It’s a fact: with ever-increasing restaurant diversity in Berks County, diners have very good reason to celebrate extraordinary dining treasures close to home. Treat your palate while sailing across continents in your mind, and head to these three superior locales.
Rangoli Street Food Café
Ready to swoon Bollywood-style, bowled over with the sheer joy of amazing flavor? Call Rangoli! Welcoming (and fun to know) are owners Krishna and Meg, who are — rightfully — very busy. That’s because the chai, naan, dal and even their samosas are made by hand. The Exploding Samosa plate is unique: Warm crust of the samosa pie and its delicious filling, with round peas poking forth, contrasts with cold toppings strewn everywhere — cilantro humming amidst chickpeas, sliced sweet white onions, chopped tomatoes, brown tamarind sauce, tart white yogurt… indescribably satisfying. Butter Chicken comes in a metal bowl, hot chicken bites covered with the softest of gravies, to scoop over fragrant, tender, long-grained basmati rice. Krishna asks with a broad smile: “How hot would you like your dish — from 1 to 10?” If wavering, he can adjust from a mild 3 to “almost 4” to please your palate. Many dishes are vegetarian. Do try the gloriously golden Cauliflower Korma entrée. Serving it at level 4 on the heat scale, Krishna asks, “How is it?” He then teases, “If you cry, I do have bread and milk in the kitchen!” Traditionally spicy warm chai and cold mango drinks can’t be beat.
212 W. Lancaster Avenue
Shillington
610.743.5040
Café de Colombia Restaurant & Bakery
At this mother-daughter restaurant located within blocks of City Hall and the Santander Arena, Café de Colombia delivers a steady stream of traditional Colombian-style dishes as well as their own spin on grilled steak and hamburgers. Owned and operated by a mother-daughter team — Rubi and Karol Valencia — this destination is hopping busy. “We have two chefs and two line cooks, and a total of seven people running the restaurant,” says Rubi. “We are busy at lunchtime, and busy at night, doing dine in and take out.” When there’s a show at the Arena, the kitchen works nonstop, she relates happily. “It’s because our food is always fresh. People can taste the freshness in everything we make.” With four types of Fried Rice, entrees like Milanesa de Pollo (Breaded Chicken Breast) and Carne Asala (grilled steak which “melts in your mouth” says Rubi), all it takes is one visit to be hooked. The number-one seller? Bandeja Paisa, a traditional plate containing rice, beans, grilled steak, sausage, pork skin, yellow plantains, avocado and corn cake. “It’s pretty big — has a lot of stuff in it,” says Rubi, “and it describes Columbia up and down. Colombians like to eat a lot! We serve very big portions.” Cazuela de Frijoles is also a draw, but “second most popular is the Pechuga en Champinones — Chicken in Creamy Mushroom Sauce,” says Rubi. “That one is delicious. Everybody loves it.” The Café also specializes in mango, passionfruit and blackberry fruit drinks.
645 Penn St., Reading
610.301.2673
Spoonful Thai Bistro
Just over the Penn Street Bridge in downtown West Reading is the charming Spoonful Thai Bistro where, on a recent Sunday, eager patrons lined up to dine a half-hour before the restaurant opened. The explosively delicate flavors of Pad Thai are what first attracts new patrons, relates the chef. Famous for its complex, aromatic flavors and textures built around a base of thin noodles with egg, topped with crunchy bean sprouts, scallions and peanuts, this dish depends on being super-fresh to work its magical mouth-wonders. Also wildly popular are Drunken Noodle: Pad Kee-Mao, flat-rice noodles pan-fried with garlic, egg, bamboo, onions, broccoli, bell peppers and basil. Chef points to sweet and spicy Red Curry and Crab Fried Rice, both bestsellers as well. This welcoming, cozy destination is within walking distance of boutiques and art galleries.
615 Penn Avenue, West Reading
484.878.2941
