white rectangular plate with three yellow-hued slices of quesadilla next to a cup of broth
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Review: Casa Cortes Mexican Restaurant – Mohnton

exterior of Casa Cortes Mexican Grill in Mohnton, PA

In June of 2025, Casa Cortes Mexican Grill expanded to a second location when they opened in the Stabon Plaza shopping center in Mohnton. 

One of the first blogs I ever wrote was at this location, back when it was Maniaci’s Bistro. That restaurant achieved infamy on an episode of Restaurant: Impossible, closing a year later. 

The restaurant space has changed many times since our first visit. After Maniaci’s, it was the second location for Sofrito. More recently, it was home to Briano’s Italiano. Casa Cortes opened in 2025, adding a second location to complement their space on 9th Street in Reading.

restaurant dining room with orange and yellow walls filled with tables with blue and yellow paded chairs and benches

Based on our experience, it feels like Casa Cortes has the chance to stick around.

Guests entering are greeted at the takeout counter, which had a steady stream of customers during our visit. A swinging door separates the entryway from the dining room with its brightly colored walls and booths in shades of yellow, green and orange. 

red basket of tortilla chips next to a blue bowl with red salsa

We had arrived shortly after 5 p.m. and were the only ones in the dining room. (Though we could see a table had recently cleared). Our server brought a basket of chips for us to enjoy while we looked over the menu and ordered drinks. 

The chips were good, and we really enjoyed their salsa. It was thick and mild, and it tasted fresh. 

tall clear cup filled with cream-colored horchata on a table inside Casa Cortes Mexican Grill in Mohnton PA

Julie and I both ordered horchata, and those drinks arrived after a few minutes. Served in tall Pepsi glasses, the horchata was good with a nice creamy texture. It didn’t have as much cinnamon as some versions which made it easy to drink. 

burrito cut in half to show steak, bacon, avocado and cheese inside

The menu is not as large as some places, but I was surprised to see two sections of breakfast specialties. After confirming that they were available all day, I decided to have breakfast for dinner, ordering the “everything-but-the-kitchen sink” burrito. It came filled with steak, bacon, egg, avocado, tater tots and cheese. 

I love a good breakfast burrito, and this one did not disappoint. The burrito was fully stuffed, heavy on the meat with just enough egg and cheese. Everything was good, but it needed a little sauce to bind it together. The mild green sauce was the perfect addition.

white rectangular plate with three yellow-hued slices of quesadilla next to a cup of broth

Julie loved her birria quesadillas – tortillas filled with birria beef, Oaxaca cheese, onions and cilantro, served with a cup of consomme (broth) for dipping. It was a savory delight, hearty with braised beef. The consomme had plenty of onion and cilantro for added flavor.

Birria is always good, but this one was excellent. 

white rectangular plate with a chicken burrito sliced in half next to a handful of tortilla chips

Jakob ordered a burrito with chicken tinga. It also included rice, beans, lettuce and cheese. Normally, he would have ordered ground beef, but it’s not one of the protein options at Casa Cortes. Even so, he really liked his burrito. It was stuffed full (it was a regular entree, not a kids meal) with delicious pulled chicken. It came served with a handful of chips on the side, which was a little weird after having the basket of chips, but it was more than enough food for him anyway. 

For Lukas, the fussy two–year-old, we ordered the chicken fingers and fries (not pictured). The chicken fingers were actually pretty solid, and the fries weren’t bad, but I look forward to the day when he starts to eat other things. 

We brought home half of Jakob’s burrito and about half of Lukas’ meal as well. (Both had filled up on the chips and salsa).

Menu for Casa Cortes Mexican Grill in Mohnton folded open to show lunch and dinner options with pictures of queadillas and tacos

Our total bill was about $65 for the four entrees and two horchatas. The entrees were priced in the $10-$15 range which is about average for the amount of food. 

The food was great. The only thing that could have been improved was the service. Despite only one other table filling while we were there, our server visited infrequently and it seemed to take a while for our four drinks to arrive. 

Still, we would go back. And we would gladly check out the original location in downtown, too, for another taste of Casa Cortes. 

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

Casa Cortes Mexican Restaurant
360 E. Wyomissing Avenue
Mohnton, PA 19540

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bowl with pulled pork, avocado, grilled onions and peppers, and corn topped with green sauce and crumbled cheese
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Review: Morning Fuel – West Lawn

Building with copula and words over the door reading "Morning Fuel"

There are a lot of brunch spots in Berks County – places that serve breakfast and lunch only with the full menu available all day. And I’ve enjoyed trying many of them while exploring Berks County. 

