The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture has posted an updated list of recent Retail Food Inspection Reports for restaurants and food handlers in Berks County. Inspections are a “snapshot” of the day and time of the inspection. Violations are recorded but are often corrected on the spot prior to the inspector leaving the facility. For more information on retail food inspection reports, visit: agriculture.pa.gov
On October 29, 2025, Peg’s Place, located at 1700 North 12th Street, Reading, was inspected and found with the following violation: Potentially hazardous ready-to-eat food prepared in the food facility and held for more than 48 hours, located in the stand up cooler, is not being date marked.
On October 29, 2025, Jakes Place, located at 1601 North 13th Street, Reading, was inspected and found with the following violations: Commercially processed ready to eat food, located in the deli counter, and held more than 48 hours, is not being marked with the date it was opened. Signage at the handwash sink in coffee shop.
On October 29, 2025, Bus Stop Shop Deli, located at 736 Franklin Street, Reading, was inspected and found with the following violations: Stand up refrigerator needs to be cleaned on a regular basis. Non-food contact surfaces not cleaned at a frequency to preclude accumulation of dirt and soil. Old food residue, dishes and utensils observed in the handwash sink, indicating uses other than handwashing.
On October 30, 2025, Arby’s #7601, located at 700 Crossings Boulevard, Elverson, was inspected and found with the following violations: Observed a buildup of apparent mold on the shelf inside the walk-in cooler. Observed a buildup of dirt and food debris under the prep lines. Food facility inspection indicates evidence of cockroach activity in back area by the water heater, facility has a pest control program.
On October 31, 2025, Amato’s, located at 2210 Main Street, Centerport, was inspected and found with the following violation: Refrigerated ready to eat, time/temperature control for safety food prepared in the food facility and held for more than 24 hours, located in the walk-in cooler, is not being date marked.
On November 3, 2025, Winnie Mochi, located at 400 Penn Avenue, West Reading, was inspected and found with the following violations: Food facility does not have available sanitizer test strips to determine appropriate sanitizer concentration. Floor under the ice machine and bain marie has an accumulation of dirt and old food debris. Flooring in the kitchen area is damaged and is no longer a smooth, easily cleanable surface.
On November 3, 2025, Wawa #8124, located at 837 Penn Avenue, Wyomissing, was inspected and found with the following violations: Thermometer for ensuring proper temperature of equipment is not available or readily accessible in the salad bain marie unit. Corrected. Wall at the back corner of the mop sink is damaged and not sealed properly.
On November 3, 2025, Salsa Burrito, located at 4900 Shillington Plaza, Reading, was inspected and found with the following violations: Commercially processed refrigerated, ready to eat, time/temperature control for safety food, located in the refrigerator, and held more than 24 hours, is not being marked with the date it was opened. Corrected. Observed deeply scored cutting boards not resurfaced or discarded as required. Food facility is reusing single use containers, which is intended to be a single-service or single-use article. Soda dispenser ice shoot, a food contact surface, was observed to have food residue and was not clean to sight and touch. Mops are not being hung to air dry.
On November 3, 2025, La Salle Academy, located at 440 Holland Street, Shillington, was inspected and found with the following violations: Commercially processed refrigerated, ready to eat, time/temperature control for safety food, located in the refrigerator, and held more than 24 hours, is not being marked with the date it was opened. Refrigerated ready to eat, time/temperature control for safety food prepared in the food facility and held for more than 24 hours, located in the refrigerator, is not being date marked. Corrected. Can opener blade, a food contact surface, was observed to have food residue and was not clean to sight and touch.
On November 3, 2025, Deluxe Restaurant, located at 2295 Lancaster Pike, Shillington, was inspected and found with the following violations: Multiple foods were held at 42-46°F, in the salad bar area, rather than 41°F or below as required. Food facility is reusing metal cans equipment / utensil, which is intended to be a single-service or single-use article. Observed open canned apple sauce in the walk-in cooler that is open and being used to serve from rather than transferring food to approved container. Container observed to have visible contamination of exterior where can is cut. Corrected by discarding.
On November 4, 2025, Paraiso Rosel Mini Market, located at 433 South 10th Street, Reading, was inspected and found with the following violations: Frozen Food in the freezer area stored open with no covering also in bain marie stored without covering. Potentially hazardous ready-to-eat food prepared in the food facility and held for more than 48 hours, located in the bain marie, is not being date marked. Old food residue, dishes and utensils observed in the handwash sink, indicating uses other than handwashing. No sign or poster posted at the handwash sink in the food prep area to remind food employees to wash their hands.
On November 5, 2025, Taco Bell #36257, located at 1136 Ben Franklin Highway, Douglassville, was inspected and found with the following violations: Observed plastic containers on shelf in storage area that were cracked. Corrected. Observed the nonfood contact surface of the ice shoot at the drive thru to have a buildup of apparent mold. Observed clean food equipment and/or utensils in ware washing area, stored wet in a manner that does not allow for draining and/or air drying (wet nesting). Corrected.
