After four years, there aren't many places we haven't visited in the area. However, Duffy's Tavern has been on my radar for a while. We made reservations for a Sunday night. When we got there, the sign said Boalsburg Tavern. We later found out they're still Duffy's, but the sign had blown off. They were also quite busy, but fortunately we had made a reservation. The restaurant, in an old stone house, has a number of smaller rooms (one with a fireplace), along with a small bar and enclosed side patio. We were seated there. Even though it was a porch, it was warm as the baseboards were at our feet. Our friendly server Sara greeted us right away, but it took 30 minutes (Really!) to get our two cocktails which were not complicated. Fortunately, our baked Brie appetizer immediately followed. It was tasty and accompanied by 6 pieces of crostini. We even like the cranberry compote. I ordered the Coq Au Vin which was delicious. The stewed chicken, mixed with potatoes and carrots, sat atop mashed potatoes. Although not exactly like the French Coq Au Vin, it was still tasty. My daughter ordered the Seafood Alfredo but thought it was just okay with only a few pieces of shrimp and crabmeat mixed in with the pasta. My husband said his raviolis topped with chicken were plain. Overall, a relaxing dinner in an interesting setting although the food was mixed, and no explanation was given for the cocktails taking 30 minutes. read more

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This is a quaint old building with antique decor which has several different smaller dining areas as well as a bar. Service was courteous and friendly and everyone had nothing but good things to say about the food. My sirloin steak was cooked to order and very tasty. The parking lot is small but there is plenty of street parking and the road the tavern is on has very little through traffic read more

Duffy's Tavern - Old fashioned - American Near Me - Boalsburg, Pennsylvania

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Delicious meal, great service. All the food was great and the service was wonderful. We arrived early to our reservation but they accommodated us. Real quality meal which is hard to find. read more

Cute outdoor patio for a lovely day! Dogs welcome! The wings were top notch! The salad was fresh and tasty! Service was quick and friendly! Would recommend no sauce on pork chop. Salmon was well cooked read more

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Tried this historic tavern with two friends for dinner. Interior is an old house, rustic and comfortable. We were seated promptly and waited on quickly. Not an extensive menu but something for everyone. It did not help that all of us used our cell phone flashlights to read the menus. That is a pet peeve of mine. My friends had salads that were generous and filling. I had a Rachel sandwich and sweet potato fries which tasted good to very good with some adult beverages to go around. We also did share key lime pie and a chocolate cake which were very good quality. Our server could have not been more accommodating or pleasant. My suggestion is you "get out of town", go to the historic small tavern and pay them a visit. read more

Ambiance was very good. Chairs were a little low to the table. But the room felt historical with a nice vibe. Service was good. Food was below expectations. Especially the steak salad. Meat Chewy, greens lacking, dressing average, and ingredients very strange. Do not recommend this selection. Crab Bisque was good, French onion soup was good. Overall, we just expected a better experience.​ read more

Duffy's Tavern - Rest of salad. - American Near Me - Boalsburg, Pennsylvania

Terrible food. We've given this place about 7 tries. Each time, the food is worse and the service mediocre at best. Tonight was our last visit. Do you like to take your food home to make it taste 20% better with the mayonnaise from your own fridge? Then, this overpriced menu may be for you. Avoid the dry ass crab cake sandwich and lamb burger. I make a better dinner on a Tuesday night, hungover, with jet lag, a UTI, and six kids screaming at me. read more

Food is not good. Brisket Bahn Mi is horrid. Brisket had the consistency of paste with a truly awful sauce. Onion rings under fried and unseasoned. Just poor execution. I did not finish my food and that never happens. I'd stay away, at least from that menu item. read more

The soup rocks. Tavern like experience with a really nice menu. It's good. Yards is also on tap. Don't see that too often. read more

Duffy's Tavern - Ham and Ham & Bean Soup - American Near Me - Boalsburg, Pennsylvania

Hard to find Duffys. There is no sign that we saw (drove past the building) but we went into the building and it was duffys. It's old inside (if you like that stuff). The food was good and good service. read more

I recommend scheduling a reservation, especially during busy weeks or weekends at PSU. We were visiting for family weekend and decided to give this place a try. The area is quaint and aesthetically beautiful. Ambiance gives off a colonial vibe. The hostess sat us adjacent to the restroom which was not desirable, so we requested to move as there were tables available in other rooms but we were denied due to the priority placed in their server rotation over customer happiness. Not great but we dealt with it as we wanted to try this place out. Our server did a great job and was very attentive. The food was hit and miss. The Rueben was great though, as well as the French onion soup. I would label this place as upscale bar food. After our meal was done everyone was looking forward to leaving which says a lot to me. Also, I have never been to a restaurant that is not very large in size with such an exceptionally busy bathroom, which likely added to the speedy exit. It was fun to try this place once, but I would not return. If they made a few improvements on the customer service side, I think they would offer a better overall experience. read more

