This is my first time coming here despite having been in State College for a couple years now. They remodeled the place and the design is really nice. It's a modern American design with some old, classy touches. I was here with a large party and the service was nothing special. The girl was sweet but our water wasn't poured until we'd been sitting there for 20 minutes. I decided to order the bolognese pasta which came with three different types of meat, Wagyu, veal, and pork incorporated into the sauce. They claimed the pasta was "imported" but it appeared to be Barilla corkscrew pasta, which was not appealing to me. The sauce was heavy on the cream which was a surprise as classic bolognese isn't usually this pink. The texture was a bit unappealing and square; I didn't end up finishing the dish. Everyone else's food looked good and was presented nicely. I decided to try their baklava croissant for dessert and it was delicious. The pastry was flaky although it wasn't filled with the pistachio. The pistachio was dropped on top in between the two pieces along with a huge dollop of definitely homemade whipped cream. The dessert was definitely the highlight of the meal. I'm glad I tried this place. I walked around it for so long and finally know what it's all about. It's a nice atmosphere and the food is decent, but maybe not for the price. read more

Our favorite restaurant in State College. In tonight for wife's birthday. Beet salad with Ahi Tuna was great till the last bite. My Thyme Trout was delicious. Great drinks made for a great meal. read more

The tavern has been completely renovated and now it's the best place on College Ave to get a drink and some victuals. Up top there is a full service bar with luxurious seating. Stained glass windows provide ambiance and the temperature is just right. You are surrounded by images of Penn State Football greatest plays. I get a Bombay and tonic and a Pappa Bravas app. The drink comes correct with the right formula, 5 minutes later Pappa Bravas arrives! Red and white potatoes with aioli sauce, delicious! This is the perfect place for a drink and eats. read more

The Tavern - Bars Near Me - State College, Pennsylvania

Because of the prices, I offer only 2 stars. When it $40 entrees, $15-20 apps and chef based, there is a higher level of quality expected. Ordered 2 old fashions (menu pic)(they were as expected), 2 apps and a dessert. When the apps were not up to par, we skipped out on dinner entrees. Issues- there is nothing special about the apps and they were massively over salted. We eat a standard sodium diet and aren't sensitive to salt so it's obvious when both are wildly over salted which can be a way to produce flavor that isn't there. We had the $20 Navajo Frybread (pic) and the $18 Maryland Crab Dip. One could ask where's the crab also. We love tiramisu and this doesn't deliver on the rich expresso flavor key to the desert. Lots of marscapone and cake lady fingers. Another $12 down the drain. (Pic) read more

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Mediocre at best. All staff is clearly seasonal, no career staff, hence some reviewers have great experience and others poor. I surmise that the kitchen staff are also not career chef/cooks. The menu is fine, but everything is executed in a below average fashion. Flavors not rich, complexity of the seasoning is just not there. Funny thing we ordered a Margherita and were asked by our server if we wanted gin or vodka....we opted for tequila. Just goes to show you the experience level is very low. Not bad, just clueless in many respects. read more

I'm going to simply say...we miss the old Tavern very much. It was very special. We did enjoy our meal and liked the food at the new Tavern contrary to most reviewers. But for those of us who remember what it was- change isn't always for the best. There is more I could say - but we are frequent state college visitors and we will be back so I will just hope the next experience blows us away. read more

We enjoy the food, the staff, and the aged architecture, aesthetic of the building. Love the lasagne & the desserts!!

Unfortunately we did not have a good experience in this restaurant. It is an attractive location in a busy college town so we wanted to give it a try. We ended up not eating here because the hostess was so rude that there was so way we could give this establishment our business. The hostess is the first person you encounter in a restaurant so owners should to be very careful when hiring someone to represent there place. There are so many other places to eat in the area that are great. I would pass this one so you don't have to deal with miserable blonds. Do go check out state college it's a fun college town. read more

