With a clear-eyed, curated focus on creating new, gorgeous, imaginative breakfasts and deliciously healthy luncheons, FRESH Restaurant in West Reading promises all the pleasure one hopes for in a meal, with zero guilt.
Among the breakfast offerings are burritos, avocado toast and an avocado bowl featuring two poached eggs on multigrain toast with avocado, tomatoes and feta. And then there are the benedicts…
“Benedict” Means Blessed and Good — Really Good
Owner Nick Kaltsas’ Eggs Benedicts — all served with two poached eggs and seasoned potatoes (and grilled vegetables by request) — are clear winners, with three varieties to choose from. The Classic is made with shaved Canadian ham on a grilled English muffin and a perfectly silky, lightly tangy hollandaise sauce, while the Garden Benedict presents the eggs atop portobello mushrooms enhanced with sauteed spinach and tomatoes, Mediterranean-style — for the whole nutritional picture: protein, vitamins and minerals.
Meat lovers must take aim at the Short Rib Quesadilla Benedict, which is a hearty breakfast totally worth writing home about. The flavorful mixes of meaty, pulled pieces of roasted short rib melding with two folded, Cheddar-cheesy quesadilla triangles, are deepened with the egg white and yolk plus hollandaise, lovingly emboldened by a mild pepper sauce. It’s that total combination of soft and chewy textures, sweet and aromatic, plus Chef’s incredible seasonings throughout that make this plate outstanding. There’s enough to take some home for dinner as well.
While hash browns are standard fare in Berks County, Kaltsas’ style of cooking makes these bite-sized potatoes positively addictive. For all the subtle spices one detects, it’s somewhat surprising to hear Chef Nick assert, “I keep everything very simple.” He adds, “The potato seasoning is salt, pepper, oregano and rosemary.” Indeed, the influence of the family’s Greek ancestry is apparent in much of FRESH’s dishes, with devotion especially to leafy herbs from a well-variegated garden. Choosing the proper drinks to accompany omelets, pancakes and skillet dishes is made easy, with steaming hot coffee and many choices of teas, both caffeinated and herbal. Or, for a brunch treat, the day might well call for a Bloody Mary or Mimosa, hand-crafted at the full bar, to enjoy.
Hmmm… Apple Pie Pancakes? Or Brisket Corned Beef Skillet?Feeling torn between sweet and savory? That’s an entirely normal reaction for Fresh customers. Pancakes listed under “Sweet Eats” include plain, Blueberry or Chocolate Chip, plus a unique Apple Pie option covered with warmed apple compote and crumbly pie topping. An enticing Cinnamon Crunch French Toast comes drizzled gently with sweet vanilla.
Fresh skillet entrées with eggs pull ingredients together in three different ways. Sunrise presents roasted butternut squash, spinach and mushrooms, while the Brisket Corned Beef includes sauteed onions, eggs and hollandaise. The Loaded Skillet contains everything from ham and sausage to Swiss cheese, peppers, onions and sriracha sauce.
Beautiful Bowls
Bowls are all the rage, yes, but few can match the flavor and satisfaction the way FRESH does. The Shrimp and Grits Bowl appeals to anyone with a hankering for Southern-inspired cuisine. But one bowl is already on the “favorites” list with Berks Countians: “Try the Chicken Grain Bowl!” urges the owner. “It’s very popular as a lunch dish.” Wow. It’s a no-brainer to see why. Eating this entrée automatically makes one feel happy and healthy with every forkful.
First of all, it’s almost too pretty to eat. Attentively prepared quinoa with char-roasted corn lies beneath tender, aligned slices of grilled chicken; nestled nearby are freshly sliced, buttery-soft avocado (generously portioned!), thin rounds of feisty, red-skinned radishes and chopped tomatoes. The juicy, crunchy textures seem to ping around in the mouth thanks to their masterful treatment of garden herbs by the Chef; in fact, those seasonings completely seal the deal for an utterly memorable taste experience.
Two suggestions: Try a hot cup of Lemon-Ginger tea with this bowl, which — if you choose — can be delivered along with a small cup of golden honey and a plate of juicy lemon slivers. This tea has just the right rejuvenating-yet-warming effect. Also, for a side dish, do order the House Made Tortilla Chips with pico de gallo. These gorgeously crunchy (yet just-chewy) chips are lip-smacking good, ranking high on the chart of “best tortilla chips anywhere.”
Smash Burgers & Roasted Reubens
Naturally, FRESH’s sandwich list includes a super-hamburger — the Smash Burger, created for folks who adore grilled onions and bacon jam. For good measure, FRESH then takes liberties with the traditional Reuben, inviting diners to try their specialty Roasted Reuben. Here, brisket corned beef plays a starring role, enhanced by sauerkraut and Swiss cheese.
On any given day, Nick Kaltsas’ mother (Victoria) and father (Christos), might be on deck, smoothly tending to everyone’s needs. Victoria Kaltsas is quick to assure her excitement about the restaurant’s cuisine: “Everything is fresh,” she says, smiling. “We even make our pickles fresh.”
614 Penn Avenue, West Reading | 610.396.5143 | freshbreakfastlunch.com
