Delicious old school Italian. Friendly staff. Couldn't ask for a better low key experience.

If you're in the area, rustic central PA, and craving for a good Italian meal, this is the place for you. They are located not far off I-80. Be aware that they may get busy during the peak hours over weekends. The menu offering contains a wide range of classic Italian dishes. Portions were large, and pricing is reasonable. Staff was friendly and attentive to our needs. They do offer private party catering inhouse. So if you have a special event or celebration, this place could be a good option. Overall, a good place to enjoy classic Italian cuisine! read more

Village Tavern - Shrimp Scampi - Italian Near Me - Lock Haven, Pennsylvania

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Nice restaurant with lot of tables and a small bar. Decent Italian Food and a nice friendly staff. Prices are very fair, it's a solid choice in Lock Haven. Many have commented that the Italian Food is great, it isn't. It's good. Don't expect New York, Boston or Philly. I say that not to offend, but to help manage expectations. I'd eat there again without a doubt. read more

Holy cannoli the Village Tavern gives you a lot of food! I got eggplant parm, the eggplant was well-cooked, it came with spaghetti and salad and bread and a small coronary--at least I felt like I was gonna have one when they handed me all of that food! The woman who gave me my meal was really nice and funny. COVID: the staff all wear masks, the tables inside were spaced so that every other table was empty and appropriately distanced. read more

Village Tavern - The exterior - Italian Near Me - Lock Haven, Pennsylvania

The food is fantastic no matter which cuisine you choose. Staff are excellent. The drinks are good! Very friendly place. Nice setting.

The Facebook page has the WRONG website listed, which takes you to a different restaurant chain. The owners have been told and choose to ignore this. So if you order a gift card and try using it there... Oops you ordered it for a completely different restaurant. read more

Village Tavern - Facebook page with wrong information - Italian Near Me - Lock Haven, Pennsylvania

Food is amazing every time we go there. Service is great and the servers are always so kind. Would highly recommend!

I've been a couple of times with others, and didn't see what others raved about. With a guest in the area, we decided to try Village Tavern again, It did not disappoint! On the weekends, it's best to either make a reservation, or come early. We were there at 5, without reservations, got a nice table and then food started arriving before we placed our order! Delicious and plenty. The homemade raviolis are huge! read more

Glad we found this place in mill hall. Has a big menu and good food. It seemed unusually quiet but then I realized most people eat inside the bar area! But it was a nice lunch and def kid free that day read more

Okay so I have had a lot of meatball sandwiches in my lifetime but that was and is the meatball I have ever had. The boxcar is one Everything that I have had there is outstandingly delicious and one of a kind. It is truly gorgeous in flavor and built for 2. You will not be disappointed. What's even more appealing about this venue is the service and the neighborhood flare. You literally feel like you are at home. The people are warm and very hospitable. This venue is a must do. Thanks Kay! read more

There is nothing I can say bad about this place! Salads are amazing, pasta is great, and the waitresses are kind and make sure you enjoy your time there!! Oh and the ice tea is great!!! Kay is a fantastic cook and it's like one big family here! read more

One of the few family classic Italian restaurants left in the area. Where should I begin with this gem? The owner Kay is nothing short of a miracle worker in the kitchen but that doesn't stop there. She will walk the floor to tell customers hello and have chats with people. She treats you like family and never forgets a face. The Italian options are plenty and range from spaghetti to lasagna and many more. The menu also hold appetizers such as amazing chicken wings and mozzarella cheese sticks. Looking for a tasty salad? Well they have options for that as well. Also if you have an extreme hunger or just feeling brave try one of the famous boxcar subs which is served on a loaf of Italian bread. They have a open bar with probably the most colorful character you will ever meet. Stop in and say hello to Kay and Joe. read more

Located on the corner in a house the village tavern is very quaint. A nice selection of Italian items on the menu - I ordered the pesto linguine with shrimp and it was great! The shrimp was cooked perfectly and the portion size was more than enough for dinner. Bread comes out cold which was off-putting at first but it was very good! Will be returning next time I'm in town. read more