Didn't even get to have dinner here as I was trying to make a reservation 3.5 weeks in advance. I emailed them first, got an instant reply stating to call them regarding reservations. I waited till next day as I received no other response. Was nicely greeted by the hostess on the phone and since this was a 'larger party' for 9, that escalated to the GM. Less than pleased with how she handled my request. Didn't even know what time I was looking for but knew the day. Informed me stating I should already know it was some big weekend for PSU and how they are all booked. She didn't even know what time I was requesting. The attitude increased and I said I was flexible, looking for mid to late afternoon. She offered 2 hours prior to what I was looking for at 2pm. Also note, you can't make requests more than 30 days in advance......but I'm sure there's exceptions and PSU has greater power over a lifetime resident who just wants to celebrate sons high school graduation with life time resident grandparents of State College. Drop the entitled attitude and maybe explain things in a better fashion! Have yet to step foot in tavern to eat since remodeled and that will continue. Pat and Chalmers would be more than happy to accommodate, no matter what......this far in advance. read more

We stopped here for dinner last night on our way to the Poconos from Pittsburgh. Overall, we were happy with our experience, but things could have been better. Service was excellent. The hosts were both very warm and friendly and our server was competent and super sweet. Even though the inside seemed very nice, we chose to sit outside because the weather was perfect, and coming from Texas, we don't often get to do so in the summer. We wish we had been seated at the upstairs balcony, but got the bottom section which was a bit nondescript. We started with drinks: the original sin cocktail was wonderful (kind of like a brandy spritz) and they had a decent selection of draft beers. They start you off with those seemingly burnt rolls, but the extra toasting was nice. Our 4 year old daughter ordered the $40 lamb like it was no big deal and we shared the spinach salad and the burger. Here's why we're not thrilled with this place: the meats on BOTH dishes were cooked to the wrong temps. The lamb was supposed to be medium but came out more medium-well/almost well, and the burger, which was supposed to be medium-rare came out completely well done. For $40 and $25 respectively, the meat should be right--so NOT ok. The burger itself lacked that umami goodness you want, but the lamb was decent. Fries were good, the salad was boring, and the potatoes accompanying the lamb were overcooked. Complaints aside, we did have such a pleasant experience here that we're feeling generous enough to round up to four stars. We'd be willing to go again if we ever found ourselves randomly back in State College--but you should step up your A game in the kitchen, Tavern back of house folks. read more

Food is very good, but pricier than other options in downtown. The truffle pea ravioli is great! Good for a party of two. Service is very good also. I had a great server my last few trips. Downside is some of the restaurant policies are puzzling. We brought a cake to celebrate a special occasion and in order to enjoy the cake there, we needed to pay a $20 plating fee. Considering my entree was $26, that felt steep for just cutting part of a cake and placing it in an app plate. I certainly understand the purpose of it, just the amount seemed a lot. Also if you want to sit outside, your party must be 4 or fewer. We started as four and grew to 5. The outside dining was empty except for our party. We asked if we could accommodate and even be at the end of the row so as not to block the path of the server or other patrons. Our server helped accommodate us but then five minutes later we were scolded by the manager pretty harshly. Given the circumstances and that our server said yes, we didn't think we were doing anything wrong. However we were spoken to like school children or some boisterous college students moving tables themselves. Very disappointing because we were there for a business dinner. Probably won't return for business meals again. read more

Well I know my review will not do anything to enhance the quality and refinement of this must dine hot spot at State College. Drinks generously pored. Service awesome. Ambiance perfect. Food delicious at every level. read more

The Tavern - Bars Near Me - State College, Pennsylvania

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Chef refused to make a vegetarian entree (I asked if I could just do pasta with mushrooms or whatever veggies they had). I ordered the vegan salad then which was extremely bland and mostly a bowl of kale. My martini glass was also chipped which meant the rim was sharp. Highly disappointed. read more

Great decor and menu. Outside, upstairs seating is unique in State College and here its worth the wait. The food and cocktails are very good. Not the same old same old of other restaurants in SC. Service was fantastic read more

The worse. The food is not worth the price! Go elsewhere....I've never had a charcuterie board with lettuce. Filler! For 35$ no lettuce please. No way this would feed 4 people. Come on! read more

