table with various curries and a large bowl of white rice from Simran Indian Cuisine
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Review: Simran Indian Cuisine – Kutztown

exterior of Simran Indian Cuisine in Kutztown

Kutztown has an abundance of restaurants to its credit. But as a college town, most of them are either pizza places, sandwich shops or bars. 

There aren’t many true sit-down options in town, but there are a few, including Simran Indian Cuisine.

table with a #1 in the center and two place settings with napkins folded into the shape of crowns

Simran opened in spring 2024, taking over a spot on Main Street that had been vacant since Spuds closed in 2019. 

Earlier this year – February 2026 – I was spending the day with my coworking colleagues at Ktown Hall when we decided to venture out for lunch at Simran. 

mural inside Simran Indian Cuisine featuring a woman in a red sari tending to a cooking pot

The restaurant features maroon and tan banquets with wooden tables and reddish high-backed chairs. Napkins on the tables were folded up into crowns. Lanterns hung from overhead, and murals of women wearing saris as they cooked and spun thread graced the walls on either side of the room. 

It’s not upscale to the point of fine dining, but it’s a tasteful and inviting dining room. 

table with various curries and a large bowl of white rice from Simran Indian Cuisine

Our server was by quickly, but with a group of eight, we knew we would have a little wait for the food. Still, we had our drinks in short order and all of our food was on the table less than 30 minutes after we sat down. 

bowl with a lentil and tomato stew

I ordered the dal makhani from the vegetarian menu. It featured lentils cooked in a sauce with butter, onions, garlic, ginger and tomatoes – the latter giving the sauce its distinct red hue. 

plate with a lentil stew over rice next to a cut piece of naan bread

The lentils were tender, and the sauce was flavorful, bringing in the earthy notes of the spices. It was not short on onions, which I love. It wasn’t quite a tikka masala sauce, but it was rich and delicious – a dish that even non-vegetarians would enjoy. 

I didn’t need the naan that I ordered, but I was happy to eat it. The naan was thin and bubbly. I enjoyed it on its own and used it to scoop up the remaining sauce and rice from my plate. 

square white bowl half filled with rice pudding

At the end of our meal, we shared a few orders of rice pudding. It was sweet and satisfying. I wish I would have had a full order, but I’ll save that for next time.

I had ordered takeout from Siman previously, most recently a year ago when I picked up an order of malaik kofta. 

plate of rice topped with vegetable balls in a cream sauce

This was something that I had not seen on menus at other Indian restaurants. Among the vegetarian options, it featured falafel-like vegetable balls in a nutty cream sauce. I found it to be very good – the sauce was creamy and the vegetable balls were a hearty substitute for meat. It was another unique item that I couldn’t remember seeing on other local menus. 

Most entrees are priced between $15-$20 with portions large enough to spread over two meals, especially if you’re adding on a side of naan or an appetizer.

Simran is a great addition to the diversity of Kutztown restaurants. Not only are they serving a cuisine that couldn’t be found in the area before, but it’s a full-service, sit-down restaurant in a town that could use one or two more. 

Oh, and the food is totally worth it. 

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

Simran Indian Cuisine
163 W. Main Street
Kutztown, PA 19530

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white oval plate loaded with a breakfast hash topped with creamed chipped beef and an over easy egg
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Review: Selena’s Diner – Kutztown

small building with tan siding and a maroon awning

They say that when one door closes, another door opens. Late in 2025, it was announced that Letterman’s Diner in Kutztown would be closing after a nearly 30-year run. 

