Visiting State College and Centre County this summer? Here’s what’s new to eat & drink
With Arts Fest and People’s Choice on tap and Penn State football right around the corner, there’s no time to visit Centre County quite like summer.
If you’re heading to State College, Bellefonte, Boalsburg and beyond for the first time in a while, though, you might notice a few changes. That’s especially true if you’re searching for a bite to eat or hoping to grab a drink with your friends.
To help your visit back to Centre County run a bit more smoothly, we’ve compiled some of the most notable additions to the local dining scene over the past year.
What has opened in State College over the last year?
A handful of locally owned restaurants have taken State College’s dining scene by storm since they opened over the last year. Carter’s Table offers tacos and quesadillas at 407 E. Beaver Ave., while Kokoro Japanese Restaurant specializes in ramen noodle bowls, bao buns and more at 404 E. Calder Way. Way Fruit Farm opened a new location at 252 E. Calder Way, where it sells farm-fresh produce, baked goods and more.
One of downtown State College’s former diners received a makeover and a new name when Oeuf Boeuf et Bacon opened in the former location of Baby’s Burgers and Shakes at 131 S. Garner St. The new-look diner blends French favorites with American fare, including dishes like croissants with house-made jam, croque madame, Belgian waffles and, of course, milkshakes.
Poke Fresh now serves Hawaiian-inspired poke bowls at 328 E. Calder Way after opening last spring. Chew Chew Bun, meanwhile, offers Taiwanese-inspired pastries and drinks at its new shop at 115 E. Beaver Ave.
Those looking for a quick bite to eat in the heart of downtown State College might opt for Allen Street Pizza, located in the former spot of Jersey Mike’s at 128 S. Allen St. The Koop, a Korean fried chicken restaurant with an expansive menu, is open at 129 Locust Lane.
Fans of bubble tea are in luck. Several new shops have opened in State College over the last year, including Möge Tea at 216 E. Calder Way and Teadori at 454 E. College Ave.
Some regional and national chains opened new shops over the last year, too. Mezeh Mediterranean Grill specializes in customizable bowls, flatbread wraps and pita pockets at 348 E. Calder Way. Starbucks closed its location on South Garner Street, but opened a new shop beneath the Pugh Centre apartment complex at 150 E. Beaver Ave.
Up North Atherton Street, those with a sweet tooth might be happy to find Crumbl Cookies, which opened at 19 Colonnade Way last fall. The chain’s lineup of rotating flavors has attracted viral attention on social media over the years.
Though the shop certainly isn’t new, Penn State’s Berkey Creamery brought back its beloved milkshakes this May following a three-year hiatus. Shakes, now selling for $9, are available in chocolate, vanilla, peachy Paterno and bittersweet mint as part of a pilot program.
Openings in Bellefonte, Boalsburg & beyond
Other parts of Centre County have seen their fair share of openings over the last year, too.
Perhaps the biggest name is Boal City Brewing Taproom and Beer Garden, located at 235 Old Boalsburg Road in Boalsburg. The brewery features plenty of outdoor seating and a rotating lineup of beers and cocktails, plus regular appearances by food trucks.
Just down the road, Breakfast on Boal serves up breakfast favorites like avocado toast, pancakes, omelets and even Monte Cristo. The restaurant, located at 603 Boal Ave. in Boalsburg, is open from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday and does not take reservations.
Blonde Bistro Brew Works launched a stand-alone restaurant at 226 Nittany Valley Drive in Zion last fall after previously serving diners from a kitchen within Axemann Brewery. Its menu features Italian favorites and some upscale dishes, plus offerings from its on-site brewery.
Marin Eats and Flo Bros. Fire Smoked Pizza took over the kitchen at Axemann Brewery this spring following The Smokey Axe Grill’s departure last August. You can grab some grub from the kitchen while it’s open at 2042 Axemann Road in Bellefonte.
The Meandering Mallard is one of the newest coffee shops to grace Centre County’s ever-growing scene. The shop opened at 106 E. Main St. in Millheim in January.
After initially closing in early 2022, the Red Horse Tavern reopened last summer with a pair of new co-owners who revamped the menu. You can still find it at 104 N. Main St. in Pleasant Gap.
Café Luna also calls Pleasant Gap home after opening last year. The restaurant, located at 214 N. Main St., serves Eastern European comfort foods and baked goods.
Those looking to cool off with a sweet treat might consider stopping by Pelican’s SnoBalls, a New Orleans-style shaved ice shop that opened at 219 Water St. in Bellefonte back in March.
Additionally, Sweets of Gold — a bakery cafe located along Mill Road in Milesburg — opened in June. The shop, open Fridays and Saturdays, serves largely as a kitchen for the owner’s custom bakery orders.
This list of newly opened restaurants is not exhaustive. If you know a Centre County establishment that opened within the last year that should be included, please email mdisanto@centredaily.com.
This story was originally published July 14, 2023 at 7:00 AM.
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