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

Barbecue Breakfast & Brunch Diners Farmers Market Meals Lunch & Dinner Reviews
the breakfast Bernville Special, potoates topped with egg and cheese sauce
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Review: Plum Creek Farm Market & Creamery

Order counter at a restaurant with a sign above that reads "the Creamery at Plum Creek"

If you’re a long-time follower of our blog, you’ve seen our family grow over the years. After Jakob was born in 2017, we started spending a lot more time at family-friendly restaurants. WIth the arrival of Lukas in 2023, we definitely try to make sure to find places that are great for kids. 

And it’s more than just seeking out the best kids menus. It’s visiting places where the food is good, the wait times aren’t bad, and we don’t have to feel guilty about having our kids heard and seen. 

One place that ranks near the top of our list these days is Plum Creek Market & Creamery in Bernville. 

We first visited Plum Creek in 2018 around the time it opened along Route 183 as a small market with a takeout window for hot food and ice cream. (See the original post below).

Inside seating area at Plum Creek Farm with leather chairs and a large fireplace

The market has only grown since then. In 2020, they opened a brand new space, half of it devoted to a true market with fresh produce, bulk foods, baked goods and prepared items, and half devoted to indoor seating for the creamery. 

child playing with sand toys in an outdoor playground at Plum Creek Farm.

Outside, Plum Creek now boasts a large play area with swings, slides and a sandbox full of shovels and trucks for digging. 

With the expansion came an expanded menu – more options for lunch, dinner and dessert. Then in 2024, Plum Creek added breakfast to its offerings. 

At first, it was only on Saturday mornings though they have now added daily breakfast. But it was on one of those early Saturdays when we made our first visit for breakfast. That’s when I had my first taste of their breakfast burrito that has kept me coming back. 

breakfast burrito cut in half and stacked one on top of the other to show the eggs inside

The burrito comes filled with your choice of meat (sausage for me), egg, cheese, and homefries. It’s delicious on its own – the inclusion of the crispy pieces of potato is excellent – but what makes it one of my favorites is the chipotle sauce. It has just the right amount of heat, and it really brings the whole dish together. 

It’s also the closest I can find to my all-time favorite from the former Squawk Cafe in Wyomissing. 

the breakfast Bernville Special, potoates topped with egg and cheese sauce

One of Julie’s favorite dinner items is the Bernville Special – pit beef over fries with barbecue sauce, cheese, scallions and sour cream. So of course she had to try the Breakfast Bernville Special. 

The breakfast version features a bed of potatoes topped with cheese, eggs, bacon and Hollandaise sauce (with scallions and sour cream). It’s a great skillet-type meal for those with a big appetite at breakfast – very hearty and full of flavor. 

plate with a large pancake next to a cup of syrup.

No breakfast menu would be complete without classics like pancakes, and that’s exactly what Jakob ordered. The thick pancakes are as wide as the plate and served with two per order – more than enough for adults, let alone a kid. But they are very good, nice and fluffy, and a worthy meal. 

Two milkshakes and a glass bottle of orange soda on a table at Plum Creek Farm

Of course, Plum Creek has stayed true to its roots, and we still enjoy stopping in for dinners, especially when we save room for dessert. Their Creamery treats, like their Twisters (their version of a Flurry or Blizzard), are always delicious. The regular menu has great options like Oreo and Peanut Butter, but watch for their monthly specials featuring their soft serve of the month. 

And for Jakob and Lukas, Plum Creek’s play area is the perfect place to get out some of that energy before dinner or after dessert. 

Food, fun, and family time: three things that all make Plum Creek one of our favorite spots. 

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

Plum Creek Farm & Market
5035 Bernville Road
Bernville, PA 19506

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Original Post: July 2, 2018

people lineup in front of two windows at a wooden building with the words "The Creamery" on digital menu boards

Last summer, my brother clued me in to a new ice cream place called Plum Creek Farm.

The small place had recently opened, and they were serving homemade soft serve ice cream. We checked it out and quickly fell in love with both the ice cream and the small farm market store.

Plum Creek operates seasonally so we got our last taste of it in the fall and awaited its reopening in April. This year brought an expanded menu of hot food items, new hard ice cream (not homemade but locally made) and more treats.

The hot food menu was definitely something we wanted to try. Last year, it was an evolving menu but it finally seems to be set, with sandwiches that include pulled pork, smoked sausage, pit beef and hot dogs; fresh-cut fries; homemade soups; and soft pretzels. (There are also salads if you want to save Calories for dessert).

Three digital menu boards above two order windows with a logo that reads "The Creamery" behind the menu items

We stopped by on a weeknight in early June and the line to order showed that the word is definitely out about Plum Creek.