Letterman’s closed in January 2026, but the doors didn’t remain closed for long as a former employee reopened the space as Selena’s Diner in early February. I decided to make my first visit just a week later.

cramped diner with a row of two-seat tables by windows on the left and a narrow gap to a row of 10 people sitting on stools at a counter

It was a familiar feeling walking into the diner, the smallest full-service restaurant in Berks County with a cozy 23 seats – more than half of them stools at the 100-year-old counter. The rest are tables for two that have been shoe-horned in along the opposite wall, leaving just a narrow walkway for servers and customers to navigate. 

faint floral stencil on an antique wood ceiling

Though the original exterior is covered in drab vinyl siding, some of the century-old charm is revealed inside. It’s most notable in the narrow wooden slats that make up the ceiling and the faded floral design that’s painted or stenciled at the seams.

The counter was nearly full when I arrived around 8:30 for a late breakfast. Instead, I grabbed a seat at the first table inside the door. 

tri-fold menu with the outside thirds in white and the middle third in tan with breakfast items and prices

Menus were on the table already so I took a look as I waited for my server to make her way around the counter to the table. Many of the items are carryovers from Letterman’s menu – I recognized names like the “He-Man” and the “scattered and smothered.” 

I ordered the “trainwreck mix,” a heaping pile of breakfast meats (bacon, sausage and ham), cheese and potatoes topped with cream chipped beef and an over-easy egg.

white oval plate loaded with a breakfast hash topped with creamed chipped beef and an over easy egg

Sure, it may have looked like a bit of trainwreck, but it certainly didn’t taste like one. With so many ingredients, it was impossible to get everything in one bite so every taste was a little bit different. One bite might have had egg and potato, another had bacon, chipped beef and ham. 

My favorite bites were the ones with ham. The thick-cut ham steak was deeper in flavor than the other meats and enhanced the dish without overpowering it. The creamed chipped beef was also good, exactly the right consistency and flavor I look for at a diner. 

It wasn’t fancy, but it was good. And like Letterman’s before, the portions are incredible. I did my best, but had to leave a little behind. (Unfortunately, a meal like this isn’t one that’s going to heat up well).

small round white plate with two slices of toast cut in half down the middle

And, not that I needed it, but the meal also came with two slices of toast which actually made for a good palate cleanser. 

I was in and out in about 40 minutes. It’s not fast food, but they work fast and even if all 23 seats are filled, one will open up quickly. 

counter seating at a diner with black stools and a blue tile backdrop on the counter

Also, I came prepared with cash but was pleasantly surprised to find that Selena’s accepts credit cards. Cash is still preferred with a lower price for cash than credit. My $15 would have been another dollar higher had I used a card. 

Cash or credit, Selena’s Diner delivers the great value that you expect from a classic diner with quick service, oversized portions and good comfort food. 

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

Selena’s Diner
242 W. Main Street
Kutztown, PA 19530

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styrofoam container with a chicken sandwich, fries, and a cup of coleslaw
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Review: Fry Daddy’s at Renninger’s Kutztown

indoor market stand with a sign that reads "Fry Daddy's"

As much time as I have spent in Kutztown over the years, I’ve spent very little of it at Renninger’s Farmers Market. 

The Friday-Saturday schedule makes it tough. And with excellent markets in Wyomissing, Shillington, and Muhlenberg, Renninger’s is often an afterthought. 

I did stop in back in 2023 when Heart & Hearth first opened, but visits have been few and far between. I decided to change that back in October, and after weighing the options, I decided to give Fry Daddy’s a try. 

As the name implies, Fry Daddy’s is a stand with a singular focus: deep-fried foods. The menu includes French fries (of course), fried pierogies, chicken fingers and sandwiches, fish and chips, and deep-fried hamburgers and hot dogs. 

styrofoam clamshell filled with chicken fingers and fries

I decided to try a combo meal of chicken fingers and fries. The price is unbelievable. For $6.50, I got four large chicken tenders, an order of fries, barbecue sauce for dipping, and a small side of coleslaw. 

(For another $1.50, I got a Brisk iced tea bringing the total to $8.00). 

