First, I live in Millheim, and come here often. Second, we live in Millheim BECAUSE of this place. It is such a warm community hub that it had a lot to do with why we moved here 9 years ago. That said...we've seen the ups and downs. The live music is always great, fantastic, really, with small but nationally noted acts. The beer is outstanding (and I write about drinks for a living), though you will NOT find anything fruited, or sour, or trendy; OTOH, the standards are finely-honed perfection. The service is... eccentric, but loving. The food has had some rough patches, but the current chef is great. The menu has been revamped, with solid regular items, and inventive specials. We'd still move here for the Elk Creek. read more

Staff are super friendly. I thought about taking off a star because there aren't a lot of gluten free options, but the prices are decent and my family has been going here forever. Just know that it's not an abundant amount of options if you're like me and have celiac disease. The atmosphere was comfortable and not overly loud like some places can be. Great salad! I wouldn't often call any salad "great" but this was truly top tier. read more

Elk Creek Cafe + Aleworks - Apple salad - New American Near Me - Millheim, Pennsylvania

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My go to place every time I visit State College, PA. I specially like the small town vibes whenever I come. Not to mention the awesome beer selection. read more

Small, local cafe that perhaps has forgotten that good customer service and the customers are the backbone support of a business.

I'm not sure what has happened in the Elk Creek Cafe kitchen in the past couple of years. We had brunch there today (Easter), and I was so disappointed with my meal. The "scrambies" were tasteless and the English muffin was dry and butterless. (I asked for butter and was told it was not available.) The potatoes were still abundant and yummy. They have done A LOT better for Easter brunch in the past. My husband's dish was OK. The lemon cake was so terribly dry the cream and fruit hardly helped. The service is very good and the servers very friendly. read more

Elk Creek is a real jewel in the small town of Milheim, PA. I've enjoyed this spot numerous times over the past several years--for both the beer and live events. Four stars (instead of five) only because I haven't had much experience the food. Elk Creek is in a beautifully renovated space in the heart of Milheim. The bar, floors, and all spaces show a craftsmanship that carries over to the beers. lThe atmosphere is warm and inviting with a definite local artistic vibe. The beer has been superb on every visit and I've enjoyed numerous growlers from here. Reservations are a must on live event nights. Both high top and regular tables are available. Elk Creek is a "must stop" if you are near State College. read more

Elk Creek Cafe + Aleworks - Elk Creek has a large open dining area. - New American Near Me - Millheim, Pennsylvania

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Absolutely delicious! Girls weekend success! We had a wonderful weekend stay at the Paisano Winery and had dinner at the Elk Creek Cafe and Aleworks. The food was perfect! I had the cat fish (fish and chips) and it was amazing. They had a great selection of beer that paired terrific with the fish and chips. The service was great as well! read more

Went for a Saturday lunch and got the flight of all beers (regular and seasonal). The atmosphere is clean and bright and the food was excellent. We had the grilled beets and the trout. Both were fresh and delicious. All the beers were a bit on the light side for me, but we did really like the black ale with undertones of coffee and lemon. I'd love to go back on an evening when they have live music. read more

Good place and probably 4 stars for the beer and service. The food was 3 stars but that is because it was decent but over done by the fact that each meal was a heaping pile of French fries with some "meal" added. I'm sure the apps, soups, and meals that don't come with fries could have potential. Prices were not inexpensive either especially for a place that sells beer vs byob but that is not unusual as places try to define the new price point. read more

Great Resturant. Everything is made fresh from scratch with as many local ingredients as possible. They have a Sunday brunch that I wanted to try but it doesn't open until 11 am and I had to get on the road. I'm looking forward to going back. read more

Elk Creek Cafe + Aleworks - Strawberry basil shrimp skewers with Hancock sweet potato fries on the meatball cornbread. - New American Near Me - Millheim, Pennsylvania

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We visited this small town while my husband was doing a 100 mile bike race. There was an summerfest in town that day, so Elk Creek was VERY busy. I could tell they were short staffed but they were doing an amazing job attending to all of the people who were planning to eat there. We decided to do take out, in which we were told it was going to take an hour for our food. Since they were busy we were willing to wait. We appreciated the communication and honesty from the hostess. Our food came out in ~30 minutes! We ordered two salads and a kids meal. The salad was very refreshing after a hot day and was a great portion. The kids meal had good variety, although it was only one chicken tender and LOTS of fries, that's how my child likes it. The brownie was also very soft and delicious. While we didn't eat inside, it was very open with a lot of seating and a casual atmosphere. read more

