A restaurant doesn’t need to be flashy to be good. I ask three basic questions when I visit a restaurant for the first time: is the food good, is the service solid, and is it a location where I would eat again.
One spot that checks all the boxes is Cloud 9 Cafe in Wyomissing.
Located in the Village Square shopping center, along with Isaac’s, Duck Donuts, and Sublime Cupcakes, Cloud 9 is one of those places that may not elicit a “wow” in any particular area, but it doesn’t disappoint either.
The cafe has a pretty simple setup, it’s a counter-order spot with a handful of grab-and-go items to complement the main menu. Like many cafes, it’s only open for breakfast and lunch (open Monday through Saturday).
There are some booths, but it’s mostly table seats, a combination of low-tops and high-tops throughout the dining room. The red-brown tile floor gives it a bit of a 90s vibe.
I’ve stopped in for both breakfast and lunch with my most recent lunch visit coming for a solo working lunch where I ordered the figgy chicken sandwich. The menu touted it as a “new” item, and the combination of toppings: bacon, goat cheese, American cheese and fig spread.
I’m not a fan of American cheese, but I can tolerate it when it’s combined with other flavors. In this case, the fig spread and goat cheese really shone through as the stars of the dish. I loved the sweet figs and how well they went with the savory chicken and bacon. I really enjoyed it and would order it again.
On the side, I opted for fries. They were a slight upgrade, and honestly, I think next time I would just stick with chips because the fries are good, but nothing remarkable.
While lunch at Cloud 9 is good, breakfast is better. It’s a simple menu of the usuals – breakfast sandwiches and burritos, pancakes, omelettes, and French toast.
The French toast was my choice on my last breakfast visit. The short stack comes with two slices, halved, dusted with powdered sugar. On the side are two syrup packets and a couple pads of butter. There were also the two orange wedges which give me flashbacks to my childhood brunches at Heidelberg Family Restaurant three decades ago.
There really is nothing fancy about it, but the French toast is good nonetheless. The homefries are one of my favorites, though. The potatoes are cubed and fried to a golden crisp. Despite feeling full with half a plate left, I still finished them off. They are that good.
One thing that I will never pass on at breakfast is a chai latte. Cloud 9 does not have an “authentic” chai, it’s more on the sweet side but still enjoyable.
The prices are pretty typical for a cafe with breakfast items available for less than $10 and lunches ranging from $10-15 (with upgrades available, of course).
I’ll just add that I have always found their service to be very friendly and quick, which is definitely one of the things that keeps me coming back even when the food doesn’t quite match some of the other coffee shops in the area.
BCE Rating Food: Good Service: Very Good Ambiance: Good Price: $$
Cloud 9 Cafe 84 Commerce Drive Wyomissing, PA 19610
More than a decade ago, the first BBQ spot we visited on Berks County Eats was a small roadside trailer called Muddy’s. It was the standard that we measured all over BBQ by – both in terms of its unique location and the delicious food.
Unfortunately, Muddy’s is now long-gone. But from Hillbilly BBQ’s trailer near Douglassville to Backwoods Brothers and their Texas-style ‘cue in Hamburg to the ever-growing Stampede BBQ on the way to Morgantown, there is still great BBQ to be found in all corners of Berks County.
Though it has a permanent location in Womelsdorf, The Messy Pig primarily operates as a food truck, bringing its smoked meats to locations and events through Berks and Schuylkill Counties. Check their Facebook page to find out “wtf – where’s the food?”.
The Messy Pig brand debuted in 2020, run by the namesake of the former Darryl’z in nearby Stouchsburg. Since then, we’ve had the opportunity to try many of their delicious offerings.
Our most recent visit came in early March during the annual Presto event at Fleetwood High School. The annual fundraiser for the school district’s music program brings in five or more food trucks and stands every year, and the Messy Pig has been one of the anchors, offering the largest menu of any of the participants.
The line was long but 15 minutes later I was at the front and soon I had my sandwich in hand as I filled a couple containers with sauce, of which there are a dozen flavors to choose from.
I ordered the Texas style brisket sandwich which came topped with coleslaw and onion tanglers. The brisket was very good, and the hefty roll was piled high with slabs of tender, moist brisket. The ends have a nice peppery after taste that I really enjoyed.
Normally, I prefer slaw on pulled pork rather than brisket, but I really like the Messy Pig’s vinegary coleslaw and the notes it adds to the meat.
The Messy Pig also does a great job with its pulled pork. Like the brisket, pulled pork sandwiches come piled high with meat – they definitely don’t cheat you on the portions. I got the Plain Porker for mine, which as the name suggests, comes without any toppings, but their namesake Messy Pig sandwich is worth trying. It’s pork topped with cheese, slaw, pickles and jalapenos.
The hardest part on my visits is choosing which of their sauces to get, which is why I always end up with at least two little cups of sweet sauce.
One other underrated aspect of the Messy Pig is that they serve Guers iced tea, a must-have for me every time I am at their stand.
As much as we enjoy the food, we love their prices. Sandwiches top out at $12 each (for brisket) and platters, which come with mac and cheese and either slaw or beans, are under $20.
Brisket, pork, chicken, sausage: the Messy Pig has you covered. Just ask “wtf” to find them.
BCE Rating Food: Very Good Service: Good Price: $$
It’s not hard to find good barbecue in Berks County. From roadside trailers to sit-down restaurants, you’ll find delicious pulled pork, beef brisket, ribs, chickens and more at these Berks County BBQ spots.
Stampede Barbecue Morgantown
If we’re talking about straight-up barbecue joints, Stampede Barbecue is my favorite in Berks County. The large wooden building near Plowville feels like a barbecue place. And they do all the meats – ribs, pork, brisket, chicken, turkey, sausage – and they do all of them well. I am a big fan of the Aimee – smoked chicken with spicy sauce and honey. Also, don’t skip the hush puppies on the side.
