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 10, 2025, Washington Elementary School, located at 1406 Route 100, Barto, was inspected and found with the following violation: Observed a build-up ice around the fan units of the walk-in-cooler.
On October 10, 2025, Star City Diner and Pizza Parlor, located at 600 Shoemaker Avenue, Shoemakersville, was inspected and found with the following violation: Egg and meat foods are served raw or undercooked to the customer’s request; however, a written consumer advisory (on the menu, table tent, or placard) is not provided to the consumer.
On October 13, 2025, Mena Cibao Deli & Grocery, located at 256 South 10th Street, Reading, was inspected and found with the following violation: Cooked food, which was cooled, was not reheated to 165°F within two hours, for hot holding. Cooked food was held at 111 °F, in the hot held area, rather than 135°F or above as required. Instead of liquid hand soap employees was using a bar of soap laying on side counter.
On October 14, 2025, Weis Markets #181, located at 552 State Street, Hamburg, was inspected and found with the following violation: Shelves in produce section were observed to have heads of lettuce sitting in wet slime on the shelf. Shelves in produce area need to be cleaned at a frequency to avoid slime build up. 4 pack of Oikos mixed berry yogurt was held at 44.5 °F, in the dairy area, rather than 41°F or below as required. Yogurt was observed overfilled and sitting on intake fan. Do not overfill dairy coolers as the product is not maintaining correct temperatures. Corrected, product was removed and damaged. Honeycomb covers in dairy were observed to have mold. Please increase frequency of cleaning to avoid build up. Non-food contact surfaces of fan guards in the produce cooler were not cleaned at a frequency to preclude accumulation of dust and debris.
On October 14, 2025, Trooper Thorns, located at 451 Morgantown Road, Reading, was inspected and found with the following violation: A food employee was observed touching cucumber – a ready to eat food – with bare hands. Non-food contact surfaces not cleaned at a frequency to preclude accumulation of dirt and soil.
On October 14, 2025, Street Smarts Bar & Grill Inc, located at 450 South 7th Street, Reading, was inspected and found with the following violation: Commercially processed ready to eat food, located in the freezer, and held more than 48 hours, is not being marked with the date it was opened. Frozen Food in the freezer area stored open with no covering.
On October 14, 2025, R&J Deli and Grocery, located at 501 South 12th Street, Reading, was inspected and found with the following violation: Commercially processed ready to eat food, located in the bain marie, and held more than 48 hours, is not being marked with the date it was opened. Prep Food in the marie bain area stored open with no covering. Hand washing sink is being used as storage filled with items. Food facility inspection indicates evidence of rodents/insect activity in food prep areas, but facility does not have a pest control program.
On October 14, 2025, Giovanni’s Pizzeria, located at 1306 Reading Avenue, Boyertown, was inspected and found with the following violation: Observed grease build-up on the exhaust hood, the fryer, and on the floor around the fryer. Commercially processed refrigerated, ready to eat, time/temperature control for safety food, located in the walk-in-cooler, and held more than 24 hours, is not being marked with the date it was opened. Food facility is reusing 5 gallon pickle buckets to store flour, sugar, and salt, which is intended to be a single-service or single-use article.
On October 14, 2025, AEC Market, located at 332 State Street, Hamburg, was inspected and found with the following violation: Raw eggs observed stored above cream cheese and milks containers. Please move the cartons of raw eggs to the bottom shelf.
On October 15, 2025, La Granja Azul, located at 418 South 19th Street, Reading, was inspected and found with the following violation: Commercially processed ready to eat food, located in the freezer, and held more than 48 hours, is not being marked with the date it was opened. Frozen Food in the freezer area stored open with no covering. Paper towel dispenser empty at the handwash sink in the prep area. Soap was not available at the handwash sink in the prep area.
On October 15, 2025, Janelle’s Diner, located at 360 Fleetwood Road, Mertztown, was inspected and found with the following violation: The floor / wall juncture in the dish area is not coved and closed to 1/32 inch. Corrected, new coving was put up.
On October 15, 2025, Dollar General #4919, located at 2980 Saint Lawrence Avenue, Reading, was inspected and found with the following violation: Door located in the back area of the food facility has a gap at the bottom and does not protect against the entry of pests. The 2-door freezer in the back storage area has a heavy build-up of ice/frost on the left side of the unit.
On October 16, 2025, Sicilian Delite Pizzeria & Ristorante, located at 540 East Philadelphia Avenue, Boyertown, was inspected and found with the following violation: Observed uncovered food in the walk-in-coolers and Bain Marie. Commercially processed refrigerated, ready to eat, time/temperature control for safety food, located in the walk-in-cooler, and held more than 24 hours, is not being marked with the date it was opened.
