Location: State College
Top Restaurants in State College
Top Things to do in State College
Top 10 Bar food in State College, Pennsylvania, United States
Reviews on Bar food in State College, Pennsylvania, United States. State College, as can be imagined from its name, is a college town, the home to the main campus of Penn State, one of the ten largest public universities in the United States. Downtown State College is home to hundreds of businesses that serve the university's students and professors, from boutique shops, to coffee houses, to theaters for the performing arts. The city is also home to the Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts, which brings 125,000 visitors to the downtown area each year.
Things to do in State College
10. Barrel 21 Distillery & Dining
Overall Ratings
4 based on 140 reviews
The Barrel 21 menu celebrates our local resources, with menu inspirations from local culture, and cuisine brought to Central PA from around the world.
Reviewed By Beachbum2473
After wanting to come here for a long time, we finally managed to dine here for a late Valentines Day dinner. We were greeted by a hostess who was somewhat rude when we told her we didnât have reservations. There were multiple open tables for at least an hour after we got there, so it wasnât like she squeezed us in. The hostess made us feel like she did us the biggest favor by giving us a table. Our table was near the hostess stand, and she treated the stream of diners without reservations that came in after us the same way. Odd reception. But our waiter was awesome though. He was very friendly and helpful. The cocktails are very good and pretty potent. We enjoyed those a lot. Unfortunately, they were out of the two appetizers that we really wanted, so we tried the crab appetizer. It was pretty good and the crab was fresh and free of shells and cartilage. It had something in it that had an odd taste that I didnât really care for. We decided to have sandwiches for our entrees- the burger and steak sandwich. The burger was very good, and the steak sandwich was the best weâve ever had. We also had desserts, which were just ok. I had a flourless chocolate cake which was tasty but had an odd texture. There was a peanut butter mousse on top that also had a weird texture. My husband said his dessert was ok, but had a weird aftertaste. All in all, the food was good. The decor is very clean and simple, but nice. The staff is a bit off. Aside from the hostess and her cold welcome, none of the food runners spoke to the diners when they brought food to the table. They simply set the food down and left. One girl that I saw deliver food to several tables never once looked at the diners she was serving. I canât believe that the people delivering the food arenât at least asking if anything else is needed for the meal. And if the runners arenât speaking to the diners when they bring the food, the servers need to come by the table when the foos is delivered to see if anything else is needed. I thought that was really strange. Iâve never seen food runners literally drop the food and run like that. In any case, the food was good overall. And aside from the staff idiosyncrasies, we will come back to try this place again.
9. Local Whiskey
Overall Ratings
4 based on 82 reviews
Reviewed By nmdahl
We were in town for the TEDx events. Local Whiskey was recommended by a local resident because it is owned locally. Must admit expected college town bar food... not so fast. We enjoyed the trout sandwich and philly steak!!! Fresh homemade goodness from start to finish. Our waitress was spectacular and very interested in our stories...and helping us pick the right things from the menu. The whisky was also very good... lots of choice. We enjoyed the window seat and all the people watching two. Such a great place to spend our first day in town! N
8. Legends Pub
Overall Ratings
4 based on 84 reviews
Reviewed By Michelle H
Very nice place to dine within a hotel! We grabbed a quick bite to eat before evening meetings started. Service was fast and attentive. Food was very good. The fries were especially yummy. Price wasn't terrible for being in a hotel. Our organization has meetings at this hotel several times a year and will for sure look forward to dining here again.
7. American Ale House and Grill
Overall Ratings
4 based on 382 reviews
Reviewed By Dick S
First time visit and had a great meal. Went with our neighbors who frequent the place. Parking just a short walk to the door. Quickly seated for evening meal. Although several patrons present the room was not too noisey for reasonable conversation. Table was a bit small for 4 guests but we managed. I had the Pittsburgher (large burger with fries in the sandwich and more on the plate) plus a bowl of the potato soup. Very filling and tasty. My wife enjoyed the prime rib sandwich, au-jus, and potato salad. Large sandwich with half coming with us. Would eat there again.
6. The Corner Room
Overall Ratings
4 based on 415 reviews
The Corner room at the intersection of College Avenue and Allen Street offers one of the best venues for experiencing Downtown State College. Grab a booth next to one of the large picture windows and enjoy your favorite meal while watching students and lo
Reviewed By Matt S
The Corner Room hasn't changed much over the years; the vintagness of the interior is great, and remains a familiar site and feeling in State College. On the downside, it also appears as if the carpets are vintage, also, and desperately could use a replacing. They are not the least bit dirty, but they are definitely old and worn.The menu here is relatively small, but there are some good reliable options, and the portions large. I had the cheesesteak with the works, and was very pleasantly full by the time I was done. Our waitress was OK; she wasn't overly friendly, but she was very efficient, and we had no problems. Grilled stickies (!) were available for dessert; as expected, they were excellent, but very small dessert portions. They don't have an extensive bar selection, but I was able to get a bottle of beer to go with my dinner.Overall, a decent place for a meal at a reasonable price...if you know what to expect at the Corner Room, then you're ready to go!
