This restaurant should know how to cook great filet mignon. Not one person in our large group who ordered the filet thought it was great. Most thought it was dry and overdone. I didn't even finish mine, and I have never done that. One person had the prime rib, she thought it was perfect. Others liked their meals, but few raved about their choice. The sides were plentiful and pretty good. The apple pie dessert was mediocre... Underdone apples... More like a dry apple crumbly. read more

They are great if they aren't busy, a large party sat before us and it took 40 minutes to get 3 sandwiches. Also waitress wrote down order wrong so the late food was wrong when it arrived read more

I attended Penn State for college and frequented the Tavern for dinner on countless occasions. It's a wonderful tradition, and the people there have established a special community. The food is quite good, especially if you order to their strengths, such as veal and prime rib. Central PA is known for its many dairy farms, so this local restaurant has been making excellent veal, steak, and prime rib dishes for decades. I would go with those choices, and I'm confident you'll leave happy. Their apple pie is a classic Dutch recipe, and it pairs well with ice cream from the creamery. I would also recommend the Tollhouse pie. The Tavern though is more than a restaurant or a bar. It's really a community, led by their owner and the family of people who work there every day. It's just a wonderful place. read more

Excellent food and service. Nice atmosphere too. Remodel is beautiful Filet was delicious and perfectly done. Dessert is not to be missed! read more

So disappointed no vegetarian entree. Bizarre for a college town. Salad was sparse and disappointing.

Food was good, but they served one of our meals to wrong table so had to wait 20 minutes for that meal, which kind of ruined the experience. Bummer. No apologies. Nothing. read more

I'm definitely enamored of the Adam's Apple if not a bit sentimental (oh those fun nights). It is a small bar in the rear of the Tavern restaurant where they make some of the tastiest creative drinks in the area. I've had countless number of the Original Sins and Forbidden Fruits than I care to admit. Get here early (like before 11pm) otherwise be prepared to stand and be bumped into by thirsty students. As far as the restaurant is concerned, the Tavern is a State College institution in of itself. The history of this establishment is visceral. However, I'm more on the fence about the food. The cozy ambiance evokes comfort food and the menu typically looks promising. However, my last two visits were less than great. They were out of several items which is always a pet peeve. When I got my entrée (salmon), it was a bit bland and boring. My companion's veal was far better fortunately. The unlimited sides were a nice touch but sadly forgettable except the potato salad which was quite good. Overall, I'm still giving the place a positive review. The fond memories I've had here overshadow the more recent mediocre dining experiences. Yes, I'm a bit biased. Go Penn State! read more

The history associated with the Tavern makes it worthwhile to dine here. But I was a bit disappointed on my latest visit to the Tavern, the sides were good but my entree was not. The Adams Apple (bar area) in the rear is a good place for drinks before or after dinner. read more

Ah, the Tavern. It's a State College tradition. The once gold-standard for what a restaurant was measured against. Well, that was probably a few decades ago, back when the big names in town were The Tavern, The Victorian Manor, Duffy's Tavern, Toftrees, The Nittany Lion Inn, and The Autoport. Don't get me wrong, The Tavern is still a fine establishment and great place for a classy meal in State College. I still give it five stars compared to a lot of other places in town. Not because it's food is to die for, but because of the entire experience when dining at the Tavern. In short, here's the experience... When you visit, you enter through the old school double-doors to keep out the chilly State College winter weather. There's a coat room immediately to your right. You don't get this in chain restaurants because of the legal issues of leaving belongings behind. Then you're greeted by the maître d' who will either confirm your reservation or take your name and party size if it's a busy night. These days, though, if it's not a Football weekend you might be able to get seated right away. Next you snake your way along each mini-level separated by a few stairs here and there until you reach your table. Every square foot of wall space is adorned with historical photos of State College, Penn State, and anything else of cultural significance. This is truly an 'Old World' restaurant. Your waiter/waitress will bring you warm bread and butter and take your drink order. They'll then give you time to look over the menu. The menu changes all the time, because the specials of the day changes all the time. They have some selections that remain the same, to make the regulars a little more comfortable. But this dining experience itself isn't about the entrees or special of the day. It's all about the sides. Unlimited, any number you like, as many as you like. Don't be fooled, though. The sides are not about quantity. They're about variety, and every side has its own charm and elegance, from the more refined all the way down to the more pedestrian and commonplace. Sides like their "french fried potatoes", applesauce, and spaghetti will always be there. Other sides come and go depending upon the season. And don't forget about an appetizer. When your entree arrives, that will hopefully be the star of the show. I've had my ups and downs with them, but in general the staff will take care of you and have them make a new one or switch you to something else if yours isn't right. Overall I've enjoyed all of the entrees I've tried from steak to chicken. On your way out, they should have mints at the cashier's desk. The old-school ones that melt in your mouth. All in all, this place is best experienced with loved ones in the middle of winter. They'll have the old radiant heaters going, along with a candle-lit table. Try to get a table next to the window-side along College Avenue. It's very relaxing. And hopefully they'll have the fireplace going as well, if you're in the mood to spend time around the bar. My recommendations: the spinach salad as a side, and gingerbread cake with brandy sauce for dessert. read more

