to go there.” Other days, we’d just go right past without a second glance.

For more than a decade, the small corner spot was home to Bella’s, a pizza and sub shop. Even then, the space was seemingly in a blindspot. I can’t tell you how many times we passed by in favor of neighboring Mama’s Pizza. Part of it is the parking which is limited compared to the neighboring strip mall. And part of it is that the building is just easy to overlook. 

But on a November afternoon while both of us were home, Julie and I decided a lunch date was in order. And San’s was the right spot. 

seats lined up along a wooden counter in front of a window at San's Sushi Poke Ramen in Wyomissing

We walked in a little before 1 p.m. for a late lunch. There were two people sitting at a table when we arrived and another woman filling out a build-your-own poke bowl order slip. That gave us time to look over the menu and look around. 

The restaurant has always been a tight fit, but San’s squeezes three tables and a counter by the large front window into the dining area. There is also a nice sized deck with seating for the warmer months. 

Wood-front order counter with a large print above it showcasing a poke bowl on a black background

The order counter is accented in a light-colored wood. More wood paneling serves as the backdrop of a dark five-canvas print of a poke bowl. Another image of a poke bowl hangs on an otherwise bare white wall. 

Julie decided that the poke bowl sounded good so she built her own. Each bowl comes with a choice of rice base (sushi or white), protein, up to five mix-ins, sauce and garnish.

clear glass bowl on a wood grain table. Inside the dish is a poke bowl of sushi rice topped with tempura shrimp, mango, edamame, scallion, avocado, and crispy onions.

For her bowl, Julie started with sushi rice and tempura shrimp. Sesame dressing was the sauce choice. Mix-ins included edamame, mango, avocado, corn, and scallion. She topped it with crispy onions. 

It was a very good dish. It was light and fresh, sweetened by the mango and the sesame dressing. At the same time, it was filling – a combination of the sticky rice and the protein from the shrimp and avocado. 

As good as it was, Julie could only finish half of it with the remainder going home with us so she could finish it at dinner. 

round white plate with noodles stir-fried with onions, carrots, and shredded chicken from San's in Wyomissing

Wanting to do something different, I opted for the yaki soba (lo mein) with chicken. The egg noodles were thinner than a lot of lo mein that I have had in other places.They were stir-fried with onions, carrots, and shredded chicken in a soy sauce. 

It wasn’t a daring dish, but it was very well done. There was plenty of chicken, and because it was shredded, it didn’t feel processed like at fast food-style Chinese restaurants. It felt like it was high-quality, and it tasted high-quality. 

Both of us would happily order our meals again. We paid cash, saving 15% and bringing our total check down to $27 for our two meals and two bottles of water. Not only is the food good, but it’s a great value. 

And we were in and out in less than an hour, perfect for a workday weekday. 

Lunch or dinner, San’s is a great choice. Don’t overlook it. 

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

San’s Sushi, Poke, Ramen
1912 State Hill Road
Wyomissing, PA 19610

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White plate with enchiladas topped with red sauce, refried beans with a sprinkle of cheese, and yellow rice.
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Review: Castaneda’s Mexican Restaurant

large inflatable skeleton with smiling skull standing in front of an order counter at Castaneda's Mexican Restaurant.

There are times when I go back through my old blog posts and marvel at just how much things have changed since I started this blog 11 years ago. Yes, there have been industry-wide changes, but I’m talking about changes at individual restaurants. 

Castaneda’s Mexican Restaurant in Robesonia is a great example. 

The first Castaneda’s opened in August of 2017 and our first blog came a few months later. Castaneda’s has grown exponentially since. They opened a second location in Denver, Lancaster County, in January 2019 before moving that location to a larger space two years later. 

a hand holding a takeout dish of tacos in front of a food truck

The restaurant operates a fleet of food trucks, including the newly introduced La Botanera Mexican snack truck that debuted in 2025. 

And the original Robesonia location? That also outgrew its original space. In mid-2021, the restaurant moved to the opposite end of Robesonia to the corner of Penn Avenue and N. Linden Street.

(Another Mexican restaurant, Paraiso Rosel, now occupies the original location at 141 W. Penn Avenue). 

Parking is available on the street and in a private lot across Linden Street, a not-so-busy road that’s safe to cross (as long as you look both ways). 

small flags, each a different color of the ranbow, hang from a black ceiling in a room with green walls.

Inside, the restaurant spreads out, with floor-to-ceiling windows on two walls to let in the last of the evening sun. Above our booth, a collection of 20 fanciful hats hang on the wall as if waiting to be claimed by a mariachi performer. 

white menu with black text laminated with a heading that reads "Castaneda's" with an image of a Mexican sugar skull

The menu at Castaneda’s offers few surprises. It’s a collection of Mexican staples like burritos, enchiladas, and fajitas. But Castaneda’s does all of them really well. 

white plate with shredded pork, yellow rice, refried beans and a cup of pico de gallo.

One of the best items on the menu is the carnitas dinner. The slow-roasted pork was melt-in-your-mouth good, perfectly seasoned and cooked to perfection.

The dinner comes with rice, beans, pico de gallo, and tortillas. I got two corn tortillas with mine and built a couple amazing tacos with everything on the plate. Then I finished off the refried beans and took a little bit of the pork and rice home to have tacos the next day. 

White plate with enchiladas topped with red sauce, refried beans with a sprinkle of cheese, and yellow rice.

Julie ordered the enchiladas rojas (red sauce) with shredded chicken. It also came served with rice and beans. She enjoyed it – the sauce was good and not too spicy – but I think she was a little jealous after she tasted the carnitas. 

white plate with a taco topped with lettuce and cheese next to a helping of yellow rice and refried beans.

Jakob loved his kids taco. He ordered it with beef topped with lettuce and cheese, his standard order. The taco was gone in no time – so was the rice – but he’s not yet a fan of refried beans so he didn’t finish his plate. 

(He probably ate half a basket of tortilla chips on his own, as well). 

white plate with four chicken nuggets, rice, and refried beans topped with a sprinkling of cheese

And even though we knew he probably wouldn’t eat it, we still ordered Lukas a kids meal. We played it safe with chicken nuggets with rice (Lukas actually really loves rice). The nuggets are nothing special, but anything we can get a two-year-old to eat is good in our book. 

white plate with a quesadilla cut in half and a small salad

We had my mom along for the trip. If you didn’t know, she is Lori of Lori’s Candy Station, another Robesonia institution. She joined us after closing up for the evening and really liked her quesadilla. 