Was excited to go to the remodeled Tavern, and took our 4 out of town guests. The food was fine several of us had the Tuscon shrimp and grits and Bolognese. The food was fine. The deserts were average. The key lime pie. Just did not have the right texture. The crembule was OK, nothing out of the ordinary. What was really disappointing was the service. The waiter was very raw and polished. It was just his 2 or 3rd week. Not very attentive, was not easy to get his attention. His handling of the table resulted in 2 of us wearing food. Once is an accident, but 2 such events should not happen. Clearly they need to either find better help or train the help. The guests at the table had to reach into their bag to pull out the wet wipes to help with cleanup. I mentioned it to the front desk and they just brushed it off without even an apology. This was even more disappointing than the spilled food on our clothes. . read more

We were concerned about going here because of the 3-stars on Yelp but our hotel, the Scholar by Hilton, highly recommended the spot. They were right on! Not only was the ambience really good, the service was excellent and the food was outstanding. Perhaps a bit pricey for State College but totally worth it. Highly recommend the restaurant. read more

The best high end restaurant in state college. Great service and the renovated ambience is much nicer than the old musty building. Highly recommend the shrimp and grits. read more

The remodeled bar area is much larger & beautiful. We had a yummy snack & drink. Great service. read more

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I went for a Sunday brunch buffet here a few months ago and i wasn't really impressed. I gave it another try this time and i don't think i would ever come back. There was hair in the food and they didn't seem to care. The brunch buffet is around $22/person, included beverages (not alcohol), and dessert. The buffet has many fancy choices for hot food such as chicken cordon blu, salmon, cod, prime rib, crab cake, egg benedict, etc. The salad/cold station has cold cuts, cheese cubes, caesar salad, cocktail shrimps, smoked salmon, fruits, etc. They have two pitchers for lemonade and orange and also an omelette station Their dessert menu has 3 cheesecakes, apple pie, and creamery ice cream. Alright, they sound like they do have many good choices and for the price that you pay, seem like it is a good deal. Unfortunately, it's not! The hot foot station was a big disappointment. We came 10 minutes after opening and everything already dried up. The food was so dry, i thought i was eating heated up leftovers from yesterday. When i cut open the egg benedict, the yolk didn't run. The egg was overcooked. A brunch buffet, yet they messed up the most basic brunch dish. Crab cake, salmon, cod were bland and dry. Nothing in the hot food station could hit the tasty mark. The salad/cold station was a little bit better but they were just side dishes. For the desserts, my husband ordered a coconut ice cream ball and i ordered an apple pie (apparently it's their best seller). To be honest, they do taste delicious, probably nicest dishes that we had there but i found a long nasty hair in my pie and when i told the waiter about it, he didn't seem to care. As if finding hair in the pie is the least of the restaurant's problems. So never again! read more

The Tavern - Bars Near Me - State College, Pennsylvania

The best prime rib dinner in State College. If you are looking to entertain friends on an upscale level, this is the place. Always enjoyed my drinks and meals here. The new renovations helped as well. Our host, Will, was very helpful and always makes sure everything is ok with his guests. read more

The Tavern - Tuna appetizer - Bars Near Me - State College, Pennsylvania

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Way overpriced for the quality of the food. I will NEVER go back there again. It is my fault for not complaining while I was there; but it is ackward to do in person. To add to the dissapointment in quality, my knife was filthy (almost as if it didn't make it to the dishwasher), and our water glasses were dirty. There are much better and cheaper places to eat. read more

Very good to excellent in all accounts... very different ambient experience depending where you sit, the place is huge... seems more expensive than few comparables nearby, but only been once... will try lunch sometime... this would be a 4.6 star review if there were such an option... read more