It was a long wait for our dinners. That wasn’t the case for ice cream cones as an efficient ordering system had cones delivered before the customers even had paid. But for hot food, and for specialty desserts, it took time.

I stood and watched as cone after cone was handed off. Then a cup of soup. Occasionally, a sandwich. Finally, after what seemed like hours (it was probably 20 minutes), my name was called and our sandwiches were ready.

We dined at one of many picnic tables that make up the “dining area.” There are also Adirondack chairs, benches, all outside.

pulled pork sandwich topped with barbecue sauce

Maybe I was just really hungry, but from the first bite, I really enjoyed my pulled pork sandwich.

Now, I fully recognize that this pulled pork will never win a barbecue competition. But it was still very good. The sauce was sweeter than most, almost a little too sweet, but I think what really made the sandwich was Plum Creek’s seasoning. It was sprinkled on as the sandwich was constructed. The basic salt and pepper were there with additional spices. It wasn’t spicy, but it added little hits of flavor to every bite.

pit beef sandwich topped with cheese sauce and barbecue sauce

The seasoning was even better, in my opinion, on Julie’s pit beef sandwich. She thought it was a little salty, but I thought it worked.

Her sandwich was served with cheese (that’s the standard at Plum Creek; I opted for mine without). It’s not the norm for barbecue, but Julie enjoyed this change of pace.

Both sandwiches were served on Kaiser rolls that served their purpose, holding in all of the meat and sauce without crumbling.

clamshell package with fries

We both really enjoyed the side of fries that we shared. They most closely resembled the shoestring fries that you’ll find locally at Austin’s and Coastal Grille. The fries were cut very thin and short, making it easy to pick up a handful at once. And they came out piping hot – I can only assume this was what delayed our order.

Of course we couldn’t come to Plum Creek without getting ice cream. And even though we were comfortably full after dinner, we couldn’t resist trying some of their signature desserts.

clear plastic plate with a slice of shoofly pie topped with whipped cream next to a helping of vanilla soft serve

My sweet of choice was the pie a la mode. I chose the shoo-fly pie (strawberry is also available) and have to admit that I was a little disappointed in the pie. It drier than it looked with a rather plain crust. But the homemade vanilla soft serve was excellent. It’s a heavy ice cream that is better and more flavorful than your typical soft serve mix.

I probably would have been happier – and certainly more comfortable – had I just settled for a cone of vanilla.

cup with strawberry shortcake and ice cream topped with whipped cream

Julie was not disappointed with her strawberry shortcake, though she would also admit that she didn’t need that much food.

The shortcake was topped with strawberries (you can buy Plum Creek’s fresh-picked strawberries from their store), strawberry sauce, vanilla ice cream and whipped cream. Everything about this was excellent, but there’s just nothing better than fresh strawberries and a homemade strawberry sauce on a shortcake.

smiling baby wearing a monkey bib holding a stuffed fox

One downside of the way we did things was that we had to go through the line a second time. While Julie stood in line for dessert, I gave Jakob a bottle so it worked out. But we spent a long evening – and around $35 – at Plum Creek.

Last year, I could have argued that Plum Creek Farm was a hidden gem. But with long lines on an ordinary weeknight, I’d say the word is already out.

But those crowds won’t scare us away this summer, and they shouldn’t scare you away either.

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

Plum Creek Farm
5035 Bernville Rd
Bernville, PA 19506

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unrwapped foil paper with white lining holding a turkey panini next to a bag of chips and a glass of Cheerwine
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Review: Kirbyville Farm Market

windchime hanging down in front of a sliding door at the entrance to Kirbyville Farm Market

Berks County has long been known for its picturesque farmland. With it, comes some of the best farm stands and markets around. Some remain as roadside stands where passersby can pick up produce and flowers. Others have grown to become much more. 

One of those places is the Kirbyville Farm Market. 

Located along Route 222 just south of Kutztown, the Kirbyville Farm Market opened in the summer of 2019. Stepping through the front doors, the market opens up with produce, baked goods, and bulk foods spread out on wooden tables. To the left is both the cashier and the ice cream freezer where they are dipping hard ice cream. 

ice cream freezer with large sign showing cones and milkshakes at Kirbyville Farm Market

Toward the back and to the right is the deli and sandwich stand. Beyond that, a row of fridge and freezer doors leads to a coffee bar. Here you’ll also find a bakery case filled with fresh donuts and pastries. 

