burger and fries in a basket, the burger has the top bun off showing white cheese covered patty on one side and a red steak sauce on the other

Review: Black Sheep Tavern

A sign reading "Closed for violation of national prohibtion act" on a wood post next to a dark green bar.

In September, Julie and I made our first visit to the Black Sheep Tavern. As is the case with nearly all of our blogs, we went unannounced so we could get a true feel for the experience and the food. No special treatment. No free meals. 

When the owners saw the review, they invited me in for a second visit to meet with them and to learn more about the history of the building. (And they did offer us a free meal this time). 

Two chairs sit in front of a brick fireplace that has a digital fish tank where the fire would have been.

So on a Sunday in early October, we drove out Fritztown Road once again, this time to meet with Darrell and Carol. From the first introduction, it was clear how much the tavern and its history means to them. 

A Deep Connection

Black picture frames hang on a wall with assorted old photographs and advertisements.

Darrell’s personal connection with the building goes back to his childhood. His father was a friend of the owner so he spent a lot of time during his childhood hanging out at what was then Die Scheier (“The Barn” in Pennsylvania Dutch). 

Exposed dark wooden beams highlight a dining room with wood-paneled walls.

Standing in the main dining room, he points to the patches of lighter color on the wood-paneled walls. A small strip by the bathroom door was where the pool cues hung. Photos of Italy hung in a row along the opposite wall. After the walls were cleaned, it left these small hints to old decor, the places where the wall protected from the cigarette smoke that filled the room decades ago. 

Cleaning the space was no easy task, nor bringing the building back to life after 25 years of sitting vacant. Darrell said that it was 22 months from the time he bought the building until the Black Sheep opened in the spring of 2025. 

Two chairs sit in front of a brick fireplace that has a digital fish tank where the fire would have been.

And that doesn’t include the months it took just to get in touch with the right people about purchasing it. Spring Township had all but given up on finding someone to fix up the property and at first wouldn’t answer Darrell’s calls. 

But thankfully they did because the owners have taken great care of the century-old property that served as a speakeasy 100 years ago. 

The Original Speakeasy

A wooden barn door hinged on a wall with green paint on top and the bottom boards removed inside the basement of the Black Sheep Tavern.

While upstairs is a gorgeously remodeled bar and restaurant, the downstairs is where men gathered in secret to enjoy drinks and other illicit activities during prohibition. (The owners joke that in the 1920s, “it offered drinking, gambling, and prostitution but today it only offers two out of three, you decide which two”). 

A yellow ladder leans against a stone fireplace in the basement of the Black Sheep Tavern.

Back then, the property was owned by Ralph and Anna Riffert. They operated a legitimate business, as well, installing a gas pump to make it one of the only service stations along the stretch of Fritztown Road while Anna’s ham sandwiches drew in repeat customers. The Black Sheep upholds that tradition with Anna’s ham and cheese sandwich as a staple of the menu.

A dust-covered wooden bar sits in the basement of the Black Sheep Tavern in Sinking Spring, PA.

Darrell and Carol took us on a tour of the downstairs where the original bar still sits. According to Darrell, the last time the basement was used was during the 1970s, and that was only for band practice. It hadn’t served a drink for decades at that point. 

An old wooden back bar with one drawer pulled out and sitting on top sits against a green wall in a darkly lit basement.

The original wooden bar looked like it could use some TLC but otherwise had survived rather well. Behind it was the metal sink and a wooden back bar that was looking a little worse for wear. 

A wooden staircase dead-ends at the underside of a floor in the Black Sheep Tavern in Sinking Spring, PA.

A staircase on the right dead-ends now, hitting the floor of the dining room. A hidden door would have opened here 100 years ago, letting thirsty patrons downstairs to their true destination. 

Attention to Detail, Rooted in Community

A woman tends to dishes behind a u-shaped bar with dark green wood panelling and black leather stools.

While the family is working to clean up and restore the downstairs, it won’t quite be original. That’s because much of the usable material from the basement was incorporated into the upstairs remodel. The original floorboards – the usable ones at least – are now the floor of the game room. The sink from the downstairs bathroom was also moved upstairs (the antiquated style required a variance). And wood panelling from the walls became the front of the upstairs bar. 

Hearing Darrell talk about every detail, it’s clear how much he cares about the building. Restoring it has been a labor of love for Darrell, Carol, and Darrell’s 91-year-old father who has done much of the woodwork, including customizing the server stand by the kitchen door. The stand, which he cut from eight foot to six foot, came from the former American House which operated just up the road in Fritztown. (Darrell told me that the American House had its own hidden history as a stop on the Underground Railroad). 

Dining table made out of an old bowling alley with narrow slats of light-colored wood

And the dining room tables? Look closely because they are made from the alleys of the former Berks Lanes, now Bowlero. The lanes were repurposed into tables for the bowling alley’s onsite restaurant then known as Gilligan’s Pub. The pub’s former cutting boards are also now serving as tables inside the Black Sheep. 

two hands holding a black-and-white covered composition book that reads "Wilson High School Alumni Roster."

The Black Sheep obviously takes pride in local history. That extends to Wilson High School where Darrell is an alumnus. (His father graduated from the former Sinking Spring High School). When they found out Julie was also a Wilson grad, they insisted that she sign the alumni book, an old black-and-white covered notebook where line after line of Wilson and Sinking Spring graduates have signed their name and year. 

Another Fine Meal

The challenge for the restaurant and bar is to live up to the building’s rich history, and so far, they are succeeding. In addition to our tour, we also had another great meal. 

A cup of maple syrup sits in the middle of a basket of sweet potato fries.

It started with an order of sweet potato fries as an appetizer. Julie had tried them when she came with some work colleagues a few weeks prior, and they were very good. The waffle-cut fries were served with a sweet maple dipping sauce. It was almost like eating sweet potato pancakes. 

A burger sits in a basket with black and white checkered paper. The burger is topped with pepper-infused cheese and sitting atop a bed of French fries.