I could rave about Elk Creek for days. Despite several trips to the Happy Valley, I'd never heard of Elk Creek until a visiting family member brought a crowler of delicious IPA to share. During our next visit to State College, which just happened to be days after sharing this crowler, we made an early dinner stop-in at Elk Creek Cafe, and I was floored. The ambiance was reminiscent of my favorite cozy, Philly, farm-to-table, BYOBs. Rustic wood floors, fresh flowers in a small vase on the table, floor to ceiling windows, and locally-made art made me fall in love with Elk Creek almost immediately. This little town is quite inconspicuous, but I plan to be back if only to visit this cafe. The menu was a small but varied selection of locally-sourced produce, vegan-friendly options, cuts of meat, pizzas, and salads. We opted for a shared plate of friend pickles, a bacon pizza, and the ham + manchego flautas. Every bite was crunchy, decadent, and delicious. It was nice to be able to share amongst ourselves the different dishes we wanted to try. Our friends ordered a curry to share, and without asking, it was delivered, already separated to share, to the table in two heaping bowls. The service was amazing. Just one, older woman serving the few patrons. She was professional, punctual, and kind, adding to the warm vibe of Elk Creek. Don't sleep on the beer, either! Between the four of us, we were able to try the entire draft menu. There's something for everyone, and I don't recall disapprovals of any of the beers. Had we not had plenty at home, we would have been tempted to grab some to go. It was very tasty. You can't beat the value for experience. I'm used to city prices, so while Elk Creek may be pricier for this area, it's worth every cent. And there's plenty of free parking in the street! read more

I've been here several times with my wife. Our experiences have been very good, but a recent visit that coincided with a performance by Chicken Tractor was one for the ages. We had Brussels Sprouts as an appetizer--which was excellent and the. I had the black bean soup and she had the chili. We shared the jalapeños corn bread. The food was really good. Our server was attentive but without an agenda and we settled in for the show. I have to say, that was the most fun I have had at a live show in decades. Don't miss the opportunity to eat a meal here or to catch a Chicken Tractor show if the opportunity ever presents itself. read more

Elk Creek Cafe + Aleworks - Momentarily, they had a harmonica player... - New American Near Me - Millheim, Pennsylvania

Always a creative menu. The food is worth a curtain call. Wonderfully good! Great music too.

read the negative reviews. they're all true. just experienced it. what should i start with? after waiting 45 minutes for our food, the only item on the menu without cheese my boyfriend ordered came out COVERED in cheese. i sat waiting an additional 10+ minutes for his food to come back out, they had scraped the cheese off the eggs and brought the plate back out. the eggs were vile, regardless of cheese or not (i love cheese) and the english muffin was stale. i had gotten a fried green tomato eggs benedict- tasted like someone had made it and left it in the back for about an hour. not many options on the menu so you think the 5 things on the menu would be tasty. not worth the 40$ we wasted. had to get up from the table to even get our own water. coffee was the only good thing. read more

Elk Creek Cafe + Aleworks - fried green tomato benedict - New American Near Me - Millheim, Pennsylvania

This is a little gem in the heart of PA. Fresh local food, local artwork, and craft beers make this a great place to relax and enjoy some time with friends. They always have a lineup of good bands that aren't your standard cover bands. The service is good and welcoming. If you're in the area it's worth a stop. Because the food is local and fresh. The menu isn't huge. But you'll find something to enjoy. read more

First time here in several years, and we were very disappointed. I'm not sure if they have a new owner or chef but the steaks were over cooked and had no flavor, food was cold, and just not what we expected. The service was fine, and the style of the restaurant has a cool feeling to it but the food was inedible. Didn't try the beer this time so I can't comment on that, maybe that's good. Otherwise not worth the money. read more

Our daughter, her boyfriend, my wife and I went to this restaurant for dinner. The restaurant is in an old building with wooden floors. I'm not sure what it was before it was a restaurant. Service was excellent. We were welcomed at the door and shown to our table by our hostess. Our waitress stopped by the table many times to see if we had all we needed. The food we had was excellent. We started with the nacho appetizer and it was prepared very well and tasted great. I had the classic burger with a side salad and pimento cheese topping. The burger was cooked perfectly and tasted great. The pimento cheese topping was unique and added a nice touch. We all enjoyed our dinner here. read more

Elk Creek Cafe + Aleworks - Chana masala curry - New American Near Me - Millheim, Pennsylvania