Easily the best restaurant in State college. Love the personability of the students. They're very candid but responsible and it makes me feel welcomed. read more

We had an excellent graduation celebration dinner last night! All six of us enjoyed our meal and of course the sides. Our server, Jessica was exceptional. She was on top of everything and very friendly. It was the perfect way to celebrate our daughter's graduation! read more

The Tavern is one of the fancier feeling restaurants downtown State College. It feels like you're somewhere else not in a college town. The waiters and waitresses are always super nice and helpful. The menu is constantly changing and always has fresh choices. The best part of the restaurant is the unlimited sides that come along with your entree! You read that right - unlimited sides... for free!!! I always get corn, fries, mashed potatoes, & spaghetti! It's all tasty stuff. This is a great spot for a date or to celebrate a special occasion! read more

Absolute garbage and very over priced. The slice of steak that i was given is more sub par then what you would recive at golden coral. They try to sell you on the unlimited sides so if you do decide to come get something cheap as hell and get a bunch of crapy sides. read more

I've been going to this restaurant for years, on special occasions and wanted to see the remodel, It did not disappoint. However the menu did. Then the food came and it wasn't special. I'm so sorry to be writing this review. read more

I've never actually eaten at The Tavern but the Adam's Apple, in the back, is our go-to bar for cocktails especially for our much-storied Bow Tie Nights. The staff is always helpful and super personable and is one of the few places in town where you can get a proper cocktail instead of something that's blue and served in a pitcher. The make an extra dirty martini, a wicked Old Fashioned, and a mean Sidecar. My only complaint is no Hendrick's Gin. One word of advice: avoid this place on home game nights. The alums overrun it like a plague. read more

Summary: Resting on their reputation. 20-23% overpriced, by my feeling. Not terrible food, but poor value. First, the menu displayed outside was not the menu given to us by the server. Turns out that's their weekend menu. Why display it on a Tuesday night? Ambience is nice, old school. Tables are incredibly small, though. At once point I was holding salad plate with my hands and eating because there wasn't space to put it down. Our party of four was seated at what should have been a two person table. Escargot, drowned in butter, no real flavor. If you never had good escargot, you would have been fine. Shrimp cocktail, frozen shrimp dumped on a plate. Terrible presentation. I had a strip, $30, felt like I should have been paying $23 or $25, this wasn't a $30 steak. Good, not excellent. Sister had veal Alexander that had no flavor whatsoever. Nobody could eat it. It was surprisingly bad. Took it home for the dog. Other two party members had good steaks, slightly less overpriced than the strip. Cheesecake, made on the premises, was excellent, but the chocolate mousse probably came from a box. I give the place a B. Not bad, but not great, and not worth the money. Won't be going back. read more

Honestly this was probably the worst service I have had, in a restaurant that is supposed to be a state College tradition. The food was ok.

There is nothing worse than restaurants whose food plates don't live up to their menu descriptions. I ordered the pork chops and nowhere on the menu did it say my plate would be slobbered with gravy. Their food was sub-par, nothing special and whoever is doing their plating before the food goes out needs an aesthetic lesson. Also, our waitress hadn't had anything on the menu when we were asking about it. I found it odd that a waitress didn't know the menu of the restaurant she worked at. The cherry on top is that my sister got food poisoning from the shrimp she ate. Not impressed. read more

I have eaten here a few times, each time was an excellent experience - that's why I come back. The proper way of enjoying a leisurely evening here is to begin with a drink at the Adam's Apple - a bar alcove area in the back of the facility. Recommended - the house drink called "Original Sin". When in Rome... Next - off to dinner. I had the salmon with horseradish dill sauce, and it was great. The unlimited side-dishes is an absolutely fabulous invention. The mushroom-spinach salad is a must - in fact, double down and get two helpings of it right off the bat. This coming from a non-vegetable eater. Spiced applesauce is a winner. Finally, the servers in the Adam's Apple and in the Tavern itself were all quite pleasant and cheerful - that add's to the experience. Dinner with friends in State College? This is where to go. It's been around for decades, and no doubt will continue for decades... read more