For the five of us, our total came to around $70 which was very reasonable for the portions and quality. 

I’m glad to see that Castaneda’s is continuing to grow, but I’m also glad that the growth included Robesonia. 

And I can’t wait to see what they do next. 

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

Castaneda’s Mexican Restaurant
225 E. Penn Avenue
Robesonia, PA 19551

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Original Review: January 2018

exterior of Castandea's Mexican Restaurant in Robesonia, PA

Editor’s Note: Castaneda’s Mexcian Restaurant has moved. A new, larger location opened in mid-2021 on the other side of town at 225 West Penn Avenue. The original location is now home to Paraiso Rosel Mexican Restaurant.

My childhood home of Robesonia has undergone a lot of changes over the years, oftentimes in ways that I would have never expected.

For example, 25 years ago, I would have never imagined a Mexican restaurant would open in town. But that’s exactly what happened in August 2017 when Castaneda’s Mexican Restaurant debuted.

The location doesn’t have a great track record – restaurants have come and gone over the years. Most notably, Muddy’s Smokehouse BBQ occupied the space for about two years. Castaneda’s is trying to turn that around.

mariachi outfits and a large vinyl decal of mariachi singers hang on a wall at Castaneda's

Visitors may recognize owner James Castaneda as one of the business partners who began La Abuela Mexican Restaurant in West Reading.

Castaneda’s menu is smaller with a greater emphasis on lighter fare – tacos, enchiladas, quesadillas, fajitas, burritos and salads.

the menu at Castaneda's Mexican Restaurant

We visited on a Saturday evening in December, and the dining room was about half-full. Castaneda’s has a handful of tables for four in the small storefront. There was also a steady stream of customers picking up take-out orders while we – Julie, Jakob, my parents, and myself – sat at a table by the front window.

With a relatively small menu, it didn’t take long to decide on our meals. Before our meals were delivered, we were served our complementary chips and salsa.

basket of tortilla chips with a cup of salsa from Castaneda's

The salsa is pureed, not chunky, making for easier dipping and more consistent flavor in every bite. It was good, though I don’t think I could ever complain about free chips and salsa.

Our meals arrived a short time later. Looking for more of a meal than a snack, I ordered the enchiladas Verde – three hefty beef enchiladas in homemade green sauce and queso fresco.

enchiladas with green salsa with yellow rice and refried beans from Castaneda's Mexican Restaurant

Verde isn’t normally my go-to, but I wanted to switch it up from my usual order of enchiladas with mole sauce.

The sauce gets its distinct green color from the tomatillos. It had a very mild spice, but was full of flavor. The ground beef was also well-seasoned, and the two worked very well together. And the cool creaminess of the queso fresco added a nice finish.

Enchiladas at Castaneda’s are served with yellow rice and refried beans. I have always preferred black beans to refried – the texture of refried beans leaves a lot to be desired – but these were fine. I found myself scraping for as much of the salsa Verde as I could get to mix with the rice and beans to give them some of the great flavor that the enchiladas had.

enchiladas with creamy white sauce from Castaneda's

Julie also ordered enchiladas, but for her it was enchiladas Suizas, one of several daily specials advertised on the menu board.

Enchiladas Suizas literally means “Swiss enchiladas.” The name comes from the dairy used to make the creamy white sauce (thank you, Google).

Choosing chicken as the protein, Julie really enjoyed the dish. It was a heavier sauce (Julie had to bring one of the three enchiladas home with her because they were so filling).

Suizas sauce was also out of her comfort zone (ranchero sauce is her favorite), but this dish got her approval, and she said she would definitely order it again.

quesadillas with a small side salad from Castaneda's

My parents each enjoyed their meals as well – my mom had a quesadilla with a side salad while my dad had the chile rellano – a stuffed pepper also served with rice and beans.

But despite all of us being full, we couldn’t leave without trying the fried ice cream. By that, I mean Julie couldn’t leave without trying it. We just had to help her eat it.

fried ice cream with crispy tortilla chips topped with whipped cream, sprinkles and chocolate chips from Castaneda's

The vanilla ice cream was coated in a corn cereal, and deep-fried. It was served with cinnamon tortilla chips and whipped cream, and topped with chocolate syrup and sprinkles.

It’s probably the highest calorie menu item in western Berks County, an indulgence that is great once every five years or so. But it’s so good. The contrast in texture and temperature between the hot, crunchy shell and cold, smooth ice cream never gets old. Everything else is unnecessary (but delicious) window dressing.

It’s also a lot of food, especially after a full meal. We all left feeling way too full. But while we certainly packed on pounds, our wallets didn’t lighten much. Castaneda’s is reasonably priced. The four of us were able to eat for less than $50, even with the dessert and some sodas.

It’s still crazy to think that there is a Mexican restaurant within walking distance of my parents’ house, but Castaneda’s is here. And based on what I saw – and tasted – it might just be hanging around for a while.

BCE Rating:

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

Castaneda’s Mexican Restaurant
141 W. Penn Ave
Robesonia, PA 19551

Lunch & Dinner Mexican Reviews
dining room in the Inn on Main featuring dark, modern wooden tables and chairs and a wall hanging of six barrel tops
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Berks County Restaurants Open Thanksgiving Day

Updated: November 25, 2025

Celebrate Thanksgiving without the hassle this year. Some of Reading and Berks County’s best restaurants are open on Thanksgiving or providing takeout meals. See our list below, and make plans for Thanksgiving this year.

Reservations can fill up quickly. Be sure to check with individual restaurants for availability.

Thanksgiving Buffets

building with a small turret in the front next to a roadway

Ozgood’s Grill & Bar
Robesonia

Ozgood’s Robesonia location is open on Thanksgiving Day from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. with a menu that includes turkey, ham, stuffing, sides, and dessert. The cost is $29 for adults and $17 for kids 10 and under. Takeout meals are also available but must be preordered by November 24.

flowing fountain on the right foreground with a flagpole and a large-castle like builidng behind it

Reading Country Club
Exeter Township

From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., the Reading Country Club is offering an all-you-can-eat buffet for $55 per person. (Children 10 and under are free). The carving stations include roast turkey, roast beef, and ham. RCC is also offering a “take-home feasts for four”—pre-orders only—for $120.

exterior of State Hill Craft Cocktails and Kitchen in Wyomissing, PA

State Hill Craft Cocktails & Kitchen
Wyomissing

Enjoy a Thanksgiving buffet at State Hill Craft Cocktails & Kitchen. The cost is $50 for adults, $30 for children. The menu includes turkey, ham, and prime rib, plus salad bar, mini crab cakes, and a dessert spread. The buffet is open from 12 noon to 5 p.m.

