Judy’s on Cherry
332 Cherry St, Reading, PA, 19602
Judy’s on Cherry Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Reading for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Reading for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Reading for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
332 Cherry St
Reading, PA, 19602 - Phone (484) 509-1926
- Website https://judysoncherry.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Tue
- Mon :Closed
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Street, Private Lot
Bike Parking : No
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : No
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Trendy
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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Kate T.
We never had a bad thing to eat here. Everything is outstanding- for the last 10 years it is our go to place! Sarah is top of the line server! Thanks Judy!!
(5)Namir S.
Definitely the best restaurant in Reading, though the qualify of individual dishes can vary night to night. I've ordered half of the small plate appetizers, all were good. Drinks are very good. Pizza's are good, Limoncello chicken is good. Nothing has disappointed yet!
(4)Russell R.
A Reading fixture. I've been coming here since I bussed tables here as a newly minted highschool grad in '05, and even as my palate has changed over the years, I don't think I've ever been disappointed. Everyone else is right that the focaccia bread, butternut squash soup, and coconut cake are standouts, but pretty much everything on the menu is solid. Tonight I had a special three course meal for $20 -- house salad with balsamic, seabass on orzo and with side of green beans and wax beans, and the coconut cake. Awesome. Girlfriend had vodka rosa pasta dish with seafood -- also great. Dad's salmon was great. Great great great. In conclusion, come here. (Server also was very good -- bright, attentive and helpful with recommendations.)
(5)Paul G.
A friend told us Judy's is the best restaurant in Reading and he might be right. The menu is standard continental, but the chef has added twists to every dish to make them stand out. The decor is warehouse chic. The space is very open and airy, and the background music is bebop and classic jazz. Great soundtrack if you like jazz. We started with the Skillet Baked Spiced Cheese, which is described as "hot, melty, gooey provolone, garlic croutes." It was delicious. We quickly ran out of the croutes and had to ask for more bread. Be sure you do that, too, since the bread is home-baked and comes straight out of the oven. Yum. For main course, Dana had the lump crab cakes and I had the short ribs. The ribs were braised in a barbeque-like sweet and sour sauce that was to die for. Perfect fingerling potatoes accompanied. I didn't sample Dana's crab cakes, but she pronounced them delicious. We skipped dessert. Total bill, including three drinks between us, was $93, not including tip.
(5)Shannon P.
Experience was wonderful, dinner was delicious. Our server was nice, accurate and efficient. Caution- the "enraged pasta" dish is very spicy.
(5)Elaine M.
I went to Judy's on Cherry recently with 4 friends. The restaurant was packed, so thankfully we had a table in a corner away from the crowds. The service was kind of slow, I am not sure if it was due to how busy they were or if this is their norm. Audra B. and I shared the 'GORGONZOLA BAKED FIGS WRAPPED IN BACON' starter. We both agreed that the fig (sweetness) overpowered the dish and it needed more gorgonzola! Our entrees came with side salads, they were kind of boring. I also made the mistake of choosing the vinaigrette dressing which only added to the blah salad. I had a taste of my friend's pesto dressing and it was AMAZING! For my entree I had the 'VEGAN WILD MUSHROOM-SHALLOT ROAST', which I would place on the OK-Good scale. The mushrooms were cooked beautifully and it had good flavor but the dried fruit and nuts made it kind of dry. Overall Judy's on Cherry has a lot of great healthier options with fresh ingredients. However, since I live in Philly, I have been to a lot of farm to table restaurants and Judy's just doesn't quite stack up to those. I would probably give this 3 stars if it was in Philly, but I am giving 4 based on other establishments I have been to in Reading.
(4)Audra B.
I co-hosted a bridal shower at Judy's on Cherry a few years ago and came back for dinner with the girls on Valentine's Day. The restaurant itself has an upscale hipster vibe and was buzzing with people. Elaine M. and I shared the gorgonzola baked figs wrapped in bacon. It came with some shaved fennel and a small drizzle of balsamic vinegar. I enjoyed the dish, although we agreed it was a little bit on the sweet side and could have used a lot more gorgonzola. For dinner, I had the short ribs. They were good, but nothing to rave about. I had a bite of Lindsay K.'s salmon entrée and it was delicious. I had food envy after that bite. We each got a salad that came with our entrées which was a wonderful surprise. The blue cheese vinaigrette was very inventive and delicious. Overall, I think Judy's on Cherry is a nice place with decent food. If I lived in the area I would come back for Wednesday's "Pizza and Wine Night." The deal is: two pizzas, two salads, and a carafe of wine for $29.
(3)Becky D.
Absolutely love going here! They serve some of the best and unique food! The last time I was here, my fiancé and I both ordered the summer corn soup, which was delicious. We always split the Mozzarella Caprese. It's so fresh and amazing! I got the London Broil, and it was one of the best meals I've ever gotten there. The service is usually very good. I would suggest making reservations, because it does fill up fast. The prices are reasonable. It's a must!
(5)Janet H.
Dined with a friend at Judy's last evening. Called for reservations the day of dining and all they had left was a high table or spot at the chef bar. We chose the high table, by the intimate bar area for more privacy. It was extremely busy, but the service kept up with the demand. I had the sea scallops, around 6 of which were served with an onion compote in a pottery dish with a fresh side of red mashed potatoes, snow peas, and carrot shreds. Very hot, fresh, and delicious. My friend had the short ribs, which looked and tasted amazing. For dessert we split their famous coconut layer cake. It was huge, but the frosting was very light, the cake was filled with coconut and coconut was surrounding the outside of the icing as well. Two issues: We were never offered a choice of water (the tap water from the city left an aftertaste) and second was unacceptable. As my friend and I were finishing our shared cake for desert, the waitress came and took the plate away without asking if we were through. We were appalled and thought how inconsiderate this was. Otherwise another fun, lively evening in a beautiful, converted cozy, old industrial farmer's market with soaring wood ceilings and great artwork and ambiance throughout. Make sure you use the bathroom downstairs before you are seated, otherwise you will get your exercise. Thank you Judy!
(4)Edward V.
Ok so this is the first time in a while that I actually disagree with the reviews posted for a restaurant. We went here expecting a lot because of the reviews and was really let down. We ordered two app's, the Brussels sprouts and the melted cheese. We had to send the Brussels sprouts back because they were not cooked, you literally could not put a fork into them, they were so hard. The melted cheese was just OK, not something special. For main courses we selected the London Broil and the Scallops. Once again we were disappointed, scallops were warm not hot which you would have expected considering they are served in a ceramic broil plate and my wife's LB was two slices of thick steak which had three different wellnesses to it. At this point we skipped dessert because we said if we go to DQ we will not be disappointed. Last but not least is that on top of all this it is a cheap bill. Sorry to write this but be forewarned.
(1)Brad B.
If you are afraid to go in the Reading city to eat, don't worry. It is easy to get in and out of Reading to eat at Judy's. Park in the garage one street up and walk down to Judy's. When you arrive, you will see a staircase up to the restaurant. Very cool but be careful. People have fallen down and hurt themself on the stairs. The food was very good, 7 out of 10. The serving staff was just ok, 6 out of 10. They were all nice but we're too busy to make the experience exceptional. Judy needs more staff to make the experience better. The atmosphere is a 9 out of 10. Overall, this place is a solid 8.5 out of 10. Dress is casual but I would not suggest jeans. Business casual to dressy seems to be the norm. Ask for a private corner table. Call ahead. They have special event nights that are worth attending. Hope this helps. Pilot Brad
(4)Weston L.
Definitely our favorite in Reading. Love the vibe, the retro urban flair, the attention to details, the central oven. The focaccia bread they bring to the table is FABULOUS and probably worth coming for that alone. The wife and I really like the mezze appetizer and the mushroom pizza with truffle oil, all for a great price. Service is (normally) very professional and the bathrooms are out of this world nice. Parking across the street is free (ask the Maitre' D for a token when leaving). I would give it 5 stars on our other visits, but only 3.5 stars this time due to 2 things: 1. the dessert on the Prix Fixe menu and 2. a disappointing waitress. If you come between 5-6pm on weekdays there is a very moderately priced 19.99 prix fixe three course menu. My wife had the mixed salad (nice fresh greens), the duck with fresh chutney, mashed sweet potatoes, and crunchy kale (fabulous) and the chocolate peanut butter cake. I know, even the name of the dessert is disappointing. There were only 3 dessert options on the prix fixe and they were all kinda boring. But this cake was just very average, definitely didn't match the other cuisine we enjoyed and it is not worthy of the Judy's experience. Our waitress was perhaps a bit tired? She sighed when we asked her to explain things, and seemed quite slow. Someone else brought our entrees and took our check, that seemed a bit strange. It did not spoil a very nice date and we will be back.
(4)John F.
Loved the setting and the staff was pleasant from the get. I was with a group of six and although I don't eat bread those that did loved it and the olive oil it was served with. I had their Squash soup which was delicious and the others raved about the Kale Caesar salad they started with. For my Entrée I had the Peppercorn Steak and it was very good. Everyone enjoyed their meal and I will make it a point to come back!
(5)Lori M.
Have eaten at Judy's several times, and absolutely love the warm ambiance this restaurant has to offer - wonderful for date night. The staff is lovely and very accommodating, drinks fantastic, and the food is always amazing!!!! Enjoy!
(4)Benjamin B.
Outstanding restaurant. Friendly service and great food. Highly recommended.
(5)Amber F.
My family loves Judys. We try to go for dinner every other month or so, and are rarely disappointed-- even in the tiniest detail of our food (as in too much pepper). The waitstaff are efficient and friendly. The restored building is awesome of course, but the attention to 'taste' and 'texture' and 'fresh' is what has us coming back. The pace of serving apps then salad then main entree has never been uncomfortable (where we were waiting...and waiting) and we have never tried something on the menu that was not as tasty as the last thing we had. The presentations are killer, too. In other words, Judy's menu allows for venturing beyond your 'favorite' dish. We consider it 'the' high end restaurant in the area, on par with trendy restaurants we've enjoyed in much bigger cities. Expect to make reservations early, especially holidays.
(5)Jason H.
Our visit to Judy's was disappointing. We had a reservation for 7:30 pm and arrived 4 minutes early. The hostess looked at us like we had 4 heads and said that she wouldn't have a table ready for 20 minutes and told us to wait at the bar. No apology. Not even a hello when she addressed us. Certainly one of the most unprofessional hostesses that I've encountered. We were actually seated in about 5 minutes, and thought things were looking up. Our waitress was friendly and after telling us which items were no longer available on the menu, we asked her about the wine selections so as to pick the right bottle. She said she knew nothing of the wine on the list, and when asked if there was anyone else we could ask, she said no. So we were on our own in picking a bottle. After the wine came and was poured into our glasses my girlfriend noticed that her glass of wine had a chemical-like smell when she went to take a sip. We compared my glass to hers and it was clear that something bad was on the inside of her glass - possibly some chemical agent from the dishwasher. So we called the waitress over who agreed that there was a problem so she happily replaced the glass but seemed completely oblivious to the fact that at least 20% of our bottle of wine was dumped down the drain. It would have been nice if she offered a glass on the house or at least made appropriate apologies but she didn't and we just let it go. Next, when we asked for recommended dishes to choose for the meal, she came up blank. It appears Judy's does not train their servers. The food was good but not without some issues . The baked provolone was under seasoned and the portion was just sad - looked like 2 slices of provolone in a small cast iron pan. The brussel sprouts in truffle cream were also under seasoned, but after adding salt they were quite good. The entrees we ordered (short rib osso bucco and filet with Gorgonzola butter) were pretty good. The short ribs were delicious - but there were problems with the filet dish - under seasoned mashed potatoes but more importantly an overdone filet. Medium rare was ordered but medium well was served. Do the chefs not taste their food? So to recap, we experienced an unprofessional/rude hostess, a lovely, yet unknowledgeable server, and chefs that do not taste what they are serving. This could have easily been a 4 out of 5 stars with just a little effort. Hope they can turn things around.
(2)D C.
A diamond in an honestly frightening town. Reading is definitely not known for food so we were pleasantly surprised by how good Judy's was. Great old restored building. The bread that comes out first is fresh from the oven. Tastes kind of like pizza dough. I had the Vegan Mushroom Loaf. Ridiculously good. Mushrooms cooked so perfectly. Tons of flavor, rich with truffle oil. The cauliflower cous cous was also well done. Sweet and salty with dried fruit mixed in. We also had the Poached Rosa seafood ravioli dish. It was also good but didn't stand out as much as the first. A perfect piece of coconut cake to end the meal.
(4)Jeff W.
Yelp helped me find this place, and it was worth the walk from the hotel. The interior is quite interesting and the food is all extremely fresh tasting. I only sat at the bar, but was well taken care of by the bartender.
(3)Carolyn F.
