slice of chocolate cake drizzled with chocolate syrup and garnished with a strawberry
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Review: West Reading Motor Club

It’s one thing for a restaurant to get a second chance. Sometimes it doesn’t work and you end up with much of the same. But sometimes it’s a home run as new owners bring fresh ideas and a new approach. 

This iteration of West Reading Motor Club is a home run. 

wooden sign on a brick wall reading "West Reading Motor Club"

We had first visited West Reading Motor Club a year ago when it was under the previous ownership, before it and the Nitro Bar upstairs were closed (along with Say Cheese). We had always enjoyed Say Cheese, and I had a good first impression of the Nitro Bar, but we left our meal at WRMC feeling underwhelmed. 

In late 2024, the West Reading Motor Club was reopened under new management, the same team behind B2 Bistro. It had been a few years since our last visit to B2, but we had always enjoyed the food, even if the service had never wowed us. 

Certainly we had some preconceived notions entering West Reading Motor Club in January. 

dining area of the West Reading Motor Club

The first thing we noticed was that despite our early reservations – 5:30 on a Saturday – the place was already busy. The dining room wasn’t packed, but there were plenty of people already enjoying their meals by the time we arrived. We were led to a table for two by the front window that looked out onto Penn Avenue. 

place setting at the West Reading Motor Club

The dining room has an elegance to it with wood floors and dark tables against brick walls. But it’s also bright and inviting, not relying on the candlelight on the table. 

a fruity drink and an ice tea in stemmed glasses

Our waiter, Josh, stopped by quickly and couldn’t have been more delightful or helpful. When Julie asked if they had mocktails available, he asked the bar and returned quickly to let her know that they could, then delivered her a deliciously fruit-flavored drink to go with my iced tea. 

Looking over the menu, and having seen a few desserts delivered to the tables around us, we decided to skip the appetizers to save a little room at the end. 

Well, to be more accurate, I decided to double-up on the appetizers and make it a meal. 

bowl of French onion soup covered in cheese

I started with a bowl of their “ultimate” French onion soup. What separates this from a traditional French onion is the inclusion of braised short ribs. 

The short ribs made a huge difference. It made the dish not only heartier but more savory than the standard brothy version. But everything in it was delicious, from the broth, itself, to the French bread and cheese. It’s definitely high on my list of favorite soups. 

Caesar salad with crispy prosciuitto

For my “main,” I ordered the grilled chopped romaine. I’ve had grilled Caesar salads before, most notably at Lancaster’s Belvedere Inn, but those were whole romaine hearts while this was chopped. 

The salad was very good, not too different from a traditional Caesar, but what really set it apart was the inclusion of crispy prosciutto. This thin-sliced deli meat, not quite ham, not quite bacon, was fried and sprinkled throughout. The salty and savory bites really popped. Every bite with a piece of prosciutto was just a little better than a bite without. 

Even before dessert, I was very happy with my selections. 

stuffed pork tenderloin with mashed potatoes and asparagus

Julie, meanwhile, ordered a more traditional dinner: the pork tenderloin roulade. Roulade means “roll,” and in this case, the pork was rolled and stuffed with spinach, shallots, sun-dried tomato, and Parmesan, and topped with a demi-glace. It was a delicious mixture with subtle sweet notes. As good as my meal was, I think the pork was my favorite (even though I only had one small taste of Julie’s meal). 

Her pork came with potato puree and asparagus. Though both were good, the pork was the star. 

slice of chocolate cake drizzled with chocolate syrup and garnished with a strawberry

The real star of the evening, however, may have been dessert. We ordered a slice of the chocolate layer cake, and all I can say is “wow.” 

First of all, the slice was huge. (Thank goodness we skipped appetizers and saved room). It came with sliced strawberry and blueberry, whipped cream, and chocolate drizzle. What made this so good was the ganache or frosting. It was absolutely decadent. I wished I could have just eaten a bowl of it, but the cake was a nice vessel for it anyway. 

