overhead view of a square plate with two halves of a sausage, egg and cheese panini with one half on top of the other
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Review: Rooted & Grounded Cafe

White building with a front door at a corner and the words "Rooted & Grounded Cafe" in black on wall

While I have a great setup for my work-from-home, sometimes it’s good to get out of the home office. Not only does a change of scenery help, it’s a great excuse to grab a table at a local coffee shop. 

And when it comes to places to work away from home, Rooted & Grounded Cafe has moved near the top of my list.  

The cafe is situated at the corner of Lancaster and McArthur Avenues. While the rest of the block have homes set up on a small hill with stairs leading down to the sidewalk, Rooted & Grounded is at street level, cut out from the embankment.

hanging plant in the foreground with dark red charis and an antique dresser in the background inside a cafe

Out front, a church pew serves as a bench seat. Inside, Ephesians 3:17 is scrawled across the wall above the fireplace (the Bible verse also serves as the Wi-Fi password). The passage is where the cafe takes its name. 

That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith, that you being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height, and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye may be filled with all the fullness of God.

wooden tables in front of a brick wall with hanging plants on either side of the dining room

The cafe is also one of the coziest in the area. Greens in hanging planters come down from the ceiling, and there are two large leather chairs by the fireplace for relaxing. But there’s also plenty of seating for me and my laptop on those days when work-from-home means work-from-anywhere. 

I have visited the cafe for both breakfast and lunch, and it is a popular place, especially for families with young children. What was a small closet in the corner is filled with wooden toys to keep toddlers occupied before and after their meals. 

to-go coffee cup sits on a table - the cardboard sleeve has a circular logo and the words "Rooted & Grounded"

The wait for food and drink doesn’t take long though. Drinks, like my chai latte, come out quickly. 

I really enjoy the chai at Rooted & Grounded. I wouldn’t call it “authentic,” but it’s spiced and not as sweet. 

overhead view of a square plate with two halves of a sausage, egg and cheese panini with one half on top of the other

It pairs well with a breakfast panini, which I tried on my first visit. I ordered a sausage, egg, and cheese which was made up of a sausage patty, scrambled egg patties, and plenty of melted cheddar. It made for a good sandwich, nothing extraordinary, but a good, filling breakfast. (Other options include pancakes, scrambled eggs, and yogurt parfaits). 

When I came back for lunch, it was a different story. 

plate with a panini topped with apple slices, bacon and cheddar next to a pile of chips, a pickle spear, and a cup of maple syrup

I ordered the special apple maple bacon panini which featured apple slices, apple butter, cheddar cheese, and bacon with maple syrup for dipping. This was an excellent combination, a sweet and savory mash-up that went from very good to great after I dipped it in the maple syrup. 

It’s the perfect sandwich for fall. (And it pairs pretty well with a chai, too). It also has me excited to try more lunch paninis in future visits.

The breakfast panini was $9 while the lunch special was $12 – it came with a side of chips. With the chai, my meals cost about $13 and $16, respectively. That feels like a fair price to pay, especially with the friendly counter service and quick arrival of my orders. 

I’m going to keep coming back – adding punches to my frequent visitor card – and enjoying more chai, more breakfast, and more lunches at Rooted & Grounded Cafe. 

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

Rooted & Grounded Cafe
1400 Lancaster Avenue
Reading, PA 19607

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Black food truck with yellow letters reading "Beansie's" with a yellow coffee cup with white smoke for a logo
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Review: Beansie’s Cafe Food Truck

Black food truck with yellow letters reading "Beansie's" with a yellow coffee cup with white smoke for a logo

What if I told you one of the best breakfasts in Berks County doesn’t come from a restaurant, but a food truck? 

Beansie’s Cafe is a mobile breakfast and lunch spot. In addition to corporate catering and serving at local events, Beansie’s does pop-up breakfasts in the parking lot of Wilshire Pool in Spring Township. 

That’s where I first tasted Beansie’s in 2023. And since that first visit, it has become one of my favorite breakfast spots. 

In the Wilshire parking lot, the black truck sets up parallel to Van Reed Road. The yellow Beansie’s logo is clearly visible to all those driving past. 

wooden cornhole board with face painted black with a brown coffee cup and white letters that read "Beansie's"

Lines queue up early for their 8 a.m. opening. On my last visit, I arrived a little after 8 only to find a line of about three ahead of me. Ordering is a process. Rather than take all of the orders, everything is done one at a time. An order is taken and prepared – or at least started – before the next order is taken. This can make the line feel slow, but the prep time is fairly quick so it doesn’t take long to receive your order once it’s placed. 

And if you do have to wait, Beansie’s often sets out a cornhole set on nice days to help you pass the time. 

black Styrofoam container with a flatbread sandwich next to a small takeout breakfast bowl and a coffee cup with "Beansie's" printed on the sleeve

I’ve tried many different items on the menu and have yet to have a bad one. On my last visit, I tried the bacon, egg and cheese flatbread with country gravy dipper. It was my first time ordering it, but it certainly won’t be the last time. The flatbread was a savory delight – stuffed full with plenty of bacon to go along with egg base. Beansie’s uses a four-cheese blend that gives more depth than just American or cheddar. 

