What happens when you take classic diner dishes and elevate them in a fine dining setting?
The answer can be found at FRESH Breakfast and Lunch in West Reading.
FRESH opened in mid-2022, taking over the former home of Mazi Greek, and before that, Bistro 614.
The building still maintains much of the upscale charm of Mazi – the Edison lighting, the white chairs against the dark wooden tables, and the beautiful mirrored bar.
But while its predecessor restaurants were serving up fine dining experiences at dinner, Fresh is elevating breakfast and lunch with dishes both sweet and savory.
When Julie and I visited for a Friday brunch, neither of us even bothered with the lunch menu. Instead we focused entirely on the mouthwatering breakfasts.
Several dishes caught my eye, but in the end I ordered the short rib tostada. The beautiful plate that was set in front of me featured two corn tostadas with short rib, roasted corn, pico and two eggs drizzled with queso.
Normally I go sweet when I order breakfast, but the savory short rib did not disappoint. The meat was perfectly prepared, melt-in-your mouth good while the tostada provided a much-needed crunch compared to the softness of the eggs. And the pico provided a pop of color and a bright flavor.
Everything worked together perfectly for what was one of the best breakfast items that I have tried.
Julie felt similarly about her choice – the sunrise skillet. The plate consisted of roasted butternut squash, poached eggs, spinach and mushrooms atop a bed of potatoes.
Unlike my dish which had the queso serving as a “sauce” to bring it together, Julie’s skillet was filled with items that each stood on their own. Of course once she dug into her egg, it oozed out across the whole dish. But that was secondary to the well seasoned potatoes and squash that were the real highlight.
And not that either of us needed any more food, but Julie’s meal came served with a side of toast. What was cool about it was that rather than the typical packet of Smucker’s, it came with a small jar of preserves.
Overall, we were both very impressed by our meals. Of course they were on the higher priced side at $17 each, but I’m always willing to pay for quality.
And Fresh definitely offers quality.
BCE Rating
Food: Very Good
Service: Good
Ambiance: Excellent
Price: $$
Fresh Breakfast and Lunch
614 Penn Avenue
West Reading, PA 19611