Our meals came out a short while later. On our last visit, I had enjoyed the rumrunner burger but I wanted to switch it up this time. So I decided to try the Virginia Hill burger. Named for the former girlfriend of mobster Bugsy Siegel (who also has a sandwich named after him), the Virginia Hill is a blended burger with onions and jalapenos cooked into the patty, topped with pepperjack cheese. 

It was flavorful, but I wouldn’t say it was spicy. The peppers didn’t overpower the burger, just adding little hints, enough that I quickly went through my glass of iced tea, but not enough that I ever felt a burning. It was a very, very good burger. 

Even though we had the sweet potato fries, I still got regular fries as my side. They were crispier than last time, maybe slightly overdone, but still good. 

A chicken sandwich with the top bun off is topped with pastrami and sauerkraut as it sits in a bakset wtih black-and-white checkered paper.

Julie passed on chips and fries with her sandwich, the Bugsy Siegel. (Look at us making the perfect pair). Julie chose grilled chicken for the protein, saying she wasn’t feeling a burger that day. And the sandwich that came topped with pastrami and kraut. 

The chicken and pastrami played better together than she expected, and everything on it was cooked well. The sandwich also came with mobster sauce, which she described as like a Thousand Island but with a little kick to it. But it was a good kick that helped pull the whole sandwich together. 

Slot machine type skill games fill a small room with antique wood flooring at the Black Sheep Tavern.

Even though we were offered dessert, we had to pass, and instead spent another 20 minutes or so talking about little details about the tavern – like the original supporting posts and beams, the nearly hidden stained glass window by the front the door (custom fitted by Darrell’s father), and the digital fish tank that is framed out by the historic fireplace in the corner. 

As much as we enjoyed our first visit to the Black Sheep Tavern, we appreciate it so much more now. 

We will definitely be making more visits. There are more stories to hear, and a lot more food to try, too. 

Original Review: September 16, 2025

brick building with an oval sign on the front reading "Black Sheep Tavern"

Speakeasies hold a fascination in the American mind a century after prohibition came and went. 

Last year, we visited A Light in the Attic, which bills itself as a “modern speakeasy.” It’s a fun concept. They did up the theme with a bookcase at the top of the stairs and a curtain keeping the restaurant “hidden.” But that’s all it is, a concept.

The Black Sheep Tavern really was a speakeasy. 

dining room wtih a U-shaped bar in front of a large stone fireplace in the corner with a few tables with black chairs scattered around

The restaurant and bar opened at the former Camelot Inn on Fritztown Road in the spring of 2025. The building’s story is told at the bottom of the menu. Apparently it was owned by Ralph and Anna Riffert during the 1920s, and they operated a speakeasy throughout Prohibition, “despite paying fines for selling alcohol, gambling, and other illicit activities.” 

It’s certainly ironic that 100 years later, guests not only can pony up to the bar for a drink but sit down at a skills machine. 

The skills machines are set in a back room off the main dining area which is filled with low- and high-top tables with a banquette along the wall. The U-shaped bar takes up most of the second half of the space.

restaurant dining room with tables with black chairs and a long green banquette on one wall, the wall is wood paneled with vintage signs hanging on it

It was quiet when we arrived for lunch on Friday, just one other table filled, though a few people arrived later during our visit. Our server was fantastic throughout, and I suspect she would have been great even if she would have had a full dining room. But she came to our table quickly to get our drink order and answered all of our questions about the menu. 

And we did have a few questions because all of the sauces have names that are connected to the restaurant’s theme, like sheep sauce, rumrunner sauce, and mobster sauce. 

burger and fries in a basket, the burger has the top bun off showing white cheese covered patty on one side and a red steak sauce on the other

My burger came topped with rumrunner sauce, which is their homemade version of A1. It also featured Cooper Sharp cheese, lettuce, tomato, and onion. 

The burgers are listed as hand-patted, and you can tell by the thickness. It was a hearty meal, and a delicious one. The sauce was really good – I love steak sauce on a burger – and it worked well with the creamy Cooper cheese. 

I opted for fries on the side which were also very good, lightly seasoned with salt and pepper. 

basket with a burger and fries, the burger has the top bun off with a ketchup-mayo mix on it and yellow cheese on the patty

Julie had fries with her burger, the Bulger, which came topped with cheese, lettuce, tomato, red onion, and sheep sauce. Sheep sauce is their ketchup-mayo mashup and Julie enjoyed every bite of her burger. 

And while Julie also found the fries to be OK, she had the opportunity to go back a few days later with some of her coworkers. Her recommendation: get the sweet potato fries with the dipping sauce. They are totally worth it. 

Our visit ended up being a perfect lunch. The food was out quick, too, so we were in and out of the restaurant before anyone could miss us at work. And at $40 for burgers, fries and drinks, it felt like a fair price, too.  

Maybe the experience is a little different during busier times – we drove past on a Sunday afternoon and there wasn’t a space to be had in the parking lot – but we really enjoyed our experience. (Obviously, Julie already went back for more). 

The history of the building is fun, but thank goodness we’re not living with prohibition because it means I can blog about it without risking a raid. 

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

Black Sheep Tavern
665 Fritztown Road
Sinking Spring, PA 19608

Bars & Pubs Lunch & Dinner Reviews Uncategorized
to-go coffee cup tinted orange sitting on a windowsill overlooking a city scene

Review: Clean Plates Cafe & Juice Bar

order counter with a green wall behind it and a second white wall with a black logo reading "Clean Plates"

In the last 12 months, Berks County lost not one but two vegan restaurants. Greenhouse Kitchen closed in November 2024. That was followed by the closing of Firefly Cafe in Boyertown in the summer. 

While there are plenty of places that have meat-free dishes, there are only a handful of in the county that call themselves vegan. One of those is Clean Plates Cafe & Juice Bar.

small sign in front of a large stone building that reads "Food Court"

Clean Plates is located inside Reading’s Downtown Food Court. The space opened in the spring of 2024 and had as many as seven different eateries, including a pizza shop, donut bakery, and ice cream stand. When I visited in October, only two stands were still open – Clean Plates and The Pulse Cafe – while a third, Sizzling Island, sat dark with “we are closed” written on a hand-drawn sign. The remaining spaces were vacant, the sandwich board on the corner of Sixth and Washington advertising stands that no longer exist. 

