green plate with two big pancakes drizzled in lemon cream cheese with whipped cream on top
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Review: Quality Shoppe

exterior of the Quality Shoppe in Kutztown

Quality is a word you’ll see in the marketing materials of many restaurants, but in Kutztown, one restaurant puts it in their name. 

The Quality Shoppe is located off Main Street in the Dollar Tree strip mall on Constitution Boulevard. It takes up the corner space in the strip, the words Quality Shoppe over the door are the only hint that there’s a restaurant inside.

Quality Shoppe’s dining area is bigger than it looks like from the outside, partially because the grill is located at the counter service area at the front of the shop. The back half of the space opens into a dining room with booths lining the walls on both sides and tables spread out in between. 

long wooden table with eight wooden chairs in the dinring room of the Quality Shoppe in Kutztown

My first visit was for breakfast. We were seated at a booth not far from the counter seating at the front of the restaurant. The service was quick – it has to be because the food is coming in and out of the kitchen in a hurry. 

The breakfast menu is fairly extensive but rooted in traditional diner favorites like pancakes, eggs, and French toast. But within each there is plenty of variety plus daily specials. 

green plate with two big pancakes drizzled in lemon cream cheese with whipped cream on top

One of the daily specials on my visit was lemon cheesecake pancakes – a dish that sounded so sweet that I couldn’t resist. 

Two heaping pancakes arrived topped with creamy cheesecake frosting, lemon sauce and a large helping of whipped cream on top. I immediately regretted ordering a side of potatoes, but I did not regret getting this sweet treat. 

The lemon sauce had the sour notes you expect, but mixed with the incredibly sweet cheesecake and whipped cream, it wasn’t overpowering. In fact, they balanced out very well. Quality Shoppe does these special cheesecake pancakes and French toast often and I would definitely try another flavor in the future. 

white plate with home fried potatoes and strips of bacon

I mentioned the side of homefries. While I should not have had them, I was almost glad to have something non-sweet just to break up the sweetness bite after bite. They were good, too. They had a nice crispy edge to them. Nothing fancy, just a diner staple done really well. The same could be said about the crispy bacon strips. These came with the pancakes – though they were also completely unnecessary with how large the stack was. 

I finished most of my meal, which totalled around $18 with a drink. 

The next time I stopped in at the Quality Shoppe, in early May, it was lunchtime. Like breakfast, the lunch menu is mostly no-frills diner food with a few daily and weekly specials. There are sandwiches, wraps, burgers, and entrees. 

round blue plate with a burger top bun off topped with cheddar and BBQ sauce and a side of fries

I decided on a burger for my meal – the Texas BBQ burger to be specific. It came topped with fried onions, cheddar cheese and barbecue sauce. 

It’s not the fanciest burger you’ll find in Berks County, but it was good. The BBQ sauce was simple but did the job to give that little bit of smokey sweetness. 

All of the burgers come in either four-ounce patties on a regular roll (like mine) or an eight-ounce on a Kaiser roll. The four-ounce burgers also come with a side of fries, which I really liked. They’re fresh-cut and sliced thin. And there was no skimping on the portions. 

The burger meal was actually a really good deal: it was less than $10 (my drink put it over that mark) and like all good diners, it came out quickly, which is exactly what I’m looking for at lunch time. 

I would say that breakfast was my favorite of the two, but for a reasonably priced meal, good service, and quality food, the Quality Shoppe is a great option. 

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

Quality Shoppe
45 Constitution Blvd
Kutztown, PA 19530

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square plate with a crepe topped with blueberries and a cream drizzle
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Review: PA Dutch Farmers Market of Wyomissing

view of an aisle at Wyomissing Farmers market with white tile floors, seats to the left, and coffee beans in glass jars on display to the right

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. 

