Are you a local or visitor looking for the best restaurant in State College? It’s always better to plan ahead in order to save as much as you can on the best meals. State colleges around with restaurants that will blow your taste buds away. Next time you’re in town for the weekend or just the week, make sure you visit one of our favorite restaurants. Everyone, from lifetime residents to full-time Penn State students, loves the grub around these parts. We at the Bryn have put together a list of the top restaurants in the State College area you need to try!
The Original Waffle Shop
There’s a reason why the Original Waffle Shop is treated as a must-visit place by the locals in the college community. This local waffle institution has been serving up the best brunch for the Penn State community for years. Both of the original Waffle Shop locations and to get pretty packed on Penn State game days. It’s not just popular amongst the locals, everyone who visits State College knows how fluffy the pancakes are. It doesn’t really matter which location you visit, as long as you try some of this stellar brunch for yourself. Just remember to show up early because there’s plenty of Original Waffle Shop fans in State College.
Restaurant Style: Brunch
Locations
- 1229 N Atherton St, State College, PA 16803
- 1610 West College Avenue, State College, PA 16801
Restaurant Hours
- Monday – Saturday: 5:30 a.m. – 3 p.m.
- Sunday: 7 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Perks
- Healthy Selections
Local Favorites
- Banana-Nut Waffle
- Belgian Waffle
- Blueberry Waffle
- Chicken and Waffles
Tips & Tricks
A trip to the Waffle Shop always guarantees a bit of a wait. The best thing you can do to avoid customer traffic is arrive around opening or closing time. Just make sure you visit the closest one, this will give you a better chance to dodge traffic!
Home D Pizzeria
Home Depot Pizzeria has been State College’s number one pizza restaurant for a while. It’s just one of those best restaurants in State College where you can relax and forget about any unnecessary stress. They serve some of the tastiest Italian food you’ll find in State College. Most of the items on the menu are largely portioned and worth every penny. This is definitely the hangout spot you’d want to take your college buds or your family. Most adult customers like to enjoy their meal with a nice cold beer. You can choose to sit at the bar or grab a table if you’re dining in with a small group.
Restaurant Style: Italian Pizza Joint
Location: 1820 S Atherton St, State College, PA 16801
Restaurant Hours
- Sunday – Thursday: 11 a.m. – 12 a.m.
- Friday & Saturday: 11 a.m. – 1 a.m.
Perks
- Alcohol Selections
- Delivery
- Happy Hour Drinks
- Happy Hour Food
- Online Ordering
- Outdoor Seating
- Vegetarian Selections
- Wi-Fi
Local Favorites
- Daily Specials
- Sicilian Pizzas
- Specialty Pizzas
Tips & Tricks
The best thing you can do is head over to Home D Pizzeria during happy hour. Feel free to order the daily special, and if you’re not in the mood for the special, try ordering any of the fun appetizers. Three attempts to get a little busier towards dinner time, so make sure you order online or visit any other time if you’re trying to avoid customer traffic.
Tadashi
How about trying some foreign dishes? Tadashi is a Japanese restaurant in State College that packs great taste into every item on the menu. The college community sure thinks the ramen noodle soup & other traditional Japanese dishes are well worth the money. All the dishes are served up neatly and have a bit of an American twist. This Japanese spot also has a good number of appetizers including the popular calamari and spring rolls. Who can forget about the tasty ramen noodles and sushi? You can also expect to see different flavors ranging from tasty to spicy.
Restaurant Style: Japanese Restaurant
Location: 206 W College Ave, State College, PA 16801
Restaurant Hours
- Monday – Thursday: 11 a.m. – 9:30 p.m.
- Friday & Saturday: 11 a.m. – 10 p.m.
- Sunday: 12 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Perks
- Vegetarian Selections
Local Favorites
- Calamari
- Ramen
- Spring Rolls
- Sushi Rolls
Tips & Tricks
Don’t be afraid to try something unknown to your stomach. Trust us, everything on the menu is special in its own way. Of course, you’re always free to order what you want. You can always ask an employee for their opinion if you get stuck while ordering some food. Also, dining at one of the best restaurants in State College means you might have to wait a bit during heavy customer traffic times. We suggest you try visiting Tadashi around 3 p.m. if you want to avoid a long wait.
The Corner Room
The Corner Room is popular for its oversized dishes and great bar service. It also has a distinguishable classic eastern style setup you won’t miss when you pass by. From the food to the look, everything about this restaurant screams out American tradition. Doesn’t matter whether you want some healthy cooked fish or are looking to try out some of the original grilled stickies, this place has it all. Just make sure you’re hungry because the portions are large.
Restaurant Style: American Restaurant
Location: 100 W College Ave, State College, PA 16801
Restaurant Hours
- Monday – Sunday: 7 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Perks
- Accepts Lion Cash (University Students)
- Happy Hour Food
- Online Ordering
- Reservations
Local Favorites
- Burgers
- Grilled Stickies
- Philly Cheese Steak Sandwich
Tips & Tricks
You just have to try the famous grilled stickies. They’re originally from State College and honestly, deserve a bit more recognition than they get. The Corner Room also stays pretty busy throughout the day but customer traffic tends to slow down around 3 p.m. Try ordering online or visiting around this time to enjoy your meal without interruption. Just remember that you might not get the chance to take advantage of the happy hour food.
Local Whiskey
Local whiskey is definitely the best bar restaurant in State College. This bar offers plenty of comfortable space in a relaxed environment for you and your friends to enjoy. They have a long list of whiskey selections and a fun week of daily specials from Sunday to Thursday. Let’s not forget about the grub. Local whiskey also serves up some tasty wonder wings, cheesesteaks, and popular sandwiches you’ll fall in love with after the first bite.
Restaurant Style: Bar
Location: 107 E Beaver Ave, State College, PA 16801
Restaurant Hours
- Monday – Saturday: 11 a.m. – 2 a.m.
- Sunday: 10:30 a.m. – 2 a.m.
Perks
- Alcoholic Selections
- Happy Hour Drinks
- Happy Hour Food
Tips & Tricks
The best days to visit local whiskey are from Sunday to Thursday. This is when you can enjoy any of the specials on their food and drinks. Fridays and Saturdays tend to be a bit more busy at the restaurant, but it does attract plenty of good vibes. We suggest you dine in during the earlier half of the week if you’re just looking for some good grub.
Sowers Harvest Cafe
Every great town needs a great American cafe where you can enjoy some good coffee in a relaxed environment. Sowers Harvest Cafe offers an extensive menu that includes breakfast, lunch, and dinner. You’ll find plenty of freshly made Diner foods like coffee, smoothies, sandwiches, and steaks at this fine restaurant. There’s also a chalkboard full of daily specials you’ll love to try out Sowers Harvest Cafe is also a locally-sourced restaurant that uses local fruits, vegetables, and other fresh produce to craft its dishes.
Restaurant Style: American Cafe
Location: 421 E Beaver Ave, State College, PA 16801
Restaurant Hours
- Tuesday – Friday: 7:30 a.m. – 3 p.m.
- Saturday: 8:30 a.m. – 3 p.m.
- Monday & Sunday: Closed
Perks
- Daily Specials
- Vegetarian Selections
- Wi-Fi
Local Favorites
- Baked Soft Pretzels
- Cheesesteak Omelette
- Coffee Drinks
Tips & Tricks
This cafe tends to get busier towards lunch time. You can try heading over around opening time to avoid a long wait. Don’t worry about a thing because you’ll still be able to enjoy from the specials.