It’s up on a mountain, but Captain’s Cove restaurant feels like it’s on the high seas in the open air, with its get-away-from-it-all dining scene. Indoors, high ceilings and an enormous, old-fashioned fireplace bring back the comfortable, good old days of Reading’s leisure society, with a busy bar area and separate dining sections. Outside, the stage is set with hanging hammocks, thatched-hut bars, life-sized pirate mannequins, chaise lounges, lawn chairs, and umbrella-ed, heavy-barreled wooden tables — delivering a casual, lively, fun feel.
Frozen Mudslides, Hot Bruschetta
As any captain worth his salt would demand, rum-laden specialty drinks are plentiful, but so are refreshing frozen drinks like the yummy, perfectly decadent Mountain Mudslide, created with Absolut Vanilla vodka, Bailey’s Irish Cream, Dark Crème de Cacao, and ice cream puree, blended with cookies and cream. Just as chill is the Peach Bourbon Martini — any time of year. Draft beers, margaritas and wine choices abound.
While many restaurants serve their bruschetta at room temp, The Cove loves to surprise diners with a Bruschetta Italia that’s warm. Made with tomato-rich, melted-mozzarella-topped crunchy garlic toasts, this app is at once hearty and tangy — tart and sweet — and as close to comfort food as bruschetta can get.
Steamed Clams, Ginger Teriyaki Tuna, and a full pound of Garlic-Herb Mussels all pay homage to the beachy theme — and are great with cold beer — while Captain’s Wings in sets of eight jumbo pieces spice up the table according to personal preference, from traditional bleu cheese to BBQ to The Cove’s Tropical Habanero.
Specials throughout the Week
Captain’s Cove definitely prides itself on offering specials menus designed seasonally, says Lactor Providencia, General Manager. What’s special is that many regular menu items are offered at incredibly affordable prices with no cutbacks to the large portion sizes, a clear boon to Berks County folk. There are Taco Tuesdays, for example, while Wednesdays offer an $18 Lobster Special plus a $19.95 Clam Bake with clams, mussels and shrimp — along with a $3 Leinenkugel’s and Sam Adams perk.
Thursdays are Family Night Specials with dinners for $7.95; a recent evening featured Kansas City pork BBQ, slow roasted meat nestled against homemade, signature cole slaw and piquant saffron rice.
Solo Salads
Sometimes all a body wants is salad — and The Cove is a great place for that. The Tex-Mex Chicken Taco Salad seems to be that very dish which — after you’ve had it — you might find really hard to stray from to try something else the next visit. A solid favorite with the “regulars,” it’s got everything you might expect in it: chicken and lettuce engaged with a mango-pineapple pico, grated cheese, chopped onions, and colorful nacho chips.
Grilled Shrimp Avocado Salad combines two luscious ingredients with a mango vinaigrette, while the Pittsburgh Steak Salad delivers tenderloin beef and crisp greens along with shoestring French fries.
Burgers, Rotisserie Chicken, Other Comforts
Naturally, the all-American beef burger is a solid choice from the grill, but so are veggie burgers, turkey burgers, and even a kahuna burger. The super-tender Fire-Roasted Rotisserie Chicken is richly flavored in slow-cooked fashion (that same chicken is shredded to make its merry way onto the Cove’s unusually tasty Caesar Salad, as the chicken add-on).
Fresh-cut French fries enlivened by sea salt sail well on this comfort ship, but equally fine are a wide variety of seasonal vegetables, from zucchini to green and red peppers and fresh spinach, all homegrown locally and selected by hand.
Country Fried Steak, Wild Caught Salmon
Who knew? You don’t have to travel south of the Mason-Dixon line to have some Country Fried Steak. This dish uses a traditional battered and fried technique to create a tender beefy treat that can be dipped in a peppery gravy.
Wild Caught Salmon takes a well-earned spot with fish-lovers, as its substantial, soft meatiness enjoys a top-encrusted layer of seasonings broiled to perfection. Spilling out from below the coral-colored filet are sautéed rainbow-colored peppers and clear onions, while a jaunty bunch of garlic-touched spinach bobs above. The side of aromatic rice complements everything, including a lovely pile of steamed broccoli florets and a medley of nutty summer squashes. Yummy, and guilt-free.
Other entrée choices include Filet Mignon wrapped in applewood bacon, Twin Lobster Tails, Crab Cakes (broiled or fried — your choice), and Seafood Pierogies — potato and cheese pierogies covered with a garlic-wine sauce containing shrimp, scallops, crab and lobster.
The dessert array pleases every palate. Do try the smooth New York Cheesecake.
Spacious Venue
In 2008, the owners of Captain’s Cove completely remodeled the Mountain Springs interior, then began creating a tropical setting outside. Today, there are three parking lots, plus a special lot for motorcycles. “Our vision,” says Providencia, “was to have Berks Countians feel like they’re on vacation — outside the County.” An expansive venue, The Cove easily serves bridal showers and various group events.
Captain's Coveat Mountain Springs
2619 Hill Rd., Reading. 610.236.1463
mountainspringscaptainscoverestaurant.com
