This morning I had the opportunity to meet someone at the Brick House Cafe & Coffee Shop on Main Street in Manheim, PA. I’ve been wanting to visit the place as I drive by it often during the day, but not in the morning hours.

First off, the atmosphere is very laid back and reminiscent of a old-time country store (which, as it turns out, is intentional). There are plenty of seats available inside & out. I was glad to meet the proprietor Dave Reist, who talked about how they bought the building a few years back with the intention of upgrading the historic site and bringing back the “times gone by” sense of place that the old place rediated. And yes, they have done a great job.  Dave pointed out the “lotus leaf” pattern on the front window supports (visible in the photo) which he’s been told are very rare.

There are some useful amenities, too. A local business donated a laptop and there is internet connectivity available to patrons. Upstairs, there’s room to accommodate about 40 people which is a rarity in coffee shops around Lancaster County. Out back, Dave showed me the garden areas (and greenhouse) where they grow veggies to use in their dishes.

And what about the food? The 3-cheese omelet I sampled was terrific, and my dining partner enjoyed the “Brick House special” for only $5.    Prices were reasonable across the board, in fact. And the coffee was good – they had Sumatra, which counts for a lot to me…strong stuff!

I’d say the Brick House has a great future in Manheim Borough as a breakfast and lunch destination (they currently close at 2 pm). The address is as follows:

The Brick House Cafe and Coffee Shop
60 North Main Street
Manheim, PA 17545
(717) 665-5588