B I G Vibe Small Bar Bit Noisy We stopped in Local Whiskey during our stay in lovely State College PA. Our local friends recommended the sister bar/restaurants (Local Whiskey and Central Reservation) and we were glad they did. We enjoyed delicious craft cocktails professionally made by the bar staff and enjoyed a delicious Strawberry salad. Bar had pos decor with great tile work - we felt like we were in NYC. We had a great happy hour at Local Whiskey because the staff was polite and professional. We did find the decibel level in the bar extreme. My wife's smart watch gave her (a first ever) decibel warning. Unfortunately it was so loud she and I could not have a conversation so we left. read more

Local Whiskey - Handcrafted Copper mug cocktail - Cocktail Bars Near Me - State College, Pennsylvania

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A classic American lunch special that made me feel guilty for paying so little for such a good meal. Preface: This is only about the burger lunch special. I don't drink alcohol so I can't speak to their bar or other food. 5/5 Food: where to start with the burger- its thick patty has a great crisp outside and medium inside and is graced by nicely cooked bacon, lettuce, tomato, cheese, and a proper amount of sauce. The fries are classic, semi mush-semi crisp fries with coarse grained salt. The meal with a delicious burger that outdoes any other I've had in state college, even those that cost close to $20. Walking out the door, the meal (fries, burger, drink) cost 8.05, and I was happy to leave a larger than 20% tip to make it $10 even. I challenge you to find a better burger in state college, regardless of price. Honestly, my MBA-trained senses obsessed over what their business model might be and I'm hoping that it was providing enough for the owners and staff. 3.5/5 Service: Friendly. It was really busy when we were there and it was a tad slow, but we also had a group that came in at different times. 4/5 Ambiance: nice-ish college bar inside, clean bathrooms. Only complaint is that the booth table was too tall for the chairs, I felt like I would have been better suited to kneel to eat my burger than sit (I had one friend who did kneel to meet the height of the table) Tl;DR Excellent burger; confusingly great value. read more

Second time here and I'm more practical with expectations. The sandwiches are as expected. I had fried chicken sandwich. For $3.50 you can get a million broken fries ( no fork) and for us the ketchups were all empty. It was funny watching other patrons track down ketchup. Seating is Lord of the Rings style, but you know that going in. Solid and expectations met, as 9 pm approaches, groups start coming as a changeover to a bar happens. read more

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We stopped at Local Whiskey during our trip and had a really good time! I got the Harlicky wings and they were good, but a little soggy for me. I definitely prefer my wings on the crispier side. My boyfriend got the cheesesteak and it was SO good, easily a 10/10. I also got a Hugo Spritz which was really good and refreshing! Overall we enjoyed everything and I'd definitely come back. read more

Local Whiskey - Cocktail Bars Near Me - State College, Pennsylvania

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They have a burger special which is a very good deal but does not allow for any customizations. It comes with a fountain drink which is amazing! However, the waitress had asked me if I wanted a refill. Since she asked, I was under the impression that it was free refills so I was shocked when the refill was an additional $5. This made the burger special not worth it anymore since it ended up being $5 extra for just one refill. Other than that, the food came really quickly and the ambiance inside the restaurant is nice. read more

Local Whiskey - Cocktail Bars Near Me - State College, Pennsylvania

Ok, this place has my favs... Whiskey, Bourbon and Cheese Steaks! For a College town not a bad collections of Whiskey and Bourbon! First I got a pour of the Makers Mark Cellar Aged in 2023! Only drink good Bourbon neat! WOW, great flavor! Second drink was an Old Fashioned, I like a good rye, so I got it with Sazerac Rye! On Point, very good! I'm now getting hungry, on to my second reason for coming here...the Cheese Steaks! If you are very, very hungry get the full, or if you want to take one home. Great heated up the next day. They also have several other great things to eat! They have some seating outside, several tables inside. You may have to wait in line to get in on a Football weekend. Cheers! read more

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What a horrible establishment. My party was not served. A young boy with no training turned us away because we weren't college students. This is discrimination. read more

I'm a whiskey guy and by default this place is great, but the knowledgeable servers, delicious food, and exceptional whiskey list took it above and beyond what I expected and I cannot wait to come back! Personally a go-to spot whether it's dinner or after hours drinks. read more

Local Whiskey - Happiness is Whiskey - Cocktail Bars Near Me - State College, Pennsylvania