Photo of a large wooden statue of a knight outside of Stokesay Castle in Reading, PA

Stokesay Castle
Reading

A Thanksgiving feast will be offered inside the ballroom at Stokesay Castle. Seatings are available from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., with the cost being $55 for adults, and $25 for children ages 5-12. (Ages four and under are free). The menu includes cider braised chicken, baked salmon and curried lamb stew in addition to beef and turkey carving stations.

nighttime view of the Stouch Tavern in Womelsdorf

Stouch Tavern
Womelsdorf

Spend Thanksgiving where George Washington spent the night. The historic Stouch Tavern in Womelsdorf is hosting a Thanksgiving buffet with seatings from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. The menu includes roast turkey, broiled haddock, and oven-baked ham for $37.75 for adults and $15.50 for children 10 and under.

exterior shot of a restaurant with a sign out front that reads "Wyomissing Restaurant & Bakery"

Wyomissing Restaurant & Bakery
Wyomissing

The Thanksgiving buffet is back at Wyomissing Restaurant & Bakery. From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., guests can enjoy all-you-can-eat turkey, New York strip steak, salmon, ham, fried chicken, rotisserie chicken, and an array of sides. The cost is $26.99 for adults and $14.99 for kids ages 4-10.

Bear Creek Mountain Resort
Longswamp Township

The Bear Creek Mountain Resort near Macungie has a Thanksgiving buffet with seatings from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The cost is $65 per person, $19.99 for children age 6-12 (kids five and under are free). The buffet features turkey three ways: herb-roasted, deep-fried, and a carving station with hickory smoked turkey.

Blackjax American Pub & Grill
Birdsboro

The annual Thanksgiving buffet is back at Blackjax. The restaurant offers all-you-can-eat turkey, ham, and sides from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Blue Mountain Family Restaurant
Shartlesville

The Thanksgiving buffet at Blue Mountain Family Restaurant runs from 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. For $26.95 for adults and $14.95 for kids ages 5-10, you can get all-you-can-eat turkey, Swedish meatballs, seafood Newburg, and more. An ala carte menu is also available.

DoubleTree by Hilton Reading
Reading

The DoubleTree by Hilton Reading is opening the ballroom for a buffet meal on Thanksgiving. In addition to turkey, entree options include salmon, chicken and sausage gumbo, prime rib, and pork loin. The cost is $45 per person; children 10 and under are free. The buffet runs from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Washington Grille & Pub
Bechtelsville

Bechtelsville’s Washington Grille & Pub will serve a buffet lunch from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m on Thanksgiving Day. Turkey, ham, prime rib, brisket, and penne pasta are all on the menu.

WhereHouse of Hamburg
Hamburg

The WhereHouse, an event venue in Hamburg, is hosting a Thanksgiving Family Buffet. Adults can enjoy the buffet for $35 while the cost is just $15 for kids ages 4-11. Turkey, pot roast, and country-fried chicken are the menu along with pot pie, filling, jambalaya, and more.

Restaurants Open Thanksgiving

stainless steel diner with a sign out front that reads "5th Street Diner"

5th Street Diner
Muhlenberg Township

The 5th Street Diner is open holidays, and this year it will be open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day. holiday specials include roast turkey, a mixed grill (featuring pork chop, ham slice, and chicken breast), and baked ham with raisin sauce.

Stainless steel diner with a sign out front that reads "American Diner"

American Diner
West Reading

The American Diner is open every day from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., including holidays. This year, all Thanksgiving Day specials include a free slice of pumpkin pie. In addition to turkey, guests can enjoy surf and tuf, salmon stuffed with crab meat, and honey baked ham. The restaurant is also running a raffle starting Thanksgiving Day through the weekend. 

dining room at Christine's Creekside Inn

Christine’s Creekside Inn
Birdsboro

Christine’s will be open from 1 to 4 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day. (The last seating is at 3:30). The restaurant is serving the regular Creekside menu plus a turkey dinner special that includes filling, stuffing, yams, corn, cranberry sauce, and salad for $21.95.

Sign above the door to a restaurant that reads "Crossroads" with two intersecting lines

Crossroads Family Restaurant
Muhlenberg Township

Crossroads Family Restaurant will be open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day. The specials menu will include turkey along with a variety of other holiday dishes.

The historic dining room of the Green Hills Inn, now Dans at Green Hills

Dans at Green Hills
Flying Hills

One of the premier fine dining establishments in Berks County, Dans at Green Hills is offering a special four-course dinner menu with entree options including apple cider-brined turkey, rack of lamb, and a vegetarian option.

Best Diner: Exeter Family Restaurant

Exeter Family Restaurant
Exeter Township

The Exeter Family Restaurant is open 24 hours, and that includes Thanksgiving. The restaurant will have its regular menu available along with Thanksgiving specials.

dining room in the Inn on Main featuring dark, modern wooden tables and chairs and a wall hanging of six barrel tops

Inn on Main
Oley

The Inn on Main in Oley has a prix fixe menu on Thanksgiving for $48 per person. The entree options include slow roasted herb butter turkey breast, maple bacon salmon, and prime rib au jus, each served with a choice of three sides and dessert.

Leesport Diner
Leesport

The Leesport Diner will be open on Thanksgiving Day with turkey and other specials. In addition, takeout meals can be preordered for $18. The meals include turkey and ham, plus an array of sides. Pre-order by November 24 for pickup on Wednesday, November 27 or Thursday, November 28.

row of booths by the window at Red Plate Diner

Red Plate Diner
Wernersville

The Red Plate Diner will serve its regular menu plus an all-you-can-eat family style Thanksgiving dinner. All-you-can-eat options include roast turkey over filling for $15.99 and honey garlic salmon for $21.99.

