A classic American lunch special that made me feel guilty for paying so little for such a good…read moremeal. 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.

Second time here and I'm more practical with expectations. The sandwiches are as expected…read more 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.

A fun bar to visit with friends while in State College! We were there on a Saturday night, and…read morewhile there were a lot of 21+ students, we saw some parents too. I loved the nostalgia, vibes, and cool decor especially the colored lights strung over the bar, the photo of Bill Pickles on the back wall, and the bathrooms with a history of names on the walls. The Pickle Back Shot, a shot of whiskey accompanied by pickle juice, was fun and unique. The pickle juice chaser added a cool element to the shot of whiskey. I also loved their Frozen Kentucky Coffee which was almost a dessert. Plus, I got to keep the souvenir plastic cup! There were also lots of attentive bartenders and a smaller bar, in addition to the main bar, which made it easier to get drinks/food. During the week, they have many events including their popular Country Night on Tuesdays where patrons can dance on the bar. Have fun!

Bill Pickles Tap Room in State College is a local favorite that keeps getting better--especially…read morewith their new BBQ menu. The smoked wings, pulled pork, and brisket sandwiches are full of flavor, and the house-made sauces like Carolina Gold are worth trying. It still has that laid-back college bar vibe with great drink specials, trivia nights, and the legendary country night on Tuesdays. The staff is friendly, and the food comes out hot and fresh. It's not the biggest spot, but it stays packed for a reason. Whether you're in for a night out, a casual meal, or just drinks with friends, Pickles delivers. The fried pickles hit every time, and their updated food game makes it more than just a bar. Solid choice if you're in State College and want a fun, tasty spot that doesn't miss.

I'd never been to Zeno's on a weeknight early before. Very empty and brighter than usual, but still…read morefriendly service and a great beer selection. I wish there had been sour beers when I was in school. I would have had more options. I always liked the vibe at Zeno's and still do.

Amazing drinks, on the pricier side in the area but for a good reason! The cocktails are super…read moregood, we got a Paloma, Pink Starbust, and just regular vodka cran. The service was so kind and the atmosphere is great. We will be back more often!

One of my favorite cocktail bars in State College! They can get crowded, and in the summer, they…read moreslide the windows open so the other side of the bar on the street side is open to the outside. They used to have a huge drink menu but still offer plenty of unique options. I got the Pornstar Martini made with vanilla vodka. It came with a chaser of Prosecco. My husband asked the bartender for a suggestion, so he made him a vodka gimlet. We loved them both! I enjoy the vibes and decor at Central Reservation. It's not a student handout although it is connected to Local Whiskey (same owners). There are cool photos on the walls (lots of pop culture references) and the bar stools have painted celebrities on the back. We've not eaten anything here, but they do have a menu. Cheers!

We had a great afternoon at Central Reservation. We were able to sit at the bar with all the garage…read moredoors open, and it was so much fun people watching! We just had drinks and appetizers but the bartenders were friendly and helpful throughout our time. The hummus and veggies were perfect and we loved the decor of the restaurant...especially the backs of the bar chairs...gotta love Miss Piggy!

The Phyrst will always hold a special place in my heart. I grew up in State College, went to Penn…read moreState, and was lucky enough to bartend here back in the mid-'80s. These days I live in California, but every time I'm back home, I make it a point to stop in for a drink and a trip down memory lane. I met up with a few of my high school buddies on a Wednesday night while the students were away, so it wasn't packed but that actually made for a more relaxed night. The staff was upbeat and welcoming, and you could just tell everyone behind the bar was having a good time. There was a live acoustic band playing (though I didn't catch the name), which added a great vibe to the evening. The Phyrst is known for its nightly live music. The bar has been completely renovated since my time working there, and I have to say, the new layout is a huge improvement. It flows better and definitely handles a crowd more comfortably on busy nights. I even had the chance to chat with some of the bartenders and share a few stories from my time behind the bar. It's crazy how much has changed and how much has stayed the same. The Phyrst remains one of the most iconic bars in State College and has been a go-to spot for generations of Penn Staters. Whether you're a student, alum, or just passing through, it's a must-visit.

First and last bar in our trip to State College. We arrived Friday and our group was already…read morewaiting for us at Phyrst. Great beers, a restaurant downstairs, superb ambiance and plenty of room.

Great cocktails & very friendly vibe. I felt very welcomed by everyone there, including the other…read morepatrons!

Horrible. 2 men sitting at the bar saying they were going to punch each other. I tried to diffuse…read morethe situation. Bartender assumed I was the troublemaker. I get kicked out. Very poor way of handling the situation. I certainly think I was discriminated against! 2 idiots getting ready to punch each other and I get kicked out. Horrible management. You better be a friend of the bartender or your be discriminated against!!!

Overall not a bad first visit. We were seated immediately on a Thursday before graduation weekend…read moreso that was a plus. Very clean inside and loved the open layout with many table types. Our server Jonah was very attentive and even had others asking if we were good during our visit. Food overall was ok. The house made chips were great! Burger was tasty but needed something else (tomato/lettuce maybe?). The pretzel appetizer was huge and that was very tasty. Overall I'd def come back and try something else!

We had a nice time at the Taphouse. They were the first stop after our long drive to State College,…read morePennsylvania. We checked into our hotel and headed over for dinner. This place is nice because it's attached to the Hyatt. Have a large selection of beer on draft and the food is solid. We visited on a Thursday night and we seated right away. Their menu has a lot of options. I went for the habanero burger and upgraded from fries to a house salad. The burger was done to my liking and the salad was the perfect side. We got great service and the place was clean and a bit on the upscale side for a brewery restaurant. My only complaint where the prices were just a little high, especially for state college, where you can get similar fare thank you so much thank you at lower prices elsewhere.

Came over with a family and friends showing us the spots they used to frequent during their student…read moredays. Entered Doggies and we were taken aback by the huge outdoor space with a built-in pizza joint. Best about the place is that they allow dogs in the patio. Just awesome. Besides the outdoor space, they also have a covered outside area that suited many in our group as the sun was beating on us. The staff was quite nice and provided several large dog bowls with ice water for the pups For the non-furry lines, the beer flowed outside and inside quite well. And their counterpart to Long Island Ice Tea was superb. Everyone also ended up eating pizzas at different times. Service was superb. We were glad we weren't there during the school year, however.... I can just imagine how crowded that space can be.

In the warmer weather, my daughter who's a student loves Doggies's. They have a fun outdoor area…read morewhere you can order pizza and snacks as well play corn hole. There are also some tables out there as well as barrels to put your drink on. For drinks, you have to go inside. It's a festive atmosphere before a football game with a good mix of students and parents. Let's go PSU!