As usual I'm a little miffed by some of the other reviews I read here. It never fails... people review every establishment with the same set of criteria. Its absurd. Is the Village Tavern anything life changing? Of course not. Is it a place where you can get a solid Italian American meal? Of course it is. The interior is drab and boring, the service is pretty good, and the food is exactly what you'd expect. Italian American food, slathered in red sauce and cheese. But lets all get really damn honest with ourselves for a second... sometimes that shit is EXACTLY what you're in the mood for. It's hearty, tasty and doled out in big portions. So for what it's worth, this place is solid for a typical small town Italian American meal. And keep in mind, Lock Haven ain't that big of a place. There is probably only 1 or 2 other options in town for a sit down Italian meal. In conclusion... stop over thinking it people! This isn't a "fine dining" joint. BUT you knew that walking in. So why judge it with a set of unrealistic criteria? read more

Another from my past, this great Italian restaurant is another fine choice Lock Haven has to offer. My family has been dining here since I can remember. It's nicer than O.I.P., a bit more expensive, and has a full bar. The food is fantastic. I love the spaghetti and meatballs, cheese raviolis, eggplant parm. If these are the kinds of dishes you are craving and you are in the neck of the woods (I wont even explain why that is last part is cracking me up right now) then head over to The Village Tavern. Family owned and operated, and they will treat you well! My uncle is in with owners. He should be. I think he has eaten there once to twice a week forever! read more

The last thing I expected was the first question we were asked upon entry. "Do you have reservations?" Really? This place looks like a converted house on the outside, and I need a reservation? What the hell did we stumble on in Lock Haven? What I stumbled upon was a decent Italian restaurant off the beaten path, thanks to Yelp. Definitely a place where everyone goes there on their respective nights, routinely, definitely a family feel. Maybe 18 tables, spread among two dining rooms and an 8 seat bar located in the "Tavern" room with a couple other tables. Lots of stuff crammed in here, but doesn't feel too claustrophobic. Got there on a Saturday night around dinner time, and they had a lasagna special up on the whiteboard. But according to their menu, it was only a Friday special. Our waitress said they still had some left over. Against better judgement, I dove in - it was cheap. The meal starts with "Italian" Bread with a side of hot pepper relish that was very good. The side salad was fresh, albeit a simple salad with an iceburg lettuce base. The Parmesan Peppercorn dressing was quite good and clearly homemade. I had lasagna with meat sauce special, and the sauce was quite good but a bit sweet. **LOTS** of meat, A+ there. The lasagna though..... it had the consistency that it was older than just one night. I was actually a bit disappointed that they re-offered it based on what I saw beneath the sauce. My belly agreed 100% later that night. Lots of regret. Lesson learned. Despite my belly's displeasure (which is probably relative to me - my g/f reported no issues), this place is definitely worth stopping if you're in the area and hungry. I'll personally be avoiding the "next-day" special. read more

Great food. Great service. Great staff. Great prices. Every time I go here, I feel like I am being welcomed back by family. The food here is amazing! It's old school Italian food with a homey twist. You will never leave hungry. Kay, who is the owner, always tries to find a minute to take a break from the kitchen to greet her guests. I typically like to go for the lunch specials because of the homemade soups. Kay's wedding soup is to die for, it is like a big warm hug in a bowl. read more

Nice little local Italian restaurant. I was in the area on a business trip and the Village Tavern was recommended by a few of my coworkers. It is a nice little restaurant located a few blocks outside of the center of town. Walking in the waitress was very friendly and the atmosphere felt very homey. You could tell this is a local favorite. While you wait, they bring out traditional bread with a side of sweet peppers. The peppers were great. Not spicy at all. It made the bread taste like an Italian sandwich! For my meal, I ordered the rigatoni and meatballs. The meatballs were good, cooked well, but not overly flavorful. The sauce was the same way, good but not overly flavorful. I could not distinguish if it was from a jar or homemade. The pasta was the real disappointment. It was generic, cheap, pasta from a box. This took away from the meal. Overall, I would go back to the restaurant if I was in the mood for Italian and did not feel like leaving the small town. I would not go out of my way to go back. read more

My boyfriend and I come here on occasion when we are in the mood for Italian. My feelings about this place are very mixed. They bring out bread and peppers before the meal and the peppers are just to die for. I could sit there and eat just that all night! The food is only okay. It's not by any means high-end Italian. My boyfriend got the stuffed shells last time and they seemed under-cooked and doughy. I got the tour of Italy (which also included some stuffed shells) and I thought the same thing. Mine also came with chicken parmesan, which I thought was delicious. The other thing I did not enjoy was that our waitress was not very personable. She wasn't rude per say...she just did not make us feel welcome. We were also seated very close to the kitchen door so we had waitresses busily passing by the entire time and that hindered our experience. read more