Really cute place, 3 restaurants all attached and all different! Great food, quality, and gourmet.
(5)Robert L.
I cannot recommend Judy's enough! Many of my friends as well as the 'Yelp Reviews' convinced me to give it a try. I took my wife here for a Birthday/Date Night and we were VERY impressed! First and foremost, the service was the absolute best we have ever had. Not only did our server ensure all our needs were taken care of, we never felt rushed, never waited for food, and she gave us privacy during those romantic moments. The food was excellent. We started with Tempura Calamari which was very tender and tasty. Then we split an exotic mushroom and fontina cheese pizza along with a lobster lump crab ravioli dish. We enjoyed both, but fell in love with the pizza. Finished the meal off with a berry a la mode and a Creme brûlée. Factor in the mojito, expresso and having the owner stop by to ask us by name, how we enjoyed our birthday experience, I only have one word to describe the experience.... Magical.
(5)Katie B.
Being a native to the area, I love every chance I get to go and enjoy a meal at Judy's. It is a more upscale restaurant and a little pricey, but the food is so worth it. If you are in the area for a show at either of the Santander centers it is a good choice, but ensure that you have enough time and a reservation. Their soups are always delicious, especially the butternut squash. And forget counting carbs while you're here because the bread is a must have! The atmosphere is pretty relaxed, but it is a nicer restaurant.
(5)Beth H.
Unfortunately this restaurant is slipping in both quality and service. The female server lacked etiquette on how to serve. The small crab cakes were mostly filler sitting on top of cold cabbage. Maybe the dinner was sitting before being served to us. Judy used to have delicious jumbo lump but not this visit. My husband's filet with fresh green snap peas looked wonderful. The server never checked on us until she wanted us to leave. This was a very disappointing dining experience for a Thursday night.
(2)Katelynn S.
First place in awhile that I enjoyed so much I can't wait to go back! The food was absolutely delicious. It deserves 5/5 stars. I decided on the enraged penne pasta for the entree and split the creme brûlée for dessert. I honesty couldn't even tell you which one was better. All I know is I can't wait to go back and order them both again. I highly recommend them both. Overall it was a wonderful experience. This restaurant was definitely a great find.
(5)Casey K.
Great restaurant inside Reading with a nice atmosphere and even better food. Unique barreled roof adds to the ambiance and the wide variety of food makes this a good place to go for a romantic night out or a few drinks with friends. one of the few places i actually had a hard time deciding between various appetizers, salads, main courses and desserts. the duck was perfect, served in small medallions with fig sauce. the salad dressing we all ordered could have been a little less lemony, but the fresh bread and dipping oil more than made up for it. A gem within the rough city. A second visit can't be too far off.
(4)Jeremy W.
I was in from out of town and was very pleasantly surprised. The butternut squash with lump crab and curry soup is a must have! Wait staff was pleasant and the decor is trendy comfortable. My only disappointment was the coffee at the end of the meal, it was a little weak and not as sophisticated as the rest of my meal. Check out the photo album inside the restaurant, it has many pictures of the renovation and history of this old building that has gone from local farmers market warehouse, to a brewery, to restaurant. I love going to places with this much history and character! We also got a tour from Judy which included the adjoining bar downstairs, which is very cozy and reminded me of some pubs I've been in overseas. One of the best business trip finds I have ever had, I will make a point of eating here whenever I am in Reading!
(5)Charles C.
Once inside, you're worlds away from downtown Reading and arguably the fanciest place to grab dinner in that area. The homemade bread is addictive and food is different from your usual fare. The wine selection can use some variety and quantity.
(4)Kyle L.
I have eaten here a few times. The food and service have consistently been excellent, but not exceptional. I would definitely suggest this place as somewhere to go.
(4)Tania T.
I have visited Judy's on Cherry a couple times. I would have rated at least 4 stars, but the staff really brought the overall experience down. It appeared that one blonde waitress was top of the totem pole - she was rude to co-workers and me. I mentioned that the directions on Yelp and Google sent me across the river to a house. She rolled her eyes and stated that they had heard that often, but 'there is no way we can do anything about that!' (yes, they could easily remedy the problem.) The wait staff seemed unorganized, they didn't have menus, and didn't know what to do because the printer was broken. The lunch menu is very limited, they could have easily spoken the menu instead of leaving several tables waiting, and once I did receive the menu the waiter had to help deceifer the offerings since the printer was obviously malfuntioning. Since everyone had to wait for menus, and more tables were being seated, once the menu was available - the kitchen was flooded with orders. A gentleman sat down next to me about 5 minutes after I ordered. He must have been a regular or had some priority status, because the blonde waitress was cheerful and very attentive to him, and he received his salad and entree before I was served my appetizer. The blonde waitress was fit-to-be tied when I asked for my cold salad entree to be boxed 27 minutes after ordering. I did not understand her reaction for two reasons: 1) Isn't it understandable that on a weekday a person can not spend over an hour eating lunch? I ordered a cold salad, not an involved multi-element hot meal that would be ridiculous to think would be quick. 2) I didn't interupt her conversation about her Pittsburgh trip to box my salad - she wasn't even my waitress - but she had to sigh & roll her eyes to let me know what an inconvience I was. Maybe my waiter (he was nice, but seemed like he didn't know what he was doing,) was suppose to be in training/shadowing her, and that was why she was so over-involved (yet unhelpful.) At my most recent visit I sat at the chef's station, I was amazed at how quickly and efficianty he worked. I was surprised though at how much the microwave was used. At an earlier visit we kept hearing a microwave timer bell sound, but thought it was someone's annoying text/phone notification - no, it was the microwave at the chef station. The food was good and reasonably priced for the quality, although, I was surprised that they used dark meat in the chicken salad. The restaurant decor was very nice and clean. I was going to give this place 2 stars due to the blonde waitress dampening my visit, if it weren't for her I would have easily given Judy's on Cherry 4 stars, with an exceptional waitstaff maybe even 5 stars.
(3)Liz W.
Everyone in Berks County raves about this place, but I've been sorely disappointed all 3 times I've been. The first time I got an appetizer that was a clay baked Mediterranean shrimp dish and it was bleh. The shrimp tasted like they had been frozen or they were brought in already cooked. They had a fishy taste to them and that is never good for seafood. My friend got it the second time I was there and it was the same thing. My desserts are always terrible. The only good thing are the flatbreads. Those are tasty. The last time I went, and the last time I will go, I got a scallops dish. They cook everything in a wood-burning oven and it was terrible. They didn't sear the scallops, they tasted like they had been boiled. It was awful. Put this restaurant anywhere but Berks and it would close in a heartbeat.
(2)Dave H.
Judy's on Cherry is a casually sophisticated cafe - any place that plays jazz music is sophisticated, right? - decorated with French paintings, and sharing space with a downstairs bar. They're easy to find, right in downtown Reading, with street and garage parking available. It's relaxing, perfect for a date, or just for a spur of the moment meal. Our servers (Peggy and Sandy) provided personable service. My friend recommended the humorously named "Enraged" penne pasta (fresh basil, Parmesan cheese; $14, with chicken) which I found agreeable. Its "spicy plum tomato sauce" was a wee salty for my tastes, and not spicy. I sampled the house horseradish too, herby and full of capers. Both of my friends enjoyed their meals, and since I trust their opinions, I'll be back here for another try.
(3)Christian F.
I ate here with family approximately three years ago, but it was quite good from what I remember. Service was good. Location isn't the greatest, though the venue is generally not considered to be a warzone. Slight snoot factor, though I forgot about it when the food came. Nice place to take a date.
(3)Jason S.
This was our first time at Judy's on Cherry. The service was ok, with the waitress not being the fastest and barely refilling our drinks. The bread that came out was bland and the olive oil was just plain (i.e. not flavored dipping oil). The waitress got my appetizer order wrong but I decided to try it anyway. We had the Caprese which had too much balsamic vinegar and hardly any olive oil on it. I also had the fried calamari (I had wanted grilled version). The calamari was mediocre and the reading was drenched in butter and fell apart. My wife got the margherita pizza which was just a plain cheese pizza, not a margherita pizza. I had the limonocetto chicken which was 2 small chicken breasts in a bowl of lemon water and over-cooked angel hair pasta. Overall, our dinner was over-priced and was mediocre at best. Not the best first dining experience.
(2)Jeff W.
Best restaurant in Reading by far! My wife and I go there for all special occasions throughout the year. They change their menu almost monthly and they always have a few vegetarian selections for my wife (or they'll make up something special). Would go there once a week if we had the money!
(5)Anne H.
Always a nice date night. Great meals, drinks, atmosphere.
(4)Marie P.
I was visiting Reading on business and decided to try Judy's because of the Yelp reviews. Maybe it was just an off night for them but I was left pretty unsatisfied. The ambiance is nice, it's in a beautiful old building and has good lighting. I tried the restaurant week menu and had the duck. 50% seemed to be just fat, so although the portions seemed generous, I left most of the food on my plate. The server was not very attentive, but she couldn't really be as she had 12 tables to herself. Apparently, some show just got out and they got slammed. I'd suggest if you are going to this restaurant, allow yourself some time if you go on a night when some nearby event is occurring.
(2)Sergey W.
Judys is one of the hidden gems of Reading. Easily one of the top restaurants in the area. Loved the meals, the atmosphere and the price. 4+ if there were such a rating.
(4)Ryan C.
I made a reservation at Judy's three weeks ago for last night to commemorate my girlfriends birthday. I planned it so that all of her friends would be there to surprise her. The reservation was set for 7:00. I arrived with the guest of honor at 7:10 to find that her friends were still not seated. We waited and did not get seated until 7:35. This was slightly frustrating. Several of the bread plated were greasy before we even ate. The hostess seemed to forget about us for a time and then brought out the oil dip for the bread at around 7:45. She brought our drinks around 7:55. We did not get the bread appetizer until 8:25 (but she did offer a second basket as consolation). Our order was finally taken around 8:35. We received our dinner 30 minutes later. The food was excellent. I ordered the Pomegranate Black Pepper Duck. The meat and sauce worked together wonderfully. The brussel sprouts were also cooked well. The stuffing was a bit sweet for my preference, but still good. My girlfriend ordered the crab cakes which were also delicious. I had also asked Judy to prepare a Swiss Chocolate cake when I made the reservation. It came out around 9:30 with candles. They then took it back to the kitchen to plate it. This took fifteen minutes, but was worth it when we saw the plated pieces. They looked great and tasted even better. We then asked for the check (which took forever), and when I saw the check, they had already added 20% gratuity. This was frustrating, because according to their menu "parties over 8 people will have an automatic 18% gratuity added to them." Our party was 6 people. I was planning on giving a 22-25% tip because I normally tip well regardless of service, but it was upsetting that the wait-staff did this automatically. Overall the food was excellent. The best I've had in a while, but the service was the opposite. It seemed that our waitress did her job well, but she was definitely overworked. They could significantly improve their service by hiring a few extra waitresses. The staff seemed unorganized and stressed. I asked the hostess if they had remembered to make the cake I had ordered. She snootily responded yes, with undertones that seemed infuriated that I would ask. It was similar with the waitress when I would ask if the bread was coming or if the food/check would be much longer. Sadly, I would not even have had to ask these questions if the restaurant seemed under control. By all appearances the place was in chaos and I wasn't sure when or if we would be served. Nonetheless, I will probably eat there again for the food.
(3)jeffrey k.
Judy's is actually three restaurants--Plein Air, a delightful outdoor cafe, the Speckled Hen, a cozy European pub, and Judy's On Cherry, an upscale Mediterranean themed restaurant. All three have full bars and all three have live entertainment. I get to Reading frequently for business and have had the opportunity to enjoy al three. While I have had minor issues with service occasionally, the food has always been some of the best I have ever eaten--anywhere! Chef Judy seems to be there constantly and her smiling face greets you from the kitchen which is in the center of Judy's. At times, I have sat at the Chef's Counter and she has regaled me with tales of vacations from around the world where she collects her innovative recipes. I heartily recommend this two of restaurants if you ever find yourself in Reading, PA.
(5)E L.
I am writing this review for Plein Air, which is connected to Judy's and The Speckled Hen. It is opened seasonally. The decor/ambiance are great. It doesn't feel like you are in the city. It is quaint place. The bread served in a "flower pot" style contained is a great beginning to your meal. I recommend the arugula and calamari salad. I have eaten there twice. YUMMY and CHIC!
(4)Edward I.
The place is very high on style. Great atmosphere. Very good quality ingredients. However, we found our meals to be a little lacking in flavor. I'm not craving whatever it was that I had. But I remember feeling comfortable and having a really good time.
(4)Alexa B.
