F A B U L O U S Staff Cocktails and Cuisine Do not miss Central Reservation if you are in State College PA. We had such a great experience our first HH Saturday night we stopped in again Sunday for dinner and drinks. Makalah made our visits so wonderful she gets a shout out Thank You. Makalah, and her fellow bar staff. all made superb handcrafted (took a minute or too and so worth it) cocktails for us each night such as; Sweater Weather bourbon, Mexican Firing Squad tequila, and Sangria. We also enjoyed a excellent crisp Caesar salad with flank steak with our red wine was a great dinner. The staff of Central Reservation was welcoming, professional, and friendly and we appreciated that. Next visit to State College we are dining at Central Reservation for sure. Cheers. read more

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We had a great afternoon at Central Reservation. We were able to sit at the bar with all the garage doors 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! read more

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One of my favorite cocktail bars in State College! They can get crowded, and in the summer, they slide 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! read more

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Great place with amazing drinks. Has our own darty and met som great Penn Staters! We sat at the bar that was open to the street on the most beautiful day. The bar tenders were so attentive and have serious talent. read more

Central Reservation - Definitely get the signature special drink whatever it is. This was some kind of margarita. - Bars Near Me - State College, Pennsylvania

Stopped in for a pre-game. Such a pretty chill vibe. Not a college bar. Much more chill. Had a beer, some wine and humus. read more

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Of all the places in State College, one you have to visit is Central Reservation. Some of us remember this used to be a Penn-Whelan drug store where you stepped down onto a sales floor like stepping back in time and there were big glass display windows. Well that is long gone and you have this neat entry that opens up to a really cool space. Interior has old style ceiling tiles and fixtures but in other area store more modern items which compliment vs. complete. The bar area has doors that open onto Beaver Avenue which is also pretty neat. My waitress was as nice as could be and patient with a first timers like me making selections. I had the Lobster rolls with a side salad and adult beverage. Just perfect. For desert I had one of the most impressive carrot cakes I have ever seen or tasted. Food quality was very good to excellent plus the price made this a very good value. Yes, visit the traditional places but add this gem to your list. read more

Well, this place was great. The Caesar salad was amazing as an appetizer and huge. Enough for two people the blackened salmon was fantastic. read more

Central Reservation - Cesar salad - Bars Near Me - State College, Pennsylvania

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Had come here a few times for dinner. The food was always good. Stopped by for lunch on a busy football weekend, and we were surprised it wasn't packed. The price for lunch was affordable. $12.for lobster roll, which was as good as any lobster rolls I've gotten. Burger was cooked medium, which was perfect. Ceasar salad tasted very good. We'll definitely come back here. Just note that they don't let anyone who is under 21 in after 8pm on weekends. So plan accordingly. read more

Fun, open-air, bar restaurant to eat and get good drinks. Restaurant is adorn in pop culture icons. Menu has changed recently from some of the popular items before. read more

Central Reservation - Bars Near Me - State College, Pennsylvania

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A nice speak easy pub. Great location, we only had drinks but they tasted great and service was awesome!

We were starving after a long drive and the menu looked interesting. We walked in at 8:20pm on a Tuesday night, 2 adults in their mid 40's and a 17 year old daughter visiting for a college tour. The hostess looked at us and said "is she 21?", speaking to us like she wasn't even there. When we said no, we never thought the response, in a restaurant, would be that we were not permitted to come in and eat at a table?! And the flat, unfriendly affect of the hostess made it seem even more uninviting. The next place we went to we asked if they had the "rule" and they said they do, but it is for groups of young adults, not parents and their older teens. And this was way more of a bar atmosphere than Central Reservation. This place used common sense, which clearly Central Reservation lacks. They also lost what could have been regular customers for the next 4 years. read more

In town and wanted a sit down place that was somewhat low key so ended up here on a Friday night. Even though it's a bar it wasn't busy but maybe that's because the college was still on break. Overall, it was a really good meal, with surprising menu options, and decent drinks, but kind of spoiled by crappy service. Started off with the lamb lollipops. They really melted in our mouths and we were super happy with the choice. For entrees we got the elk medallions and the fall gnocchi. The elk was amazing and there was a fair amount of it on the plate. We potentially could have split it. I liked the side it came with too (creamed celery root with potatoes and bacon on top). The gnocchi would have been better if it was actually in a cream sauce, but the veggies that were part of it were super good. Drinks wise we had the dark and stormy, which although a classic cocktail was made really well. Also had the seasonal G&T which was super citrusy and light. read more

