white plate with pasta in tomato sauce topped with a stuffed eggplant and shaved parmesan cheese
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Review: Stefano’s Ristorante & Bakery Cafe

exterior of a strip mall with the word "stefano's" in cursive and "ristorante and bakery" in all caps above the entrance

In early 2025, one of our favorite Italian restaurants – Mangia – closed after 15 years in business. Suddenly, we needed a new go-to Italian spot. 

I think we may have found it with the newly opened Stefano’s Ristorante & Bakery Cafe. 

Stefano’s first opened their doors in January 2026 before celebrating its grand opening the following month. The restaurant took over the former Mary Jane’s Kitchen along State Hill Road. 

tables for two sit against a wall with horizontal wood panels in a restaurant dining room

Two doors down is The Original Mama’s Pizza (our son’s favorite pizza), and while you can get Italian at both, the two restaurants could not be more different.

Mama’s is your typical takeout-first pizza place with a counter of ready-to-heat slices while Stefano’s is a full-service, sit-down dining experience. 

large banquette seat with tables set for six and four

Julie and I arrived in the late afternoon for a date night dinner. The restaurant wasn’t quite half-full when we arrived, but there wasn’t a table to be had by the time we left. The dining room isn’t huge, but it has a decent number of seats with tables for two and four. A large banquette sits along one wall – tables there were pushed together to accommodate larger groups. And by the entrance, a counter with tall stools looked out the front window. 

small salad wrapped in a sliced cucumber serving as a bowl next to a cup of ranch dressing

Our server was at our table quickly for our drink order and back again for our food choices. Our pasta dinners each came with a house salad and choice of dressing. 

The presentation on the salad was unique – a thinly sliced cucumber was formed into a small bowl shape to hold the mixed greens. Once the cucumber was “opened,” it revealed a sizable salad which was topped with tomato, croutons, and sliced carrots. 

We were still finishing our salads when the main course arrived at our table. 

white plate with pasta in tomato sauce topped with a stuffed eggplant and shaved parmesan cheese

For me, it was “Nonna’s stuffed eggplant,” a twist on the traditional eggplant Parmesan. Rather than a heavy breading on the outside, the eggplant was stuffed with breadcrumbs and ricotta cheese and was served with housemade tagliatelle pasta. 

Everything about the dish was impressive. The homemade pasta was thicker than store-bought which let it hold the sauce better. The eggplant was perfect with the creamy ricotta adding another level of flavor beyond the basic mozzarella. 

round white plate with raviolis and shrimp in an orange-hued sauce topped with shaved parmesan cheese

Juile, meanwhile, really enjoyed her lobster ravioli. 

The plate was filled with large homemade ravioli stuffed with lobster and ricotta. Pieces of shrimp were also swimming in the rich sauce. While the dish was rich, it was delicious. From the creamy sauce to the perfectly stuffed raviolis– every bite was amazing. 

bakery case filledw ith cakes, cupcakes and cookies at Stefano's in Wyomissing

When you walk into Stefano’s, you can’t miss the dessert case, and a slice of cake was calling our name so we decided to save some of our meals for lunch the next day. 

By this time, the restaurant was busy. All of the tables had been filled. Unfortunately, service slowed as a result and we found ourselves waiting about 20 minutes for our server to take our dessert order. (Another server or hostess came by and boxed our leftovers for us in the meantime). Another 10 minutes later, we had our slice of mango cream cheesecake. 

triple layer cake with yellow hue and layers of whipped cream in between and on top

What about this instead: This wasn’t your typical cheesecake. It was more cake-like with a light and airy texture. It had three layers of cake with cream in between each layer. The plate was dusted with powdered sugar and the slice came served with a dollop of whipped cream.

It was an indulgence, but absolutely worth it. 

pasta page from the menu for Stefano's in Wyomissing

Our bill was around the $65 mark which felt right for the portion size and the quality of the food. The service was great early on, but when the dining room got busy, our server seemed to get a little overwhelmed. 

While the service should get better with time and training, the food is already great. That’s enough to keep us coming back for more. 

And who knows? Maybe we just found our new favorite Italian spot. 

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

Stefano’s Ristorante & Bakery Cafe
1816 State Hill Road
Wyomissing, PA 19610

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large cheesesteak and a cup of fries sitting on an unwrapped sandwich wrapper
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Review: Cheesesteaks & Water Ice at the Berkshire Mall

stand in a mall food court with the words "Cheesesteaks & Water Ice" over the order counter

Contrary to what some people believe, the Berkshire Mall is still going strong. And while the food court may not be as full as it used to be, there are still three dining options upstairs, including the new Cheesesteaks & Water Ice stand that opened in March 2026. 