After the cake, we were definitely full, but extremely happy after a stand-out meal. In total, it cost a little under $100. It’s certainly not a price we’d pay for an everyday meal, but for a romantic date night, $50 per person didn’t feel out of place. 

And with food and service like West Reading Motor Club delivered, it may not be a weekly stop, but I get the feeling we will be back for more. 

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

West Reading Motor Club
416 Penn Avenue
West Reading, PA 19611

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Finer Dining Lunch & Dinner Reviews
plate with four half-slices of French toast and another plate in the background with homefries
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Review: Queens’ Cafe

outside of a building with a red flag reading "Cafe"

There is nothing like the atmosphere at a popular coffee shop. It’s hard to put your finger on what makes it work, but you know it when you feel it. 

And you can feel it when you step inside Queens’ Cafe in Wyomissing. 

Queens’ Cafe has a unique location inside the Riverfront Federal Credit Union building along Keiser Boulevard in Wyomissing. It was the former home of one of my favorite restaurants, Squawk Cafe. 

corner of a dining area with two windows an orange mural wall with neon lights reading "Queens Cafe"

Despite occupying the same space, the two cafes couldn’t be more different. While I always enjoyed Squawk for the food, Queens’ Cafe feels more vibrant. The dining area is filled with bright colors – from the selfie wall in the corner to the artwork on the walls to the chalkboard highlighting the specials. 

When Julie and I visited on a January afternoon, we found nearly every table full, which only enhanced the vibe. We ordered our meals at the counter and found an empty table – there weren’t many, and there were even less by the time we left. 

order counter with video menu boards in the background

And while Squawk focused on elevated dishes, Queens’ Cafe offers a simpler menu with classics like omelettes and pancakes at breakfast and cheesesteaks and BLTs at lunch. 

The cafe serves breakfast all day so I ordered a couple of those breakfast staples: French toast with a side of homefries. 

plate with four half-slices of French toast and another plate in the background with homefries

The portions aren’t huge, but they’re not small either. My French toast came in four triangles topped with powdered sugar with a cup of syrup on the side. It wasn’t fancy or inventive, just really good French toast. 

I could say the same for the home fries. I opted to add grilled peppers and onions to it, and there was something about it that just tasted like homemade in the best way. 

pink plate with scalloped edge holding a grilled cheese sandwich and a cup of vegetable soup

While there are certainly familiar items on the menu, that’s not to say that everything is “boring.” Julie found an exciting offering on the specials menu: the apple and brie grilled cheese. 

The sandwich was on the smaller side, but packed with flavor. The sweetness of the apple played well with the creamy cheese, and the multigrain bread was the perfect counterbalance to both. It was enjoyable from the first bite to the last. 

It came served with a cup of soup, and Julie opted for the vegetable. It was a little brothy, but filled with hearty vegetables like cauliflower, carrots, celery and more. Enjoyable, but not the star like the sandwich was. 

green and white matcha latte in a Mason jar next to a jar of iced tea

Julie also got one of the cafe’s drink specials: an iced cinnamon roll matcha tea. The matcha tea was lightly sweetened with the maple syrup and topped with cold foam and cinnamon for a not-too-sweet pick-me-up. 

In all, our meal cost around $35 which felt reasonable. You could certainly spend less (the tea added to the cost) and still leave full at breakfast or lunch. 

I still miss Squawk sometimes, but at least I know there’s a cool new spot in its place. And I have a feeling I’ll be enjoying more meals at Queens’ Cafe in the near future. 

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

Queens’ Cafe
2609 Keiser Blvd
Wyomissing, PA 19610

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Breakfast & Brunch Cafes & Coffeeshops Lunch & Dinner Reviews
two takeout pizza boxes with lids open - one has a pepperoni pizza, the other a plain cheese
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Review: 10 West Pizzeria

rectangular building with a door in the center and windows on either side and an awning that reads "10 West"

Great pizza comes in many shapes and styles, but it’s also a matter of taste. One person may prefer the crisp crust of a wood-fired oven while others see it and call it “burnt.” One person may enjoy a classic round pie while another likes the thick square crust of a Sicilian. 

