Happy Valley isn’t known for BBQ, but this joint is serving up award-winning ribs, wings

Now that Memorial Day has passed and summer is practically in full swing, there is no food I crave more than barbecue.

No, Centre County is not Memphis, Kansas City or one of the nation’s premier barbecue destinations. However, good barbecue is alive and well in Happy Valley, and after seeking recommendations, I found that Prospector’s Mount Nittany Rib Company is no exception.

Though the restaurant has called the State College area home for decades, Prospector’s moved to a new spot at 333 Benner Pike in College Township in early 2019 and saw a change of ownership, too. Brick walls and plenty of themed decor items — including framed photographs and large diagrams of the many cuts of pork — help bring the interior to life. Country music on the radio rounded out the restaurant’s all-American atmosphere.

But before I even walked in, I knew I was in for a treat. Tantalizing scents of smoky barbecue wafted from the restaurant’s doors into the parking lot — so much so that some Prospector’s employees say they routinely attract diners from the nearby Sam’s Club parking lot who couldn’t resist the promising aroma of fresh barbecue.

Prospector’s has seen some services trimmed back since the COVID-19 pandemic began, but the restaurant still offers a fast-casual dining experience. After placing your order at the counter, you’re free to find your own seat, fill up your drink at the soda fountain and pass the time by watching one of the restaurant’s many flat-screen TVs. When I visited Prospector’s for lunch on a weekday in early June, my piping-hot food was practically ready before I sat down.

I spent a while perusing the menu, but there was no way I’d pass up a pulled pork sandwich. After all, there’s perhaps no simpler vessel for barbecue. Though this dish is often less messy than a rack of ribs or a roasted chicken, it certainly doesn’t lack the sweet, smoky flavor that barbecue connoisseurs crave. You’re getting the best of both worlds — a simple, tasty dish that probably wouldn’t leave you with sticky hands or a stained shirt.

At Prospector’s, this sandwich features a hefty helping of pulled pork and tangy barbecue sauce served on a soft sandwich roll, all paired with a pickle spear and a side of coleslaw. I added a homemade cornbread muffin that was moist and sweet, especially when topped with the restaurant’s own honey butter.

My well-rounded platter was fresh and flavorful, but that doesn’t surprise me at all after talking to a few of the restaurant’s employees. According to Prospector’s manager Brittany Witherite, just about every item on the menu is made entirely from scratch.

“About 95% of our products are made in-house, including our cheddar macaroni and cheese, tomato-cucumber salad and our made-from-scratch cornbread muffins with real honey,” she said. “We do many catering events, including Penn State events, weddings and graduations.”

Elsewhere on the menu, Prospector’s features beef brisket, smoked sausage, roasted chicken, baby back ribs, chicken tenders, wings and more, all on top of barbecue staple side dishes like baked beans, pasta salad, onion rings and fresh-cut french fries.

The barbecue joint’s food receives plenty of praise from its regulars while catching the attention of local contest judges and food critics. Across the last few years, the restaurant’s barbecue sauces, ribs and more have won Prospector’s awards and earned recognition from Tussey Mountain’s WingFest and State College Magazine’s annual “Best of State College” honors.

Prospector’s offers online ordering, takeout and catering services, too. One particularly enticing option is the restaurant’s “party packs” that bundle pounds of meat, buckets of wings and several sides — perhaps best intended to feed a ravenous group of Penn State football fans.

No matter what you order at Prospector’s, you’re bound to find yourself face-to-face with a platter piled high with succulent barbecue and fresh fixings. You simply can’t go wrong.

Prospector’s Mount Nittany Rib Company is open 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sundays. It’s closed on Mondays. Follow the restaurant on Facebook, visit prospectorsribs.com or call 814-861-7427 for more information.

This story was originally published June 8, 2023 at 12:34 PM.

Matt DiSanto

Centre Daily Times

814-231-4616

Matt is a 2022 Penn State graduate. Before arriving at the Centre Daily Times, he served as Onward State’s managing editor and a general assignment reporter at StateCollege.com. Support my work with a digital subscription