Hillbilly BBQ is the classic roadside BBQ trailer. I used to love driving up to the Muddy’s trailer along Pricetown Road. Parking in the gravel parking lot of Hillbilly BBQ gives me the same feeling. You just know the BBQ is going to be good before you even taste it. And then it’s everything you hoped for and more.
Texas-style barbecue at its best, Backwoods Brothers serves excellent ‘cue from their space in downtown Hamburg. The go-to here has to be the brisket, but don’t sleep on their smoked sausage.
When Heart & Hearth arrived in Kutztown, it was with a stand at the Renninger’s market. That’s where I first discovered them back in 2023. Today, they have a spot right on Main Street where they are serving unique barbecue dishes like the heatloaf sandwich, a meatloaf blend of beef, pork and jalapenos, as well as more traditional pork, brisket and sausage with sweet and spicy sauces.
A mobile business first, the Messy Pig can be found at pop-ups and events across Berks and Schuylkill Counties. They have excellent pulled pork and brisket, along with a wide range of topping options and a table full of sauces. They also open their store in Womelsdorf on select dates – just be sure to pre-order before they run out.
While I enjoy Plum Creek’s pulled pork, it’s the pit beef that puts Plum Creek on this list. While it’s not too dissimilar to brisket, the pit beef is pulled and more tender. And Plum Creek’s sweet sauce just works with it. Get it with or without cheese, or try it on the Bernville special (a bed of fries topped with pit beef and cheese sauce).
No, Austin’s is not a BBQ joint. But, I absolutely love Austin’s ribs. They are fall-off-the-bone tender and smothered in a deliciously sweet barbecue sauce. Austin’s also does a good pulled pork – both as an entree and a sandwich – with hearty portions.
The unassuming white building along Tuckerton Road has some of the best pulled pork around. Located in a converted house, Station House Grille is a small shop with big flavor. Their pulled pork taco sliders – with their delicious coleslaw – are a staple at food events across the county, but you’ll also find shredded beef and shredded chicken on the menu.
When I was in college, the K’Town Pub wasn’t much to speak of. But now, they’re known for their barbecue. I enjoy the pork and brisket – you can also get the brisket on a cheesesteak – with the apple butter barbecue sauce. The Pub also offers a spicy sauce, Carolina vinegar sauce, Alabama white sauce and a tangy KC sauce.
I get asked all the time to name my favorites. The most common question: “What’s your favorite restaurant?”.
It’s a hard one to answer so I usually rattle off a couple names. But when someone asks me, “Who has the best burger?”, that’s easy for me to answer: Louie’s Kitchen & Bar in Flying Hills.
Louie’s opened in 2022 and we reviewed them in early 2023 (see full review below), but that review was mostly focused on brunch. Since that time, Louie’s has continued to evolve, and I can safely say that Louie’s has found its niche: it’s now the go-to place for burgers in Berks County.
At least, it’s my go-to place. And after winning best burger at the Taste of Hamburg-er Festival in 2024, Louie’s has the accolades to back it up.
The burger that won them the award is our absolute favorite: the caramel burger.
With twin smash burgers topped with bacon jam aioli, caramelized onions, American and Provolone cheeses, and caramelized bacon, the caramel burger is both an indulgence and incredibly flavorful.
The sweet and savory combination is hard to beat, especially the caramelized bacon (which is available as a side on their Sunday brunch menu). It’s crispy and sugary, adding both texture and sweetness to the burger.
Between Julie and I, we have ordered it three times and it never disappoints.
But it’s far from the only great option on Louie’s burger menu. Another is the smokehouse burger with double-smoked bacon, cheddar, bourbon BBQ sauce and onion petals.
There are plenty of places around Berks that do a similar burger with BBQ sauce and onion rings, but Louie’s just feels like it’s a level above, especially thanks to the perfectly crispy bacon.
Also, don’t sleep on Louie’s fries, described on the menu as “skin-on russet potatoes fried until golden and crispy in a combination of bacon fat and lard.” They look like other fries, but the frying oils give them a little different flavor. It’s a $3 upgrade to go from chips to fries, but it’s well-worth it in my opinion.
The restaurant also has a cheeseburger on the kids menu that Jakob really enjoyed. It’s simple, just a burger with American cheese and fries, but it’s a nice size and made with the same quality ground beef.
But Louie’s is more than burgers, and the Hamburg-er Festival was not the only competition where Louie’s has taken top honors. At the 2025 Wilson Iron Chef event, Louie’s entered the People’s Choice competition with their Bulldog Cheesesteak.
The sandwich featured a Liscoio’s seeded roll, ribeye, mushroom rice creamy mayo, sauteed onions and cheese sauce.
It got enough votes – including my own – to earn the title of People’s Choice champion. And though I only had a small sampling at the Iron Chef, I got the full experience when we visited Louie’s a few weeks later and found the sandwich on the specials menu.
I had to order it. It came as a half of a large roll, overstuffed with filling and swimming in cheese sauce. But there was something about the “mayo,” maybe an earthiness from the mushrooms, that was unexpected and made the sandwich stand out from other cheesesteaks.
I only wish the savory masterpiece was on the regular menu because I would gladly order it again. (They do have three cheesesteak options on the regular menu).
The prices are reasonable enough to keep us coming back. Even with the upgrade to fries, dinner for two will be less than $40. And kids meals are priced at less than $10 each so it’s still a reasonable night out for families.
But it’s also the quality of the food that you’re getting for the price: some of the best burgers and sandwiches that you’ll find anywhere.
BCE Rating Food: Excellent Service: Very Good Ambiance: Very Good Price: $$
Louie’s Kitchen & Bar 12 Village Center Drive Reading, PA 19607
Back in 2018, I discovered a restaurant in Lancaster County called Gracie’s on West Main. Located in the heart of Leola, it’s a fantastic place – especially for breakfast (with an entire menu section devoted to bacon). I’ve been there several times since, including taking the family there for dinner just a couple months ago.
