We visited and reviewed more than 40 restaurants, food trucks, and farmers market stands in 2025. There were a lot of good meals, but some rose above the rest. Let’s take a look back at the cream of the crop. Here’s a look at our favorite things we tried in 2025, in no particular order:
Lamb and Rice – Zaytoon Kabob & Grill
Wyomissing
The opening of Zaytoon in Wyomissing brought fast-casual halal food to Berks County. And after my first bite, I immediately fell in love with their lamb platter. The meat is so tender and the white sauce is the perfect topping for it. Zaytoon is now a go-to lunch spot for me, and the lamb is my go-to meal.
Iron Bulldog Cheesesteak – Louie’s Kitchen & Bar
Flying Hills
Louie’s has found a spot among our favorite restaurants in Berks County because of its incredible burgers, but it was the Iron Bulldog cheesesteak that was the biggest hit with us. I sampled it at this year’s Wilson Iron Chef competition, then Julie and I headed to Louie’s for a date night where I couldn’t resist getting it again. It featured Louie’s cheese sauce plus a creamy mushroom rice mayo that took it from great to excellent. I wish it was on their regular menu, but in its absence, I’ll keep enjoying the caramel burger.
Rabbit Consomme – Riedenau House
Pop-Up Dinner
It’s hard to choose just one thing from the Riedenau House. The entire eight-course meal was spot-on perfect. But the one dish I can’t stop thinking about is the rabbit consomme. It featured dehydrated mushrooms, fried carrot, spring onion, fondant potatoes, and bacon lardon in a bone broth. The presentation was perfect – like a small forest in a bowl – and every bite of it was more delicious than the next.
French Dip – Rollie’s Place
Reading
Rollie’s Place is truly a cafe for everyone. It’s built with accessibility top of mind, but that doesn’t mean the food is an afterthought. The French dip sandwich was excellent. With Gruyere cheese and horseradish mayo, there were layers of flavor in every bite. It was one of the best takes on French dip that I’ve had. Oh, and the seasoned swirl fries are also excellent.
Apple Maple Bacon Panini – Rooted & Grounded Cafe
Kenhorst
One of about a dozen new coffee shops to open in 2025, Rooted & Grounded Cafe has a simple menu with featured paninis at breakfast and lunch. The fall special, an apple maple bacon panini, was a near perfect dish. Sweet apples with even sweeter syrup to match the savory bacon and cheddar made this one of my favorites.
Farmhouse Breakfast – White Magnolia Coffee Co.
Frystown
My favorite breakfast item of the year had to be the farmhouse breakfast from White Magnolia Coffee Co. in Frystown. The bowl featured seasoned home fries, scrambled eggs, sausage, bacon, cheddar cheese, sauteed peppers, and sauteed onions topped with garlic aioli and chives.The garlic aioli is what really brought this dish together and set it apart from other breakfast bowls. Frystown may be out of the way, but it was definitely a great find.
Risotto Trio – Midtown Sip. Savor. Social
West Reading
Midtown is the newest restaurant from the family behind Nonno Alby’s. The restaurant has a more refined menu and upscale vibe than their coal-fired pizza shop. On our first visit, I really enjoyed the risotto trio – three takes on risotto on one plate. My favorite of the three was the saffron and Crescenza. It’s a naturally soft cheese which I think helped make it the creamiest and thickest of the three risotto. The saffron just added a nice herbal punch to it.
Ultimate French Onion Soup – West Reading Motor Club
West Reading
What makes the French onion soup at West Reading Motor Club “ultimate?” Braised short ribs. Always delicious, the short ribs gave the dish a more savory appeal, though the whole thing was excellent: from the broth, to the cheese, to the French bread.
Pit Beef Cheesesteak – Henry P. Robeson House
Robesonia
The second cheesesteak to make the list, the pit beef cheesesteak from the Henry P. Robeson House is absolutely excellent. The pit beef adds its own unique flavor, but the Chetty Ale Sauce, their version of beer cheese, is what makes it such a great dish.
Pulled Pork Sandwich – Mountaintop Bistro
Bethel
I love good BBQ, and we found it at the Mountaintop Bistro in Bethel. Mountaintop Bistro is the on-site food truck at Bouchette Vineyards, and the speciality is smoked meats and smashburgers. It was the pulled pork that hooked me. The combination of perfectly done meat, hints of apple cider from the marinade, the whiskey BBQ sauce, and the crunchy coleslaw came together for a delicious meal. Don’t sleep on their fries, either.