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Everything I had here was gross and inedible. Started with the beer cheese and chips. The beer cheese looked and tasted like brown gravy, runny, and served with stale tortilla chips. For entree the sautéed veggies. The veggies had a lot of things including eggplant that wasn't even close to being soft enough to eat- like straight up raw. There was no seasoning on it at all that was discernible besides black pepper. Couldn't eat it, both things were so unappetizing. I can't believe I paid money for this slop. Gross, gross, gross!! read more

Elk Creek Cafe + Aleworks - Beer cheese and stale chips - New American Near Me - Millheim, Pennsylvania

Best brew pub in Millheim!! Sweet little out of the way spot outside state college. Good mix of locals and people visiting the area. Situated in "downtown" Milheim, this pub is in an old commercial space that still has its charm. Local artists show their work on the walls. Very well solid beers, six or so flag ships and 3-4 seasonal offerings. Nice, though smallish menu. Live music on weekends. Really exemplifies the third place, a welcoming spot people choose to go to for enjoyment and community. Stop by when you're in central PA! read more

Elk Creek Cafe + Aleworks - Friday at the bar! - New American Near Me - Millheim, Pennsylvania

Our first time at Elk Creek and it was great. Food was delicious, we got the Fish and Chips and the Crab Rangoon Flatbread. Beer was good too. Very nice and attentive staff. Atmosphere in there makes for a very nice dining experience. Will be going back. read more

Deliciously locally sourced food in a sunlit spacious restaurant bar. Walking in, I felt like that line from Cheers, 'Where everybody knows your name.' My friends knew everyone in the bar, the barkeep, the hostess (who was the bartender's partner), and ALL of the regulars. One of the regulars came to greet us, because we were a unfamiliar face. Then tried to guess our ethnicity. Very friendly environment, in an odd sort of way. My eggs Benedict had locally sourced smoked ham (delicious by the way! Smoked to perfection, moist, juicy, salty ham). My husband's burger was from local cows, bought from the meat shop in town (Juicy, medium, well seasoned beef). The french toast had a rhubarb compote, which was amazing! (The soft toast was slightly sweet with a touch of butter, with the compote made from rendered flavorful rhubarb). This place gave a whole new meaning to 'locally sourced'. Would definitely come back, if I am in Central PA. read more

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Kudos to the chefs and staff at Elk Creek Cafe + Aleworks in Millheim Pa!! Just look at the food we had tonight!! Everything was fabulous!! The hospitality of the staff was top notch! Everything was super fresh and locally sourced. If you haven't tried it please consider Elk Creek. You won't be disappointed!! read more

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I love Elk Creek. The food is consistently good. Their fish and chips are one if my favorites. I love that they use local ingredients as much as possible. The beer is also good. I really like their lighter offerings in the spring and summer. The drive from state college is about 20-25 minutes and really pretty down route 45. Great to do in the fall! I always call ahead and get a reservation because it fills up fast, especially on weekends and for brunch. I'm glad there are places like this here in centre county! read more

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Made the drive out here from State College for my girlfriend's birthday on a Tuesday night which happened to be their Taco night. They don't do full menu on Tuesays. They were featuring a cold seafood salad taco with shrimp, scallop and pollack; a braised pork taco with cabbage slaw; and taquitos with potato, napa and black bean. We got all three options and I'd say they were all pretty tasty, but the taquitos weren't fried they were more like a grilled flauta; not totally what we were expecting. And although well prepared, I'm not all for the cold seafood salad so I'd say the most enjoyable ones were the braised pork. For drinks she got the deluxe flight and I got an Oktoberfest. The drinks were nice and unique to the brewers themselves. Ambiance of the place is pretty cool and I'd like to go back to check out a band one night and/or try more of the menu items. read more

Elk Creek Cafe + Aleworks - New American Near Me - Millheim, Pennsylvania

I've had food and beer here for the past 8 years - typically only once or twice per year. My early experiences were positive. The beer was solid, not great, and the food was classic pub fare with a local ingredient sourcing twist. I looked forward to my return visits, the friendly vibe and a food/beer experience that much exceeded the local competition. Me and three friends excitedly got a table this past Saturday. We ordered beers that were just as solid as past years and reviewed the interesting food items on the chalkboard menu. The Buffalo burger with a tempura oyster and locally sourced cheese spoke to me and two others. We were asked how we wanted them cooked. I took rare while a medium rare and medium were also requested. Expectations were high as this is a $26 item. Another friend got a house burger at $17. Our burgers arrived looking great nestled in a bed of house cut fries! That is where things no longer met expectations. Our burgers were all cooked well - very dry. The oysters tasted very fishy and were not fried tempura style, but with a hard cornmeal like coating. We all agreed they were nasty and worried about the health consequences of eating them. The waitress was great, food came quickly - though the place for a Saturday evening seemed quiet. A $26 Buffalo burger should be outstanding and cooked as ordered. House burger was also not to be envied at $17. Fries were solid. But they only served one tiny metal cup of ketchup with each burger and fries - we had to request two additional cups for the fries and to add need hydration to the desiccated burgers. They probably lost all of us as repeat customers. Sad - want them to succeed! read more