So when it was announced in the spring that the owners of Gracie’s were taking over what was then known as Divot’s, I was very excited.
After a small update, the newly renamed Louie’s Kitchen & Bar opened in the space in May 2022.
I actually made my first visit over the summer but never wrote about it because shortly afterward, the restaurant went through some changes in the kitchen and my chili huevos rancheros tacos were off the menu.
The restaurant serves as the unofficial “19th hole” for the Flying Hills Golf Course. Located just steps from the clubhouse, I would imagine that it fills up quickly on warm days when the course is full. But with a chill in the air, the course is empty and Julie and I have the place mostly to ourselves.
Louie’s is unique to itself, but it has callbacks to Gracie’s. Most notably are the chalkboards throughout the dining room, each one adorned with inspirational quotes from sports legends like Babe Ruth, Emmitt Smith and Bo Jackson (plus fictional sports star Rocky Balboa).
The menus, however, diverge. Whereas Gracie’s is primarily known for its breakfast items, Louie’s is a lunch and dinner spot (though the restaurant did try breakfast, at first, and still does weekend brunches) so the menu is built upon burgers, wraps and sandwiches.
For my lunch, I went with chicken bacon avocado wrap with a side cup of chili.
The wrap is pretty basic and similar items can be found on menus around Berks County, but I enjoyed it.The wrap was filled with grilled chicken, red onion, lettuce, tomato, avocado and ranch dressing. It may not have been anything special, but it was done well and I enjoyed it, especially the bites that were loaded with avocado.
I was really impressed with the chili – the triple double chili, that is – which is one of the items that can also be found on the menu at Gracie’s. It gets its name because it includes three meats (ground beef, ground pork and bacon) and two beans (kidney and black). It’s hearty, for sure, and a bowl with some fries could easily be a meal. The chili, itself, was not too spicy but definitely had the familiar sting of chili pepper every now and then. Though the heaping helping of shredded cheese on top helped to tone it down.
Across the table from me, Julie enjoyed her Mediterranean pita and fries. The pita features chicken, hummus, olive tapenade, tomatoes, onion, cucumber and feta with tzatziki sauce. It was really good and really filling. The hummus was really good and helped make it a very filling dish.
The fries were a real highlight. Crisp, golden and lightly seasoned with salt and pepper, Julie and I both kept going back for more even after we were already full.
Because Julie upgraded to fries and I added on the cup of chili (and splurged on a fresh fruit iced tea), our lunch was a little more expensive than we would typically aim for with our total coming in around $40.
BCE Rating Food: Very Good Ambiance: Very Good Service: Very Good Price: $$
Louie’s Kitchen & Bar 12 Village Center Dr Reading, PA 19607
If you’re looking for a family-friendly place to eat, a brewery may not be the first place you think to look. But Saucony Creek’s Kutztown Brewery & Pub definitely fits the bill.
Saucony Creek is located just outside Kutztown, standing high atop a hill just off the Kutztown exit of Route 222.
The building that now houses the brewery was once a car dealership – the same one where I got Dale Earnhardt’s autograph more than 30 years ago. Today, there are no hints at the location’s former life.
Inside is an opening dining room with high-top tables down the middle and low-tops along the side. But for our meal, we were seated outside.
Saucony has one of the better outdoor dining areas in Berks County. The stone patio has coverings over the middle tables and umbrellas for the outer seats. But our favorite part is the kids’ playset with its two two-person swings, rock wall and slide. It’s a great place for the kids to blow off steam before and after their meals.
We ordered the kids’ meals first so they didn’t have too much time to play before their food arrived.
For Jakob, that meant a cheeseburger and fries. The burger was a solid quarter-pounder topped with Cooper sharp cheese. He ate nearly the whole burger but didn’t eat many of the fries.
They were really good when they came out, but Jakob said they got “hard.” He’s not wrong. Though they were delicious, loaded with salt and pepper, they cooled off and lost their consistency pretty quick.
Lukas didn’t seem to mind as he ate his. In the opposite mood as his brother, he seemingly only wanted fries and left his grilled cheese for us to take home as a leftover.
I can attest that the burgers are very good as I had the pub burger for my meal. The pub burger consisted of two quarter-pound patties and came topped with beer cheese sauce, bacon, and fried onions rings.
With two patties, it was difficult to get that first bite, but when I did, it was great. The cheese sauce made it a little messier than some burgers, but it was a delicious mess. The beer cheese had a little deeper flavor than a slice of American or cheddar. Onion rings are a favorite of mine so the fried onions were a welcome addition. And the bacon added a nice sweet and salty note to it. Overall, it was a very good burger.
Knowing how big the burger would be, I just got a side of chips with it (Good’s brand, according to the menu). And that was the right decision as Jakob ended up eating more of my chips than I did.
Julie went with a different pub staple for her meal, opting for the brisket tacos. They came two to an order, and were topped with guacamole and pickled onions.
They were good, and the brisket had some good flavor to it, but it could have used a little more guac or other sauce to add some depth of flavor that was missing.
While Julie and I finished our meals and waited for our check – which totaled $80 for the four meals plus a cocktail for Julie and iced tea for me – the boys were busy on the playset.
The food was good, the kids loved their playtime, and we left knowing that we found another spot for future family meals.
BCE Rating Food: Good Service: Very Good Ambiance: Very Good Price: $$
Saucony Creek Kutztown Brewery & Pub 15032 Kutztown Road Kutztown, PA 19530
The restaurant was among our first reviews and has remained a favorite, even as our meals have transitioned from date nights to family dinners.
We visit Austin’s a few times a year, most times in the dining room, sometimes to pick up takeout. It’s a convenient stop for us being just a short drive from our home in Wyomissing Hills.