One that has caught my eye – and my tastebuds – recently is Morning Fuel in West Lawn. 

bar seats on the left with a chalkboard sign that reads "Happy New Year 2026"

Morning Fuel occupies the former Friendly’s along Penn Avenue in 2024. The parking lot always looks bustling during breakfast and lunch, the two meals that Morning Fuel offers. And on our visits, we can confirm that the dining room fills up fast. (The restaurant has been popular enough that they opened a second location near Harrisburg in late 2025). 

booth at a restaurant with a wooden honeycomb on the right separating it from the booths on the other side

It still has the diner vibe to it – especially with booths accounting for most of the seating – but it feels much more refined with a full bar at the front entrance, large murals on the white walls, and a menu that is more curated than Friendly’s ever had. 

close-up of a grilled chicken sandwich topped with lettuce and tomato with a side of fries topped with garlic and parmesan

Our most recent visit came in January with Julie and I getting together for a weekday brunch date. I ordered the chipotle grilled chicken sandwich, grilled chicken with tomato, lettuce, avocado and chipotle mayo. To be honest, I was a little disappointed to see that the grilled chicken wasn’t a chicken breast but the sliced chicken you can get in a bag at the grocery store (except cut thicker). That said, everything else about the sandwich was very good – even the chicken had a good flavor. I also liked the little kick out of the chipotle mayo, and the avocado went well with it. 

The fries were great. They were loaded with garlic and Parmesan, my favorite fry toppings. There was no way I was going to leave any of them. 

bowl with pulled pork, avocado, grilled onions and peppers, and corn topped with green sauce and crumbled cheese

Julie’s meal was much more impressive. She ordered the Tex Mex bowl with carnitas – it started with a bowl of purple rice that was topped with black beans, corn, onions, and peppers. That was topped with the carnitas along with avocado-cilantro sauce, sliced avocado, and queso fresco. 

I really liked the bite I got to try. The carnitas were tender and flavorful, and I liked the brightness of the sauce. Grilled onions and peppers are always good in my book, and the purple rice was a nice touch. 

There was way too much to finish in a single meal so Julie brought half of it home, and we shared the rest in a breakfast bowl with some egg the next morning. 

white plate with chorizo, potatoes, and avocado topped with scrambled egg and a chipotle drizzle

My previous visit to Morning Fuel was for breakfast in late December. I met my friend Justice for breakfast where I got my favorite menu item: the breakfast chorizo bowl. It included chorizo sausage, potatoes, black beans, eggs (I ordered them scrambled), pico, cheese, avocado, and chipotle crema. 

For me, chorizo is the best meat for a breakfast bowl or burrito. It has the right level of heat to add flavor to complement the eggs. Add on the chipotle crema and it’s a breakfast with a bite to it, but I loved it. 

two plates, one with a breakfast burrito and a side salad, one with homefries, from Morning Fuel in West Lawn, PA

Justice ordered a breakfast burrito which came filled with many of the same items as my bowl – the only difference is no pico de gallo and it comes wrapped in a tortilla instead of a bowl. 

I had ordered the burrito on my first visit to Morning Fuel, and while it was good, I found it didn’t have the level of flavor as the bowl, probably because the tortilla tones it down a little. 

matcha latte with floral milk design from Morning Fuel in West Lawn, PA

My go-to drink order at Morning Fuel is their matcha latte. Normally, I’m a chai guy, but I tried the matcha at Morning Fuel and really enjoyed it. It’s sweet, but not like drinking a dessert, and the latte art is a nice touch. 

The vast majority of the menu items at Morning Fuel are priced at $15 or less with only a couple burgers, two steak-based dishes priced higher. For our lunch, Julie and I spent $38, which included a matcha with our lunch platters. Breakfast items run a little less, but still in the $10-$15 range.

menu for Morning Fuel in West Lawn

I’ve also never had bad service at the restaurant, which is impressive based on how busy it gets. For our brunch, Julie and I arrived just after 11 a.m. and were seated right away. But by the time we left, there was not a seat to be had. 

Morning Fuel is a solid stop with a lot of good dishes and a few great ones with solid service and a cozy atmosphere. It’s easy to see why it’s so popular. 

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

Morning Fuel
3024A Penn Avenue
West Lawn, PA 19609

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Review: The Farmhouse Kitchen

brick building with a red and white awning and a sign that says "farmhouse kitchen"

Let me paint a picture for you: there’s a newer restaurant nearby. Lots of people in your network have checked in there and posted photos of their meals. It sounds great and you finally go.

You go. It’s good, but there’s something about it that’s just not for you.