Cheesesteaks & Water Ice is a partnership between Wit or Witout Cheesesteaks and Nick’s Water Ice. The former started by serving cheesesteaks at the Italian American Club of West Reading while the latter operated a weekends-only stand at the mall’s Center Court. 

Now, you can get the best of both in the second-floor food court. 

digital menu board with black background showing options for Cheesesteaks and Water Ice

I arrived right at 12 noon on a Friday. While the mall opens at 11, the stand was just turning their lights on to begin their day.

The order counter is adorned with images of Philadelphia sports legends like Mike Schmidt, Saquon Barkley and Joe Frazier. There were three people working behind the counter. A young woman took my order while the others manned the grill and the fryer. 

white paper bag with a foil-wrapped sandwich sticking out the top

The menu is simple: cheesesteaks, chicken cheesesteaks and fries. There are no “named” sandwiches with creative toppings, everything is customized with or without onions (or, more accurately, wit or witout) and with your choice of cheese, roll and toppings. 

There is no list of toppings, but I only wanted Cooper cheese and onions on mine anyway, ordering it in a combo with fries for $20 and taking it home to eat. 

large cheesesteak and a cup of fries sitting on an unwrapped sandwich wrapper

Wit or Witout only has one size of cheesesteak, and like so many other places, it’s a large sandwich. And while it wasn’t over-stuffed, it was definitely full, especially in the middle. The steak was cooked well, and there was the right amount of cheese and onions. 

It didn’t “wow” me, but I liked it. And it more than hit the spot. 

I definitely didn’t need the fries, but I wanted to at least give them a try. They were just your average crinkle fries so I wouldn’t miss them if I only got the sandwich next time. 

Would I get a cheesesteak from them again? Absolutely. And with the mall’s sale pushed back until at least July, there’s plenty of time for another bite.

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

Cheesesteaks & Water Ice
Berkshire Mall
1665 State Hill Road
Wyomissing, PA 19610

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order counter at Carlo's Italian Restaurant in Wyomissing, PA
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Review: Carlo’s Italian Restaurant – Wyomissing

awning over a building with the word "carlo's" in an oval in the center and the words "Italian" on the left and "restaurant" on the right

You would think after living in Wyomissing for 15 years that Julie and I would have tried everything our hometown has to offer. But there are a few spots that, for whatever reason, we haven’t visited. 

We can now cross Carlo’s Italian Restaurant off that list. 

The restaurant opened a decade ago, taking over the space at 1147 Penn Avenue. Before that, the location was home to Fausto’s, one of our favorite sandwich shops at the time. 

diner-style tables and chairs on a brown checkered floorboard in a dining room with skills games lining the wall on the right

Carlo’s has one of the more awkward storefronts in the region. There is off-street parking in front of the building, but it’s extremely limited – four spaces, at best, on the driveway that goes in front of the restaurant and the adjacent hair salon. And you have to park nose-to-tail so there’s a chance you’ll have to back out onto Penn Avenue if you’re the tail-end car. 

But we were fortunate to pull to the front when we picked up our takeout order. There was one table where a person sat enjoying their dinner while the remaining tables were open. 

order counter at Carlo's Italian Restaurant in Wyomissing, PA

The dining room is small – takeout and delivery obviously being the main business for the small pizza and sub shop. 

Everything was ready to go when we got there so we were in and out in no time, pulling out of the driveway as someone else pulled in to take our space at the front. 

meatball sandwich with cheese on a hard roll cut in half to show the meatballs inside

For my meal, I ordered a meatball Parmesan sandwich. The meatballs were on the smaller side so they fit well into the hard roll. The sauce was a little on the sweet side, otherwise it was good but nothing remarkable.

white paper bag filled with French fries with skins on the tips

I had a handful of fries with mine as we split an order among the four of us. The fries were skin-on, fresh-cut style when I was expecting more of a fast food fry. I thought they were very good and with the size of the sandwich, I didn’t need many of them to fill me up. 

Italian sandwich on a wrap, cut in half, in a clamshell package with a handful of chips

Julie decided for something simple – a hoagie wrap – which came with a side of chips. (Fries were available for a $1 upcharge). She enjoyed it, getting the essence of the Italian sandwich with the lighter wrap instead of a roll. And she set her chips aside for later so she could enjoy some fries with us. 

Originally, I was going to order slices for the boys, but it was more cost-effective to buy a medium pizza and keep the leftovers. 

round pizza with half cheese and half pepperoni from Carlo's in Wyomissing

We got it with half cheese (for Lukas) and half pepperoni (for Jakob). The pizza was good, though there wasn’t anything special about it. The crust wasn’t too thick or thin, and neither the sauce nor cheese really stood out. But the boys were happy, and that was the most important thing. 