And the food and service are always very good.
That was again the case on our most recent visit.
We were seated at one of their booths – Julie, Jakob and I sat in the cushioned seats while Lukas sat in his high chair.
Not long after we were greeted by our server, a loaf of their famous honey wheat bread arrived on the table. While it is no longer complementary, we get it every time. The sweet bread with the honey-infused butter is the perfect start to any meal. And even as a family of four, there’s enough to take a few slices home for later.
I go back-and-forth between pasta dishes and barbecue on our visits. My favorite pasta dish is the chicken bruschetta pasta, which features tomatoes, bread crumbs and a balsamic drizzle. It’s delicious, but I can never finish a full order.
But that’s usually the case no matter what I order because the portion sizes are so large. But knowing that leftovers are coming home no matter what also makes it easier for me to order some of my favorites.
That’s why I got the chicken and ribs combo on this visit.
While Austin’s is not a typical barbecue joint, I absolutely love their ribs. The meat falls off the bone, and the half-rack is slathered in a deliciously sweet sauce.
I could just order a half-rack or full-rack of ribs, but I also love the Texas tenders. These fried delights have a breading unlike any other around. Each piece is so light and crunchy, and they are perfect for dipping.
Austin’s also has some excellent sides, both familiar and unique – some a combination of both. Their fries fit that description as they are some of the smallest cuts I’ve found. They eat almost like potato sticks rather than fries, but they are delicious. I tried to be “healthy” with my second side by ordering fruit in the form of cinnamon glazed apples. Of course the apples are served in a sugary, cinnamon sauce that takes away any of the nutritional value, but they’re oh so good.
Julie made a much more senisble decision by ordering salmon for her entree. It’s one of her go-tos at Austin’s. The fish came out with grill marks that made a beautiful criss-cross pattern across the perfectly cooked fish. It comes topped with a honey glaze for an extra bit of flavor that takes it from good to great.
For her sides, Julie chose fries (she, too, cannot resist) and a side Caesar. Of course because Austin’s portions are so large, the side Caesar is almost large enough for a meal. The salad comes topped with toasted homemade breadcrumbs, a light dressing, and freshly grated Paremsan cheese. It’s a small upcharge for a Caesar, but worth it.
If you find us at Austin’s, it will most likely be on a Sunday night. That’s because kids eat free every Sunday at Austin’s and its sister restaurant, Coastal Grille.
But it’s not just that we love the free meals, it’s that the kids love the food, too. On this visit, he had a cheeseburger with a cup of baked beans.
The cheeseburger is large enough that I could probably eat it for a main dish and feel satisfied, but Jakob still managed to eat the whole thing.
He didn’t particularly care for his baked beans, but I really like them. They are saucier than you’ll find at other places, a sweet barbecue-style sauce, and the beans are smaller so they’re a little different. The good news was that the burger, and a few of Julie’s fries, were more than enough for him.
For Lukas, we ordered mac and cheese. Of course, Austin’s doesn’t actually use macaroni and instead uses penne for their version of the dish. And the crock comes filled with them.
The cheese sauce tends to the settle to the bottom, but once mixed, the kids both enjoy it.
With the kids’ meals being free, we saved between $15-$20 on our visit. Our final total for the evening coming in around $60. When you also factor in that my Texas tenders came home for lunch the next day, we felt like we got our money’s worth and then some.
From the food to the portions to the family-friendly Sunday nights, there are plenty of reasons why Austin’s has been, and continues to be, one of our favorites.
BCE Rating Food: Very Good Service: Excellent Ambiance: Very Good Price: $$
Austin’s Restaurant and Bar 1101 Snyder Rd West Lawn, PA 19609
The dining room is dimly lit. Small lamps at each table mimic the glow of candlelight. The dark brick walls, only partially lit by interspersed overhead lights, stand in stark contrast to the brightness of the kitchen, which sits in full view of customers through large glass windows.
A team of waiters and waitresses buzz by, their black clothing blending into their dark surroundings.
There is something romantic about the low lighting at Austin’s Restaurant and Bar. Though there are plenty of families there on any given night, it still feels like the perfect date night restaurant.
Austin’s is part of a small chain of restaurants in southeastern Pennsylvania and Delaware. The other three – located in Lancaster, Langhorne and Christiana, DE – operate under the J.B. Dawson’s banner.
The menus among the four restaurants are nearly identical. Burgers and sandwiches are popular, but so too are the surprisingly good barbecue selections like baby back ribs and pulled pork. Fresh seafood and pasta dishes, flatbread pizza and six different cuts of steak round out a menu that is so much more than bar food.
No meal at Austin’s is complete without a loaf of their signature honey wheat bread. Though no longer complimentary, the bread is well-worth the nominal charge.
The loaves are fresh-baked, served warm with a dab of honey butter. You can taste the honey, but it’s a subtle sweetness, not overpowering to the bread as a whole. I never would leave a slice of bread at the table at Austin’s like I would at most restaurants.
For your main course, it is hard to go wrong with any of Austin’s options. I enjoy the baby back ribs (all-you-can-eat every Monday night) and pulled pork, though they don’t reach the heights of some other barbecue joints.
Another go-to of mine (and on this occasion, my wife) is the Texas Tenders. The breading is different from any other fried chicken I have tried. It’s very thin, giving the dish a light and airy feel (which is the exact opposite from most fried chicken dishes) while still providing a nice crunch. The tenders blend perfectly with the house barbecue and honey mustard sauces.
Of course if you order chicken tenders, fries have to be the default side. Austin’s French fries are sliced exceptionally thin, which gives them a unique look and feel compared to other local restaurants.
Austin’s menu also includes a handful of pasta options. On our last visit, I ordered the Chicken Florentine Pasta: grilled chicken and penne in a spinach cream sauce, topped with diced tomatoes. The tomatoes were marinated in a balsamic vinegar, which blended well, never overpowering the richness of the cream.