I don't know why they are getting 3 stars.... They are absolutely delicious. I don't mix scotch, but they convinced me to try the "Lord of Alaska" and it's amazing. The white bean soup was spectacular. The escargot was superb. We were upstairs so I can't speak for the downstairs, but this is freaking awesome. I don't order paella in Pennsylvania but... again....damn. read more

new owners. bad information I've been planning a dinner for 6 tonight to celebrate an award at PSU. The Tavern was recommended by contacts at the University in early August I called to make a reservation for a Thursday night. I was told they did not take reservations. i asked about a table for 6. the woman said " we have many nice tables, downstairs and upstair. On a Thursday just come - there might be.a slight wait but won't be a problem". today I checked the website and apparently they do accept reservations and -low and behold- no tables are available. very disappointing. apparently the new owners don't know how to train their staff. good luck to them. read more

I've only been to Adam's Apple in the rear of The Tavern. It was so packed that our group crowded into the coat room and partied in there - good times! read more

The Tavern - Adam's Apple, attached in the back (photographed by Dave H) - Bars Near Me - State College, Pennsylvania

There are not many options for adult dining in State College (at least not near our hotel). After reading the middling reviews, I was hesitant to go to The Tavern. I regret having done so. Three of 4 meals were brought to the table. We were told the fourth would be right out. I am patient but after waiting 15 minutes I flagged down a passing waiter (our waitress disappeared) and asked when the fourth meal would arrive. The waiter said he would inquire. Our waitress reappeared and apologized and said it would be right out. And another 15 minutes later it arrived. We waited to eat until everyone's meals were on the table and so things were now cold a full 30 minutes after being placed on the table. This was a very very disappointing experience for other reasons as well. You will note that the weight/size of steaks are not provided on the menu. Two of us ordered steaks and they were seriously small. Combined they would equal half a steak at best. Do not order a steak as you will be way over charged for what you get. I am used to expensive steak restaurants in NYC, so I can firmly say that they overcharge for what the provided. Pros: whole wheat bread was fresh and delicious, steak tasted good (even at room temperature), garlic mashed were tasty, the house Merlot was very good. And my daughter loved her pasta and meatballs. Cons (in addition to poor service and over priced steaks): nutmeg butter broccoli lacked butter and nutmeg. Try to find an alternative that is not a chain restaurant or go with very very low expectations. The local adults seemed to like it. Perhaps because they got the other 2/3 of my steak. I will not be going back. read more

Great table service and food options for all types. Food was prepared well and served quickly but that's sort of table stakes. A pricey menu without the panache or high end experience and decor is a bit dated. We had a group of 7 and they seated us in 2 x 4 seat tables. Made group dinner dialog a little awkward. read more

Disgusting frozen food for INSANE prices. A charcuterie board was $35 and had some of the oldest, worst-tasting things I've ever had. Canned olives, and probably just meats they got from clearance at Walmart. The service wasn't great, and the floor was disgusting. There was bread, beans, liquid, and pieces of salad, all around the dining floor even though we were the only people in there. It was also parent's weekend, so I can't imagine how disgusting it must be on a normal day if this is what it feels like when they look their best. read more

We wanted to enjoy this place sooo much as it had a beautiful ambiance both inside and out. Got seated and 15 minutes later we asked if someone could help us. Waitress came and blames hostess for not informing her that we were seated. Ordered the steak salad with different dressing on the side. Salad is delivered with the horseradish dressing on menu on top of salad instead. Have to send back. Order a second glass of wine, not brought until 15 minutes later. Order cheesecake for dessert - key lime pie is brought to us Instead. Don't know til we taste it. Taste it, she doesn't come back for 10 minutes To check. waitress knew there were various problems but apologized and then brought bill. Never offered a manager or any response to the issues. We will not return. Staff needs training. Could have been an enjoyable dinner. Instead spent lots of money and left disappointed read more

I have been coming to the Tavern for years and when I am in State College- it is a favorite stop. I love the architecture, pictures and antiques in this State College Establishment. Their food is consistently good and I like the fact that you can order all the sides you want with your meal. The wait staff is always friendly and efficient. This visit I enjoyed their Veal Marsala and my mom had their steak. The only issue this visit was that a few or the sides were not hot-although we did not send back-and my favorite side Italian style cabbage was bland. I will definitely return-every place has an off night. Still remains on my go to list when visiting! read more

