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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Curved rectangular black serving tray with a white bowl filled with potatoes and cheese topped with aioli and a small glass dish with strawberries and blueberries from White Magnolia Coffee Co in Frystown, PA
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Review: The White Magnolia Coffee Co.

Side view of a white building with a front awning and a black sign with white letters hanging over it reading White Magnolia Coffee Co in

Frystown feels about as far away as any location in Berks County. The village, located in the western tip of the county, is one of the smallest in the county with only about 400 residents. 

It doesn’t feel like the kind of place that needs a coffee shop, but that’s where I found The White Magnolia Coffee Co. 

bakery case filled with cupcakes, cinnamon rolls, and scones at White Magnolia Coffee Co in Frystown, PA

White Magnolia started as a mobile coffee trailer based in Myerstown, Lebanon County. In June of this year, the business took over the former Baked Sweet coffee shop and bakery on Frystown Road. 

The coffee shop was certainly doing great business while I was there. It was the day before Thanksgiving, a day off for many, which likely added to the crowd. With no spaces on the main lot, I followed the signs for additional parking to a secondary lot behind the building. The dining room wasn’t filled to the brim, but there weren’t many open tables. And I had two groups ahead of me in line to order breakfast. 

Dining room of White Magnolia Coffee Co in Frystown, PA with a table for four on a wooden floor in front of a tall white wall

The dining room felt spacious for a coffee shop with between 8-10 tables plus two counters with tall stool seats. I didn’t notice until I was ready to leave that there’s a second dining room in the back with more low tables and one high table with a live-edge wooden top. 

At the front of the room, large windows on either side of the door let in the natural sunlight. Next to one window, guests could sit on a pair of wicker chairs with a small table in between. At the other window, a brown couch with tan cushions sat next to a toy kitchen where kids could play. 

Triptych black-and-white floral design on a white wall behind two tables for four at White Magnolia Coffee Co in Frystown, PA

Throughout the room, the white-on-white motif brightens the space, even on an overcast day. Behind the order counter, a white menu board is affixed to the white wall. On a side wall, a triptych of white canvas with black floral print offers words of wisdom: “The whole world is a series of miracles, but we are so used to them that we call them ordinary things.” 

Not wanting to take seating away from the larger parties, I grabbed a chair at the counter next to the barista stand where I watched a constant flow of drinks being mixed, steamed, and poured as I waited. 

large black coffee mug filled with a chai latte sitting on a marble countertop in front of a a small sign with the number 16 on it

That included my own cinnabun chai. It was one of the featured specials for November, and I just couldn’t resist. It was sweet with cinnamon and sugar, definitely a bit of an indulgence. Because of how busy it was, it took about 20 minutes from the time I arrived until my drink was at the table, but it was absolutely worth the wait. 

I had barely taken my first sip when my food arrived. I had ordered the farmhouse breakfast, a bowl featuring home fries, scrambled eggs, sausage, bacon, cheddar cheese, sauteed peppers, and sauteed onions topped with garlic aioli and chives. 

Curved rectangular black serving tray with a white bowl filled with potatoes and cheese topped with aioli and a small glass dish with strawberries and blueberries from White Magnolia Coffee Co in Frystown, PA

The presentation was gorgeous as the white bowl came out on a small black tray with a little side cup of fruit (strawberries, grapes, and blueberries). It looked delicious, and the first bite did not disappoint. It was a hearty dish with flavorful elements – the potatoes were seasoned and the sausage and bacon added savory notes. But the aioli was what really made the dish. I love garlic, and you probably have to if you’re going to love this dish as much as me because the aioli was definitely garlicky. But I thought it turned a very good dish into an excellent one. 

spinning black rack filled with greeting cards next to a black wire rack of books at White Magnolia Coffee Co in Frystown, PA

And even though it was busy, I didn’t feel rushed as there were always seats available. So I lingered for a while, working from my perch at the bar while I savored my meal. 

It was a little pricey at $25 for the drink and the bowl, but I didn’t feel cheated. The bowl was $16 and the drink was $8 (it was $2 more than a regular chai) plus tax. I would gladly pay that again for a quality meal like I had. 

Frystown may be a bit of a hike, but I would gladly make that drive again for another farmhouse breakfast.