The food was more than enough for two whole meals, so we packed up half of our meals to save room for dessert. We were not disappointed.
We opted for the banana cream delight. Essentially a deconstructed pie, it featured whole sliced bananas, graham cracker crumbs and banana custard topped with whipped cream and drizzled with caramel sauce. The graham cracker helped temper the sweetness of the other ingredients, adding a flavorful crunch that put this on par with a really good banana cream pie.
The ambiance of Austin’s may feel like fine dining, but the prices are much more reasonable. Our dinner for two, complete with dessert was under $40. There is always a long wait during the dinner rush, especially on weekends, but you can always grab a few drinks at the bar to pass the time or plan your trip for off-peak hours.
BCE Rating Food: Very Good Service: Very Good Ambiance: Very Good Price: Reasonable
I love drive-ins. These simple eateries are not just roadside relics of a times gone by; they’re community hubs. A place where people gather for good food at good prices.
Berks County has its fair share of retro fast food spots. Those include Herman’s Drive-In, the Topton restaurant in the northeast corner of the county.
Herman’s began life in the early 60s, becoming Herman’s shortly thereafter. The current owners purchased the stand more than 30 years ago and have kept the retro feel inside and out.
The square, white building is found along Weis Street on the southern end of town. A large porcelain sign on the roof proclaims “Homemade Bar-B-Ques” along with “Ice Cream,” “French Fries,” and “Hot Dogs.”
Walking in is a nostalgia trip. There’s a lamp hanging near the food counter that at first glance looks like it was plucked from Pizza Hut in the 90s, but on closer inspection you can see the pattern of pretzels and ice cream cones in the glass.
Yes, from the purple cushioned booths on the tile floors to the wood paneled walls to the thin wooden slats that make up the ceiling, you quickly realize they don’t make places like this anymore.
On my first visit, I got the full Berks County drive-in experience with a hamburger BBQ and fries.
Hamburger BBQ is a staple around here, the Berks County take on a sloppy Joe, and Herman’s has a good one. The roll was filled with ground beef in light sauce, exactly how it should be.
The fries were typical fast food fries, thick cut, a ready vessel for salt and pepper that were easy to eat.
I took my meal outside to enjoy under their covered patio which doubles the seating that’s available inside, a great asset for busy days and nights.
When I returned, I decided to try the pork BBQ. It was good, too. Nothing special, just a solid meal that came out quick and hit the spot.
I also splurged this time on a vanilla shake. While I appreciate a well-made milkshake made with hard ice cream, there’s just something about a soft-serve shake that feels right when you go to a place like Herman’s. It’s a little thick, but so refreshing.
It’s definitely a worthwhile splurge, especially with how reasonably priced the meals are. A hamburger BBQ and fries cost less than $10. Add on another $6 for a milkshake, and it’s still a great deal for lunch or dinner.
The price combined with the nostalgic feel and fast service are what make retro drive-ins like Herman’s so popular, and why I’ll keep coming back.
BCE Rating Food: Good Service: Very Good Ambiance: Good Price: $
Herman’s Drive-In 50 W. Weis Street Topton, PA 19562
Almost since it opened in 2010, we have been making weekly trips to the PA Dutch Farmers Market of Wyomissing.
In those 15 years, we have seen the market explode in popularity, especially with its dine-in options. The market grew to the point where it underwent an expansion in early 2025, allowing the stands to increase their offerings while adding more seating for dine-in.
Interestingly, there are actually fewer vendors today than when the market opened, but it still retains its original character with each stand being completely unique to the others.
With our weekly trips, we have had more than our fair share of breakfast and lunch at the market and certainly found our favorites, both old and new.
Fisher’s BBQ
Fisher’s has traditionally been my go-to spot for a hot meal at the market. The stand serves a wide range of meats and sides with a focus on BBQ meats like BBQ chicken, pulled pork and ribs while also offering fried chicken, pot roast and other savory entrees.
My favorite entree is the pot roast. It’s always exceptionally juicy with a little peppery taste to it that I enjoy. It’s not so much barbecue as it is a take on a diner classic.
If I’m not ordering the pot roast, I’m getting their chicken tenders. They are simple, but oh so good. I especially love their housemade barbecue sauce for dipping. It’s sweet and a little tangy and just seems to match up perfectly with the fried breast meat.
On the side, I have three that I really like, which makes it tough to choose because platters only include two choices.
Rarely do I get a platter without an order of their potato wedges. The seasoned wedges are better than most French fries that I’ve tried (also great for dipping in the BBQ sauce). I also really enjoy their carrots, whole carrots that are cooked until tender. But then there are the green beans, which are served with bacon and a little bit of BBQ sauce.
I know I can’t go wrong with any of those choices, especially with all of them priced around the $10 mark.
BCE Rating Food: Good Service: Very Good Price: $
Soft Pretzel Corner
If we’re feeding our family, this is usually our go-to stand. The Soft Pretzel Corner specializes in stuffed pretzel wraps, though you can get plain pretzels, sweet-filled dessert pretzels and ice cream.
My favorite among the savory options is the brisket wrap, which features beef brisket, mushrooms and Cooper Sharp. Though they do have a cheesesteak wrap that includes American cheese and steak meat, the brisket wrap feels more like a really good cheesesteak to me. And I love how the saltiness of the pretzel meshes with the creamy cheese to create a unique flavor profile.
Julie has her favorites, too. The brisket wrap is on the top of the list but the pizza wrap has been a favorite since the start of the market. It tastes like a pizza made with pretzel dough and is delicious. The chicken bacon ranch wrap is also a solid choice.
No matter what time of day we go, Jakob will always order a breakfast wrap: sausage, egg and cheese. It’s not much different than your typical breakfast sandwich, except with the added sweet and salty flavor of the pretzel.