A 2 star maybe. Marinara overdone and dry. Ravioli Soso. Burger overdone even though ordered pink. Service good. Food not so good. We've been there over the years and the last time said maybe one more time. Thus time will never be back. Male management snotty and above us all. New menu. Yuck. Really a pitty. Must have been bought out. Food quality fir price? Poor. Don't waste your time or money.​​ read more

Food was fine. I ordered a chardonnay. The waitress was very condescending and weird. She asked me for my ID which I gave and then she looked at me with an extremely weird face and handed back my ID and just left without saying anything. I thought I had done something wrong. The entire experience felt weird to me and at some point I asked her why she looked at me weird, she said "I was hoping you didn't notice that" She didn't give me a clear explanation. This place is located at a predominantly white neighborhood and I was the only person of color there so that made it more awkward for me. read more

Great lunch outside a couple weeks ago...similar options, but food has been upgraded! Hard to tell if open this week, because no one answers phone on Tues or today. read more

In the area for business and a local suggested this place for the best ever wings and burgers. We sat outside and the service was fair, I tried to order a glass of bubbles but the server didn't know if they offered that outside of a specific cocktail, she was happy to bring me water instead of finding out. We both ordered pretty healthy entrees and we ate every bite, my chicken was under seasoned but it was still cooked perfectly. My husband's grilled pork chop was also cooked perfectly, served with carrots and potatoes. The patio was super nice and spacious with comfortable seating, we enjoyed ourselves overall. read more

Duffy's Tavern - Chicken Marsala - American Near Me - Boalsburg, Pennsylvania

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Went out for a beautiful night with my girlfriend. Valentines date and everything. Saw a ribeye for order. I said yes. Valentine's day special added burnt coffee grounds and hot fudge. Words cannot describe the monstrosity i was served. I almost threw up at the sight. I ate a few bites in distress. Acted like i loved it. But it was the most heinous thing i laid my tongue on. I will never grace this disgusting premises again. read more

Duffy's Tavern - Ever heard of a Ribeye topped with Hot Fudge ? - American Near Me - Boalsburg, Pennsylvania

Celebrated our daughter's college graduation here. We were a party of 10 and the place was packed as you'd expect for Penn State grad weekend. For as busy as it was, the service was so good and we had a great time. It was a little more limited menu for grad weekend, but there was plenty for everyone to select from. Everyone in the party said their food and drinks were great. We were seated upstairs and the poor wait staff was running food up and down the stairs. Highly recommend...if we are ever back in the area, we would definitely come back during a quieter weekend! read more

Much improved! Interior seems to have been refreshed, with pleasant, warm ambience on the enclosed porch, where we dined. Many appealing new menu choices. Faroe Island salmon with lemon risotto was wonderful! Try it again, if you haven't visited lately. read more

I so badly wanted to give this place a 5 star. But quite frankly, your bartenders have a serious attitude problem. We headed over to Duffys on Saturday night around 7, yes a busy time. Since we had a wait to be seated, I headed over to the bar to grab a drink. I literally stood there for 15 minutes and both bartenders, the old witch lady and younger girl with glasses both looked at me twice and completely ignored me. Then two gentleman who clearly came in after me sat down, the older woman went over to ask what they needed. Finally she came to me and said what can I get you. I told her I was there before these gentleman and her response" look, it's busy. I don't know what you expect but we are doing the best we can." She literally created a scene at the bar. So here's my response. 1) I've worked in restaurants. Normally you let someone who is waiting for a drink that you will be with them shortly. Especially if you make eye contact with them twice. 2) You don't give an attitude to your patrons. They pay the bills for you and keep the doors open for the restaurant. 3) Even if you're busy, you are in a service industry. To the girl wearing glasses, stop washing the glasses for one moment and assist the people at the bar. Your patrons are your priority. To the older woman, don't talk down to someone who clearly has been standing there patiently for 15 minutes waiting for a drink. Or maybe you don't know that. When we were seated our server, a young guy was great and the food was good. That woman just killed my vibe and when I go out to eat with my family, it's supposed to be a stressless time. Maybe consider new bartenders who understand hospitality management, since these two don't. read more