As someone who was a weekly patron of the Phyrst back in the day, I always make Local Whiskey (or the Second IYKYK) visit when I'm back in town for games. If you're looking to get a table on a game weekend Friday, you've gotta be there by like 3pm, and even at that, it's a gamble. Not much standing room, but the booths can fit about 5 people if you squeeze in. Fries are a must, the chicken sandwich slaps, and the cheesesteak is pretty good (and that's coming from a Philly girl who knows what she's taking about). Love the green ambiance which gives it the "more mature, cool, stylish, older sister vibes" in contrast to the debauchery that happens in the basement at the Phyrst. read more

Local Whiskey - Cocktail Bars Near Me - State College, Pennsylvania

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One of my go-to stops during my annual trip back to my hometown in State College. As a whiskey lover, I was impressed by their extensive selection with over 200 whiskeys from around the world. Most of the prices felt fair, though a few pours I had my eye on were a bit overpriced in my opinion. That said, there were still plenty of great options at a solid value. For a bar in a college town, it definitely leans more upscale. It seems to attract more of the alumni crowd than current students, which gives it a more relaxed, grown-up vibe. Our server was friendly, attentive, and checked in on us regularly. We only stopped in for drinks, so I can't speak to the food, but based on the service and whiskey list alone, I'll definitely be back. read more

Do not recommend, door man was unprofessional. There are too many options close by with a hospital staff

Local whiskey boasts that they offer over 200 varieties of whiskey in downtown State College. They are related to the Phyrst, Champs and American Ale House restaurants (same Owner). For State College I'd say it caters to the adult crowd but you'll find plenty of students here as well. The interior is really nice and it has the irish pub/sports bar vibe. On nice days the large windows open up to the street with access along Beaver Avenue and near Allen Street. Parking would be on an adjacent street or garage. We enjoy their wings, fresh cut fries, suzie wong egg rolls and their cheesesteaks. I'd consider this slightly elevated bar food that is really tasty. Service can fluctuate based upon when you visit and it can sometimes be backed up. The star of this review is the weekly lunch burger special. For less than $8 you get a fountain drink, fresh cut fries, pickle and a beaver burger (bacon, LTO, etc.). It's the best deal in town and the burger is amazing. Beware - you can't substitute or alter the burger it comes as is during the special. Overall, it's a great stop for a casual lunch, dinner or drinks. read more

Local Whiskey - Cocktail Bars Near Me - State College, Pennsylvania

Come here to drink, but my advice is do not eat here. The kitchen has a level of ineptitude I have not seen elsewhere. Even the French fries are terrible -- how do you screw up French fries? I found the food to be inedible. Drinks are fine though. read more

Local Whiskey - French fries for $8.50 - Cocktail Bars Near Me - State College, Pennsylvania

The host at the door asked us how our day was going, we boyfriend told him that he just lost to me playing mini-golf. The host then proceeded to tell us he couldn't let us in since we appeared drunk. My boyfriend and I were confused and asked for clarification. The host just repeated he could not let us in since we were drunk. We told him we had not been drinking but we were refused entry. We are still baffled about what appearance or statement made him think we were drunk. Needless to say my boyfriend and I will not be back to try them. We found another establishment to have dinner. read more

Had a great time at this place, hope to go back. I only got the chance to come for lunch, and overheard the waiter recommend the grilled cheese and tomato soup (my all time favorite) to the folks down the bar from me. It was incredible, homemade, so flavorful, and a don't miss. I grabbed a highball too ($5 all day, can't pass that up) and while I found it a bit light on whiskey, it wasn't bad especially at that price. I loved the food and the atmosphere, again lunch but a pleasant noise and not obstructive level of sound. My server was phenomenal but it was a bit slow, I actually moved seats a few times (at bar) to try and grab their attention, it wasn't a busy day. Hope to come back and try more of the menu, though I'd be hard-pressed to order anything else! read more

Local Whiskey - Grilled cheese and tomato soup - Cocktail Bars Near Me - State College, Pennsylvania

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In town for a funeral, had drinks and food with the family. Solid bar food, most def better than average. Spicy chicken sandwich was perfectly done with enough fries to satisfy any glutton! Thumbs up on the wings and burgers and caesar. I had a manhattan, others with vino or beers. Waitress was an attentive if slightly new to the job college student, who played along with the more boisterous half of the table. Rating a 5 for what it is. Will try the sister restaurant adjoining the bar side next time. Repeat attendance. read more

Nice watering hole in downtown State college. Particularly pleasant, in the warmer months when the windows are open and you can enjoy the nice breeze. Wait staff is great and food although more pub type is quite good. read more

Service was excellent - food not so much. Wants to be a bar but no dance floor and lots of tables. Food should be better.