We spent about $45 for our meal – about $10 each for Julie’s wrap and my sandwich, just under $15 for the pizza, and then $5 for the fries. (Plus tax). Slices would have been close to $4 each so a six-slice medium pizza was the right call. 

And while Mama’s will probably remain our go-to, I would order from Carlo’s again, whether for pizza or sandwiches. It may not have been fancy, but it was solid and exactly what we were looking for. 

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

Carlo’s Italian Restaurant
1147 Penn Avenue
Wyomissing, PA 19610

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plate of meatloaf over mashed potatoes
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Review: State Hill Craft Cocktails & Kitchen

exterior of State Hill Craft Cocktails and Kitchen in Wyomissing, PA

While we’ve found a lot of great restaurants around Berks County, Julie and I are always on the 

lookout for date night options – places to go when we can leave the kids with their grandparents or a sitter for a couple hours. 

One of the places that has moved near the top of our list is State Hill Craft Cocktails & Kitchen in Wyomissing.

Yellow string lights hang over a patio at State Hill Craft Cocktails and Kitchen in Wyomissing.

State Hill Craft opened in 2023 in the former Tino’s/Santino’s along State Hill Road. It’s always been an awkward location with limited parking. That was partially solved when the restaurant purchased the adjoining property and expanded with a new patio and larger parking lot. Even so, we still found a full parking lot when we arrived for dinner on a Friday night in December. 

We had reservations, so we weren’t worried, but it turned out the crowd was for a private party on the patio and there were plenty of tables for us in the main dining room. 

Restaurant dining room with a Christmas tree lit with yellow lights next to a table for four with a black tabletop and blue leather chairs.

We were seated at a table for two at one end of a large oval-shaped banquette. Julie sat on the blue leather booth side while I took the chair. Behind me were two tables against a wall with two mirrors. More black tables with blue chairs lined the front wall. 

Our first trip to State Hill came in November 2023. I wasn’t writing reviews at the time, but we were incredibly impressed with our meals that night. 

brown colored mushroom pasta topped with bean sprouts

I had the umami bomb pasta – a mushroom-infused pasta dish with miso cashew cream while Julie had the coho salmon. It was absolutely excellent, and while the gray-tint of the pasta didn’t make it the most appealing visually, the earthiness of the mushrooms combined with the nutty sweetness of the miso cashew was so good. 

But by the time I got back to writing reviews, they had already swapped out their seasonal menu and the pasta was gone. 

The menu has morphed many times since our visit, and the latest iteration came out in November. It’s a mix of large and small plates with a few sandwiches and burger options. There’s nothing quite as adventurous as the umami bomb, but even familiar items had a little bit of a unique twist to them. 

a burger with cheddar cheese and a brioche bun next to a pile of fries topped with garlic and parmesan.

For example, my billionaire smash. The traditional smashburger got an upscale makeover with wagyu beef, truffle aioli, bacon onion jam, smoked cheddar, lettuce, and tomato. 

As much as I love a good aioli, it was the bacon jam that made this a great burger. The salty-sweet combination is just a great addition. I had just a few bites where I didn’t get enough of the jam, but others where it really shone through. 

The fries were also delicious. It didn’t list it on the menu, but I’m guessing it was garlic, parmesan and herbs. They were addictive, and I just had to finish them, even after I was full. 

Julie ended up taking some of her meal home. She had the wagyu meatloaf which came with an applejack demi glace, garlic mashed potatoes, asparagus and crispy shallots. 

Like my burger, the wagyu beef had a deeper flavor than regular ground beef to start. But the applejack demi-glace, with its sweetness and little bit of bite to it, was excellent. It made it feel like something more than meatloaf. 

three bao buns filled with beef next to a cup of sauce for dipping.

Part of the reason that she took half of it home was that we started with an order of birria bao buns. 

The fluffy buns were filled with birria-style short rib, red onion, cilantro, and mozzarella. On the side was birria consomme. We found the consomme to be more like a spicy chili rather than a traditional broth, but I really enjoyed it. The bao soaked it up well and we each finished off one-and-a-half of them before our entrees arrived. 

Overall, it was a great meal for a great date night. 

Two glasses - one with a red drink, the other with iced tea, on a table with a lit Christmas tree in the background.

In addition to the food, Julie had a strawberry “no-jito” mocktail that she really liked, and I had my unsweetened iced tea.  We spent $65 after using a $10 off coupon. Even at full price, it felt reasonable for the quality of the food. 