Went here a few nights ago with my girlfriend on a date. The night started slightly strange as we sat at the bar hoping to order food like the gentleman beside us, but were asked if we would rather have a table. Regardless, one of our menu orders was home made cheese ravioli with meat sauce. We both agreed on this being one of the worst pasta dishes we ever ate. The ravioli seemed microwaved or maybe frozen and thawed, either way it was very doughy like it was uncooked. Price wise, our meal was very affordable, not satisfactory. Also we searched on line to find a menu and the menu we came across made us excited to eat at a restaraunt offering some amazing food items, unfortunately the online menu didn't correspond with the physical one at the restaraunt. read more

Excellent food at a great price! Decor is nothing to brag about but it's certainly clean and comfortable. Staff is friendly and their niche seems to be everything "with a side of spaghetti". Their Shrimp scampi linguini (or with angel hair pasta) is absolutely to die for, if you're into shrimp! The last time I was there this wasn't on the menu but was a special and could be requested any time. Definitely worth the trip. read more

This restaurant used to be one of our favorite places to go for a good Italian food, not anymore. After waiting 40 minutes for our reservation and seeing people go ahead of us we weren't happy when we finally sat down. There was absolutely no point in making a reservation when people off the street get sat before you. The food was just OK pasta under done. The Brigole was tough and the eggplant was under done. After coming here for years this will be our last time. The waitstaff is never friendly, always treating you like it's a hassle. read more

I have a group of friends who kept telling me to go there to eat and I caved and dicided to go try it out. For two people it ran around 40.00 I had chicken marsala with a side salad and a pepsi and fries which were on the burnt side and my fiance had a Turkey club and fries. The service was not that great and I usually try to stick up for a waiter or waitress if the service isn't that good and there are a lot of people there but this was not the case that night and the service was poor. They do offer a full bar for those wanting that and offer an Italian Cuisine and sandwiches. Personally would I go again? Most likely not as I failed to be impressed at all. read more

Stopped by here for lunch during my work trip from LA. Never been out this far, so was excited to try the local flavors. Had their special: "Fish and Mac" which was broiled Haddock served with Mac n Cheese on the side. Establishment was clean, waitress was friendly and attentive, food was good, and place was right down the street from our worksite. Would definitely come back again! read more

Have the braciole ... Enuf said its fantastic! Been going here for years have it every time!

Very nice family owned place. Good Italian food. I had the Braciole which I had never heard of before. It was very good. I would recommend this place if your staying in Lockhaven. read more

If you dont Try the Braciole your nuts... best meal in lockhaven... this place is terrific I was so happy someone from the hospital told me to go there... read more

Very nice family owned Italian restaurant. Broad menu, good food and friendly service. Highly recommended.

I told Kay , the owner her bracoli was the best east of the Mississippi I was wrong it's the best in the USA. It's so good I pay my tax man with Bracoli 's, he doesn't want cash. I have been going there for 26 years. I will go there for the rest of my life. read more

Village Tavern - a man and a woman taking a selfie - Italian Near Me - Lock Haven, Pennsylvania

We used to eat here all the time before moving from the area. In the 16 years we have been gone quality and taste have not diminished. We had dinner here tonight and the crowds are busy as ever. Linguine and meatballs are just good. And served in a pie plate- super fun. The husband's homemade ravioli were thick and really great. I only let him eat half of his dinner so we can enjoy leftovers for lunch tomorrow. Yippee!! read more

I have never given 5 stars but this one came close. Generational traditional Italian restaurant! I had a chicken dish with pasta in a wine sauce that was wonderful. They serve bread with peppers before the meal that I cannot wait to have again. Highly recommend. read more

We came here for dinner with our coworkers and everything about this place was so amazing! The service was great, I would be offered a refill on my drink every time it was close to empty. They were very attentive and so kind! The food was amazing, hot and tasty. The meatballs are freaking delicious!!! Would gladly come back any time!!! read more