A view of the entrance to Temple Family Restaurant.

Temple Family Restaurant
Temple

Every year, the Temple Family Restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner on Thanksgiving. This year’s Thanksgiving specials include ham and turkey over filling, chicken cordon bleu and the Temple special (shrimp, scallops, and haddock with crab cake).

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

Zaytoon Kabob & Grill
Wyomissing

Zaytoon Kabob & Grill will be open on Thanksgiving Day from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The restaurant will be serving their full halal menu, including lamb, chicken, and falafel.

Kempton Hotel
Kempton

The Kempton Hotel is open with seating from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Thanksgiving. Reservations are required for this family style, Pennsylvania Dutch meal that features chicken pot pie, turkey, and ham. The price is $24.95 for adults and $14.95 for children age 12 and under.

Michael’s Restaurant
Douglassville

Michael’s Restaurant will be open on Thanksgiving with dinner options that include turkey over filling and a family style turkey over filling, both served with sides and the soup and salad bar.

Morgantown Diner
Morgantown

The new Morgantown Diner, which just opened in September, will be open on Thanksgiving Day with a range of special entrees that include turkey ($17.99), ham steak ($18.99), crab cake ($21.99), and New York strip with fried shrimp ($22.99). All specials are served with soup or salad, mashed potatoes, and corn.

Sunset Restaurant
Birdsboro

Sunset Restaurant will open at 6 a.m. on Thanksgiving day and will be open for lunch and dinner though the actual closing time has not been announced (the restaurant suggests calling to make sure they are still open). Holiday lunch and dinner meals include roast turkey or roast pork over filling, chicken Devon and New York strip steak with crabcakes.

Whoo’s Cooking
Robesonia

Whoo’s Cooking is open on Thanksgiving Day, but only for those that pre-order a meal by November 25. Meal options include turkey or roast beef with either mashed potatoes, filling, or noodles plus two vegetables and dessert for $15.00. Takeout meals are available for pickup on November 26 or Thanksgiving Day, November 27.

Thanksgiving Meal Pre-Orders

While these restaurants may not be open on Thanksgiving, you can still enjoy their cooking. Here’s a list of Berks County restaurants offering preorder meals for Thanksgiving.

Backwoods Brothers Authentic Texas Cuisine
Hamburg

The Backwoods Brothers are getting out the smoker to prepare your Thanksgiving feast. Turkey breast is available for $18 per pound. Pork ($18 per pound) and brisket ($26 per pound) are also available along with half and full pans of mashed potatoes, corn bread dressing, mac and cheese, and collard greens.

Clean Plates
Reading

For a vegan alternative on Thanksgiving, check out Clean Plates. Options include jackfruit ribz and herb tur’ky with gravy. The restaurant is also offering sides, desserts, and refreshers. Preorders are due by November 20.

Sausage with potato filling covered in gravy from the Deitsch Eck

Deitsch Eck
Lenhartsville

While you can’t get your turkey from the Deitsch Eck, you can get everything else. The Lenhartsville restaurant is offering potato filling, hot bacon dressing, coleslaw, pepper cabbage, pickled beets, and more. Pre-ordering is open until items sell out. Pickup is Wednesday, November 26.

Pumpkins decorate a ramp entrance to a restaurant with a sign that reads "Doc & Bubba's est 2022"

Doc & Bubba’s
Mohnton

Though the restaurant is closed on Thanksgiving, you can still get your thanksgiving meal from Doc & Bubba’s. The restaurant has catering options for full trays (serves 20-25) and half trays (serves 8-12) of mains and sides, including pot roast, honey-glazed ham, mac and cheese, and stuffing.

A white brick wall painted with a yellow fork and the words "Fork & Ale"

Fork & Ale
Douglassville

Fork & Ale is bringing back its popular “heat and eat” Thanksgiving dinner. Dinners include turkey, creamy baked green beans and wild mushrooms, bread stuffing, orange infused carrots with chestnuts, cranberry sauce, dinner roll, gravy, and local apple cobbler with butterscotch for $38 per dinner. Orders must be placed by November 23 at 3 p.m. Pickup is between 3 and 8 p.m. on November 26.

Brick building with a black awning and a red sign that reads "Gourmand"

Gourmand Cafe
Wyomissing

Gourmand Cafe is offering pre-made Thanksgiving dinner for four. The cost is $189.99 which includes a tray of turkey breast, honey baked ham, or herb-crusted brisket with five sides, salad, cranberry sauce, and assorted breads and rolls. Pickup on Wednesday, November 26. (Local delivery is also available).

roadside trailer with the words "hillbilly bbq" on the side

Hillbilly BBQ
Douglassville

The roadside BBQ stand and caterer is smoking turkey and ham for Thanksgiving. Hillbilly BBQ is offering whole turkeys for $4.99 per pound, turkey breast for $12.99 per pound, and a whole ham for $68. Sides of mashed potatoes, green beans, and yams are also available. Preorders must be placed by November 24 for pickup on November 27 between 9 a.m. and 12 noon.

sign over a food truck reading "The Messy Pig" with a cartoon pig

Messy Pig BBQ
Womelsdorf

The Messy Pig will have their Womelsdorf store open on Wednesday, November 26 with limited menu and to pick up Thanksgiving preorders. The $250 family feast includes four pounds of smoked meat (turkey, pulled pork, and meatloaf among the choices) and ⅓ trays of sides like mashed potatoes and roasted Brussels sprouts.

Russo Gourmet Foods Market

Russo Food Market
Wyomissing

Russo Market is offering Thanksgiving Dinners for Six for $319.99. Meals include three pounds of turkey breast; two pounds of herb stuffing; small mac and cheese or baked pasta; two pounds of green beans almondine or brussels sprouts; two pounds of mashed potatoes or sweet potatoes; small garden or Caesar salad; pint of orange cranberry chutney; a loaf of cranberry walnut bread; six pumpkin cannoli.

Vincenzo’s Ristorante
Douglassville

Vincenzo’s is offering a family style dinner that can be pre-ordered through November 23 for pickup on November 26. Meals include four pounds of turkey breast with stuffing, green beans, mashed potatoes, and cranberry sauce for $90.