On November 5, 2025, Sushi With Gusto at Redner’s Market #87, located at 1179 Ben Franklin Highway, Douglassville, was inspected and found with the following violations: Inari, a refrigerated, ready to eat time temperature control for safety food in the sushi prep area, was date-marked by the facility, but was beyond the 7-day use or sell by date and requires discarding. Corrected. Observed deeply scored cutting boards not resurfaced or discarded as required.
On November 5, 2025, New Douglassville Cafe, located at 1554 Ben Franklin Highway, Unit D, Douglassville, was inspected and found with the following violations: The Person in Charge did not demonstrate adequate knowledge of food safety in this food facility as evidenced by this non-compliant inspection. Food employee observed on cook line, wearing bracelet / watch / ring on hands or arms. A food employee was observed touching toast and cooked sausage – ready to eat foods – with bare hands. Corrected. Several foods in the Bain Marie and refrigerator area stored open with no covering. Corrected. Several raw animal foods were stored above ready to eat foods in the refrigerators. Multiple gallons of iced tea were held ambient temperatures, in the coffee service area, rather than 41°F or below as required. Manufacturer’s label states ‘Perishable. Keep Refrigerated’. Corrected. Commercially processed refrigerated, ready to eat, time/temperature control for safety food, located in the refrigerator, and held more than 24 hours, is not being marked with the date it was opened. Refrigerated ready to eat, time/temperature control for safety food prepared in the food facility and held for more than 24 hours, located in the refrigerator, is not being date marked. Observed single use containers store open and not inverted in the kitchen area. Corrected. Observed clean food equipment and/or utensils in ware washing area, stored uncovered or not inverted. Corrected.
On November 5, 2025, Frecon Farms, located at 501 South Reading Avenue, Boyertown, was inspected and found with the following violations: Food employees observed in the cookline area were not wearing beard covers. Observed scoops being stored in the storage container with the handles touching the food product inside the container. Observed the conveyor belts on the pie crust roller is fraying, which can be a potential cross contamination issue.
On November 5, 2025, Bethany Children’s Home Main Kitchen, located at 1863 Bethany Road, Womelsdorf, was inspected and found with the following violations: Observed 2 cases of food stored directly on the floor in the walk-in freezer area, rather than 6 inches off of the floor as required. Corrected, moved to shelf. Food dicer blade, a food contact surface, was observed to have food residue and was not clean to sight and touch. Corrected. Observed single-service, single-use articles stored in the dry storage area directly on the floor, and not 6 inches above the floor. Corrected, moved to a shelf.
On November 6, 2025, Sprecher’s Meats, located at 3024 Penn Avenue, West Lawn, was inspected and found with the following violations: The handwash sink in the kitchen area was blocked by a box and was not accessible at all times for employee use. Corrected. Plumbing system not maintained in good repair – observed water leaking at the handwash sink faucet in the kitchen area.
On November 6, 2025, Reading SDA Junior Academy School, located at 301 Kenhorst Boulevard, Reading, was inspected and found with the following violations: Old food residue, dishes and utensils observed in the handwash sink, indicating uses other than handwashing. Mops are not being hung to air dry.
On November 6, 2025, Giannotti’s Country Manor, located at 3118 Pricetown Road, Fleetwood, was inspected and found with the following violations: Three fryer baskets in the fryer area were observed with wires that were broken and not attached making the baskets not smooth and easily cleanable. Beverage nozzle at the bar was observed to have food residue and was not clean to sight and touch. Please increase the frequency of cleaning to avoid build up.
On November 7, 2025, Timber Lane Handcrafted, located at 1540 Alleghville Road, Mohnton, was inspected and found with the following violation: Multiple foods held at 44°F, in the cold hold area, rather than 41°F or below as required.
On November 7, 2025, The Bowers Hotel, located at 298 Bowers Road, Bowers, was inspected and found with the following violations: The side of the refrigerator a non-food contact surface that is next to the fryer is not cleaned at a frequency to preclude accumulation of grease and debris. Please increase the frequency of cleaning for this area. Two working containers in the kitchen area, used for storing chemicals, cleaners taken from bulk supplies, were not marked with the common name of the chemical. Corrected.
On November 7, 2025, Southern Side Kitchen, located at 10 Summit Avenue, Reading, was inspected and found with the following violations: Multiple foods held at 43-45°F, in the walk-in cooler and 3-door refrigerator area, rather than 41°F or below as required. Freezer not working properly either. Old date marking labels visible on clean containers residual labels visible on in use containers.