Indoor farmers market stand with food in warming trays behind a glass display

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. 

overhead photo of a paper plate with three compartments - one with pot roast, one with mashed potatoes, one with green beans

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. 

overhead photo of a paper plate with three compartments, one with three chicken fingers, one with potato wedges, and one with roasted carrots

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: $

indoor farmers market stand with a counter that is filled with stuffed pretzels

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. 

soft pretzel log on a piece of alumnimum foil with a cup of iced tea

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

white plate with an egg omelette, hash brown, wheat toast and two strips of bacon

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. 

overhead view of a plate with blueberry pancakes

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: $

menu page that reads "Crepe corner" with pictures of crepes

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. 

square plate with a crepe topped with blueberries and a cream drizzle

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: $

trays of donuts behind a glass display case

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

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Original Post: January 2014

Woman in Amish dress serves a customer at the counter of the Sunrise Grille

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.

plate with pulled pork, green beans and carrots

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.

sausage sandwich topped with onions, peppers and barbecue sauce

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.

plate of French toast with a side of homefries

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

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Review: BeBe’s Kitchen

building on a green lawn with a sign out front that reads "BeBe's Kitchen"

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. 

tall windows with curtains that are tied to hold them open

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. 

scrambled egg with ham and peppers topped with cream chipped beef on a plate with two half slices of toast

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. 

plate with three silver dollar pancakes, two sausage links and a cup of Mott's applesauce

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. 

bowl of macaroni and cheese with light yellow cheese sauce

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. 

jar filled with red sand with small toys poking out of the sand

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. 

club sandwich with turkey and bacon cut in two with a blue bag of potato chips

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). 

whitei wall with red brick fireplace and a mantle filled with knickknacks

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

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Cottage Bakery & Cafe

exterior photo of Cottage Bakery & Cafe in Kutztown with two round tables with red and white checkered tablecloths

Kutztown’s Main Street continues to grow. There are so many more options than there were in 2005 when I took my first class at KU. 

And I would argue the options are better today than ever. One of the newer arrivals that I’ve come to enjoy is the Cottage Bakery & Cafe. 

The Cottage opened in the fall of 2023, taking over a corner spot at Main Street across from Letterman’s Diner. 

bakery case filled with cookies and cupcakes at the Cottage Bakery in Kutztown, PA

On my first visit to the Cottage, I found it to be a quaint place. The restaurant offers counter service with limited seating – mostly tables for two, in the narrow storefront. The tables were covered in the red and white checkered tablecloths with matching tabletops on the outside bistro seats. 

The menu is large and varied. At breakfast, they offer pancakes, French toast, omelets, sandwiches, and more. At lunch – which is when I visited – it’s salads, wraps, and sandwiches, but seemingly in endless numbers. This includes regular sandwiches and double-decker stacked sandwiches. 

plate sitting atop a red and white tablecloth. On the plate is a chicken wrap cut in half with a side of crinkle fries

I opted for a chicken Caprese wrap, which was one of the weekly specials. The wrap started with shredded chicken and included mozzarella, salad greens, and a cup of balsamic for drizzling. 

First, I appreciated that the balsamic was served on the side. I enjoy the flavor of balsamic in small doses, and I was able to pour out exactly how much I wanted. 

Second, I love the addition of chicken to Caprese. I don’t order Caprese salads often because I feel it’s too much like just eating mozzarella. With the chicken, it felt more balanced. And the addition of the savory notes really helped pull everything together. It was definitely something I would order again if I saw it on the menu. 

On the side were crinkle fries. They were golden and crispy, exactly how you want crinkle fries to be served. With a little salt, they were perfect. I didn’t need to eat all of them, but I did anyway because they were so good. 

white plate with a chicken sandwich on brioche roll with top off and a side of fries

My meal was impressive enough that found myself back at the Cottage the following week. This time, I ordered the grilled chicken sandwich on brioche. It was an excellent sandwich with Gouda cheese. Gouda is one of my favorites because of its mix of smokiness and creaminess, and it just played perfectly with the seasoned chicken breast. Another item I would absolutely order again. 

Prior to the Cottage, the location had been home to a donut shop for years, most recently Donut Lovers Boom, and before that, the Frying Dutchman. 

small round dark blue plate with three cupcakes on top with various forsting colors

While the Cottage doesn’t have donuts, they do have delicious baked goods like cakes and cupcakes. On my first visit, I bought three cupcakes to take home to the family: German chocolate, chocolate peanut butter, and chocolate vanilla. All were very good. The German chocolate was mine. Topped with a nutty-sweet topping, it was decadent and delicious. 

