State College bagel visit, part 1…read more Irving's is located in the heart of State College, directly across College from Penn State. This is clearly a student favorite, with amole seating capacity and plenty of coffee. It was well-inhabited by sleepy students during my ex May visit. I ordered a basic poppy bagel (toasted) wiith cream cheese. Service was quick and friendly, with a generous schmear of cream cheese. The bagel was tasty, and in the middle (in my experience) of the amount of poppy seed. I'd definitely recommend Irving's though it is probably a madhouse during the school year so plan your visit accordingly.

I ordered a gluten free bagel breakfast sandwich. The girl…read moretaking orders asked if it was an allergy or preference. I like that they let staff know the reason The sandwich itself was a little lack luster. I got a pork roll, egg and cheese. They definitely use premade bagels, which is ok (I wish the stated that somewhere) There were two VERY this pieces of pork roll- should have had more...or thicker It was ok- not sure I'd be back.

This is a cute shop with amazing bagels. I really enjoyed both the bagel sandwiches and the cream…read morecheese spread. The Asiago everything bagel is a dream come true. Best of everything all together. The coffee and chai were also delicious. It's a small shop and most people get things to go but they do have plenty of seating.

One day I went in for a bagel and it was a mess! Their system was down for card payments and…read moreinstead of being nice about it, the employees were super rude when we said we would be paying with card when they asked. Dirty and dingy too.

My Iced Chai Latte was the best I've ever tasted- 10/10! I also got a plain, Asiago Bagel, which…read morewas delicious even at room temperature. However, my oldest daughter asked for a cheese substitution and for her sandwich to have melted cheese, neither of which were fulfilled. My youngest daughter got the Macaroni Salad side, which she said was sweet and yummy. Overall, a very cute restaurant with a lovely seating area.

Delicious breakfast. The bacon, egg and cheese on the asiago everything bagel was amazing. I love…read morethat my two favorite bagel flavors are combined into one. My coworker had a tasty omelette served with potatoes and a bagel. Great start to the day!

I always love stopping in for a browse and bite to eat. Good priced food and the book selection is…read morethe real treat.

Like many second hand bookstores, you get the occasional grandpa nodding off to his book, the older…read moreuncle who unbeknownst to himself starts singing along with the cafe music, and ladies meeting up for a chat. But also like many independent bookstores like this, you can the feel for the down to earth community where people just are. I came in for a morning coffee and to browse the books. I was impressed by the young barista's skill in making a latte to my preferences, and it was really nice to weave my way around the shelves to see what an algorithm recommendation would normally miss. Not sure about the food, but the book space and coffee are on point.

Some places are worth building an entire adventure around. Penn State Berkey Creamery is one of…read morethem. As fate would have it, my Adventure Buddy and I found ourselves in State College on National Ice Cream Day, and there was absolutely no way I was leaving town without finally visiting the home of my favorite ice cream flavor ever...Monkey Business (banana ice cream, peanut butter swirl, chocolate chips). I'd fallen in love with Monkey Business last summer after trying it at an ice cream shop close to my house, but somehow I'd never actually made it to the Creamery itself. Correcting that oversight immediately became part of the day's adventure plan! We arrived around 12:30 on a beautiful Sunday afternoon, fully expecting National Ice Cream Day to mean complete chaos. Surprisingly, it wasn't. Busy? Absolutely. But the line moved quickly, everyone seemed to know exactly what they were doing and the whole operation ran like a well-oiled ice cream machine. Then I looked around. Cheese. Sticky buns. Chocolate milk. Bagels. Ice cream. Ice cream. More ice cream. At one point I turned to my Adventure Buddy and said..."I could live here." Ordering couldn't have been easier. First, you tell the cashier whether you're getting a cone, bowl or shake and pay. Then you move down to the ice cream counter, where you pick your flavor. Finally...you wait for your number to be called so someone can hand you what can only be described as an absurdly generous serving of happiness. While I waited, I sampled the Grilled Stickies flavor. Big mistake! It was phenomenal! For approximately fifteen seconds, I seriously considered abandoning my beloved Monkey Business and trying something new. Fortunately...I came to my senses. Monkey Business and I have history together. When my number was called, the gentleman behind the counter handed me a bowl that was significantly larger than I expected. And yes...I audibly squealed. Again. Right there in the middle of the Creamery. I looked at him and said, "You absolutely made my day!" Because he had. We found a table outside on the patio to enjoy the beautiful weather, performed a few completely necessary happy food dances and proceeded to enjoy every glorious bite of what is still, without question, my favorite ice cream flavor on Earth. For only $6. On National Ice Cream Day. Honestly, I don't know how that day could've gotten any better. PRO TIP: Don't skip the sample spoon! There are so many incredible flavors that it's worth trying something new before committing. Just be warned...you may accidentally discover another favorite! I also learned that Berkey Creamery ships ice cream to the lower 48 states. This information feels...dangerous. Living only about an hour and a half away, I probably don't need to have Monkey Business shipped directly to my house. But...I may have to test the process someday. You know...in the name of science! If you're anywhere near State College, do yourself a favor and make the stop. Whether you're a Penn State fan, an ice cream enthusiast or just someone who appreciates an exceptionally well-run small operation, Berkey Creamery absolutely lives up to its legendary reputation. WE ARE...ICE CREAM HEAVEN!