Really disappointed to have to leave this review as I have frequented Duffy's several times and have always spoken highly of it to others. Last Saturday, my fiancé and I dined here for Small Business Saturday as we traditionally do. We waited over 40 minutes for appetizers (there were only a handful of other tables). During this time, our waitress offered no apology, no explanation, and did not check up on us. One of the dipping sauce holders for our app had a sizable crack in it, which, according to heath code standards, is a violation as it can cause food born illness. I pointed this out to our waitress, who 1. Did not seem aware of this regulation, and 2. Did not seem to care enough to pull said dish out of rotation. For my entree, I had ordered the garden salad without the customary goat cheese. As our waitress was setting down the salad, I immediately noticed the cheese and asked for it to be corrected. A few minutes later, she brought back THE SAME SALAD (photos). The kitchen made a half-a$$ effort to pick off the crumbled cheese, instead of making a new one. At this point, I had bit my tongue long enough and asked to speak to the manager on staff. We waited over 15 minutes to speak to him. Only for our waitress to tell us he was bartending and would not be able to come see us. She even expressed annoyance on his part that he was "bothered". The salad remained untouched and when I brought it to the attention of our waitress, she agreed that it was pure "laziness" (her word" on the kitchen's part. I also addressed my other concerns with her since no one of authority would speak to us. Imagine my shock when the bill was brought to us and the salad that was made incorrectly twice (and mishandled) and untouched was still on the tab. I had to ASK for it to be comped. The only resolve I was given that day was a business card for the owner. I was advised to send her an email with my concerns. I did just that, had to wait over 4-5 days to hear a response, and only got a condescending, brief, dismissive message in return. I am angry, disappointed, and will never visit this establishment again. It is clear the owner & staff take very little pride in their work. read more

Duffy's Tavern - American Near Me - Boalsburg, Pennsylvania

Had friends that had us place our order with Duffys as we were coming in from out of state and our friends wanted us to have dinner as soon as we arrived. I ordered a Duffy burger with fries. Not sure if it was traveling or if it was just good food. I devoured my burger and fries, the cheese was perfectly melted and the fries were thick and crisp. So thankful this was our option for dinner! read more

This was our second visit here as out of staters, once at Easter and once this weekend. Food was just as ordered for all, once party of 5, once party of 4. We've had pork chop, calamari, wings, steak, salads, halibut, brisket. Waiter was busy but still attentive. We love the historic vibe, wood floors not level, separate room eating areas. It has great history and the menu has a brief overview. read more

Went into the bar part of the tavern. Beer selection was limited and the beer a received wasn't cold. Tiny little stop with too much Notre Dame paraphernalia... Wouldn't go out of my way to go back. read more

Duffy's Tavern is a very historical restaurant. The ambiance is something you don't always see in today's restaurants, but I'm not complaining because it's actually really cool. The food there is also really good. My favorite food might be the pretzels and jalapeño cheese. But there is so many other delicious options! The wait staff are very nice, but it does take some patience to wait for the food. What I mean by that is you have to wait a while for your food to come. But besides that Duffy's Tavern is a place I recommend you go to! read more

It's a lovely, colonial-style inn near State College, Pa. My husband's Old Fashioned rivaled a Whiskey Sour he'd had at NOLA's Couchon--memorable. My Sauvignon Blanc was very nice. Our calamari and lamb lollipop apps were perfectly cooked and expertly seasoned. Same for the salmon filet and the pork chop. Homemade key lime pie was a lovely ending to a delightful meal. But when I received the credit card chit to sign, there was a discrepancy . The bill was thirty cents less than what appeared on the credit card chit. There was also a credit card service charge of $4.95. When asked, our waitress said she didn't understand it either and the best she could do was say it had something to do with taxes. So, as far as we can figure out, their overly cautious accountant advised Duffy's to collect a six percent sales tax on that $4.95 credit card surcharge just in case. I don't usually mind paying the cc surcharge, but I really did mind that thirty cents that wasn't itemized anywhere. It's a nice restaurant, but they need a new accountant. read more

Duffy's Tavern - Salmon filet and grilled pork chop, accompanied by an Old Fashioned and a nice Sauvignon Blanc. - American Near Me - Boalsburg, Pennsylvania

My husband and I recently came here for our anniversary. First of all, the atmosphere is so cool. We are both into history! We had the best waiter & service. I don't remember his name, but he did say he was new! He was very attentive and friendly!! We both ordered a burger and they were both cooked to perfection! I ordered a Moscow mule from the bar and it was very yummy! We will definitely be back here!! read more

Went into the bar last evening and it was full and loud. I sat down at the table where my husband I usually sit and The older female behind the bar yelled something to be from behind the bar and I could not hear her so I got up from my table and went to the bar. She asked me again and I still could not hear her and she obviously was really annoyed and yelled, are you alone !!!!!!' And her eyes were darted with anger. I will never go to the bar area. I think she probably should retire or find another career. I just walked out I wasn't going to be treated like that read more

This place was sooo good. We were seated in the back and it was kind of dark and cozy. The service was very slow and there weren't many people there. We went for lunch and I got the smoked salmon bruschetta and the crab bisque soup. Both were phenomenal. Husband had a sandwich with chips. He liked it but the chips were from a bag and not fresh so I would skip those next time. read more

It is a gem. Ask to be seated at the porch. Start with Sierra Nevada hop magnum and finish with apple crisp.