The building, itself, was showing its age a little during my second visit. There was no air conditioning, just a fan in the corner to help ease the summer heat. 

Other than that, my meals were enjoyable, especially when it came to the food and the price. The sandwich specials were around the $10 mark, perfect for lunch, especially given the quick service. 

At some point, I’ll get to Kutztown early so I can give the Cottage a try at breakfast, but until then, I will definitely enjoy their lunches when I can. 

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

The Cottage Bakery & Cafe
236 W. Main Street
Kutztown, PA 19530

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plate of French toast topped with cinnamon swirl with a smaller plate of red skin potato homefries
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Review: Annamarie’s on Main

strip mall storefront with a sign that reads "Annamarie's" with tables and chairs out front

When I was working in King of Prussia, I had heard a lot about Annamarie’s Place in Royersford. By that point, the restaurant was 20 years old, cash-only, and had long since been known for its incredible breakfasts. Unfortunately I never had the opportunity to make it to Royersford for a taste.

Thankfully, Berks County has its own Annamarie’s now. Annamarie’s on Main opened in Birdsboro in early 2023, taking over the location that most recently housed Susie Q’s Breakfast & Lunch Cafe. Other restaurants that have come and gone from the space include Dino’s Wings & Things and the Maple Springs Café.

dining room full of tables for four with a large mural of a tree on the far wall

Julie and I visited the café for breakfast in May, making the short drive to Birdsboro after dropping Jakob off at daycare. We were the first customers to arrive and were seated toward the rear of the dining room.

I’m not sure how much work was done by Annamarie’s or how much was done previously, but the dining room was extremely inviting with wooden tables and chairs and brick accents on the interior walls. An oversized black and white photo of a tree loomed large on the opposite wall.

The breakfast menu for Annamarie's on Main

Our server was providing training to a new staff member so we had double the attention during our meal. They were at the table quickly, but with a large menu, we had to tell them to come back for our food order.

There are a seemingly endless number of omelets, French toast, pancakes, waffles and breakfast sandwiches to choose from, along with a laundry list of sides. Ultimately, I decided on the cinnamon swirl pecan stuffed French toast with a side of homefries.

plate of French toast topped with cinnamon swirl with a smaller plate of red skin potato homefries

The French toast came out stacked with one atop the other, but slightly askew (there was an option to get three slices, but I stuck with two).  Where the two came together was a swirl of cinnamon-sugar sticky bun filling that was drizzled on top with pecans and powdered sugar.

One look at it and I knew there was no need for the bottle of syrup that was on the table. It was sweet enough without it, though not overly sweet. The cinnamon-sugar filling had a deeper flavor than I was expecting, but one that I enjoyed, especially when mixed with the nuts.

Did I need the homefries? No. But I couldn’t resist giving them a try and was glad that I did. The homefries were made with red skin potatoes which, in my mind, make any potato dish better. They were cooked to the perfect soft inside with just a little texture on the outside. Next time, I would look for a smaller main dish and definitely order the potatoes again.

blueberry pancakes with poppyseeds from Annamarie's on Main

Because I went French toast, Julie ordered pancakes – lemon ricotta blueberry poppy pancakes. For me, these were the best that we got between us. I especially love the pairing of the tart lemon with the slightly sweet ricotta. Adding the fresh blueberries on top made it even better. Julie gave me a taste, and I stole a few more bites at the end, too, because it was so good.

Overall, Annamarie’s provides a good value. Both my French toast and her pancakes were more specialty items, but even with the homefries we spent less than $25 between us. And you could easily spend less. A plain pancake (which the menu warns is the size of three pancakes in other places) is less than $6 for a single. The highest priced item on the breakfast menu is a Cajun shrimp benedict that comes in at $16.99.

I may not have made it to the original Annamarie’s yet, but I’ve now been to Annamarie’s on Main. And I can say that for me, it lived up to my expectations.