But Clean Plates was busy while I was there. A steady stream of customers were stopping by, some for just smoothies, others ordering full meals like myself. 

three rows of tables for two separated by a railing from another row of tables for two along a window-lit wall

I ordered my food and drink and sat down at a table for two at the windows looking out at Washington Street. The row of seats sits two steps above the main dining area, which is filled with tables for two that can easily be pushed together. There is a second dining area in what was the teller area of the Berks County Trust Company, the company that originally built the historic structure. The old bank vault still sits behind the teller stand – a spot that also had multiple food vendors at one time.

(One of those was Sunset Mexican Ice Cream, which recently moved to a larger space on Lancaster Avenue). 

A couple smoothies went out ahead of me, but it only took about 10 minutes before my matcha latte and falafel pita were ready. 

clamshell container with a falafel pita and a mound of sweet potato fries

The falafel pita is available as a lunch combo with fries or sweet potato fries – which I will always choose when given a choice. It was a huge portion stuffed inside a clamshell package. The pita was overflowing with veggies – lettuce, red onion, and cucumber, along with three large falafel balls, all drizzled with tahini. 

I love falafel, and Clean Plates did not disappoint. Though it fell apart while eating it, it was very flavorful with the chickpeas soaking up tahini sauce. Red onion is always good for a little added bite and a little crunch, a necessary complement to the pillowy pita. 

The sweet potato fries were also very good, hot and crispy just as they should be, and just how I remembered them from my first visit. 

basket with three pulled jackfruit tacos topped with coleslaw from Clean Plates

That first visit came in May 2024, when there were a lot more options at the food court. Clean Plates was still doing well when I stopped for lunch and ordered one of their specials, the jackfruit tacos. 

I have loved jackfruit as a meat alternative since the first time I tried it at Firefly Cafe. (I’ve even made it at home many times since). The tacos were served on hard shells with coleslaw on top. Jackfruit has a very mild flavor on its own with just a little hint of sweetness, but it absorbs other flavors very well. This allowed the BBQ sauce and coleslaw to really shine. And those homemade hard shells were perfect. 

pumpkin-colored to-go cofffee cup on a window ledge looking out at a city scene

Clean Plates also does a great job with their drinks. My matcha latte was excellent, sweet but not too sweet, and not too heavy on the milk alternative. 

With my drink and falafel pita, my total was $19, well worth it in my book. 

In addition to lunch and dinner, Clean Plates is also open for breakfast. There is also a cooler full of juices for those who love fresh-pressed juice. 

I’m glad Clean Plates is still going, and I hope they continue to thrive as an anchor, both of the Downtown Food Court and as one of the only vegan spots in Berks County. 

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

Clean Plates Cafe & Juice Bar
35 N. 5th Street
Reading, PA 19601

More Vegan & Vegetarian Options in Berks County

More Restaurants in Reading, PA

Lunch & Dinner Reviews Vegan & Vegetarian
green plate with two big pancakes drizzled in lemon cream cheese with whipped cream on top

Review: Quality Shoppe

exterior of the Quality Shoppe in Kutztown

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

white plate with home fried potatoes and strips of bacon

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Quality Shoppe
45 Constitution Blvd
Kutztown, PA 19530

Breakfast & Brunch Diners Lunch & Dinner Reviews
styrofoam clamshell with a pulled pork sandwich and fries from Mountaintop Bistro

Review: Mountaintop Bistro at Bouchette Vineyards

setting sun illuminating the side of a large yellow-tinted building with a pergola and food truck in front

Tucked away in the northwest corner of Berks County, the village of Bethel is a quaint little country crossroads. It feels a world away for many in the other corners of Berks County, though it’s an easy side trip for thousands of motorists traveling I-78 every day. 

If you exit the Interstate, you’ll find a couple blocks of old buildings, including at least one log cabin that’s been added on to. It’s mostly residential with only a few businesses, one of those being Bouchette Vineyards & Winery. 

black painted food truck with a circular white logo that reads "Mountaintop Bistro Est. 2025"

Bouchette opened the winery in 2017. In May 2025, they added something new: an on-site food truck called the Mountaintop Bistro

We hadn’t visited the Bouchette before, but the menu at the food truck features two of our favorite things, smash burgers and BBQ, so we had to make the 30-minute drive from Wyomissing to check them out. 

outdoor tables and chairs, including firepits and wicker sofas under a pergola

We pulled in around 5 p.m. on a Saturday night, Julie and I taking advantage of a babysitter to have a night to ourselves. There was a couple waiting for food and another person waiting to order when we got into line. We had to wait a couple minutes to place our order as the food truck was a one-man show, with one person both taking and making the orders. 

But that gave us time to figure out what we wanted. Then knowing that we had a few minutes before the food would be ready, we headed inside to check out the winery options. 

wooden shelf filled with bottles of wine and cans of hard cider

Bottles of various varietals and vintages line the shelves inside the door. There is also an assortment of hard cider in cans in one corner. 

The bar is small with four chairs and room for another person or two to stand. In addition to wines and ciders, they also offer wine slushies. (The featured flavor while we were there: black cherry merlot). 

bar at a winery with four stools in front of a metal bar structure

Julie sampled some of the wines and ciders and decided to pick up two cans of cider to take home while enjoying a glass (or plastic cup, in this case) of Daybreak, their strawberry wine. Julie is a fan of sweet wines, and this one was on the sweeter side but not overly so. It had a freshness to it with a subtle strawberry flavor that she really enjoyed. 

styrofoam clamshell with a smashburger and fries from Mountaintop Bistro

She sipped it while she ate her Classic Smash smashburger. It featured two three-ounce patties on a Brioche roll with American cheese, lettuce, tomato, pickles, ketchup and burger sauce (and mustard, which Julie opted out of). 