First time here and it won't be my last. It was a sigh of relief to encounter fresh home cooked Italian cuisine. The food was steaming hot when it arrived and had incredible flavor. Portions were large enough where you could split a meal. Definately my "go to" place. read more

I just love this place! The food is homey, fresh, and delicious, and I LOVE the peppers for their bread. My stepfather was Italian. I love that this restaurant reminds me of him with their authentic Italian food. read more

Best chicken Marsala ever. Ever. Every entrée was perfect. The Braciole was a dream. Brilliant family restaurant. The local flavor even competes with the actual flavor. Highly, highly recommended. read more

Went for dinner based on the reviews here. I was not disappointed. The atmosphere is very "locals" oriented. I come from an Italian grandmother from North Jersey, so I know authentic Italian food. This place has it - hands down. My friend had lasagna with meat sauce. VERY well done, the sauce was tasty and DEFINITELY NOT from a jar. My chicken Francaise was well cooked, and the sauce was very light and tasty. My plate wasn't flooded with butter-lemon-garlic sauce like you get at other places. Portions were typical Italian - Large! Well worth the visit, and plan to return! read more

Afrer a bit of an expexted wait on a Friday night even tho reservations were made, our party of three was seated. Reviewed the menu ordered drinks and had to ask what the specials were. The staff was very very busy but pleasant. Calimari app was delish!! very fresh tasting and a nice sauce. athe bread tasted home made and freshly baked and we enjoyed both. My son ordered the Tower of Italy for a variety which he enjoyed..nice portion an tasty sauce. The ravioli was huge!! My husband ordered the braciole and the meat was very tender..a little fatty but tender and again the sauce was smooth he wasnt fond of their choice of cheese but and I wound up eatng most of it. That happened because my chicken franciase came out with no lemon and butter sauce at all.. and it was heavily breaded and fried chicken not lightly floured and sauteed. I truly think they forgot what they were making. I did find some small, hard garlic cloves but it lacked in flavor completely. We all did leave full and the prices were VERY reasonable. read more

I really don't mind if the service is good or bad, that food is amazing!! Fresh Italian Bread with peppers, fresh salad and so good Ranch dressing..and to top it off the best meal is the fresh veal parm with Spaghetti, get it every time I go and it is so good, and has my mouth watering right now. I can't wait to get my Valentine's Day Dinner from there in 2 weeks!!! read more

My husband and I read some reviews and decided to try it out based on everyone's claims that it was an "authentic Italian restaurant." Not the case at all!! We made reservations yet still had to wait for our table. The service was ok, friendly, but not knowledgable about the menu or the wine list. It took almost an hour after we were seated to get our food. The bread and peppers were good, so we were hopeful about the rest of the meal. The salad was nothing special. Iceberg lettuce with croutons and a few tomatoes. The house dressing was ok, basically just oil and vinegar. The spaghetti was extremely disappointing. Cheap box pasta and cheap, tasteless tomato sauce, clearly from a jar. For our entrees, I ordered an 8 oz. delmonico steak, and my husband ordered a platter of fried seafood. My steak was over-done. (I ordered medium rare, it was medium-medium well.) Also, they didn't cook it right. They either threw it in the oven and baked it, or it was boiled. It wasn't what a good delmonico should be, that's for sure! My husband's dish resembled something from Long John Silver's. The breaded and fried scallops were the only saving grace, and the crab cake was acceptable. What confuses me is how busy they were. I guess this is the type of place that people go to because they go on a regular basis and know the staff well. (The wait staff knew most of the customers by first name - except us, of course.) Don't go out of your way to go here. And I'd consider traveling over a mile to this place too far out of your way. read more

I made reservations for a party of 4 and arrived early to find 3 other groups of people standing up against the walls in the jam-packed doorway. After standing there awkwardly and uncomfortably for ten minutes, we were not once even greeted with a simple "Hi". After waiting 30 minutes past our reservation time (still not greeted and still stuck in the doorway) I approached the nearest waitress and politely asked if she could inform someone of our situation and mentioned we had not been greeted- her tone was rude and unsympathetic muttering "did you make reservations" after I had just told her the problem. Instead of attempting to help us, she parked her OBESE self right where she was until we left 5 minutes later. ABSOLUTELY UNACCEPTABLE behavior by the staff from the second we walked into this place.. Needless to say, I'll never return nor will I allow any of my friends/family to return. read more