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

Annamarie’s on Main
339 W Main St
Birdsboro, PA 19508

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Classic diner counter seating at Airport Diner in Kutztown
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Review: Airport Diner in Kutztown, PA

outside of Airport Diner in Kutztown

When I was attending Kutztown University, the Airport Diner was one of my favorite places. The food wasn’t outstanding, but where else could I get French toast at midnight? 

Of course, everything changes. I no longer seek late-night breakfasts. And even if I wanted one, I wouldn’t find it at the Airport Diner. The restaurant has changed hands since I was in school and it’s no longer open late. 

But APD, as we affectionately called it, is still very much a classic diner. 

Classic diner counter seating at Airport Diner in Kutztown

We visited for a family meal and found it much like I remembered it. There was the old-fashioned counter surrounded by stainless steel inside the diner car. And there was the larger dining area with both tables and booths. 

A small vase with a flower sits on the window sill overlooking an open field at Airport Diner

The host sat us in a booth by the window overlooking a grassy area with criss-crossing macadam paths of the now-defunct airport. (Only the helicopter pad used for emergency medical transport is still used). 

We were there at lunchtime, and while breakfast is served all day, it’s a more limited menu in the afternoons so we all ended up ordering from the lunch and dinner options. 

Plate with a burger topped with feta cheese and fries from Airport Diner in Kutztown

I had the Greek burger. It came topped with feta with a cup of tzatziki on the side. I thought it was a solid burger – not my favorite burger I have had, but enjoyable, nonetheless. And it was plenty big, a solid quarter-pounder. 

The fries were your average diner fries, fast-food style but a little thicker. I certainly didn’t leave any when I was done. 

plate with a wrap and fries from Airport Diner in Kutztown

Julie opted for tuna, one of her favorites, on a wrap. It was wrapped with Swiss cheese, lettuce and tomato. The wrap, itself, was good. It was grilled slightly to give it a crisper outside. It was a good wrap, exactly what you’d expect from a diner. 

bowl of macaroni and cheese from Airport Diner in Kutztown

Of course Jakob had to have a kid’s portion of mac and cheese. It’s called the Spiderman on their menu, and that just happens to be Jakob’s favorite superhero, to go along with his favorite food. It was basically a bowl of Kraft mac and cheese, but he happily slurped down every last noodle so I guess we can’t complain. 

The total for our meal was around the $30 mark, and I certainly won’t complain about that. 

The Airport Diner is not the same as it was when I was in college, but neither am I. But we had a good meal at a great price, and in the end, that means a lot for us today. 

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

Airport Diner
15110 Kutztown Road
Kutztown, PA 19530

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Review: Pop’s Malt Shoppe

The stone exterior of Pop's Malt Shoppe in Kutztown

Who wants ice cream in the cold of winter? This guy.

I’ve never believed ice cream to be a summer-only treat. It’s year-round goodness. Especially on special occasions – like when mommy has to go away for work and leaves daddy home alone with a two-year-old.

But where to get ice cream – and a meal – in January? One option is Pop’s Malt Shoppe in Kutztown.

Red and white leather booths against a pink wall covered in retro signs in Pop's Malt Shoppe's dining room

Pop’s Malt Shoppe takes on the look and feel of a 50s/60s diner and soda fountain: the checker board floor, the red tables with stainless steel accents, the Elvis music playing through the speakers.

It’s not a unique concept in Berks County – Bel-Air in Bechtelsville and Scoupe DeVille in Birdsboro both have similar concepts. But unlike those, Pop’s is open year-round. So even when there’s snow on the ground and the temperatures are below freezing, Pop’s is open.

A close-up of the retro signs and a mirror on a pink wall in Pop's Malt Shoppe

That was one of the reasons I decided to stop in on a Sunday night in January – that and the fact that they had recently posted about their newly renovated dining area. It was just Jakob and I, and it took him a few minutes to realize where we were. “Ice cream shop?” he asked. My two-year-old is obsessed with our collection of Curious George books, including Curious George Goes to the Ice Cream Shop. I guess Pop’s has a look that’s easily recognizable.