After being turned away by another downtown State college restaurant we quickly found local whiskey to be a great spot for dinner for 14 of us. The staff members were very flexible to put it on three different cards. It was a great spot. It wasn't too loud and we could all talk. The food was delicious. I got the Harki chicken mac & cheese. It was huge. It was a foot-long dish of mac & cheese with spicy chicken no complaints there maybe if the other restaurant we try to go to wasn't so bad this may not have been as good but I doubt it. I would love to come back to this restaurant and maybe try one of their cheese sticks five of the people I went with no six all got a type of the cheese sticks, which is what they're known for the staff was quick and friendly. I'm glad that we went and I would encourage anyone that's looking for great food or a great bar to hang out at to check out local whiskey. read more

The service here is non existent. It's a shame because the food is really good. Susie wong egg rolls are so delicious - you really don't even need sauce for them because they are that good. I really enjoyed my tomato soups and grilled cheese. My husband liked his cheesesteak but said it needed more flavor and the roll was huge compared to the amount of steak. They have a nice beer selection but again the service was so slow that our beer sat and it wasn't that cold when it was finally served to us. The vibe of the bar is really lively and it's a cool place to hang out to watch the games! read more

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I recently visited here for a casual dinner with colleagues. The ambiance is cozy and the whiskey selection is impressive. I had the fish and chips which was decent but the fish was a tad overfried. The highlight though was the $5 Toki highball drink special, what a steal! Service was attentive and I would come back to try other menu items. read more

We have been here numerous times due to my liking of the smoked trout sandwich. It is quite good and I always order it when dining here. My husband had "big eyes" and ordered the large Philly cheesesteak. It was so big and rich for him and he regretted that he hadn't ordered the smaller portion. Also the fries were over salted which contributed to his feeling so full and bloated. Next time we will just share a sandwich. read more

Local Whiskey - Glass of Red - Cocktail Bars Near Me - State College, Pennsylvania

The food is great pub food can't beat it anyplace in State College. Service is excellent plenty of staff and you don't have to throw a fork at the wait staff to get their attention . Energetic bar scene great semi circular bar with a good variety of beers on tap but more pertinent is the choice of great American Whiskey! the Buffalo Trace Bourbon is hard to come by and they have plenty! There are TV's everywhere you turn with the sports of the day and of course Penn State Hockey. Our son is a sophomore and we have been to this place every time we visit. Great for pub dinner or drinks and appetizers or just a drink and catch a game. read more

Local Whiskey - Steak Frites in a delicious mushroom sauce and their famous fries with the gravy your in Poutine Heaven - Cocktail Bars Near Me - State College, Pennsylvania

Ok. The chicken sandwich was legit delicious. One of the best chicken sandwich ever had. Friend got the cheesesteak. Good flavor but the bread was dry. Service was so so. Waiter forgot to our the order in and then when it came in got most wrong and forgot to actually place an order. Honestly wonder why I tipped the 20 percent at this point. Especially when everyone was eating but one. I would come back but hopefully a new waiter. read more

Local Whiskey - Chicken sandwich - Cocktail Bars Near Me - State College, Pennsylvania

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Super cool spot in state college. Extensive whiskey list and diverse specialty drink menu for any palette. Fries are famous. Not crispy but just the little right amount of grease. Similar to 5 guys fries. Get the garlic aioli dipping sauce for an added kick. Generous portion size. Corn salad had ALOT of corn, not a typical salad if you still want something healthy. Steak cheese didn't look 5 stars but had 5 star taste. Bursting with great flavors and the right amount of cheese. Deff check out this spot if your in state college. read more

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Best Cheesesteak that I have had in State College in the last 20 years!! Service was attentive and the atmosphere was wonderful

Good drinks. Nice atmosphere. Decent food, Staff very nice, slightly overwhealmed when I was there. If you go with a group, there really isn't a good place to stand and chat, you really need to be sitting. You could twist my arm for another star, and I would indeed go back, but the delay in getting drinks just seemed a bit much. To be fair, it WAS busy, and I felt like I was in the way of the staff. State College does have down times, and although this wasn't one of them, I'll try back then to get a better feel for the place. read more

We don't go often, but each and every time it's great experience. The food, burger for me tenders for my wife were excellent. Tim the bartender was exceptional. My wife had carrot cake for dessert and said that it was the best she's ever had. Great job! read more

Local whiskey is a great place for happy hour drinks and late night snacks! They make a great whiskey sour, complete with a shaken egg white, orange garnish and black cherry. The beer list is extensive and the bar tenders are always nice. As for the food, the wings are delicious, but the chicken sandwich really takes the cake. It's crunchy and flavorful and always hits the spot. The fry platter is also a great thing to order when you go with some friends, and they let you pick from their yummy sauce list. Definitely a go to for consistently good drinks, food, and vibes in SC read more