That’s the best way I can describe my recent visit to Farmhouse Kitchen, an organic cafe and juice bar in West Reading.

Farmhouse Kitchen is part of a recent trend of cafes offering wholesome breakfast and lunch options that use locally sourced and organic ingredients. Coffees, teas and juices are also offered.

bustling scene inside a restaurant with a brick wall on the left and people seated and standing in the rest of the area

Berks County has its share of similar spots, including the Green Bean Cafe in Wyomissing, Hive Local Food in Kutztown (which is also vegetarian), and Wild Sage Coffee & Kitchen in Reading.

Like many cafes, Farmhouse Kitchen is only open for breakfast and lunch (though they do offer extended hours for many West Reading community events). The menu consists mostly of items that work for both meals – like the seasonal brunch bowls and sandwiches that can be “brunched up” with your choice of egg.

A table sits in front of a long wooden bench in a dining area at the Farmhouse Kitchen

We were visiting at lunchtime on a holiday Monday and the place was packed. Thankfully we saw someone that we knew – thank you, Brittni – and were able to grab two of the few seats available (Jakob and his car seat took their place atop the table).

I ordered at the counter while Julie guarded the coveted seats. A short time later our drinks arrived. For Julie, a pineapple ginger mocktail; for me, kombucha.

Two mason jars, one with kombucha and one with lemonade on a table with with the table number 34

This was my first taste of kombucha, the fermented tea that is all the rage right now. If you believe the hype, kombucha is a superfood that can prevent disease and work to support a healthy digestive system, among other benefits.

All of these things may or may not be true, but as an actual drink, it’s an acquired taste that I clearly have not acquired yet. I love tea of all kinds – sweetened, Southern sweet, unsweetened, black, green – but to me, kombucha tasted nothing like tea. And the fermentation process gave it the texture of a sparkling cider.

I gave it a try, but kombucha is definitely not for me. Julie’s pineapple ginger juice cocktail was much more my speed. It was sweet, but not too sweet thanks to the addition of the ginger.

Lunch arrived a short time later.

I ordered the “Don’t Fly the Coop,” a chicken patty sandwich topped with garlic-herb jack cheese, maple-bacon aioli, crispy sweet potato bits, greens and tomato on sourdough.

plate with a chicken sandwich on wheat bread and two slices of zucchini bread on the side

There’s just something about even the best chicken patty that takes me back to elementary school lunches. Even when made with the best ingredients, the consistency and texture make the patty feel processed. I think I would have loved this sandwich if it had been a cut of chicken breast.

All of other components were very good, but I didn’t think the patty allowed them to shine.

Sandwiches are served with your choice of side – salad, house pickles or hummus with vegetables. Additional options – like the cornbread that I ordered – are availble for an added charge.

Though the portion was relatively small, the cornbread was excellent. It was obviously homemade – with whole kernels of corn and plenty of flavor.

Julie originally told me that she wanted the chorizo curtido burrito before changing her mind and opting for one of the Farmhouse Trough bowls, the #sweetpotatohashtag.

Unforuntately, I am a man so I don’t always remember – or listen – so she got the burrito. (Next time, I will sit with Jakob and she will order for me).

plate with a breakfast burrito and a dollop of hummus with carrot sticks and sliced cucumbers

The breakfast burrito was stuffed with scrambled eggs, chorizo sausage, curtido cabbage slaw, lime aioli and pepper jack cheese.

Her order not withstanding, Julie loves chorizo sausage in any dish, and this was no exception. The eggs helped tone down the spice – chorizo is about as spicy as Julie cares to eat. The slaw was good, too, but I don’t know that I would want that with my breakfast. For lunch though, everything worked.

For her side, I ordered her the vegetables with hummus. It was a very good hummus – simple and somewhat more composed than other hummus that I have tried at other restaurants. We would have liked some more veggies for dipping. The two baby carrots and two slices of cucumber were just not enough.

Going into the meal, we knew that we would be paying a premium for organic ingredients so I wasn’t surprised when our bill for lunch and two drinks was $42. Still, I would have liked just a little larger portion size – at least as far as the sides – for the price.

All of that said, I can see why Farmhouse Kitchen Organics is a popular stop, especially given the location in West Reading where people are used to paying a little bit more than in other places of Berks County.

It’s a cool little place and it has plenty to offer, particularly for those who want to live and eat better (they even offer classes around those topics).

Maybe it’s just not my kind of place.

BCE Rating:
Food: Good
Service: Very Good
Ambiance: Very Good
Price: Slightly Overpriced

The Farmhouse Kitchen
426 Penn Ave
West Reading, PA 19611

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