State Hill Craft impressed on our first visit and our latest visit, and we are looking forward to more impressive meals to come. 

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

State Hill Craft Cocktails & Kitchen
1 Wellington Blvd
Wyomissing, PA 19610

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round white plate with noodles stir-fried with onions, carrots, and shredded chicken from San's in Wyomissing
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Review: San’s Sushi, Poke, Ramen

small building with a triangular roof and gray siding and a sign above w window reading "San's Sushi Poke Ramen"

Seemingly every day since it opened in late 2024, Julie and I have driven past San’s Sushi, Poke, Ramen along State Hill Road in Wyomissing without stopping. Sometimes we would comment, “we need to go there.” Other days, we’d just go right past without a second glance.

For more than a decade, the small corner spot was home to Bella’s, a pizza and sub shop. Even then, the space was seemingly in a blindspot. I can’t tell you how many times we passed by in favor of neighboring Mama’s Pizza. Part of it is the parking which is limited compared to the neighboring strip mall. And part of it is that the building is just easy to overlook. 

But on a November afternoon while both of us were home, Julie and I decided a lunch date was in order. And San’s was the right spot. 

seats lined up along a wooden counter in front of a window at San's Sushi Poke Ramen in Wyomissing

We walked in a little before 1 p.m. for a late lunch. There were two people sitting at a table when we arrived and another woman filling out a build-your-own poke bowl order slip. That gave us time to look over the menu and look around. 

The restaurant has always been a tight fit, but San’s squeezes three tables and a counter by the large front window into the dining area. There is also a nice sized deck with seating for the warmer months. 

Wood-front order counter with a large print above it showcasing a poke bowl on a black background

The order counter is accented in a light-colored wood. More wood paneling serves as the backdrop of a dark five-canvas print of a poke bowl. Another image of a poke bowl hangs on an otherwise bare white wall. 

Julie decided that the poke bowl sounded good so she built her own. Each bowl comes with a choice of rice base (sushi or white), protein, up to five mix-ins, sauce and garnish.

clear glass bowl on a wood grain table. Inside the dish is a poke bowl of sushi rice topped with tempura shrimp, mango, edamame, scallion, avocado, and crispy onions.

For her bowl, Julie started with sushi rice and tempura shrimp. Sesame dressing was the sauce choice. Mix-ins included edamame, mango, avocado, corn, and scallion. She topped it with crispy onions. 

It was a very good dish. It was light and fresh, sweetened by the mango and the sesame dressing. At the same time, it was filling – a combination of the sticky rice and the protein from the shrimp and avocado. 

As good as it was, Julie could only finish half of it with the remainder going home with us so she could finish it at dinner. 

round white plate with noodles stir-fried with onions, carrots, and shredded chicken from San's in Wyomissing

Wanting to do something different, I opted for the yaki soba (lo mein) with chicken. The egg noodles were thinner than a lot of lo mein that I have had in other places.They were stir-fried with onions, carrots, and shredded chicken in a soy sauce. 

It wasn’t a daring dish, but it was very well done. There was plenty of chicken, and because it was shredded, it didn’t feel processed like at fast food-style Chinese restaurants. It felt like it was high-quality, and it tasted high-quality. 

Both of us would happily order our meals again. We paid cash, saving 15% and bringing our total check down to $27 for our two meals and two bottles of water. Not only is the food good, but it’s a great value. 

And we were in and out in less than an hour, perfect for a workday weekday. 

Lunch or dinner, San’s is a great choice. Don’t overlook it. 

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

San’s Sushi, Poke, Ramen
1912 State Hill Road
Wyomissing, PA 19610

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plate of French toast with two cups of syrup and orange wedges next to a plate of homefries and a to-go cup of coffee. Behind it all is part of a computer screen
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Review: Cloud 9 Cafe

wood tables with black chairs in the middle of a dining room with a large window and doors in the background and black booth seating to the right

A restaurant doesn’t need to be flashy to be good. I ask three basic questions when I visit a restaurant for the first time: is the food good, is the service solid, and is it a location where I would eat again. 

One spot that checks all the boxes is Cloud 9 Cafe in Wyomissing. 

Located in the Village Square shopping center, along with Isaac’s, Duck Donuts, and Sublime Cupcakes, Cloud 9 is one of those places that may not elicit a “wow” in any particular area, but it doesn’t disappoint either. 

high-top tables along a white wall with octagonal tile floors

The cafe has a pretty simple setup, it’s a counter-order spot with a handful of grab-and-go items to complement the main menu. Like many cafes, it’s only open for breakfast and lunch (open Monday through Saturday). 