On my most recent visit, I was there specifically for a sandwich because it was my lucky day. Literally. Each week, the market posts on Facebook a name for each day to receive a free sandwich, and my name popped up on a recent Tuesday. 

deli counter at Kirbyville Farm Market

Kirbyville offers a range of options on the sandwich menu, including subs, wraps, toasted cheese, and paninis.

I opted for a build-your-own panini of turkey on wheat bread with Provolone cheese, lettuce, tomato, onions and ranch dressing. 

unrwapped foil paper with white lining holding a turkey panini next to a bag of chips and a glass of Cheerwine

It was an excellent sandwich, exactly what I was hoping for with plenty of meat and just the right amount of ranch to get that flavor throughout. It wasn’t huge, but it was large enough, especially with the bag of chips I grabbed. 

I rounded it out with a bottle of Cheerwine (the soda that Cherry Coke has always aspired to be). The meal would have cost just a little over $10, but with my free sandwich, I paid $3.50. 

top shelf of a bakery case with rows of donuts

As I mentioned, the market is more than their deli sandwiches. I have stopped a few times for donuts over the years. It’s a more limited selection than places like Becca’s or Dutch Maid that focus on donuts, but there is still some variety including Boston cream, peanut butter, cream filled, and glazed. They also offer sticky buns and other baked goods. Personally, I enjoy the simple sweet glazed donuts. 

small seating area with wooden wall on left and tables and chairs on both sides of an open aisle

Kirbyville offers limited indoor seating – it’s tucked along a narrow hallway behind the cashier counter with window seats overlooking the farm. But if it’s a nice day, consider taking your meal outside, especially if you have kids. 

large playground equipment with two slides in the middle and a set of three swings on the right side at Kirbyville Farm Market

The outdoor pavilion has plenty of covered seating and there is a large play area for the kids to enjoy before and after their meals. 

goat stares at the camera through a fence at the Kirbyville Farm Market

The seating and play area is also right next to the goat pen so it’s easy to make new animal friends during your visit. 

You won’t find a large menu or table service, but you will find some good food and good prices with a little of that roadside farm stand experience thrown in. All those things combined make the Kirbyville Farm Market a great place to grab a quick meal. 

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

Kirbyville Farm Market
14030 Kutztown Road
Fleetwood, PA 19522

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Farmers Market Meals Lunch & Dinner
A styrofoam container with a stir-fry, including chicken, carrot, green beans, onion and red and green bell peppers from Eve's Thai Kitchen
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Review: Eve’s Thai Kitchen

A look at the owners working behind the counter at Eve's Thai Kitchen

In the last two years, I have found myself more and more at the Shillington Farmers Market. The Farmers Market of Wyomissing – just a few blocks from our house – is still our go-to for our fruits, vegetables, meat and dairy, but it just can’t compare with Shillington when it comes to take-out meals.

Brocmar Smokehouse has been one of my favorites since it opened. Mi Casa Su Casa Cafe is always good. And we even enjoyed our simple breakfast we tried at the Market Cafe.

Last year, the market added a new stand that brought even more variety to the market: Eve’s Thai Kitchen.

The Specials of the Day sign at Eve's Thai Kitchen with menu items written in colored chalk

Eve’s Thai Kitchen opened in May, offering a selection of made-to-order dishes from southeast Asia. The menu is limited but still offers variety with both noodle and rice dishes and appetizers that include spring rolls, cheese rolls, soup and chicken satay.

Like most farmers market stands, Eve’s has a pretty simple setup. Guests order at the counter and wait, either hanging out until the food is ready or making a couple stops around the market while the food is prepared. Eve’s does have the advantage of having two dedicated tables with six chairs across the aisle.

Pineapple fried rice with chicken, broccoli and carrot from Eve's Thai Kitchen

I made my first visit to Eve’s back in August and was very impressed with both the service and my order of pineapple fried rice with chicken.

The dish is a great blend of savory and sweet. The pineapple is wonderful and the fruit definitely stars in the dish. But there are more hits of sweetness from the dried cranberries that were mixed in. Cashews added some crunch while the addition of broccoli and carrots both added color and made me feel less guilty about finishing the whole thing.

My first impression made me want to come back and try even more, but it took several months before I found time to return. This time, I brought along Julie and our little man, Jakob.

A styrofoam container of pineappel fried rice with shrimp and vegetables from Eve's Thai Kitchen.

Like me, Julie couldn’t resist the pineapple fried rice. But instead of chicken, she ordered hers with shrimp. And she enjoyed it just as much as I had. She had enjoyed the addition of the shrimp.

She shared everything with Jakob. While he refused the shrimp, he loved the rice and kept asking for more. He also liked the baby corn, which I hadn’t remembered from my order of the pineapple rice. The baby corn is a favorite of mine as well and was a nice addition.