Judy's is a great little restaurant that opened up in my hometown a few years ago and it has become THE place to dine for Wyomissing types... or at least it's one of few in the upper echelon of Reading's restaurants. When I walked in, it felt like a mix of artsy and homey at the same time- a reflection, I think, of the direction that the city's been going lately with the addition of the Sovereign Center, the Goggle Works arts building, etc. It's a nice change from the chains that are everywhere, but even though the food is fantastic, it's still a Berks County restaurant in the sense that portions are big and everything is laden with sauce and butter. The focaccia bread is so good... It's meant to be dipped in a wonderful olive oil, but the problem is that it's already very buttery. Eat it anyway. I definitely suggest the Land and Sea Salad- a dinner salad topped with a skewer of fillet mignon, scallops, and shrimp. Ask for the dressing on the side because the skewer is already marinated in a kind of pesto. Too much dressing tossed in would ruin it, in my opinion. For dessert, I tried the signature Cherry Judy A La Mode, a bowl of hot cherry cobbler topped with vanilla ice cream that melts quickly! This dessert was huge... eat the top of it and leave the rest of the heaping bowl. SO many cherries get a little intense. Worth noting- they play a fantastic variety of music and because it's in the city, Judy's is convenient if you're off to see a show later in the evening. Three stars because I've graduated to DC dining, but the place is a five on Berks standards.
(3)Samantha S.
Took a client here for lunch. There were 5 of us. Walking in you notice it is pretty nice. Great decor, giving you that factory/loft/warehouse feeling, but on a upscale. Taking in the atmosphere, i expected an expensive lunch, but nothing was even over 10, except for a pizza that was 10.95. We got a variety of foods. General consensus was: Pizza Margarita was GOOD, Mac and Cheese very good, Chix Sandwich pretty good... We also ordered some fabulous desserts: Coconut Cake, Death by Chocolate Cheesecake, Toasted Almond Cake, and Strawberry Sweetheart cake. All get positive reviews. Not familiar with the area, so can't really comment on parking/ safety, but we walked here from the office we were at, and it seems ok.
(4)Lo M.
Judy's on Cherry has a very inviting atmosphere. The restaurant manages to pull off an antique and modern feel at the same time. When in Reading, you might want to make a reservation if you would like to eat here. We walked in on a Friday night around 7 and it was full; we could've stayed to eat but there was a reservation for the table we could have had and there was only an hour and a half to eat. So just to be safe a reservation is the way to go. Like most restaurants you start of with bread; here the flat bread is good. We also had the butternut squash soup with curry and crab, which is excellent!! You must try it. For the entree I had the diver scallops with mashed potatoes. I truly enjoyed this dish. However, if you do not like onions, you probably would not want to try this. My father had the filet mignon, he said it was good, but I do not eat red meat so I will have to take his word for it. All in all, our experience at Judy's on Cherry was a pleasurable one. If you are ever in the Reading area, you have to dine at Judy's.
(4)Skip And Laura T.
Four of us dined at Judy's for the first time on a Saturday at 6pm. The atmosphere is very cool. We loved the decor and feel of the loft. The service was prompt and friendly from start to finish. The menu is a little pricey, but we were all very pleased with our meals, and the presentation was beautiful. The only complaint we had, although very minor, was that the music was a little too loud. That aside, we will definitely go back to Judy's and hope for another satisfying experience!
(4)Maureen G.
Highly recommend the service was prompt and friendly the atmosphere was quiet and cozy the menu selection broad and the food top notch and portioned appropriately and then there was dessert to die for! Had a great time celebrating my birthday!
(5)Will K.
Food Hounds...!!! Brimstone here with another hot spot from the road! We had the amazing opportunity to visit one of the hottest locations in the Reading, Pennsylvania area - Judy's on Cherry. The location itself is chock full' o history... it used to be a Market House and is larger than life! The roof was at least 40 feet high and was reminiscent of Noah's Ark flipped upside down... AMAZING! Judy has been running this eatery for ten years so far and built it from the ground up... we were truly stupefied by how bold, gorgeous, open and spacious the dining room was. So the first taste was the Foccacia bread; made fresh daily in their Hearthstone oven. Made with just a touch of Rosemary and Olive Oil, the flavor behavior was incredible and actually fooled my tastebuds; I actually thought it had butter and garlic - but no; simple and truly amazing! Next up was one of the most delightful flavors to ever hit my tongue... the Gorgonzola Baked Figs wrapped in Bacon! A most unique and flavor-bursting bite of love that I've ever tasted! I could eat these all day every day - a quick blast of flavor from a perfect blend of sweetness from the figs and a creamy cheese texture from the gorgonzola; topped off with a slight salty taste from the bacon. We then enjoyed the Exotic Mushroom Pizza which was unreal... porchinis, shitakes and oyster mushrooms with fontina cheese and drizzled with truffle oil. The truffle oil truly makes the assist on solidifying this pie as a MUST have. Large and tasty with a thin crust, this pie offers a perfect ratio of cheese to oil to 'shrooms. Meanwhile, the caramelized onions proved to be an exceptional addition to complete an exceptional pie. A little hint to you Foodies out there; if you hit them up on Wednesday evenings - you'll catch their weekly Pizza and Wine Night. Judy's is such a terrific place to take a date out for a first time, a group outing or for a classy business meeting; the location and menu works extremely well for all of the above. We moved from the bar to the prime location at the restaurant; the seating surrounding the 'kitchen' itself. Now on to the food... the band RATT once had a hit that stated, "Loving you is a dirty job, and I'm the man to do it" - this couldn't have been truer here! We started with the Crispy Fried Avocado Seviche, an extremely interesting dish where the avacado is served fried offering a unique flavor and texture, coming across warm and creamy while seemingly dissolving in your mouth! The Seviche was a fabulous blend of shrimp, scallops and swordfish that was cool and refreshing; offsetting the warmth of the avocado. Served with homemade flour tortilla chips and a slice of lime; this side is no joke! Next we had an innovative version of Seared Calamari with a shaved fennel pepper salad and yummy lemon aioli. Pan seared with a delicious dash of seasoning which is very well represented... it was like eating a large lasagna noodle! We were given a taste of their Butternut Squash Soup which was a WIN! Sweet, thick and creamy with healthy chunks of savory crab make this soup a MUST have - the curry is there; but sneaks up on you for a very pleasant surprise. This soup is rich, bold and flavorful. My personal WIN was the Braised Boneless Short Ribs of Beef Au Jus - I made short work out of these short ribs that were adorned with tasty roasted fingerling potatoes. Delicious and delightful to my tastebuds, this meat falls off the bone and just melts in your mouth. Another platter made for the meat-a-tarian is the Blue Cheese Encrusted London Broil. The Bleu cheese offers a pleasant change from the norm adding a strong cheesy bite to an already succulent steak. The Cornflake Encrusted Crab Cakes absolutely amazed us for another WIN! One of the top five BEST crab cakes ever eaten by the Hounds. The three blends of aioli created an absurdly tasty and zesty sauce that was BOSS. Made with actual cornflakes and doused with this flavorful sauce - it was a medley of flavor performing on our tastebuds. Lastly, we had the Casuela Roast of Diver Scallops served on a delicious bed of caramelized onions and doused with sherry vinegar butter. Aside from the scallops being large themselves, the portions were insane and the intense aroma of the caramelized onions permeated the immediate area with promises of pleasure filled bites! Dessert - The Salted Caramel and Chocolate Tart offered the perfect blend of salty and sweet all wrapped in one - each bite was equally as delicious. The Warm Honey Pine Nut Tart had a taste all to its own... who knew that pine nuts could offer such amazing flavor? Then we had the BIG helping of Deep Dish Jersey Blueberry Pie ala Mode which was sweet and delicious! The berries were ginormous, fresh and refreshing. We wrapped up this experience with Mrs. Wesner's Coconut Layer Cake, a recipe that has been in Judy's family for the last forty years! WIN! Worth the trip any day of the week!
(5)Denise G.
I visited and ate at Judy's on Cherry on Thursday, July 26th. There were approximately 11 guests in my group, all from Pennsylvania and a visiting scholar from France. Many of us were unfamiliar with restaurants in Reading, and someone suggested Judy's on Cherry for its good cuisine and atmosphere. We were not disappointed. We had no reservation, but were immediately seated. The waitress took care of us with regards to getting wine at the table. We always appreciate this, as we all work in the wine industry! I wanted to thank your staff at Judy's for allowing us to have such a wonderful evening. The meals were phenomenal, our waitress was very kind and helpful, and we all had a very nice evening. As I now travel to the Reading area often, I will look forward to eating at Judy's again soon.
(4)Xtine H.
A really cool space. All of them! We sat outside for Plein Air then inside at Speckled Hen for some live Celtic music (and cider!) Each of the 3 sections has its own menu, and the staff is real accommodating. The food and drinks were delicious! I would def. go back again!!! The owner greeted everyone which is a very nice touch as well! I had the tangerine mojito-delish and the pizette which had lovely tomatoes and olives on it. My companion had the lemonade spritzer. def. refreshing when the weather even was cooler then it had been. I do not think you would go wrong giving this lovely spot a try. The outside seating area was perfect with its flowers, nice bubbling fountain, and umbrellas to shade you from the sun. Another highlight was the fresh baked bread in a terracotta flowerpot served up with an herbed butter (this changes frequently)
(4)Lisa R.
It was the best! I've told everyone in the Lehigh Valley they must make the trip! Great food, great ambiance, and wonderful service. What more could you ask for!
(4)Ginni S.
This was sold as a Euro cafe with Mediterranean styled dishes. I'm not quite sure about that. They started us with hot foccacia bread. I have to say this is one of the few restaurants I've been to where there was no doubt the bread was straight out of kitchen. The food was good -- manchego cheese for appetizer, pistaschio crusted pork loin in a sweet sauce, and a rich swiss chocolate cake with espresso butter cream. However, it wasn't as good as it was written up to be. Maybe this place is somewhat cuilinarily confused between the Euro and Mediterranean areas? Overall, the restaurant is louder, the crowd a little younger, and the feeling a bit more hip. The interior is a little interesting looking because the roof is wooded and half rounded.
(4)Tracy D.
they have taken the scallop entree off the menu and i found out that you can not get pizza on saturdays. i think that judy's feels a little stuffy too. im not sure i like it as much as i used to. i just had ok food when i went back.
(3)Nils J.
The spiritual successor to the Peanut Bar's food (although disappointingly lacking their wings). It's more comfort food than haute cuisine, even though it thinks of itself as a "European Cafe." Definitely make reservations here if you're going to be coming during the weekend; I hear it fills up rather quickly. Great ambience, and attached to the Speckled Hen pub, which is also worth a mention for a surprisingly good beer selection and being smoke free.
(4)Christian L.
Judy's is our favorite restaurant in the region and that is saying something with several other great dining venues in our region. Jennifer had the Salmon and I had the duck.
(5)Reem C.
My colleagues and I were in Reading for a workshop. This was actually my first time in Reading and we wanted something for lunch that wasn't fast food or your typical chain restaurant. Judy's has a nice jazzy vibe to it. If you've ever been to New Orleans, the look and feel of this place must have been inspired by the Jazz City. As soon as you walk in, there's an abundance of colorful artwork. The dining area is located upstairs. I ordered the feature of the day, which was a hearth pizza wih brie, caramelized apples, arugula and balsamic vinaigrette. The bitterness of the brie along with the sweetness of the caramelized apples was interesting, but in a good way. It was very good, but I probably should have shared it with my colleagues because after a few slices, the brie was a little overwhelming for me. Overall, the experience was a good one. If I'm ever in Reading again, I know I have a go-to spot for lunch.
(4)Amy T.
Fantastically beautiful restaurant. We had the vegan mushroom and roasted cauliflower couscous and the Swordfish & shrimp paella. Both were perfect.
(4)Rachel S.
This place makes me happy. I've come here twice now and it is my favorite place to eat in the area. The environment is lovely, warm brick and high wood ceilings. The food is consistently fantastic and of high quality. Both times the wait staff has been helpful and attentive. Plus, off-street parking. Though it is a little pricier than some restaurants in the area, it's for good reason. Easy five stars.
(5)Karima K.
Great great great! Outstanding service and food was amazing!!! Love this place! Very clean atmosphere! I'll be back!
(4)Michael S.
Looked this up on Yelp as we were driving through the area and was not disappointed. The curry and crab soup was, arguably, the highlight of the meal. Unbelievably tasty. My friend and I split four small plates and loved three of them. The crispy brussels sprouts were, arguably, the best. Cooked to the perfect level of tenderness while the fig wrapped in bacon and drizzled with balsamic was also a hit. The fingerling potatoes with chorizo was underwhelming - the chorizo was just slices of pepperoni - but overall, I'd say my friend and I were both very satisfied.
(4)JR H.