There are some booths, but it’s mostly table seats, a combination of low-tops and high-tops throughout the dining room. The red-brown tile floor gives it a bit of a 90s vibe.

round plate with a chicken sandwich and french fries

I’ve stopped in for both breakfast and lunch with my most recent lunch visit coming for a solo working lunch where I ordered the figgy chicken sandwich. The menu touted it as a “new” item, and the combination of toppings: bacon, goat cheese, American cheese and fig spread. 

I’m not a fan of American cheese, but I can tolerate it when it’s combined with other flavors. In this case, the fig spread and goat cheese really shone through as the stars of the dish. I loved the sweet figs and how well they went with the savory chicken and bacon. I really enjoyed it and would order it again. 

On the side, I opted for fries. They were a slight upgrade, and honestly, I think next time I would just stick with chips because the fries are good, but nothing remarkable. 

plate of French toast with two cups of syrup and orange wedges next to a plate of homefries and a to-go cup of coffee. Behind it all is part of a computer screen

While lunch at Cloud 9 is good, breakfast is better. It’s a simple menu of the usuals – breakfast sandwiches and burritos, pancakes, omelettes, and French toast. 

The French toast was my choice on my last breakfast visit. The short stack comes with two slices, halved, dusted with powdered sugar. On the side are two syrup packets and a couple pads of butter. There were also the two orange wedges which give me flashbacks to my childhood brunches at Heidelberg Family Restaurant three decades ago. 

close-up view of fried homefries with a to-go coffee cup in the background

There really is nothing fancy about it, but the French toast is good nonetheless. The homefries are one of my favorites, though. The potatoes are cubed and fried to a golden crisp. Despite feeling full with half a plate left, I still finished them off. They are that good. 

One thing that I will never pass on at breakfast is a chai latte. Cloud 9 does not have an “authentic” chai, it’s more on the sweet side but still enjoyable. 

The prices are pretty typical for a cafe with breakfast items available for less than $10 and lunches ranging from $10-15 (with upgrades available, of course). 

I’ll just add that I have always found their service to be very friendly and quick, which is definitely one of the things that keeps me coming back even when the food doesn’t quite match some of the other coffee shops in the area. 

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

Cloud 9 Cafe
84 Commerce Drive
Wyomissing, PA 19610

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square plate with a crepe topped with blueberries and a cream drizzle
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Review: PA Dutch Farmers Market of Wyomissing

view of an aisle at Wyomissing Farmers market with white tile floors, seats to the left, and coffee beans in glass jars on display to the right

Almost since it opened in 2010, we have been making weekly trips to the PA Dutch Farmers Market of Wyomissing. 

In those 15 years, we have seen the market explode in popularity, especially with its dine-in options. The market grew to the point where it underwent an expansion in early 2025, allowing the stands to increase their offerings while adding more seating for dine-in. 

Interestingly, there are actually fewer vendors today than when the market opened, but it still retains its original character with each stand being completely unique to the others. 

With our weekly trips, we have had more than our fair share of breakfast and lunch at the market and certainly found our favorites, both old and new. 

Indoor farmers market stand with food in warming trays behind a glass display

Fisher’s BBQ

Fisher’s has traditionally been my go-to spot for a hot meal at the market. The stand serves a wide range of meats and sides with a focus on BBQ meats like BBQ chicken, pulled pork and ribs while also offering fried chicken, pot roast and other savory entrees. 

overhead photo of a paper plate with three compartments - one with pot roast, one with mashed potatoes, one with green beans

My favorite entree is the pot roast. It’s always exceptionally juicy with a little peppery taste to it that I enjoy. It’s not so much barbecue as it is a take on a diner classic. 

If I’m not ordering the pot roast, I’m getting their chicken tenders. They are simple, but oh so good. I especially love their housemade barbecue sauce for dipping. It’s sweet and a little tangy and just seems to match up perfectly with the fried breast meat. 

overhead photo of a paper plate with three compartments, one with three chicken fingers, one with potato wedges, and one with roasted carrots

On the side, I have three that I really like, which makes it tough to choose because platters only include two choices. 

Rarely do I get a platter without an order of their potato wedges. The seasoned wedges are better than most French fries that I’ve tried (also great for dipping in the BBQ sauce). I also really enjoy their carrots, whole carrots that are cooked until tender. But then there are the green beans, which are served with bacon and a little bit of BBQ sauce. 

I know I can’t go wrong with any of those choices, especially with all of them priced around the $10 mark. 