For my second visit, I decided to try something different. On the specials menu, I saw a basil stir-fry. It included your choice of meat (chicken, for me), green beans, onion, carrots and bell peppers over white rice.

A styrofoam container with a stir-fry, including chicken, carrot, green beans, onion and red and green bell peppers from Eve's Thai Kitchen

It was very good and used fresh basil that gave the deep brown sauce a nice herby flavor. I enjoyed everything about it. I especially liked that it was served over white rice instead of fried. While fried rice is good, I always prefer white rice because it soaks up the flavor of everything around it so well. It makes for a much more complete dish, in my opinion, and in this case it allowed the basil sauce, chicken and vegetables to really shine.

Also, I should mention that Eve’s allows you to choose your level of spice: none, mild, medium, hot or Thai hot. Julie went with “none” while I went with “mild.” I didn’t find mild to be very spicy at all, but that doesn’t mean I’m brave enough to raise my spice level next time.

Our food didn’t take long either. Though it was obviously made fresh, it wasn’t more than 15 minutes before it was ready for us. And the price was right as well. Adding on two bottles of water, it was less than $25 for our meals.

On both of my visits, Eve’s Thai Kitchen really delivered with impressive food done well – and done quickly – at a very reasonable price (as you would expect at a farmers market stand).

And it fits in well at the Shillington Farmers Market, which has become a destination for great food here in Berks.

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

Eve’s Thai Kitchen
10 S. Summit Ave
Shillington, PA 19607

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Lo mein from San's Asian Food
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Review: San’s Asian Food

A row of chairs from San's Asian Food

In 2017, I got my first taste of 1 Potato Two and their signature spudwich. It was so unique – and delicious – that I named it one of my five favorite entrees of 2017.

The stand was still brand new at the Boscov’s Fairgrounds Farmers Market when I visited. Now, about two-and-a-half years later, 1 Potato Two is gone.

But the space has already been filled by San’s Asian Food.

San’s opened in August in the already crowded market, taking over the former site of 1 Potato Two at the Mall end of the Market. Unlike their predecessor, San’s has taken full advantage of a less-than-desirable space. A warming table and sushi cooler faces the main aisle. In the space between San’s and the next stand, they have added a pair of two-seat tables to complement the counter seating.

Warming tables filled with Chinese food entrees and sides from San's Asian Food

The new stand has a little bit of everything: a warming table with your standard Chinese food fare and rotating specials, a cooler filled with sushi (for those looking for a sushi review, I’m sorry. I am not a seafood fan so you would not want to hear from me), and a full menu to order from if you don’t mind waiting.

I made two visits to San’s – both for lunch – so I could get a better taste for their food.

Sesame Chicken and rice from San's Asian Food

On my first visit, I wanted to try the classics. Among the limited selections waiting on the warming table were General Tso’s chicken and sesame chicken, two of my favorites. I got the two-entree lunch combo with a side of fried rice.

The General’s chicken was interesting. Usually it’s a sweet and spicy dish, but this had more of a tangy flavor to it. It wasn’t bad – I actually did enjoy it – but it wasn’t what I was anticipating. Unfortunately the sesame chicken was a let down for me. There wasn’t much of a sauce, and what little I had didn’t have a whole lot of flavor. It wasn’t bad tasting, it just didn’t have much of a taste.

Sesame Chicken and rice from San's Asian Food

I did enjoy the rice, which had what seemed to be fresh vegetables in the form of carrots, peas and onions (there was also just a little bit of meat). It wasn’t flashy, but it was a good side.

Both entrees used real white meat chicken, which is something I really appreciated. I’ve cut into too many pieces of General’s chicken only to find a mix of processed white and dark meat. That was not the case at San’s, which set it apart.  

On my second trip, I changed it up and ordered teriyaki chicken and lo-mein.

Teriyaki chicken from San's Asian Food

All around, it was a better meal than my first visit. The chicken had a very good flavor to it – salty and a little sweet as expected from a teriyaki base. The actual meat, though, was the stereotypical “pieces” that you find most often with the dish. It brought it down a little bit for me, but again, the flavor was really strong – probably the best of the three chicken dishes that I tried at San’s.

Lo mein from San's Asian Food

I also enjoyed the lo mein. It was tossed with broccoli, cabbage and other vegetables. The noodles were good and I enjoyed all of the vegetables. It was simple, but good.

In addition to the warming table, San’s does have a full menu so you can order your meal fresh. With limited time on my lunch, I appreciated the ready-made meals. If I had more time – say at dinner – I would love to go back and see how much better the food would be if it was made fresh.

Also, the small prices are a big plus. The two-meat combo is less than $10 (the single is $7).