Entrance to a farmers market with haybales and metal sunflower yard decorations by the door

Weaver’s Orchard
Morgantown

Weaver’s Orchard is offering a Thanksgiving meal kit that serves two to four people. Meals include turkey breast, filling or mashed potatoes, mac and cheese, sides, Weaver’s own applesauce and apple cider, and dessert for $94.99. Order by November 18 for pickup November 26.

Candy’s Homemade Ice Cream
Shoemakersville

More than an ice cream shop, Candy’s is offering preorder Thanksgiving dinners. Each meal includes turkey, filling or mashed potatoes, green beans, dinner roll, and drink for $15. Preorder by Wednesday, November 26 for dine-in or takeout.

Kempton Kitchen
Kempton

The Kempton Kitchen is offering family-size ham dinners for Thanksgiving. Each meal includes two pounds of ham plus filling, mashed potatoes, gravy, cranberry sauce, green beans, rolls and butter, and dessert. The cost is $40. Pre-orders should be placed by November 17 for pickup on Wednesday, November 26.

Route 61 Diner
Muhlenberg Township

Route 61 Diner is offering pre-made dinners for $17.99 each on Thanksgiving. Order ahead for your choice of roast turkey, baked ham, or roast pork, each served with a vegetable, small salad, and a slice of apple or pumpkin pie.

Know of another restaurant open for Thanksgiving? Or someone else offering Thanksgiving takeout? Email us at zach@berkscountyeats.com, and we will add it to the list!

More from Berks County Eats

Holiday Dining Guides
overhead view of a square plate with two halves of a sausage, egg and cheese panini with one half on top of the other
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Review: Rooted & Grounded Cafe

White building with a front door at a corner and the words "Rooted & Grounded Cafe" in black on wall

While I have a great setup for my work-from-home, sometimes it’s good to get out of the home office. Not only does a change of scenery help, it’s a great excuse to grab a table at a local coffee shop. 

And when it comes to places to work away from home, Rooted & Grounded Cafe has moved near the top of my list.  

The cafe is situated at the corner of Lancaster and McArthur Avenues. While the rest of the block have homes set up on a small hill with stairs leading down to the sidewalk, Rooted & Grounded is at street level, cut out from the embankment.

hanging plant in the foreground with dark red charis and an antique dresser in the background inside a cafe

Out front, a church pew serves as a bench seat. Inside, Ephesians 3:17 is scrawled across the wall above the fireplace (the Bible verse also serves as the Wi-Fi password). The passage is where the cafe takes its name. 

That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith, that you being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height, and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye may be filled with all the fullness of God.

wooden tables in front of a brick wall with hanging plants on either side of the dining room

The cafe is also one of the coziest in the area. Greens in hanging planters come down from the ceiling, and there are two large leather chairs by the fireplace for relaxing. But there’s also plenty of seating for me and my laptop on those days when work-from-home means work-from-anywhere. 

I have visited the cafe for both breakfast and lunch, and it is a popular place, especially for families with young children. What was a small closet in the corner is filled with wooden toys to keep toddlers occupied before and after their meals. 

to-go coffee cup sits on a table - the cardboard sleeve has a circular logo and the words "Rooted & Grounded"

The wait for food and drink doesn’t take long though. Drinks, like my chai latte, come out quickly. 

I really enjoy the chai at Rooted & Grounded. I wouldn’t call it “authentic,” but it’s spiced and not as sweet. 

overhead view of a square plate with two halves of a sausage, egg and cheese panini with one half on top of the other

It pairs well with a breakfast panini, which I tried on my first visit. I ordered a sausage, egg, and cheese which was made up of a sausage patty, scrambled egg patties, and plenty of melted cheddar. It made for a good sandwich, nothing extraordinary, but a good, filling breakfast. (Other options include pancakes, scrambled eggs, and yogurt parfaits). 

When I came back for lunch, it was a different story. 

plate with a panini topped with apple slices, bacon and cheddar next to a pile of chips, a pickle spear, and a cup of maple syrup

I ordered the special apple maple bacon panini which featured apple slices, apple butter, cheddar cheese, and bacon with maple syrup for dipping. This was an excellent combination, a sweet and savory mash-up that went from very good to great after I dipped it in the maple syrup. 

It’s the perfect sandwich for fall. (And it pairs pretty well with a chai, too). It also has me excited to try more lunch paninis in future visits.

The breakfast panini was $9 while the lunch special was $12 – it came with a side of chips. With the chai, my meals cost about $13 and $16, respectively. That feels like a fair price to pay, especially with the friendly counter service and quick arrival of my orders. 

I’m going to keep coming back – adding punches to my frequent visitor card – and enjoying more chai, more breakfast, and more lunches at Rooted & Grounded Cafe. 

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

Rooted & Grounded Cafe
1400 Lancaster Avenue
Reading, PA 19607

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Breakfast & Brunch Cafes & Coffeeshops Lunch & Dinner Reviews
cheesesteak topped with yellow cheese on a plate with a pile of fries.
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Review: Henry P. Robeson House

view from the sidewalk looking at a log cabin building with a white fenced porch

In more than a decade of Berks County Eats, I’ve seen a lot of restaurants come and go, and there is almost always a new restaurant ready to take its place. 

I’ve also seen many that have been an improvement over what was there before. 

And the Henry P. Robeson House would be near the top of the list. 

view looking from a parking lot to a white building with a barn-like second floor and a sign that reads "Henry P Robeson House

Located along Penn Avenue in Robesonia, the Henry P. Robeson House is named for the town’s namesake and former ironmaster of the Robesonia Furnace. Two years ago, the restaurant took over the space that has always been known as the Robesonia House (or Roby House), regardless of what the official bar name was.

interior of a building with log cabin walls and a bar on the left where two men are sitting

Years ago, when it was owned by Johnny and Hon’s, I played poker there. Back then, there wasn’t much as far as food, nor was there much of a kitchen from what I remember. But the Henry P. Robeson promised to be something much more. 

The new restaurant was first announced in the spring of 2022. It finally opened in November 2023, a full year after the original planned opening date. With a 200-year-old building, delays were bound to happen. 

interior of a dining room with log cabin walls and in the corner is a TV showing a football game.

The building’s core is a log cabin which was exposed during the renovation process. The walls alternate between dark brown slats and thick rows of plaster. Other than a single framed picture by the front door, the original walls remain bare to give the restaurant a classic feel. 

football jerseys hang on a light blue wall next to a white double-door

In the rear of the dining room, which was a later addition, blue walls are covered with Conrad Weiser football memorabilia including helmets, jerseys, jackets, and a banner commemorating the Scouts’ 12 league championships.