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

indoor farmers market stand with a counter that is filled with stuffed pretzels

Soft Pretzel Corner

If we’re feeding our family, this is usually our go-to stand. The Soft Pretzel Corner specializes in stuffed pretzel wraps, though you can get plain pretzels, sweet-filled dessert pretzels and ice cream. 

My favorite among the savory options is the brisket wrap, which features beef brisket, mushrooms and Cooper Sharp. Though they do have a cheesesteak wrap that includes American cheese and steak meat, the brisket wrap feels more like a really good cheesesteak to me. And I love how the saltiness of the pretzel meshes with the creamy cheese to create a unique flavor profile. 

soft pretzel log on a piece of alumnimum foil with a cup of iced tea

Julie has her favorites, too. The brisket wrap is on the top of the list but the pizza wrap has been a favorite since the start of the market. It tastes like a pizza made with pretzel dough and is delicious. The chicken bacon ranch wrap is also a solid choice.

No matter what time of day we go, Jakob will always order a breakfast wrap: sausage, egg and cheese. It’s not much different than your typical breakfast sandwich, except with the added sweet and salty flavor of the pretzel. 

Pretzel wraps run about $5-7 each. You can also get their Auntie Anne’s style pretzels – which I think are much better – for around $2 apiece. 

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

Stoltzfus Luncheonette

white plate with an egg omelette, hash brown, wheat toast and two strips of bacon

Formerly the Sunrise Grille, Stoltzfus Luncheonette is the market’s breakfast and lunch counter, offering pancakes, eggs, and other breakfast favorites in the morning with hot and cold sandwiches and wraps at lunch. 

overhead view of a plate with blueberry pancakes

I like the other stands a little more for lunch, but the Luncheonette offers a solid breakfast. Pancakes are fluffy and hearty. And they have pretty good sides with their homefries and hash browns. 

BCE Rating
Food: Good
Service: Good
Price: $

menu page that reads "Crepe corner" with pictures of crepes

Crepe Corner

With the recent renovation of the restaurant, the Luncheonette expanded to include the Crepe Corner. Separate from the main dinette, the Crepe Corner has its own menu of sweet and savory crepes to choose from. 

square plate with a crepe topped with blueberries and a cream drizzle

On a recent visit, I tried the blueberry lemon crepe which had a cream cheese filling and came topped with blueberries, lemon sauce and powdered sugar. 

The combination of sweet with just a little bit of sour from the lemon cream was perfect. Each bite felt like an indulgence with the thin crepe serving as the perfect vessel for the fruit and cream. 

The crepes may be my new favorite food in the market, and they are priced right, too, with no crepe over the $10 mark. 

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

trays of donuts behind a glass display case

Becca’s Coffee & Donuts

Sometimes we’re in the mood for something a little sweet, and there is no better spot than Becca’s. Their donuts are probably our favorite in Berks County, indulgences that come iced or filled with cream and fruits. They also have unique toppings like Fruity Pebbles and Gummi Bears (Jakob’s favorite). 

I also can’t go without getting myself a chai. It’s very much the Americanized version of chai, and I’m not sure if there is any real tea in it (they are using a powder to make it each time), but it’s so sweet and surprisingly refreshing. 

Besides, it’s OK to splurge every now and then, right? 

And the market is a great place to treat yourself with good food without breaking the bank.  

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

PA Dutch Farmers Market of Wyomissing
845 Woodland Road
Wyomissing, PA 19610

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Original Post: January 2014

Woman in Amish dress serves a customer at the counter of the Sunrise Grille

Editor’s Note: The Sunrise Grille at the PA Dutch Farmers Market of Wyomissing is now closed. A new stand – Stoltzfus Luncheonette – operates in its place. Fisher’s BBQ continues to operate as it has since the market opened.

There are hundreds of farmers markets across the state of Pennsylvania, with dozens of them spread throughout Berks County.

From roadside stands to indoor/outdoor markets with 100s of vendors, all of these markets deliver fresh produce, locally raised meats and delicious baked goods.

Farmers markets support area farm families, boost the local economy and help customers find healthy ingredients for home-cooked meals.

They are also a great place to get amazing meals.

I am lucky enough to live within walking distance of Berks County’s best farmers markets. Now in its third year, the PA Dutch Farmers Market of Wyomissing only has 14 stands, but every one of them is different.

There’s a stand for seafood, one for bulk foods, another for soft pretzels and separate stands for beef, poultry, seafood, deli meats and organics. The same is true for their dine-in options: the Sunrise Grill and Fisher’s BBQ.

The two stands are set directly across from each other at the back of the market. Fisher’s sits in the far-right corner. Beef brisket, ribs and barbecued chicken swelter under the heat lamps in the display case.