San’s may not have jumped to the top of my list for Asian food in Berks County, but that’s ok. It has some good offerings at a very good price. It’s also really convenient.

That’s the makings of a farmers market stand built to last.  

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

San’s Asian Food
Boscov’s Fairgrounds Farmers Market
2934 N. 5th Street Hwy
Reading, PA 19605

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Review: Allgyer’s BBQ Corner

Allgyer's BBQ Corner features two warming tables full of meats and sides.

A few years ago, I dedicated a month to exploring the Fairgrounds Farmers Market and trying some of the many restaurants and food stands that the crowded market offers.  But even with a few more visits thrown in, we’ve only covered about half the market.

When I started a new job in Muhlenberg Township, I knew that I would be spending many a Thursday and Friday in the market, revisiting meals from the past and checking off more places on my list.

One of the stands that I was anxious to try was Allgyer’s BBQ Corner.

Chipped meats, roasted potatoes, and baked beans are among the items available at Allgyer's.

Formerly known as the Country BBQ Corner, Allgyer’s sits next to Matt’s Coney Island near the center of the market. It’s a relatively large stand with two sets of warming tables holding an assortment of meats and sides.

I decided to make a pair of visits to the stand to get a broader taste of their offerings. On my first trip, I went with one of their dinner entrees – beef cubes.

Allgyer's served its beef cubes in a Styrofoam cup.

The cubes were served in a Styrofoam cup (either the server assumed I was taking it to go or she was afraid I wouldn’t find a seat and would need to take it to go).

Meals at Allgyer's are served with a dinner roll. They also offer fresh-brewed sweet tea.

It was packed with the chunks of roast beef of varying sizes. They weren’t bad, but I was hoping for a more tender meat. I had to use a knife to cut the larger pieces, not an easy task when they are in a cup. But the flavor was good, especially toward the bottom where the peppery spice had collected in the pool of juice. I would consider getting it again, but definitely not at lunch time, especially because it came served with two sides, a roll and a drink.

For my sides, I ordered carrots and potatoes.

The barbecue carrots were were rolled in aluminum foil to keep them hot.

The barbecue carrots were very similar to those that I’ve enjoyed at Fisher’s Barbecue at the PA Dutch Farmers Market of Wyomissing. They are my go-to at that stand, and I really enjoyed them here.

Instead of the standard fries or wedges, Allgyer's serves potato skins .

Allgyer’s potatoes were actually a little better than Fisher’s. Instead of cutting them into wedges or fries, they were cut more like potato skins so they had some size and depth to them. Fried up, they were still soft. They were probably my favorite part of this visit.

Two weeks later, I was back again. This time I was going to keep the meal a little lighter with a sandwich and one side.

Allgyer's pulled pork sandwich was topped with their homemade BBQ sauce.

The stand was advertising their new pulled pork sandwich with homemade barbecue sauce. I couldn’t resist.

It was a mixed bag for me. I liked the sauce – it was definitely on the sweeter side and very enjoyable. But the meat was otherwise dry. Instead of serving it with a cup of sauce on the side, my server put it on for me, and it wasn’t quite enough to overcome the dryness of the pork. If they had been tossed together or I had a little bit more sauce for dipping, I think it would have been a much better sandwich.

The sweet potatoes aren't much to look at, falling apart in the aluminum foil, but they were delicious.

But the sweet potatoes I had on the side made up for it. While they aren’t much to look at – so soft that they fell apart when wrapped in the foil – they were delicious. I love the flavor of sweet potatoes and Allgyer’s didn’t have to add much as far as seasoning. If I went back, it would be hard to decided between the regular and sweet potatoes for my side dish.

The best part of Allgyer’s, like many of the market stands, is the price. There’s so little overhead compared to a brick-and-mortar restaurant that stands can charge a much lower price. My two meals combined were less than $20.

Timing is everything with the line. Sometimes you have to take a number, othertimes you could be the only one at the counter and be served right away. I was lucky on both of my visits that I had no wait, leaving me plenty of time to find a seat and enjoy my lunch without having to rush to get back to the office.

Allgyer’s is another solid market stand, another piece of the diverse offerings at the Fairgrounds Farmers Market, and one that I would enjoy again.

BCE Rating
Food: Good
Service: Very Good
Ambiance: Fair
Price: A Bargain

Allgyer’s BBQ Corner
Fairgrounds Farmers Market
2934 N. 5th Street Hwy
Reading, PA 19605

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tray lined with brown paper with a boat of pulled pork, a boat of hush puppies, a cup of coleslaw and a pile of onions and pickles
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Review: Brocmar Smokehouse – CLOSED

farmers market stand with a red sign that reads "Brocmar Smokehouse"

Editor’s Note: Brocmar Smokehouse closed its Shillington Farmers Market location in August 2020. The stand is now home to Southern Side Kitchen.