For the price, I didn’t expect the portion size I got – almost enough to feed two. And I also didn’t expect the quality that I got. The chicken may not have been the most outstanding that I’ve ever had, but they were good. The fries, though, were excellent. They were fresh-cut style with skin-on cooked to a crispy golden color. The small, bite sizes fries were easy to eat a handful at a time. They’re definitely hard to top. 

styrofoam container with a chicken sandwich, fries, and a cup of coleslaw

I enjoyed my meal enough to return in early January. This time, I opted for the chicken sandwich combo meal. Once again, it came with fries and coleslaw for $6.50. (I skipped the drink this time). 

Topping options are limited – cheese and mayo – and I decided all I needed was a little bit of mayo. 

Again, it’s simple, but I really enjoyed it. The sandwich, while still hearty, was more manageable than the chicken tenders and I didn’t feel as overly full. The fries were excellent again – some of the best around. 

The coleslaw is also solid. It’s not the most flavorful, but it’s creamy and made for a nice addition to the box. 

blue and yellow can of Brisk iced tea next to a napkin holder with the the words "Fry Daddy's" on it

There’s nothing fancy about Renninger’s. It’s a no-frills farmers market inside and out. Fry Daddy’s feels like the perfect fit. It’s not that they take shortcuts, they just keep things simple. In doing so, the food is good, the service is strong and the prices are among the lowest in Berks County. 

It’s a mix that will keep me coming back. 

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

Fry Daddy’s at Renninger’s
740 Noble Street
Kutztown, PA 19530

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old-fashioned diner counter with stainless steel stools in dark red motif
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Review: Mark’s Sandwich Shop – Kutztown

beat up wooden sign that reads "Mark's Steaks Subs Fries"

Earlier this year, I visited Esterly’s Sandwich Shop in Bowers. My post about the little hole-in-the-wall sandwich joint received more engagement than any other Facebook post I had done in more than 10 years of Berks County Eats. 

While almost all of the posts were locals attesting to their love of Esterly’s, there were a few who suggested that maybe Esterly’s wasn’t the best in the area. 

Those commenters pointed me to Mark’s Sandwich Shop in Kutztown. 

order counter with a sign above it that reads "Mark's" in red script

Mark’s has never really been on my radar. Even back when I was in college, I was loyal to Spuds. But with so many recommendations, I decided to check it out. 

The shop is one of the many eateries along Kutztown’s Main Street. On the outside, it’s an unassuming, rather dull looking building – pale yellow with dark red trim.

old-fashioned diner counter with stainless steel stools in dark red motif

Inside, I was surprised to find a little bit of a diner vibe with counter stainless steel counter seats to go along with a much larger dine-in section than I expected from the outside. It does have the same colors as the outside so I wouldn’t say it’s the most appealing dining area in the county.

I had ordered my food ahead of time and it was ready for pickup right on time. 

Of course, for comparison’s sake I had to order the same steak sandwich that I ordered at Esterly’s – that meant a steak sandwich with sauce and onions. 

white plate with a cheesesteak with sauce and potato chips

I have to say that I liked it, but it wasn’t my favorite. Specifically, the sauce was a little too tangy for my taste. But the steak meat was good and done well. I would just prefer to go a little lighter on the sauce next time. 

(Even the admin for Mark’s Facebook account agreed, saying they order it with light sauce).

The best part about Mark’s, though, is the fact that they have Dutch fries as a side option. There’s only a couple places that serve Dutch fries outside of the Kutztown Fair, and Mark’s is one of them. 

While Dutch fries look like potato chips, they are fried, not boiled, and they are served hot. Some of the fries get crispy, others stick together and come out softer. Both are absolutely delicious. 

piece of alumninum foil unfolded to show a chicken parm sandwich, cut in half, and a bag of chip-shaped fries.

Again taking my queue from Facebook comments, I headed back to Mark’s, this time for a chicken parm sandwich. I have to say, it fell a little flat for me. It wasn’t anything special, and I didn’t think the roll held up very well. But at least I had a nice big bag of Dutch fries with it. 