A reservation was made for the Sunday brunch as the Tavern. Excellent service on the phone. The server was polite, happy, and positive. If I had a knock on the server it would be a little slow receiving us when we first arrived. Occasionally, a little slow on a response or two on our needs is not a big deal and would not affect my opinion on the server. The room is in what I believe was once the carriage house section of the building. The floor where I table was appeared to be sloped. Again, this was not an issue but made the feeling while sitting strange. Away from the windows, the lighting was dim but no different than other restaurants. The staff for the cooking of breakfast foods were polite as well as the young men at the prime rib carving station. One downside are the congregation of servers just outside the dining area but within the travel zone of customers. They were between the entrance and dining area of the buffet. This made an uncomfortable situation. The items on the wall are typical of restaurants of this style. The atmosphere is okay - no complaints. The table setting was proper, though a bit tight where we were seated. Sitting against the wall, I wondered if I should show my rear or crotch to the table next to me as I got up to go to the buffet. I would have liked another 16" to 24" distance from the other table. I tried both option and there were no complaints or compliments. Maybe they did their best to ignore my posterior and crotch. FOOD: The bacon was a hit with the company I was with. To me, it was nothing special. The vegetables in the butter were okay. These were two types of green beans and carrots. They could've done a better style of stir frying the veggies with some garlic and keep the veggies rather crisp. I didn't mind the veggies. The mashed potatoes were well received. I thought they had a nice flavor to them. The fried chicken appeared to go well with a few members since they had seconds. The crab cake was not my favorite. I have a Maryland crab cake style. This version had an outer golden, brown crust and a creamy filling. It was filled with crab but was not what I preferred. There was a beef in a gravy sauce. It was okay. There was no "wow" of flavor but I would eat this again. The gravy would go well with the potatoes. The fried fish had the same outside batter of the crab cakes. One eater thought they were tough while I actually didn't think it was too bad. Sorry I didn't eat any of the salmon. The person before me dropped one piece and took the last one. I didn't wait for it to be refilled. The quiche Lorraine was not well received by another member of the party. I didn't eat it, so this may be a preference issue. The prime rib was rather bland. It had a pepper seasoned crust, but I can make a better prime rib at home. Again, I didn't mind it and had two servings. I wish I had a better knife to cut the meat. The pepper sauce was a nice topping for the meat. The potato and cheese homefries or hash browns to give it a name was not bad. The cheese seemed to be a sharp. The salad is typical of a salad. I did not notice any wilting or bad lettuce. There were only three dressings available and Italian of any type was not one of them. The fruit salad reminded me of what you get in a grocery store. I was disappointed in this. For dessert, we had three different types. I do wish I had the ice cream with coconut and chocolate syrup. It looked nice. The chocolate mousse looked good. The traditional cheese cake was not to my liking. It had a topping that I couldn't place and the texture reminded me of the box cheesecakes. I prefer a firmer cheesecake. The next two cheesecakes were marbled, and I believe one was cake like. The second was not liked by the two people that selected it. The other dessert had no rating. The price ~$20 isn't bad for what we received. The group of us would go again for the brunch. The food in general had little to write home about, but it wouldn't keep me from coming back. There were many items I never tried. As much as I like to eat, I can't pig out.Yes, I would go again but not very often. Would prefer to rate as 3 1/2 stars. read more

I've grown up with the Tavern and have always loved going for special occasions like New Year's Eve, or just because! I've especially loved the new outdoor seating and the weekend lunch menu! Some of my favorites: Spinach salad French friend potatoes (the BEST fries in town in my opinion) spiced apple sauce cajun blacked chicken (the ultimate favorite!) Turkey croissant for lunch chocolate mousse tavern cheesecake I really could go on and on. The service is always friendly, I've never felt rushed and I am always excited to share this tradition with newcomers to town. A must-go! read more

We joined many friends here for a special occasion and collectively felt like we were a burden. Yes we were a large party but had made a reservation beforehand to alert the staff. The food was sub par and one of our colleagues sent it back due to it being under cooked. I would not recommend not revisit. read more

I so wanted to enjoy a quite tavern, great steak and a glass of wine...this place failed to deliver. Worst cut of meat, lackluster sides and an overly friendly gnat flying around my table...ugh! read more

Thought it was pretty good. Had a steak. Service was pretty good. Dessert was good.