The burgers were made fresh, and the patties had good flavor on their own. And there was plenty of fresh flavor coming from the toppings, too. The Brioche roll was the perfect choice because it held everything together nicely.

styrofoam clamshell with a pulled pork sandwich and fries from Mountaintop Bistro

Not being a drinker, myself, I settled for a can of Sunkist to go with my pulled pork sandwich. That was my choice for dinner, and it was a good one. The pork is marinated in their apple hard cider and topped with coleslaw on the same Bricoche bun. 

The pork was perfect. I could taste hints of the cider in every bite, kind of like how you can taste the subtle notes of the alcohol in a whiskey BBQ sauce. The coleslaw was also very good, the cabbage adding a little crunch to the dish. 

Both of our meals came served with French fries (and their French fry dipping sauce). They were absolutely delicious: fresh cut and reminiscent of the Oley Fair fries. The dipping sauce was like a Chick-fil-A Sauce. I passed on it, but Julie liked it. 

picnic tables on a lawn next to a pavilion filled with bistro tables and chairs

There are three distinct seating areas at the winery: a pergola with cushioned chairs and fire pits; a pavilion with bistro tables and chairs; and a collection of uncovered picnic tables. Even though others came and went while we were there, we had the pavilion to ourselves so Julie and I sat and talked long after our meal was done. 

We were there long enough that we decided to go back inside to pick up a couple bottles of wine to take home (including the Daybreak that she had just enjoyed). 

corner of a small room with vintage and country decor including hand-painted vertical welcome signs against a wall on the left and paintings hanging in the far corner

In all, we spent $25 at the food truck and about $50 for wine and cider. And though Julie and I enjoyed our date night, the setup makes it a place where we could bring the kids if we wanted. 

And maybe we will next time (I’m sure there will be a next time) because both the winery and the Mountaintop Bistro exceeded our expectations. 

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

Mountaintop Bistro
at Bouchette Vineyards & Winery

9684 Old US Route 22
Bethel, PA 19507

More Breweries & Wineries in Berks County

More Restaurants Near Bethel, PA

Barbecue Breweries & Wineries Lunch & Dinner Reviews
plate of French toast with two cups of syrup and orange wedges next to a plate of homefries and a to-go cup of coffee. Behind it all is part of a computer screen

Review: Cloud 9 Cafe

wood tables with black chairs in the middle of a dining room with a large window and doors in the background and black booth seating to the right

A restaurant doesn’t need to be flashy to be good. I ask three basic questions when I visit a restaurant for the first time: is the food good, is the service solid, and is it a location where I would eat again. 

One spot that checks all the boxes is Cloud 9 Cafe in Wyomissing. 

Located in the Village Square shopping center, along with Isaac’s, Duck Donuts, and Sublime Cupcakes, Cloud 9 is one of those places that may not elicit a “wow” in any particular area, but it doesn’t disappoint either. 

high-top tables along a white wall with octagonal tile floors

The cafe has a pretty simple setup, it’s a counter-order spot with a handful of grab-and-go items to complement the main menu. Like many cafes, it’s only open for breakfast and lunch (open Monday through Saturday). 

There are some booths, but it’s mostly table seats, a combination of low-tops and high-tops throughout the dining room. The red-brown tile floor gives it a bit of a 90s vibe.

round plate with a chicken sandwich and french fries

I’ve stopped in for both breakfast and lunch with my most recent lunch visit coming for a solo working lunch where I ordered the figgy chicken sandwich. The menu touted it as a “new” item, and the combination of toppings: bacon, goat cheese, American cheese and fig spread. 

I’m not a fan of American cheese, but I can tolerate it when it’s combined with other flavors. In this case, the fig spread and goat cheese really shone through as the stars of the dish. I loved the sweet figs and how well they went with the savory chicken and bacon. I really enjoyed it and would order it again. 

On the side, I opted for fries. They were a slight upgrade, and honestly, I think next time I would just stick with chips because the fries are good, but nothing remarkable. 

plate of French toast with two cups of syrup and orange wedges next to a plate of homefries and a to-go cup of coffee. Behind it all is part of a computer screen

While lunch at Cloud 9 is good, breakfast is better. It’s a simple menu of the usuals – breakfast sandwiches and burritos, pancakes, omelettes, and French toast. 

The French toast was my choice on my last breakfast visit. The short stack comes with two slices, halved, dusted with powdered sugar. On the side are two syrup packets and a couple pads of butter. There were also the two orange wedges which give me flashbacks to my childhood brunches at Heidelberg Family Restaurant three decades ago. 

close-up view of fried homefries with a to-go coffee cup in the background

There really is nothing fancy about it, but the French toast is good nonetheless. The homefries are one of my favorites, though. The potatoes are cubed and fried to a golden crisp. Despite feeling full with half a plate left, I still finished them off. They are that good. 

One thing that I will never pass on at breakfast is a chai latte. Cloud 9 does not have an “authentic” chai, it’s more on the sweet side but still enjoyable. 

The prices are pretty typical for a cafe with breakfast items available for less than $10 and lunches ranging from $10-15 (with upgrades available, of course). 

I’ll just add that I have always found their service to be very friendly and quick, which is definitely one of the things that keeps me coming back even when the food doesn’t quite match some of the other coffee shops in the area. 

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

Cloud 9 Cafe
84 Commerce Drive
Wyomissing, PA 19610

More Cafes & Coffee Shops in Berks County

Breakfast & Brunch Cafes & Coffeeshops Lunch & Dinner Reviews
clamshell container with a brisket sandwich with coleslaw and fried onions on a potato roll

Review: The Messy Pig BBQ

sign over a food truck reading "The Messy Pig" with a cartoon pig

More than a decade ago, the first BBQ spot we visited on Berks County Eats was a small roadside trailer called Muddy’s. It was the standard that we measured all over BBQ by – both in terms of its unique location and the delicious food. 

Unfortunately, Muddy’s is now long-gone. But from Hillbilly BBQ’s trailer near Douglassville to Backwoods Brothers and their Texas-style ‘cue in Hamburg to the ever-growing Stampede BBQ on the way to Morgantown, there is still great BBQ to be found in all corners of Berks County. 