One of the bigger stories in Berks County’s food scene last year was the sale of the Shillington Farmers Market.

Julie and I had visited the market about three years ago and were so disappointed in the offerings that we never went back.

But there’s a renewed energy around the market. New stands are opening, and old favorites like Betty’s Salads are returning.

Among the new stands to arrive is Brocmar Smokehouse. The barbecue business opened in the market in December after spending the summer building its brand at events around Berks County.

Reading Royals fans may already be familiar with the Brocmar name. Before opening their Shillington location, Brocmar got a head start, operating a small stand at the Santander Arena during Royals home games.

wooden barrel next to a wooden wall with a sign that reads "Brocmar Smokehouse"

But the Farmers Market takes the business to another level, giving the business a physical location, regular hours and a greater potential reach.

The Farmers Market hours make it difficult for us to get there for dinner, but an underwhelming snowstorm was enough to close my office and allow us to make it to Brocmar long before the market’s 6 p.m. closing time.

While the Farmers Market is certainly a step forward for the business, it doesn’t allow for much of a dine-in experience. There are only two round tables – enough to seat eight at the most.

As Julie and I looked over the menu board, a woman sitting at one of the tables said “everything here is good.” She was waiting for a take-out order, her third in three weeks from the Smokehouse, she said.

A father and son stood in front of us in line, a written order in hand that seemed to include one of everything on the menu. That was fine with us as it gave us plenty of time to settle on our choices.

Julie and I pulled up chairs at one of the tables with Jakob in the stroller next to us. Fifteen minutes or so passed before our food was delivered and we got our first taste of Brocmar.

Passing on turkey, sausage, chicken and ribs, I instead went with my favorite barbecued meat – pulled pork – topping it with the Cripple Creek sauce, one of Brocmar’s six housemade options.

tray lined with brown paper with a boat of pulled pork, a boat of hush puppies, a cup of coleslaw and a pile of onions and pickles

The sauce is a bourbon and brown sugar that’s bold and sweet, but not spicy. It really brought out the best in the pulled pork, which was tender with crispy charred ends that gave it a slightly crunchy texture.

It was a beautiful blend, and together the meat and sauce were a great combo.

On the side, I enjoyed an order of hush puppies and a cup of slaw.

While we were waiting for our food, we saw an order of hush puppies being carried across the market and back. I asked about it later. “The number one question we got when we opened was, ‘What are hushpuppies?’ but we now we sell them every day.” It turns out, Brocmar doesn’t have a fryer. Instead, they fry up the hush puppies at the cafe across the market.

That’s only part of the work that goes into one order of hush puppies. The deep-fried corn fritters are hand-rolled with fresh green onion. It’s all worth it though for what is a perfect accompaniment to the main course.

black plastic bowl with brisket topped with coleslaw

The coleslaw was also very good, but it was even better as part of the Brocmar taco, Julie’s entree choice for the evening.

Barbecue is one of those foods that just seems to work well as part of a more comprised dish. The Brocmar Taco is one of those dishes. It starts with a cornbread cake, then it’s topped with your choice of meat (brisket, for Julie), slaw and sauce.

There were a lot of flavors coming together. The cornbread – the taco “shell” – had a rich corn flavor. The brisket was tender and juicy. And the creaminess of the coleslaw soaked into every layer.

To top it off, Julie added the honey bee barbecue sauce, which added a sweetness and mild spice throughout. It all came together to create an excellent dish.

It was also a hearty dish that we were both surprised that Julie was able to finish. But for a reasonable $23, we weren’t too upset that there were no leftovers for later.

As a whole, Brocmar Smokehouse delivered. It was some very good barbecue that left us wanting to try even more.

And because of Brocmar, we will be back to the Shillington Farmers Market soon.

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

Brocmar Smokehouse
The Shillington Farmers Market
10 S. Summit Ave
Shillington, PA 19607

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Review: The Hot Spot

Farmers market stand with a sign that says "Scott's Hot Spot"

If you subscribe to the daily edition of the Reading Eagle, then you have likely seen the full-page advertisement for the Boscov’s Fairgrounds Farmers Market that runs every Wednesday.

Lately, I have been using it as a checklist and for inspiration for my blogs as I eat my way through the Farmers Market.

What caught my eye over the past few weeks was the note under the Scott’s Hot Spot section: “UNDER NEW OWNERSHIP”

Scott’s opened in 2010. A health issue forced the owner to close the stand for several months in 2015, but otherwise, it has been a staple in the market for seven years.