On October 16, 2025, Sam’s Wyomissing Bistro, located at 1714 State Hill Road, Wyomissing, was inspected and found with the following violation: Thermometer for ensuring proper temperature of equipment is not available or readily accessible in the Pepsi refrigerator in the dishwashing room. Corrected. Scoop being stored directly on top of the ice machine, which is not a clean surface. Corrected. Some of the soda nozzles, food contact surfaces, were observed to have residue and were not clean to sight and touch. Corrected. Ceiling tiles are missing/out of place in the side storage area and the back food preparation area and need to be replaced. Corrected. Insect control devices located in the back food preparation area with potential to contaminate food, equipment, and/or utensils. Corrected. Back door in the dishroom is damaged/deteriorated and does not close properly. Working containers of cleaner / sanitizer were stored on the same shelf with food, equipment, and/or single service articles in the back preparation area. Corrected.
On October 16, 2025, Salute Ristorante Italiano, located at 4718 Penn Avenue, Sinking Spring, was inspected and found with the following violation: Scoops being stored directly on top of the ice machine, which is not a clean surface. Corrected. Food facility does not have available chlorine sanitizer test strips or test kit to determine appropriate sanitizer concentration of the dish machine. Paper towel dispenser empty at the handwash sink in the prep and cookline area. Corrected.
On October 16, 2025, Paraiso Rosel Restaurante Mexicano, located at 141 West Penn Avenue, Robesonia, was inspected and found with the following violation: Two beef roasts were observed on the counter and were held at 50 °F, in the prep area, rather than 41°F or below as required. Corrected, moved to refrigerator. No sign or poster posted at the handwash sink in the restrooms, and front counter area to remind food employees to wash their hands.
On October 16, 2025, Farmhouse Kitchen, located at 426 Penn Avenue, West Reading, was inspected and found with the following violation: Kitchen door to the outside, located in the rear area of the food facility is not self-closing and/or is being propped open.
On October 17, 2025, Olivets, located at 1161 Pershing Boulevard, Reading, was inspected and found with the following violation: Ceiling tiles stained in the kitchen area, and need replaced.
On October 17, 2025, Oakbrook Relief Association, located at 630 Park Avenue, Reading, was inspected and found with the following violation: Commercially processed ready to eat food, located in the cooler, and held more than 48 hours, is not being marked with the date it was opened.
On October 17, 2025, Naked Chop Eateries LLC, located at 501 Upland Avenue, Reading, was inspected and found with the following violation: Hand wash sink water was not operating in the food prep area. Paper towels was not available in the rest room. Paper towel dispenser empty at the handwash sink in the prep area. Soap was not available at the handwash sink in the prep area.
On October 17, 2025, El Reencuentro Restaurant, located at 356 South 4th Street, Reading, was inspected and found with the following violation: Prep Food in the refrigerator area stored open with no covering. Cooked food, which was cooled, was not reheated to 165°F within two hours, for hot holding. Commercially processed ready to eat food, located in the refrigerator, and held more than 48 hours, is not being marked with the date it was opened. Cooked food was held at 111 °F, in the steam table area, rather than 135°F or above as required.
On October 17, 2025, Carmelo’s Pizza, located at 116 East Philadelphia Avenue, Boyertown, was inspected and found with the following violation: Severely dented, swollen, distressed canned food items observed in the storage area that are intended in the food facility. Commercially processed refrigerated, ready to eat, time/temperature control for safety food, located in the walk-in-cooler, Bain Maries, 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 Bain Maries, is not being date marked.
On October 18, 2025, Salino’s Imports Fairgrounds LLC, located at 2934 North 5th Street Highway, Reading, was inspected and found with the following violation: Observed wet wiping cloth in bain marie area, not being stored in sanitizer solution.
On October 18, 2025, Mediterranean Medley, located at 2934 North 5th Street Highway, Reading, was inspected and found with the following violation: Mop is not being hung to air dry. Hot water at handwashing sink turned off due to leak. Valve able to be turned on when handwashing required.
On October 18, 2025, Café 372, located at 2934 North 5th Street Highway, Reading, was inspected and found with the following violation: Employee beverage containers/personal items observed in food packaging area. Corrected on inspection.
On October 18, 2025, Boardwalk Snacks, located at 2934 North 5th Street Highway, Reading, was inspected and found with the following violation: Employee beverage containers/personal items observed in food preparation area.
Several other restaurants were inspected during this time period with no violations reported: J A Buffet in Hamburg, Boyertown Area Schools Earl Township Elementary, Appalachian Campsites Cafe-Pop Top BBQ in Shartlesville, Twin Valley SD Robeson Elementary, Shartlesville Fire Compnay #1, Ridgewood Winery in Birdsboro, Mimmo’s restaurant in Reading, Colebrookdale Elementary School, 18th Ward Democratic Club in Reading, 10th & Penn Elementary School in Reading, 10th & Green Elementary School, Tambora Restaurant in Reading, Marathon Gas Station in Hamburg, Brandywine Heights SD Elementary School, Beverage & Smoke in Kutztown, Reading Coffee Company @ The Pointe in Birdsboro, Olivets S 19th Street in Reading, Johnny & Hons Smokehouse in Robesonia, Daniel Boone SD Primary Center in Birdsboro, Lookout Bar & Grill in Reading, Exeter Township SD Owatin Creek Elementary School, Olivets Clinton Street in Reading, Olivets Walnut Street in Reading, Exeter Township SD Jr High School.
