Maria's Lounge And - Reading

This is my favorite place for pizza when I'm in town. We ordered a large pepperoni pizza to share and I got a Philly cheesesteak to take home. Both the pizza and the cheesesteak were fantastic! I give it three stars because of the decor inside and the kind of crowd that comes in. The lounge area at the back of the restaurant makes me a bit uneasy due to the people who hang out there. However, overall, I didn't have any major issues. They do have tables to sit at, but keep in mind that the space is somewhat limited. The pizza is reasonably priced, and the guy taking my order was very friendly and made sure we had everything we needed.

Firstly, let me emphasize that you shouldn't judge a book by its cover. Our group tried a variety of dishes, including a sausage, pepper, and onion sandwich, fish and chips, an Italian hoagie, a chicken parmesan sandwich, and pizza, and everything was exceptional. Make sure to ask for Mark; he was fantastic!

Now for the highlight of the meal: the chicken parmesan. It featured big, thick slices of chicken and plenty of gooey melted mozzarella, along with a generous serving of spaghetti. Unfortunately, the pasta was overcooked, reminiscent of the soggy noodles from school lunches back in the '90s. But aside from that, everything else was decent—pretty good, actually. Moving on to the shrimp scampi, it was once again just average. They didn’t skimp on the shrimp—you get about 10, which is a moderate amount, not quite enough to satisfy. The shrimp-to-pasta ratio felt off; there was a hefty amount of pasta drowning in a weak sauce, topped with those 10 small shrimp. The size of the shrimp matters too. If they were jumbo, then a few would suffice, but these were tiny, making the dish almost comical in appearance when compared to the pasta portion. If you're looking for quick, filling, and acceptable Italian food in a hurry, Maria's might be the place for you! I’d say it’s a perfect fit for young parents with children seeking a quick and convenient dinner, which is a substantial audience. In that sense, Maria's does serve as a lifesaver.

I gave this star not because of the food. it everytime they make us wait almost two hours for food while we get ticketed or have kids needing to use bathroom and I definitely won't let my kids go in that bathroom their loyalty versus giving your pizza away should be to the first payor. Crazy all that money they have made for years get extra ovens like very disappointed. 2hrs

Best pizza around Berks and love that they have an extra large pizza 24 at an amazing price.