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Where to eat in State College
A Penn State town where the most famous food comes from the university's own dairy. Eat Berkey Creamery ice cream, grilled stickies with vanilla on top, a waffle after the line, and a beer at a brewpub that has poured on North Atherton since 2002.
State College at a glance What to eat Berkey Creamery ice cream; Grilled stickies; Waffles at the Waffle Shop; Szechuan at Little Szechuan; Craft beer from Happy Valley. When to go Best: September–October. Also good: April–June and November. Top tables This guide lists 2 award-winning restaurants, starting with Penn State Berkey Creamery and Grace at the Carnegie House. Where locals eat Local favorites off the prestige lists include Original Waffle Shop, Little Szechuan, Meyer Dairy and Sowers Harvest Café. Markets Downtown State College Farmers Market and Boalsburg Farmers Market. 19 places in State College, ready to save to your trip
What is in the 19 2 award-winning5 local favorites2 hot right now2 markets5 walking tour stops9 chef's picks1 sandwich shops4 romantic dinners4 breakfast spots3 new openings7 dish spots
Browse all 19
Food walking tour: Waffles, stickies and the Creamery: a State College eating day 10.5 hours on foot, 5 stops, in eating order. Add the whole tour to your trip, then give it a day.
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Chef Amazing picks: where to eat in State College Ice cream from the university's dairy, grilled stickies at the Corner Room, a waffle after the line, Sichuan downtown and a beer on North Atherton.
The well-known five Penn State Berkey Creamery Penn State campus
Best Frozen Treat, Centre County 2024 Ice cream $
Order: One scoop of Peachy Paterno, Bittersweet Mint or Peanut Butter Swirl
The university's dairy, selling ice cream since 1896; up to 10,000 cones on a home football weekend.
Best for: dessert · Reserve: walk-in
Food Science Building, Curtin and Bigler roads, University Park
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The Corner Room Downtown
American $$
Order: Grilled stickies with vanilla ice cream
The restaurant at College and Allen, renovated in 2021, with breakfast back in 2022.
Best for: breakfast · Reserve: book ahead on football weekends
100 W. College Ave., State College
Worth confirming: hours and that it is still open.
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Original Waffle Shop North Atherton
Breakfast $
Order: Waffles
First on State College's cheap-eats rankings by diners in 2025.
Best for: breakfast · Reserve: walk-in · Hours: Breakfast and lunch; closes mid-afternoon
1229 N. Atherton St., State College
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The Tavern Downtown
American $$$
Order: Shrimp and grits
Shrimp and grits was its featured dish for Restaurant Week 2026; students pick it for a date.
Best for: dinner · Reserve: book ahead
Worth confirming: hours and that it is still open; we do not have a verified street address.
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Otto's Pub & Brewery North Atherton
Brewpub $$
Order: A house beer and a pub plate
Brewing in State College since 2002.
Best for: dinner · Reserve: book ahead
2235 N. Atherton St., State College
Worth confirming: hours and that it is still open.
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The discoveries Little Szechuan Downtown
Sichuan $$
Order: Sichuan dishes
Among the highest-rated restaurants in town by diners in 2025.
Best for: dinner · Reserve: walk-in
Worth confirming: hours and that it is still open; we do not have a verified street address.
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Meyer Dairy South Atherton
Ice cream $
Order: Lemon custard
A family dairy store dating to 1887.
Best for: dessert · Reserve: walk-in
Worth confirming: hours and that it is still open; we do not have a verified street address.
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Tadashi Downtown
Japanese $$
Order: Sushi
Highly rated by diners (2025) and a student pick for a date.
Best for: dinner · Reserve: unknown
Worth confirming: hours and that it is still open; we do not have a verified street address.
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Happy Valley Brewing Elmwood Street
Brewpub $$
Order: A house beer
Beer and food in a 200-year-old barn; a 2026 Restaurant Week participant.
Best for: dinner · Reserve: unknown
137 Elmwood St., State College
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Showing only the picks we could confirm are open. The rest are still being checked.
New and buzzing in State College Restaurants that opened or relaunched recently, from current opening guides. In no ranked order.