On April 12, the restaurant’s Facebook account announced the new owners: Roseann Rothenberger and Brian Miller, who are now running the stand and will soon rename it, “The Hot Spot.“

We decided to make it our latest Friday night stop on our Farmers Market odyssey.

The Hot Spot was certainly one of the busiest stands at the market, with a line to order and several people waiting at any given time. While we stood in line to order, we heard another customer complain about his order. “I said no onions on both,” was the cry before his food was remade.

Our food took a little while because of the line that had been in front of us. We probably waited 20 minutes before it was called and I could pick it up at the counter.

gyro with beef, tzatziki sauce and shredded lettuce on an unrolled foil wrap

My entree choice was Scott’s traditional gyro, one of the items that had been a staple at the stand (and spawned a catering trailer called Scott’s Gyro Box).

Gyros are not something that I order very often. My only other gyro in my Berks County Eats journey was from Cafe Sweet Street so I was excited for another taste.

I really enjoyed it, especially the salad base. It had a flavor that I couldn’t quite put my finger on, but it complemented the meat and tzatziki sauce nicely.

boat of fresh-cut red-skinned potato fries

It was also very filling to where I probably didn’t need my side order of fries.

But I really wanted those fries, especially after I saw that they were red-skinned potatoes.

I was slightly disappointed with them. Red-skinned potatoes have such a strong flavor compared to Idaho or russet potatoes, but the natural flavor of the red skins didn’t shine through as much as I had hoped.

For French fries, they were good. They were a little oversalted, but good. But I was hoping for more.

styrofoam container with a tuna melt and two slices of pickle

Julie was a little perplexed by her order. She got the tuna meltaway, but was surprised to find that it really wasn’t a true tuna melt.

While the bread was clearly toasted, the cheese and tuna filling were still cold. That’s not to say it was bad, but you can’t call something a tuna meltaway and then not melt the cheese.

tuna melt cut in half with the top of one removed to show the tuna and tomato underneath

Her sandwich was much smaller than mine, though she wasn’t upset by that. For her, it was just the right size.

Also, her sandwich was supposed to come with a bag of chips, but we never got them (she wouldn’t have eaten them with her meal, but we would have taken them home for later).

Overall, there was confusion at the stand, as would be expected of a new business. Because of the setup at the farmers market, you can see the kitchen very clearly and the three people behind the counter seemed to be stepping on each others toes, leading to small mistakes.

I fully expect things to get better, especially as the menu shifts with the new owners. For now though, it’s a little scattered.

One thing that is still good is the pricing. Our meals (plus two bottles of water) cost $20 and change. That’s one great thing about all of the stands at the market – there’s low overhead costs so the prices are generally lower than if you ordered a similar meal at a restaurant.

The new Scott’s Hot Spot, soon to be The Hot Spot, has the makings of a great stand. It’s just not quite there yet.

Hopefully it reaches its potential because I want to come back in a few months and enjoy something new.

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

The Hot Spot
Fairgrounds Farmers Market
2934 N. Fifth St. Hwy
Reading, PA 19604

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Review: Monte Lauro European Gourmet

Man standing at the order counter of a stand with a sign that says "Monte Lauro European Gourmet Foods

A trip to Fairgrounds Farmers Market can be overwhelming for the unprepared.

There are sixty stands inside the Fairgrounds Farmers Market and at least 20 of them offer dine-in meals or snacks.

Even for Julie and I, deciding where to grab our meal is a daunting task.

On a recent Friday evening, we arrived at the market not yet knowing where to go. We surveyed our options as we paced up and down all of the aisles, hoping that something would catch our eyes.

That something was Monte Lauro European Gourmet.

Menu board at Monte Lauro in the Fairgrounds Farmers Market

The flagship location for the deli is on Mount Laurel Road in Temple (Monte Lauro is Italian for Mount Laurel) and is open on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Sundays while the Farmers Market is open Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

One of the advantages that Monte Lauro has over other dining options is the common dining area across the aisle. On a Friday evening, when things are a little slow, there are plenty of seats to be had (you just may need to take a napkin and clean it yourself).

The selection is both limited and expansive at the same time, with eight cold sandwiches and five hot sandwiches, many of which are also available as paninis. There are also select salad options both as entrees and sides. The only other side available is French fries.

We placed our order, took our number and grabbed a seat. It was a short wait – maybe 10 minutes – until our number was called and I retrieved the tray.

Chicken cutlet sandwich with roasted peppers, cheese and broccoli rabe cut in two halves and sitting on a paper plate

For food being served on a cafeteria tray, it looked beautiful, especially my chicken cutlet sandwich.

