cafeteria tray with a milkshake and a takeout boat holding a BBQ sandwich and fries
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Review: Herman’s Drive-In

bright pink sign celebrating 30th anniversary against the backdrop of a white building and wood-fenced patio

I love drive-ins. These simple eateries are not just roadside relics of a times gone by; they’re community hubs. A place where people gather for good food at good prices. 

Berks County has its fair share of retro fast food spots. Those include Herman’s Drive-In, the Topton restaurant in the northeast corner of the county. 

Herman’s began life in the early 60s, becoming Herman’s shortly thereafter. The current owners purchased the stand more than 30 years ago and have kept the retro feel inside and out. 

looking out at takeout counter of a restaurant over the top of a plastic chair

The square, white building is found along Weis Street on the southern end of town. A large porcelain sign on the roof proclaims “Homemade Bar-B-Ques” along with “Ice Cream,” “French Fries,” and “Hot Dogs.” 

Walking in is a nostalgia trip. There’s a lamp hanging near the food counter that at first glance looks like it was plucked from Pizza Hut in the 90s, but on closer inspection you can see the pattern of pretzels and ice cream cones in the glass. 

dining area with tables for four surrounded by wood panel walls and a wooden ceiling

Yes, from the purple cushioned booths on the tile floors to the wood paneled walls to the thin wooden slats that make up the ceiling, you quickly realize they don’t make places like this anymore. 

On my first visit, I got the full Berks County drive-in experience with a hamburger BBQ and fries.

burger and fries in a takeout boat sitting on a table in an outdoor dining area

Hamburger BBQ is a staple around here, the Berks County take on a sloppy Joe, and Herman’s has a good one. The roll was filled with ground beef in light sauce, exactly how it should be. 

The fries were typical fast food fries, thick cut, a ready vessel for salt and pepper that were easy to eat. 

I took my meal outside to enjoy under their covered patio which doubles the seating that’s available inside, a great asset for busy days and nights. 

cafeteria tray with a milkshake and a takeout boat holding a BBQ sandwich and fries

When I returned, I decided to try the pork BBQ. It was good, too. Nothing special, just a solid meal that came out quick and hit the spot. 

I also splurged this time on a vanilla shake. While I appreciate a well-made milkshake made with hard ice cream, there’s just something about a soft-serve shake that feels right when you go to a place like Herman’s. It’s a little thick, but so refreshing.

It’s definitely a worthwhile splurge, especially with how reasonably priced the meals are. A hamburger BBQ and fries cost less than $10. Add on another $6 for a milkshake, and it’s still a great deal for lunch or dinner. 

The price combined with the nostalgic feel and fast service are what make retro drive-ins like Herman’s so popular, and why I’ll keep coming back. 

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

Herman’s Drive-In
50 W. Weis Street
Topton, PA 19562

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Review: Way-Har Farm Market

cars lined up in a parking lot outside a building with a sign that reads "Way-Har Farm Market"

Earlier this month, Visit PA (the official tourism agency for Pennsylvania) announced the PA Ice Cream Trail – a list of 12 “farm-to-scoop” creameries in the state. Each location offers passports to the Ice Cream Trail that can be stamped at the participating locations. Visit six creameries and win a t-shirt. Visit all 12 to earn a #PursueYourScoops ice cream scoop.

Two Berks County locations made the list: Twilight Acres Creamery & Bakery in Stouchsburg and Way-Har Farm Market in Bernville.

deli counter and ice cream counter inside Way-Har Farm Market

Way-Har is the older, more recognized name. Located along Route 183 between Bernville and Strausstown in the northwest reaches of the county, Way-Har has long been known for its milk, dairy and desserts – both baked and frozen.

various pies lined up on a table inside Way-Har Farm Market

The store also offers a variety of bulk foods and candies, jams and jellies, and country primitives. There is also a small deli section featuring a limited menu of hoagies and hot meals for dine-in or take-out.

We – Julie, Jakob and I – arrived for an early dinner on a rainy Sunday evening. The ice cream counter was already bustling, but our ice cream would have to wait until we had some real food in us. Among the hot food items are pork BBQ – my choice – and hamburger BBQ – Julie’s choice. I also ordered a cup of sausage stew, one of two soups of the day.

two wooden tables with mis-matched wooden chairs inside Way-Har Farm Market

The woman who waited on us was very kind and told us to grab a table and she would bring our food out. There are only eight or so tables, each seating between two and eight people.

When she brought out the food a short time later, our server was nervous that she had made our sandwiches too hot and my stew not hot enough. We had seen her bring the crock-pot out of the back with the stew so it was clear that the microwave got a lot of use for us.

pulled pork sandwich, sloppy joe and a cup of soup on a wooden table

Given the setup, I wasn’t expecting much so I was pleasantly surprised to find that the pork BBQ was actually pretty good. The hamburger BBQ was as well. Both were like something you would expect to find a church potluck – surprisingly satisfying but not anything we would go out of our way to order again.