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

White Magnolia Coffee Co.
429 Frystown Road
Myerstown, PA 17067

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round plate with a tortilla topped with short rib, corn, queso and and fried egg
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Review: FRESH Breakfast & Lunch

gray building with sandwich board sign out front

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.

mirrored bar with dark bartop at Fresh in West Reading

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. 

tables and chairs in front of a large picture window at Fresh in West Reading

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. 

round plate with a tortilla topped with short rib, corn, queso and and fried egg

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. 

round plate with breakfast skillet topped with two poached eggs

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. 

plate with two pieces of toast sliced diagonal with a small jar of jam

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

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Review: Americana Diner

exterior of stainless steel diner with a sign featuring a blue convertible and the words "Americana Diner"

Review sites are always hit and miss with me.

I love looking at them to get ideas, but if you look too closely, you’ll see all of the less-than-favorable reviews and have second thoughts about visiting a new restaurant.

They can also be utterly confusing. Take the Americana Diner in New Berlinville, for example.

On Yelp, the restaurant is listed twice: one listing with a Bechtelsville address, the other New Berlinville (it’s in neither, sitting between the two in Colebrookdale Township).

One listing averages 4-stars. The other, 2-stars. It’s as if one page is for those who enjoy the restaurant and the other is a place to gripe after a bad experience.

For me, the only thing to do was to try it for myself.

The Americana Diner looks impressive from the outside. The large stainless steel structure is impressive. Shining in the sun, it almost looks out of place against the grittier storefronts along Route 100.

We arrived a little before 9 a.m. to find the parking lot nearly full — always a good sign. Thankfully, there was a booth for two waiting for a couple just like us.

Our waitress arrived quickly to take our drink order. She returned in short order to take our order. Like all busy diners, the goal is get the customers in and out as fast as possible so our server was very attentive to us.

skillet with gyro meat, potatoes and onions topped with eggs

It was hard to choose from among the many and varied menu items. I usually go with French toast, but I wanted to do something different this time. I saw the skillet menu and one, in particular, caught my eye: the gyro skillet.

The gyro skillet was advertised as gyro meat, potatoes, peppers and onions, topped with eggs (scrambled, for me), and served with a side of tzatziki sauce and pita bread.

I was a little thrown off when it arrived with white toast and no sauce. Julie was able to flag down our waitress for me and I got my sauce.

two slices of white toast stacked and cut diagonal with butter in between

“I don’t sell too many of those so I wasn’t sure what it came with,” was the response I got. She was friendly enough about it, but wouldn’t you double-check if you weren’t sure about something?

Then she said, “people have said it’s kind of bland.” Without the tzatziki sauce, yes.

Gyro meat (it didn’t specify if it was lamb or beef, and I didn’t bother to ask) is generally blander. Potatoes, onions and peppers aren’t exactly enough to make up for it.

The problem with the tzatziki on the side is it was chilled so it added an awkward coldness to the piping hot skillet. I would have much preferred if they would have drizzled the sauce on top, beneath the egg to let everything soak in that creamy flavor.

As it was, it was still a good breakfast, a hearty breakfast, but nothing special.

plate with two pancakes topped with crushed pineapple with two cups of Smucker's Breakfast Syrup

Julie’s choice was much simpler: an order of two pineapple pancakes.

The pancakes were almost plate-sized and topped with a heaping helping of pineapple topping, with two cups of Smucker’s breakfast syrup on the side.

I’m a traditionalist so I always prefer the glass dispenser to the little plastic cups. Not that it changes the taste, but I’ve always found the syrup cups make the plate look cheap.

The pineapple topping was good, but I’d rather eat it on an ice cream sundae than on pancakes. Julie enjoyed it, though she was expecting fresh fruit, which would have been a nice touch.

One thing we couldn’t complain about was the price. With our two breakfasts and my glass of OJ, we still only spent $17 for our breakfast.

I can see why the reviews are mixed for Americana. The food is good, not great. The service is fast, but a little rushed. Our waitress made a mistake, but she made things right and was always pleasant.

But you should never let reviews (even mine) influence your opinion of a place.

In the end, the only experience that matters is your own.

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

Americana Diner
682 PA-100
Bechtelsville, PA 19505

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