Pretzel wraps run about $5-7 each. You can also get their Auntie Anne’s style pretzels – which I think are much better – for around $2 apiece.
BCE Rating Food: Good Service: Very Good Price: $
Stoltzfus Luncheonette
Formerly the Sunrise Grille, Stoltzfus Luncheonette is the market’s breakfast and lunch counter, offering pancakes, eggs, and other breakfast favorites in the morning with hot and cold sandwiches and wraps at lunch.
I like the other stands a little more for lunch, but the Luncheonette offers a solid breakfast. Pancakes are fluffy and hearty. And they have pretty good sides with their homefries and hash browns.
BCE Rating Food: Good Service: Good Price: $
Crepe Corner
With the recent renovation of the restaurant, the Luncheonette expanded to include the Crepe Corner. Separate from the main dinette, the Crepe Corner has its own menu of sweet and savory crepes to choose from.
On a recent visit, I tried the blueberry lemon crepe which had a cream cheese filling and came topped with blueberries, lemon sauce and powdered sugar.
The combination of sweet with just a little bit of sour from the lemon cream was perfect. Each bite felt like an indulgence with the thin crepe serving as the perfect vessel for the fruit and cream.
The crepes may be my new favorite food in the market, and they are priced right, too, with no crepe over the $10 mark.
BCE Rating Food: Very Good Service: Good Price: $
Becca’s Coffee & Donuts
Sometimes we’re in the mood for something a little sweet, and there is no better spot than Becca’s. Their donuts are probably our favorite in Berks County, indulgences that come iced or filled with cream and fruits. They also have unique toppings like Fruity Pebbles and Gummi Bears (Jakob’s favorite).
I also can’t go without getting myself a chai. It’s very much the Americanized version of chai, and I’m not sure if there is any real tea in it (they are using a powder to make it each time), but it’s so sweet and surprisingly refreshing.
Besides, it’s OK to splurge every now and then, right?
And the market is a great place to treat yourself with good food without breaking the bank.
BCE Rating Food: Excellent Service: Very Good Price: $
PA Dutch Farmers Market of Wyomissing 845 Woodland Road Wyomissing, PA 19610
Editor’s Note: The Sunrise Grille at the PA Dutch Farmers Market of Wyomissing is now closed. A new stand – Stoltzfus Luncheonette – operates in its place. Fisher’s BBQ continues to operate as it has since the market opened.
There are hundreds of farmers markets across the state of Pennsylvania, with dozens of them spread throughout Berks County.
From roadside stands to indoor/outdoor markets with 100s of vendors, all of these markets deliver fresh produce, locally raised meats and delicious baked goods.
Farmers markets support area farm families, boost the local economy and help customers find healthy ingredients for home-cooked meals.
They are also a great place to get amazing meals.
I am lucky enough to live within walking distance of Berks County’s best farmers markets. Now in its third year, the PA Dutch Farmers Market of Wyomissing only has 14 stands, but every one of them is different.
There’s a stand for seafood, one for bulk foods, another for soft pretzels and separate stands for beef, poultry, seafood, deli meats and organics. The same is true for their dine-in options: the Sunrise Grill and Fisher’s BBQ.
The two stands are set directly across from each other at the back of the market. Fisher’s sits in the far-right corner. Beef brisket, ribs and barbecued chicken swelter under the heat lamps in the display case.
Everything is hot and ready-to-serve. Catch the stand at the wrong time though, and you may need to wait a while. Friday nights are all-you-can-eat nights, and the line backs up quickly.
The best entree on the menu has to be the pulled pork. It’s cliché, but the meat really is tender and juicy. Instead of loading the meat up with barbecue sauce, I mix it with a side of green beans, which are mixed with a little bit of sauce and bacon. The beans are delicious, and the juice helps bring out more flavor in the pork.
Every platter at Fisher’s comes with two sides so for your second, I recommend the carrots. The carrots have a crispy outer coating, with charred black edges, but inside they are a beautiful vibrant orange and sweet as honey. And if that’s not sweet enough for you, grab a cup of fresh-brewed sweet tea to complete your meal.
Across the aisle, the Sunrise Grill serves up some great breakfast options like French toast, omelets and pancakes, but I love it for lunch.
Sunrise offers some great cold and hot sub options for lunch and dinner. They’re sausage sandwiches are excellent (especially if you get the pepper and onion sausage) and come with a “barbecue” sauce, a thin sauce with a taste closer to ketchup than barbecue, but perfect for the sandwich.
But my favorite meal at Sunrise Grill is their hot roast beef. The meat is so tender, more like pot roast than the slabs of roast beef you get at some diners, and it is piled high on top of a Kaiser roll.
I rarely get something at Sunrise Grill without a side of fries. They are fresh cut, not frozen fast food fries. For me, these are the kind of fries that just taste that much better with a spritz of vinegar.
Like every farmers market, the prices at these two stands are very reasonable. Platters at Fisher’s range between $8-12, and a sandwich, fries and drink at Sunrise Grill comes in right around the $10 mark.
The biggest downside to the market, and any farmers market for that matter, is the hours. The market is only open three days a week, Thursdays through Saturdays, and only have evening hours on Friday nights. If you have a supersized appetite, Friday night is the best time to go because Fisher’s offers some great all-you-can-eat specials for the price of a single meal.
BCE Rating – Fisher’s BBQ Food: Good Service: Very Good Ambiance: Good Price: Very Reasonable
BCE Rating – Sunrise Grille Food: Good Service: Fair Ambiance: Good Price: Reasonable
PA Dutch Farmer’s Market of Wyomissing 845 Woodland Rd Wyomissing, PA 19610
It takes more than great food to make a great restaurant. We always rate restaurants on food, service, ambiance and price. But those four categories can’t always encapsulate everything. Sometimes there are intangibles, little touches that take a restaurant from good to great.