Julie and I had actually never visited Pop’s while we were students at Kutztown. But we did stop in for ice cream a few years ago.

Jars of ice cream toppings in front of a chalkboard with toppings listed on it
Photo from 2016 visit to Pop’s

We were only in the take-out area, but it still had the same vibe as the dining room with pink walls covered in retro signs.

The cookie monster sundae featuring chocolate chip cookies, whipped cream and a cherry in a to-go cup
Photo from 2016 visit to Pop’s

On that visit, we both ordered sundaes: a brownie sundae and a cookie monster sundae. The latter featured Pop’s fresh-baked cookies with choice of ice cream. Photos of fresh-baked cookies have been a staple on Pop’s social media accounts and taste as good as they look – especially with ice cream.

A brownie sundae featuring brownie bites, whipped cream and a cherry in a to-go cup
Photo from 2016 visit to Pop’s

Similarly, the soft, chocolatey brownies were baked in-house as well. It’s a nice touch that helps to set Pop’s apart from other places.

For Jakob and I, ice cream would have to wait until after dinner.

Pop’s food menu is what you would expect – burgers, dogs, a handful of sandwich options, lots of fried foods and salad, in case you want to feel a little less guilty about that ice cream afterward.

A sloppy Joe sandwich, pile of fries and a cup of ketchup on checkered paper

I decided to order Pop’s homemade barbecue sandwich with fries. It was a standard sloppy Joe – ground beef with onion and tomato mixed in with a little barbecue sauce. The roll was smaller than I was expecting, though that could have just been from its obvious trip to the panini press. It was good, but nothing to write home about. The meat was falling out of the bun so it was still a hearty meal, too.

The fries were good, as well. They were crinkle-cut and done well, though I needed to add a little salt for some extra flavor.

A sloppy Joe and fries with a cup of ketchup served on checkered paper atop a melted vinyl record plate

One cool thing that I only picked up on because I heard another table mention it is that the food is served on plates made of melted vinyl records (or at least are made to look that way).

A kids meal featuring Half a grilled cheese sandwich served in a 3D cardboard paper Ford Fairlane classic car

Jakob’s meal also arrived in style. Kids meals are served in paper models of classic cars, and Jakob’s grilled cheese and mac and cheese bites cruised in on a Ford Fairlane.

Close-up of Half a grilled cheese sandwich served in a 3D cardboard paper Ford Fairlane classic car

He enjoyed the grilled cheese. The kids meal is actually a half sandwich using a single slice of bread which actually works out well because it means less crust, which Jakob is currently rejecting.

Four fried mac and cheese triangles on checkered paper

But he certainly didn’t reject the mac and cheese bites. The meal came with four of them, and he happily finished them off without leaving a trace. They were a simple, kid-friendly side not unlike anywhere else, but Jakob enjoyed them, and that’s all that mattered to me in the moment.

With our meals finished, I couldn’t resist ordering us a treat (this is what happens when dad is left in charge for the night). We got a soft-serve sundae with Oreo cookies, strawberries and chocolate syrup (plus the obligatory whipped cream and cherry on top).

An ice cream sundae with vanilla soft-serve ice cream topped with chocolate syrup, strawberries, Oreo cookie crumbles, whipped cream and a cherry

It was wonderful. The vanilla soft serve was nice on its own, but the toppings are what made it. There were 22 toppings to choose from so narrowing it to three (the first topping is free, the rest are 50 cents each) wasn’t easy, but they were all good decisions.

There wasn’t an overwhelming amount of any single topping.  The Oreos were concentrated on one side and the strawberries on the other so every bite was a little different, but no less enjoyable. The ice cream was easily the best part of the meal.

During our visit, the dining room was filled mostly with college students (a few had family members with them) returning for the spring semester, but Pop’s is certainly a family friendly destination in the college town. The price is right for a family meal as well. With dessert, it was about $25.

Our service was good as well. Two different waitresses helped us at different times as they worked as a team to cover a fairly busy dining room. At one point one of them apologized for the wait and said there was a mix-up with my meal. I honestly would not have even known because it was only about 15 minutes from the time we ordered until the food arrived.