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Tradition schmadition. This place is old and creaky and needs a Restaurant Intervention from one of those TV shows on Food Network. It boggles my mind that a college campus that draws in huge crowds on football weekends can't get itself better restaurants. Be prepared to wait and then be prepared to be disappointed, or just lower your expectations and then you'll be fine. The menu is stuffy and old-timer, nothing peaked my interest a few weeks ago when we ate here. I settled on the seafood soup and the beet salad. The soup was awful, like mystery seafood in some weird broth that didn't taste like anything I ever ate. I couldn't eat more than a few spoonfuls. The salad was large, but the beets were definitely from a can and the large chunks of blue cheese were a huge turn-off. The unlimited sides is an interesting concept and I guess made up for some of it, since the spinach and the mashed potatoes were at least edible. They should spend less money and attention on the sides and more on their actual menu and they would do better. Don't care to come back here ever. read more

Holy cow. The food was amazing. Zack was great as a waiter. We had the salmon and the prime rib. The atmosphere outside was perfect. We will be back. read more

If it ain't broke, don't fix it! Long ago and faraway, in another time, before "remodeling", this was absolutely the best dining experience in any college town, anywhere. Affordable elegance was available to students looking for a good, affordable dining. Now , a student loan extension is necessary for the average student to dine here. Only full professors, administrators and head coaches can dine here on a regular basis. The menu is best described as "pretentious".. Many of the old favorites once signature items, are gone . Replaced by "new American" cuisine. The unlimited veggies, cheesecake, lasagna, among others are now gone. The Tavern was one of the few places left where you could enjoy a marinated herring appetizer, The service remains outstanding but I bet you staff are tired of explaining the "new menu" My favorite has fallen back into the pack of unnecessarily "modern" dining establishments. This old grad will, sadly and with fond memories, dine elsewhere in the future. I can only hope that The Nittany Lion Inn hasn't suffered the same fate. read more

This isn't the Tavern I remember. This was always a staple for my family on football weekends, or whenever we were in State College. We could count on a great meal and atmosphere. This was my families first time back in two years, and apparently there is a new owner. Besides the obvious addition of an upstairs bar and seating area, there has been quite a few renovations to the downstairs seating area, as well as an overhaul on the menu. No more unlimited sides and gone are your traditional favorites. Instead, they now have a condensed menu. Tonight, we waited nearly 1.5 hours for our overpriced and mediocre food and were never asked for refills on drinks. I understand things change, but sometimes it's not always for the better. Why try to fix something that wasn't broken? RIP Tavern. We probably won't ever be back. read more

Nice atmosphere. Ok food. Nice server but service was questionable. The wait time just to get our food was 1.5 hours. After just one apology and our waitress only coming to check on us once we ended up not having a pleasant experience. Oh and if your looking for the good ole tavern with the unlimited sides, that is a thing of the past. New owners, new prices, new menu items and no unlimited sides. In fact you will have to purchase them for most meals. read more

Our party ate here due to it's location near PSU. Overall the food was average at best, but no worries the staff made up for it by being slow and making a lot of mistakes. In our group of 5. ...only 2 came in as ordered. Although the waitress was able to correct the mistakes fairly quickly, that was the only thing completed quickly. Meals came out so slowly the hour and a half we set aside for lunch was almost not enough time. Although The Tavern has been around for years, there are plenty of better offerings within a short walk. read more

Great food and a nice place to stop on our drive home to Maryland from New York. Our server, Elinor was outstanding! Thank you for a lovely meal. read more

I tried this place this past weekend while the restaurant was serving brunch. I figured I'd do the all you can eat brunch when I came inside, but now regret doing so. The food I ate from the buffet seemed like it had been out for a while. Most of it was cold and not fresh. I did enjoy the omelet at the make-your-own omelet station and the bacon. The bill was also pretty high and did not equate to the quality of food in my opinion. Despite the food being disappointing, the one part I did enjoy most about eating here was the service. All of the severs were kind and very attentive. I'd give them an A+ for that. read more

Extremely rude staff, over-priced food from a somewhat limited menu. I'd take the old Tavern any day.