That’s what we found on our visit to BeBe’s Kitchen in Birdsboro.
BeBe’s is located at the corner of Furnace and First in what was once a railroad station. The building’s former life is not as obvious as Saucony Creek’s Franklin Street Station, but there are hints. Out front, a railroad crossing sign stands alone in the grass. Inside, the tall front windows were clearly not meant for a residence. And a pair of bench seats can be found inside the entrance, now a convenient spot to wait for a table to open up.
We didn’t have to wait for a table when we stopped for an early Saturday lunch. (There was a brief wait for our server to take our order, but not too long).
Before we were seated, we were asked if we wanted breakfast or lunch. Unable to decide, we got both menus and ended up splitting our decisions.
I ended up deciding on breakfast in the form of the Landfill (appropriately named given the Mascaro-owned landfill just about a mile north). It was their country scramble – ham, onions, green peppers, hash browns and scrambled eggs – topped with cream chipped beef and served with a side of toast.
At $12, it was the most expensive item on the breakfast menu, probably the most filling as well. It was also absolutely delicious.
What really did it for me was the cream chipped beef. This is also a hit-or-miss item but BeBe’s was a hit. It was the perfect consistency, not overly salty, and in the absence of any cheese, it really helped bring everything on the plate together.
Jakob also ordered breakfast, but his came from the kid’s menu where you get to choose from pancakes, French toast or eggs as a main, sausage or bacon on the side, and a cup of applesauce, mandarin oranges, or peaches.
The fruits are prepackaged cups, like the ones you get from the grocery store, but that’s actually helpful if your child can’t finish their meal. (That’s how we ended up taking home an applesauce). The mains were definitely prepared fresh with Jakob’s order of three silver dollar pancakes coming out perfectly.
We got Lukas a kids’ meal from the lunch menu. These include a main and two sides. For him, that meant macaroni and cheese with fries and a cup of applesauce. (We had originally asked for mandarin oranges for both, but they were out of orange cups).
I was pleasantly surprised that the mac and cheese wasn’t just a box of Kraft, which we’ve found at many local restaurants. Instead of the bright yellow-orange, the cheese was soft white and creamy, the pasta cooked perfectly for the two-year-old to slurp down.
Overall, BeBe’s is exceptionally kid-friendly. In addition to reasonably-priced kids menu items, they also have a little “I spy” type game on every table. A small jar is loaded with colored sand about 20 little trinkets and kids are encouraged to shake around the sand to find all of the items on the laminated card that sits in the middle of the table.
There’s also plenty for the adults to enjoy. Julie really liked her turkey bacon club. It came piled high with meat, cheese, and veggies to the point that she had to stop eating the bread so she could enjoy the good stuff inside. The sandwich came with a bag of Dieffenbach’s chips which we took home after sharing some of Lukas’ fries.
With a total price tag of around $40, BeBe’s was also friendly on the wallet, as all of us had more than enough food for less than $10 a person (that included drinks with both boys getting milk with their meals while I had an iced tea).
But what really sold us on BeBe’s was the community feel. There were clearly a number of regulars who came through during our visit. And at one point, an employee’s dad stopped in to eat lunch with his son. And when their meal was over, the staff brought out a slice of chocolate cake with a candle in it and led the dining room in singing happy birthday.
Sure, you can get a slice of cake for your birthday at many area restaurants, but this was authentic.
Good food, good prices, community connections: it’s everything you could hope for in a neighborhood gathering place.
BCE Rating Food: Good Ambiance: Good Service: Very Good Price: $
BeBe’s Kitchen 101 W. First Street Birdsboro, PA 19508
In a county that has what feels like an endless number of pizza places, sandwich shops, Mexican restaurants, and bars, Aladdin stands out.
Even in the dining-heavy downtown of West Reading, Aladdin is unique with its shawarma, falafel, and other Mediterranean dishes.
Aladdin changed hands since we reviewed it in 2020 (See the original post below). It was a great – and hearty one – with lamb kebabs, chicken saute, baba ghanoush, stuffed grape leaves, and tabbouleh. (Jakob also had chicken fingers and fries as any three-year-old would).
The dining area remains mostly unchanged – the same yellow-hued walls against burnt orange floor tiles. Wooden chairs at tables covered with off-white tablecloths and booths with light blue-green padding.
Much of the menu remains the same, as well. My tastes have evolved and expanded since our last visit, though. So rather than go with a shawarma or similar meat dish, the moujardara caught my eye.
Found on the vegetarian menu, moujardara is a dish of seasoned and simmered lentils and rice topped with caramelized onions. It came served with my choice of side, which will always be baba ghanoush for me.
It was a very impressive meal. I couldn’t tell you what spices were in it, but they came together for a savory dish that was delicious and complex in flavor. And the lentils were meaty in their function, proving to be extremely filling, especially with the portion size.
And the baba ghanoush is one of my favorite things anywhere. For the unfamiliar, it’s similar to hummus but instead of chickpeas, it’s made with roasted eggplant. I love the smoky flavor that comes through. Even though it’s served cold, it tastes warm and inviting.
While Julie’s horizons have also been stretched since we began the blog, she once again ordered the lamb kebabs. They were prepared very similar to how we remembered them with six or so large chunks of lamb skewered with layers of onions served atop a bed of rice. The meat was tender and flavorful and there was a delicious char on every savory piece. Overall, an excellent dish.
Julie opted for fattoush for her side. The tomato and potato salad was topped with crispy pita chips, which was a great little touch to add a crunchy element to the plate.
Neither of us were able to finish our entire meals. Neither was Jakob who got the kids chicken shawarma with rice. It was a full plate with a tzatziki sauce on the side for dipping or pouring over the meat. Aladdin does a very enjoyable shawarma and Jakob seemed to enjoy his.