It wasn’t a gourmet meal, but it didn’t need to be. We were there for the ice cream, and that didn’t disappoint.

BCE Rating
Food: Fair
Ice Cream: Very Good
Service: Very Good
Ambiance: Very Good
Price: Reasonable

Pop’s Malt Shoppe
208 W. Main St
Kutztown, PA 19530

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An order of chicken Paremsan, featuring an extra large chicken breast topped with red sauce on a bed of spaghetti, from Temple Family Restaurant.
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Review: Temple Family Restaurant

A view of the entrance to Temple Family Restaurant.

I have always enjoyed a good diner, but I’ve found that I appreciate them even more since becoming a father because I know they are a safe bet for a night out with my son.

Diners always have plenty of seating (including high chairs), the service is quick and there are always kids options on the menu.

So when we were struggling to decide on a place to go for a family dinner on a Sunday in December, my mind went to diners. And that’s how we ended up at the Temple Family Restaurant.

A view of Temple Family Restaurant's large dining room, featuring tables, booths and blue accent lighting at the ceiling.

It had been years since Julie and I last visited Temple Family Restaurant – at least five because we hadn’t been back since Berks County Eats became a thing. We had always enjoyed it, but with so many places to visit, it had fallen off our radar.

Julie, Jakob and I arrived around 5 p.m. and found the restaurant to be busy, but not crowded. The dining area is very large with booths lining every wall and free-standing tables in the middle.

Our waitress was very attentive, arriving at our table within moments of being seated. She was happy to help as we worked to keep Jakob occupied – providing us with an extra menu for him to entertain himself with and also ensuring that his applesauce arrived with our salads.

Mixed greens topped with croutons, cheese and red onions, served with a side of Ranch dressing at Temple Family Restaurant

The menu is large and varied, but all of the “American Classics,” “Pasta Specialties,” and “Steaks and Chops” are served with a choice of soup or salad.

The salads were simple, mostly greens and croutons topped with shredded cheese, onions, green pepper slices and cherry tomatoes. It also came with more than enough salad dressing – at least twice as much in the cup than we usually see with diners.

A pair of dinner rolls in a basket with 10 packets of butter

Our meals were also served with fresh rolls and butter. The rolls were served warm and were very good. They also came with a pile of butter packets (I think I used half of a packet for mine).

For my entree, I chose the chicken croquettes. I have always enjoyed the fried chicken dish, but it’s not something I order very often. I was, however, very glad that I ordered it here.

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

The croquettes were delicious. The breading was nicely seasoned and the chicken had a great flavor to it. And as simple as it was, the bed of mashed potatoes the croquettes were served on were a perfect complement. And the croquettes were huge. I decided to save one for later rather than overdoing it at the restaurant.

Was it a steak dinner at a five-star restaurant? Absolutely not. Was it delicious comfort food? Absolutely.

Not taking the time to study the menu as much as I should have, I ordered potato filling as a side – even though the meal already came with mashed potatoes. (Full disclosure: when I was a teenager, I would do this on purpose when we went to diners. That was not the case here). The filling was fine, but nothing special. I actually enjoyed the mashed potatoes a little bit better.

An order of chicken Paremsan, featuring an extra large chicken breast topped with red sauce on a bed of spaghetti, from Temple Family Restaurant.

Julie had ordered the chicken Parmesan (both of our meals were listed as “homemade” in the menu and had pictures to further sway us on our decisions). It, too, was very good. The chicken breast had a crisp breading on the outside. The sauce was a little sweet and a little thicker than some places. But I thought it all came together very well.

And it was also huge. The chicken breast covered nearly the full length of the oblong plate. Julie didn’t even attempt to finish the whole thing, bringing home half for a later meal.

Her meal also came with a slice of garlic toast. It was not as good as the dinner roll. I thought it tasted more like Texas toast. Either way, it was completely unnecessary given the size of the chicken breast and the fact that we already had bread at the table.