And it’s the Messy Pig that anchors western Berks. 

black dry erase boards with menu and prices for a BBQ food truck

Though it has a permanent location in Womelsdorf, The Messy Pig primarily operates as a food truck, bringing its smoked meats to locations and events through Berks and Schuylkill Counties. Check their Facebook page to find out “wtf – where’s the food?”. 

The Messy Pig brand debuted in 2020, run by the namesake of the former Darryl’z in nearby Stouchsburg. Since then, we’ve had the opportunity to try many of their delicious offerings. 

long line leading up to a food truck with an awning that reads "The Messy Pig BBQ"

Our most recent visit came in early March during the annual Presto event at Fleetwood High School. The annual fundraiser for the school district’s music program brings in five or more food trucks and stands every year, and the Messy Pig has been one of the anchors, offering the largest menu of any of the participants. 

The line was long but 15 minutes later I was at the front and soon I had my sandwich in hand as I filled a couple containers with sauce, of which there are a dozen flavors to choose from.

clamshell container with a brisket sandwich with coleslaw and fried onions on a potato roll

I ordered the Texas style brisket sandwich which came topped with coleslaw and onion tanglers. The brisket was very good, and the hefty roll was piled high with slabs of tender, moist brisket. The ends have a nice peppery after taste that I really enjoyed. 

Normally, I prefer slaw on pulled pork rather than brisket, but I really like the Messy Pig’s vinegary coleslaw and the notes it adds to the meat. 

pulled pork sandwich in a clamshell package

The Messy Pig also does a great job with its pulled pork. Like the brisket, pulled pork sandwiches come piled high with meat – they definitely don’t cheat you on the portions. I got the Plain Porker for mine, which as the name suggests, comes without any toppings, but their namesake Messy Pig sandwich is worth trying. It’s pork topped with cheese, slaw, pickles and jalapenos. 

The hardest part on my visits is choosing which of their sauces to get, which is why I always end up with at least two little cups of sweet sauce.

One other underrated aspect of the Messy Pig is that they serve Guers iced tea, a must-have for me every time I am at their stand. 

As much as we enjoy the food, we love their prices. Sandwiches top out at $12 each (for brisket) and platters, which come with mac and cheese and either slaw or beans, are under $20. 

Brisket, pork, chicken, sausage: the Messy Pig has you covered. Just ask “wtf” to find them.

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

More Food Trucks in Berks County

Barbecue Food Trucks Lunch & Dinner Reviews
close-up of french fries and a burger with bacon and cheese on a metal tray

Review: Louie’s Kitchen & Bar

white doors with a round sign above that reads "Louie's Kitchen & Bar"

I get asked all the time to name my favorites. The most common question: “What’s your favorite restaurant?”. 

It’s a hard one to answer so I usually rattle off a couple names. But when someone asks me, “Who has the best burger?”, that’s easy for me to answer: Louie’s Kitchen & Bar in Flying Hills. 

long bench seat with chalkboard behind it and tables with orange chairs in front of it

Louie’s opened in 2022 and we reviewed them in early 2023 (see full review below), but that review was mostly focused on brunch. Since that time, Louie’s has continued to evolve, and I can safely say that Louie’s has found its niche: it’s now the go-to place for burgers in Berks County. 

three awards - two for hamburgers and one for cheesesteak - sitting on a wooden table

At least, it’s my go-to place. And after winning best burger at the Taste of Hamburg-er Festival in 2024, Louie’s has the accolades to back it up. 

The burger that won them the award is our absolute favorite: the caramel burger. 

top view of a burger with cheese and bacon sharing a round metal plate with a pile of fries

With twin smash burgers topped with bacon jam aioli, caramelized onions, American and Provolone cheeses, and caramelized bacon, the caramel burger is both an indulgence and incredibly flavorful. 

The sweet and savory combination is hard to beat, especially the caramelized bacon (which is available as a side on their Sunday brunch menu). It’s crispy and sugary, adding both texture and sweetness to the burger. 

Between Julie and I, we have ordered it three times and it never disappoints. 

close-up of a burger on the left with fries on the right. The burger is topped with melted cheddar cheese, a strip of bacon and an onion ring

But it’s far from the only great option on Louie’s burger menu. Another is the smokehouse burger with double-smoked bacon, cheddar, bourbon BBQ sauce and onion petals. 

There are plenty of places around Berks that do a similar burger with BBQ sauce and onion rings, but Louie’s just feels like it’s a level above, especially thanks to the perfectly crispy bacon. 

Also, don’t sleep on Louie’s fries, described on the menu as “skin-on russet potatoes fried until golden and crispy in a combination of bacon fat and lard.” They look like other fries, but the frying oils give them a little different flavor. It’s a $3 upgrade to go from chips to fries, but it’s well-worth it in my opinion. 

close-up of a plain cheeseburger with fries on a metal plate

The restaurant also has a cheeseburger on the kids menu that Jakob really enjoyed. It’s simple, just a burger with American cheese and fries, but it’s a nice size and made with the same quality ground beef. 

But Louie’s is more than burgers, and the Hamburg-er Festival was not the only competition where Louie’s has taken top honors. At the 2025 Wilson Iron Chef event, Louie’s entered the People’s Choice competition with their Bulldog Cheesesteak. 

long steak rolls laid out on a table with a black tablecloth. Some cut portions filled with cheesesteak are set next to the loaves in white takeout boats

The sandwich featured a Liscoio’s seeded roll, ribeye, mushroom rice creamy mayo, sauteed onions and cheese sauce. 

It got enough votes – including my own – to earn the title of People’s Choice champion. And though I only had a small sampling at the Iron Chef, I got the full experience when we visited Louie’s a few weeks later and found the sandwich on the specials menu. 

round metal plate with half a cheesesteak on a seeded roll topped with sauce next to an order of fries

I had to order it. It came as a half of a large roll, overstuffed with filling and swimming in cheese sauce. But there was something about the “mayo,” maybe an earthiness from the mushrooms, that was unexpected and made the sandwich stand out from other cheesesteaks. 

I only wish the savory masterpiece was on the regular menu because I would gladly order it again. (They do have three cheesesteak options on the regular menu).