The sausage stew, however, was very good, and it was all because of the sausage. Way-Har sells Peter Bros. Meats (locally made in Lenhartsville, Berks County) and I assume the smokey, flavorful sausage was one of theirs.

If it’s on the menu again, I would definitely get a quart to take home (but my own microwave would suffice for reheating).

Of course the soup and sandwich was just a precursor. We were there for the ice cream. I had seen a sign on the door advertising peach as the flavor of the week. That had me sold instantly.

man in blue shirt holding a baby and a waffle cone of vanilla ice cream

Peach ice cream was my absolute favorite growing up so there was a little nostalgia at play. But I thought it was absolutely delicious. There were no large chunks of fruit, but with more, smaller pieces it added flavor throughout.

Julie found an ice cream flavor that she had never tried before – tandy cake. It was vanilla peanut butter ice cream with the addition of pieces of tandy cake (think Tastykake’s Kandy Kake) and chocolate chips.

wooden holding a pretzel cone of chocolate chip ice cream in one hand a a "Visit PA Pursue Your Scoops" passport in the other hand

In this case, there were larger chunks of cake mixed in, and Julie absolutely loved it. Tandy cakes are one of her favorite desserts, and mixing it into an already creamy vanilla peanut butter ice cream made her day.

As Julie paid our roughly $25 tab, we got our first stamp on our passport. Our goal is to find a way to visit all 12 between now and when the promotion ends on October 31.

Way-Har Farms was certainly a great place to start. One down. Eleven to go.

BCE Rating

Food: Fair
Ice Cream: Very Good
Service: Very Good
Ambiance: Good
Price: Reasonable

Way-Har Farms

7701 Bernville Rd
Bernville, PA 19506

PA Ice Cream Trail

Twilight Acres Creamery & Bakery
Stouchsburg, Berks County

Way-Har Farms
Bernville, Berks County

Coventry Parlor at Laurel Locks
Pottstown, Chester County

Chester Springs Creamery at Milky Way Farm
Chester Springs, Chester County

Fox Meadows Creamery
Ephrata, Lancaster County

Lapp Valley Farms
New Holland, Lancaster County

The Milkhouse at Oregon Dairy
Lititz, Lancaster County

Patches Family Creamery
Lebanon, Lebanon County

Crystal Spring Farm
Schnecksville, Lehigh County

Freddy Hill Farms
Lansdale, Montgomery County

Merrymead Farm
Lansdale, Montgomery County

Perrydell Farm and Dairy
York, York County

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Review: Boehringer’s Drive-In

roadside sign that reads "Boehringer's Ice Cream Delicious Food n Drinks with a cartoon image of a man wearing a chef's hat

The beginning of spring is one of my favorite times of year. The weather begins to warm. The flowers begin to bloom. And Boehringer’s Drive-In in Adamstown springs to life for another season.

Located just a stone’s throw from the Berks County line, Boehringer’s is a true throwback—a seasonal spot open from mid-March to September.

Last May, the grill fell silent after a fire ripped through the kitchen. A faulty milkshake mixer was blamed for the blaze and for the first time in 70 years, the summer staple sat idle as the calendar turned to June.

But two months after the fire, Boehringer’s was back, and picked up right where it left off.

The summer flew past and September came faster than I expected. I never made it to Boehringer’s after the re-opening, which meant enduring the six-month hibernation until I could go again.

Part of Boehringer’s charm is the coziness. And by cozy, I mean it’s small. Cramming inside the building with the hungry mob is all part of the experience. There is no indoor seating, just a narrow area where everyone waits before and after placing the order.

The only place that may be more crowded is behind the counter, where about 10 workers jockey for position to take orders, scoop ice cream and build burgers, all while sharing a single cash register.

Boehringer’s is a lot like Schell’s (without the mini golf). The menu is simple: burgers, hot dogs, French fries and hamburger BBQ, with lots of ice cream.

