1 of 5
Heidi E. Reuter
2 of 5
Heidi E. Reuter
3 of 5
Heidi E. Reuter
4 of 5
Heidi E. Reuter
5 of 5
Heidi E. Reuter
Brickstone’s Mighty Fine Food & Spirits in Wyomissing brings a bold breath of fresh air to the Berks County restaurant scene. Its menu is characterized by an excellent assortment of creative starters and delectable entrees, while boasting an unusually wide variety of liquid refreshments, from beers and wines to signature drinks and fanciful cocktails. Dinner is outside or inside at a cozy booth, intimate table, or spacious setting for friends and family.
The bar’s Berry Old-Fashioned of You upgrades a grand standard to summer-light fabulousness, starting with this fun description: “I said Good day, sir, with Gentleman Jack, muddled orange, and blueberry preserves!” It’s cool and sassy. And that blueberry makes a most memorable, sweet-tart splash on the taste buds.
Tasty Travels — North to South, East to West
Pick a part of the country for a geographically appealing appetizer. There are Wisconsin Cheese Curds, Hawaiian Tuna Poke, Fried Green Beans, and addictively yummy Southern Fried Chicken Tenders (with a “comeback” dipping sauce). Philly Cheesesteak Flatbread Pizza is loaded up with bits of roasted ribeye sitting in melted cheese flooding the thin, lightly burnt-edged bread, with browned, caramelized onions strewn about for good measure. Chewy, crusty-crunchy, and as authentic in flavor as the real thing, this appetizer is large enough for two or three to share with drinks before the salad or main meal.
Brickstone’s Chilled Queso Dip feeds at least four, and — served near-icy cold with a pile of toasted tortilla chips — is absolutely perfect on a midsummer evening. Colored bright white but for teeny bits of flavor-rich red and green peppers, the dip is created by combining multiple cheeses — mild cream cheese, sharp cheddar, Monterey Jack and seasoning — resulting in a jazzy, full-but-soft texture experience atop crunchy corn triangles. It’s fun, unusual and just plain fantastic. To make matters even better, you can order the Dip Duo, which gets your table half-portions of both guacamole and the Chilled Queso Dip.
Braised Short Ribs Fall to the Fork
The Filet Mignon steak is a sure bet. No doubt. But it’s hard to pass up Brickstone’s boneless Braised Short Ribs, bathing in a homemade, deeply brown Burgundy sauce. This particular entrée moved up in rank rather quickly from a sometime feature to a menu staple. So tender that the beef falls off the fork, the gravy engulfs each savory bite, and it pairs up in true American fashion with its customary best friend, “smashed potatoes.” The spuds are whipped up smoothly with bits of tasty potato skin intact and enough lumps here and there for satisfying heft.
As a side, enjoy a Tossed Caesar Salad with its special sauce (just salty enough), stunningly delicious and cool. It’s punctuated by uber-buttery croutons that melt in your mouth next to succulent Romaine hearts and shards of pungent Parmesan cheese.
Creamy Sauce, Lightly Pankoed: Baked Boston Haddock
What’s truly wonderful about the Baked Boston Haddock is that this luscious fish retains all its natural subtleties thanks to superior culinary care — more solid evidence of the New American style that Brickstone’s embraces. This is not a fish filet that’s totally encrusted with bread crumbs — a common cooking method that so often spoils the pure joy of haddock. Instead, the chef has selectively sprinkled the barest quantity of panko breadcrumbs on top, then broiled the topping to a toasty brown. Swimming on and nearby the pure white filet are sweet pink baby shrimp and marvelous little scallops in a creamy garlic alfredo. So, at least in your mind, you can revel in the scent and taste of Boston and Cape Cod, right here in Berks.
Try this entrée with Seasoned Green Beans, long and natural from the garden, buttery and peppery, plus a side of Carolina Cole Slaw or perhaps the Chilled Quinoa.
Also on the menu are such categories as Handhelds, Comfort Foods, Pasta and Bowls, and Kids’ Meals.
Oreo Cheesecake, Bourbon Pecan Bread Pudding
For dessert, consider Oreo Cheesecake — for three good reasons. If you’re an Oreo-cookie fan, this creation is a three-way winner, starting from the surface of this quite tall, elegantly presented cake. There are Oreos crumbled all over the top; inside, within the tangy interior of the soft cheese filling, are Oreo fillings and exteriors crushed up and mixed in; and, finally, the black cookie crust along the bottom is thickly formed, continuing up the back to provide a solid, fat border. Divine.
Jim Beam bourbon cream cheese sauce is the secret to a fabulous Bourbon Pecan Bread Pudding. Of course, it’s enhanced by vanilla bean ice cream for a totally indulgent, new spin on an old-timey treat.
Brickstone’s Mighty Fine Food & Spirits
901 Hill Avenue, Wyomissing
610.985.0609
Hours:
Sun: 11am-9pm, Bar until 10pm
Mon-Th: 11am-9pm, Bar until 11pm
Fri & Sat: 11am-10pm, Bar until 1am
Having a party?
For all private parties and inquiries, from the general dining area to the private wine room, call 610.370.7908.