Great pizza places are similar. Some are great because they do one thing really well. Others are great because of the variety that they offer. 

booths next to a window at 10 West Pizzeria

10 West Pizzeria in Wernersville is a little of both. 

The restaurant is located inside the town’s old freight station. Over the years, it’s been home to many restaurants, almost exclusively pizza places. The longest-tenured restaurant in the space was the Lebanon-based A&M Pizza which was there throughout the 90s and made a short-lived return before 10 West arrived on the scene in 2022. 

display with bags of potato chips in front of a wall with a pizza kitchen in the background

Our first taste came a year later when we stopped in for slices. The counter was filled with both traditional round pies and square grandma pies to choose from.  

Jakob, being the picky eater of the bunch, had the standard cheese which he really enjoyed. Julie and I, however, opted for grandma slices. 

square slice of pizza with tomato sauce and fresh basil on a paper plate

I had the grandma margherita with a sweet red sauce, drops of mozzarella, and fresh basil leaves. It was a great pizza, and I especially love the sweet red sauce. There’s something about a pizza with a little sweetness that just does it for me. 

Julie also enjoyed her grandma pie, but it was closer to a standard cheese pizza. The only differences were the square shape and the sweet sauce, both of which resulted in a delicious slice. 

We enjoyed the pizza so much that when it came time to cater Jakob’s birthday at the nearby Sinking Spring YMCA, we knew that 10 West was the only choice. 

two takeout pizza boxes with lids open - one has a pepperoni pizza, the other a plain cheese

For a party of six- and seven-year-olds, we went with the more traditional round pies. Both pepperoni and plain cheese were offered, and both were delicious. 

What I really liked were the crusts. They were crisp without being burnt and were dusted with something on the bottom – not exactly sure what – but it definitely added a little something to every bite. 

slice of cheese pizza on a paper plate

And 10 West, like all pizza places, is a great place to feed a lot of people without spending a lot of money. Their 18-inch New York style pie cost $16.50 (about $2.00 per slice) while the pepperoni cost $19.75 ($2.50 per slice). 

Whether it’s the grandma pies or the New York-style round pies, 10 West does them well. And it’s that variety that makes them one of our favorites. 

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

10 West Pizzeria
10 W. Penn Avenue
Wernersville, PA 19656

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Pizzerias
mural featuring a truck, cowboy hats and colorful birds beneath strips of yellow, blue and red - the colors of the Colombian flag
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Review: Cafe de Colombia

entrance to Cafe De Colombia in Reading, PA

The most underrated foodie destination in Berks County, hands down, is the City of Reading. There is such a diversity of culture and food, it really is incredible. 

Cafe de Colombia stands out among Downtown Reading’s dining options.

mural featuring a truck, cowboy hats and colorful birds beneath strips of yellow, blue and red - the colors of the Colombian flag

The cafe opened in late 2020 at 645 Penn Street. It’s tucked back from the street, its entrance in the courtyard adjacent to the Santander building, just steps from the Reed & Court Garage where I paid $2 for an hour of parking at midday. 

When I arrived around 12 noon, the restaurant was busy. Only a few tables remained but after placing my order at the counter, I was directed to the last table for two in the dining room where I waited for my food to arrive. 

wall made to look like a home in Latin America with white walls and green doors and red trim

At the opposite end of the room was the cafe’s signature design element: a floor-to-ceiling recreation of a traditional facade of a home in Colombia, complete with veranda and porch accents in red, white and green. 

The menu features a range of meal options including Colombian rice dishes and a unique hamburger, the haburguesa Columbiana topped with pineapple sauce, tartar sauce and Colombian pink sauce along with the usual lettuce, tomato and onion. 

But the cafe was offering a great lunch special: a protein and two sides for $10. And I just couldn’t pass that up. 

white rectangular plate with two slices of thin-cut steak, a scoop of yellow rice and some fried plantains

I ordered the carne asada with yellow rice and plantains, and about 10-15 minutes later, it was on the table in front of me. 

It looked amazing, and it was. The steak was beautifully done – tender and juicy with a really nice flavor from the marinade. It was salty but also a little earthy from the herbs. I really enjoyed it. 