And that country gravy is perfect. I only wish I would have had just a little bit more because I used up the entire cup. 

takeout container with a bowl with scrambled eggs, peppers and onions in front of a to-go coffee cup

The cheese blend is also a star of Beansie’s breakfast bowl. This has become a go-to favorite on my trips. The bowl also includes scrambled egg, breakfast sausage, peppers, and hash browns. The sausage has just a little bit of heat to it which I absolutely love. No condiment needed for this dish as it shines on its own. 

five mini pancakes with a black cup of syrup for dipping

Jakob’s favorite is the mini pancake dippers. They come served with a choice of regular or berry syrup. These are the perfect size for kids, but there are plenty in the order for adults, too. I would splurge for the berry sauce, but that’s just me. 

two Styrofoam containers with grilled filled banana bread from Beansie's Cafe

While Jakob may favor the pancakes, if I want to splurge, I’m going to get an order of their grilled, filled banana bread. It’s basically two layers of banana bread with a cream cheese filling (peanut butter is also available) and a delicious sweet topping. It’s definitely an indulgence, but totally worth it. 

Of course when I get breakfast, I like my favorite breakfast drink: a chai latte. Beansie’s has a real good one – not too sweet, not too spiced – but they also have all the coffee drinks you could ask for, including their signature wakey shake, a vanilla espresso milkshake with dark chocolate covered coffee beans. 

One of the best things about Beansie’s is that everything on the menu is more than reasonably priced – I can easily get breakfast for the whole family for between $20-30. 

Next time you see Beansie’s is open on a Sunday morning in Sinking Spring, make the trip and give them a try. You know I’ll be there. 

Beansie’s Cafe
Food: Excellent
Service: Good
Ambiance: N/A
Price: $

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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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white plate with a flatbread topped with chicken, tomato and arugula
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Review: Cafe Folino

exterior of Cafe Folino in Wyomissing, PA

Going against my usual rule-of-thumb, we paid a visit to Cafe Folino on its opening day in August 2024. Whenever you visit a recently opened restaurant, you have to expect that the service will be slower and there may be some hiccups along the way. 

We waited patiently as the girl behind the counter took our order with her manager looking over her shoulder to assist. 

order counter at Cafe Folino in Wyomissing, PA

As tends to happen when we go out for breakfast, I ordered sweet while Julie ordered savory. 

My sweet this time – bananas Foster French toast. Six slices came swimming in sweet syrup (infused with orange brandy) with sliced bananas and whipped cream. 

plate of six slices of French toast topped with bananas and whipped cream from Cafe Folino

It was an indulgence, for sure. One that I definitely did not regret. Everything about it was perfectly done – reminiscent of the dessert that inspired the dish. I would definitely order this again (and again and again). 

Julie’s meal was not as much of an indulgence, but certainly no less appealing. She got a bacon, egg and cheese sandwich on a croissant. 

plate with a croissant egg and bacon breakfast sandwich from Cafe Folino

Not enough places offer the croissant as an option for an egg sandwich. It helped elevate the dish at Cafe Folino to another level. 

Between us, we shared an order of hash browns. I enjoyed it as a nice change of pace from the sweetness of the French toast.

Despite some service hiccups, it was still a great first impression. 

Fast forward and we were back again March, this time for lunch. The cafe was busy – an extra row of tables had been added in the middle of the room, and there were barely any seats to be had. 

It was an early lunch, just after 11 a.m. and a steady stream of customers kept the place full throughout our meal. 

The service was much quicker this time, both taking our order and having it arrive on the table. 

white plate with a flatbread topped with chicken, tomato and arugula

I had ordered one of their flatbreads – the chicken pesto. It came topped with pesto, chicken breast, mozzarella, diced tomatoes, a heaping helping of arugula, and a balsamic drizzle. 

The flatbread itself was crispy and held up well with the weight of the mozzarella. The balsamic drizzle added a nice zingy sweetness. The herby pesto brought everything together nicely for an outstanding dish. 

At first, it didn’t look like it would be enough for a meal, but it was plenty. The flatbreads don’t come with a side, but I didn’t need it. 

chicken bacon ranch wrap sliced in half on a plate with ruffle chips

For her meal, Julie opted for the chicken bacon ranch wrap (which came with a side of fries). The wrap was very good was grilled chicken breast, bacon, tomato, and ranch. Though a common site on menus, this was a very well done version that packed plenty of flavor in every bite. 

It was another really good meal – though $40 was a little more than we would generally be looking to spend at lunch time. Still, we left very satisfied once again. 

And meals like this will keep us coming back for more. 

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

Cafe Folino
951 Hill Avenue, Suite 3
Wyomissing, PA 19610

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