This place was recommended to us by two separate State College area locals who don't know each other, so we figured it must be good and we had to give it a try. Very good beer and a good variety of beer. Excellent food from local sources. Friendly, prompt, attentive service. I had a fantastic lunch here and would love to go back again. Parking looks like it can be a challenge. There is a small parking lot around the block behind the building and there is some limited street parking. read more

I've lived in State College for two years, and I'm about to relocate. Elk Creek is going to be one of the things I miss the most about being here! A scenic half an hour drive out of State College gets you to this little gem. The beer is excellent, and they have something for all tastes. I usually get their IPAs and they vary from the East Coast variety to more West-Coast-like variants. Get a growler to go! The food is excellent too. Creative and delicious. Their brunch on Sundays is particularly good. While the menu on their website is limited there are always 4 to 5 specials every time I am there. Excellent Carrot/Pecan cake for dessert as well! read more

An excerpt from my book going LOCAL! Dreams inspire, they give rise to far off thoughts and great idea's. For some their dreams last only the night but others, the true dreamers, the dreaming never ends. These are men and women with passion and a zest for the life and they take their dreams, by commitment, hard work and faith and make them come alive. Tim Bowser of Elk Creek Café & Aleworks is one such dreamer. A number of years ago he helped to open a little place called the Equinox Cafe in Millheim. Situated along Rt. 45, this is a one stop light town and not really a place one would invest money and time in to create an eclectic coffee shop, but it seems the folks in Penns Valley had been dreaming about the same thing. When Tim and associates opened the doors of the Equinox, it was like the whole consciousness of the valley opened and folks poured in. Next, Tim reached out to his beloved community for help and presented them with the next chapter in his already awesome dream - a full blown brew pub and restaurant. They responded with resounding support and financial backing and the seeds of Elk Creek Café & Aleworks were planted (And if you know anything about Penns Valley, you know it's a fertile land and anything planted here grows strong and hearty). Going local is something Tim is very passionate about. Elk Creek uses nearly 100 % local organic meat and dairy. Produce is an "in season" thing and the beer is brewed in the back room. They're also smoke free! The official cuisine at Elk Creek is called Nuevo Dutchie - a combination of Gastro Pub and what rural Pennsylvania is known for - Dutch style cooking. According to Tim, "Dutch cuisine is a cookery of the land, you used what was available and you used everything except the oink." And this place is as Tim put it so well, "An omnivore's delight." Meat lovers as well as vegans can enjoy a wonderful meal prepared fresh and at a fair price. Tim told me his "community" is not just Millheim and Penns Valley (that's his home), but like a true dreamer, his reach goes well beyond his grasp and he considers any like minded folks no matter where they're from, a part of his community. He's a true indie spirit whose dream has been made reality and it's waiting for you in Penns Valley at the Elk Creek Café and Ale Works. Enjoy! read more

Elk Creek Cafe + Aleworks - New American Near Me - Millheim, Pennsylvania

We were en route from New England home to Ohio, and we're looking for something that served actual food (as opposed to industrial food) close to I-80. This was 30 minutes away, and after a beautiful autumn day drive through some really pretty country, we came upon this gem, brewing their own (very good) beer and using organic ingredients in their (very good) food. Big thumbs up. read more

Beer is average at best. Food selection isn't great. Prices are high considering what you get.

New Chef Erin Snyder is AWESOME!!! Great food, great beers, cute little town, friendly service. One of my favorites in Central PA.