The yellow rice was good, too, not too different from other yellow rice I’ve had, and the plantains were delicious, as expected.

bakery case at Cafe De Colombia in Reading, PA

It was a really delicious meal all the way around. Add on a mango juice that I grabbed from the fridge and the parking, and I still had lunch for less than $15.

Cafe de Colombia is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner so I’m thinking my next trip will be for breakfast. 

But there are so many more places to visit in the city, too. And I look forward to trying as many as I can. 

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

Cafe de Colombia
645 Penn Street
Reading, PA 19601

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Caribbean & Latin American Reviews
sausage, egg and cheese sandwich on bun made of waffled hash browns next to a cup of coffee
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Review: Reading Coffee Company

paved stone walkway leading to a door with a sandwich board sign highlighting cafe specials

Berks County Eats is all about supporting local businesses, and nothing makes me happier than seeing a local business thriving and expanding. 

One local business that has recently grown is the Reading Coffee Company.

variety of candies and honey on a table in front of a wall of coffee grounds

The Reading Coffee Company operates out of a factory just outside Birdsboro, along Route 724. While they have always offered a small retail area, the business expanded over the summer to include a full breakfast and lunch café.

I headed in for a late breakfast, arriving around 9 a.m. on a Tuesday morning. The café was quiet, only one other table for two was occupied when I got there.

order counter at Reading Coffee Company with blue-colored digital menu board

Though I don’t drink coffee, I do love a good tea. So I ordered a chai and a breakfast sandwich before grabbing a seat and plugging in my laptop.

The chai was ready first with the sandwich coming shortly behind.

sausage, egg and cheese sandwich on bun made of waffled hash browns next to a cup of coffee

Reading Coffee Company offers sandwiches that are both traditional and unique – it was traditional in the ingredients: sausage, egg and cheese – but unique in that it was built on a “bun” of waffled hashed browns.

Hash browns are cooked and pressed on a waffle iron. The result is a sandwich with a built-in side. 

Unfortunately the waffles didn’t stay together until the end, and I eventually had to use a fork to finish up, but I still enjoyed the meal. 

And i really enjoyed the chai as well – it was more heavily spiced than a lot of the others around, but still very enjoyable. I did get a little sticker shock when I saw the chai was $8, essentially the same price as my breakfast sandwich and more than any of the coffee drinks on the menu.

table for two sitting next to a blue half wall inside the Reading Coffee Company Cafe

One thing I enjoyed about the cafe is that it is a good remote work spot. I sat there for about two hours with my laptop plugged in. Others came and went doing the same though there was never a point where the cafe was full. 

All that is to say that I would definitely go back again for the occasional splurge at Reading Coffee Company, even though I don’t drink coffee.

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

Reading Coffee Company
316 W. Main Street
Birdsboro, PA 19508

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small red outbuilding with sign on side that says "Potts' Top Dog" and a drive-through order window
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Review: Potts’ Top Dog

small red outbuilding with sign on side that says "Potts' Top Dog" and a drive-through order window

In the Lehigh Valley, there is a hot dog war: Potts’ vs. Yocco’s. There are 14 locations between the two rival companies. And while Yocco’s has yet to find a home in our area, Potts is back in Berks County thanks to Potts’ Top Dog in Topton. 

Potts’ has been here before with Potts’ U operating in Kutztown from 2014 to 2016. That was a counter-service restaurant. The new Potts’ is very different. 

Located in a parking lot along Weis Street, Potts’ Top Dog is a small red shack facing the street. The location serves drive-through only from two lanes, one coming and one going. 

Close-up view of a sign reading "Potts' Top Dog" with cartoon hot dog

The menu is limited but there is some variety. In addition to hot dogs, the drive-through serves pulled pork, soup, pierogies and macaroni and potato salad. 

