Taste of the Month

History meets present day in Pine Grove Mills at Pine Grove Hall and Flour & Stone. The two restaurants are located in the heart of the small village along Route 45. The restaurants offer diners unique dishes in distinct spaces: the more-established Pine Grove Hall has a new casual menu, while recently opened Flour &…

The Nittany Lion Inn welcomed back Happy Valley during its reopening in September after years of extensive renovations. The hotel’s interior honors its roots as “Penn State’s living room” with modern elegance. Tucked into the hotel’s winding halls of blue and white are its dining options, including Lionne American Brasserie and 1855 Lounge. Mirko Loeffler…

Take a stroll on the red carpet and dine like a star at Celebrities Bar & Grill. Just opened in late spring 2024, Celebrities offers sandwiches, burgers, drinks, and more in a space filled with memorabilia, right next to the Ramada Hotel & Conference Center. From Joe Montana and Shaq to Elvis and Marilyn Monroe…

Nestled in the woods in Toftrees, the Carnegie House is a twenty-one-room boutique inn offering elegant stays, activities, and dining. Its restaurants, Grace and Stonehouse Pub, present diners with a variety of delectable options crafted by a team led by Executive Chef Paul Herceg. Herceg celebrated one year in his position in August. Cooking and…

Beat the summer heat with a tasty frozen treat at Wasson Farm Market in State College—especially appropriate during July, which is National Ice Cream Month, and on National Ice Cream Day, which is observed on the third Sunday of July (July 21 this year). The Wasson family has been scooping ice cream since 2020 but…

For many, healthy eating can be a struggle during the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Whether you’re running errands or preparing for a full day of work, finding a quick and healthy option for lunch or dinner can sometimes be a formidable task. For Mezeh, it’s what they do. One of the company’s leaders,…

Diners can explore a variety of Asian classics and fusions at Bistrozine, located on Calder Way in State College. Manager Maggie Wu says Bistrozine is a comfortable spot offering a mix of everything Asian, including Korean, Japanese, and Chinese dishes. Some of the dishes offer American twists like the Bacon Cheeseburger Dumplings. Start off your…

Ady Martinez uses her grandmother’s recipes to share her culture and educate others about Venezuela through food. Martinez co-owns Juana’s, a restaurant in downtown State College serving Venezuelan favorites like tequeños, cachapas, and more. Juana’s started out as a vendor at the State College Farmers Market in July 2018. Martinez says they prepared food at…

Centre County diners can take a culinary trip through eastern Europe and central Asia right here in Pleasant Gap. Café Luna, which opened in October 2022, focuses on sweet and savory regional dishes from faraway lands. The restaurant is run by Gary Shindy, his parents, and other family and friends. The family hails from Kazakhstan…

Approximately twice a week during Penn State’s fall and spring semesters, the hottest dinner reservation in town is not in a restaurant at all—at least not in the traditional sense.  The pop-up-style theme dinners of Café Laura, located in Mateer Building on the north end of campus, book up weeks in advance, drawing students, faculty,…