On November 7, 2025, Lower Alsace Beneficial Association, located at 1206 Roosevelt Avenue, Reading, was inspected and found with the following violations: Small scoop being stored in the drink ice at the bar with handle touching the ice. Corrected. Thermometer for ensuring proper temperature of equipment is not available or readily accessible in the small refrigerator at the bar. Corrected. One of the soda guns at the bar, a food contact surface, was observed to have residue and was not clean to sight and touch. Corrected.
On November 10, 2025, Redner’s Warehouse Market #16, located at 500 Hawkridge Drive, Hamburg, was inspected and found with the following violations: Hood system is not adequate to remove heat and/or grease, as evidenced by condensate and/or grease collecting on the walls, ceilings, and fixtures. Deli area does not have available sanitizer test strips or test kit to determine appropriate sanitizer concentration. Produce display air vent covers a Non-food contact surface is not cleaned at a frequency to preclude accumulation of mold and debris build up. Thermometers for ensuring proper food temperatures are not calibrated and/or functioning properly on the hot hold case. Please repair or replace.
On November 10, 2025, the Holiday Inn, located at 6170 Morgantown Road, Morgantown, was inspected and found with the following violations: The Person in Charge did not demonstrate adequate knowledge of food safety in this food facility as evidenced by this non-compliant inspection. Observed food prep areas under dirty ventilation ducts and subject to potential contamination. Milk was held at 44°F, in the refrigerator in the server area, rather than 41°F or below as required. Corrected. Commercially processed refrigerated, ready to eat, time/temperature control for safety food, located in the Bain Marie on the cook line, and held more than 24 hours, is not being marked with the date it was opened. Multiple foods, refrigerated, ready to eat time temperature control for safety food in the refrigerator on the cookline and Bain Marie area, was date-marked by the facility, but was beyond the 7-day use or sell by date and requires discarding. Corrected. Loose rubber door gaskets observed on the walk-in cooler door. Observed deeply scored cutting board on the Bain Marie not resurfaced or discarded as required. Food facility is reusing single use condiment containers as scoops in food, which is intended to be a single-service or single-use article. Corrected. Mechanical can opener blade, a food contact surface, was observed to have food residue and was not clean to sight and touch. Observed an apparent slime build up in the interior of the bar refrigerator closest to beer tap. Working containers in front service area, used for storing cleaners taken from bulk supplies, were not marked with the common name of the chemical. Corrected.
On November 12, 2025, Westy Bar & Grill, located at 279 West State Street, Hamburg, was inspected and found with the following violations: Non-food contact surfaces of a shelf in the kitchen area holding wing sauce bowls is not cleaned at a frequency to preclude accumulation of dirt and soil. The first ice bin at the soda dispenser in the dining room, was observed to have debris build up and was not clean to sight and touch. Ice machine kick plate, a food contact surface, was observed to have pink mold and was not clean to sight and touch. Four working containers in the bar area, used for storing sanitizer chemicals, and taken from bulk supplies, were not marked with the common name of the chemical. Corrected.
Several other restaurants were inspected during this time period with no violations reported: Albright College Cafeteria, Reading, J A Buffet, Hamburg, Five Below #135, Wyomissing, Asia Kitchen, Womelsdorf, Plain ‘N Fancy Donuts, Kutztown, Gibraltar Fire Company No. 1, Birdsboro, Dollar General Store #25686, Mohrsville, Central Berks Fire Co #1, Centerport, Dished & Done, Birdsboro, Conrad Weiser SD Middle School, Robesonia, Reading High School Commissary Kitchen, Reading, Reading High School Cafeteria, Reading, Lio Colons Food Bus-MFF4/BA78574, Reading, La Familia Mexican Restaurant & Bar, Birdsboro, Kula Kamala Foundation, Reading, Boscov’s #004 – Fudge Stand, Reading, Reed Cottage, Womelsdorf, Oley Valley School District (Middle), Oley, Oley Valley School District (Elementary), Oley, Moyer Cottage, Womelsdorf, Dunkin Donuts #351098, Oley, Charlotte Street Coffee Company, Boyertown, Barista Lisa’s Coffee XRL-7628, Douglassville, Sizzling Bites, Muhlenberg Township, Saint Ignatius Loyola School, West Lawn, Liberty at Dryville, Mertztown, IHOP #5502, Wyomissing, Hamburg Area SD Perry Elementary, Shoemakersville, Bitler Farms, Birdsboro, Wyomissing Jr/Sr High School, Wyomissing, St. Catharine of Siena School, Reading, River Rock Academy, Reading, Meadow Brook Country Club, Reading, Little Caesars, Shillington, Kitt’s Cafe & Gandalf’s Garden, Blandon, Dished & Done!, Reading, Ciccio’s Olives, West Reading, Nuse’s Deli, Morgantown, Mama Licha Mexican + Italian Restaurant, Kutztown, Hamburg Area Middle School, Hamburg, Northwest Elementary School, Reading, Lauers Park Elementary School, Reading
