Berks County Bar Association The Berks Barrister Summer 2021 - 27

w w w . B E R K SB A R .o r g
Barstool Bites
With the easing of COVID-19 mitigation measures,
restaurants have reopened their bar areas. Because no truly
righteous night of bar hopping ever started with a salad,
hop up on a bar stool and grab some of my favorite Berks
County bar snacks listed here in no particular order:
Willoughby's on Park, Park Road, Wyomissing
knew it was worth the 13-month wait as the dish was light
yet satisfying. However, something was missing.
On the rainy Saturday before Memorial Day, we made
last-minute plans to meet some close friends at Dans
because I was craving another helping of the crab cakes.
Upon learning the bar was empty, we ditched our booked
table and opted to dine at the bar, something we'd all
missed when COVID-19 restrictions turned all barstools
upside down and made bar areas practically no-fly zones.
Because we were at the bar, we decided to start with some
festive drinks. I opted for a blue margarita, something
I'd never tried before. I wasn't sure I was going to like it
because it was made with Rose's Sweetened Lime Juice
rather than freshly squeezed limes. The drink tasted as
good as it looked.
My meal started with the simplest of salad specials:
arugula with watermelon and crumbled feta drizzled with
syrupy thick aged balsamic vinegar. Even out-of-season
pale watermelon tastes sweeter when topped with a good
balsamic. The peppery sharpness of the arugula and the
saltiness of the feta balanced the sweet elements on the
plate.
Thanks to a seasonal menu change, the appetizer
crab cake was topped with a minted mango salsa, which
inspired me to order a second margarita instead of a glass
of my go-to white wine. The tequila libation paired with
the fruity concoction was even better than I expected. The
lighting in the bar made it easy to see how the red pepper,
red onion, and mango were perfectly diced. The last time
I noticed that level of detail on a plate was at the Inn at
Little Washington in Virginia.
I discovered what was missing on that first cool spring
night on the patio was the simple pleasure of dining at the
bar, and now I'm wondering what other festive libations
might work well with the next creative crab cake topping.
Because I can't really picture my parents ever eating at a
bar by choice with their friends or washing their crab cakes
down with a blue margarita, perhaps I'm not so much like
them after all. Then again, maybe I'm just fooling myself
because our shared dessert was cheesecake,
something my mother always ordered.
Ms. Denaro is with the Wyomissing
law firm of Georgeadis||Setley.
West Reading Tavern, Penn Avenue, West Reading
Truffle fries and a scotch on the rocks; or Reuben spring rolls
and a gin and tonic.
Trooper Thorn's, Morgantown Road, Reading
Sausage rolls and a black and tan; or a scotch egg and a Jameson
on the rocks.
Barley Mow, Penn Avenue, West Reading
Sweet corn nachos and a Barrel of Monks Single in Havana
Belgian Blonde; or black truffle gnocchi and a Troegs Mad Elf.
Go Fish!, South Hull Street, Sinking Spring
Salmon pot stickers and a sake martini; or sushi and a Summer
Sunset.
Nitro Bar, Penn Avenue, West Reading
Amish style pretzel and an Aperol spritz; or red beet eggs and
a Stoudt's Scarlet Lady.
Building 24, Bern Road, Wyomissing
Cheese plate and a bramble; or flatbread and a Long Island
iced tea.
- Susan N. Denaro
Summer 2021 | 27
Wasabi Thai calamari with a ½ vodka and ½ gin martini; or
butcher's bacon with Brussel sprouts and a perfect Manhattan.
Berks YR Club, Thrush Road, Wyomissing
Ahi tuna tacos and a dirty vodka martini; or Brussels sprouts
and a cranberry margarita.
Salute Ristorante Italiano, Route 422, South Heidelberg
Township
Octopus carpaccio and a negroni; or filo wrapped shrimp
with red pepper aioli and a lemon drop.
Mazi, Penn Avenue, West Reading
Saganaki and The Alexander; or an assortment of the pikilia
spreads and The 614.
http://www.berksbar.org
Berks County Bar Association The Berks Barrister Summer 2021

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