Bubba's Eggs, Steaks & Shakes New opening reported
Downtown · Diner
A diner at 131 S. Garner St.
The Meadows New opening reported
State College · Soft serve
Soft serve and sundaes.
Order: Peanut butter sundae
Kitchen Garden New opening reported
State College · Turkish and Mediterranean
Turkish and Mediterranean plates.
New places change fast. “Provisional” means a guide or directory lists it as new but we have not confirmed the opening date. Check hours and book ahead before you go.
Memorable breakfasts in State College Five places chosen for the food, the room, the history or the local character. In no ranked order.
Original Waffle Shop North Atherton
Order: Waffles
First on the diners' cheap-eats list.
Long, fast-moving line on football weekends.
The Waffle Shop Downtown
Order: Waffles
The downtown shop on College Avenue.
Busy on event weekends and Sunday mornings.
The Corner Room Downtown
Order: Grilled stickies
Breakfast at the downtown corner.
Takes reservations.
Irving's Bagels Downtown
Order: A bagel sandwich and coffee
A downtown bagel and coffee standby.
Orders are suggestions, not guaranteed menu items. Confirm opening hours and morning service before you go.
Sandwich shops in State College Five sandwich counters worth the trip: delis, bakeries, market stalls and local styles. In no ranked order.
Irving's Bagels Downtown
Bagel sandwich Order: A breakfast bagel sandwich
Downtown's bagel shop.
Picks come from press and guide coverage. We have not confirmed opening hours or current menus for every shop, so check before you go.
Romantic dinners in State College Ten tables that come up again and again for date night, anniversaries and quiet candlelit evenings. In no ranked order.
Grace at the Carnegie House Toftrees
Romantic dinner The Tavern Downtown
Romantic dinner Tadashi Downtown
Romantic dinner Allen Street Grill Downtown
Romantic dinner Picks come from romantic-dinner lists on booking and review sites. Confirm dinner service, menus and availability before you book.
Food walking tour
Waffles, stickies and the Creamery: a State College eating day A waffle downtown, a market on Friday, ice cream on campus, grilled stickies and a brewpub dinner.
Start 8:30 at The Waffle Shop, 364 ETime 10.5 hoursBest days A Friday from May to November, for the downtown market. Hours are not in all our sources, so confirm them.
Downtown and campus sit side by side along College Avenue, so the first half of the day is on foot.
1
The Waffle Shop breakfast Downtown
Order: Waffles.
The downtown branch of the town's favorite breakfast.
Around 8:30 · 45 min · $
364 E. College Ave., State College
Worth confirming: opening hours.
↓ on foot (approx.): A few blocks west along College Avenue.
2
Downtown State College Farmers Market Market Downtown
Order: Whatever is in season.
Fridays May to November.
Around 11:30 · 45 min
Locust Lane between College and Beaver avenues
Hours: Fridays 11:30 AM-5:30 PM
↓ on foot (approx.): Walk west to College and Allen.
3
The Corner Room restaurant Downtown
Order: Grilled stickies with vanilla ice cream.
The old College Diner's dish lives on here.
Around 12:30 · 60 min · $$
100 W. College Ave., State College
Worth confirming: opening hours.
↓ on foot (approx.): Walk north across campus, about 20 minutes.
4
Penn State Berkey Creamery ice cream Penn State campus
Order: One flavor: Peachy Paterno or Bittersweet Mint.
The university's dairy since 1896.
Around 15:00 · 30 min · $
Food Science Building, Curtin and Bigler roads
Worth confirming: opening hours.
↓ on foot (approx.): Drive or take a bus up North Atherton.
5
Otto's Pub & Brewery brewpub North Atherton
Order: A house beer and dinner.
Brewing since 2002.
Around 18:30 · 90 min · $$
2235 N. Atherton St., State College
Worth confirming: opening hours.
Pacing: Share the stickies; you still have ice cream ahead.
Plan B: Dinner at The Tavern downtown for shrimp and grits instead of the drive to Otto's.
Avoid: Home football Saturdays unless you like lines.
Bring: Patience for the Creamery line; a car or bus for Otto's.
Skip it if: Skip it on a home football Saturday unless you are there for the game.
Ends at: Otto's Pub & Brewery, 2235 N. Atherton St. (a short drive).
