penne pasta topped with vodka sauce
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Review: Mom Chaffe’s Cellarette – West Reading

brick building with a retro sign that reads "Mom Chaffe's" in script

While there are plenty of places in Berks County for a date night, there are far fewer places that Julie and I choose to visit for special occasions. 

One of the restaurants that has become a celebration spot for us is Mom Chaffe’s Cellarette in West Reading. 

It has been more than a decade since our first visit (and first review) of Mom Chaffe’s. Our last visit came three years ago during West Reading Restaurant Week. 

Three years is a long time so we were ready to go back, and with our anniversary approaching, Mom Chaffe’s felt like the perfect place to celebrate.

We arrived about 15 minutes early for our 6 p.m. reservations. We were surprised to find the dining room mostly empty. Apparently everyone else had reservations for 6 or 6:30 because it quickly filled up behind us with just a few tables left open just a short time later. 

dining room with upholstered banquette and tables with pale green tablecloths

The restaurant is celebrating 90 years in 2026, and the dining room maintains a lot of historic charm – from the ornate bar to the framed oil paintings that fill the walls to the chandeliers that hang from the textured ceiling. The table linens add to the upscale feel, but Mom Chaffe’s still feels approachable and there were plenty of diners in the room dressed casually. 

Our server was with us quickly. Even after the room filled up, she was never far when we needed something. 

Mom Chaffe’s has a relatively small menu, especially compared to other Italian restaurants in the area. That’s not to say there aren’t plenty of choices – from traditional pastas with red sauce and choice of meat to more creative seafood and veal dinners. And there are always great specials.

slices of canteloupe wrapped in thinly sliced prosciutto laying on a bed of greens and drizzled with balsamic

We ordered one of the restaurant’s appetizer specials: prosciutto-wrapped melon. 

It was a very different, but very enjoyable, dish. It featured three thick slices of cantaloupe wrapped in thin slices of prosciutto atop a bed of greens. Everything was then drizzled with balsamic vinegar. 

There were moments with the balsamic and the general brightness of it that it reminded me of Caprese, but the sweet and salty combination of the melon and prosciutto was unique – and very enjoyable. 

penne pasta topped with vodka sauce

For my main course, I again ordered off the specials menu – penne pasta with hot Italian sausage in a vodka sauce. It was excellent – exactly the right amount of spice to add flavor and make me feel it while not being unbearable. The vodka sauce would have been good even without the meat, creamy and delicious. And the pasta held it all together well. If it were a regular menu item, I would order it again. 

white crock of lasagna topped with sauce and cheese

Julie went with one of Mom Chaffe’s classic entrees – the lasagna. Only available Thursday through Saturday, it’s a favorite of many. And you can include us among those after this meal. The lasagna comes in a large crock with layers of noodle and ricotta cheese topped with a delicious red sauce. 

salad greens with sliced cucumber and carrot sticks topped with Parmesan peppercorn dressing

Our meals also came with salads, and Julie and I both decided on the Parmesan peppercorn dressing. The salads are simple – greens with onions, a couple cherry tomatoes, some cucumber and sliced carrots. The dressing was delicious, a little thick, but with the nutty notes of Parmesan with the little spice of the pepper. 

Because of the salads – and because we wanted to save room for dessert – we both took half of our meals home for dinner the next night. 

slice of white cake layered with white icing with a dusting of coconut flakes and a dollop of whipped cream

The dessert options change regularly. On this night, it was the coconut cake that caught our attention. Layers of white cake were separated by frosting with coconut flakes on the icing and the plate. There was also a dollop of whipped cream that added just that little extra decadence to it. Overall, it was a great way to finish the meal. 

In total, including an iced tea for me and a mixed drink for Julie, we spent about $100 on food and drinks, but that included four courses and enough entrees for leftovers. The food was excellent, too, so I would say it was well worth the price. 

At 90 years old, Mom Chaffe’s is as good as ever – good enough to keep us coming back for more. 

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

Mom Chaffe’s Cellarette
148 Tulpehocken Avenue
West Reading, PA 19611

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Original Review: February 2014

menu front that reads Mom Chaffe's with an image of a woman in glasses and the words Est. August, 1936

For such a small town, West Reading has a seemingly endless array of restaurants.

No less than 30 restaurants and cafes are packed into the town’s 1.5 square miles. From French cuisine to fried chicken and from vegetarian to Mediterranean, foodies can find a world of flavors in this tiny borough.

While most will never venture from the Penn Avenue and the vibrant downtown area, there is much more to this wonderful small town.

Tulpehocken Avenue shoots off from the 5th Avenue traffic circle. Blink and you may miss it and the hidden gem that it holds.

Mom Chaffe’s Cellarette looks like every other home on the block, except for the brightly lit sign proclaiming “Italian Food” and “Cocktails.”

A small brass plate on the front has a simple inscription: “Mom Chaffe’s Est. 1936.”

It is amazing that any restaurant could survive for nearly 80 years, especially one like Mom Chaffe’s, which still does not have a website, a Facebook page or any other online presence. What it does have are loyal customers and 78 years of history on its side.