Of course the stars are the hot dogs, and you can customize yours with nine different toppings. I ordered two dogs with chili sauce and onions and a side of pierogi and took them back to Ktown Hall, the coworking space in Kutztown I was working out of that day. 

white plate with two hot dogs covered in chili sauce and three pierogies with sauteed onions

The hot dogs had been wrapped up and weren’t as photogenic by the time I got them out, but they were still good. I enjoyed the sauce, which added flavor and only a little heat. 

I thought the pierogies were really good. They came three to an order, sauteed with onions. I love pierogies so they were gone in no time. 

The price was right, too. The whole meal was $8.75 making it one of the most reasonable lunches around. 

With good food at the right price, I hope Potts’ is here to stay this time. 

BCE Rating
Food: Good
Service: Excellent
Ambiance: N/A
Price: $

Potts’ Top Dog
330 W. Weis Street
Topton, PA 19562

small wooden shack with order window and the words "Comb Coffee" over the window

Comb Coffee Co.

If you make the trip, consider stopping at the adjacent Comb Coffee Co. They offer coffee and tea as well as breakfast items like hash browns and pastries. (I grabbed a really good chai from them before getting my hot dogs). Comb also has a small outdoor seating area to enjoy your meal if it’s a nice day. 

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Lunch & Dinner Reviews Takeout
stuffed chicken breast topped with red sauce over a bed of pesto spaghetti
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Review: The Inn on Main in Oley, PA

front porch of the historic inn now known as the Inn on Main in Oley, PA

While I love exploring “new” and modern restaurants, I will never tire of the dining experience at a historic country inn. There is something about the ambiance that just makes it feel like a special experience. 

And that was certainly the case on our visit to the Inn on Main in Oley. 

map mural of the state of Pennsylvania with county outlines with three hex signs and a wine bottle pouring wine toward Berks County

Julie and I had a rare date night in early November and decided to make the trip from our home base in Wyomissing to the village of Oley. Driving up Friedensburg Road from Route 73, the Inn appears directly in front of you, a historic welcome sign of sorts. 

Formerly known as the Oley Valley Inn, the historic property dates to the late 1800s and it maintains many of the charms of yesterday. The floor, though stained a dark color, appears to be original. As do the wooden walls. An interior window near the entrance features a stained glass image of the US Constitution.

dining room in the Inn on Main featuring dark, modern wooden tables and chairs and a wall hanging of six barrel tops

But there are modern touches, as well. The retro Edison bulbs overhead light a dining room filled with dark wooden tables with black accents. And a large mural covers a dark painted brick wall near the entrance. On it, the state of Pennsylvania with hex sign designs and a bottle pouring a drink that is spilling toward Oley. 

The menu is a mix of old and new – American comfort food but with a few more modern additions. There are steaks and chops and chicken dishes. But there are also truffle fries, surf and turf chili, and garlic Parmesan shrimp. 

stuffed chicken breast topped with red sauce over a bed of pesto spaghetti

I ordered the Italian stuffed chicken breast from among the four chicken dishes on the menu. The Italian stuffing consisted of prosciutto, Italian cheeses, and sundried tomatoes. It was topped with red sauce, but served over a bed of pesto pasta. 

It was a unique take on chicken Parmesan that I really enjoyed. The breaded chicken was delicious on its own, but the saltiness of the prosciutto and the creaminess of the cheese added more depth to the dish. And I love how sundried tomatoes provide such an intense flavor in small bites. 

The combination of red sauce and pesto in the same dish was different, but it was a nice contrast. And I would definitely order it again. 

black plate with a Caesar salad

Pasta dishes come with the choice of a house or Caesar salad. For mine, I chose the Caesar. I was a little disappointed in that it took longer to come out than I would have hoped. (I was still eating it when the main course arrived), but it was a good salad. 

black plate with three slices of bread and a cup of butter

We did get a plate of bread with herbed butter before our meals, though.

steak topped with meleted butter with a baked potato, broccoli and a cup of chimichurri sauce

For her entree, Julie decided to splurge on a steak. It did not disappoint. The 8 oz. filet was cooked to a perfect medium. It came topped with butter that quickly melted over the cut of steak. And while Julie ordered – and enjoyed – a side of chimichurri sauce, the steak ultimately didn’t need any more flavor. It was perfect as it was. 

