The most underrated foodie destination in Berks County, hands down, is the City of Reading. There is such a diversity of culture and food, it really is incredible.
Cafe de Colombia stands out among Downtown Reading’s dining options.
The cafe opened in late 2020 at 645 Penn Street. It’s tucked back from the street, its entrance in the courtyard adjacent to the Santander building, just steps from the Reed & Court Garage where I paid $2 for an hour of parking at midday.
When I arrived around 12 noon, the restaurant was busy. Only a few tables remained but after placing my order at the counter, I was directed to the last table for two in the dining room where I waited for my food to arrive.
At the opposite end of the room was the cafe’s signature design element: a floor-to-ceiling recreation of a traditional facade of a home in Colombia, complete with veranda and porch accents in red, white and green.
The menu features a range of meal options including Colombian rice dishes and a unique hamburger, the haburguesa Columbiana topped with pineapple sauce, tartar sauce and Colombian pink sauce along with the usual lettuce, tomato and onion.
But the cafe was offering a great lunch special: a protein and two sides for $10. And I just couldn’t pass that up.
I ordered the carne asada with yellow rice and plantains, and about 10-15 minutes later, it was on the table in front of me.
It looked amazing, and it was. The steak was beautifully done – tender and juicy with a really nice flavor from the marinade. It was salty but also a little earthy from the herbs. I really enjoyed it.
The yellow rice was good, too, not too different from other yellow rice I’ve had, and the plantains were delicious, as expected.
It was a really delicious meal all the way around. Add on a mango juice that I grabbed from the fridge and the parking, and I still had lunch for less than $15.
Cafe de Colombia is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner so I’m thinking my next trip will be for breakfast.
But there are so many more places to visit in the city, too. And I look forward to trying as many as I can.
BCE Rating
Food: Very Good
Ambiance: Very Good
Service: Excellent
Price: $$
Cafe de Colombia
645 Penn Street
Reading, PA 19601