Similar to another review, if you have A LOT OF TIME, then possibly Judy's may be your choice. We had reservations after an event at the Arena for 8 people. Drink orders were somewhat timely, and it went dowhill from there. We arrived at 6:30, finally got our room temperature to cold dinners between 8:30-9:00, only after we politely brought it to their attention. (2 returned their meals which were literally ice cold and one was partially burnt. Because it took over 2 hrs to receive our dinners to start with, they chose not to reorder and deduct from the bill). The rest of us were starving; althought warm, the food was somewhat palatable. Our bill was well over $400 total, AND, they had the audacity to ADD gratuity, so you cannot tip based on service; Note: THE S-L-O-W-E-S-T SERVICE any of us have ever experienced. It's not like this place is new to crowds, and, it also appeared that another server was somewhat upset will the staff's overall poor performance. I was amazed how we all remained civil, professional, calm, despite the fact that by the time we paid our bill, it was after 10:30pm. JUDY's way to apologize, they 'comped' us with free dessert. That was also a catastrophe! Basically, service is an abomination, food tasted good but may have been rated better if it were hot and fresh from the oven. Adding automatic gratuity is a RED FLAG you're being setup for some form of disappointment. (Any reputable restaurant allows the customer to compensate based on quality and performance - heck, thats what we're paying for!) We had our experiece and most likely, for the price, service, quality, would NOT recommend Judy's.
(1)Jade F.
Cappuccino martini was delicious. Food was very good. Service was great. Would dine again. Prices reasonable.
(5)Dan K.
Met friends here for drinks and dinner. Wanted to make it a special occasion. Judy's did not disappoint. I had never been at this restaurant before and my first impression was the open space caused by the curved ceiling. This is something you don't see everyday in a city restaurant. The atmosphere was relaxed yet elegant, the bar staff was professional, service was good, and the food was wonderful. I ordered the London broil. I had requested that it be prepared medium rare. Excellent preparation by the chef. The tender meat, combined with excellent mashed potatoes, and shaved cheese, created a combination that was superb. Other members of my party ordered the salmon, the scallops, and the special ragout. No one was disappointed. This was followed by decadent desserts. All worth it, of course. When visiting here, expect to drop a few dollars for dinner, but comparatively speaking, it was a high quality experience at a reasonable price. This is one place where the phrase " you get what you pay for" was a pleasant surprise. My only question was, living in Berks county for a number of years, why I hadn't experienced Judy's on Cherry before? Thank you for a special evening. Good surroundings, excellent food, and great friends: you can't beat that combination
(4)Kimba Z.
Judy's is listening to customer comments and has added several vegan items to their regular menu, such a delight for the prettiest and hippest restaurant in Berks. There is an almond pesto with tomatoes and asparagus and a fancy Napoleon, which is pressed marinated veggies. An appetizer of asparagus with polenta looks good, as does their Mediterranean Mezze plate, which I hope they can make without the feta or yogurt. And some may not get the excitement about this, but Judy's is now carrying alternative cheese, the wonderful Daiya, which is also soy-free. As an alternative for the pizza alone, it is a wonderful addition, and I look forward to seeing what else she will do with it. Even if you are not vegan, you may want to avoid the extra calories and cholesterol that comes with a pizza portion of dairy cheese. As we get older, our need for calories decreases as our nutrient needs increase. I do believe artisanal non-dairy cheese is going to be big down the road. Laugh, but watch and see. The mushroom rosemary thin-crust pizza is divine, even without the cheese, which they will do. Their bread alone is worth a trip. Fellow veggie lovers, please make sure to stop in and order this stuff so they will keep it on the menu. Amanda at the bar does a wonderful job with drinks and will special order items on request. She knows how to craft a cocktail and has excellent taste in wine. There are bar specials too, including half-priced appetizers sometimes.
(5)Taylor H.
By far the nicest restaurant in Reading. I highly recommend any of their soups or fish entrees. Great service, and all around a great experience.
(4)Amy H.
I am giving Judy's on Cherry 4+ stars for these reasons: Considering the demographics of where we live, the price for well-prepared meals, the quality of service, creativity and ambiance; it doesn't get much better than this. For here (Berks County) and now (this town is way behind the times), Judy's on Cherry is an accessible, avant-garde and inexpensive place to hang out. When Judy finally decided to separate herself from the Peanut Bar, I was really pushing her to name this place, Cherries on Judy and to make the logo one of her covered in cherries. She chuckled and went her own way to yielding much success over the past ten years. She herself is drudging day after day and night after night, managing the kitchen and preparing delicious meals for her guests. She doesn't pull punches, demanding the best from her staff, both behind the scenes and on the floor. Her hard work has paid off and she has since expanded by adding two additional restaurants to her enterprise. A group of us got together at Judy's on Friday night and I was reminded of all the reasons why I enjoy this place so much. The waitstaff consists mostly of career waitresses (many of whom have been here since the doors opened);they are accomplished and competent. I would love to see the menu changed on a more regular basis or perhaps an expansion of the specials list that would include more non-traditional herbivorous dishes would be nice. However, if you have special requests and you're patient, flexible and understanding to the fact that they are accommodating a meat-loving (*#@^&%ing!) community, they will gladly work with you. I love that Judy's is known for hosting homeless families, feeding the hungry and for supporting the local arts and local artists.
(4)Jason K.
Nowhere near as good as I had expected especially based on other reviews, however the experience was seriously marred by unbelievably slow service and an inattentive waitress. I wanted to order from the restaurant week menu but since it took 20 minutes before our server came for our order and we only had roughly an hour and 30 minutes to eat before an event I changed my mind and ordered a pizza. My friend ordered a pizza too and we both got side Caesar salads. It took another 20 minutes after ordering to get the bread - so it was 40 minutes from sit down to bread. The salad was pretty pathetic and consisted of a tiny plate with nothing but a handful of wet romaine on it, a sprinkling of parmesan cheese and a couple croutons. That's it! No discernible dressing. On the plus side both of the pizzas were pretty delicious. We had another 15 minutes of sitting with empty plates until we got the servers attention again to get the check. We had watched the entire evening as she strolled very nonchalantly with no sense of urgency at all even though the restaurant was pretty busy. We finally got her attention by literally leaning out from the table and waving our arms because even though she kept walking through the section she would never look our way. She apologized that she "forgot about us". It ended up being an hour and 25 minutes from sit down to check for 2 personal size pizzas and 2 side salads. I wouldn't recommend Judy's unless you've got LOTS of time on your hands and you don't like Caesar salads. Once and done.
(2)Marci J.
Delicious, great service! Can't really comment on the price, because I was treated. Tasty wine, tasty crab cakes and meats, and good service. Cute little spot in Reading. I'd go back.
(4)Mary Ellen M.
Judy's on Cherry is one of my favorite restaurants. The setting is similar to a downtown NY loft with a chef table in the middle. Fascinating artwork is displayed throughout the establishment. The menu changes frequently enough to keep you coming back for new adventures in dining. The food and presentation never fails to impress. The desserts are made on site by an awesome pastry chef. Don't skip that bread basket! You will miss an addictive in-house specialty featuring rosemary! Parking can be a challenge in the city but Judy has a parking lot directly across the street for your convenience. I would suggest making a reservation since this is a very popular establishment and is often busy especially on weekends or when they do special events such as Opera Night, their Jazz Fest events, Good Thyme for Life, etc. The salmon is awesome but candidly I have loved everything I ever ordered here. I suggest leaving your comfort zone and experimenting with a dish you would not make at home. There is an excellent chance you will be delighted and want to return again. If you are coming into town for something at the Sovereign Center, the Miller Center or Goggleworks, this restaurant is close to all three and would make a lovely selection for a culinary adventure! Enjoy.
(5)Greg P.
Judy's is easily one of the best restaurants within the city of Reading. The location is in a large old building that was nicely restored by the previous owners. If you go, take a look at the cool details in the ceiling and feel the vibe of industrial revolution that once made this city a thriving hub of activity. The décor is fairly intimate, making Judy's a good choice for a date or that special occasion. Or just a fun night out. Each meal begins with freshly baked focaccia bread with olive oil for dipping. It is so good, that it's worth coming here just for the bread. I could make that my entrée and go home. Nice appetizers and soups. The butternut squash soup with crab and curry is a "must-try" if you've never had it. Yes, it's that good. The menu offers some nice upscale items. On my most recent visit, I had a lamb shank that was excellent. Their hearth-fired pizzas are something special and unique for the area. Be forewarned that they don't offer pizzas on Saturdays though. My only real complaint is that sometimes the service seems a bit "confused." On my most recent visit, our entrees came out while we were still finishing up our appetizers. Not a huge problem, but if your trying for upscale dining, this should not happen. That being said, I'd rather have the entrees served while hot than have them languish under a heat lamp. It was a little funny to see the expression of recognition on our server's face when she realized her mistake. All in all, Judy's is a nice place to dine in the city. If this was Philadelphia, I'd say 4-stars, but since it's Reading and I'm in a generous mood today, I'm giving them 5.
(5)Erica V.
Any restaurant that serves St-Germain Elderflower Liqueur is four stars in my book. Oh, and there's the Imaginative fare, fresh seafood, polished service, and great art and ambiance.
(4)C C.
WAY WAYtoo expensive for what you get. Four of us went for dinner, all had same dish, over 1 hour for dinner and the waitress had the nerve to want to charge us when we asked for more bread cause we waited so long. Nothing but an overrated , fancy restaurant.
(2)Sarah R.
Everything about our dinner at Judy's was fantastic. It was our first time eating here, we came to Reading for a concert at Santander. We were immediately greeted upon arrival at Judy's by the hostess. Our server was very friendly and attentive. The atmosphere is really comfortable and well decorated. The food was delicious and flavored wonderfully - especially loved their butternut squash soup with crab.
(5)Lindsay C.
My boyfriend brought me here a little over a year ago for the first time, and I was blown away. I've never eaten at a restaurant where the food was THAT delicious. We ordered the calamari as an appetizer, and I had the blue cheese crusted london broil. OH MY. First of all, I crave the calamari. It's so light, and not rubbery at all. The amount of breading was just perfect, and whatever that sauce is that is served with it just makes the whole thing incredible. My london broil was the most delicious piece of meat I've ever eaten, and I very rarely eat red meat. My boyfriend ordered the scallops, which were the best scallops I've ever eaten too. Each time I've gone, Judy's has been the best meal I've ever had.
(5)John E.
Having grown up in Reading, I've heard for years that Judy's is one of the premier places for fine dining in Berks County. Surprisingly though, I hadn't tried it until this year when I went with their with my family to celebrate my mother's 60th birthday. First off, the place has a great atmosphere. There's old pictures and classy paintings along the interior walls. The decor is somewhat intimate and dark, but not too dark that you can't be out with a group of people. Overall, a very nice ambiance. Our server was very nice and friendly, but also very flustered. She left our table mid-drink order to tend to something else and clearly was given too many tables to take care of. The wait for food was significant. Our reservation was at 7:30 and we didn't receive our entree until about 9. But I was only at Judy's the once, so I can't say if this is a regular thing. The butternut squash soup was fantastic and was one of the best soups I've ever had. It contains lump crab meat and a little curry for some heat to contrast the sweetness of the butternut squash and I just loved it. One of the best single dishes I've had anywhere and worth the price of admission. The focaccia bread they serve with oil has a salty, flaky crust on the outside and is really good. In fact, I wound up eating way too much of it while I waited for my entree! I ordered the scallops and must say I was a little disappointed with them. The scallops were cooked fine, but the carmelized onions that took up the majority of the plate were a little too much for me. They just seemed covered in an extreme excess of butter and oil, at least for my taste. But it certainly wasn't an awful entree. It just didn't meet my admittedly high expectations for my first time at Judy's. And my sister had a shrimp and lobster pasta entree and my brother had a chicken cobb salad, and they both really enjoyed their meals, so there's that. I would definitely come back again due to all the other positive reviews and its stellar reputation. In fact, I probably would come back just for the butternut squash soup. I do hope the long wait isn't a recurring theme however, and I will definitely try a different entree. Overall I'd rate my first time at Judy's on Cherry as a C+/B-
(3)Lisa L.
I really enjoyed my experience at Judy's on Cherry. The place is beautiful and the food is fantastic. It only received 4 stars because the food was slow in coming out. Otherwise I couldn't have been more pleased. My party ordered the mezze sampler and margarita pizza for appetizers, the vegan butternut squash dish and the ravioli which we made vegetarian by omitting the sausage. For dessert we enjoyed chocolate cake with hazelnut buttercream icing which is made onsite by their own pastry chef. Everything was delicious.
(4)Donna D.
My daughter found this place with her boyfriend and raved about it, so I called to make a reservation for a family celebration lunch following her Albright graduation. When I called, Judy happened to answer the phone and told me they were closed that day, but after hearing that Albright University will be having graduation, she decided to have a brunch menu and took the reservation! Judy was so warm and welcoming. Can't wait to bring my family there and try the food too! Hope she fills the place with Albright families that day!