My younger self would be dismayed with my present self for this ranking. This is probably the most…read moreiconic ice cream shop in all of Pennsylvania, and I attach a good amount of teenage memories to it. That said, while there are some really wonderful features of their ice cream, particularly the texture of small chocolate chunks they embed, it's not actually the greatest ice cream in existence. The chocolate is too milky, the mint too green and artificial, etc. It might make more sense to think of it as exemplary commercial rather than distinctly artisinal?

The short version: I love this place! Definitely go here!…read moreNow the long one for those who like to know what they are getting into: the employees are some of the kindest people I have ever interacted with. Joe at the register makes sure you have everything you need, makes great recommendations, and is very compassionate! I wish I got the other employees name as well, she was really sweet and the lavender London fog was so good. I also got the chili, it's amazing, hearty, and made the way I love. Because of this I will note that if you have a cinnamon allergy you will want to avoid the chili as it's definitely in there! Quiet, clean, and comfy vibes that allowed me to have about two hours to myself to read and relax!

Lovely ambiance, warm and inviting service. The perfect place to meet a friend, read a book, or get…read moresome work done outside the office.

Absolutely loved this place. Super cool old house. Good was amazing- had things for vegetarians…read more The coffee was the best I have had in ages!

The cafe is very vibey. The lights are dim with lots of art and decor and lamps set around which…read morestill makes it a reasonable place to work. I had a French toast latte. It was good but definitely more coffee flavor than flavor French toast flavor. I had the pecan tassie which was so buttery and gooey. It was delicious and I would go back just for that. I went on a Thursday morning and it was extremely full. A nice lady let me share her table until one opened up but if it is regularly that full I don't know that I would be back.

I was in on the south west side of State College for work today and found TNEC using "local…read morefavorites" search on Yelp. Nice little diner just outside of State College of SR 45. I had a great lunch with an awesome Rueben and shoe string fries. Home made corned beef on an excellent marbled rye. FYI The fries were a little cold. I also considered biscuits and gravy but they don't serve home fries after 11:00, odd for a breakfast all day place. The banana bread French toast also caught my eye so I grabbed a slice of banana bread to go. Service was fast and friendly Prices are in line with the "new normal", sandwich and a drink was $16.

My wife and I stopped in for breakfast recently. The location was quite charming and we were…read moresurprised by the number of people at the restaurant late on a Friday morning. The ambience was bright and clean. Pricing was reasonable. Our server was new and attentive to our experience. The food was OK. My wife asked for her Florentine eggs Benedict to come out hard and they were soft. She had to send them back to the kitchen for additional cook time. My eggs Benedict were cooked perfectly and the ham was good and the highlight of the dish. The hollandaise sauce however was watery and on the cool side. The hashbrowns were average. The star of breakfast was the corned beef hash, simply top notch. We will return for a second experience.