Walking times and distances are approximate, and opening hours change: confirm before you go.
Hot right now in State College What people are lining up for and posting about this month. Entries expire after about four months unless they are reported again.
Always a line Last confirmed 2026
Penn State Berkey Creamery Penn State campus
The thing: Ice cream
The line: Wraps the block on home football weekends
Up to 10,000 cones on a home weekend.
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Always a line Last confirmed 2025
Original Waffle Shop North Atherton
The thing: Waffles
The line: Long on football weekends, moves fast
The diners' top cheap eat.
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Crazes move fast. “Just spotted” means one report so far, and most entries rest on a single source: confirm hours and expect a wait.
Tell us what is hot in State College Plan my days in State College Tell us what you like and we will line up the places on this page into a day-by-day plan. Only places from this guide, never anything else.
What to eat in State College, and where Each dish comes with the places that do it best. Tap Add to my trip on the ones you want, or find them on the map above.
Berkey Creamery ice cream Penn State's own dairy has sold ice cream to the public since 1896; one flavor per cone, and lines wrap the building on football weekends
The best place to eat it in State College
1 Penn State Berkey Creamery
Penn State campus · $
Order: One flavor per cone: Peachy Paterno, Bittersweet Mint or Butter Pecan
Since 1896; no mixing flavors.
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Grilled stickies Sticky buns split and griddled in butter, the old College Diner's dish, now served with Creamery vanilla at the Corner Room
The 2 best places to eat it in State College
1 The Corner Room
Downtown · $
Order: Grilled stickies with vanilla Creamery ice cream
Where the old College Diner's stickies are served now.
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2 Penn State Berkey Creamery
Penn State campus · $$
Order: A 24-pack of the stickies to take home
Sold at the Creamery's store.
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Waffles at the Waffle Shop The breakfast that tops the diners' rankings, with a line every football and parents' weekend
The 2 best places to eat it in State College
1 Original Waffle Shop
North Atherton · $
Order: Waffles
The line is long on game weekends but moves fast.
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2 The Waffle Shop
Downtown · $
Order: Waffles
The downtown shop; expect a line on busy mornings.
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Szechuan at Little Szechuan The downtown Sichuan kitchen students keep near the top of the diners' lists
The best place to eat it in State College
1 Little Szechuan
Downtown · $$
Order: Sichuan dishes
Among the highest-rated restaurants in town by diners.
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Craft beer from Happy Valley Otto's has brewed on North Atherton since 2002; Happy Valley Brewing pours in a 200-year-old barn
The 2 best places to eat it in State College
1 Otto's Pub & Brewery
North Atherton · $$
Order: A house beer
Brewing since 2002.
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2 Happy Valley Brewing
Elmwood Street · $$
Order: A house beer
In a 200-year-old barn.
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The most celebrated tables The top 2 restaurants in State College, per 2026.
More award winners
Penn State Berkey Creamery Penn State campus · Ice cream · $
Best Frozen Treat, Best of Centre County awards 2024 Named one of the 33 best ice cream shops in the nation (StateCollege.com)
The university's own creamery, selling ice cream to the public since 1896.
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Grace at the Carnegie House Toftrees · Fine dining · $$$$
State College Magazine Best Fine Dining and Best Romantic Restaurant, 10 years running (per OpenTable)
The area's long-running special-occasion dining room, in a country inn.
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When to go and what is in season State College food calendar: month by month → What is in season, what to eat and the food festivals each month.
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Peak Sep–Oct Shoulder Apr–Jun, Nov Hard —
Why these months Fall is football: the town is at its liveliest, the Creamery line wraps the building and every breakfast spot has a wait. Book hotels months ahead for home games, or come on an away weekend. April's Blue-White game is a smaller version; June brings Happy Valley Restaurant Week.