I'm not sure why many people still eat here. It's mediocre at best, and the last time I ordered, the vegetables tasted like they'd come from a can. You can do better for the same price elsewhere in town. I probably won't be back unless my friends drag me out. read more

This is an updated review and one star less. It seems the lunch-time chef is not the same as the dinner chef - dinner time is always good! I ordered the escargot, great as always. I guess you can't mess up sticking snails in the oven. But then my entree and coconut ball ice cream were sad, I hope they do a little more quality control or training the lunches. Will visit again this spring on my annual fishing trip. read more

I came here later after the Penn State Alabama game and not surprisingly it was quite crowded. For a table of one I was told about a 20 minute wait time, which ended up being I'd say just under 40. I was taken to a table right by the window, which was nice since I could also people watch. My server was a young lady who was pleasant enough. I ordered the Tips Burgoignon and then had the Gingerbread for dessert. The Tips were really good and the dessert was out of this world. There was some sauce that accompanied it exquisitely well but I forgot what it was and could not find it online. The atmosphere was very nice and upscale. Only points for minor bickering I have are the extended wait, which was understandable given how crowded it was, and the server could have been a little more enthusiastic and perhaps smiled a little more. Aside from that my meal and dessert were excellent and adequately filled me up for the night on the town that was soon to follow. read more

I'm making it a Tradition........can they ever make a good meal......not yet. Ordered the NY Strip MR.........pointless to say too much more. The outcome is always about the same-not good. Maybe next visit they'll be able to get to 2 or 3 Stars read more

Based on my onetime experience, The Tavern probably rates somewhere between two and a half to three stars. I would really like to rate it higher, mostly for potential, but can't. Bottom line: it wasn't totally horrible, but it certainly wasn't spectacular either. The split-level restaurant is huge, taking up almost an entire block between College Ave and E Calder Way. Even with so much space, reservations are apparently recommended, but luckily we didn't need one for a weekend evening. The dinner menu is limited to only one page of appetizer and entree options, which I believe rotates daily. Although I thought their prices were slightly inflated, they do offer you the unique option to choose as many of their dozen side dishes as you want with your meal. I ordered the Chicken Italiano, a medium sized chicken breast served over noodles. Once again, it was decent, but not a lot of food. Most of us also got pre-dinner salads, which we all felt were pretty bland and tasteless. None of us got dessert, but the old couple next to us seemed to really enjoy their pie. With other decent dining options in town, you can probably find somewhere a little more filling to your stomach and a little more generous to your wallet. read more

Service was good. Food not very good. I had shrimp and scallops scampi no flavor, also the artichoke dip was nasty. Priced way to high for the quality of food. Very disappointed expected great food here. read more

Solid 4 stars and I can pump it up to 4.5. This is one of the places that college students might feel intimidated to visit since we can always see old people dine in here. I was the same, I never gave this place any chance even though I always see the place packed. Then I saw the review here in Yelp and I couldn't wait to try it when I treated my best friends a night out. I could say that we had a really good time here. We were greeted with friendly staff. The atmosphere of the surprisingly huge restaurant was really fine and elegant. I didn't really know about the history of this restaurant but when other yelpers emphasized on the historic elements of The Tavern, I would just agree since you can see it and feel it inside the restaurant. We were seated near the window and everything was perfect. We took a look at the simple menu, which was always a plus for me, since a simple menu means that they are focusing on something they are really good at, maintaining a high quality of their food. It was just a one page menu with around 20 items on it. I ordered the prime ribs since another yelper said that the prime ribs was the best they can serve. I ordered it medium-rare which was a very bold decision to make, since you can't really trust steak being cooked in State College (they usually overcook or undercook it). My prime ribs arrived and I couldn't be more satisfied. It was really juicy and tender. It was the best steak I have ever had in State College, better than Texas Road House and Outback. The cut was huge and fulfilling. I could also get unlimited servings of side dishes which was also a plus. If I am not mistaken, the price of the prime ribs was 26-29$, but for the quality of the meat and how good it turned to be, I was happy and satisfied with the price. Along with the awesome atmosphere and friendly staff, I would go back here, maybe with a date. Why not 5 stars? My friend's fillet mignon was overcooked and the bacon was a little bit burned. I don't know if it was a divine retribution, a karma, or an accident. I would stick to the second one. Nevertheless, we had a wonderful evening here at The Tavern. read more

A tradition like no other. Been visiting for over forty years. Different menu every evening. Servers are ALL Penn State students, and they work their tails off. IF you can get your paws on the prime rib "end cut", you win! Unlimited sides and bread. Unlimited chances of of running into your favorite PSU graduate, including some pretty famous people. But don't go just for that. read more

Every visit to State College includes dinner at The Tavern, and we have never been disappointed!! Their spinach salad is absolutely delicious! I always eat 2!! Not sure how others here had a bad time at this quaint historic landmark, but I suppose every restaurant could have a bad day..... Even better than the food, and the atmosphere, are the wonderful bunch of servers! They are a delight! Thank you Tavern Restaurant for years of fabulous meals!!! read more