Like West Reading, itself, Mom Chaffe’s packs a lot into a small space. At times it is too much as the wait staff is forced to navigate a maze of tables and chairs in the main dining room. Even the walls are cramped, with dozens of paintings fighting over the limited space.

What’s not cramped is the menu. It’s very limited-two pages of pasta, antipasto and entrees with a handful of specials added daily.

One of the specials on this night was the Italian fried hot peppers, which were served as an appetizer with sliced tomato and mozzarella over lettuce.

close-up photo of Italian long hot peppers

Though the dish was served cold, there was no escaping the heat. These were some very spicy peppers, loaded with heat and flavor. The creamy chunks of mozarella were a perfect compliment to the peppers, and along with the tomato and lettuce helped cool the taste buds.

While I was adventurous with the appetizer, I played it conservative with my meal and opted for fedelini with tomato sauce and meatballs.

photo of meatballs atop a plate of spaghetti

The two meatballs were massive, clearly hand-formed and full of flavor. The sauce was bright red and thick, one of the best I have found in the area. My only complaint is that there was enough of it to mix with the mound of pasta that was buried underneath.

bowl with lasagna smothered in red sauce

Across the table, my wife went with the lasagna (which is only available Thursday through Sunday). I wish I had made the same decision because the one bite of hers I tried was delicious. The lasagna featured both ground meat and thinly sliced sausage layered with pasta and cheese and topped with the same thick tomato sauce as my pasta. It was a meaty, yet balanced dish that I enjoyed as much as any lasagna I’ve tried (and was enough that she took home half for the next day’s lunch).

slice of chocolate cake on a plate with a dollop of whipped cream

The dessert tray was sitting on a table near us, and after staring at it for most of our meal, there was no way we were going to be leaving without some. It was all fairly standard cakes and cheesecakes (I would venture to guess that these were not made in house, but at another local business). I went with a chocolate cake with a filling of ricotta and dried fruit. The cake itself was very dark, but the filling was incredibly sweet, with pieces of pineapple, apricot and other fruit mixed in for added texture.

In a restaurant with such limited seating, I had expected the prices to be higher to compensate. Instead, I was pleasantly surprised to find that the prices were in line any other restaurant with entrees falling in the $15-25 range. For our appetizer, two entrees and two slices of cake, our final bill was just over $50.

Overall, Mom Chaffe’s is a great little place for fine Italian food. If you go, make sure you save room. And be sure to call ahead or there may not be room for you.

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

Mom Chaffe’s Cellarette
148 Tulpehocken Ave
West Reading, PA 19611

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plate with three birria tacos, a cup of consomme and two cups of salsa - one red, one green
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Review: Archie’s Taqueria in West Reading

large picture window at the front entrance of Archie's Taqueria in West Reading, PA

West Reading has been a hub for Berks County’s dining scene for as long as I have been doing Berks County Eats. We’ve reviewed more than 26 restaurants in West Reading since 2014. 

Some of our favorites are still going strong; unfortunately, others didn’t last. 

La Abuela Mexican Restaurant was an early favorite of ours with our first visit coming in 2015. The restaurant had a good 10-year run before closing in late 2025. 

The space has new life with the opening of Archie’s Taqueria in 2026.

light brown wooden table in a restaurant dining room in front of a black wall and white bookcase with succulent plants

Archie’s began a soft opening in late June after several months of renovations. I was invited by the restaurant to come try the new Mexican spot. 

The restaurant has a more modern feel than the last time we ate at La Abuela. White shelves, smartly adored with succulents, pottery and sculpture, pop against a dark brown wall. The tables and chairs are a lighter wood, matching the new floors. 

small wicker basket of tortilla chips with a white cup filled with light red salsa

The restaurant is full-service, though counter-order takeout is available, too. I decided to dine in and quickly brought a basket of chips and salsa. 

Archie’s salsa is thick, but not chunky, with a little more than a mild spice. It’s been run through a food processor so it’s smoother and more consistent. 

tall clear glass of hrochata on a table with a small card with a number 2 and a votive candle

With the heat on the back end, I was glad to have a glass of horchata to wash it down. The horchata was also very good with just the right amount of cinnamon. 

The service was very fast. Less than 10 minutes after I sat down, my meal arrived. 

While the restaurant had a limited menu for the soft opening, they were featuring three items in the “house of birria” section – birria tacos, birria quesadilla and birria pizza. I had opted for the classic birria tacos. 

plate with three birria tacos, a cup of consomme and two cups of salsa - one red, one green

Served three to an order for $15.99, the birria tacos featured the namesake braised beef with cheese, onions and cilantro. The tortillas were grilled crispy and filled to the brim. On the side was a cup of consomme for dipping (along with red and green salsas). 