In season Farmers market produce May–Nov Downtown on Locust Lane Fridays May-November; Boalsburg on Tuesday afternoons. Food events Blue-White Game Apr Penn State's spring football game brings tailgates and Creamery lines. Happy Valley Restaurant Week Jun June 12-21, 2026, with a record number of restaurants. Centre County Grange Fair Aug Centre Hall, late August; the 2026 fair began Aug. 20. Closures to plan around Ye Olde College Diner closed in 2018; grilled stickies are now sold at the Corner Room and the Berkey Creamery. Herwig's Austrian Bistro closed in 2018. The Original Waffle Shop closes mid-afternoon. Berkey Creamery: one flavor per cone, no mixing. From published guides and tourism boards. Months are our mapping of how guides describe the seasons; 2027 event dates are expected, not confirmed. Prices come from single sources of varying age, so treat them as a rough guide. Compare cities by month
Every place we have in State College (19) Search or filter, then tap Add to my trip. Places you add go straight into your trip planner.
All 19 Award-winning 2 Local favorites 5 Hot right now 2 Markets 2 Walking tour stops 5 Chef's picks 9 Sandwich shops 1 Romantic dinners 4 Breakfast spots 4 New openings 3 Dish spots 7
All neighborhoods Downtown (9) North Atherton (2) Elmwood Street (1) Penn State campus (1) South Atherton (1) Toftrees (1)
Grace at the Carnegie House Award-winning Romantic dinners Toftrees · State College Magazine Best Fine Dining and Best Romantic Restaurant, 10 years running (per OpenTable) · Fine dining · $$$$
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Penn State Berkey Creamery Award-winning Walking tour stops Hot right now Dish spots Chef's picks Penn State campus · Best Frozen Treat, Best of Centre County awards 2024 · Ice cream · $
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Happy Valley Brewing Local favorites Dish spots Chef's picks Elmwood Street · brewpub
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Little Szechuan Local favorites Dish spots Chef's picks Downtown · family-run
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Meyer Dairy Local favorites Chef's picks South Atherton · dairy
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Original Waffle Shop Local favorites Hot right now Dish spots Chef's picks Breakfast spots North Atherton · diner
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Sowers Harvest Café Local favorites Downtown · cafe
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Boalsburg Farmers Market Markets Farmers market
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Downtown State College Farmers Market Markets Walking tour stops Downtown · Farmers market
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Otto's Pub & Brewery Walking tour stops Dish spots Chef's picks North Atherton · brewpub
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The Corner Room Walking tour stops Dish spots Chef's picks Breakfast spots Downtown · restaurant
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The Waffle Shop Walking tour stops Dish spots Breakfast spots Downtown · breakfast
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Tadashi Chef's picks Romantic dinners Downtown · Romantic dinner
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The Tavern Chef's picks Romantic dinners Downtown · Romantic dinner
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Irving's Bagels Sandwich shops Breakfast spots Downtown · Bagel sandwich
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Allen Street Grill Romantic dinners Downtown · Romantic dinner
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Bubba's Eggs, Steaks & Shakes New openings New opening
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Kitchen Garden New openings New opening
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The Meadows New openings New opening
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Show 25 more Secret discoveries
Locally loved places that are not on the big prestige lists.
diner
Original Waffle Shop North Atherton · $
Order: Waffles
Ranked first among State College's cheap eats by diners in 2025; on football weekends the line is long but moves fast.
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family-run
Little Szechuan Downtown · $$
Order: Sichuan dishes
Among the highest-rated restaurants in town by diners (2025), and a long-time student favorite.
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dairy
Meyer Dairy South Atherton · $
Order: A cone, such as lemon custard
A family dairy store dating to 1887; some locals take its thicker ice cream over the Creamery's.
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cafe
Sowers Harvest Café Downtown · $
Order: Breakfast and coffee
A downtown café students call one of the most underrated places in town.
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brewpub
Happy Valley Brewing Elmwood Street · $$
Order: A house beer
Beer and food in a 200-year-old barn.
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Food markets in State College
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Awards come from the guides named on each listing (2026). Researched November 7, 2026. Restaurants change; confirm hours, reservations and current stars before you go. Some addresses, phone numbers and websites come from OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), so call ahead to confirm. Local favorites are editorial picks, not rankings.
Chef Amazing’s lists for State College : where locals eat, new openings, romantic dinners, ice cream, cooking classes and more, each place with what to order. Cooking classes in State College : who teaches, what you cook, how long and how to book.
Every place in this guide, A to Z (18) 