The kids personal pan pizza at Temple Family Restaurant

The kids menu isn’t huge, but there are enough choices to keep most children happy. Jakob was pleased with his personal pan pizza. It didn’t look like anything I would eat, but Jakob finished every bite so I guess it served its purpose well.

He did not want his applesauce, though, so I ended up giving him my buttered corn, which he happily ate for me.

A small cup of rice pudding topped with whipped cream and dusted with cinnamon from Temple Family Restaurant

At the end of the meal, having saved a little bit of room, Julie decided to splurge for some rice pudding for her and Jakob. It came topped with whipped cream and was dusted with cinnamon. Rice pudding is not my favorite – it’s a texture thing for me, mostly – but Julie loves it, especially at diners. Jakob didn’t have much interest in anything other than the whipped cream so I ended up eating most of his share.

We certainly got a lot for our money during our meal as our two entrees, kids meal and rice pudding cost us $31.

It was an enjoyable meal, and kid-friendly at that. Mommy, daddy and Jakob all enjoyed our food and were happy with our decision.

Diners are once again moving to the forefront for me. And Temple Family Restaurant has earned a place near the top of our list.

BCE Rating
Food: Good to Very Good
Ambiance: Good
Service: Very Good
Price: Very Reasonable

Temple Family Restaurant
4949 N. 5th Street Hwy
Temple, PA 19560

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cinnamon french toast with icing with a side of corned beef hash in the background
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Review: Crossroads Family Restaurant

sign along Route 61 near Reading, PA that reads "Crossroads Family Restaurant"

At the intersection of Routes 222 and 61 is one of Berks County’s busiest diners.

The stainless steel exterior of Crossroads Family Restaurant can’t be seen from 222, but driving north or south along Route 61, you can’t miss the shining building with the packed parking lot.

entrance way to Crossroads Family Restaurant near Reading, PA

We visited on a recent Saturday morning and found the parking lot almost at capacity. Lucky for us there were a few select spaces left in the last row of the lot.

Crossroads is the quintessential diner. Rows of booths and tables span the large dining area. Two private rooms – one on either side of the building – are separated by glass windows. We watched as one of the rooms emptied out, and the windows were slid along a track in the ceiling to open up the space for more seating.

bakery counter at Crossroads Family Restaurant near Reading, PA

Despite its size, Crossroads had no problem filling the tables on this Saturday morning. We had a five minute wait when we arrived at 8:30, but as many people as were beginning to wait, just as many people were filing out to pay at the register, which was flanked on either side by cases full of tempting cakes, pies and baked goods. Behind the register, I was surprised to see a fully stocked bar.

After our brief wait, we were led into the main dining room where Julie and I sat at a booth with Jakob next to us, car seat atop a high chair. As usual, Jakob was the center of attention, with waitresses and other staff stopping by to take a peek at the four-month-old with us.

pile of creamer cups and a pourer of breakfast syrup

We perused the robust breakfast menu: skillets, French toast, pancakes, waffles, eggs and an array of sides. I joked about going big with my side and ordering the 14-ounce ham steak (no joke, this is a real side dish. As is the eight-ounce black diamond steak).

I still went big, opting for the L.A. cinnamon roll French toast with a side of corned beef hash.

plate of cinnamon French toast topped with icing and powdered sugar

You may remember my cinnamon roll French toast from Jukebox Cafe in Boyertown where I enjoyed an actual cinnamon roll that was made a la French toast. This was different: two thick slices of cinnamon swirl bread with a vanilla glaze.

The glaze was light – not a thick icing but a subtle glaze that provided enough sweetness that butter or syrup would have been overkill. The cinnamon toast itself was very good with big cinnamon swirls.

The L.A. cinnamon roll French toast is not one of the breakfast items that is available all day, which is a shame because it would make a great dessert.

On the side, my corned beef hash was more than I needed. The hash was tightly formed and cut in half. It was good if a little on the salty side (though in fairness, I think I’m much more sensitive to salt than most). I would have been satisfied with half the order, but I finished it anyway.

plate of eggs, homefries, wheat toast and bacon

Julie went with a more traditional breakfast of eggs, potatoes, toast and bacon. While she enjoys all of the above, she ordered it specifically for the homefries, which she requested deep-fried.