The prices are reasonable enough to keep us coming back. Even with the upgrade to fries, dinner for two will be less than $40. And kids meals are priced at less than $10 each so it’s still a reasonable night out for families. 

But it’s also the quality of the food that you’re getting for the price: some of the best burgers and sandwiches that you’ll find anywhere. 

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

Louie’s Kitchen & Bar
12 Village Center Drive
Reading, PA 19607

More Restaurants Near Green Hills, PA

Original Post: January 2023

Side of a barn-shaped building with a round sign that reads "Louie's Kitchen & Bar"

Back in 2018, I discovered a restaurant in Lancaster County called Gracie’s on West Main. Located in the heart of Leola, it’s a fantastic place – especially for breakfast (with an entire menu section devoted to bacon). I’ve been there several times since, including taking the family there for dinner just a couple months ago. 

So when it was announced in the spring that the owners of Gracie’s were taking over what was then known as Divot’s, I was very excited. 

white doors with a round sign above that reads "Louie's Kitchen & Bar"

After a small update, the newly renamed Louie’s Kitchen & Bar opened in the space in May 2022.

I actually made my first visit over the summer but never wrote about it because shortly afterward, the restaurant went through some changes in the kitchen and my chili huevos rancheros tacos were off the menu. 

plate with two tortillas topped with chili, egg and avocado

The restaurant serves as the unofficial “19th hole” for the Flying Hills Golf Course. Located just steps from the clubhouse, I would imagine that it fills up quickly on warm days when the course is full. But with a chill in the air, the course is empty and Julie and I have the place mostly to ourselves. 

dining room filled with orange chairs with a chalkboard on the wall filled with inspirational quotes

Louie’s is unique to itself, but it has callbacks to Gracie’s. Most notably are the chalkboards throughout the dining room, each one adorned with inspirational quotes from sports legends like Babe Ruth, Emmitt Smith and Bo Jackson (plus fictional sports star Rocky Balboa). 

The menus, however, diverge. Whereas Gracie’s is primarily known for its breakfast items, Louie’s is a lunch and dinner spot (though the restaurant did try breakfast, at first, and still does weekend brunches) so the menu is built upon burgers, wraps and sandwiches. 

chicken wrap, cup of chili topped with cheese and a bag of Good's potato chips from Louie's Kitchen & Bar

For my lunch, I went with chicken bacon avocado wrap with a side cup of chili. 

The wrap is pretty basic and similar items can be found on menus around Berks County, but I enjoyed it.The wrap was filled with grilled chicken, red onion, lettuce, tomato, avocado and ranch dressing. It may not have been anything special, but it was done well and I enjoyed it, especially the bites that were loaded with avocado. 

I was really impressed with the chili – the triple double chili, that is – which is one of the items that can also be found on the menu at Gracie’s. It gets its name because it includes three meats (ground beef, ground pork and bacon) and two beans (kidney and black). It’s hearty, for sure, and a bowl with some fries could easily be a meal. The chili, itself, was not too spicy but definitely had the familiar sting of chili pepper every now and then. Though the heaping helping of shredded cheese on top helped to tone it down. 

metal tray with a gyro and fries from Louie's Kitchen & Bar

Across the table from me, Julie enjoyed her Mediterranean pita and fries. The pita features chicken, hummus, olive tapenade, tomatoes, onion, cucumber and feta with tzatziki sauce. It was really good and really filling. The hummus was really good and helped make it a very filling dish.

The fries were a real highlight. Crisp, golden and lightly seasoned with salt and pepper, Julie and I both kept going back for more even after we were already full. 

Because Julie upgraded to fries and I added on the cup of chili (and splurged on a fresh fruit iced tea), our lunch was a little more expensive than we would typically aim for with our total coming in around $40.

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

Louie’s Kitchen & Bar
12 Village Center Dr
Reading, PA 19607

Bars & Pubs Lunch & Dinner
oversized burger with two patties and onion straws sharing a plate with potato chips

Review: Saucony Creek Kutztown Brewery & Pub

building with large front windows and a gray awning with a sign reading "Saucony Creek"

If you’re looking for a family-friendly place to eat, a brewery may not be the first place you think to look. But Saucony Creek’s Kutztown Brewery & Pub definitely fits the bill.

Saucony Creek is located just outside Kutztown, standing high atop a hill just off the Kutztown exit of Route 222. 

The building that now houses the brewery was once a car dealership – the same one where I got Dale Earnhardt’s autograph more than 30 years ago. Today, there are no hints at the location’s former life. 

interior of a dining room with long high-top tables and short wooden low-tops on a shiny floor

Inside is an opening dining room with high-top tables down the middle and low-tops along the side. But for our meal, we were seated outside. 

outdoor seating area with brick enclosure and the words "Saucony Creek" over the door

Saucony has one of the better outdoor dining areas in Berks County. The stone patio has coverings over the middle tables and umbrellas for the outer seats. But our favorite part is the kids’ playset with its two two-person swings, rock wall and slide. It’s a great place for the kids to blow off steam before and after their meals. 

We ordered the kids’ meals first so they didn’t have too much time to play before their food arrived. 

plate with a hamburger, fries and a cup of ketchup

For Jakob, that meant a cheeseburger and fries. The burger was a solid quarter-pounder topped with Cooper sharp cheese. He ate nearly the whole burger but didn’t eat many of the fries. 

They were really good when they came out, but Jakob said they got “hard.” He’s not wrong. Though they were delicious, loaded with salt and pepper, they cooled off and lost their consistency pretty quick. 

plate with a grilled cheese sandwich, cut in half, an order of fries and a cup of ketchup

Lukas didn’t seem to mind as he ate his. In the opposite mood as his brother, he seemingly only wanted fries and left his grilled cheese for us to take home as a leftover. 

I can attest that the burgers are very good as I had the pub burger for my meal. The pub burger consisted of two quarter-pound patties and came topped with beer cheese sauce, bacon, and fried onions rings. 

oversized burger with two patties and onion straws sharing a plate with potato chips

With two patties, it was difficult to get that first bite, but when I did, it was great. The cheese sauce made it a little messier than some burgers, but it was a delicious mess. The beer cheese had a little deeper flavor than a slice of American or cheddar. Onion rings are a favorite of mine so the fried onions were a welcome addition. And the bacon added a nice sweet and salty note to it. Overall, it was a very good burger.