(5)Tania F.
We didn't have reservations but they squeezed us in even though it was farm to table night during restaurant week and they were packed. Service was great and the food was delicious. Lovely atmosphere.
(4)Mary Ellen M.
Judy's on Cherry is one of my favorite restaurants. The setting is similar to a downtown NY loft with a chef table in the middle. Fascinating artwork is displayed throughout the establishment. The menu changes frequently enough to keep you coming back for new adventures in dining. The food and presentation never fails to impress. The desserts are made on site by an awesome pastry chef. Don't skip that bread basket! You will miss an addictive in-house specialty featuring rosemary! Parking can be a challenge in the city but Judy has a parking lot directly across the street for your convenience. I would suggest making a reservation since this is a very popular establishment and is often busy especially on weekends or when they do special events such as Opera Night, their Jazz Fest events, Good Thyme for Life, etc. The salmon is awesome but candidly I have loved everything I ever ordered here. I suggest leaving your comfort zone and experimenting with a dish you would not make at home. There is an excellent chance you will be delighted and want to return again. If you are coming into town for something at the Sovereign Center, the Miller Center or Goggleworks, this restaurant is close to all three and would make a lovely selection for a culinary adventure! Enjoy.
(5)Greg P.
Judy's is easily one of the best restaurants within the city of Reading. The location is in a large old building that was nicely restored by the previous owners. If you go, take a look at the cool details in the ceiling and feel the vibe of industrial revolution that once made this city a thriving hub of activity. The décor is fairly intimate, making Judy's a good choice for a date or that special occasion. Or just a fun night out. Each meal begins with freshly baked focaccia bread with olive oil for dipping. It is so good, that it's worth coming here just for the bread. I could make that my entrée and go home. Nice appetizers and soups. The butternut squash soup with crab and curry is a "must-try" if you've never had it. Yes, it's that good. The menu offers some nice upscale items. On my most recent visit, I had a lamb shank that was excellent. Their hearth-fired pizzas are something special and unique for the area. Be forewarned that they don't offer pizzas on Saturdays though. My only real complaint is that sometimes the service seems a bit "confused." On my most recent visit, our entrees came out while we were still finishing up our appetizers. Not a huge problem, but if your trying for upscale dining, this should not happen. That being said, I'd rather have the entrees served while hot than have them languish under a heat lamp. It was a little funny to see the expression of recognition on our server's face when she realized her mistake. All in all, Judy's is a nice place to dine in the city. If this was Philadelphia, I'd say 4-stars, but since it's Reading and I'm in a generous mood today, I'm giving them 5.
(5)Erica V.
Any restaurant that serves St-Germain Elderflower Liqueur is four stars in my book. Oh, and there's the Imaginative fare, fresh seafood, polished service, and great art and ambiance.
(4)C C.
WAY WAYtoo expensive for what you get. Four of us went for dinner, all had same dish, over 1 hour for dinner and the waitress had the nerve to want to charge us when we asked for more bread cause we waited so long. Nothing but an overrated , fancy restaurant.
(2)John E.
Having grown up in Reading, I've heard for years that Judy's is one of the premier places for fine dining in Berks County. Surprisingly though, I hadn't tried it until this year when I went with their with my family to celebrate my mother's 60th birthday. First off, the place has a great atmosphere. There's old pictures and classy paintings along the interior walls. The decor is somewhat intimate and dark, but not too dark that you can't be out with a group of people. Overall, a very nice ambiance. Our server was very nice and friendly, but also very flustered. She left our table mid-drink order to tend to something else and clearly was given too many tables to take care of. The wait for food was significant. Our reservation was at 7:30 and we didn't receive our entree until about 9. But I was only at Judy's the once, so I can't say if this is a regular thing. The butternut squash soup was fantastic and was one of the best soups I've ever had. It contains lump crab meat and a little curry for some heat to contrast the sweetness of the butternut squash and I just loved it. One of the best single dishes I've had anywhere and worth the price of admission. The focaccia bread they serve with oil has a salty, flaky crust on the outside and is really good. In fact, I wound up eating way too much of it while I waited for my entree! I ordered the scallops and must say I was a little disappointed with them. The scallops were cooked fine, but the carmelized onions that took up the majority of the plate were a little too much for me. They just seemed covered in an extreme excess of butter and oil, at least for my taste. But it certainly wasn't an awful entree. It just didn't meet my admittedly high expectations for my first time at Judy's. And my sister had a shrimp and lobster pasta entree and my brother had a chicken cobb salad, and they both really enjoyed their meals, so there's that. I would definitely come back again due to all the other positive reviews and its stellar reputation. In fact, I probably would come back just for the butternut squash soup. I do hope the long wait isn't a recurring theme however, and I will definitely try a different entree. Overall I'd rate my first time at Judy's on Cherry as a C+/B-
(3)Lisa L.
I really enjoyed my experience at Judy's on Cherry. The place is beautiful and the food is fantastic. It only received 4 stars because the food was slow in coming out. Otherwise I couldn't have been more pleased. My party ordered the mezze sampler and margarita pizza for appetizers, the vegan butternut squash dish and the ravioli which we made vegetarian by omitting the sausage. For dessert we enjoyed chocolate cake with hazelnut buttercream icing which is made onsite by their own pastry chef. Everything was delicious.
(4)Donna D.
My daughter found this place with her boyfriend and raved about it, so I called to make a reservation for a family celebration lunch following her Albright graduation. When I called, Judy happened to answer the phone and told me they were closed that day, but after hearing that Albright University will be having graduation, she decided to have a brunch menu and took the reservation! Judy was so warm and welcoming. Can't wait to bring my family there and try the food too! Hope she fills the place with Albright families that day!
(5)Tania F.
We didn't have reservations but they squeezed us in even though it was farm to table night during restaurant week and they were packed. Service was great and the food was delicious. Lovely atmosphere.
(4)Samantha S.
Took a client here for lunch. There were 5 of us. Walking in you notice it is pretty nice. Great decor, giving you that factory/loft/warehouse feeling, but on a upscale. Taking in the atmosphere, i expected an expensive lunch, but nothing was even over 10, except for a pizza that was 10.95. We got a variety of foods. General consensus was: Pizza Margarita was GOOD, Mac and Cheese very good, Chix Sandwich pretty good... We also ordered some fabulous desserts: Coconut Cake, Death by Chocolate Cheesecake, Toasted Almond Cake, and Strawberry Sweetheart cake. All get positive reviews. Not familiar with the area, so can't really comment on parking/ safety, but we walked here from the office we were at, and it seems ok.
(4)Kyle L.
I have eaten here a few times. The food and service have consistently been excellent, but not exceptional. I would definitely suggest this place as somewhere to go.
(4)Lo M.
Judy's on Cherry has a very inviting atmosphere. The restaurant manages to pull off an antique and modern feel at the same time. When in Reading, you might want to make a reservation if you would like to eat here. We walked in on a Friday night around 7 and it was full; we could've stayed to eat but there was a reservation for the table we could have had and there was only an hour and a half to eat. So just to be safe a reservation is the way to go. Like most restaurants you start of with bread; here the flat bread is good. We also had the butternut squash soup with curry and crab, which is excellent!! You must try it. For the entree I had the diver scallops with mashed potatoes. I truly enjoyed this dish. However, if you do not like onions, you probably would not want to try this. My father had the filet mignon, he said it was good, but I do not eat red meat so I will have to take his word for it. All in all, our experience at Judy's on Cherry was a pleasurable one. If you are ever in the Reading area, you have to dine at Judy's.
(4)Skip And Laura T.
Four of us dined at Judy's for the first time on a Saturday at 6pm. The atmosphere is very cool. We loved the decor and feel of the loft. The service was prompt and friendly from start to finish. The menu is a little pricey, but we were all very pleased with our meals, and the presentation was beautiful. The only complaint we had, although very minor, was that the music was a little too loud. That aside, we will definitely go back to Judy's and hope for another satisfying experience!
(4)Maureen G.
Highly recommend the service was prompt and friendly the atmosphere was quiet and cozy the menu selection broad and the food top notch and portioned appropriately and then there was dessert to die for! Had a great time celebrating my birthday!
(5)Will K.
Food Hounds...!!! Brimstone here with another hot spot from the road! We had the amazing opportunity to visit one of the hottest locations in the Reading, Pennsylvania area - Judy's on Cherry. The location itself is chock full' o history... it used to be a Market House and is larger than life! The roof was at least 40 feet high and was reminiscent of Noah's Ark flipped upside down... AMAZING! Judy has been running this eatery for ten years so far and built it from the ground up... we were truly stupefied by how bold, gorgeous, open and spacious the dining room was. So the first taste was the Foccacia bread; made fresh daily in their Hearthstone oven. Made with just a touch of Rosemary and Olive Oil, the flavor behavior was incredible and actually fooled my tastebuds; I actually thought it had butter and garlic - but no; simple and truly amazing! Next up was one of the most delightful flavors to ever hit my tongue... the Gorgonzola Baked Figs wrapped in Bacon! A most unique and flavor-bursting bite of love that I've ever tasted! I could eat these all day every day - a quick blast of flavor from a perfect blend of sweetness from the figs and a creamy cheese texture from the gorgonzola; topped off with a slight salty taste from the bacon. We then enjoyed the Exotic Mushroom Pizza which was unreal... porchinis, shitakes and oyster mushrooms with fontina cheese and drizzled with truffle oil. The truffle oil truly makes the assist on solidifying this pie as a MUST have. Large and tasty with a thin crust, this pie offers a perfect ratio of cheese to oil to 'shrooms. Meanwhile, the caramelized onions proved to be an exceptional addition to complete an exceptional pie. A little hint to you Foodies out there; if you hit them up on Wednesday evenings - you'll catch their weekly Pizza and Wine Night. Judy's is such a terrific place to take a date out for a first time, a group outing or for a classy business meeting; the location and menu works extremely well for all of the above. We moved from the bar to the prime location at the restaurant; the seating surrounding the 'kitchen' itself. Now on to the food... the band RATT once had a hit that stated, "Loving you is a dirty job, and I'm the man to do it" - this couldn't have been truer here! We started with the Crispy Fried Avocado Seviche, an extremely interesting dish where the avacado is served fried offering a unique flavor and texture, coming across warm and creamy while seemingly dissolving in your mouth! The Seviche was a fabulous blend of shrimp, scallops and swordfish that was cool and refreshing; offsetting the warmth of the avocado. Served with homemade flour tortilla chips and a slice of lime; this side is no joke! Next we had an innovative version of Seared Calamari with a shaved fennel pepper salad and yummy lemon aioli. Pan seared with a delicious dash of seasoning which is very well represented... it was like eating a large lasagna noodle! We were given a taste of their Butternut Squash Soup which was a WIN! Sweet, thick and creamy with healthy chunks of savory crab make this soup a MUST have - the curry is there; but sneaks up on you for a very pleasant surprise. This soup is rich, bold and flavorful. My personal WIN was the Braised Boneless Short Ribs of Beef Au Jus - I made short work out of these short ribs that were adorned with tasty roasted fingerling potatoes. Delicious and delightful to my tastebuds, this meat falls off the bone and just melts in your mouth. Another platter made for the meat-a-tarian is the Blue Cheese Encrusted London Broil. The Bleu cheese offers a pleasant change from the norm adding a strong cheesy bite to an already succulent steak. The Cornflake Encrusted Crab Cakes absolutely amazed us for another WIN! One of the top five BEST crab cakes ever eaten by the Hounds. The three blends of aioli created an absurdly tasty and zesty sauce that was BOSS. Made with actual cornflakes and doused with this flavorful sauce - it was a medley of flavor performing on our tastebuds. Lastly, we had the Casuela Roast of Diver Scallops served on a delicious bed of caramelized onions and doused with sherry vinegar butter. Aside from the scallops being large themselves, the portions were insane and the intense aroma of the caramelized onions permeated the immediate area with promises of pleasure filled bites! Dessert - The Salted Caramel and Chocolate Tart offered the perfect blend of salty and sweet all wrapped in one - each bite was equally as delicious. The Warm Honey Pine Nut Tart had a taste all to its own... who knew that pine nuts could offer such amazing flavor? Then we had the BIG helping of Deep Dish Jersey Blueberry Pie ala Mode which was sweet and delicious! The berries were ginormous, fresh and refreshing. We wrapped up this experience with Mrs. Wesner's Coconut Layer Cake, a recipe that has been in Judy's family for the last forty years! WIN! Worth the trip any day of the week!
(5)Benjamin B.
Outstanding restaurant. Friendly service and great food. Highly recommended.
(5)Jeremy W.