In its logo, the Henry P. Robeson House touts “Beef & Ale” as the two focal points. The ale is evident from the large U-shaped bar in the center of the dining room. The beef in question is pit beef, the true star of the menu and one of the reasons why the Henry P. earned “Best BBQ” in the 2025 Reading Eagle Reader’s Choice Awards. 

Both Julie and I decided to give the pit beef a try on our visit – me on a cheesesteak and Julie on a salad. 

cheesesteak topped with yellow cheese on a plate with a pile of fries.

The pit beef cheesesteak came topped with onions, peppers, and Chetty Ale sauce, the restaurant’s signature beer cheese. I know some would call it blasphemous, but I think beer cheese is the ultimate cheesesteak topping. It melts into the meat and has rich, deep undertones that pair perfectly with the meat. 

And the pit beef at Henry P. Robeson is a top-notch meat choice. On its own, it’s a savory delight. Mixed with the onions, peppers, and cheese, it made for one delicious sandwich. 

The fries were almost an afterthought, but they were good, too. Dusted with salt and pepper, they were an excellent side that I finished off despite being full long before my last bite. 

plate with French fries, cut tomatoes, chese curds and sliced pit beef

Julie’s “salad,” and I use the term loosely, started with a base of greens. But it was hardly noticeable beneath the piles of pit beef, cheese curds, fries, and tomatoes. 

It came with their house-dressing which was kind of like a honey mustard but not as thick and with a little tang to it. Everything seemed to work, except maybe the cheese curds which Julie would have preferred warmed. Otherwise, the salad had a lot of good things on one plate. 

empty wooden tables next to a long winodw

We had great service throughout the meal, and at just over $40 for our meals, I felt like we definitely got plenty of food for the money. And after being there, and seeing the kids menu, we’ll probably be back with the whole family at some point. (Another thing I would have never imagined a decade ago). 

The Henry P. Robeson House— especially that pit beef—is definitely an upgrade. 

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

Henry P. Robeson House
124 E. Penn Avenue
Robesonia, PA 19551

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Bars & Pubs Lunch & Dinner Reviews
black round takeout container filled with chicken in brown sauce with sesame seeds sprinkled on top.
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Review: Fortune Cafe in Wyomissing

strip mall storefront with the words "fortune cafe" in red letters above the entrance.

Over the summer, I posted a picture on social media from a recent visit to Fortune Cafe in Wyomissing. It’s my neighborhood spot for Chinese takeout: General Tso’s chicken, lo mein, and all the classics. I asked followers, what’s your favorite place for Chinese food in Berks? 

While there were a lot of good suggestions, I was surprised by how many others, like me, are big fans of Fortune Cafe. 

tables and booths against a red wall inside Fortune Cafe in Wyomissing, PA

The restaurant is located in the Berkshire Square Shopping Center, in the same strip as Redner’s along State Hill Road. It’s just a short drive from my home base in Wyomissing Hills, which is good because every order I place is ready within 15 minutes. 

Typically, Fortune Cafe is a lunch spot for me. I can get in-and-out quickly with one of their lunch specials. And I tend to eat on the early side, before noon, when there’s virtually no wait time. I walk past the booths that line the walls, and the fish tank full of bright orange swimmers on the left, and usually go right to the counter. 

lighted menu board with photos above a plexiglass-covered counter at Fortune Cafe in Wyomissing, PA.

On my latest trip, I arrived a little later, showing up around 12:30 in the middle of their peak time. While my food was still done before I got there, only a couple booths were open, and I was third in line behind one person picking up and one person ordering in. Clearly it’s not just me who enjoys the lunch specials. 

I keep my order pretty simple usually, either General Tso’s chicken or sesame chicken. 

black round takeout container filled with chicken in brown sauce with sesame seeds sprinkled on top.

Sesame chicken is probably my favorite of the two. It has a sweeter sauce, or at least it tastes sweeter because it doesn’t have the heat of general’s chicken. And they don’t skimp on the sesame seed garnish. 

white rectangular takeout container with General's chicken in sauce, broccoli, and fried rice.

The general’s chicken is a close second for me though. It’s got some heat, nothing outrageously spicy, but it’s more noticeable than some versions of the dish that I’ve tried. It’s also a little tangy which I like. 

All lunch specials come served with fried rice and your choice of an egg roll or a can of soda. I usually opt for the eggroll, but I often don’t have room for it by the time I finish my entree. (I’m just not a soda drinker). It’s a filling meal for around $10 with tax. 

round black takeout container with chicken over rice in a white sauce and two pieces of broccoli

Just because I have my favorites, it doesn’t mean I haven’t tried other things. I recently tried the coconut chicken. Unlike the more chunky pieces used in the general’s and sesame chicken, the coconut chicken had more of a sliced texture. I liked the chicken, but the sauce wasn’t my favorite. I think I was expecting it to be a little sweeter than it was. 

More reason to stick to my go-tos. 

round black takeout container, only about half visible, with lo mein noodles stir fried with vegetables.

Fortune Cafe has also helped us convert Jakob into a fan of Chinese food. His favorite dish is lo-mein, and Fortune Cafe’s stir-fried noodle dish is pretty solid. 

I’m sure the family and I will enjoy many more meals at the Fortune Cafe, as well. 

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

Fortune Cafe
1177 Berkshire Boulevard
Wyomissing, PA 19610

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Plate of BBQ chicken and potato filling from Kauffman's in Bethel
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Where to Get Potato Filling in Berks County

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 2025:

Restaurants Serving Potato Filling

Plate of BBQ chicken and potato filling from Kauffman's in Bethel

Kauffman’s BBQ Restaurant
Bethel

For nearly five decades, Kauffman’s has been serving up its signature BBQ chickens at the restaurant near Bethel. Every chicken (and other platter) comes with a choice of potato with options that include baked potatoes, French fries, and potato filling. Get the filling with their signature chicken gravy on your next visit.