Local Whiskey - Whiskey Sour - Cocktail Bars Near Me - State College, Pennsylvania

Good beer variety, nice large booths. Food is standard bar type food. Nice sports atmosphere and friendly service

This is a wonderful find. Our service was a little slow, but we weren't in too much of a hurry. I had a perfectly prepared Manhattan & a Kobe burger & fries. I thoroughly enjoyed the evil eyes & Greek key throughout the the restaurant, while not a Greek restaurant currently, I love that they respect how amazing these tiles are & chosen not to replace them! read more

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The Mo-Thur bacon-cheeseburger special for $7.50 (fries & drink included) is a steal. Fries can be a bit floppy at times, but the burger is one of the best in town. read more

The waitress was nice, I came in for corned beef & cabbage meal for St. Patty's day, was served a plate with a quarter sized piece of meat on it, I asked for more meat and was told that I'd have to order another plate if I wanted more meat. I was very disappointed and about to write a bad review then a chef or manager came out of the back and asked me if there was a problem with my order, I showed him the tiny piece of meat and he agreed with me about the meat and went back and got brought me a plate that was much better than I expected portionwise, a total save! The the gravy was too salty but everything else on the plate was fantastic, the corned beef was tender and moist, not dried out like everywhere else. The potatoes, carrots, and cabbage were cooked perfectly. I'll Definitely be back next St. Patrick's day. read more

Local Whiskey - St. Patrick's day corned beef and cabbage. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - State College, Pennsylvania

Updated review: the awful service here just really ruins everything. The bouncers are unpleasant, and the servers all act like everything is an inconvenience and they hate being there. Having worked in restaurants myself, I don't really want to support poor management if that's what's making everyone so unhappy... the drinks and food are absolutely not good enough to justify the terrible service. I don't plan on returning. read more

A friend of mine is 40 years old and tried to come here with their 70 year old parents - and got TURNED AWAY because they have IDs from a different country. WHAT?! Does this place not serve any of the international community in State College? Truly bizarre. read more

3.5 stars, we were passing through the area and from the yelp reviews expected a total student dive, it actually had an upscale feel. Maybe it was serene and mellow because it was dinner time and too early for the student drinking crowds but it was pleasant for us non-young-ins. Anyway, we sat at the bar and perused the menus, lots of food choices from farm to table to straight up bar food. The list of whiskys and beers was also pretty solid. We opted for the old fashioned and a whisky sour both were EXCELLENT versions of these classic cocktails. Hand shaken whiskey sour with egg white topped with an amaro cherry - superb. Food wise we split a tasty caesar salad ( with tomato and egg - add ins were strange to me but it was good). I ordered the local lamb ragu pasta (way spendy at $21)with herbed ricotta toast. It was just ok, tasty but watery sauce, sadly not much lamb. My hubs had the South Street Cheesesteak wit wiz. Great bread a little skimpy on the meat but for $8 no complaints. The small is def large enough for one person. If I had to do it again I would have had 2 of their awesome whisky sours( at $8 ea a steal)and an app & salad /sandwich instead. Note: bouncers at the door checking IDs (not ours ha ha) so even though it presented as a restaurant they were treating access to it like a bar at 6pm on a Saturday. read more

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This place on a Friday afternoon is an absolute SHIT SHOW. We waited 15 minutes for water and 45 minutes for 2 beers. Had to get Miller lite, because they seemed to be out of everything else. Currently waiting 45 for food. It'll get messed up, our server forgot to put in the order. It's busy, but not super busy. Advice, if you need a drink, go to the bar. read more

Good bun, not enough meat, cheese, and onion! Don't be shy with the goods! Fries and ranch were great! Bartender made a great old-fashioned. Service was good I don't know Susie Wong, but her egg roll was bomb! read more

Local Whiskey - Cocktail Bars Near Me - State College, Pennsylvania

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I love this place. I'm not from Philly, but I love their cheesesteak sandwiches. Big, good meat. Great taste. Very generous with the fries also. Nice selection of beers, with many local options. I go here most every time I visit my kid. read more

Local Whiskey - Cheesesteak - Cocktail Bars Near Me - State College, Pennsylvania

We were in town for a concert and stopped here for a lunch and a few beers. The chicken sandwich was tasty and crispy. Really enjoyed the atmosphere and the service was good. A nice spot to stop at if you are near campus. read more