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Impeccable seating at the bar right on the street is only met in quality by the food, service, and stellar drinks at this establishment right in the heart of downtown State College. This location should be a destination when you're in town, with reasonable prices and lots of seasonal cocktails and a nice, curated list of brews. I was impressed with hospitality and speed of food and bar service, and any need I had was met. The Butternut Squash Risotto I had was one of the best dishes I've ever had, and it paired nicely with the exquisite Manhattan, prepared with a smile. I only regret not discovering this place sooner in my time here near Penn State. They've got a nice, succinct list of specialities they serve, and if what I had was any indication, the other apps and entrees are worth looking forward to. read more

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The food and service was exceptional. Cute atmosphere as well. We were there at an "off" time when when it wasn't too busy.

Always a great vibe and great staff! But how do you take the popular lamb appetizer off the menu?!? And with a limited weekend menu, how do you run out of other items!?! It was 5:30pm on Homecoming Friday and you've run out of things? read more

Nice casual establishment in downtown State college. Wait staff is excellent and food is above average. Particularly enjoy going in warmer months when the large patio windows are open. read more

We dropped by for a cocktail before dinner. My husband ordered a whiskey flight and I ordered an off the menu aviation martini. Mine was well made and presented nicely. The whiskey flight was served in oddly shaped glasses that were hard to sip from as you had to tip your head back considerably to get to the whiskey. We do enjoy the ambience here and wished that they served the same food as Local Whiskey. You can walk through this restaurant to get to Local Whiskey and they are owned by the same restaurant group. We did just that and walked over to grab food there. read more

This is my go-to spot when I'm in town! The old fashioneds are always on point and they have a good variety of items on their food menu. I've tried everything from the cheesesteak & fries to seasonal risotto to fried oysters & salad! All were great and it will continue to be my go-to spot. read more

Central Reservation - Bars Near Me - State College, Pennsylvania

This was a classy restaurant, and we were impressed by the ambience when we arrived. Service was prompt the menu limited, but the quality of the selections when delivered was superb. Our waitress was very attentive and met our every request promptly and completely. An excellent restaurant to get away from the crazy college vibe that is present in other restaurants in the area. read more

This place is really good. They put good thought into their menu and the lamb lollipop has flavors that burst in your mouth. I had the lobster Mac and cheese, it's very buttery probably very high calories. My friend had the duck and it was very good as well. read more

Central Reservation - Fried oysters and lollipop lamb - Bars Near Me - State College, Pennsylvania

So... this spot was not here in my student days. But we discovered it while walking around and stopped in. What a cute spot!!! We easily got bar seats on a football weekend. And our bartender was great!! I ordered an apple toddy bc I'm always a sucker for a hot fall drink. Others near us ordered food and the food looked great but we were not hungry. They had a tv over the bar w a game on (but no volume). Next time we are in town we will def be back. Central Reservation is a great low key spot! read more

2nd time here since we last came when they opened. In the last couple of years, the seating has changed somewhat. We wished it had more of a romantic feel, with more personal seating and lighting/ambience. However, more seats = more $ so it is understandable. Our table was up against a column near the front door. We felt awkwardly in the way of servers and at the same time too hungry to care. Service was great, we were well taken care of from host stand to close out. Server was attentive and courteous. For food, we had the lobster Mac and risotto. I never usually order lobster Mac as the price to food never works out in my head. However, I enjoyed every bite of mine. The price on it could probably come down between $20-$25. The lobster was in the mac, but the breadcrumbs and cheese were what made me keep coming back. As for the risotto, we did have to send it back at first. It was undercooked and tasted like crunchy rice that needs longer. The chef brought out a new plate and said that's how they prefer to cook it. Despite that, the second cooked risotto was extremely good and quickly polished off. Drinks were solid, if you ever go to local whiskey you know what to expect here. All in all, bill was around $100 and it was a good evening out. Would come back again. read more

Central Reservation - Lobster Mac - Bars Near Me - State College, Pennsylvania

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We enjoyed our dinner at Central Reservation and its charming "classy cocktails" decor with posters of famous couples. Service was prompt and friendly, and the food was very good with some out-of-the ordinary items. But It's too bad the booths are all high tops (?!!?) which are difficult and awkward to scoot into and out of. read more