Knowing how big the burger would be, I just got a side of chips with it (Good’s brand, according to the menu). And that was the right decision as Jakob ended up eating more of my chips than I did. 

plate with a salad and two brisket tacos topped with guac

Julie went with a different pub staple for her meal, opting for the brisket tacos. They came two to an order, and were topped with guacamole and pickled onions. 

They were good, and the brisket had some good flavor to it, but it could have used a little more guac or other sauce to add some depth of flavor that was missing. 

yellow drink with yellow straw sitting on a patio table

While Julie and I finished our meals and waited for our check – which totaled $80 for the four meals plus a cocktail for Julie and iced tea for me – the boys were busy on the playset.

The food was good, the kids loved their playtime, and we left knowing that we found another spot for future family meals. 

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

Saucony Creek Kutztown Brewery & Pub
15032 Kutztown Road
Kutztown, PA 19530

More Restaurants in Kutztown, PA

Bars & Pubs Lunch & Dinner Reviews
black bowl with rigatoni pasta and tomatoes topped with cheese and breadcrumbs

Review: Austin’s Restaurant and Bar

front door of a building with the word "Austin's" over the door

As long as I have had my list of 10 Favorite Restaurants in Berks County, Austin’s has been on it. 

The restaurant was among our first reviews and has remained a favorite, even as our meals have transitioned from date nights to family dinners. 

We visit Austin’s a few times a year, most times in the dining room, sometimes to pick up takeout. It’s a convenient stop for us being just a short drive from our home in Wyomissing Hills. 

And the food and service are always very good. 

That was again the case on our most recent visit. 

We were seated at one of their booths – Julie, Jakob and I sat in the cushioned seats while Lukas sat in his high chair. 

white plate with a loaf of dark brown bread and a metal cup filled with butter

Not long after we were greeted by our server, a loaf of their famous honey wheat bread arrived on the table. While it is no longer complementary, we get it every time. The sweet bread with the honey-infused butter is the perfect start to any meal. And even as a family of four, there’s enough to take a few slices home for later. 

black bowl with rigatoni pasta and tomatoes topped with cheese and breadcrumbs

I go back-and-forth between pasta dishes and barbecue on our visits. My favorite pasta dish is the chicken bruschetta pasta, which features tomatoes, bread crumbs and a balsamic drizzle. It’s delicious, but I can never finish a full order. 

But that’s usually the case no matter what I order because the portion sizes are so large. But knowing that leftovers are coming home no matter what also makes it easier for me to order some of my favorites. 

large white plate with half a rack of ribs, three chicken tenders, a cup of bbq sauce, a cup of apples and an order of fries

That’s why I got the chicken and ribs combo on this visit. 

While Austin’s is not a typical barbecue joint, I absolutely love their ribs. The meat falls off the bone, and the half-rack is slathered in a deliciously sweet sauce. 

I could just order a half-rack or full-rack of ribs, but I also love the Texas tenders. These fried delights have a breading unlike any other around. Each piece is so light and crunchy, and they are perfect for dipping. 

Austin’s also has some excellent sides, both familiar and unique – some a combination of both. Their fries fit that description as they are some of the smallest cuts I’ve found. They eat almost like potato sticks rather than fries, but they are delicious. I tried to be “healthy” with my second side by ordering fruit in the form of cinnamon glazed apples. Of course the apples are served in a sugary, cinnamon sauce that takes away any of the nutritional value, but they’re oh so good. 

large round white plate with a piece of grilled salmon and fries with a lemon wedge and cups of ketchup and tartar sauce for dipping

Julie made a much more senisble decision by ordering salmon for her entree. It’s one of her go-tos at Austin’s. The fish came out with grill marks that made a beautiful criss-cross pattern across the perfectly cooked fish. It comes topped with a honey glaze for an extra bit of flavor that takes it from good to great.  

white round plate with a Caesar salad topped with dark brown croutons

For her sides, Julie chose fries (she, too, cannot resist) and a side Caesar. Of course because Austin’s portions are so large, the side Caesar is almost large enough for a meal. The salad comes topped with toasted homemade breadcrumbs, a light dressing, and freshly grated Paremsan cheese.  It’s a small upcharge for a Caesar, but worth it. 

If you find us at Austin’s, it will most likely be on a Sunday night. That’s because kids eat free every Sunday at Austin’s and its sister restaurant, Coastal Grille

white plate with a cheeseburger with the top bun set to the side

But it’s not just that we love the free meals, it’s that the kids love the food, too. On this visit, he had a cheeseburger with a cup of baked beans. 

The cheeseburger is large enough that I could probably eat it for a main dish and feel satisfied, but Jakob still managed to eat the whole thing. 

He didn’t particularly care for his baked beans, but I really like them. They are saucier than you’ll find at other places, a sweet barbecue-style sauce, and the beans are smaller so they’re a little different. The good news was that the burger, and a few of Julie’s fries, were more than enough for him. 

close-up of a black plate with ziti topped with cheese

For Lukas, we ordered mac and cheese. Of course, Austin’s doesn’t actually use macaroni and instead uses penne for their version of the dish. And the crock comes filled with them. 

The cheese sauce tends to the settle to the bottom, but once mixed, the kids both enjoy it. 

With the kids’ meals being free, we saved between $15-$20 on our visit. Our final total for the evening coming in around $60. When you also factor in that my Texas tenders came home for lunch the next day, we felt like we got our money’s worth and then some. 

From the food to the portions to the family-friendly Sunday nights, there are plenty of reasons why Austin’s has been, and continues to be, one of our favorites. 

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

Austin’s Restaurant and Bar
1101 Snyder Rd
West Lawn, PA 19609

More Restaurants Near West Lawn, PA

Original Review: February 9, 2014

It’s hard not to notice the lights.