The tacos were delicious on their own – incredibly hearty and savory. The consomme was loaded with onion and cilantro, slightly salty and very savory. While it didn’t need any additional salsa, I still tried both the red and green salsas. Both had a smooth consistency that was more like a sauce. The green was light, salty and mild with a slight kick at the end while the red was medium to hot. Both were good, and I would definitely enjoy them with other menu items. For the birria, though, the consumme was enough. 

menu for Archie's Taqueria in West Reading, PA

My meal was very good and quite filling, and it arrived incredibly fast. My horchata and tacos would have cost about $20. It’s not the cheapest meal in town, but it’s in line with the price at other local Mexican restaurants.

New additions are always welcome in West Reading and across Berks County. And after my first visit, I would say Archie’s is definitely a welcome addition.

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

Archie’s Taqueria
448 Penn Avenue
West Reading, PA 19611

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Burger topped with onion rings, bacon and BBQ sauce with a side of fries
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Review: Saucony Cafe – Kutztown

brick building with a sign over the doorway reading "Saucony Cafe"

I can think of several locations around Berks County that feel like a revolving door for restaurants. Each time, I think “this is the one that’s going to stick.” 

One of those locations is 100 Constitution Boulevard in Kutztown, currently the home of Saucony Cafe. 

This is actually the fourth time we’ve reviewed a restaurant in this space. One of our earliest blogs was CC’s Wooden Grill which closed in 2014. We also visited Potts’ U Hot Dogs (2016) and Mad Dogs (2018). 

Saucony Cafe took over the space in 2022, already outlasting its two most recent predecessors. It helps that the business began across town seven years earlier. 

interior of Saucony Cafe in Kutztown, PA

I arrived on a Thursday afternoon in June – the students were all home for the summer and the Cafe was quiet. It was clear they weren’t expecting dine-in guests – boxes of supplies were on a table by the front door, and the lights were dimmed at the far end of the space. 

After I ordered, I took a seat at one of the three available tables. In just five minutes, my food arrived. 

I ordered a rodeo burger – onion rings, bacon and BBQ sauce – with fries. I had watched as the burger was hand-patted while I paid so I knew it was fresh. And you could taste the difference in the first bite. 

Burger topped with onion rings, bacon and BBQ sauce with a side of fries

I’ve had many similar burgers, and this was one of the best. The twin patties were smashed thin so they caramelized on the outside. The onion rings were good, the bacon was excellent, and there was plenty of sweet BBQ sauce on top. 

The battered fries on the side were perfect for cleaning up the sauce that fell on the plate. They were hot and crispy, perfect on their own or to dip. 

With my Icy Tea, the meal came to about $18, a fair price for the portion sizes and quality. I would order again, but with a less-than-inviting dining room, I would probably stick to takeout.

order counter at the Cougar Cafe in Kutztown Park

Although this was my first visit to the Saucony Cafe, I had tried their food the prior week at the Cougar Cafe, the snack bar at Kutztown Park where Jakob was playing in a baseball tournament. 

chicken sandwich on a seeded roll with fries

On that day, I had a chicken bacon ranch sandwich. The chicken breast patty was fried to order so it came out piping hot. It was loaded with ranch dressing and bacon. Unlike some places that put strips of bacon on top, this featured finely chopped bacon which ensured that salty and savory flavor in every bite of the sandwich.The seeded roll was a nice touch. 

And on the side, I had the same delicious fries they serve at the restaurant. 

trophies on the wall of the Cougar Cafe in Kutztown Park

They also have indoor seating with sports trophies adorning the walls around the brick structure. Just be aware that the building is not air conditioned so it didn’t provide any relief from the 90-degree heat outside. 

If you’re attending an event at the park, I recommend grabbing a bite from them. And I would definitely recommend a burger from the Saucony Cafe. 

With good food like this, it has a great chance to be the restaurant that finally works in this location. 

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

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glass with a logo for Copperz Brewing Co featuring mechancial cogs next to a table card with the same logo
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Review: Copperz Brewing Co. in Hamburg

exterior entrance of Copperz Brewing Co in Hamburg, PA

If there’s one thing that almost every Berks Countian loves, it’s a good deal. When you have kids, finding those deals is even more important. That’s why I have a guide on Berks County Eats highlighting all of the restaurants that offer free kids meals. 

On a recent Sunday night, with Julie out of town, I found myself looking for a spot to take our boys (Jakob – 8 and Lukas – 2) for dinner. 

glass with a logo for Copperz Brewing Co featuring mechancial cogs next to a table card with the same logo

I wanted to take advantage of a free kids meal, if I could, and we had several choices of where to find one on a Sunday night. One of those restaurants is Copperz Brewing in Hamburg. 

This was not our first visit to Copperz – Julie and I had brought Jakob in 2022, when it was just the three of us. This time, I had Jakob’s little brother in tow for his first visit.

We arrived just at 5 p.m. I was surprised to see so many cars in the parking lot already as that’s usually early enough to beat the crowds. Once inside, we saw a few other families taking advantage of the Sunday special as we sat in one of the last two open tables. 

wide angle view of the dining room and bar at Copperz Brewing Co

Thankfully, Copperz has a fairly large dining room with tables for six along the wall, four-seaters in the middle and plenty of bar seating. Behind our table were two large brown couches. At the opposite corner, a party of eight was gathered at tables by the door. A few more tables were set up outside, but we didn’t dare brave the heat and late afternoon sun. 