My total was about $15 each time, just a couple dollars more than Esterly’s. I would still say Mark’s is very reasonably priced, though. It’s kind of the perfect price point for a grab-and-go meal in a college town. 

And the food is good enough with excellent service that I’m not surprised they have the following that they do. 

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

Mark’s Sandwich Shop
123 West Main Street
Kutztown, PA 19530

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green plate with two big pancakes drizzled in lemon cream cheese with whipped cream on top
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Review: Quality Shoppe

exterior of the Quality Shoppe in Kutztown

Quality is a word you’ll see in the marketing materials of many restaurants, but in Kutztown, one restaurant puts it in their name. 

The Quality Shoppe is located off Main Street in the Dollar Tree strip mall on Constitution Boulevard. It takes up the corner space in the strip, the words Quality Shoppe over the door are the only hint that there’s a restaurant inside.

Quality Shoppe’s dining area is bigger than it looks like from the outside, partially because the grill is located at the counter service area at the front of the shop. The back half of the space opens into a dining room with booths lining the walls on both sides and tables spread out in between. 

long wooden table with eight wooden chairs in the dinring room of the Quality Shoppe in Kutztown

My first visit was for breakfast. We were seated at a booth not far from the counter seating at the front of the restaurant. The service was quick – it has to be because the food is coming in and out of the kitchen in a hurry. 

The breakfast menu is fairly extensive but rooted in traditional diner favorites like pancakes, eggs, and French toast. But within each there is plenty of variety plus daily specials. 

green plate with two big pancakes drizzled in lemon cream cheese with whipped cream on top

One of the daily specials on my visit was lemon cheesecake pancakes – a dish that sounded so sweet that I couldn’t resist. 

Two heaping pancakes arrived topped with creamy cheesecake frosting, lemon sauce and a large helping of whipped cream on top. I immediately regretted ordering a side of potatoes, but I did not regret getting this sweet treat. 

The lemon sauce had the sour notes you expect, but mixed with the incredibly sweet cheesecake and whipped cream, it wasn’t overpowering. In fact, they balanced out very well. Quality Shoppe does these special cheesecake pancakes and French toast often and I would definitely try another flavor in the future. 

white plate with home fried potatoes and strips of bacon

I mentioned the side of homefries. While I should not have had them, I was almost glad to have something non-sweet just to break up the sweetness bite after bite. They were good, too. They had a nice crispy edge to them. Nothing fancy, just a diner staple done really well. The same could be said about the crispy bacon strips. These came with the pancakes – though they were also completely unnecessary with how large the stack was. 

I finished most of my meal, which totalled around $18 with a drink. 

The next time I stopped in at the Quality Shoppe, in early May, it was lunchtime. Like breakfast, the lunch menu is mostly no-frills diner food with a few daily and weekly specials. There are sandwiches, wraps, burgers, and entrees. 

round blue plate with a burger top bun off topped with cheddar and BBQ sauce and a side of fries

I decided on a burger for my meal – the Texas BBQ burger to be specific. It came topped with fried onions, cheddar cheese and barbecue sauce. 

It’s not the fanciest burger you’ll find in Berks County, but it was good. The BBQ sauce was simple but did the job to give that little bit of smokey sweetness. 

All of the burgers come in either four-ounce patties on a regular roll (like mine) or an eight-ounce on a Kaiser roll. The four-ounce burgers also come with a side of fries, which I really liked. They’re fresh-cut and sliced thin. And there was no skimping on the portions. 

The burger meal was actually a really good deal: it was less than $10 (my drink put it over that mark) and like all good diners, it came out quickly, which is exactly what I’m looking for at lunch time. 

I would say that breakfast was my favorite of the two, but for a reasonably priced meal, good service, and quality food, the Quality Shoppe is a great option. 

