Berks County is still Pennsylvania Dutch country and there are few dishes that epitomize PA Dutch cooking like potato filling. Part mashed potatoes, part bread stuffing (with a whole lot of butter), the dish is comfort food to many who grew up here. And you can still get good potato filling in Berks County if you know where to look. Whether for the holidays or anytime, here is a guide to finding your favorite side dish:
Restaurants Serving Potato Filling
Deitsch Eck
Lenhartsville
The Deitsch Eck, literally translated as “The Dutch Corner”, is the last traditional Pennsylvania Dutch restaurant in Berks County. Step inside to see hex signs and distlefinks and taste PA Dutch cooking including potato filling, scrapple and chow chow. And don’t miss the shoo fly pie for dessert.
Kauffman’s Bar-B-Que Restaurant
Bethel
Known for their barbecue chicken, Kauffman’s in Bethel also is one of the places serving up potato filling as a side dish all year-round. Though not on the main menu, other PA Dutch specialties appear on the rotating specials menu, including chicken pot pie and baked beef heart.
Temple Family Restaurant
Temple
Chicken croquettes, baked meatloaf, roast turkey – all of these and more are available with a side (or bed) of potato filling at the Temple Family Restaurant.
Airport Diner
Kutztown
Though there is no airport next door anymore, the Airport Diner still offers potato filling, at least as a seasonal side in the fall and winter.
Bowers Hotel
Bowers
Another restaurant that has potato filling among the rotating sides, the Bowers Hotel often includes it among weekly specials as a side for pork chops, baked ham and other entrees.
Crossroads Family Restaurant
Muhlenberg Township
Among the menu offerings, Crossroads Family Restaurant is serving potato filling as a side on the main menu. However, the dinner menu doesn’t offer much else in terms of Pennsylvania Dutch cooking.
Heidelberg Family Restaurant
Robesonia
Diners at the Heidelberg Family Restaurant can enjoy potato filling with their meal any night of the week. For more PA Dutch flavors, stop by on Monday for all-you-can-eat chicken pot pie.
Main Street Pub
Bally
There aren’t many places to get potato filling in eastern Berks County, but Main Street Pub is one of those options with the dish available as one of the many side options on the menu.
Perry Restaurant
Shoemakersville
Another diner offering potato filling as one of the sides, Perry Restaurant features classic diner fare. Enjoy pork, chicken or turkey over a bed of filling, or order it as a side for your hot open face sandwich.
Route 61 Diner
Muhlenberg Township
The Route 61 Diner offers classic diner food – much of which comes served over potato filling, including chicken croquettes, smoked sausage, roast beef and roast turkey.
Farmers Markets
Betty’s at Fairgrounds Farmers Market
Muhlenberg Township
Betty’s Salads offers a number of soups, sides and salads at their stand at Fairgrounds Farmers Market, including potato filling (and a number of other Pennsylvania Dutch classics).
PA Dutch Farmers Market of Wyomissing
Wyomissing
You’ll find all kinds of local foods at the Wyomissing Farmers Market, including potato filling. Smucker’s Salads and Desserts offers a great take-and-heat version. They also do an excellent – and very non-Pennsylvania Dutch – pineapple filling.
2022 Holiday Sales
Seisholtzville Fire Company
Hereford Township
The Seisholtzville Fire Company is taking pre-orders for potato filling in time for Christmas. Pre-orders will be open from November 20 to December 18 with pickup on December 24. Filling will be available in 1.5 and 2.5-pound containers.
Oley Fire Company
Oley
Pre-Orders Closed – The Oley Fire Company holds an annual filling sale every November where you can pre-order two-pound containers for your Thanksgiving meal.
Pioneer Grange
Topton
Sold Out – The Pioneer Grange of Topton hosts an annual filling sale in advance of Thanksgiving.
Zion Lutheran Church
Womelsdorf
Sold Out – Zion Lutheran Church in Womelsdorf offers pans of (frozen) homemade potato filling each November.