We made some quick decisions on dinner and when our server arrived to greet us, we already knew what we wanted. Just 20 minutes after we arrived and 15 minutes after we ordered, our food arrived. 

burger topped with beer cheese and bacon with a side of fries from Copperz Brewing Co

I had decided on one of the restaurant’s signature sandwiches: the brewdaddy. It starts with a pretzel bun with either a burger or chicken sandwich (I chose a burger) topped with spring mix greens, bacon, beer cheese and “a drizzle of hot honey.”

Even though I don’t drink beer, I really enjoy beer cheese on a burger or a sandwich. This was no exception. The flavor was solid – with that little bit of hoppiness coming through. The bacon was a true star, with little hints of heat and sweet pairing well with the salty bacon. 

The burger was served with fries (a slight upcharge from the chips). The golden battered dipped fries were excellent, but I couldn’t finish them as large as the burger was. 

wooden plate with half a cheese flatbread from Copperz Brewing Co

Jakob happily helped me with them. He had ordered the kids’ flatbread pizza – a half flatbread topped with sauce, mozzarella and seasonings. It’s not “real” pizza, but it was solid. And it was much better than the frozen stuff we’ve found on some kids’ menus.

And with it only being a half of a flatbread, Jakob was happy to finish off the fries that I couldn’t. 

boneless wings and fries from Copperz Brewing Co

Lukas got his own fries with his chicken nuggz kids meal. (The flatbread is the only kids meal that doesn’t come with a side). The chicken was more like boneless wings than generic nuggets. Of course, Lukas had to start with his fries – eating all of them so he only had enough room for two of his nuggets. Again, they could have taken the easy way out with the kids meal, but it felt like we got quality.

Jakob’s flatbread was $5, the cheaper of the two, so that was taken off our bill, bringing the total down to about $35, a reasonable price for three meals (with an iced tea for me and a lemonade for Jakob). 

two large L-shaped leather couches facing each other in the dining room of Copperz Brewing Co

We loved our food and had a good time. At the end of our meal though, we found ourselves waiting for our check as our server was tending the bar. But we were still in and out of the restaurant in under an hour. 

Overall, it was a great boys’ night out. And we made a great choice when we chose Copperz. 

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

Copperz Brewing Co.
798 S. Fourth Street
Hamburg, PA 19526

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plate with half a grilled cheese panini and a cup of tomato soup
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Review: Crave Cafe – Sinking Spring

exterior of a strip mall retaurant with a small yellow oval sign above the awning reading "Crave Cafe"

A good lunch spot has to have four things: good food, quick service, reasonable prices, and a cool vibe. 

Crave Cafe in Sinking Spring continues to check all the boxes. 

Though the cafe got a new owner in late 2024, the cafe is still delivering in all the areas that have made it a favorite over the last decade. 

order counter at Crave Cafe in Sinking Spring, PA

We first visited Crave in 2015, and with Julie working just five minutes away, we have visited many times since. 

Our most recent visit came in January 2026. We arrived for an early lunch – around 11 a.m. before the rush was in full force and still found only a couple open tables (they were a lot more scarce by noon). The fireplace is still the focal point of the main dining room, but a second dining area provides more seating in the room behind it. 

coffee urns on a table in front of a large stone fireplace at Crave Cafe in Sinking Spring, PA

We got in line and were quickly called over to a second station to place our order before taking our number back to a table for two along the wall. 

The temperature in the room tends to run a little cold, and I was quickly reminded of it as we sat waiting, but it didn’t take long for our food to arrive and I was no longer thinking about anything except lunch. 

chicken panini on a plate with chips

I always have a hard time choosing between their paninis and flatbreads, but on this visit I opted for a panini – The Dunk. The sandwich comes with chicken breast, tomatoes, mozzarella, pesto aioli and balsamic glaze. 

At it’s core, it’s a Caprese salad with the balsamic, mozzarella and tomato all working together to create a familiar flavor profile. But the pesto aioli adds nuttiness and earthiness to the dish while the chicken makes it heartier and more filling. It’s relatively simple but very satisfying. 

plate with half a grilled cheese panini and a cup of tomato soup

For her meal, Julie did a soup and sandwich combo with a hearty tomato soup and a grilled cheese with the addition of bacon. Julie loves bacon and it gives the grilled cheese an added crunch and savory notes. 

two coffee mugs - one with a US Air Force emblem and one with blue and white print - on a wooden table

Both meals are between $12-15, but Julie got a matcha and I got a hot chai. Both came served in mugs from the cafe’s eclectic collection – mine a stubby US Air Force mug, hers a tall blue and white. The chai is a typical sweet style tea latte that has little resemblance to a true chai but is no less enjoyable. The matcha had the distinct green color and sweet-yet-earthy flavor to it that was a perfect go-with. 