5. The Tavern Restaurant
Overall Ratings
4 based on 521 reviews
Reviewed By Lois A
I bought a gift card for my two family members to eat at The Tavern. They went last night and said it was terrible. The filet mignon was burnt! After cutting off the burnt part, there wasn't any flavor to the meat. What an embarrassing gift I gave!Hi Lois. Our team appreciates you taking the time to leave us your feedback. We are known in State College for offering our guests great food at unbeatable prices and are sorry to hear your familyâs experience was less than satisfactory given the occasion. We encourage you to reach out to contact Pat or Dawn at (814) 238-6116 so we can discuss this further. Thank you!
What to do and see in State College, United States: The Best Places and Tips
4. Happy Valley Brewing
Overall Ratings
4 based on 620 reviews
Reviewed By jbauman7
Weâve been to Happy Valley Brewing several times. The food has always been excellent. Terrific burger and fabulous brussel sprouts with bacon side dish!In addition to great food the refurbished barn itâs located in is gorgeous and the staff is friendly.
State College Food Guide: 10 Must-Eat Restaurants & Street Food Stalls in State College
3. Otto's Pub and Brewery
Overall Ratings
4 based on 820 reviews
We're nuts about fine beer and fresh, local food. Otto's is fiercely committed to quality. Our beer is handcrafted with the finest ingredients available. Our American bistro cuisine is made with fresh ingredients from local farms, wineries, and bakeries.
Reviewed By LoveToTravelWhenICan
The food was okay. Just okay. Nothing special. Great atmosphere. I really wanted to like this a lot. All of us felt the same way. Soups lacked somethingâneeded more flavor/spices (two different soups). Several different meals, all lackluster. A shame.
2. Gigi's Southern Table
Overall Ratings
4 based on 347 reviews
Our philosophy is simple, the highest quality local and carefully sourced foods paired with an unprecedented dining experience. With a rich and extensive wine list, seasonal martini menu and 14 rotating drafts, Gigi's Southern Table is a favorite among wi
Reviewed By cfpsu1
We had a very enjoyable dinner at Gigiâs recently on a Saturday night. I do recommend reservations on the weekend, especially when PSU is in session. Our server Jennifer was amazing with the right balance of friendliness and professionalism that contributed to our dining experience! Gigiâs menu is not overly extensive, but offers a very nice variety of items to meet most everyoneâs tastes. Fresh seafood and raw bar are two of their selling points and if you sign-up for their mailing list online you receive a free half dozen oysters! On this visit we started off with the calamari appetizer, which was delicious! Lightly breaded and buttery-cooked perfectly. I had the grouper entrée, which was pan seared, very flavorful, and served with red rice/andouille sausage. My wife had the Mascarpone Ravioli with roasted red peppers and a vodka sauce. Both dishes were very good! While we had a very nice visit and plan to return to try other items, the one thing that took away from our visit was the cleanliness of the upholstered chairs. While the upholstered chairs add a nice southern feel to the place, over time everyone touching the chair back will cause it to become dirty. A good cleaning of the chairs will increase the overall positive vibe of the restaurant.
Where to eat Italian food in State College: The Best Restaurants and Bars
1. The Field Burger & Tap
Overall Ratings
4 based on 362 reviews
The Field embraces its farm-to-table mentality using the freshest ingredients available including local breads, a variety of regional Amish cheeses, and private blend of sirloin, chuck, brisket, and short rib to create our hand-formed burgers. The Field o
Reviewed By Don_Coleman
Have eaten here often and always had great food and great service (see my Feb 2019 review). This time the whole dining experience was awful. They were busy and we got drinks with friends at the bar. Bartender was awesome, friendly and attentive. Asked to be seated outside when we checked in. Got texted that table was ready but they forgot to put outside seating so we lost our bar seats. Second time we got seated outside but downstairs next to the golf carts. Very unappealing. Had tables upstairs but wouldnât seat us there. Server was very attentive at first with first round of drinks and apps, then we went without drinks for over a half hour as our burgers took 75 minutes to come out. Super disappointing and never got any apology or visit from a manager. Usually food comes in no more than 20 minutes. Only bad experience here but it was bad. Might have been somewhat acceptable if they wouldâve offered an apology. Thank you for your review. We appreciate you sharing your feedback with us. I am sorry to hear that you did not receive more timely service. Our service standard is to exceed our guest expectations and I am sorry that we did not do that for you. I hope that you will give us another opportunity.
Most Popular American food in State College, Pennsylvania, United States