While there are no seats inside, there are plenty of picnic tables outside along Little Muddy Creek. We were among the lucky few to find a table while many others were stuck eating in their cars in the jam-packed parking lot.

cardboard plate with a hamburger bbq and a boat of french fries

There’s nothing fancy about Boehringer’s food. It’s just simple and good. The hamburger BBQ doesn’t taste much different than you would find at a backyard picnic. The fries are typical fast food. But everything is delicious (and inexpensive) which is why so many people go back year after year.

menu board that reads Boehringer's Freezer Fresh Ice Cream with a list of flavors and sundae options

What really sets Boehringer’s apart from other places is the ice cream. The sign on the wall says it all, “Yes! We still do, always have, and always will make our own ice cream.” Twenty-one flavors of hard ice cream are available at all times, along with 12 sundaes and my favorite, milkshakes.

milkshake cup with a straw inside

Peach sounded like the perfect flavor for a spring shake, and I was right. I got a chunk of fresh peach with every few sips. It was cool, refreshing and delicious.

wooden picnic table with a cheeseburger, fries, ice cream and a soda

Julie has always had a soft spot for Boehringer’s banana ice cream, another flavor with real pieces of fruit, not syrup flavoring, which makes all the difference.

One of the reasons why people keep flocking to Boehringer’s is the how inexpensive it is. For our two meals, plus a third for my mother-in-law who was tagging along, our bill just hit $20.

Boehringer’s has been a summer tradition for more than 70 years, and its no surprise. Homemade ice cream, great food and a unique experience combine to make the drive-in a real attraction.

Just watch the calendar. September will be here before you know it.

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Review: Schell’s & Schell’s Dairy Swirl

Retro roadside sign that reads "Schell's Hot Dogs Bar B-Q"

It was in 1955 that Ray Kroc teamed up with the McDonald brothers, rewriting the history of the fast food restaurant.

From the humble beginnings in San Bernardino, McDonald’s became the benchmark for American fast food, leading a multi-billion-dollar industry.

But despite the dominance of fast food giants, local quick service restaurants continue to thrive in a niche market.

In 1952, three full years before the McDonald’s revolution began, one of Berks County’s favorite fast food spots opened it doors.

Menu board at Schell's in Temple, PA

Not much has changed in the six decades since Schell’s began selling hamburgers and hot dogs along 5th Street Highway in Temple. The prices have gone up a little (you can’t get fries for 15 cents anymore), but the menu is largely the same: burgers, dogs, grilled cheese, fried chicken, fries, onion rings, and my personal favorite, hamburger bar-b-que.

Two hamburger BBQ sandwiches, two orders of fries and two milkshakes on a tray

Hamburger bar-b-que is so simple to make (four ingredients: ground beef, ketchup, mustard and brown sugar), yet I find it hard to top Schell’s. A tip for first-timers: to cut down on the mess, eat your sandwich upside down. The thicker top half of the bun will absorb more of the juices.

Of course, what fast food meal is complete without a side of fries and a milkshake? The crinkle fries are crisped to perfection and pre-loaded with plenty of salt. Schell’s offers four flavors of milkshakes from its soft serve machine: vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, and my personal favorite: raspberry. The shakes are nice and thick, and though they won’t do much to quench your thirst, they are delicious.

Barn-shaped building with the words "Schell's Diary Swirl" and an ice cream cone in neon lights

Those with a sweet tooth may want to forgo the shake in favor of some frozen treats. Just across the parking lot is one of the sweetest places in Berks County, Schell’s Dairy Swirl. (Rather than skip the shake, I decided to make an ice cream-only trip later in the week).

If you aren’t sure if you still have room, inside the barn-like building are large pictures of sundaes, ice cream cones and banana splits, just to get you a little hungrier.

soft serve ice cream in a cup overflowing with bits of bananas

I went with a banana split arctic swirl, the equivalent of a Dairy Queen Blizzard. Watching them make it is the best kind of torture as they slice up a fresh banana and add it, along with the remaining ingredients, into a cup of vanilla soft serve, then mix it all up into a delicious mess.

ice cream sundae with crushed nuts, whipped cream and a cherry

Sundaes are another favorite at the Dairy Swirl. My wife’s peanut butter sundae was loaded with peanuts and peanut butter sauce, and piled high with whipped cream. Maybe it was piled a little too high because half of the whipped cream (as well as the cherry on top) fell to the floor as she tried to eat it.)

And the fun doesn’t end with dessert. After you finish the last spoonful of soft serve, 27 holes of miniature golf are waiting to challenge even the most experienced putters.

hole on a miniature golf course with a water fountain

Schell’s course is not just nine holes longer than a standard course, it’s far more difficult. The slopes and patches of “rough” and “bunkers” that surround the holes can be frustrating for those looking for a low score (like myself), but immense fun for anyone who doesn’t take their game too seriously.

The next time you’re thinking about picking up some fast food, skip the drive-through lane and head to Schell’s. The prices are just as reasonable, but the food is so much better. Besides, I’ve never seen a Burger King with mini-golf.

So whether you go for a quick dinner, a creamy dessert or a round of golf, Schell’s is a sure hole-in-one.

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

Schell’s
4625 N. 5th Street Hwy
Temple, PA 19560

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