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

Quality Shoppe
45 Constitution Blvd
Kutztown, PA 19530

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round plate with a meatloaf sandwich and pickled vegetables from Heart & Hearth in Kutztown, PA
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Review: Heart & Hearth Deli & Smokehouse

Open flag hanging next to the large picture window with the words Heart & Heart dlicatessin and smokehouse on the window

During my school years at Kutztown, I didn’t appreciate all the dining options that it had. Our adventures off-campus were mostly limited to Spuds, the Airport Diner, and poker nights at TC’s (now Ozgood’s). 

As such, I was never a regular at the Uptown Espresso Bar, the small cafe that was located near the top end of Main Street near the University. In more recent years, I stopped in from time to time for a chai. The best way to describe it would be “eclectic.” 

table with a blue chair and wood chair in front of a mural featuring Shrek, Donkey, Bart Simpson and Harry Potter

There were the random photographs and signs haphazardly hung throughout the crowded space, practically hiding the chalkboard menu from view. There were the mismatched tables and chairs – black metal chairs with orange-brown padding by the windows and wooden chairs and benches of various colors by the order counter. And then there was the mural where the likes of Shrek and Donkey, Bart Simpson, and Harry Potter looked out on the customers. 

It was unique, to say the least, but it had been there as long as I could remember. When it closed a little more than a year ago, it was the end of an era. But it was followed by something new, different and exciting. 

Enter Heart and Hearth Deli and Smokehouse. 

farmers market stand with a cooler and a sign that reads "Heart & Hearth Deli & Smokehouse"

I first tasted Heart and Hearth at the stand at Renninger’s in February 2023. I had their pork sandwich with apple cabbage slaw and spicy vinegar dressing. It was a delicious introduction with perfectly slow-cooked pulled pork with a nice little sweet and spicy kick. 

small shack-like building with the words "Heart & Hearth BBQ" over an opening for ordering

Later that year, I sought them out again, this time at the Kutztown Fair. This time I had the pepper peach pork with jalapeno peach sauce and a splash of peppered vinegar. Again, it was that mix of sweet and spicy that pulled me in. More than that, though, it’s unique. Plenty of places offer pulled pork, but no one else is doing jalapeno peach sauce. 

Fast-forward to early 2024 and Heart and Hearth now has a brick-and-mortar in Kutztown, the former Uptown Espresso. 

brisket sandwich and chips on a white plate

I did takeout from them soon after they opened, but it wasn’t until this spring that I dined in for the first time.

wall of farmers market items at Heart and Hearth in Kutztown, PA

The space is much more open and less crowded. Two chalkboards behind the counter display the full men of both BBQ and deli selections. The left wall is home to a mini farmers market with baskets of produce and shelves filled with oil, vinegar and honey. As was the case at their deli stand, the focus is on local and organic ingredients, both in the foods they sell and those that they make.  

On a recent visit in March, I discovered the back dining room – a space I didn’t even know existed because it’s down a small hallway, past the order counter, and around a corner. 

antique wooden table and chair in the dining room of Heart & Hearth

The dining room may be the most impressive part of the building. It has a rustic charm with what appear to be original wood floors and homey wood tables and chairs. There’s a record player in the corner where you’re welcome to put on a vinyl of your choice from their library. Artwork from locals and students lines the walls, providing pops of color and modernity to an otherwise earth-toned space.

Unable to make up my mind on this visit, I got some help from the owner who recommended the Heatloaf, a blend of beef, pork and smoked jalapenos. 

round plate with a meatloaf sandwich and pickled vegetables from Heart & Hearth in Kutztown, PA

This was not something I would typically order, but I was glad I did. There was some heat, but it was mild and flavorful, not burn-your-tongue heat. And the little side of thin-sliced cucumber, apple and melon helped tone it down even more. 

Next time, I would probably go back to pork or brisket, but the Heatloaf was a solid sandwich that’s worth a try. 

I bought a bag of Route 11 potato chips and a bottle of iced tea to go along with it. It was more than enough for a meal (probably would skip the chips next time) and felt reasonably priced at $20. 

