Timothy M.
Google
Strong 's brick oven is located in Reading right on Reading road, just a little bit south of Evendale. It's very easy to access from 75 North. I have driven by it a million times and never really noticed it. It doesn't look like much from the outside. But inside, it is a fabulous authentic Italian restaurant. It is a surprisingly large Italian restaurant with lots of booths and tables and a wood burning brick oven in the middle of the place. The pizza chefs are working in the middle of the restaurant and putting pizzas in the oven. There's also a very large, nicely stocked bar with local beer on tap from Esoteric and Rhinegeist. The whole restaurant is very clean, warm, and cozy, with authentic Italian decor. Lots of tables and booths with red leather bench seating, chairs, and stained glass overhead lights. The food was delicious. The pizzas were straight out of the oven with thick, warm crusts and lots of toppings. The antipasto salad was very good with fresh lettuce and thinly sliced deli meats and nice crusty Italian bread. The meatball appetizer was more than enough for a entree - with three large delicious meatballs and sweet tomato sauce. The waitresses were very attentive, capable, and friendly. The only disconcerting thing was that the waitresses brought the fresh food straight out from under the archway marked "restrooms." But it turns out they were coming from the main kitchen which is down that same hallway, opposite the actual restrooms. Aside from that little misunderstanding, this was a great casual Italian dining experience. So if you're looking for a larosa's alternative, with a very similar but more authentic Italian vibe, and one with a brick oven pizza in the middle of the room and a very nicely appointed bar that you can sit at, check out this place in Reading.