Lunch for two typically costs around $30, but we were around $35 for this one with our drinks. Sure, you can find places where we can eat for closer to $20, but it’s more than just the price – it’s the combination of everything. The price is fair, the food is good, the service is on-point, and Crave continues to be one of the coolest lunch spots around. 

And we’ll keep coming back. 

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

Crave Cafe
4600 Penn Avenue
Sinking Spring, PA 19608

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Original Review: November 8, 2015

crave-cafe-counter

There is always a buzz around a new restaurant when it opens. The trick, however, is keeping the buzz going weeks and months after the opening.

We have seen a lot of new restaurants open in Berks County in the past few years, but none have been able to sustain the buzz quite like Sinking Spring’s Crave Cafe.

Crave Cafe opened at Green Valley Nursery in November 2024, in the strip of stores off Route 422 behind the Charlotte Shoppe. It’s nearly invisible from the road, but that doesn’t stop the dining room from filling up every day at lunch.

The ambiance is truly unique. In fact, every table is unique. Each one has its own set of chairs, different styles, different colors and different sizes.

crave-cafe-fireplace

A pair of parlor chairs sit in front of a large stone fireplace. Highly sought-after, they are, at the same time, the most appropriate and most out-of-place chairs in the cafe.

Orders are placed at the counter where the cashier is set up with an iPad that’s connected to a cash drawer and credit card machine. We took our number and retreated to our little table for two (we made sure to save one before ordering, just in case).

It wasn’t long before our drinks arrived. Normally I don’t spend the money (or the calories) for a drink, but being at a cafe, I felt obligated.

crave-cafe-frozen-hot-chocolate-and-mango-smoothie

But instead of coffee or tea, Julie and I both went for frozen: a mango smoothie for me and a frozen hot chocolate for her.

Mine was good, but I was a little disappointed to see the syrup flavor going in when I was hoping for fresh fruit. Julie’s frozen hot chocolate did not disappoint, however. She happily slurped it down and was nearly finished by the time that our food arrived.

Both of us opted for the soup and sandwich combo. For me, it was a bowl of chili and an Italian chicken panini.

crave-cafe-chili

The chili thickened as the shredded cheese on top started melting. It had a good balance of flavors: not too spicy, a little sweet and plenty meaty. A bowl of it with some bread would probably make a nice meal on its own.

crave-cafe-italian-chicken-pannini

My sandwich was excellent. The Italian chicken came with grilled chicken breast, spinach, sun-dried tomato, mozzarella and basil pesto aioli.

Chicken and spinach poked out the sides of the sandwich along with the mozzarella that melted mozzarella that was oozing onto the plate.

The meat wasn’t the most flavorful I have had, but it didn’t need to be with the strong flavors it was paired with. I love pesto anything, especially when paired with sun-dried tomatoes. The mozzarella did well to keep everything together and hold most of the sandwich inside the grilled pita.

crave-cafe-soup-and-sandwich

Julie’s chicken and basil soup was the soup of the day for our visit. With little pastas and chunks of tomato, it looked like a pasta e fagioli, but there were no beans. Instead, the brothy soup was lighter with the basil providing light notes to go with the chunky ingredients.

For her sandwich, Julie went with the turkey bacon avocado. Turkey doesn’t have a lot of flavor to start which allowed the bacon, tomatoes and chipotle aioli to shine through. Likewise, the avocado took a back seat to the stronger flavors it was paired with. Overall, everything blended well together for a hearty and filling sandwich.

The soup and half-sandwich combos are very reasonably priced, but with the addition of our frozen drinks, our total came out much higher than it normally would for lunch at about $25.

Crave Cafe continues to generate buzz more than a year after it first opened. The relaxed atmosphere helps set it apart from other go-to lunch spots in the Sinking Spring area.

But it’s the food that keeps filling the tables at lunchtime.

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

Crave Cafe
4600 Penn Ave
Sinking Spring, PA 19608

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a rice bowl topped with marinated beef and pickled ginger
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Review: West Brew Izakaya – West Reading

exterior of a building with picture windows on either side of the front door - one of the windows is painted with anime characters

When you visit West Reading, most don’t venture far from the avenue. In 2022, Takkii Ramen bucked the trend, opening in a space a block away on Reading Avenue. Despite being away from the crowds, Takkii stuck around and ultimately expanded. 

In 2025, the restaurant made the move to the Avenue, opening in the former Broken Chair Brewery. Not only did they take over the location, they also took over brewing. With the expanded concept came a name change to West Brew Izakaya. West for West Reading, Brew for the brewery and Izakaya for a style of Japanese pub.

restaurant interior with brick walls and a tv playing Pokemon anime

The new West Brew opened in September 2025. Julie and I made a lunch date to get our first visit a few months later in February 2026. 

Not being a drinker, I never made it into Broken Chair before they closed in 2024. My only reference points are photos of the previous business. The core components of Broken Chair are still visible: exposed brick walls and a bar fronted with corrugated steel. 

rectangular bar with lights above - one row is yellow globes the other is red, blue and green boxes in the style of paper lanterns

But West Brew has added some unique flairs. Lights in the form of paper lanterns – yellow globes beneath a row of box lights in red, blue and green – hang above the bar. On the walls, the flatscreen TVs play anime favorites Pokemon and Dragon Ball Z. 

