Berks County is downright famous for its diners, for obvious reasons: we’re surrounded by farms (think: farm-fresh eggs, meats, cheeses, veggies and fruits) and populated by folks who love dining out. These three establishments are red-hot popular, thanks to tasty, traditional meals, creative new treats and consistently delicious recipes.
1. Crossroads Family Restaurant
Centrally located and literally at the crossroads of Routes 61 (Pottsville Pike) and Route 222, this restaurant has been owned and operated by George Asimakopoulos with his brother for 12 years. George is quick to attribute his success not only to family roots in the business (their father was owner of Temple Family Restaurant) but to their father’s mantra.
“My father always preached to me, ‘Make sure you give quality to your customers. Even though it’s just a diner, always give quality in everything.’ So, our eggs are larger than at most diners. Our meats are choice-grade, hand-cut, such as our steaks. Our fish — we buy the best and freshest. Even our potatoes are cooked in-house, all hand-cut. We may not be a linen tablecloth place, but we have good quality,” says George.
There’s ample parking, thankfully, as this diner really packs in the customers. George says humbly, “I just think that we do a good job at what we do. We value our customers; we have a welcoming, clean environment, and we make people feel like it’s home.
“Berks County is a great place for breakfast. We have an awesome breakfast, and that plus lunch are probably our strongest times. However, customers love our dinners, thanks to the quality of the food and our service.”
Breakfast items vary. Some are served on skillets, like the 10-ounce NY strip steak and two eggs. Also popular are the Corned Beef Hash with two eggs, any style, the traditional Western Omelette, the savory Artichoke and Feta Cheese Omelette, the Sourdough French Toast and the sweetly enticing Chocolate Chip Pancakes. Starting with the lunch hour, the salad bar shines.
“Our salad bar is our main draw,” says George. “We have one of the nicest in the area.” As for a popular dinner, try the full-blown Seafood Platter, which includes juicy scallops, shrimp and haddock. “People love it.”
4643 Pottsville Pike
Reading | 610.926.9002
2. Leesport Diner
“To our customers, breakfast is the Leesport special,” says owner TJ Elrefael.
He believes two aspects of the diner are what makes it successful: the quality of the food and the service. Open most days from morning ‘til night, this gleaming silver restaurant has plenty of parking out front and in back. Well-loved for all sorts of standard, tasty egg breakfasts such as huge, custom omelettes and home fries, as well as an Avocado Benedict, Leesport Diner also serves up tons of creamed chipped beef every week (another Berks fave). Waffles, French toast, pancakes, biscuits and gravy — all good with morning coffee. The menu also features a very affordable senior section.
Beyond breakfast there are numerous starters, salads, paninis, mac ’n cheese options, seafood, pasta, steak — something for every desire. When it comes to “most popular foods” on the expansive dinner menu, Tina (who works in the front of the house) declares, “The crabcakes are the best.” TJ comments that they’re made “with real crab meat” and also suggests newcomers try the lasagna as well as Leesport’s popular burgers, “made with USDA-certified black angus beef.” For dessert, there’s a bountiful pastry display. TJ claims they’re all delicious but “the Strawberry Cheesecake can’t be beat!”
5407 Pottsville Pike
Leesport | 484.277.7114
3. Letterman’s Diner
Doug Letterman’s diner is legendary. With this owner-operator and head chef at the helm, it’s been going strong for 25 years with nary a change in the fantastic breakfasts, ambiance (look up at the woodwork), walls sporting the same B&W pix of old Kutztown Diner, cool posters and a handwritten whiteboard with the day’s specials — all dreamed up by Doug. Just in front of the grill is a counter with stools, then a slim corridor for the waitstaff to traverse a trim line of tables that seat just two at a time. Getting around is a delicate dance for cooks and servers indeed, what with managing hot coffee, loaded platters and all. Just keep your elbows in.
Doug explains, “We used to have a shirt saying, ‘Serving the whole world — 23 at a time!’”
For an over-the-top meal, come hungry! Stuffed Hashbrowns delivers country-fried steak with two scrambled eggs, American cheese stuffed between hashbrowns, and sausage gravy with a side of toast. Hey Arnold is ham, two eggs over easy on an English muffin, laden with Hollandaise and mozzarella.
“It’s named after a cartoon called Hey Arnold,” laughs Doug. People come from miles around, “especially on Saturday and Sunday,” says Doug. “Those fellows outside? They’ve been coming here, from Lancaster, for three years.” Worth the wait, any day.
242 W. Main St.
Kutztown | 610.683.3879