Everything is hot and ready-to-serve. Catch the stand at the wrong time though, and you may need to wait a while. Friday nights are all-you-can-eat nights, and the line backs up quickly.

plate with pulled pork, green beans and carrots

The best entree on the menu has to be the pulled pork. It’s cliché, but the meat really is tender and juicy. Instead of loading the meat up with barbecue sauce, I mix it with a side of green beans, which are mixed with a little bit of sauce and bacon. The beans are delicious, and the juice helps bring out more flavor in the pork.

Every platter at Fisher’s comes with two sides so for your second, I recommend the carrots. The carrots have a crispy outer coating, with charred black edges, but inside they are a beautiful vibrant orange and sweet as honey. And if that’s not sweet enough for you, grab a cup of fresh-brewed sweet tea to complete your meal.

Across the aisle, the Sunrise Grill serves up some great breakfast options like French toast, omelets and pancakes, but I love it for lunch.

sausage sandwich topped with onions, peppers and barbecue sauce

Sunrise offers some great cold and hot sub options for lunch and dinner. They’re sausage sandwiches are excellent (especially if you get the pepper and onion sausage) and come with a “barbecue” sauce, a thin sauce with a taste closer to ketchup than barbecue, but perfect for the sandwich.

plate of French toast with a side of homefries

But my favorite meal at Sunrise Grill is their hot roast beef. The meat is so tender, more like pot roast than the slabs of roast beef you get at some diners, and it is piled high on top of a Kaiser roll.

I rarely get something at Sunrise Grill without a side of fries. They are fresh cut, not frozen fast food fries. For me, these are the kind of fries that just taste that much better with a spritz of vinegar.

Like every farmers market, the prices at these two stands are very reasonable. Platters at Fisher’s range between $8-12, and a sandwich, fries and drink at Sunrise Grill comes in right around the $10 mark.

The biggest downside to the market, and any farmers market for that matter, is the hours. The market is only open three days a week, Thursdays through Saturdays, and only have evening hours on Friday nights. If you have a supersized appetite, Friday night is the best time to go because Fisher’s offers some great all-you-can-eat specials for the price of a single meal.

BCE Rating – Fisher’s BBQ
Food: Good
Service: Very Good
Ambiance: Good
Price: Very Reasonable

BCE Rating – Sunrise Grille
Food: Good
Service: Fair
Ambiance: Good
Price: Reasonable

PA Dutch Farmer’s Market of Wyomissing
845 Woodland Rd
Wyomissing, PA 19610

Barbecue Breakfast & Brunch Diners Farmers Market Meals Lunch & Dinner Reviews
plate with four half-slices of French toast and another plate in the background with homefries
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Review: Queens’ Cafe

outside of a building with a red flag reading "Cafe"

There is nothing like the atmosphere at a popular coffee shop. It’s hard to put your finger on what makes it work, but you know it when you feel it. 

And you can feel it when you step inside Queens’ Cafe in Wyomissing. 

Queens’ Cafe has a unique location inside the Riverfront Federal Credit Union building along Keiser Boulevard in Wyomissing. It was the former home of one of my favorite restaurants, Squawk Cafe. 

corner of a dining area with two windows an orange mural wall with neon lights reading "Queens Cafe"

Despite occupying the same space, the two cafes couldn’t be more different. While I always enjoyed Squawk for the food, Queens’ Cafe feels more vibrant. The dining area is filled with bright colors – from the selfie wall in the corner to the artwork on the walls to the chalkboard highlighting the specials. 

When Julie and I visited on a January afternoon, we found nearly every table full, which only enhanced the vibe. We ordered our meals at the counter and found an empty table – there weren’t many, and there were even less by the time we left. 

order counter with video menu boards in the background

And while Squawk focused on elevated dishes, Queens’ Cafe offers a simpler menu with classics like omelettes and pancakes at breakfast and cheesesteaks and BLTs at lunch. 

The cafe serves breakfast all day so I ordered a couple of those breakfast staples: French toast with a side of homefries. 

plate with four half-slices of French toast and another plate in the background with homefries

The portions aren’t huge, but they’re not small either. My French toast came in four triangles topped with powdered sugar with a cup of syrup on the side. It wasn’t fancy or inventive, just really good French toast. 

I could say the same for the home fries. I opted to add grilled peppers and onions to it, and there was something about it that just tasted like homemade in the best way. 

pink plate with scalloped edge holding a grilled cheese sandwich and a cup of vegetable soup

While there are certainly familiar items on the menu, that’s not to say that everything is “boring.” Julie found an exciting offering on the specials menu: the apple and brie grilled cheese. 