The sides for the evening were a baked potato and broccoli. Both were good, but easily outshined by the steak. 

Unfortunately our meals left us with no room for dessert. (Julie brought a little bit of her steak home to have with a salad at lunch later in the week). 

All told, our meal was about $75 which felt in line for the elevated meals that we were served. 

It was a nice night out at the historic inn. At 140 years old, I’d say the Inn on Main is about as good as ever. 

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

The Inn on Main
401 Main Street
Oley, PA 19547

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Country Inns Finer Dining Reviews
acai bowl with strawberry and banana from Cup of Joy
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Review: Cup of Joy

porch with blue siding and a sign that reads "Cup of Joy"

Growing up, dining out meant getting meat and sides. That was the mentality we had in our family during our frequent visits to Risser’s Diner. 

It wasn’t long into creating this blog that I realized that there was so much more to discover than the “classics.” 

One of my favorite meals now is an acai bowl. 

Acai bowls are pretty much of the antithesis of meat and sides – a bowl of fruit and grains that melds together into a delicious dish. 

I love both Oola Bowls and City Girl Juice for acai, but the newest place in Berks County to get my acai fix is Cup of Joy in Kutztown. 

Cup of Joy opened in November 2024 at the west end of Main Street. It’s the second location for Cup of Joy which debuted in Pottstown and has more locations planned in the greater Philadelphia region. 

two wooden tables for two against a tan wall at Cup of Joy in Kutztown, PA

The storefront isn’t much to speak of, a half of a townhouse with a few simple tables and chairs. The order counter is at the back of the shop with a video menu board on the wall. 

Cup of Joy has a fairly large selection of premade acai and smoothie bowls – nearly 20 in all – with a create-your-own option that has nearly limitless possibilities. 

I ordered one of their signature bowls, the Choco Joy. 

acai bowl with strawberry and banana from Cup of Joy

The Choco Joy had a smoothie base of almond butter, almond milk, banana, cherry and dark raw cacoa powder. Though not acai, it had a similar consistency. Though somewhat subtle, the cacao was there in every bite. 

The bowl was topped with almond slices, banana slices, strawberries, granola and a drizzle of almond butter. Everything was fresh and the flavors were vibrant. And it all started to meld together even more as the smoothie base continued to melt. 

It wasn’t as decadent as a chocolate covered strawberry, but it hit all the right notes. 

The bowl cost $12 (I ordered the large 20 oz) and served as my lunch for the day so not a bad price for a full meal. 

It’s also cool to have a smoothie/acai option in the northern part of the county. If you like acai or smoothie bowls, you’ll enjoy Cup of Joy, too. 

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

Cup of Joy
474 W. Main Street
Kutztown, PA 19530

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Reviews Smoothies & Bowls
red tray with two baskets lined with checkered paper - one has a hot dog topped with bbq sauce, the other is filled with fries
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Review: UpDog Hot Dogs

stripmall storefront with a sign over the door that reads "Updog Hot Dogs"

Starting a business is a milestone for entrepreneurs. And hopefully for them, there are many more milestones along the way. 

UpDog Hot Dogs started out as a mobile hot dog cart in 2020. Four years later, the business celebrated a milestone with the opening of a brick-and-mortar restaurant in Blandon. 

three paintings of hot dogs on a wall above a pair of booths

The location in the Maidencreek Towne Center along Fleetwood-Blandon Road was most recently Mad J’s BBQ. That restaurant closed in early 2023, leaving the space vacant. 

After some work inside including a fresh coat of paint (although the Fleetwood Tigers logo on the wall remains), UpDogs celebrated its grand opening in August 2024. 

large vinyl decal of a tiger's face on the wall of Updog Hot Dogs

I visited for a quick lunch in mid-September, a few weeks after the restaurant opened. 

The menu is focused – just hot dogs, fries and mini donuts – but there are eight specialty dogs to choose from plus a dozen toppings to customize. You can also order a regular sized hot dog or a quarter-pound “Big Dog.” 