The dining room is dimly lit. Small lamps at each table mimic the glow of candlelight. The dark brick walls, only partially lit by interspersed overhead lights, stand in stark contrast to the brightness of the kitchen, which sits in full view of customers through large glass windows.

A team of waiters and waitresses buzz by, their black clothing blending into their dark surroundings.

There is something romantic about the low lighting at Austin’s Restaurant and Bar. Though there are plenty of families there on any given night, it still feels like the perfect date night restaurant.

Austin’s is part of a small chain of restaurants in southeastern Pennsylvania and Delaware. The other three – located in Lancaster, Langhorne and Christiana, DE – operate under the J.B. Dawson’s banner.

The menus among the four restaurants are nearly identical. Burgers and sandwiches are popular, but so too are the surprisingly good barbecue selections like baby back ribs and pulled pork. Fresh seafood and pasta dishes, flatbread pizza and six different cuts of steak round out a menu that is so much more than bar food.

No meal at Austin’s is complete without a loaf of their signature honey wheat bread. Though no longer complimentary, the bread is well-worth the nominal charge.

loaf of wheat bread on a plate with a small cup of butter

The loaves are fresh-baked, served warm with a dab of honey butter. You can taste the honey, but it’s a subtle sweetness, not overpowering to the bread as a whole. I never would leave a slice of bread at the table at Austin’s like I would at most restaurants.

For your main course, it is hard to go wrong with any of Austin’s options. I enjoy the baby back ribs (all-you-can-eat every Monday night) and pulled pork, though they don’t reach the heights of some other barbecue joints.

Another go-to of mine (and on this occasion, my wife) is the Texas Tenders. The breading is different from any other fried chicken I have tried. It’s very thin, giving the dish a light and airy feel (which is the exact opposite from most fried chicken dishes) while still providing a nice crunch. The tenders blend perfectly with the house barbecue and honey mustard sauces.

chicken tenders coated in a light breading with shoestring french fries and a cup of cinnamon apples

Of course if you order chicken tenders, fries have to be the default side. Austin’s French fries are sliced exceptionally thin, which gives them a unique look and feel compared to other local restaurants.

penne pasta topped with diced tomatoes and cream sauce

Austin’s menu also includes a handful of pasta options. On our last visit, I ordered the Chicken Florentine Pasta: grilled chicken and penne in a spinach cream sauce, topped with diced tomatoes. The tomatoes were marinated in a balsamic vinegar, which blended well, never overpowering the richness of the cream.

The food was more than enough for two whole meals, so we packed up half of our meals to save room for dessert. We were not disappointed.

dollop of pudding with four slices of banana, all topped with whipped cream and graham cracker dust

We opted for the banana cream delight. Essentially a deconstructed pie, it featured whole sliced bananas, graham cracker crumbs and banana custard topped with whipped cream and drizzled with caramel sauce. The graham cracker helped temper the sweetness of the other ingredients, adding a flavorful crunch that put this on par with a really good banana cream pie.

The ambiance of Austin’s may feel like fine dining, but the prices are much more reasonable. Our dinner for two, complete with dessert was under $40. There is always a long wait during the dinner rush, especially on weekends, but you can always grab a few drinks at the bar to pass the time or plan your trip for off-peak hours.

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

Finer Dining Lunch & Dinner Reviews
cafeteria tray with a milkshake and a takeout boat holding a BBQ sandwich and fries

Review: Herman’s Drive-In

bright pink sign celebrating 30th anniversary against the backdrop of a white building and wood-fenced patio

I love drive-ins. These simple eateries are not just roadside relics of a times gone by; they’re community hubs. A place where people gather for good food at good prices. 

Berks County has its fair share of retro fast food spots. Those include Herman’s Drive-In, the Topton restaurant in the northeast corner of the county. 

Herman’s began life in the early 60s, becoming Herman’s shortly thereafter. The current owners purchased the stand more than 30 years ago and have kept the retro feel inside and out. 

looking out at takeout counter of a restaurant over the top of a plastic chair

The square, white building is found along Weis Street on the southern end of town. A large porcelain sign on the roof proclaims “Homemade Bar-B-Ques” along with “Ice Cream,” “French Fries,” and “Hot Dogs.” 

Walking in is a nostalgia trip. There’s a lamp hanging near the food counter that at first glance looks like it was plucked from Pizza Hut in the 90s, but on closer inspection you can see the pattern of pretzels and ice cream cones in the glass. 

dining area with tables for four surrounded by wood panel walls and a wooden ceiling

Yes, from the purple cushioned booths on the tile floors to the wood paneled walls to the thin wooden slats that make up the ceiling, you quickly realize they don’t make places like this anymore. 

On my first visit, I got the full Berks County drive-in experience with a hamburger BBQ and fries.

burger and fries in a takeout boat sitting on a table in an outdoor dining area

Hamburger BBQ is a staple around here, the Berks County take on a sloppy Joe, and Herman’s has a good one. The roll was filled with ground beef in light sauce, exactly how it should be. 

The fries were typical fast food fries, thick cut, a ready vessel for salt and pepper that were easy to eat. 

I took my meal outside to enjoy under their covered patio which doubles the seating that’s available inside, a great asset for busy days and nights. 

cafeteria tray with a milkshake and a takeout boat holding a BBQ sandwich and fries

When I returned, I decided to try the pork BBQ. It was good, too. Nothing special, just a solid meal that came out quick and hit the spot. 

I also splurged this time on a vanilla shake. While I appreciate a well-made milkshake made with hard ice cream, there’s just something about a soft-serve shake that feels right when you go to a place like Herman’s. It’s a little thick, but so refreshing.

It’s definitely a worthwhile splurge, especially with how reasonably priced the meals are. A hamburger BBQ and fries cost less than $10. Add on another $6 for a milkshake, and it’s still a great deal for lunch or dinner. 

The price combined with the nostalgic feel and fast service are what make retro drive-ins like Herman’s so popular, and why I’ll keep coming back. 

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

Herman’s Drive-In
50 W. Weis Street
Topton, PA 19562

More Drive-Ins in Berks County

More Nearby Restaurants

Drive-Ins Lunch & Dinner Reviews