The sandwich was on the smaller side, but packed with flavor. The sweetness of the apple played well with the creamy cheese, and the multigrain bread was the perfect counterbalance to both. It was enjoyable from the first bite to the last. 

It came served with a cup of soup, and Julie opted for the vegetable. It was a little brothy, but filled with hearty vegetables like cauliflower, carrots, celery and more. Enjoyable, but not the star like the sandwich was. 

green and white matcha latte in a Mason jar next to a jar of iced tea

Julie also got one of the cafe’s drink specials: an iced cinnamon roll matcha tea. The matcha tea was lightly sweetened with the maple syrup and topped with cold foam and cinnamon for a not-too-sweet pick-me-up. 

In all, our meal cost around $35 which felt reasonable. You could certainly spend less (the tea added to the cost) and still leave full at breakfast or lunch. 

I still miss Squawk sometimes, but at least I know there’s a cool new spot in its place. And I have a feeling I’ll be enjoying more meals at Queens’ Cafe in the near future. 

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

Queens’ Cafe
2609 Keiser Blvd
Wyomissing, PA 19610

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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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A round foil to-go container with baked ziti topped with cheese.
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Review: Nino’s Italian Ristorante of Wyomissing

strip mall restaurant with a yellow sign with red letters that reads "Nino's Italian Ristorante of Wyomissing"

Editor’s Note: Nino’s has new owners since this review.

For nine years, Julie and I lived in the Berkshire Heights neighborhood of Wyomissing. We loved the location – close to the highway and within walking distance of all the great restaurants in West Reading.

We also had some great restaurants closer to home. Willoughby’s on Park is one of our favorites for fine dining. Mikura always had delicious Asian-inspired meals. And I had many chai tea lattes from the Park Road Café.

But the one place we had never visited was the restaurant that had been there the longest: Nino’s Pizzeria.

A photo of a brick pizza oven with a door next to it.

Nino’s is in their 26th year of serving Wyomissing and Berks County. When we knew we were going to be moving, Julie and I made a promise that we had to have dinner from Nino’s at least once before we left.

One night after packing boxes all day, we called in an order, and I walked down the street to the little Italian restaurant in the strip mall. On many of our walks, we would see people sitting inside enjoying their meals, but the chairs were all up on the tables when I walked in, a symptom of the COVID-19 pandemic and the tight restrictions on dine-in.

A photo of a restaurant with chairs on top of tables and a picture of Italy hanging on the wall

Talking with the owners, it was easy to understand their decision to focus exclusively on takeout and delivery. With such a small space, 25% capacity would only allow them to seat about 12 people. And with the extra protocols around cleaning and sanitizing tables, it just didn’t make financial sense to offer table service.

But the phone-in orders seemed to be coming in at a steady pace. And I was anxious to get the food back to the house to finally try it.

Julie and I had both opted for one of their Italian dinners. Julie went with her personal favorite, baked ziti, while I ordered the homemade lasagna.

A round foil to-go container with a cheesey lasagna slice

Anytime I order from a restaurant that has a large menu – as Nino’s does – I am drawn to anything that says “homemade.” The connotation, at least, is that the dish takes time to make and it is one that the owners are proud to serve.

By the time I got home the lasagna was not much to look at – it shifted around in the foil packaging so it looked like a blob of cheese atop a blob of pasta and sauce – but it sure tasted good.

The menu describes the meat sauce as slightly sweet with a rich flavor, and I can’t describe it any better than that. The lasagna noodles weren’t the thinnest that I have seen, but they weren’t thick either. And there was plenty of cheese on top. It was definitely worthy of the “homemade” distinction.

A round foil to-go container with baked ziti topped with cheese.

Julie’s baked ziti was also very good (and also tasted much better than it looked in the to-go packaging). The tomato sauce was a little sweeter than the meat sauce on my lasagna, probably just because it didn’t have the extra savory element to it.

Both meals also came with a side salad and homemade bread. The side salads were pretty typical – lettuce with red onion, a slice of tomato and choice of dressing. But the bread was much more than typical.

A large loaf of Italian bread on a paper plate.

Normally when something comes with bread, I expect a slice or two. Both Julie and I got – essentially – a whole loaf of bread with our meals. We were happy to enjoy it with several more meals throughout the week.

I can say for sure that Nino’s didn’t skimp on quality or portions. And at around $35, we certainly got our money’s worth.

I’m really not sure why it took us so long to get to Nino’s – perhaps we just took for granted that it was there – but we wish we would have gone sooner.

The good news is, we didn’t move that far away so there’s nothing stopping us from going back again.

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

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