Fantastic place. One of the better restaurants to dine in. It is part of a little group of restaurants side-by-side with a dive bar and a basement. They all have one liquor license and this is a great place to check out and historic. The decor is amazing, it represents love affairs between like famous actors on the back of the chairs and on the wallpaper and other types of decor. Food is fantastic. Got the duck Ragu and it was yummy.Duck Ragu read more

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Now that I am back on Yelp.I highly recommend central reservation here in State College, PA. My first time entering this establishment two years ago still leaves a breathtaking experience for me. When the pandemic hit, Whiskers which was in the Nittany Lion Inn shut down. That place was a popular place for professional staff who worked at the university. When I noticed that Central Reservation was a thing, I went to try it. I am a major social drinker and the bartenders there are top notch. After my first time there and subsequent visits followed, they started making my "old fashioned" as I walked in. Talk about top notch service. I love when service workers love their jobs and treat their customers well. The food is absolutely fantastic. If you are looking for a moderate upscale menu, Central Reservation is your place to go. I have had about everything on the menu and my top two favorites are the Shrimp & Grits and the Waygu Burger. You cannot go wrong with either one of these dinner meals. I must say, when Chef John is in the kitchen, your food will come out magical. Central Reservation hosted my 32nd birthday last year and I had a great time because the wait staff, food, drinks, and total ambiance met all of my expectations. Spoil Alert: If they have the fried green tomatoes on the menu, you MUST get them. They were DELICIOUS. read more

Central Reservation - Shrimp & Grits - Bars Near Me - State College, Pennsylvania

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Central reservation has a 1920s vibe to it. The large floor to ceiling pillars are finished with expensive tile. The walls are decorated with couples of all different types from Brooke Shields and Andre Andre Agassi to Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy. The food is a bit above average, based mostly on the innovation; the main focus is their cocktails. The cocktail menu is innovative and whimsical. Food menu is limited to 7 or 8 "handhelds" and a few entrees, such as lobster Mac n Cheese, and shrimp and grits. Kudos to the innovation though. For instance, I chose a grouper Ruben. Which made me question what is a Reuben exactly? Pastrami on rye with sauerkraut and special dressing? I'm believing more and more that the special dressing is the main ingredient. I would definitely give the sandwich an 8 but there was too much dressing. Only complaint. I think I went through 10 napkins! We also tried the fish tacos, crabcake sandwich, and the Halloumi sandwich. Everyone finished their sammys, and generally enjoyed them. This is a bar folks. Nice ambience, a whimsical vibe, good cocktails, but some of the sandwiches (e.g., Halloumi) are a bit underwhelming. read more

Central Reservation - Halloumi sandwich - Bars Near Me - State College, Pennsylvania

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Not much variety on the menu! We didn't see anything worth staying for. The ambiance was great, though!! Lots of pictures of Hollywood stars .. read more

I was traveling on business our group decided to dine at Central Reservation. We got friendly service, good food, drinks and atmosphere!

Awesome food. Loved the decor and vibe. Sidewalk seating at the open bar looks fun too. We shared broiled oysters for an appetizer, perfect! I had the grouper Reuben, which sounds kinda weird but do it- it's delicious. Son had duck ragu and loved every last bite. read more

Central Reservation - Duck ragu - Bars Near Me - State College, Pennsylvania

About 8 of us visited here for a late dinner. They are connected to Local Whiskey (which we also enjoy). Food was great and the atmosphere felt like you were in New Orleans (my fave city!). My Hanger steak was cooked perfectly and was served over creamed spinach with crispy potatoes. YUM! Try to snag a seat at the outside bar, which gives you a view of the entire restaurant. There were too many of us to sit there--maybe next time! We all thoroughly enjoyed our food. Service was great as well. I highly recommend! read more

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Giving this place 5 stars because it is pretty much a diamond in the rough that is State College dining. I've been here multiple times and always walk away very satisfied. Ambiance is wonderful, service is solid, food & drinks are great. We've tried quite a bit from the menu. I get the house hummus every time because it is seriously the best hummus I've every had. While that may sound weirdly vanilla, trust me on it. Ceviche and Szechuan shrimp are great. Lobster mac and cheese was good, but not the best I've ever had. We got the catfish special one night and it was amazing (always ask if they have specials!!). Crab cake and confit duck sandwich were absolutely delicious. The hanger steak is to die for, though I recommend splitting it because you will have to be rolled out of the place if you eat the whole thing + apps & drinks (I know this from experience) Yeah, can be a pricy night if you get 2+ drinks, but you're getting a lot more than your average State College happy hour drink with Well vodka and soda water from a hose. read more