Have heard great things about this place, but have not managed to get here until now. It lived up to its reputation. They brew their own beer and have a standard set of 6, plus a couple seasonals. I had the sampler (2 oz. of all 8 for $8). They were all good. The Elk Creek Copper was a little too hoppy for winter, but would be great on a warm summer day. The porter was perfect. My wife was partial to the Brookie Brown. There is a great bar and two rooms, the front room has the music and the back room is for dining only. You can get food in both parts. There is lots of local art on the walls and the place is bright and comfortable. It feels like a real locals place. The food was also good, and very homey. I had milk-braised pork with biscuits served with kale and collards. The greens were sweet, the biscuits crunchy on the outside and moist on the inside and the pork melted. Great winter meal. My wife had a portabello mushroom sandwich with a side salad. The sandwich was crisp outside and creamy and yummy on the inside. The greens were fine. One thing we like is they make an effort to get as much as possible locally and organically. Dessert we split a moist carrot cake with a wonderful maple frosting. I love carrot cake and this one was really quite excellent. All of out dining was accompanied by the Jive Bombers, a local duo that played guitar and harmonica - blues and old time rock for the most part. Very nice. They have live music many nights. Some nights with cover, others with tickets. The music is old school rock, blues, bluegrass and folk depending on the night. Really please with this place and will be back again as soon as I can make it. read more

Great vegan/ vegetarian appetizer options! Tempura cauliflower is a favorite with awesome flavor. The fried pickles and hummus (separate choices) are great drinking snacks too. I'm a fan of darker beers but all of the options I tried, including IPAs, were dynamic and delicious. Also loved the progressive culture which was a breath of fresh air in a clearly conservative area. read more

What does this small town brew pub have to offer a vegetarian? Plenty! It's exciting to say they have always had a nice vegetarian sandwich or two and a vegan hummus plate. More recently have been dedicated to all of that plus a vegan entrée and vegetarian soup choice every evening meal. Sitting at a high top table or on one of the elevated stages with good food and a local drink makes anybody, loner or huge family, feel like they belong at the Elk Creek Cafe. They feature Tait Farm Shrubs and local wines as well as their own established list of beers. The food menu, self dubbed Nouveau Dutchie Cuisine™, is dedicated to fresh, local foods and we have enjoyed many a wonderful soup and "vegan bowl" with a house crafted micro brew. Awarded the Elk Creek Cafe + Aleworks, "Pennsyltucky Veggie 2011 Best Specials," this place is one of our favorites. read more

Elk Creek Cafe + Aleworks - Sweet Shitake + Oyster mushroom wrap with hummus, sprouts and pickled onions. - New American Near Me - Millheim, Pennsylvania

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Love the place ...... Great Beers and wonderful food ......always great service ....Love the atmosphere.. We are making a day trip to State College Fri ..... and Elk Creek will be our lunch stop. When you stop by don't forget your growler read more

Elk Creek Cafe + Aleworks - New American Near Me - Millheim, Pennsylvania

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Feel-good vibes. I used to love Elk Creek. It really is a feel-good place to gather with friends on a Saturday night to enjoy all-things local...music, food, and brews. And their Sunday brunch was always a favorite of mine...eggs benedict and a beer. Two or three years ago I would have given them 5-stars, hands down. However, my last few visits had me leaving with no interest of returning any time soon. If you're going to market yourself as a chill and laid back place...you should act so. Poor customer service (rude hostess) and mediocre meals my last few (4-5) visits. It pains me to even write this, but feel it should be known. Sigh... read more

Fantastic beer, excellent food and wonderful atmosphere. I can't wait for music to return to the venue once we get past Covid.

Where just there this past Friday the 17th and had the worst fish and chips I have every eaten. There was hardly any fish and what fish was there was very tiny with the breading overwhelming. But if you like fries there was enough on the plate to feed the 1st airborne cavalry. I did not say anything to the bartender because it isn't his fault and like most people if you let something that terrible come out of your kitchen obviously you don't care what the customer think. read more

We recently stayed in Aaronsburg and ate/drank at Elk Creek all three nights we were in town. The first thing we said after sitting down at the bar was, 'wow, this beer is good'. It really is! The porter, the brown ale, the kolsch, the oktoberfest--- we tried our fair share. They are all good! We ordered fried pickles the first night- they were good. Then my hubby discovered the duck nachos-- and we HAD to order them again on night #3. We ordered a variety of things. I ordered the chickpea curry one night- it was filled with fresh veggies and chickpeas. It really hit the spot and I had some left over the next day for lunch. My hubby ordered steak and frites and finished the plate = that good! The second night, I had the falafel pita- the falafel is dense and delicious - I could go for one right now. My hubby ordered the ham and cheese-- another finished plate. On the 3rd night, we went a little lighter. I got the heirloom tomato salad special-- the cheese was rolled in pepper or something that made it spectacular. My hubby ordered the burger that he didn't want to share because it was so delectable. We will be back in the area for some fishing, and we will definitely be back to Elk Creek when we do come back. Such a special place! read more

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