Review: Kauffman’s BBQ Restaurant
Sausage with potato filling covered in gravy from the Deitsch Eck

Deitsch Eck
Lenhartsville

The Deitsch Eck in Lenhartsville is Berks County’s traditional Pennsylvania German restaurant. While you can get a wide range of chicken, beef and pork dishes, it’s the PA Dutch specialties like scrapple and potato filling that make the Eck stand out from the competition.

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

Temple Family Restaurant
Temple

The Temple Family Restaurant offers a traditional diner menu with sandwiches, entrees, soups and salads. And while the menu doesn’t include a lot of Pennsylvania German options, the potato filling goes well with the roast turkey, baked ham, and chicken croquettes.

Review: Temple Family Restaurant
inside a stainless steel diner

5th Street Diner
Muhlenberg

The smoked sausage and roast turkey entrees at the 5th Street Diner come served over filling, and filling can be found among the regularly offered vegetables, especially on holiday menus.

American Diner
West Reading

The American Diner in West Reading serves filling with all the classic entrees like roast beef, turkey, and sausage. Also try it with the pork and sauerkraut – a Monday special.

Americana Diner
Bechtelsville

The Americana Diner doesn’t have a menu full of Pennsylvania Dutch foods, but you will find potato filling on the regular menu. Also, traditional pork and sauerkraut is in the rotation of specials.

Bally Family Diner
Bally

Potato filling is one of the more than a dozen side options available at Bally Family Diner, located in the former Pied Piper Diner along Route 100.

Sign above the door to a restaurant that reads "Crossroads" with two intersecting lines

Crossroads Family Restaurant
Muhlenberg Township

Potato filling is the perfect go-with for many of the menu items at Crossroads Family Restaurant. And two items on the early bird menu – smoked sausage and roast turkey – come served over potato filling.

Deluxe Diner
Shillington

Whether you’re pairing it with the meatloaf, the chicken croquettes, or one of the other dozen entrees, potato filling is a great side choice at the Deluxe Diner in Shillington.

Heidelberg Family Restaurant
Robesonia

Potato filling is always on the menu at Heidelberg Family Restaurant, including holidays like Father’s Day, Easter and Thanksgiving when the side is part of their all-you-can-eat dinner specials.

Jak’s Downtown Diner
Topton

Jak’s Downtown Diner in Topton keeps a simple menu with potato filling offered as a side (along with pickled beets, baked potatoes, and coleslaw). Get it with the meatloaf or hot roast beef sandwich.

Kempton Hotel
Kempton

Along with potato filling, the Kempton Hotel offers both pork with sauerkraut and chicken pot pie on the regular menu so there’s plenty of opportunity to get your fix of Dutch food.

Leesport Diner
Leesport

Potato filling in the go-to side for holiday meals at the Leesport Diner. While filling is an option year-round, it’s also included as part of the Diner’s Thanksgiving takeout and dine-in meals.

Main Street Pub
Bally

At the eastern end of Berks County, the Main Street Pub is one of the few places that features potato filling on their menu.

New Jerusalem Inn
Fleetwood

The New Jerusalem Inn, located just a few miles east of Fleetwood, offers potato filling as a regular side dish on the dinner menu (which also includes PA Dutch style chicken pot pie).

Perry Restaurant
Shoemakersville

Potato filling is one of the many vegetable options for your meals at Perry Restaurant in Shoemakersville.

Route 61 Diner
Muhlenberg Township

Like many Berks County diners, the Route 61 Diner in Muhlenberg Township offers potato filling as a side option and as the standard accompaniment for entrees like roast beef, chicken croquettes, and smoked sausage.

Star City Diner & Pizza Parlor
Shoemakersville

Newly opened in October 2025, the Star City Diner serves filling with its roast turkey, roast beef, and chicken croquette entrees.

Trainer’s Midway Diner
Bethel

Long a haven for travelers along I-78, Trainer’s Midway Diner offers a taste of PA Dutch to those stopping by. Potato filling is available on the regular menu, and other dishes like pot pie and lettuce with hot bacon dressing make appearances on the specials menu.

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.

black rectangular serving tray filled with potato filling

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.

2025 Holiday Sales

Central Berks Fire Company
Centerport

The Central Berks Fire Company is taking orders for potato filling ahead of Thanksgiving. Preorders should be placed at least two weeks before the holiday. Filling is sold by the pound at $4.50 per pound. Order online, by phone, or in-person. Facebook Post

Kutztown Grange
Kutztown

In addition to potato filling, bacon dressing is also available for order from the Kutztown Grange. Get two pounds of filling for $9 or three pounds of filling for $11. Bacon dressing is available in pints and quarts for $6 and $10, respectively. Preorder by November 17; pickup November 25. Facebook Post

Pioneer Grange
Topton

The Pioneer Grange in Topton is hosting its annual potato filling sale. Orders must be placed by November 12 for pickup on November 26. The cost is $6 for 1.5 pounds and $8 for 2.5 pounds. Facebook Event Page

Zion Lutheran Church
Womelsdorf

Two-pound trays of potato filling are available for $8 from Zion Lutheran Church in Womelsdorf. Orders must be placed by Novmeber 9. Pickup is November 21. Website

Where do you get your potato filling? Let us know in the comments below or email berkscountyeats@gmail.com.

More from Berks County Eats

Dining Guides
Dining room filled with circular tables with white tablecloths, nearly every table filled with people at the Greek Food Bazaar in Reading, PA.
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Food & Festivals: Greek Food Bazaar

Dining room filled with circular tables with white tablecloths, nearly every table filled with people at the Greek Food Bazaar in Reading, PA.

For 55 years, Sts. Constantine & Helen Greek Orthodox Church in Reading has been hosting the annual Greek Food Bazaar. And for the last decade, it’s been a can’t-miss date on our calendars. 

We first visited in 2014, in the early days of our blog. Berks County Eats looks a lot different now, the Greek Food Bazaar is still delivering delicious meals, unique entertainment, and those amazing desserts. 

white tent filled with vendors at the Greek Food Bazaar in Reading, PA.

The event is a three-day celebration of Greek culture held each October. The Bazaar spreads out throughout the church building and its various classrooms and social areas. A temporary tent not only marks the entrance but is also home to multiple vendors and limited seating. 

table covered with a white tablecloth with a yellow floral centerpiece from the Greek Food Bazaar in Reading, PA.