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The food was good but not great. I gave the waitress a $50 bill for a $30 order and she just never brought back the change. We left a large tip on the meal and would have left a tip for my drinks even if she brought the change back but it was strange for her to just keep it without asking. read more

Another great and fun Sate College find. The decor is fun! The service is excellent and the food is great. The Hanger steak was delicious served w potatoes and creamed spinach and blue cheese. We enjoyed the raw oysters. The shrimp and grits were good- a little salty. Fun drinks- ordered the Vesper here, but sorry- Jadot's is better at Allen Street. read more

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I think I'd give 3.5 stars if I could, but since they opened in the middle of a pandemic I rounded up! I've been eyeing this place for a while, they only have an Instagram page to keep track of but they're pretty good about replying to DMs there. They're affiliated with the bar next door called Local Whiskey, but Central Res is a bit classier with a cocktail bar vibe rather than a pub/sports bar. The decor is perfect, I really liked the seating choices, ceiling design, paintings/photos covering the wall, and the bar set up. A great little place! Eventually they're going to open the basement which will have more of a speakeasy feel, with another bar and bar seating as well as some couches (at least, that's what they told me). Food: they've got a small selection but it all looked pretty creative (a halloumi sandwich? nice!) and the portions were generous. I didn't get food but the folks at my table did and enjoyed it. They have a decent beer selection but it's not super long, however they seem to have had a well curated list of drafts and canned/bottled (with good prices either way). Their cocktail list is nice, they're definitely off on the right foot, but they need to establish a couple house cocktails that are less than $12... I ordered a mezcal cocktail with pineapple (it has a fancy name, check out the menu pics). I'm a cocktail snob (full bar at home-type snob, i'm sorry) so I enjoyed tasting other bartenders' creations. This cocktail was good, but a little bit too heavy on the smoke. Smokiness overpowered the other flavors that I think would've added a lot to the drink. I enjoyed it, as well as the garnish, and I'm excited to try future cocktail creations there too. The price is a bit steep ($12/cocktail) but definitely not unheard of in this town. It's just a lot for a struggling grad student who can usually make the same thing at home. All around, I'm excited Central Reservation is here. We need a classy cocktail bar (that can be casual too!) that isn't constantly infiltrated with undergrads. I think undergrads eventually take over most places (possibly why the prices are a bit high here, to ward them off) but I hope this one will remain untarnished. Hah! read more

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This is my second visit on a stop through town in the last six months. Had a positive experience my first time, so stopped in again. Have to say as someone who eats out quite a bit, that I had the braised short ribs and they exceeded expectations. One of the best things I've eaten a long time. Service at the bar can be a little slow with the crowd, but overall great experience. read more

The place has a really nice set up and unique design. The cocktails were definitely good. They has good oyster options.

It's a very nice place with great food. My son and I had the bison burger which really really good, along with the fries. My wife had crab meat sandwich and she liked it. Well located and good ambiance. Good definitely recommend. read more

Great spot at Penn State. came here with my wife and kid and enjoyed our meal and drinks. the drinks were very nicely made, properly poured and very strong. I will give a zonk to the olives in my martinis, they are the cheap small ones. also the first martini was not the dry gin Beefeater i ordered so had to get a Safire instead. i guess they didn't h e Beefeater and decided to ad lib. Place was busy with older than college kids group. possibly grad students, local 30s etc. energy high. liquor and wine offerings super. they even have several types of sheries. food was good not amazing best burger ever, but certainly well worth the order. my wife's trout was deep fried and flavorless while my sons duck tague was ok. not macerated duck so that was good. would i come here again, 100%. read more

The place is an absolute gem in downtown State College! When you walk in the interior is so unique and lively, it very much seems like a great place in New Orleans or even Europe. The food has never missed for many of us over different visits and the bar offerings are plentiful with the staff having great knowledge of the quality offerings. Their Pimento and green tomato burger might be my favorite burger ever - a must-try! :) read more

Did not expect this sort of cuisine in central PA tbh. The pork belly is amazing, the barramundi is crisp and flakey (also a rare fish to find in restaurants), everything was super tasty. Waitresses are great, and the vibe is nice. Did not get rushed at all and truly enjoyed spending time there. Would go back 10/10 read more

Central Reservation - Pork belly and barramundi - Bars Near Me - State College, Pennsylvania