And the unexpected coziness of the back dining room was a nice touch. I’ll definitely be doing more dine-in in the future. 

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

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oval-shaped pink plate with a crepe drizzled in ranch dressing
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Review: Smoothie Social

two pink couches in front of a large floral mural at Smoothie Social in Kutztown

Every review I do includes at least a paragraph about the ambiance of the restaurant or eatery that I’m visiting. It’s part of the story, but it’s never the whole story. 

The most important thing is always the food, but the location is what makes the first impression. They say we eat with our eyes first, and that first sight isn’t the food, it’s the restaurant. That first step gives you the vibe. 

And Smoothie Social in Kutztown definitely has its own vibe. 

wicker chairs by the window with pink chairs and tables in the background at Smoothie Social in Kutztown

Stepping through the front door is like stepping into the Barbie universe. The aesthetic is pink on pink on pink – pink chairs, pink cushions, a pink wall with pink butterfly mural.

After a minute, you become acclimated to the surroundings and it just feels like another cozy cafe. 

menu board at Smoothie Social in Kutztown

The menu is focused but still has variety to it. There are acai bowls, crepes, smoothies and boba tea. But the acai bowls have 30 ingredients to choose from, and there are more than 15 crepe options across breakfast, savory and sweet options. 

I first visited during their grand opening celebration. That day, I tried the spinach and cheese crepe with a mango smoothie. 

plate with a savory crepe next to a mango smoothie at Smoothie Social in Kutztown

Smoothie Social is owned by the same family that has Casa de Empanadas in town, and I absolutely love their spinach and cheese empanada. The crepe from Smoothie Social uses the same filling and is just as good as its Latin counterpart. 

The base is spinach with ricotta, mozzarella and Parmesan cream cheese. It’s rich and creamy and very filling. It works just as well in the crepe as it does in the empanada, definitely a winning combination in my book. 

I paired it with a mango smoothie. Their smoothies are made with almond milk so it’s a little lighter but still sweet and satisfying. 

oval-shaped pink plate with a crepe drizzled in ranch dressing

My most recent visit came in May. I was again surrounded by pink but it eventually faded into the background as I sat at the table enjoying my chicken bacon ranch crepe with boba tea. 

The crepe was stuffed with shredded chicken and had just the right amount of bacon. It also featured mozzarella cheese, which I think is the perfect choice to fill a crepe. The ranch was drizzled over the top. It looked pretty, but for me, I would have traded the presentation for a little more ranch dressing. It was still good, but a little more ranch would have gone a long way. 

purple colored boba tea on a table next to a pink chair

I really enjoyed my boba tea. I had the taro which is one of my favorite flavors. I’ve also had the same thing from Casa de Empanada and enjoyed it there as well. 

My first visit was during their soft opening when they were offering special pricing on all menu items. But my second visit was less than $15 for the crepe and large boba which felt like a good deal to me. (A crepe, by itself, is less than $10). 

The pink decor may not be my favorite – I prefer the faux street scene at Casa de Empanada – but I appreciate the uniqueness of it. And the food is good, which is more important than what color the seat cushions are. So don’t be surprised if you see me enjoying a crepe at Smoothie Social in the future. Because I’ll definitely keep coming back. 

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

Smoothie Social
314 W. Main Street
Kutztown, PA 19530

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acai bowl with strawberry and banana from Cup of Joy
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Review: Cup of Joy

porch with blue siding and a sign that reads "Cup of Joy"

Growing up, dining out meant getting meat and sides. That was the mentality we had in our family during our frequent visits to Risser’s Diner. 

It wasn’t long into creating this blog that I realized that there was so much more to discover than the “classics.” 

One of my favorite meals now is an acai bowl. 

Acai bowls are pretty much of the antithesis of meat and sides – a bowl of fruit and grains that melds together into a delicious dish. 

I love both Oola Bowls and City Girl Juice for acai, but the newest place in Berks County to get my acai fix is Cup of Joy in Kutztown. 

