Kudos to all those visionary food-trepreneurs who continue their impressive efforts to bring absolutely fantastic food and drink into Berks County, and a special shout-out to B2 Bistro + Bar, a Euro-style bistro with a deep, lively list of craft beers, wines and cocktails, including a yummy, seasonal Maple Old-Fashioned. This restaurant’s location and atmosphere is an experience unto itself, as it exhibits and honors a longtime factory and its workers at the Narrow Fabric manufacturing building. The brick beauty, industrial-age pillars, and high ceilings are preserved and blended with new furniture, heavy tables, cozy booths. Black and white photos of the past, amusing vintage advertisements, and even a framed picture holding samples of the narrow fabrics created here produce a uniquely authentic feel. Ingeniously, B2 Bistro’s designers mapped out functional side rooms for business groups and family gatherings. An extensive bar with TVs stretches for yards and yards, adjacent to huge window-doors exposing a garden patio and allowing natural light to pour in. A wood-fired pizza oven and wood-fired grill are situated so diners can watch their pies tossed expertly into the air or see meats sizzle to campfire-style perfection.
Pizza Jump-Start
To start off a meal, why not try one of B2’s light-crusted pizzas? The Classic Pepperoni Pizza is marvelous and works beautifully as a meal or a shared appetizer. Its large, thin rounds of spicy meat mesh with a light coating of homemade tomato sauce and very fresh mozzarella; the crust — made with Italian double zero flour and semolina — is truly satisfying, with that slightly charred edge from the oven. It’s a work of art. (Try it with the Rosehaven Rosé.) If you’re a Brussels sprouts fan, you can get those veggies on a special pizza that features goat cheese, mozzarella and caramelized onions. Mmm. And then there’s the elegant Truffle Pizza, adorned with fontina, truffle vinaigrette and chives.
A Winning Pork Schnitzel
Perhaps you’ll go for a Roasted Beet Salad as well — or indulge in unforgettable sides like Swiss Chard or Duck Fat Fries. These are not items found on most menus! Reminiscent of the past and carefully crafted by a kitchen headed by Executive Chef Christopher Mastropasqua, they’re just small indicators of a big gourmet list created for people who really appreciate food. Consider the list: a top-notch Charcuterie Board, Spanish Octopus, Sun-Dried Tomato Alfredo Fettucine, and a 50-ounce Bone-In Ribeye dubbed “The Beast.”
The Pork Schnitzel is in the “large plate” category for good reason: Breaded boneless pork chops (note the use of the plural here!) are just-crunchy on the outside, emergent with succulent white pork meat inside, all loaded atop scrumptiously braised red cabbage like a triumphant monument. Add to that a white and creamy bechamel intimately embracing the lightest touch of mustard flavor, and — oh my — this is a clear winner of a dinner.
Pasta fans have several enticing, hard-to-decide-on choices. But on a recent evening, the Vodka Rigatoni was an evident choice once the server divulged that she’d just had a patron come in, order the pasta, declare it “the best he’d ever had” — and show up again the very next day to order it all over again. Indeed, this dish has a lovely, warm zing to it, with rigatoni being the sort of pasta that holds that gorgeous, somewhat sweet pink-red sauce in its crevices so you can savor it repeatedly. Some translucent onions pop up here and there in the sauce; for a side dish, the garlicky green beans — pan-sautéed — bring the garden inside.
Go-To Spot for Weddings, Parties, Events
Managing Partner Don Bleau is quick to point out that B2 Bistro is as inviting for a date night as it is for wedding events. In fact, the immense size of the facility, with its authentic Reading historic vibe, makes it uniquely suited for celebrations. Bleau says, “This is a great venue for all types of functions, including weddings.” For a shower, rehearsal dinner, reception or more, he says, “There are two private dining rooms which seat 20 and one that will seat 14. However, we often use the dining room in the rear of the restaurant, which can seat 50. During the spring, summer and fall we have a beautiful outdoor patio which can seat 50. On certain days we will also make the entire restaurant available for a larger event, which can accommodate 150.”
He adds that B2 Bistro also plans on being able to use the rooftop patio for special events by spring with its “breathtaking views of Mt. Penn.” Naturally, the restaurant has developed sample menus with pricing for all levels of events. In fact, says Bleau, “I will personally meet with you to arrange the perfect event for this very special day.”
B2 Bistro
701 Reading Avenue, West Reading
610.898.4314. b2bistro.com
Hours
Lunch: Mon-Fri: 11:30am-5pm, Sat: 3-5pm
Dinner: Mon-Th & Sun: 5-10pm, Fri & Sat: 5-11pm
Brunch: Sat: 11:30am-3pm, Sun: 10am-5pm
BBQ Smokehouse: Sun-Sat: 11:30am-9pm
Happy Hour: Mon-Fri: 5-7pm, Sun: 3-7pm
Specials
Mon: Burger Night
Tues: Virginia Oysters
Wed: Ramen
Th: Pizza, Wings
Sat: Prime Rib