The Tavern - Cozy up by the fire and enjoy a glass of wine.... - Bars Near Me - State College, Pennsylvania

Have been here many times for dinner, but never for Sunday Brunch. Will definitely be back!!! The food was delicious. Everyone in our party tried just about all there was to offer. From the prime rib, to the fried chicken, cheesy potatoes, crab cakes, made to order omlettes, French toast, fresh fruit etc., etc., we were stuffed But the best was yet to come. You get to order dessert off their dessert menu. What a deal. Also, we all had an alcoholic beverage. Was happy to learn that they actually put alcohol in their drinks, ( not like some places we've been to lately here in SC)!! Only one negative. Their waffles were hard and cold. So couldn't give 5 stars! ;-( read more

We asked my nephew to take us someplace he's always wanted to try but was too expensive for a college student's budget. The Tavern was a nice choice. The Colonial atmosphere is captured in the three old buildings that have been combined to house the restaurant. Historic local photos, post cards and prints complete the decor. The staff is friendly and the service perfect. The food was mostly good with a couple of minor complaints. Escargot appetizer was a big hit at our table for 5. My seafood pasta on egg noodles was a very good if just a little greasy. Other plates at the table were a a tuna steak that my nephew liked, a veal cutlet in Irish whiskey sauce... my wife thought the veal was cooked well and high quality but the sauce was nothing to write home about. My daughter's lasagna was a definite hit!! The marinara sauce was great! My major issue was with ordering... you can choose as many sides as you would like from a pretty extensive list. I didn't want to be greedy and just chose one. As this is a somewhat unique way of ordering the waiter should say something about it. It would have been a better dining experience if I had ordered a salad and two sides. That is how most restaurants that offer "sides" do it. The sides are on the small side... that isn't a complaint, they are a fine portion if you go with a salad and 2 sides. I had the Italian style cabbage that needed something in addition to the vinegar dressing. My daughter's red potato salad was awesome. My wife's spinach salad with mushrooms was lacking in the shroom department but tasty. Like a lot of restaurants out there this is good... and certainly worth a try, you might love it. But it didn't do anything to cut through the clutter of choices. I would try something else before I would come back... but I wouldn't mind coming back if the situation arose. read more

My family has been going to the Tavern for more than 50 years. It was always a restaurant that had a lot of atmosphere and decent food at reasonable prices. The past several years the food quality had gone down so we were excited to try it out after it had been closed for renovation. We went on Sunday night, October 2nd. The new restaurant is beautiful with all of the renovations, the wait staff was very attentive, the new bar and drinks were great but the food was terrible. The menu is very limited and no one at our table was happy with their meals. I had the Salmon with rice and pea pods. The entire meal was ice cold and the sauce on the salmon tasted like BBQ sauce right out of the bottle. My sister had the seafood lasagna which would have been good if it was warm. The prices are much more expensive than they were in the past and I wouldn't mind paying more if the food was good. So, I will definitely wait awhile before I go back. Hopefully the food will get better! read more

The Tavern is quite an establishment. In operation since 1948, it's a very interesting place. I'm not sure what the competition to the Tavern is in SC but in absolute terms this place is okay. What I liked: service was great. Our waitress was really friendly on on it. The setting is really interesting, especially if you like some history. I loved all the photos and lithos spread around. Our food was really just okay. No complaints but not likely to be your best meal ever. However, the desserts! How can you go wrong with fresh ice cream? That was great. Also, the apple pie with ice cream is enough for about 3 people. Plan accordingly. read more

Came by looking for good food on the way through PA after a very disappointing lunch. Good, reasonable food. I admit I enjoyed the unlimited sides even more than my main. A little on the pricier side but not unreasonable given the quality. It was nice to sit outside in the summer and enjoy my meal. read more

I've read some mixed reviews here, and I've heard some mixed reviews around town, but my Tavern experience has always been a good one. I go for the Prime Rib...and it is one of the best things they do. Big, tasty, cooked to perfection. I love the unlimited sides...and am addicted to the Spinach Salad like it's a drug. The only dessert I've ever had is the chocolate mousse...and it is rich and creamy. The wait staff, on the whole, has been friendly and attentive. I look forward to my next visit! read more

The Tavern has been my favorite restaurant for decades and even though I live far away now, I try to make a stop for dinner in State College when driving through Pennsylvania. I love that it hasn't changed over the years. The menu that allows you to chose whatever sides you want is great. I like the steak - it always tastes like it's right off the grill. read more