The Andy Pepper’s Vibe: Grooving with All-Day Breakfast

Breakfast food rocks. Andy Pepper’s of Limekiln offers takeout of breakfast classics and lunch sandwiches for Berks Countians to enjoy any time of day or night, with a focus on culinary inventions — while keeping classic elements front and center. Led by the fearlessly creative chef-owner Andy Kochel, the crew at this destination dishes up a new world of flavor.

The dishes have upbeat, unforgettable, usually humorous (tongue-in-cheek) names, including some wonderful shoutouts to hippie-era music and musicians. One gets the feeling that saying “egg” too many times is just way too boring for Andy Pepper’s. And these offerings match up well with their names, since the foods and drinks (both hot and cold) clearly combine taste, look and smell in a clever, savvy fashion. Moreover, this restaurant is one of the very few places in Berks County that devotes near-equal menu space to meat-lovers and vegans. How astonishing!

For example, for breakfast, traditional eggs ’n’ bacon fans will love the Flatbottom Girl — scrambled eggs, bacon and cheese all on a flatbread, while vegans will favor the Grateful Egg — a Just Egg scrambled patty conscientiously cooked with vegan sausage and cheese on a bagel.

Humorously Presented, Seriously Delicious

The Yolko Ono, so aptly named, is sweetly satisfying. But it’s messy, somewhat (that yolk from the fried egg), so make sure you eat it on a dish to catch the yummy drippings. It’s an all-in-one sandwich with a sausage patty the size of a small burger patty, plus fresh green spinach leaves, a tomato slice and an engaging sauce all on a substantial roll that’s perfectly textured — soft enough to enjoy, tightly woven enough to hold this baby together. So, there’s protein, vitamin C, iron and lots of other nutrients all bound together in one fine bundle.

Mother Clucker boosts a simply perfect chicken salad fat-rolling out of a lightly savory, grilled flatbread sandwich. This is another all-in-one meal, invented by someone who obviously likes all their eggs in one basket. Though the salad portion is cool, the sandwich is served warm — and it’s very filling. Fashioned somewhat after a traditional club sandwich, with its crispy bacon and tomato, but presented in a new-age, down-on-the-farm style, Mother Clucker definitely pays homage to mama hen.

The generous amount of deliciously fresh chicken salad is smooth, yet holds teensy bits of celery; it’s not overly mayo-heavy, but yes, it’s juicy, so keep napkins or a catch-plate handy. The textures are what makes this so special, and such a popular choice with customers. The chewiness and crunch of the salad, the rough-cut bacon, the smooth provolone and the seeds in the flatbread all work together in a unique dance of sandwich integrity.

Potato chips (made in-house) accompany the lunch sandwiches, warm and tenderly spiced with House Andy Pepper seasoning. Other sides on the menu include Wavey Tateys, which are what they sound like — thinly cut crinkle fries — and Frizzle Nips for cheese freaks — lightly breaded cheese curds plus roasted red pepper aioli. Daily appetizer specials do appear, so expect neat surprises when you show up or call ahead.

Doobie Burger, Hot Mozz, Phony Joanie & Other Fun Nosh

Vegan diners will adore the Groovy Doobie where the first job of building this sandwich involves choosing “meat”: Beyond Burger, Vegan Chicken, Vegan Sausage or a Veggie Burger. That’s topped with vegan cheese, grilled onions, tomatoes, Romaine lettuce and vegan mayo on a bagel (vegan, of course).

Phony Joanie is also vegan, starting with vegan chicken breast as its central element, made luscious and lively with vegan cheese, mayo, baby spinach, sriracha mustard and grilled onions on a grilled flatbread. Deeply flavorful, wholeheartedly healthy.

Mozzarella stars in Hot Mozz, where tomatoes, cheese, pesto and olive oil link up in grilled flatbread. Additions are tailored to taste, with a choice of avocado, baby spinach, bacon or a veggie burger.

Fresh-Squeezed Juices, Pumpkin Pie Macchiato

Beverages receive all the close attention anyone could ask for, with an array of choices both cold and hot. Summer Fling combines freshly squeezed orange juice, homemade limeade and homemade lemonade — available all year-round. Refreshing, pure, immunity-boosting…it’s just one great sip after another, a feel-good drink. It’s especially fab with Cinnamon Swirl French Toast or Andy Pepper’s Giant Homemade Pancake (try the blueberry or original buttermilk).

The Pink Floyd is cranberry lemonade with a splash of white birch beer.

Right up there with the kitchen’s intensive theme of creativity is the café beverage menu. It holds something enticing for everyone, from Nitro Cold Brew to Peanut Butter Mocha and Pumpkin Pie Macchiato.

Cookies and Ice Cream, Anyone?

Different strokes in desserts complete Andy Pepper’s world. A dairy-free, egg-free Avocado Chocolate Chip Cookie has been perfected at last. And the ice cream sandwich made with these cookies is so fat and tasty, it will be a freezer fave for days.