But the main dining area is the social hall inside. Large white streamers hang above the rows of round tables with black tablecloths. At the front of the room is a stage and small dance floor. We missed out on the live music this year; instead, a DJ played Greek pop music for all those enjoying their dinners. 

styrofoam plate with half a chicken, a helping of pasta, and a side of green beans from the Greek Food Bazaar in Reading, PA.

The main dining area is also where you’ll find fish and chicken dinners, each served with a choice of pastitsio, rice pilaf, and green beans with a side salad and dinner roll. That’s not a bad value for $15. 

The chicken is excellent, and they don’t skimp on the portions with guests getting half chicken with every order. The pastitsio with its bechamel sauce is delicious, and even the rice and green beans exceed expectations. 

Inside the Taverna, guests will find even more dinner options, including moussaka (eggplant and potatoes), spanakopita, stuffed grape leaves, and more. I’ve tried nearly every item on the menu over the years, and I usually gravitate back to the moussaka. 

Gyro in aluminum foil next to a styrofoam clamshell filled with fries from the Greek Food Bazaar in Reading, PA.

But this year, I went for a gyro. There is a whole team of men and women gathered around a table in the kitchen as they assemble the pita, meat, and vegetables into the traditional Greek street food. 

The same $15 gets a gyro with a side of fries and a drink. Our seven-year-old called the fries the best around, and I have to admit, they are addictive. They’re generously seasoned with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and oregano. 

rows of cylindrical pastries drizzled in chocolate from the Greek Food Bazaar in Reading, PA.

Make sure to save room for dessert, though. The bakers are busy in the weeks leading up the festival, churning out thousands of cookies, bread loaves, and other baked goods. The baklava is the best around. 

styrofoam clamshell with six donut holes rolled in honey and almonds.

Of course you can take those home with you, but you’ll want to enjoy the loukoumathes fresh. Loukoumathes, or honey balls, are fried donut holes covered in honey and almond pieces. It’s not something I’ve found at restaurants or bakeries nearby so it’s a must-have every year. 

Wall filled with frames with four to six photos in each frame at Sts. Constantine & Helen Church in Reading, PA.

Other rooms in the church are filled with vendors selling jewelry, artwork, books, and other gifts. There’s also a room dedicated to the history of the church. The walls are lined with frames filled with black-and-white photos with displays of artifacts from the church’s past. 

Room full of people sitting at round tables watching children dance in traditional Greek garb.

The future of the church was also on display during our visit. The children’s dance group came out as we were getting ready to leave, and the young boys and girls showed off traditional dances as they twirled around to the delight of everyone in the main dining room. 

With free admission, reasonable food prices, and traditions to taste and see, we have made the Greek Food Bazaar an annual tradition in our family. 

Original Post: October 24, 2014

cover of a program book for the Sts. Constantine & Helen's church Greek Food Bazaar

It’s not uncommon to see a Berks County church hosting a food festival.

Throughout the year, you can find peach festivals, strawberry festivals, blueberry festivals, and more.

At the very least, just about every church will host a public dinner at some point throughout the year.

At Sts. Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church, they just do things on a much larger scale.

Now in it’s 44th year, the Greek Food Bazaar is not your typical church function. Thousands of patrons walk through the doors of the three-day event, which is why  some of the area’s largest corporations and businesses—including Redner’s Warehouse Markets, the Reading Fightin’ Phils and 69 News Berks Edition—are advertising in the 50-page program book.

musician playing traditional Greek music

And this year’s festival is larger than ever with the addition of an outdoor market and “Opa Tent” with plenty of space for dining and dancing.

Great food can be found throughout the church grounds, every room offering something different than the previous.

There is the Taverna, probably the most in-demand room in the building, where patrons enjoy traditional Greek tavern food, served with ouzo and wine. A gyro window serves a variety of sandwiches. Gyros and other appetizers were also available inside the Opa Tent. The kafeneio serves as an on-site coffee shop.

For hungry food bloggers, light fare and appetizers are just not enough. That’s why you will find me in the Estiatorio.

The church’s social hall is transformed into a sit-down restaurant where they are serving full dinner plates, like their Athenian chicken.

takeout container with a half chicken, rice pilaf, green beans, side salad and a slice of bread

Served with rice pilaf (or pastitsio), salad cup, and green beans cooked in tomatoes, the half chicken is more barbecued than baked. The lightly salted skin is reminiscent of the chicken I had at Kauffman’s, but a little crispier and not quite as spicy. And the spices are more than skin deep (pun intended), giving the meat a nice flavor of its own.

The pilaf and green beans are the perfect compliments to the meat. The beans are swimming in a sweet tomato sauce that’s much thinner and sweeter than an Italian marinara, while the pilaf was the necessary starch that balanced it out.

plate with triangles of spanakopita atop a pita cut into four pieces

I took my dinner into the Opa Tent where Julie was waiting with her spanakopita. The spinach and feta were mixed in bite size filo dough pockets and served atop a full pita. Even with the lightness of filo, it was heavy enough that the pita was unnecessary, and we ended up bringing most of it home with us.

Of course wherever there is a church festival, there are always desserts, and Sts. Constantine and Helen does not disappoint. A classroom is converted into the zaxaroplasteio, or Greek bakery.

white board with a list of items available at the Greek Food Festival

On the whiteboard is a tally of all the baking done for this year’s bazaar: 3,840 baklava, 1,539 loaves of bread, and 7,080 twist cookies. At $2 each, we picked out five of their most appealing options: two floyeris, one baklava, one finikia, and one kataifa.

assorted pastries in a takeout container from the Greek Food Festival

Greek pastries generally revolve around two ingredients: filo dough and honey. All but the finikia, which is a honey dipped cookie sprinkled with nuts, were made with the thin dough, while all were sweetened with the honey syrup.

The most unique of the four had to be the kataifi, a honey and walnut filled pastry that is made with shredded filo. Having only bought one, we had to cut it in half, at which point the honey began oozing out, leaving us with what looked like piles of angel hair pasta that was doused in gooey sweetness.

In all, we spent about $30 on food. The only thing we missed out on this year was the loukoumades, the church’s famous Greek honey balls. Every year, the deep fried, honey flavored dough balls are a big hit with the crowds. This year was no exception, and by the time we got to the window on Friday night, the day’s batch was already sold out.

That sounds like a good reason to return next year.

Check out the details for the 2025 Greek Food Festival

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