And because we couldn’t resist, we also ordered a side of hummus for the table. We absolutely love their hummus. It’s so much fuller in flavor than the one-note store-bought kind. Maybe it’s the olive oil drizzle, maybe it’s something in the recipe. Either way, it’s a must-have if you go to Aladdin.
For our meals, the total was around $70. It’s not a cheap meal, but you’re also getting a lot of food for your money so it doesn’t feel outrageous at all.
The new owners are doing right by the Aladdin name, and we are certainly glad to have them here in Berks County.
BCE Rating Food: Excellent Service: Very Good Ambiance: Very Good Price: $$
Aladdin Restaurant 401 Penn Avenue West Reading, PA 19611
When I was working in King of Prussia, there were options when I wanted Mediterranean food – schwarma, falafel, kebabs, etc. In Berks County, those are rarities on our restaurant menus.
But I did find all of those and more at Aladdin Mediterranean Restaurant in West Reading.
Aladdin has been around since 2009 when the restaurant renovated a former gas station adjacent to the West Reading Diner (now Americana Diner). More than 10 years later, Aladdin is still going strong, as we found out on a recent Saturday night.
We arrived around 5:30, a little early for dinner, and found just a couple other tables taken in the dining room. Aladdin offers two dining areas. We were seated in a booth by the window in the standard dining room. It featured a large fireplace at one side with photos of beautiful coastal towns, musical instruments and other keepsakes from the old country adorning the walls.
The second room (on the right-hand side when entering the restaurant) has a completely different feel to it. Red curtains cover the windows behind a long row of cushioned bench seats with red and black throw pillows to support diners.
I didn’t remember until I did a little research that the building that currently houses the restaurant was formerly a Getty gas station. It certainly shows no signs of that today.
At our table, I was struggling to make a decision as I looked over the menu. Aladdin promotes itself as offering the “best quality Lebanese and Mediterranean dishes,” and there are a lot to choose from. The one easy decision was choosing an appetizer – Julie and I agreed on stuffed grape leaves.
I first discovered stuffed grape leaves at the annual Greek Food Festival. I really enjoyed them there. And I enjoyed them even more at Aladdin.
The stuffed leaves were shaped – and sized – like cigars and filled with rice and seasoned ground beef (a vegetarian option is available). The filling was very good; the beef had hints of many different seasonings and spices that I couldn’t immediately identify. The tangy leaves were done well, and it was a great beginning to the meal. Even Jakob, our often fussy two-year-old, ate his (the filling, at least).
Deciding on the main course was more difficult. Entrees at Aladdin include kebabs; schwarma; rack of lamb and lamb chops; various sautes and a range of vegetarian options. I settled on the chicken saute.
Though it sounds boring, it was anything but. The chicken breast was sauteed with green peppers, onion and tomato in a garlic sauce. I really enjoyed the olive oil-based sauce. It had enough garlic to really pop without overpowering the flavors on the plate. The tomatoes really stood out for me, too. They were diced and cooked so tender that they practically melted away. The tomatoes were like little bites of marinara sauce throughout the dish.
Many of the entrees, including both mine and Julie’s, are served with rice pilaf. The pilaf was lightly seasoned, but good. I did enjoy using it to soak up some more of the garlic sauce at the end.
Because that wasn’t enough food, the meal also came with a side: your choice of hummus, baba ghannouj, tabbouleh or fattoush.
I love baba ghannouj and was excited to try Aladdin’s version. I didn’t have to wait long as it was actually served as an appetizer along with a basket of pitas. Baba ghannouj, if you’re not familiar, it is basically hummus but it’s made with pureed eggplant as the base instead of chickpeas. It’s more moist than hummus, a texture I like better. I also prefer the flavor as it’s less nutty.
Aladdin’s version was everything I wanted it to be.
While this was my first visit to Aladdin, Julie has actually been there twice for business lunches. And she has had the same thing on each visit: lamb kebabs.
The skewers feature large chunks of lamb mixed with onions, served over rice pilaf and choice of two sides. Lamb meat is so rich; I always enjoy it. But while it was grilled, it picked up this nice char that trapped in even more flavor. It was very good, and I understand why Julie loves it so much.
For her two sides, Julie ordered tabbouleh and hummus. The hummus came on the plate with the kebabs. It’s a very good hummus, but I still prefer the baba ghannouj (that’s just me, though).
The tabbouleh actually arrived early as an appetizer. Tabbouleh is a Mediterranean salad that uses parsley as the base green. Aladdin makes theirs with cracked wheat, tomato, oil and lemon juice (with some lettuce thrown in).
It’s really flavorful. I think the lemon juice shines nicely giving the whole salad a bright citrus flavor. I would order the salad as an entree on a return visit.
Not knowing how Jakob would take to the cuisine, we played it safe and ordered him chicken fingers and fries off the kids menu. We hadn’t anticipated that he would fill up on grape leaves and tabbouleh before it even arrived. Though he did eat some, we brought most of it home for him to have later in the week.
We were all stuffed by the end of the meal and didn’t have room for the baklava sundae that we really wanted. We did splurge a little when we ordered rose tea for our drinks. The iced tea was given a little rose flavoring (I believe it was from a syrup). It was almost like sweet tea but with a little extra herbal flavor that we found refreshing.
I have to admit that the meal was more expensive than we had anticipated at $78. Part of that was our rose tea ($4 each) and also the fact that we ordered an appetizer ($12). The entrees were $22 and $25, respectively. When you look at the portion sizes, though, I didn’t feel cheated at all.
Aladdin’s food is serving a niche here in Berks County, and I’m glad for it. The next time I have a craving for baba ghannouj, I know where to turn.
BCE Rating Food: Very Good Service: Very Good Ambiance: Very Good Price: A Little Pricey
Aladdin Mediterranean Restaurant 401 Penn Ave West Reading, PA 19611