After visiting Crossroads several times with some of the ladies from our church, Julie had learned of the deep-fried homefries and couldn’t wait to order them. The deep-fried potatoes were crispier and more flavorful than if they had been pan-fried.

The combo meal was only $5.95 so Julie didn’t feel so guilty about leaving a couple slices of toast.

Both of us ate enough at breakfast to skip lunch so I would say the $20 we paid (I had a $2 orange juice on the bill as well) was more than fair.

It was my first visit to the restaurant, and I left impressed and full. There’s no doubt that Berks County has no shortage of places to grab a good breakfast, and Crossroads is definitely among them.

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

Crossroad Family Restaurant
4643 Pottsville Pk
Reading, PA 19605

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Hawaiian bread French toast with breakfast potatoes
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Review: Brooks Cafe

strip mall storefront with a sign that reads "Brooks Cafe Breakfast and Lunch" in Douglassville, PA

It’s not often that Julie and I get to go out for breakfast.

During the week, my commute to King of Prussia is a major hindrance to enjoying a morning meal together so we end up going out for dinner much more often.

So we usually reserve breakfast trips for weekends and holidays. And on Labor Day, with Julie and I hosting dinner, we decided to treat ourselves to breakfast.

We needed a restaurant that was open, and one that we hadn’t yet checked off our list. The name at the top was Brooks Cafe.

black dry erase board with mult-colored specials

Brooks Cafe is tucked in a strip mall along westbound 422 in Douglassville. The location was formerly home to Don Julio Mexican Restaurant (whose logo still appears on the marquee along with Brooks’).

The breakfast-and-lunch joint took over the space in 2016 and has made it their own. Posters and portraits of Audrey Hepburn in her famous Breakfast at Tiffany’s style cover the walls around the dining area.

dining area with paisley patterned booths on the sides and wooden tables in the middle

The dining room itself is much larger than expected. There is seating for at least 80 – fourteen tables, five booths and one combination of the two fill the room. Audrey watches over them all.

Also larger than expected: the menu. Breakfast is two full pages, with a wide selection of bowls, omelets, eggs, pancakes, waffles and French toast.

When I say a wide selection of French toast, I’m not just talking about toppings. I’m talking about French toasted croissants, banana nut bread, cinnamon buns, and my choice – Hawaiian bread.

Hawaiian bread french toast topped with shredded coconut, pineapple and yogurt

Brooks’ Hawaiian bread French toast featured three slices of Hawaiian bread (duh) topped with stripes of pineapple, toasted coconut and yogurt.

The meal was also served with a cup of pancake syrup that I found entirely unnecessary. Hawaiian bread has a sweeter flavor to begin. The pineapple – and to a lesser extent, the coconut – added to that. And the yogurt gave it the same consistency.

It was a filling and enjoyable start to the day – quite a pick-me-up.

small plate of homefries

Not being able to help myself, I also ordered a side of homefries. Everyone does homefries a little bit differently, and these were the kind that I like best – large slices of potato that are browned on one side and perfectly soft on the other.

While I always go for the French toast, Julie leans toward pancakes. And at Brooks, it was banana nut pancakes.

The pancakes had walnuts cooked into them with slices of banana and a dusting of powdered sugar on top.

Banana nut pancakes and bacon.

I always enjoy walnuts in pancakes – for both the flavor and the crunchy texture that they add. It contrasts nicely with the soft banana slices and melt-in-your-mouth pancakes.

Unlike me, Julie was not shy about adding syrup to her pancakes. Either way, they were also very good.

She also couldn’t resist an order of bacon. Crispy, savory bacon. There’s not much else to say about them.

The only other thing left to say about Brooks Cafe is that it is priced perfectly. We both had excellent breakfasts, left feeling full (too full for a real lunch) and spent less than $20.

Everything combined to make our first visit to Brooks one to remember.

And while Julie and I may not dine out for breakfast as often as we would like, Brooks is on my way to work. So I will definitely stop in again.

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

Brooks Cafe
1139 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy
Douglassville, PA 19518

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