Much of Takkii’s menu has been brought over to the new spot. Ramen and rice dishes make up most of the menu. While I like ramen, I gravitate to the rice bowls, and on this trip I ordered the sukiyaki beef don. 

a rice bowl topped with marinated beef and pickled ginger

The bowl came with white rice, marinated beef, scallions and pickled ginger. The marinated beef had a very good flavor on its own, deeper than a standard soy or teriyaki sauce – but the tanginess of the pickled ginger is what sets it apart in my book. It made for a delicious lunch, though I would have been satisfied with a smaller portion. 

Triangle-shaped dumplings on a bed of greens with a small bit of teriyaki sauce with scallions for dipping

At lunchtime, West Brew runs a special combo of an entree, appetizer and drink so we decided to share an appetizer of chicken gyoza – Japanese-style dumplings with soy dipping sauce. They were a very good start to the meal with the soy sauce giving a bright pop to each bite. 

two tall cups filled with milk tea and boba pearls

In addition to the beers, West Brew is also serving boba drinks from their other business, Winnie Tea Bar. I ordered my favorite – brown sugar milk tea – to accompany my lunch.  

Julie got a taro milk tea, which is her favorite boba drink. Taro is a purple cousin of the potato with a slightly sweet profile. I don’t know how much of the real vegetable is involved in creating the boba, but it makes for a good drink. 

bowl filled with broth, noodles, corn, beansprouts, bamboo shoots, scallions and a marinated grilled chicken breast

For her entree, Julie ordered the teriyaki chicken ramen. The bowl was filled with a pork-based broth with noodles, bamboo shoots, beansprouts, corn, and scallions. On top with a grilled chicken breast marinated in a teriyaki glaze. 

It was a delicious meal. As she ate it, Julie decided she liked the heartiness of the broth more than the lighter pho we had a few weeks before at Saigon Banh Mi (though that meal was still very good). The chicken was nice and flavorful with sweet and salty notes from the glaze. But it was too much to finish, especially at lunch. 

brick wall with a mountain design in wood and a long high-top bar for eating

Overall, it was a great meal. Service was a little slow on the day as the restaurant was full at the lunchtime rush, but our server was attentive (and had great recommendations for the flavor of bubbles to match our tea). But we were still done in a little more than an hour.

Our total bill came in between $50-$60 which was expensive for lunch, but we were also enjoying dinner-sized portions and splurging on boba. 

And we really did enjoy our meal and our time at West Brew, and we will be sure to be back. 

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

West Brew Izakaya
424 Penn Avenue
West Reading, PA 19611

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burger topped with slices of roast beef next to a cup of French fries and a small container of au jus for dipping
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Review: That Burger Place at Shillington Farmers Market

hamburger-shpaed logo for That Burger Place next to a blackboard menu for loaded fries

Over the years, the Shillington Farmers Market has been home to some of our favorite spots. Brocmar Smokehouse and Matt’s Chicken were favorites before they closed while Eve’s Thai Kitchen remains one of our go-tos. 

And now, I can add That Burger Place to the list of great offerings at the market. 

That Burger Place opened in late 2023 as Shillington Burgers and More in the former Matt’s Chicken stand. It became That Burger Place in early 2024, and last year, the business moved to a larger stand at the north end of the market.

five blackboards stacked three over two with menu items written for That Burger Place at the Shillington Farmers Market

I visited for the first time in early January. The stand was hopping at lunchtime with a line of people waiting for their food and another two people in line in front of me waiting to order. 

The menu is written out on blackboards on the front of the stand. It starts with cheeseburger combos – quarter-pound burgers with fries and a drink for $8. Other options include grilled chicken, pulled pork and chopped cheese. 

Normally, I would have started with the basics but not knowing when I’d make it back, I couldn’t pass on the January burger of the month: the French dip burger. 

burger topped with slices of roast beef next to a cup of French fries and a small container of au jus for dipping

Roast beef and Cooper sharp cheese topped the burger which came with a side cup of au jus for dipping. After about a 15-minute wait (all burgers are made to order), I got my food and headed to the upstairs seating area. 

To say I was impressed would be an understatement. The burger, itself, was delicious: perfectly cooked and flavorful on its own. The roast beef on top was also flavorful and the Cooper sharp was a great choice for the cheese – melty, but not overpowering in flavor. That Burger Place couldn’t have made a better first impression. 

The fries were also good. Though they weren’t anything particularly special, they were hot, golden yellow, and perfectly satisfying while allowing the burger to be the rightful star. 

food wrapper opened with a burger topped with lettuce, tomato and onion next to a pile of golden yellow fries.

I enjoyed the meal so much that I had to go back for another taste. This time, it was a simpler burger. 

The standard toppings are cheese, mustard, ketchup and pickles. I prefer the classic lettuce, tomato and onion so I passed on those toppings and spent the extra dollar for the veggies while also adding some BBQ sauce. It was about a 10-minute wait while they made everything fresh, then I made the short drive home rather than eating at the market. 

