SURPRISE REPRISE! Craft 2700

AT FREYMOYER’S

BY MARIAN FRANCES WOLBERS | PHOTOS BY HEIDI REUTER

The historic gem of a hotel known as Freymoyer’s in the Muhlenberg section of Reading has become a revitalized bar and dining destination with a welcoming look and feel: Craft 2700. The lively spot boasts top-notch craft brews, and the kitchen explodes with flavor under the inventive direction of Chef Dan Groff.

Whether stopping by for drinks, lunch or dinner, you’ll enjoy the range of hand-crafted options.

From Smash That Burger to Filet Mignon, from Sweet Waffle Fries to Shrimp & Grits and The “Original” Bar Beef (made anew with fullbraised beef), this restaurant covers all the appetite bases.

Why Not Start with The 2700?

Desiree Gehr, General Manager at Craft 2700, reveals some core goals that the owners had in mind when building the menu and drinks lists: “First of all, everything comes in fresh,” she says. “There are no frozen products. We try to make sure there’s something for everybody. Plus, we wanted signature, hand-crafted cocktails using a lot of fresh fruits.” She’s clearly an accomplished mixologist in drink design, starting with The 2700 cocktail. Focusing on such concepts as cherry, smoky and orangey, she perfected this absolutely delicious, elegant concoction with Resurgent Whiskey, Sarsaparilla and Cherry Bark Bourbon, smoked orange and honey simple syrup. Better than a standard old fashioned by a country mile and very popular among patrons.

Or perhaps you favor a fancy martini? Diners love the romantic look and lusciously zesty flavor of the Blood Moon Martini, which combines Hanson of Sonoma Meyer Lemon Vodka, agave, fresh lemon juice, blood orange juice and pomegranate liqueur. On the edge of the glass perches an attractive blood orange slice, reflecting the drink’s deep amber color.

Of course, those are just two of many enticing beverages available, along with an impressive range of beers on tap, wines and soft drinks.

Bruschetta (Piled High!) & Fried Green Tomatoes

Starter foods under the ample Small Bites and Shareables section include Berks faves like Wingin’ It (crispy, hard-fried chicken wings), a Loaded Pub Pretzel topped with bacon and Craft 2700’s own beer cheese sauce, and Mussels (one pound). The creamy Spinach Dip comes with baked crostini while a unique version of charcuterie board is called The Goodies. Fried Green Tomatoes are just one of many menu items with a clearly Southern inspiration, while the piquant, Italian-style Bruschetta features crostini breads piled high with diced tomatoes and onions flavored with garlic and basil tossed in extra-virgin olive oil, embellished with thin-shaved

Parmesan cheese. It’s somewhat messy but so worth all the napkins!

Under the “All About the Greens” section are several salads from the Craft Chopped Salad to Ginger Tuna Salad and a classy Wedge Salad. The latter is crunchy, chunky iceberg lettuce with bleu cheese dressing, cherry tomatoes, bacon crumbles, a light glaze of balsamic and fried shallots.

Fish &

Chips, Braised Short

Ribs, Steak Frites Au Poivre Surely, the chef who casts fresh cod in his Fish and Chips entrée will hook his diners in forever. There’s just nothing so tasty as the real thing, including fresh-cut potatoes for the fries; the tartar sauce is made in-house as well.

Chef Dan also serves up a fabulous Seared Cod platter, perfectly prepared (just-moist, never dry) that’s topped with tangy chimichurri — a fine embellishment for those flaky fish morsels! In a bold stroke of culinary brilliance, Chef pairs the cod with an ample serving of warm, smooth, cheesy polenta and adds a seasonal vegetable — such as broccolini — on the side. The end result: a truly elegant meal.

Other beef choices include Braised Short Ribs (“That’s very popular,” asserts one server) and an 8-ounce Filet Mignon accompanied by au gratin potatoes and veggies, with options for demi glaze, house chimichurri or au poivre (pepper) sauce.

A clear superstar is found in Steak Frites au Poivre — literally meat-and-potatoes heaven. Beef slices lie char-edged, alluringly arrayed over a generous amount of French fries and cheese curds, which all become lovingly coated with that oh-so-satisfying sauce.

Chicken Roulade features pounded chicken breast rolled around prosciutto, spinach and brie; then the meat is seared, sliced and blanketed with mushroom demi glaze. Mashed sweet potatoes plus vegetables in season round out this savory dish.

Chef Dan says he makes it a point to walk around and check in with patrons, making sure everything is to their liking. It’s an old-fashioned style of connecting with people, and much appreciated by everyone. “We are determined to use only top-quality, fresh ingredients,” he says. “If a guest doesn’t like something, we’ll strive to make it right. We want to have only the best-tasting food.”

Lemon Blueberry Cake with Cream Cheese

Although it’s hard to decide between the S'mores Board, Waffles and Ice Cream, or homemade cakes, do try the stunning Lemon Blueberry Cake if it’s available. Lemony bites joust with sweet berry flavors, ensconced in a textured cake that’s at once hearty yet light.

2700 Kutztown Rd. Reading | 610.463.3233 Craft2700 | craft2700.com