A bite down memory lane. These are the closed State College restaurants you miss the most
Whether it’s the maple bacon donuts, the “Big Azz Margaritas” with all-you-can-eat burritos or a slice of deep-dish pizza, some old favorites are hard to let go.
We asked our readers to tell us which now-closed Centre County restaurants they miss the most, what their best dishes were and what made their favorite haunt so special.
You responded, with more than 50 participants weighing in through our survey and many more sharing their favorites on Facebook.
One thing is certain: These establishments hold a special place in the hearts of our readers, even long after they’ve closed their doors for good.
Here are the shuttered State College restaurants our readers are most nostalgic for.
Baby’s Burgers and Shakes
Originally opened in 1987, Baby’s was an institution in State College, offering a sense of continuity as the years rolled by with its timeless, 1950s diner character and experience.
Known for its burgers, Baby’s never phoned it in with frozen patties. Its team weighed and shaped each burger patty by hand every day.
Customers came to watch the “soda jerks” work the counter, serving up handcrafted milkshakes on the spot.
Baby’s Burgers and Shakes was a top pick among our readers. Seven responses out of 52 total named it as the No. 1 restaurant they’d resurrect if they could. They most often praised its style, atmosphere, people and food – especially the Wimpy Burger, which comes up again and again.
Sadly, Baby’s was a casualty of the coronavirus pandemic. It closed its doors for good in 2021, closing the chapter on more than 30 years of history.
Mad Mex
Mad Mex is another name that came up again and again in the responses to our reader survey.
Customers loved its cheeky Big Azz Margaritas, all-you-can-eat burritos, shrimp tacos, southwest-style chicken wings and apple cider margaritas, among other favorites.
But our readers also miss the good times they had there, the “weekly hangout with friends” and “the great memories made.”
All told, six responses out of 52 in all made it their top, most-missed restaurant.
But in November of 2021 – after 20 years of service – Mad Mex’s State College location closed for good and was converted into student housing by a real estate developer.
Other local favorites our readers miss the most
Though Mad Mex and Baby’s Burgers make up the top picks, participants in our survey have no shortage of other establishments they’d like to dine at again.
Let’s take a look at some of the other top picks and what our readers had to say about them.
Herwig’s Austrian Bistro, which closed in 2018, stood out for its unique offerings. Survey respondent Jonni misses the wiener schnitzel and praised it as “one of the Only Austrian cuisine restaurants around this area. Best service, best prices and excellent taste of Austrian culture.” Four respondents named it as their top pick.
Spats Cafe and Speakeasy offered an unparalleled Creole and Cajun cuisine with consistent high quality, according to survey participant Ann Marie Oldani. Didi Ray also had high praise for Spats: “The amazing food, beautiful atmosphere, great drinks - everything was perfect,” they wrote. Four survey respondents named this as their most-missed restaurant.
State College’s Home D Pizzeria closed in June of 2021, ending a storied 67 years of service. “Their pizza was great!” survey respondent Diane wrote. Others loved its steak salad, great food and good service. Home D’s had three hardcore fans among our survey participants.