First, let me just say that Red Plate used to be my favorite diner breakfast spot in the greater Reading area. Always thought the food was a notch or two above average, with great service and diner atmosphere. Little things like perfectly grilling/frying their english muffins, etc. really set them apart.
So, after not having visited in quite a while, we made the trek for breakfast. I'd heard that it was under new ownership/management, and hoped it hadn't changed too much. I was very happy to see that the old style diner feel was intact with plenty of stainless steel, etc. It was clean and the hostess was prompt, although virtually impossible to hear. Unfortunately, that's where the good impression ended. I knew there was a problem right away when our food came out almost immediately after ordering and was cold. Cold scrambled eggs, french toast, and sausage! As if it had been sitting for a while waiting for someone to order it. Very disappointing! My english muiffin was vey lightly toasted, not grilled. That all was bad enough, but there were a few little things that really spoke to a lack of attention to detail. Won't list them all, but just things that are annoying enough to make one wonder where else they are falling down in small ways. For example, they brought plenty of half and half, but all the jelly packs (24 or so) on the table were grape! When I went to use the ketchup, it was a new bottle, but nobody had removed the seal under the lid. Not the end of the world, but a reflection of how things are now done at Red Plate. I also thought it was odd how the severs/hosts, etc. seemed to camp out at the entrance end of the counter with their handbags, personal dinks, etc. allover the counter. It stuck me hard as more of a social hangout for them instead of a job. If they had time to loiter around that area mixing up special dinks for themselves, rooting through their handbags, and socializing, then they certainly had time to swing by tables with coffee refills. Just really unprofessional, especially out in font of guests...
So, will I go back? Probably not unless I'm driving by and need something right then because of my schedule. Otherwise I'll make the 10 minute drive to one of the many, now better, options. It's perfectly passable, but now, sadly, a 2.5 or 3 instead of the old 4.5. read more