I was in from out of town and was very pleasantly surprised. The butternut squash with lump crab and curry soup is a must have! Wait staff was pleasant and the decor is trendy comfortable. My only disappointment was the coffee at the end of the meal, it was a little weak and not as sophisticated as the rest of my meal. Check out the photo album inside the restaurant, it has many pictures of the renovation and history of this old building that has gone from local farmers market warehouse, to a brewery, to restaurant. I love going to places with this much history and character! We also got a tour from Judy which included the adjoining bar downstairs, which is very cozy and reminded me of some pubs I've been in overseas. One of the best business trip finds I have ever had, I will make a point of eating here whenever I am in Reading!
(5)Charles C.
Once inside, you're worlds away from downtown Reading and arguably the fanciest place to grab dinner in that area. The homemade bread is addictive and food is different from your usual fare. The wine selection can use some variety and quantity.
(4)Liz W.
Everyone in Berks County raves about this place, but I've been sorely disappointed all 3 times I've been. The first time I got an appetizer that was a clay baked Mediterranean shrimp dish and it was bleh. The shrimp tasted like they had been frozen or they were brought in already cooked. They had a fishy taste to them and that is never good for seafood. My friend got it the second time I was there and it was the same thing. My desserts are always terrible. The only good thing are the flatbreads. Those are tasty. The last time I went, and the last time I will go, I got a scallops dish. They cook everything in a wood-burning oven and it was terrible. They didn't sear the scallops, they tasted like they had been boiled. It was awful. Put this restaurant anywhere but Berks and it would close in a heartbeat.
(2)Dave H.
Judy's on Cherry is a casually sophisticated cafe - any place that plays jazz music is sophisticated, right? - decorated with French paintings, and sharing space with a downstairs bar. They're easy to find, right in downtown Reading, with street and garage parking available. It's relaxing, perfect for a date, or just for a spur of the moment meal. Our servers (Peggy and Sandy) provided personable service. My friend recommended the humorously named "Enraged" penne pasta (fresh basil, Parmesan cheese; $14, with chicken) which I found agreeable. Its "spicy plum tomato sauce" was a wee salty for my tastes, and not spicy. I sampled the house horseradish too, herby and full of capers. Both of my friends enjoyed their meals, and since I trust their opinions, I'll be back here for another try.
(3)Christian F.
I ate here with family approximately three years ago, but it was quite good from what I remember. Service was good. Location isn't the greatest, though the venue is generally not considered to be a warzone. Slight snoot factor, though I forgot about it when the food came. Nice place to take a date.
(3)Jason S.
This was our first time at Judy's on Cherry. The service was ok, with the waitress not being the fastest and barely refilling our drinks. The bread that came out was bland and the olive oil was just plain (i.e. not flavored dipping oil). The waitress got my appetizer order wrong but I decided to try it anyway. We had the Caprese which had too much balsamic vinegar and hardly any olive oil on it. I also had the fried calamari (I had wanted grilled version). The calamari was mediocre and the reading was drenched in butter and fell apart. My wife got the margherita pizza which was just a plain cheese pizza, not a margherita pizza. I had the limonocetto chicken which was 2 small chicken breasts in a bowl of lemon water and over-cooked angel hair pasta. Overall, our dinner was over-priced and was mediocre at best. Not the best first dining experience.
(2)Denise G.
I visited and ate at Judy's on Cherry on Thursday, July 26th. There were approximately 11 guests in my group, all from Pennsylvania and a visiting scholar from France. Many of us were unfamiliar with restaurants in Reading, and someone suggested Judy's on Cherry for its good cuisine and atmosphere. We were not disappointed. We had no reservation, but were immediately seated. The waitress took care of us with regards to getting wine at the table. We always appreciate this, as we all work in the wine industry! I wanted to thank your staff at Judy's for allowing us to have such a wonderful evening. The meals were phenomenal, our waitress was very kind and helpful, and we all had a very nice evening. As I now travel to the Reading area often, I will look forward to eating at Judy's again soon.
(4)Xtine H.
A really cool space. All of them! We sat outside for Plein Air then inside at Speckled Hen for some live Celtic music (and cider!) Each of the 3 sections has its own menu, and the staff is real accommodating. The food and drinks were delicious! I would def. go back again!!! The owner greeted everyone which is a very nice touch as well! I had the tangerine mojito-delish and the pizette which had lovely tomatoes and olives on it. My companion had the lemonade spritzer. def. refreshing when the weather even was cooler then it had been. I do not think you would go wrong giving this lovely spot a try. The outside seating area was perfect with its flowers, nice bubbling fountain, and umbrellas to shade you from the sun. Another highlight was the fresh baked bread in a terracotta flowerpot served up with an herbed butter (this changes frequently)
(4)Lisa R.
It was the best! I've told everyone in the Lehigh Valley they must make the trip! Great food, great ambiance, and wonderful service. What more could you ask for!
(4)Jeff W.
Best restaurant in Reading by far! My wife and I go there for all special occasions throughout the year. They change their menu almost monthly and they always have a few vegetarian selections for my wife (or they'll make up something special). Would go there once a week if we had the money!
(5)Anne H.
Always a nice date night. Great meals, drinks, atmosphere.
(4)Tania T.
I have visited Judy's on Cherry a couple times. I would have rated at least 4 stars, but the staff really brought the overall experience down. It appeared that one blonde waitress was top of the totem pole - she was rude to co-workers and me. I mentioned that the directions on Yelp and Google sent me across the river to a house. She rolled her eyes and stated that they had heard that often, but 'there is no way we can do anything about that!' (yes, they could easily remedy the problem.) The wait staff seemed unorganized, they didn't have menus, and didn't know what to do because the printer was broken. The lunch menu is very limited, they could have easily spoken the menu instead of leaving several tables waiting, and once I did receive the menu the waiter had to help deceifer the offerings since the printer was obviously malfuntioning. Since everyone had to wait for menus, and more tables were being seated, once the menu was available - the kitchen was flooded with orders. A gentleman sat down next to me about 5 minutes after I ordered. He must have been a regular or had some priority status, because the blonde waitress was cheerful and very attentive to him, and he received his salad and entree before I was served my appetizer. The blonde waitress was fit-to-be tied when I asked for my cold salad entree to be boxed 27 minutes after ordering. I did not understand her reaction for two reasons: 1) Isn't it understandable that on a weekday a person can not spend over an hour eating lunch? I ordered a cold salad, not an involved multi-element hot meal that would be ridiculous to think would be quick. 2) I didn't interupt her conversation about her Pittsburgh trip to box my salad - she wasn't even my waitress - but she had to sigh & roll her eyes to let me know what an inconvience I was. Maybe my waiter (he was nice, but seemed like he didn't know what he was doing,) was suppose to be in training/shadowing her, and that was why she was so over-involved (yet unhelpful.) At my most recent visit I sat at the chef's station, I was amazed at how quickly and efficianty he worked. I was surprised though at how much the microwave was used. At an earlier visit we kept hearing a microwave timer bell sound, but thought it was someone's annoying text/phone notification - no, it was the microwave at the chef station. The food was good and reasonably priced for the quality, although, I was surprised that they used dark meat in the chicken salad. The restaurant decor was very nice and clean. I was going to give this place 2 stars due to the blonde waitress dampening my visit, if it weren't for her I would have easily given Judy's on Cherry 4 stars, with an exceptional waitstaff maybe even 5 stars.
(3)Marie P.
I was visiting Reading on business and decided to try Judy's because of the Yelp reviews. Maybe it was just an off night for them but I was left pretty unsatisfied. The ambiance is nice, it's in a beautiful old building and has good lighting. I tried the restaurant week menu and had the duck. 50% seemed to be just fat, so although the portions seemed generous, I left most of the food on my plate. The server was not very attentive, but she couldn't really be as she had 12 tables to herself. Apparently, some show just got out and they got slammed. I'd suggest if you are going to this restaurant, allow yourself some time if you go on a night when some nearby event is occurring.
(2)Sergey W.
Judys is one of the hidden gems of Reading. Easily one of the top restaurants in the area. Loved the meals, the atmosphere and the price. 4+ if there were such a rating.
(4)Amber F.
My family loves Judys. We try to go for dinner every other month or so, and are rarely disappointed-- even in the tiniest detail of our food (as in too much pepper). The waitstaff are efficient and friendly. The restored building is awesome of course, but the attention to 'taste' and 'texture' and 'fresh' is what has us coming back. The pace of serving apps then salad then main entree has never been uncomfortable (where we were waiting...and waiting) and we have never tried something on the menu that was not as tasty as the last thing we had. The presentations are killer, too. In other words, Judy's menu allows for venturing beyond your 'favorite' dish. We consider it 'the' high end restaurant in the area, on par with trendy restaurants we've enjoyed in much bigger cities. Expect to make reservations early, especially holidays.
(5)Ryan C.
I made a reservation at Judy's three weeks ago for last night to commemorate my girlfriends birthday. I planned it so that all of her friends would be there to surprise her. The reservation was set for 7:00. I arrived with the guest of honor at 7:10 to find that her friends were still not seated. We waited and did not get seated until 7:35. This was slightly frustrating. Several of the bread plated were greasy before we even ate. The hostess seemed to forget about us for a time and then brought out the oil dip for the bread at around 7:45. She brought our drinks around 7:55. We did not get the bread appetizer until 8:25 (but she did offer a second basket as consolation). Our order was finally taken around 8:35. We received our dinner 30 minutes later. The food was excellent. I ordered the Pomegranate Black Pepper Duck. The meat and sauce worked together wonderfully. The brussel sprouts were also cooked well. The stuffing was a bit sweet for my preference, but still good. My girlfriend ordered the crab cakes which were also delicious. I had also asked Judy to prepare a Swiss Chocolate cake when I made the reservation. It came out around 9:30 with candles. They then took it back to the kitchen to plate it. This took fifteen minutes, but was worth it when we saw the plated pieces. They looked great and tasted even better. We then asked for the check (which took forever), and when I saw the check, they had already added 20% gratuity. This was frustrating, because according to their menu "parties over 8 people will have an automatic 18% gratuity added to them." Our party was 6 people. I was planning on giving a 22-25% tip because I normally tip well regardless of service, but it was upsetting that the wait-staff did this automatically. Overall the food was excellent. The best I've had in a while, but the service was the opposite. It seemed that our waitress did her job well, but she was definitely overworked. They could significantly improve their service by hiring a few extra waitresses. The staff seemed unorganized and stressed. I asked the hostess if they had remembered to make the cake I had ordered. She snootily responded yes, with undertones that seemed infuriated that I would ask. It was similar with the waitress when I would ask if the bread was coming or if the food/check would be much longer. Sadly, I would not even have had to ask these questions if the restaurant seemed under control. By all appearances the place was in chaos and I wasn't sure when or if we would be served. Nonetheless, I will probably eat there again for the food.
(3)Ginni S.
This was sold as a Euro cafe with Mediterranean styled dishes. I'm not quite sure about that. They started us with hot foccacia bread. I have to say this is one of the few restaurants I've been to where there was no doubt the bread was straight out of kitchen. The food was good -- manchego cheese for appetizer, pistaschio crusted pork loin in a sweet sauce, and a rich swiss chocolate cake with espresso butter cream. However, it wasn't as good as it was written up to be. Maybe this place is somewhat cuilinarily confused between the Euro and Mediterranean areas? Overall, the restaurant is louder, the crowd a little younger, and the feeling a bit more hip. The interior is a little interesting looking because the roof is wooded and half rounded.
(4)Tracy D.
they have taken the scallop entree off the menu and i found out that you can not get pizza on saturdays. i think that judy's feels a little stuffy too. im not sure i like it as much as i used to. i just had ok food when i went back.
(3)Nils J.
The spiritual successor to the Peanut Bar's food (although disappointingly lacking their wings). It's more comfort food than haute cuisine, even though it thinks of itself as a "European Cafe." Definitely make reservations here if you're going to be coming during the weekend; I hear it fills up rather quickly. Great ambience, and attached to the Speckled Hen pub, which is also worth a mention for a surprisingly good beer selection and being smoke free.
(4)jeffrey k.
Judy's is actually three restaurants--Plein Air, a delightful outdoor cafe, the Speckled Hen, a cozy European pub, and Judy's On Cherry, an upscale Mediterranean themed restaurant. All three have full bars and all three have live entertainment. I get to Reading frequently for business and have had the opportunity to enjoy al three. While I have had minor issues with service occasionally, the food has always been some of the best I have ever eaten--anywhere! Chef Judy seems to be there constantly and her smiling face greets you from the kitchen which is in the center of Judy's. At times, I have sat at the Chef's Counter and she has regaled me with tales of vacations from around the world where she collects her innovative recipes. I heartily recommend this two of restaurants if you ever find yourself in Reading, PA.
(5)E L.
I am writing this review for Plein Air, which is connected to Judy's and The Speckled Hen. It is opened seasonally. The decor/ambiance are great. It doesn't feel like you are in the city. It is quaint place. The bread served in a "flower pot" style contained is a great beginning to your meal. I recommend the arugula and calamari salad. I have eaten there twice. YUMMY and CHIC!