Cup of Joy opened in November 2024 at the west end of Main Street. It’s the second location for Cup of Joy which debuted in Pottstown and has more locations planned in the greater Philadelphia region. 

two wooden tables for two against a tan wall at Cup of Joy in Kutztown, PA

The storefront isn’t much to speak of, a half of a townhouse with a few simple tables and chairs. The order counter is at the back of the shop with a video menu board on the wall. 

Cup of Joy has a fairly large selection of premade acai and smoothie bowls – nearly 20 in all – with a create-your-own option that has nearly limitless possibilities. 

I ordered one of their signature bowls, the Choco Joy. 

acai bowl with strawberry and banana from Cup of Joy

The Choco Joy had a smoothie base of almond butter, almond milk, banana, cherry and dark raw cacoa powder. Though not acai, it had a similar consistency. Though somewhat subtle, the cacao was there in every bite. 

The bowl was topped with almond slices, banana slices, strawberries, granola and a drizzle of almond butter. Everything was fresh and the flavors were vibrant. And it all started to meld together even more as the smoothie base continued to melt. 

It wasn’t as decadent as a chocolate covered strawberry, but it hit all the right notes. 

The bowl cost $12 (I ordered the large 20 oz) and served as my lunch for the day so not a bad price for a full meal. 

It’s also cool to have a smoothie/acai option in the northern part of the county. If you like acai or smoothie bowls, you’ll enjoy Cup of Joy, too. 

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

Cup of Joy
474 W. Main Street
Kutztown, PA 19530

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plate sitting atop a red and white tablecloth. On the plate is a chicken wrap cut in half with a side of crinkle fries
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Cottage Bakery & Cafe

exterior photo of Cottage Bakery & Cafe in Kutztown with two round tables with red and white checkered tablecloths

Kutztown’s Main Street continues to grow. There are so many more options than there were in 2005 when I took my first class at KU. 

And I would argue the options are better today than ever. One of the newer arrivals that I’ve come to enjoy is the Cottage Bakery & Cafe. 

The Cottage opened in the fall of 2023, taking over a corner spot at Main Street across from Letterman’s Diner. 

bakery case filled with cookies and cupcakes at the Cottage Bakery in Kutztown, PA

On my first visit to the Cottage, I found it to be a quaint place. The restaurant offers counter service with limited seating – mostly tables for two, in the narrow storefront. The tables were covered in the red and white checkered tablecloths with matching tabletops on the outside bistro seats. 

The menu is large and varied. At breakfast, they offer pancakes, French toast, omelets, sandwiches, and more. At lunch – which is when I visited – it’s salads, wraps, and sandwiches, but seemingly in endless numbers. This includes regular sandwiches and double-decker stacked sandwiches. 

plate sitting atop a red and white tablecloth. On the plate is a chicken wrap cut in half with a side of crinkle fries

I opted for a chicken Caprese wrap, which was one of the weekly specials. The wrap started with shredded chicken and included mozzarella, salad greens, and a cup of balsamic for drizzling. 

First, I appreciated that the balsamic was served on the side. I enjoy the flavor of balsamic in small doses, and I was able to pour out exactly how much I wanted. 

Second, I love the addition of chicken to Caprese. I don’t order Caprese salads often because I feel it’s too much like just eating mozzarella. With the chicken, it felt more balanced. And the addition of the savory notes really helped pull everything together. It was definitely something I would order again if I saw it on the menu. 

On the side were crinkle fries. They were golden and crispy, exactly how you want crinkle fries to be served. With a little salt, they were perfect. I didn’t need to eat all of them, but I did anyway because they were so good. 

white plate with a chicken sandwich on brioche roll with top off and a side of fries

My meal was impressive enough that found myself back at the Cottage the following week. This time, I ordered the grilled chicken sandwich on brioche. It was an excellent sandwich with Gouda cheese. Gouda is one of my favorites because of its mix of smokiness and creaminess, and it just played perfectly with the seasoned chicken breast. Another item I would absolutely order again. 

