PENN STATE AREA - Dinner Recommendations???

Organization: Penn State University
Date: Thu, 6 Oct 1994 21:22:14 EDT

I second the recommendations in MCW102's post, particularly for the Tavern, the Golden Wok, and Sunday brunch at Le Papillon.  The Tavern advertises itself as "a unique gallery-in-a-restaurant: a rare collection of early lithographs, photographs & antiques."  The lithographs really are fascinating, including old maps with scenery and buildings drawn in as though they were aerial photos.
  But since you asked about the _area_, also consider:
    The Gamble Mill Tavern, about 13 miles away in Bellefonte.  It's a
remodeled old mill, with high ceilings, exposed beams, and art gallery exhibits on the walls.  A variety of menu items created with some imagination.  Very pleasant dining, definitely among the best in the area. It's closed Sunday and like most good places you should have reservations on weekends, particularly on football weekends.  Ask for directions.
    The Victorian Manor, about 3 miles away in Lemont.  A restored
Victorian house, a rather formal place, excellent food.  One of their specialties is roast rack of lamb for two which you must order in advance. I hope this is all still true, I haven't been there for a while.
    Damon's, the franchise rib place, is also good, popular, and crowded
on weekends.  There's nothing particularly "State College" about it, though.
    Happy dining!

    Dave Glick   [email removed]     Penn State

Well, it depends on what your interested in.  For very nice reasonably priced American/slightly gourmet food go to The Tavern on East College Ave.  I loved the place (yes I'm writing from a Penn State account but am currnetly living in the Burgh:)  My favorite part about the Tavern was that you can order as many different kinds and as much as you want of the side orders (they come in small dishes) when you get your entree.  If you go there and you enjoy alcoholic drinks, make sure to get an Original Sin...the trademark drink ($5.00 for a "fishbowl" of it) or a French 75 made with Sours Mix, Gin and a cute little bottle of champagne ($5.00; you can sub vodka in there if you hate gin like I do:).  PRICES: $8.00- about $15.00 with most being in the $9-$12 range.

For very gourmet general European style food, try Le Papillion at Toftrees. Excellent service and food and you'll pay for it...$10+ per meal with most dinners being around $13.00+.  If you got the cash (about $10.00) go for their Sunday brunch -- it's pretty amazing and all you can eat.  Toftrees is just outside of the main State College area (about 1-2 miles away). Call for instructions.

More on the Downtown State College area (right across the street from PSU): The Corner Room (corner of College Ave. and Allen St. -- the E-W divide in town).  Good general family food.  Generally priced under $10.00. Go for the all you can eat pasta on Monday nights for $5.00 -- very nice alfredo sauce and a choice of pastas:)

Ye Olde College Diner (100 block of W. College Ave.).  Open 24 hours a day -- the only reliable diner in State College (I used to work there)!  If you go you have to try a "Sticky"  which is just a glorified sticky bun.  Get it with ice cream (made fresh either there or at the Corner Room) if you like.  Good diner/post bar tour fare.

The Golden Wok (200 or 300 block of W. College Ave.).  Excellent chinese fare.  Maybe a little higher priced than other asian restaraunts in town, but reliable service and food quality. Dinners = $8.00-$15.00 with most being in the $8.00-$10.00 range.

Vegetarian Restaurant (can't remember name; new) just off of 500 block of E. College Ave.  Good Indian cuisine.  Very small restaurant. They have a lunch buffet for $5.00 that'll fill you up.  Very friendly.

Restaraunts that are VERY CLOSE to right downtown (i.e., on Beaver Ave. which is parallel to College Ave. in the southern direction; Beaver and College are one way streets:):

The Silver Screen Grill in The Days Inn Penn State (turn the corner at end of 100 block of E. Beaver Ave. and Pugh St.).  Very good sandwich and dinner fare that is reasonably priced.  Saturday night is comics night and for $5.00 you get into see a live comic from 10:30 pm - 12:30 pm (I went there a lot).  This is the place I really frequented!!!!  Very nice sandwiches for around $6.00 -- a meal in themselves and the sides that come with them.  Tell Gregg the bartender I (Mary C. Wheeland and Steve Rushen..go ahead inclue my boyfriend) said hello and ask him how his stash of McCallen's scotch is holding out:) <--my boyfriend's favorite.

DON'T GO TO --> Cancun Mexican Restaurant.  Terrible.  Worse that Taco Bell.

For Subs and hoagies try:
Penn State Sub Shop (200 block of E. Beaver Ave.); free delivery Bubba's (various locations; the best I think); free delivery

Make sure you get a hold of a copy of the State College phone book.  It's real small compared to the Metro Pitt. one and you can find the addresses of the places I have mentioned.  You can walk in about 20 mintues from one end of central College and Beaver ave to the other.  YOU are in CENTRAL PA when you're in State College -- the central business district that is.

Ok! -- please let me know if you have any more question or comments.  And write me to let me know where yo went (if you don't mind:) and what you thought of it.  WARNING:  don't expect the variety that you find in any area of Pitt.

Sincerely,

Mary C. Wheeland