(4)Edward I.
The place is very high on style. Great atmosphere. Very good quality ingredients. However, we found our meals to be a little lacking in flavor. I'm not craving whatever it was that I had. But I remember feeling comfortable and having a really good time.
(4)Kimba Z.
Judy's is listening to customer comments and has added several vegan items to their regular menu, such a delight for the prettiest and hippest restaurant in Berks. There is an almond pesto with tomatoes and asparagus and a fancy Napoleon, which is pressed marinated veggies. An appetizer of asparagus with polenta looks good, as does their Mediterranean Mezze plate, which I hope they can make without the feta or yogurt. And some may not get the excitement about this, but Judy's is now carrying alternative cheese, the wonderful Daiya, which is also soy-free. As an alternative for the pizza alone, it is a wonderful addition, and I look forward to seeing what else she will do with it. Even if you are not vegan, you may want to avoid the extra calories and cholesterol that comes with a pizza portion of dairy cheese. As we get older, our need for calories decreases as our nutrient needs increase. I do believe artisanal non-dairy cheese is going to be big down the road. Laugh, but watch and see. The mushroom rosemary thin-crust pizza is divine, even without the cheese, which they will do. Their bread alone is worth a trip. Fellow veggie lovers, please make sure to stop in and order this stuff so they will keep it on the menu. Amanda at the bar does a wonderful job with drinks and will special order items on request. She knows how to craft a cocktail and has excellent taste in wine. There are bar specials too, including half-priced appetizers sometimes.
(5)Taylor H.
By far the nicest restaurant in Reading. I highly recommend any of their soups or fish entrees. Great service, and all around a great experience.
(4)Sarah R.
Everything about our dinner at Judy's was fantastic. It was our first time eating here, we came to Reading for a concert at Santander. We were immediately greeted upon arrival at Judy's by the hostess. Our server was very friendly and attentive. The atmosphere is really comfortable and well decorated. The food was delicious and flavored wonderfully - especially loved their butternut squash soup with crab.
(5)Lindsay C.
My boyfriend brought me here a little over a year ago for the first time, and I was blown away. I've never eaten at a restaurant where the food was THAT delicious. We ordered the calamari as an appetizer, and I had the blue cheese crusted london broil. OH MY. First of all, I crave the calamari. It's so light, and not rubbery at all. The amount of breading was just perfect, and whatever that sauce is that is served with it just makes the whole thing incredible. My london broil was the most delicious piece of meat I've ever eaten, and I very rarely eat red meat. My boyfriend ordered the scallops, which were the best scallops I've ever eaten too. Each time I've gone, Judy's has been the best meal I've ever had.
(5)JR H.
Similar to another review, if you have A LOT OF TIME, then possibly Judy's may be your choice. We had reservations after an event at the Arena for 8 people. Drink orders were somewhat timely, and it went dowhill from there. We arrived at 6:30, finally got our room temperature to cold dinners between 8:30-9:00, only after we politely brought it to their attention. (2 returned their meals which were literally ice cold and one was partially burnt. Because it took over 2 hrs to receive our dinners to start with, they chose not to reorder and deduct from the bill). The rest of us were starving; althought warm, the food was somewhat palatable. Our bill was well over $400 total, AND, they had the audacity to ADD gratuity, so you cannot tip based on service; Note: THE S-L-O-W-E-S-T SERVICE any of us have ever experienced. It's not like this place is new to crowds, and, it also appeared that another server was somewhat upset will the staff's overall poor performance. I was amazed how we all remained civil, professional, calm, despite the fact that by the time we paid our bill, it was after 10:30pm. JUDY's way to apologize, they 'comped' us with free dessert. That was also a catastrophe! Basically, service is an abomination, food tasted good but may have been rated better if it were hot and fresh from the oven. Adding automatic gratuity is a RED FLAG you're being setup for some form of disappointment. (Any reputable restaurant allows the customer to compensate based on quality and performance - heck, thats what we're paying for!) We had our experiece and most likely, for the price, service, quality, would NOT recommend Judy's.
(1)Jade F.
Cappuccino martini was delicious. Food was very good. Service was great. Would dine again. Prices reasonable.
(5)Christian L.
Judy's is our favorite restaurant in the region and that is saying something with several other great dining venues in our region. Jennifer had the Salmon and I had the duck.
(5)Russell R.
A Reading fixture. I've been coming here since I bussed tables here as a newly minted highschool grad in '05, and even as my palate has changed over the years, I don't think I've ever been disappointed. Everyone else is right that the focaccia bread, butternut squash soup, and coconut cake are standouts, but pretty much everything on the menu is solid. Tonight I had a special three course meal for $20 -- house salad with balsamic, seabass on orzo and with side of green beans and wax beans, and the coconut cake. Awesome. Girlfriend had vodka rosa pasta dish with seafood -- also great. Dad's salmon was great. Great great great. In conclusion, come here. (Server also was very good -- bright, attentive and helpful with recommendations.)
(5)Paul G.
A friend told us Judy's is the best restaurant in Reading and he might be right. The menu is standard continental, but the chef has added twists to every dish to make them stand out. The decor is warehouse chic. The space is very open and airy, and the background music is bebop and classic jazz. Great soundtrack if you like jazz. We started with the Skillet Baked Spiced Cheese, which is described as "hot, melty, gooey provolone, garlic croutes." It was delicious. We quickly ran out of the croutes and had to ask for more bread. Be sure you do that, too, since the bread is home-baked and comes straight out of the oven. Yum. For main course, Dana had the lump crab cakes and I had the short ribs. The ribs were braised in a barbeque-like sweet and sour sauce that was to die for. Perfect fingerling potatoes accompanied. I didn't sample Dana's crab cakes, but she pronounced them delicious. We skipped dessert. Total bill, including three drinks between us, was $93, not including tip.
(5)Shannon P.
Experience was wonderful, dinner was delicious. Our server was nice, accurate and efficient. Caution- the "enraged pasta" dish is very spicy.
(5)Elaine M.
I went to Judy's on Cherry recently with 4 friends. The restaurant was packed, so thankfully we had a table in a corner away from the crowds. The service was kind of slow, I am not sure if it was due to how busy they were or if this is their norm. Audra B. and I shared the 'GORGONZOLA BAKED FIGS WRAPPED IN BACON' starter. We both agreed that the fig (sweetness) overpowered the dish and it needed more gorgonzola! Our entrees came with side salads, they were kind of boring. I also made the mistake of choosing the vinaigrette dressing which only added to the blah salad. I had a taste of my friend's pesto dressing and it was AMAZING! For my entree I had the 'VEGAN WILD MUSHROOM-SHALLOT ROAST', which I would place on the OK-Good scale. The mushrooms were cooked beautifully and it had good flavor but the dried fruit and nuts made it kind of dry. Overall Judy's on Cherry has a lot of great healthier options with fresh ingredients. However, since I live in Philly, I have been to a lot of farm to table restaurants and Judy's just doesn't quite stack up to those. I would probably give this 3 stars if it was in Philly, but I am giving 4 based on other establishments I have been to in Reading.
(4)Audra B.
I co-hosted a bridal shower at Judy's on Cherry a few years ago and came back for dinner with the girls on Valentine's Day. The restaurant itself has an upscale hipster vibe and was buzzing with people. Elaine M. and I shared the gorgonzola baked figs wrapped in bacon. It came with some shaved fennel and a small drizzle of balsamic vinegar. I enjoyed the dish, although we agreed it was a little bit on the sweet side and could have used a lot more gorgonzola. For dinner, I had the short ribs. They were good, but nothing to rave about. I had a bite of Lindsay K.'s salmon entrée and it was delicious. I had food envy after that bite. We each got a salad that came with our entrées which was a wonderful surprise. The blue cheese vinaigrette was very inventive and delicious. Overall, I think Judy's on Cherry is a nice place with decent food. If I lived in the area I would come back for Wednesday's "Pizza and Wine Night." The deal is: two pizzas, two salads, and a carafe of wine for $29.
(3)Becky D.
Absolutely love going here! They serve some of the best and unique food! The last time I was here, my fiancé and I both ordered the summer corn soup, which was delicious. We always split the Mozzarella Caprese. It's so fresh and amazing! I got the London Broil, and it was one of the best meals I've ever gotten there. The service is usually very good. I would suggest making reservations, because it does fill up fast. The prices are reasonable. It's a must!
(5)Lori M.
Have eaten at Judy's several times, and absolutely love the warm ambiance this restaurant has to offer - wonderful for date night. The staff is lovely and very accommodating, drinks fantastic, and the food is always amazing!!!! Enjoy!
(4)Reem C.
My colleagues and I were in Reading for a workshop. This was actually my first time in Reading and we wanted something for lunch that wasn't fast food or your typical chain restaurant. Judy's has a nice jazzy vibe to it. If you've ever been to New Orleans, the look and feel of this place must have been inspired by the Jazz City. As soon as you walk in, there's an abundance of colorful artwork. The dining area is located upstairs. I ordered the feature of the day, which was a hearth pizza wih brie, caramelized apples, arugula and balsamic vinaigrette. The bitterness of the brie along with the sweetness of the caramelized apples was interesting, but in a good way. It was very good, but I probably should have shared it with my colleagues because after a few slices, the brie was a little overwhelming for me. Overall, the experience was a good one. If I'm ever in Reading again, I know I have a go-to spot for lunch.
(4)Amy T.
Fantastically beautiful restaurant. We had the vegan mushroom and roasted cauliflower couscous and the Swordfish & shrimp paella. Both were perfect.
(4)Rachel S.
This place makes me happy. I've come here twice now and it is my favorite place to eat in the area. The environment is lovely, warm brick and high wood ceilings. The food is consistently fantastic and of high quality. Both times the wait staff has been helpful and attentive. Plus, off-street parking. Though it is a little pricier than some restaurants in the area, it's for good reason. Easy five stars.
(5)Karima K.
Great great great! Outstanding service and food was amazing!!! Love this place! Very clean atmosphere! I'll be back!
(4)Kate T.
We never had a bad thing to eat here. Everything is outstanding- for the last 10 years it is our go to place! Sarah is top of the line server! Thanks Judy!!
(5)Namir S.
Definitely the best restaurant in Reading, though the qualify of individual dishes can vary night to night. I've ordered half of the small plate appetizers, all were good. Drinks are very good. Pizza's are good, Limoncello chicken is good. Nothing has disappointed yet!
(4)Michael S.
Looked this up on Yelp as we were driving through the area and was not disappointed. The curry and crab soup was, arguably, the highlight of the meal. Unbelievably tasty. My friend and I split four small plates and loved three of them. The crispy brussels sprouts were, arguably, the best. Cooked to the perfect level of tenderness while the fig wrapped in bacon and drizzled with balsamic was also a hit. The fingerling potatoes with chorizo was underwhelming - the chorizo was just slices of pepperoni - but overall, I'd say my friend and I were both very satisfied.
(4)Janet H.
Dined with a friend at Judy's last evening. Called for reservations the day of dining and all they had left was a high table or spot at the chef bar. We chose the high table, by the intimate bar area for more privacy. It was extremely busy, but the service kept up with the demand. I had the sea scallops, around 6 of which were served with an onion compote in a pottery dish with a fresh side of red mashed potatoes, snow peas, and carrot shreds. Very hot, fresh, and delicious. My friend had the short ribs, which looked and tasted amazing. For dessert we split their famous coconut layer cake. It was huge, but the frosting was very light, the cake was filled with coconut and coconut was surrounding the outside of the icing as well. Two issues: We were never offered a choice of water (the tap water from the city left an aftertaste) and second was unacceptable. As my friend and I were finishing our shared cake for desert, the waitress came and took the plate away without asking if we were through. We were appalled and thought how inconsiderate this was. Otherwise another fun, lively evening in a beautiful, converted cozy, old industrial farmer's market with soaring wood ceilings and great artwork and ambiance throughout. Make sure you use the bathroom downstairs before you are seated, otherwise you will get your exercise. Thank you Judy!
(4)Edward V.
Ok so this is the first time in a while that I actually disagree with the reviews posted for a restaurant. We went here expecting a lot because of the reviews and was really let down. We ordered two app's, the Brussels sprouts and the melted cheese. We had to send the Brussels sprouts back because they were not cooked, you literally could not put a fork into them, they were so hard. The melted cheese was just OK, not something special. For main courses we selected the London Broil and the Scallops. Once again we were disappointed, scallops were warm not hot which you would have expected considering they are served in a ceramic broil plate and my wife's LB was two slices of thick steak which had three different wellnesses to it. At this point we skipped dessert because we said if we go to DQ we will not be disappointed. Last but not least is that on top of all this it is a cheap bill. Sorry to write this but be forewarned.
(1)Brad B.
