Bensi (Italian restaurant) at The Shoppes at Wyomissing, Woodland Rd., Wyomissing, PA, (610) 375-3222.
Hours- daily: 11:00am - 11:00pm, Fri. and Sat.: 11:00am - midnight
Bensi is a new restaurant in the Reading area. It is located in the Shoppes at Wyomissing mall which contains a collection of upscale clothing/accessories stores and a couple of other restaurants. The cuisine at Bensi is Italian, and it is open for a casual lunch break while shopping or a special dinner date.
My daughter and I visited on a Friday afternoon. I couldn’t understand why we were told that there was a 15 minute wait for a table when two thirds of the restaurant was empty, but we were. Our waiter set us up to enjoy the experience with his opening words. When we commented that this was our first time at the restaurant he enthusiastically replied, “You are in for a treat!” , and he handed us their heavy menu.
We were happy to see that there were many vegetarian options, from unusual salads to creative entrees. If you can’t find something to eat at Bensi you’re just not trying. I ordered the rigatoni with cauliflower, white beans, tomatoes and spinach. My daughter had the penne with vodka sauce. We also ordered side salads, which were huge and very fresh. A crusty loaf of white bread (wish it could have been whole grain) and butter were complementary — we requested olive oil instead of the butter and were promptly accommodated with a dish of olive oil and herbs.
The serving sizes were generous and the staff pleasant and attentive. We both thought our entrees could have been more highly seasoned — a little soy sauce or pesto would have added some zing to mine. Instead, we made do with the salt and pepper on the table, which was okay. (Maybe they were thinking of folks who are on a salt restricted diet or those who simply prefer to control their own seasonings — I give them the benefit of the doubt). We had plenty leftover to take home, and were too stuffed to even consider dessert. I finished my leftovers the next day with a few spritzes of Bragg’s Liquid Aminos, and that was just what it needed.
Dinner entrees at Bensi are priced from $10.95 - $24.95. Lunch entrees are a few dollars less. Phone reservations are recommended for parties of 7 or more. I would definitely go back – I can’t wait to try some of the other original menu items that are so unusual for health conscious diners to find in Berks County. I would recommend this restaurant to friends.
June 2, 2008
Thaiwat Restaurant, 1145 Berkshire Blvd. (between Redners and Walmart), Wyomissing, PA, (610) 898-9191
Thaiwat is a small family-owned Thai restaurant, less than a year old. The casual decor is done in a lovely oriental motif, and everything looks very clean and orderly. I must mention their lovely jade green china — very unusual to see dishes this nice in most restaurants. The menus themselves are classy heavy black book-type things which hold an extensive offering of traditional Thai appetizers, soups, salads, entrees, and desserts. There is a vegetarian section on the menu, but any dish may be altered to be vegetarian or to meet any diet or allergy requirements.
The vegetarian Tom Kha (coconut soup) is outstanding. If you don’t order it with your dinner, then I would suggest taking some home with you. (This restaurant also has take-out service available for those nights when you just don’t feel like cooking). The Pad Thai is a favorite of mine — the vegetarian version (without egg) is excellent served with sides of fresh crunchy bean sprouts, sliced lemon, and peanuts. An unusual dish on the menu is called “Jack and Sue,” a spicy heart-shaped vegetable pattie served on a bed of rice and vegetables. (I bet you won’t find that anywhere else!)
If you still have room, several desserts are available for your sweet tooth. As long as you’re eating Thai try something traditional like the Mango Sticky Rice or Fried Banana — both are yummy, and you can have ice cream any day, right?
Prices are moderate. Sometimes this restaurant is very crowded and there is a wait, and at others it is almost empty, so to be safe call ahead for reservations. Convenient location and plenty of parking. Closed on Mondays.
January 31, 2008
Zou’s Garden, Clock Tower Plaza, 2846 Main St. (Rt. 23 & Rt. 10), Morgantown, PA 19543 Tel. (610) 913-0633
We discovered Zou’s Garden by accident after noticing that the neon sign in their window said “Vegetarian Chinese Cuisine” — we had to try it. What a treat! They have an extensive vegetarian menu in addition to the traditional Chinese and Japanese offerings. Zou’s uses vegetarian chicken, beef, pork, and duck (made from soy or wheat) to make almost anything on their regular menu suitable for vegetarians. The General Tso’s Chicken is excellent. The generous dinner includes a spring roll and vegetable fried rice (brown rice substituted for white upon request). The carrot curl flower garnish is a tiny work of art. Two people can easily eat for under $20.00 and be more than satisfied.
Zou’s Garden was recently remodeled to accommodate casual dining in, but everything on the menu is available for takeout, too. If you are in the mood for Chinese, try this little restaurant — you will be pleasantly surprised. It’s worth the trip.
January 20, 2008