DUFFY'S BOALSBURG TAVERN! Is truly a hidden gem. The food is modern, contemporary, fresh and delicious. You would think that this establishment would be in a modern styled restaurant space . However, it's quite the opposite which makes it so unique. The restaurant is a converted old Home that was once used as a stage coach stop back in the day when people would travel from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh It is also 100% haunted as you can feel this vibe Throughout this establishment. It is such a cool place with all the different cozy rooms you can be seated in . We found this restaurant originally yelping for good chicken wings and holy cow are their chicken wings Amazing. I can't say enough about this place it's our favorite when visiting Penn State read more

Great ambiance. Love the atmosphere. Out waitress was very friendly, knowledgeable of the menu and present! We had the baked Brie appetizer (shared among 3 people). Entrees we're crab cakes, duck and salmon. All three of us cleaned out plates! No leftovers here. Reasonable prices too. Definitely going back! read more

Great place with wonderful food, a beautiful outdoor patio that we were able to enjoy, and terrific service. Nice to have a calm relaxing evening on a game weekend. It's definitely on our rotation going forward read more

It was a Tuesday night and my spouse and I had a reason to celebrate something and we wanted to grab a bite to eat. I suggested Duffy's Tavern. It has been awhile since we went there, I remembered liking the place, but we just hadn't gone, you know how life just kind of carries you down the river and you don't get around to things? Anyway, it was 7:30 and the restaurant closed at 8:00. I said, "We will go in and ask if we are too late and if the answer is yes, we will leave." I did not want to be one of those people who show up at the last minute and expect to be served. We walked in and asked, they graciously said, "Of course you can stay and eat." We went to the bar and sat there, (I figured they could get the dining room cleaned for the next day). The bartender was great, he helped my husband find a nice scotch he had not tried, I had a cool, crisp delicious Chardonnay. We didn't mess around and asked a few quick questions about the menu and got our order in. We had calamari, smoked salmon bruschetta and a blackened salmon Caesar salad. My meal was the smoked salmon bruschetta and it was not only a beautiful work of art, but ABSOLUTELY delicious! I will seriously be making the drive over just to have this dish! My husband loved his meal as well! The bartender told me that they were getting ready to change up the menu in the near future, there were quite a few things on the menu that looked awesome! When we return, I am going to have to make sure I try some different things, I guess I will have to share my bruschetta, so I have room for other food! I can't wait to see what the owners have in store for the menu, after the meal we had, I have complete trust that it will be a culinary delight. Thank you for providing such a fabulous meal with wonderful service in a cozy, inviting atmosphere! We will be back soon! read more

Duffy's Tavern - Smoked salmon bruschetta - American Near Me - Boalsburg, Pennsylvania

Table of 5 had lunch here on Sunday August 11. The service was great. Our server was excellent; friendly, polite, attentive and fun. Everyone at our table enjoyed their food. We had no trouble parking. The funky old building is full of ambiance. We'll definitely return! read more

Service was slow; it took 45 minutes to get burgers even though the patio was only about 1/2 full. Asked for my burger to be pink but it was cooked brown. Menu was also fairly expensive. Expected better service and food for the price. read more

I'm sorry but I'm waiting an hour for items on a limited menu - and the items arrived cold. The 76'ers are in the playoffs and the staff said that some women's golf was to be on the TV. Need I say more? read more

Service was very slow and lacking. I understand it's graduation weekend and they are busy, but with a limited menu it should not take 45 minutes for food to arrive to a table of 4. And our appetizer was forgotten. Steak was ordered "medium" and came out well down. Luckily got the servers attention quickly to replace it, but the second try was still overcooked, but not quite as bad. The other 3 entrees were average at best. No check backs. No table touch by manager after not receiving the appetizer. Definitely not worth the price! read more

Stopped in for appetizers and a brew before a hockey game. I have always enjoyed this place for its atmosphere and food. The maple mustard with the soft pretzels sticks is very tasty. The salmon bruschetta was also a hit. We ate in the bar and had a very engaging conversation with the bar tender. read more

Duffy's has always been my go to place when we are in from California. The menu has something for everyone, young or old. The food is so tasty, and Fresh. The feeling you get when walking through the door is one of "living history" it's like waiting for the walls to tell you who was sitting beneath the book shelf in the corner. As you walk through this Old homestead, you wonder who started the fire in the hearth of the back dining room. Who was a frequent visitor ? I will be back in the future. read more

Nice place if you're white. If not be prepared to be seated on the porch. I've been here 3 times and why do they always seat my party mixed race outside the main dining room? read more