If you are afraid to go in the Reading city to eat, don't worry. It is easy to get in and out of Reading to eat at Judy's. Park in the garage one street up and walk down to Judy's. When you arrive, you will see a staircase up to the restaurant. Very cool but be careful. People have fallen down and hurt themself on the stairs. The food was very good, 7 out of 10. The serving staff was just ok, 6 out of 10. They were all nice but we're too busy to make the experience exceptional. Judy needs more staff to make the experience better. The atmosphere is a 9 out of 10. Overall, this place is a solid 8.5 out of 10. Dress is casual but I would not suggest jeans. Business casual to dressy seems to be the norm. Ask for a private corner table. Call ahead. They have special event nights that are worth attending. Hope this helps. Pilot Brad
(4)Weston L.
Definitely our favorite in Reading. Love the vibe, the retro urban flair, the attention to details, the central oven. The focaccia bread they bring to the table is FABULOUS and probably worth coming for that alone. The wife and I really like the mezze appetizer and the mushroom pizza with truffle oil, all for a great price. Service is (normally) very professional and the bathrooms are out of this world nice. Parking across the street is free (ask the Maitre' D for a token when leaving). I would give it 5 stars on our other visits, but only 3.5 stars this time due to 2 things: 1. the dessert on the Prix Fixe menu and 2. a disappointing waitress. If you come between 5-6pm on weekdays there is a very moderately priced 19.99 prix fixe three course menu. My wife had the mixed salad (nice fresh greens), the duck with fresh chutney, mashed sweet potatoes, and crunchy kale (fabulous) and the chocolate peanut butter cake. I know, even the name of the dessert is disappointing. There were only 3 dessert options on the prix fixe and they were all kinda boring. But this cake was just very average, definitely didn't match the other cuisine we enjoyed and it is not worthy of the Judy's experience. Our waitress was perhaps a bit tired? She sighed when we asked her to explain things, and seemed quite slow. Someone else brought our entrees and took our check, that seemed a bit strange. It did not spoil a very nice date and we will be back.
(4)John F.
Loved the setting and the staff was pleasant from the get. I was with a group of six and although I don't eat bread those that did loved it and the olive oil it was served with. I had their Squash soup which was delicious and the others raved about the Kale Caesar salad they started with. For my Entrée I had the Peppercorn Steak and it was very good. Everyone enjoyed their meal and I will make it a point to come back!
(5)Jason H.
Our visit to Judy's was disappointing. We had a reservation for 7:30 pm and arrived 4 minutes early. The hostess looked at us like we had 4 heads and said that she wouldn't have a table ready for 20 minutes and told us to wait at the bar. No apology. Not even a hello when she addressed us. Certainly one of the most unprofessional hostesses that I've encountered. We were actually seated in about 5 minutes, and thought things were looking up. Our waitress was friendly and after telling us which items were no longer available on the menu, we asked her about the wine selections so as to pick the right bottle. She said she knew nothing of the wine on the list, and when asked if there was anyone else we could ask, she said no. So we were on our own in picking a bottle. After the wine came and was poured into our glasses my girlfriend noticed that her glass of wine had a chemical-like smell when she went to take a sip. We compared my glass to hers and it was clear that something bad was on the inside of her glass - possibly some chemical agent from the dishwasher. So we called the waitress over who agreed that there was a problem so she happily replaced the glass but seemed completely oblivious to the fact that at least 20% of our bottle of wine was dumped down the drain. It would have been nice if she offered a glass on the house or at least made appropriate apologies but she didn't and we just let it go. Next, when we asked for recommended dishes to choose for the meal, she came up blank. It appears Judy's does not train their servers. The food was good but not without some issues . The baked provolone was under seasoned and the portion was just sad - looked like 2 slices of provolone in a small cast iron pan. The brussel sprouts in truffle cream were also under seasoned, but after adding salt they were quite good. The entrees we ordered (short rib osso bucco and filet with Gorgonzola butter) were pretty good. The short ribs were delicious - but there were problems with the filet dish - under seasoned mashed potatoes but more importantly an overdone filet. Medium rare was ordered but medium well was served. Do the chefs not taste their food? So to recap, we experienced an unprofessional/rude hostess, a lovely, yet unknowledgeable server, and chefs that do not taste what they are serving. This could have easily been a 4 out of 5 stars with just a little effort. Hope they can turn things around.
(2)D C.
A diamond in an honestly frightening town. Reading is definitely not known for food so we were pleasantly surprised by how good Judy's was. Great old restored building. The bread that comes out first is fresh from the oven. Tastes kind of like pizza dough. I had the Vegan Mushroom Loaf. Ridiculously good. Mushrooms cooked so perfectly. Tons of flavor, rich with truffle oil. The cauliflower cous cous was also well done. Sweet and salty with dried fruit mixed in. We also had the Poached Rosa seafood ravioli dish. It was also good but didn't stand out as much as the first. A perfect piece of coconut cake to end the meal.
(4)Jeff W.
Yelp helped me find this place, and it was worth the walk from the hotel. The interior is quite interesting and the food is all extremely fresh tasting. I only sat at the bar, but was well taken care of by the bartender.
(3)Carolyn F.
Really cute place, 3 restaurants all attached and all different! Great food, quality, and gourmet.
(5)Robert L.
I cannot recommend Judy's enough! Many of my friends as well as the 'Yelp Reviews' convinced me to give it a try. I took my wife here for a Birthday/Date Night and we were VERY impressed! First and foremost, the service was the absolute best we have ever had. Not only did our server ensure all our needs were taken care of, we never felt rushed, never waited for food, and she gave us privacy during those romantic moments. The food was excellent. We started with Tempura Calamari which was very tender and tasty. Then we split an exotic mushroom and fontina cheese pizza along with a lobster lump crab ravioli dish. We enjoyed both, but fell in love with the pizza. Finished the meal off with a berry a la mode and a Creme brûlée. Factor in the mojito, expresso and having the owner stop by to ask us by name, how we enjoyed our birthday experience, I only have one word to describe the experience.... Magical.
(5)Katie B.
Being a native to the area, I love every chance I get to go and enjoy a meal at Judy's. It is a more upscale restaurant and a little pricey, but the food is so worth it. If you are in the area for a show at either of the Santander centers it is a good choice, but ensure that you have enough time and a reservation. Their soups are always delicious, especially the butternut squash. And forget counting carbs while you're here because the bread is a must have! The atmosphere is pretty relaxed, but it is a nicer restaurant.
(5)Beth H.
Unfortunately this restaurant is slipping in both quality and service. The female server lacked etiquette on how to serve. The small crab cakes were mostly filler sitting on top of cold cabbage. Maybe the dinner was sitting before being served to us. Judy used to have delicious jumbo lump but not this visit. My husband's filet with fresh green snap peas looked wonderful. The server never checked on us until she wanted us to leave. This was a very disappointing dining experience for a Thursday night.
(2)Katelynn S.
First place in awhile that I enjoyed so much I can't wait to go back! The food was absolutely delicious. It deserves 5/5 stars. I decided on the enraged penne pasta for the entree and split the creme brûlée for dessert. I honesty couldn't even tell you which one was better. All I know is I can't wait to go back and order them both again. I highly recommend them both. Overall it was a wonderful experience. This restaurant was definitely a great find.
(5)Casey K.
Great restaurant inside Reading with a nice atmosphere and even better food. Unique barreled roof adds to the ambiance and the wide variety of food makes this a good place to go for a romantic night out or a few drinks with friends. one of the few places i actually had a hard time deciding between various appetizers, salads, main courses and desserts. the duck was perfect, served in small medallions with fig sauce. the salad dressing we all ordered could have been a little less lemony, but the fresh bread and dipping oil more than made up for it. A gem within the rough city. A second visit can't be too far off.
(4)Dan K.
Met friends here for drinks and dinner. Wanted to make it a special occasion. Judy's did not disappoint. I had never been at this restaurant before and my first impression was the open space caused by the curved ceiling. This is something you don't see everyday in a city restaurant. The atmosphere was relaxed yet elegant, the bar staff was professional, service was good, and the food was wonderful. I ordered the London broil. I had requested that it be prepared medium rare. Excellent preparation by the chef. The tender meat, combined with excellent mashed potatoes, and shaved cheese, created a combination that was superb. Other members of my party ordered the salmon, the scallops, and the special ragout. No one was disappointed. This was followed by decadent desserts. All worth it, of course. When visiting here, expect to drop a few dollars for dinner, but comparatively speaking, it was a high quality experience at a reasonable price. This is one place where the phrase " you get what you pay for" was a pleasant surprise. My only question was, living in Berks county for a number of years, why I hadn't experienced Judy's on Cherry before? Thank you for a special evening. Good surroundings, excellent food, and great friends: you can't beat that combination
(4)Amy H.
I am giving Judy's on Cherry 4+ stars for these reasons: Considering the demographics of where we live, the price for well-prepared meals, the quality of service, creativity and ambiance; it doesn't get much better than this. For here (Berks County) and now (this town is way behind the times), Judy's on Cherry is an accessible, avant-garde and inexpensive place to hang out. When Judy finally decided to separate herself from the Peanut Bar, I was really pushing her to name this place, Cherries on Judy and to make the logo one of her covered in cherries. She chuckled and went her own way to yielding much success over the past ten years. She herself is drudging day after day and night after night, managing the kitchen and preparing delicious meals for her guests. She doesn't pull punches, demanding the best from her staff, both behind the scenes and on the floor. Her hard work has paid off and she has since expanded by adding two additional restaurants to her enterprise. A group of us got together at Judy's on Friday night and I was reminded of all the reasons why I enjoy this place so much. The waitstaff consists mostly of career waitresses (many of whom have been here since the doors opened);they are accomplished and competent. I would love to see the menu changed on a more regular basis or perhaps an expansion of the specials list that would include more non-traditional herbivorous dishes would be nice. However, if you have special requests and you're patient, flexible and understanding to the fact that they are accommodating a meat-loving (*#@^&%ing!) community, they will gladly work with you. I love that Judy's is known for hosting homeless families, feeding the hungry and for supporting the local arts and local artists.
(4)Jason K.
Nowhere near as good as I had expected especially based on other reviews, however the experience was seriously marred by unbelievably slow service and an inattentive waitress. I wanted to order from the restaurant week menu but since it took 20 minutes before our server came for our order and we only had roughly an hour and 30 minutes to eat before an event I changed my mind and ordered a pizza. My friend ordered a pizza too and we both got side Caesar salads. It took another 20 minutes after ordering to get the bread - so it was 40 minutes from sit down to bread. The salad was pretty pathetic and consisted of a tiny plate with nothing but a handful of wet romaine on it, a sprinkling of parmesan cheese and a couple croutons. That's it! No discernible dressing. On the plus side both of the pizzas were pretty delicious. We had another 15 minutes of sitting with empty plates until we got the servers attention again to get the check. We had watched the entire evening as she strolled very nonchalantly with no sense of urgency at all even though the restaurant was pretty busy. We finally got her attention by literally leaning out from the table and waving our arms because even though she kept walking through the section she would never look our way. She apologized that she "forgot about us". It ended up being an hour and 25 minutes from sit down to check for 2 personal size pizzas and 2 side salads. I wouldn't recommend Judy's unless you've got LOTS of time on your hands and you don't like Caesar salads. Once and done.
(2)Marci J.
Delicious, great service! Can't really comment on the price, because I was treated. Tasty wine, tasty crab cakes and meats, and good service. Cute little spot in Reading. I'd go back.
(4)Alexa B.
Judy's is a great little restaurant that opened up in my hometown a few years ago and it has become THE place to dine for Wyomissing types... or at least it's one of few in the upper echelon of Reading's restaurants. When I walked in, it felt like a mix of artsy and homey at the same time- a reflection, I think, of the direction that the city's been going lately with the addition of the Sovereign Center, the Goggle Works arts building, etc. It's a nice change from the chains that are everywhere, but even though the food is fantastic, it's still a Berks County restaurant in the sense that portions are big and everything is laden with sauce and butter. The focaccia bread is so good... It's meant to be dipped in a wonderful olive oil, but the problem is that it's already very buttery. Eat it anyway. I definitely suggest the Land and Sea Salad- a dinner salad topped with a skewer of fillet mignon, scallops, and shrimp. Ask for the dressing on the side because the skewer is already marinated in a kind of pesto. Too much dressing tossed in would ruin it, in my opinion. For dessert, I tried the signature Cherry Judy A La Mode, a bowl of hot cherry cobbler topped with vanilla ice cream that melts quickly! This dessert was huge... eat the top of it and leave the rest of the heaping bowl. SO many cherries get a little intense. Worth noting- they play a fantastic variety of music and because it's in the city, Judy's is convenient if you're off to see a show later in the evening. Three stars because I've graduated to DC dining, but the place is a five on Berks standards.
(3)