Dining igloos, renovated patio space open for the winter at Gigi’s Southern Table in State College
Gigi’s Southern Table is celebrating all the sights and sounds of the winter season in Happy Valley — and guests don’t even need to walk inside the building to enjoy the fun. The long-standing southern-style restaurant recently opened a new patio dining space, as well as its covered, winter-ready dining igloos, a special offering for the season.
“We basically covered our back porch area,” Chef John Clickner said of the new patio space. “It’s 14 feet to the bottom of the roof, so the roof is very elevated. There are chandeliers and fans. We have four, 20-foot heaters, so we can heat the space when the weather’s not warm out. We also have Plexiglas sides and we’re going to have retractable sides, too, so we can enclose the entire area, which will be fantastic for protecting people from the weather, while still letting them eat outside.”
The new patio space, which can seat approximately 60 diners, has been a work in progress, starting in early 2021, with the finishing touches scheduled for completion this month, when the Gigi’s team hopes to install the planned retractable siding. The patio is currently open for dining depending on weather. However, the covered, transparent igloos are open for business no matter how chilly or snowy the Centre County weather; in fact, Clickner notes the snow makes the enclosed dining set-up all the more magical.
Gigi’s offers five igloos, three of which can seat up to four patrons, two of which seat up to six patrons. The restaurant first debuted the igloo seating last winter, as many diners looked for social-distanced dining options despite the colder temperatures.
“We got great feedback on the igloos,” said bar manager Brittany Mowery. “They’re in high demand. We had people asking before it was even fall if the igloos were going to be back up. We definitely wanted to put them back up.”
“They’re fantastic. There’s a good need for them,” added Clickner. “We highly suggest making reservations in advance for them.”
But what about the food? Both Clickner and Mowery said they have specials on tap for diners looking for a seasonal treat.
In the bar, Mowery is offering a new sangria every few weeks, which she said has proved popular and will continue into the spring, alongside rotating drink features. “The sangria is super, super tasty and never boring, because it changes out every couple of weeks and sticks with the season. That’s something everyone should definitely try,” she said.
Clickner similarly recommends guests get in to taste the new filet option on the menu. “We do an eight-ounce beef tenderloin filet and we put it over a roasted garlic polenta cake with charred asparagus, with a mushroom ragu over top. It’s fantastic.”
Like most restaurants around Centre County, Gigi’s has experienced its staffing shortages and other challenges over the last year, but it’s approached those challenges with finesse, offering new options for its loyal customer base. In addition to offering new outdoor dining options, as more diners looked for pick-up and to-go options, the culinary team put together to-go family meals that include salads, biscuits and a choice of four entrees.
You can find the full Gigi’s Southern Table menu at www.gigisdining.com or call to make a reservation, at 814-861-3463.
This story was originally published January 14, 2022 at 5:00 AM.