I went with a Big Memphis BBQ dog and a side of fries. 

red tray with two baskets lined with checkered paper - one has a hot dog topped with bbq sauce, the other is filled with fries

The dog was topped with shredded cheddar cheese, bacon crumbles, BBQ sauce and green onions. First, a quarter-pound dog doesn’t sound like much, but it’s huge. And it was delicious. The hot dog was perfect and the bacon and BBQ sauce added a little sweet and salty flavor. The bacon and onions also added a delightful crunch. 

The fries were really good, too – perfectly crispy fast-food style fries with a little bit of seasoning beyond the standard salt and pepper. 

And it was a quick meal – perfect in-and-out for a no-fuss lunch on a workday – at a reasonable price for around $10 for the hot dog and fries. 

Overall, I was really impressed. I didn’t know northeastern Berks County needed two hot dog joints (the other being Potts’ Top Dog in Topton just 15 minutes up the road), but I’m glad UpDog is here. 

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

UpDog Hot Dogs
850 Golden Drive
Blandon, PA 19510

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noodle salad with chicken from Toss of the Town in Boyertown, PA
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Review: Toss of the Town

window storefront with green trim, a red umbrella out front and a logo on the window reading "Toss of the Town"

I’m sure I’ve said this before on Berks County Eats, but I will say it again – Boyertown has a great restaurant scene.

It’s home to some of my favorite restaurants – Brakeman’s Café comes to mind (also, we miss Firefly Cafe and CD’s Place) – and we can count Toss of the Town among those now.

Toss of the Town is the newest addition to Boyertown’s restaurant scene, opening in February in spot along Philadelphia Avenue.

whjite wall with large painted logo that reads "Toss of the Town"

Its location lot bigger than it looks from the outside. The building stretches back, past the long counter where the salads are made to a small seating area with one large table for eight and several smaller tables around. There’s also additional seating near the front window.

long salad bar at Toss of the Town in Boyertown, PA

The “Toss” in Toss of the Town is for the salads that are the heart of the menu. There are ten signature salads plus a build-your-option with more than 45 topping choices, and more than a dozen dressings. In addition, the restaurant offers paninis and soups to round out the menu.

But I had to go with a salad and chose one of their signatures, the chicken Caesar.

chicken Caesar salad from Toss of the Town in Boyertown, PA

It was your classic chicken Caesar salad with grilled chicken, romaine, croutons, shaved Parmesan and creamy Caesar dressing. It was very good – I thought the chicken had good flavor as did the dressing. And there was plenty of shaved Parmesan.

I’m not normally one to order a salad for my entrée, but this was extremely hearty and filling. There was no shortage of chicken, which certainly helped to fill me up. I ended up taking half of the salad home with me for lunch for the next day.

noodle salad with chicken from Toss of the Town in Boyertown, PA

While my salad was good, I thought Julie’s crispy Asian salad was excellent. It featured spring mix with crispy chicken, mandarin oranges, matchstick carrots, red cabbage, chow mein noodles and an Asian sesame dressing. 

What set the dish apart was a combination of the texture from the noodles and the tangy sweet of the sauce. Julie really enjoyed it, and I think we would both get it again the next time.

tray with five compartments - the four around the outside, clockwise from top left, have red grapes, green apple cubes, a dinner roll with pad of butter, and meatballs. The round center is empty

For kids, the menu is a little different. Toss of the Town takes the salad ingredients and offers them up individually as kid can choose a protein, grain, fruit and veggie (or second fruit).

Jakob ordered meatballs (which are also available on the meatball Parm panini) with a dinner roll, green apples and grapes. It came in a plastic container with four compartments so the individual items never touched.

And he ate the whole thing. That’s the sign of a good kids meal.

In total, we spent around $40 with drinks, not bad for three lunches (four if you count my leftovers).

More than the money, or even the food, the service we received would have us coming back. They were patient as we tried to navigate the menu and just seemed genuinely happy to be serving us on this day.

I can say with confidence that Toss of the Town will be serving us again soon.

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

Toss of the Town
110 East Philadelphia Avenue
Boyertown, PA 19512

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