Sliced in half, you could see the bright colors of the roasted red peppers and spinach that the cutlet sat upon.

I enjoyed the sandwich – particularly the roasted reds – but I wanted something a little more. The cutlet was OK, but nothing special, and I would have loved another slice of sharp Provolone.

Also, the roll was very good. It was heavy enough to soak up the juice from the roasted reds, but not too heavy to overpower the rest of the ingredients.

meatball Parmesan panini cut in half and sitting on black and white checkered paper

Julie’s homemade meatball panini looked just as good with beautiful grill marks on top, a hint of red from the marinara sauce and meatballs sliced perfectly for the grill press.

It was a good sandwich. The meatballs were solid though we’ve tried better. And I would have liked a little more sauce.

With little other choices, we decided to split a side of French fries to go with our sandwiches.

order of French fries inside a paper bag

The thin cut fries were in the traditional fast-food style: skins off, cooked to a shade of golden brown and served in a paper bag. They were good and certainly helped fill us up, which is all you can really ask for from an order of fries.

Overall, we enjoyed our meal at Monte Lauro. It was fast, it was tasty and it was right around the $20 mark for the two of us.

I’d like to go back again to try the homemade sausage or one of Monte Lauro’s take-and-make Italian specialties.

Of course, we have many other stands to try first.

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

Monte Lauro European Gourmet
Fairgrounds Farmers Market
2930 N. Fifth Street Hwy
Reading, PA 19605

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Waffle topped with blueberries, bananas and strawberry sauce
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Review: Williams Family Restaurant at the Fairgrounds Farmers Market

people lined up outside William's Family Restaurant at the Fairgrounds Farmers Market

There is no denying that the Fairgrounds Farmers Market has some great places to eat.

More than a dozen stands offer some kind of hot food service along with the many fresh produce and meat stands throughout.

Among all of the vendors, Williams Family Restaurant stands out.

Let’s be clear: William’s Family Restaurant is not a farmers market stand. It’s a diner that just happens to be in a farmers market.

every table is full inside William's Family Restaurant

The restaurant has about 20 tables and a small lunch counter (almost as many seats as the rest of the market combined), all of which were full when we arrived a little before 9 a.m. There was one other couple in line in front of us, but it didn’t take long for a booth to open up.

In a room that was obviously filled with “regulars,” we were probably among the few people that our waittress didn’t know by name. Still, she was very attentive, and we never felt out of place.

Like all good diners, things happen quick at William’s. Only a little more than 10 minutes after we sat down, our breakfast was on the table.

two thick slices of French toast topped with powdered sugar at William's Family Restaurant

I love sweets at breakfast. That’s why I ordered the stuffed French toast with strawberries.

Two thick slices of toast were sitting on my plate. They had been lined up so perfectly that I wasn’t sure whether they were actually stuffed until I slid the top layer off to reveal the bright red strawberry filling.

A look at the strawberry sauce spread between two slices of French toast

It was everything I was hoping for. Every bite was filled with strawberry and cream cheese for the sweetness I craved. And the two slices of French toast were done perfectly.

I had a more savory side with my corned beef hash. It didn’t look nearly as appetizing as the French toast (hash rarely does), but it was diner food at its best.

plate with a heaping serving of corned beef hash

It was a little greasy and nicely crisp from the grill. The meat was ground finer than some places, which made it look wetter. In reality, it just let the meat seep into every bite.

Julie also went sweet with her red, white and blue waffle.

belgian waffle topped with bananas, blueberries and strawberry sauce

Strawberries (red), bananas (white) and blueberries (blue) topped a plate-sized Belgian waffle. The strawberries were in the same gooey syrup as my strawberry filling while the blueberries and bananas were fresh.

The whole thing was dusted with powdered sugar (it didn’t need it). The syrup helped the strawberry get into every nook and cranny so while she didn’t get all three fruits in every bite, she always had at least a little strawberry.

With as fast as they turned the tables over, we had our check as Julie was polishing off the last bites of her waffle.

At $17, it was one of the cheapest meals that we have ever had on a Berks County Eats trip. And we certainly got more than our money’s worth because I didn’t need to eat a lunch after finishing my meal.

By the time we were heading out the door, a large crowd had gathered outside. I’m sure they didn’t have to wait long.

William’s Family Restaurant is definitely not your typical farmers market stand. It’s a real old-fashioned diner with good food, good portions and great prices.

It just happens to be surrounded by a market.

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

Williams Family Restaurant at the Fairgrounds Farmers Market
2934 N. 5th Street Hwy
Reading, PA 19605

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