Everything traveled very well. The burger was excellent again with the patty showing a nice caramelization as it hung out the sides of the bun. It was good from the first bite to the last. The fries also held up well on the trip home and remained crispy. 

The prices are excellent, too. The French dip special was $13 for the combo while my custom burger combo was still less than $10. Two meals for less than $25 is a great bargain, but the best part is that That Burger Place doesn’t sacrifice quality for those prices. These are some of the best burgers in Berks at half the price of a sit-down restaurant. 

I know I’ll be paying more attention to their monthly burger specials, looking for an excuse to return. Not that I need one, the burgers at That Burger Place are just that good. 

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

That Burger Place
Shillington Farmers Market
10 S. Summit Avenue
Shillington, PA 19607

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styrofoam container with a chicken sandwich, fries, and a cup of coleslaw
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Review: Fry Daddy’s at Renninger’s Kutztown

indoor market stand with a sign that reads "Fry Daddy's"

As much time as I have spent in Kutztown over the years, I’ve spent very little of it at Renninger’s Farmers Market. 

The Friday-Saturday schedule makes it tough. And with excellent markets in Wyomissing, Shillington, and Muhlenberg, Renninger’s is often an afterthought. 

I did stop in back in 2023 when Heart & Hearth first opened, but visits have been few and far between. I decided to change that back in October, and after weighing the options, I decided to give Fry Daddy’s a try. 

As the name implies, Fry Daddy’s is a stand with a singular focus: deep-fried foods. The menu includes French fries (of course), fried pierogies, chicken fingers and sandwiches, fish and chips, and deep-fried hamburgers and hot dogs. 

styrofoam clamshell filled with chicken fingers and fries

I decided to try a combo meal of chicken fingers and fries. The price is unbelievable. For $6.50, I got four large chicken tenders, an order of fries, barbecue sauce for dipping, and a small side of coleslaw. 

(For another $1.50, I got a Brisk iced tea bringing the total to $8.00). 

For the price, I didn’t expect the portion size I got – almost enough to feed two. And I also didn’t expect the quality that I got. The chicken may not have been the most outstanding that I’ve ever had, but they were good. The fries, though, were excellent. They were fresh-cut style with skin-on cooked to a crispy golden color. The small, bite sizes fries were easy to eat a handful at a time. They’re definitely hard to top. 

styrofoam container with a chicken sandwich, fries, and a cup of coleslaw

I enjoyed my meal enough to return in early January. This time, I opted for the chicken sandwich combo meal. Once again, it came with fries and coleslaw for $6.50. (I skipped the drink this time). 

Topping options are limited – cheese and mayo – and I decided all I needed was a little bit of mayo. 

Again, it’s simple, but I really enjoyed it. The sandwich, while still hearty, was more manageable than the chicken tenders and I didn’t feel as overly full. The fries were excellent again – some of the best around. 

The coleslaw is also solid. It’s not the most flavorful, but it’s creamy and made for a nice addition to the box. 

blue and yellow can of Brisk iced tea next to a napkin holder with the the words "Fry Daddy's" on it

There’s nothing fancy about Renninger’s. It’s a no-frills farmers market inside and out. Fry Daddy’s feels like the perfect fit. It’s not that they take shortcuts, they just keep things simple. In doing so, the food is good, the service is strong and the prices are among the lowest in Berks County. 

It’s a mix that will keep me coming back. 

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

Fry Daddy’s at Renninger’s
740 Noble Street
Kutztown, PA 19530

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white plate with an order of spagehtti with red sauce and a large piece of chicken topped with sauce and cheese.
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Review: Tony’s Family Restaurant – Robesonia

Facade of Tony's Family Restaurant in Robesonia glowing against a dark night sky.

The local pizza shop is a time-honored tradition. Every town has one. And growing up in Robesonia, our local spot was Tony’s Family Restaurant. 

Ironically, we didn’t order much pizza when I was kid. Instead, Tony’s orders usually consisted of hoagies for mom and dad, chicken fingers and fries for me and my brother. 

Sign that reads "Tnony's Family Restaurant with a cartoon-like image of a pepperoni pizza

In December, between family visits, Julie and I took the boys to my childhood stomping grounds for an easy, relaxed meal. 

restaurant dining room with wooden tables and a large clock on the brown wall

We arrived for an early dinner and had our choice of table in the dining room. There were about a dozen to choose from, mostly rounds but there were a couple high-tops and a few rectangular tables pushed together for larger parties. I don’t remember what the room looked like 30 years ago, but I have to imagine it wasn’t much different with tile floors and wood paneling on the bottom half of the walls. 

water color painting of a restaurant with a white front, red roof and large yellow sign.

I do remember what the outside of the building used to look like – white with a red tile roof and a bright yellow sign. A painting in the dining room perfectly captures what the building looked like before a renovation brought a stone patio and matching stone facade. 