Prior to the Cottage, the location had been home to a donut shop for years, most recently Donut Lovers Boom, and before that, the Frying Dutchman. 

small round dark blue plate with three cupcakes on top with various forsting colors

While the Cottage doesn’t have donuts, they do have delicious baked goods like cakes and cupcakes. On my first visit, I bought three cupcakes to take home to the family: German chocolate, chocolate peanut butter, and chocolate vanilla. All were very good. The German chocolate was mine. Topped with a nutty-sweet topping, it was decadent and delicious. 

The building, itself, was showing its age a little during my second visit. There was no air conditioning, just a fan in the corner to help ease the summer heat. 

Other than that, my meals were enjoyable, especially when it came to the food and the price. The sandwich specials were around the $10 mark, perfect for lunch, especially given the quick service. 

At some point, I’ll get to Kutztown early so I can give the Cottage a try at breakfast, but until then, I will definitely enjoy their lunches when I can. 

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

The Cottage Bakery & Cafe
236 W. Main Street
Kutztown, PA 19530

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wall painted to look like the doorways of three houses on a street in San Juan - one orange, one green and one painted in the Puerto Rican flag
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Review: Casa De Empanadas

brick facade with full glass windows and banner flag reading "empanadas"

Some restaurants are very traditional with their offerings. They stick to their grandparents’ recipes. They make familiar food the familiar way. 

But then there are those that dare to take chances – to take the traditional and turn it on its head.

Casa de Empanadas opened in early 2024 along East Main Street in Kutztown. Before branching out on their own, their empanadas could be found at another Kutztown spot, Hazel’s Cafe. 

wall painted to look like the doorways of three houses on a street in San Juan - one orange, one green and one painted in the Puerto Rican flag

Walking through the doors, your eye is drawn to the back wall which has been painted to look like a row of brightly colored houses reminiscent of San Juan. 

But the empanadas on the menu are likely not going to be found in Puerto Rico. Traditional empanadas are usually filled with beef and cheese or chicken and cheese. And while there is a beef and cheese on the menu, there’s nothing traditional about empanadas fillings like chicken bacon ranch, pizza, or shrimp and crab. 

There’s also nothing traditional about an empanada place serving boba tea, but I wasn’t mad at it. The taro boba was deliciously sweet, and the purple color seemed at home among the decor. 

purple boba tea on a table at Casa de Empanadas

My boba came first, and about 10 minutes later I got my empanadas – one spinach and one meatball parm – served on a bed of rice and peas. 

The spinach empanada was an absolute home run. Filled with a mixture of garlic sauce, cream cheese, ricotta, mozzarella, spinach, and cream, it was indulgently creamy. But it was never too much, thanks in part to the deliciously crispy pastry shell. 

styrofoam container with two empanadas on a bed of fried rice

While still good, the meatball parm came up a little short of the spinach. I wasn’t the biggest fan of the marinara sauce. A little change and I probably would have loved it like my other empanada. 

I got the two empanadas as part of a meal so they came served over a bed of rice and peas. This was the most traditional item on the menu, and it was very good. The rice was well seasoned and nicely done. I didn’t really need it on top of the empanadas though. Next time, I would probably just get the empanadas and not do the meal deal. 

brick wall with a banner reading "empanadas" behind a table and charis

I look forward to my next visit when I promise to get one of their dessert empanadas – caramel apple or chocolate chip brownie. Both sound amazing. 

And the price is right, too. The two-empanada meal was $13 (empanadas are $5 each otherwise). The boba was a splurge that added $7 to the meal. Still, I felt like it was a very reasonable price to pay for everything. 

Overall, it was a very good first impression. The food was good – and unique – and I look forward to more empanadas in the near future. 

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

Casa de Empanadas
9 E. Main Street
Kutztown PA 19530

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