Our server was attentive throughout, even after the dining room filled up. She took our order and had our drinks and a basket of garlic bread on the table quickly.

white bowl with a salad with courtons and a cup of ranch dressing from Tony's in Robesonia

Next up were salads for Julie and I. They weren’t anything extraordinary, but I appreciated the presentation in the tall-sided bowl as opposed to the simple salad plate. 

clear plastic bowl with a large meatball in red sauce

The meals arrived a short time later, and our server set them on the table behind us so we could prepare Lukas’ meatball for him. The single meatball was huge so we had to cut it up for our two-year-old before he could dig in. But it was good, as was the sauce it came in. 

basket with red and white checkered paper holding a kids order of crinkle fries

The kids’ meal came with a side so we got him some fries to go with it. When I was younger, I ate more fries from Tony’s than I would care to admit, and Lukas seemed to enjoy them as much as I did when I was his age.

white plate with an order of spagehtti with red sauce and a large piece of chicken topped with sauce and cheese.

For my meal, I ordered chicken Parmesan with spaghetti. It was a huge portion of chicken, much more than I could finish, but it was very good. The sauce is solid, not too sweet but still with plenty of flavor. 

There was also a nice size serving of spaghetti on the side. I finished that, and a little less than half the chicken before taking the rest home to have as a chicken parm sandwich the next day. 

white plate with an order of lasagna smothered in cheese from Tony's Family Retaurant in Robesonia.

My meal was one of the specials for the evening, a regular menu item but with a couple dollars off, and the same was true for Julie’s lasagna. She got a heaping helping of layered noodles and cheese. The top layers slid off before the photo, but though it didn’t look pristine, it was still really good. 

white round plate with spaghetti topped with red sauce and a large meatball

Jakob ordered the kids’ portion of spaghetti with one large meatball on top. His portion would probably have been enough for many adults. He devoured it, as eight-year-olds do, and still managed to sneak a few of his brother’s French fries.

At around $65 for our meals, the price felt reasonable, especially for the portions. 

Four solid dinners with quick, friendly service, and a good price: it’s exactly the kind of meal I expect from a place like Tony’s. And I know there are plenty more places like it yet to discover. 

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

Tony’s Family Restaurant
460 W. Penn Avenue
Robesonia, PA 19551

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old-fashioned diner counter with stainless steel stools in dark red motif
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Review: Mark’s Sandwich Shop – Kutztown

beat up wooden sign that reads "Mark's Steaks Subs Fries"

Earlier this year, I visited Esterly’s Sandwich Shop in Bowers. My post about the little hole-in-the-wall sandwich joint received more engagement than any other Facebook post I had done in more than 10 years of Berks County Eats. 

While almost all of the posts were locals attesting to their love of Esterly’s, there were a few who suggested that maybe Esterly’s wasn’t the best in the area. 

Those commenters pointed me to Mark’s Sandwich Shop in Kutztown. 

order counter with a sign above it that reads "Mark's" in red script

Mark’s has never really been on my radar. Even back when I was in college, I was loyal to Spuds. But with so many recommendations, I decided to check it out. 

The shop is one of the many eateries along Kutztown’s Main Street. On the outside, it’s an unassuming, rather dull looking building – pale yellow with dark red trim.

old-fashioned diner counter with stainless steel stools in dark red motif

Inside, I was surprised to find a little bit of a diner vibe with counter stainless steel counter seats to go along with a much larger dine-in section than I expected from the outside. It does have the same colors as the outside so I wouldn’t say it’s the most appealing dining area in the county.

I had ordered my food ahead of time and it was ready for pickup right on time. 

Of course, for comparison’s sake I had to order the same steak sandwich that I ordered at Esterly’s – that meant a steak sandwich with sauce and onions. 

white plate with a cheesesteak with sauce and potato chips

I have to say that I liked it, but it wasn’t my favorite. Specifically, the sauce was a little too tangy for my taste. But the steak meat was good and done well. I would just prefer to go a little lighter on the sauce next time. 

(Even the admin for Mark’s Facebook account agreed, saying they order it with light sauce).

The best part about Mark’s, though, is the fact that they have Dutch fries as a side option. There’s only a couple places that serve Dutch fries outside of the Kutztown Fair, and Mark’s is one of them. 

While Dutch fries look like potato chips, they are fried, not boiled, and they are served hot. Some of the fries get crispy, others stick together and come out softer. Both are absolutely delicious. 

piece of alumninum foil unfolded to show a chicken parm sandwich, cut in half, and a bag of chip-shaped fries.

Again taking my queue from Facebook comments, I headed back to Mark’s, this time for a chicken parm sandwich. I have to say, it fell a little flat for me. It wasn’t anything special, and I didn’t think the roll held up very well. But at least I had a nice big bag of Dutch fries with it. 

My total was about $15 each time, just a couple dollars more than Esterly’s. I would still say Mark’s is very reasonably priced, though. It’s kind of the perfect price point for a grab-and-go meal in a college town. 

And the food is good enough with excellent service that I’m not surprised they have the following that they do. 

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

Mark’s Sandwich Shop
123 West Main Street
Kutztown, PA 19530

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