All American Rathskeller

A dive bar with good food. My only turnoff is that i wish it had more craft. I think the drink specials are decent, but the food specials are what makes this place really worth coming to.
Food–
Blackened Burger ($ 6 on weds or thurs if you come round 11−9pm otherwise $ 10): Burger was just aite. It was med rare but wasnt really tender. Gotta pay $ 1 for cheese which is pretty weak. I wouldnt pay ten bux for it but for 6 its def a steal. As a foodie tho i wouldnt get it again.
Catfish, Shrimp or Chicken «Ponchartrain» ($ 14): SO DAMN GOOD. Saucy and hearty. Sadly you dont get all 3 meats. Instead you have to pick one. The guy recommended catfish so I went for it. It was good and id def get it again.
Grilled chicken on conbread stuffing ($ 10): Theres a small fineprint that i missed where it says that it comes with andouille cream sauce. The sauce really put this dish to the next level. It was hella good. The chicken was also really tender. I would get again.
Chislic ($ 10): This is an appetizer. Its a bunch of cubed steak and they give you these 3 sauces for dipping. Really good but i dunno bout ten dollars good. Steak was mad tender tho. I enjoyed it.
Overall, the bar itself is a lil divey for my taste, but if you want some cajun food but dont wanna break the bank at spats (the fancy cajun speakeasy upstairs which i think is the fancy sister restaurant) then I would suggest you come here!

World class basement shithole bar, if that makes any sense to you. Service is usually pretty good and the drink specials are quality. The line is never that long and the place never seems to get THAT packed compared to other places in state college.
The bathrooms are on the grosser side.
Overall, far from the worst place to drink in State College.

I didn’t have any food here, but the Jack and Coke I had was good. This place had pricier shots than other bars.
The only drink on special was a jack and Coke the night I went. Very crowded. Not enough tables or placed to sit. They had live music but it was so hot I didn’t go near the room with the band.
This place wasn’t anything special.

Absolutely awful. I stopped by here early today during my lunch break with a couple friends. The waitress who sat us was very rude. The place was practically empty yet, we sat there waiting for our food for close to 45 minutes before anybody noticed that we had not receive our food. Although my friends and I only ordered 3 paninis the order ended up taking close to an hour. Once we got the sandwiches and fries. The bread was burnt and the fries were soggy. Would not recommend to anybody.

I’m a huge fan of the skeller. During the day I believe the food is fantastic. I’ve had the duck sandwich here when I used to go to State (09 – 13) and it was unbelievable. I haven’t eaten there since then but I’ve been here for alumni weekends. I was here last weekend for homecoming and I loved it. The drink specials are always amazing and the crowd is a mix of youngins and parents (probably because it’s an alumni bar). My friends that were younger were annoyed that it wasn’t «crunk» enough probably because it’s a nice bar to grab drinks and hear yourself talk. If you want to grind and get your freak on, this isn’t the place. This is a place to go to with your friends to talk and grab some cheap strong drinks

$ 6 Yuengling pitchers! Usually go here before a Penn State game to get a pitcher or three. Service is a little slow but its what to expect in a hole in a wall.

I rated this bar one star because the staff is extremely rude, the food is not that good, and the drinks are overpriced and you can find better bar food and cheaper drinks at other bars in state college, and bars that have bar staff that are actually nice to customers and want them to drink in their bar.

Summary: If you want something more than pub grub, this bar is the place!
Positive:
1) Relaxed, non-​pretentious atmosphere.
2) The best Cajun and Creole food in Centre county.
3) Waiting staff is prompt.
4) Deceptively large portions
Negatives:
1) Musky smell in the air (possibly damp?)
2) Drinking water had a «food» taste to it.
Neutral:
1) Lighting was dim, but only enough to set the mood. Not absurdly dim.
2) It had a «grimy» feel, but wasn’t dirty.
3) Prices match the quality of food.
Located essentially in a basement, you get the impression you’ll be greeted by two dogs sitting at an outdoor bistro, sharing a bowl of spaghetti. But instead, will be greeted by a staff member, typically the hulking bruiser type, checking for ID: This is, after all, a bar located in a college town. Rathskeller’s isn’t just another historic culinary institution in State College, but a storied tavern that has been serving cold drinks and hot chow for well over 80 years. A cross between a prohibition era speakeasy and the dining hall belonging to the Royal Order of the Gilded Buffalo Men’s Club, the dining area is a single long room consisting of booths, some table seating and a bar that stretches almost to the other end. There is a secondary set of rooms that branches off the main dining area, but it didn’t appear to be open to the public, although a pool table can be seen in the distance. We arrived at 6:43, a faint musky smell was present. The cool air felt amazing compared to the August heat that we just stepped out of. The Seat Yourself Anywhere policy had us picking a booth that was «decorated» with what can only be described as Historic Graffiti. Your eyes can’t help but drift across the various names and witty remarks left behind from over the years and cannot help but wonder whatever became of the inscriber. A barely legible set of names, possibly from two lovers can be seen on the same wall next to a recently inscribed «HAH Fink lazer» and «Hooray for Boobies 2004» (no, I’m not kidding). Our waitress, appearing immediately after taking our seats, took our drink orders and disappeared as quickly as she arrived, returning 2 minutes later to drop off drinks and take meal orders. She could be later seen delivering pitchers of beer by the fistfull to tables, reminiscent of one of those Bier Fraus you see during Oktoberfest. The hits of the 50’s were playing over the speakers, which seemed slightly out of place. Not sure why, it just didn’t seem fitting to the environment. The dining area was dim, but not an obnoxiously low dim. Just enough to set the mood and remind you of where you are. The customers were a mashmash of legal aged undergrads, a couple surly biker types, a half dozen well dressed couples, and three (loud) 40-​something housewives that could be overheard discussing their possible intentions of the evening with said undergrads (no, not kidding about this either). The food arrived at 6:59. I had the Andouille Blue Plate and my wife had the Catfish Ponchatrain. The andouille, a traditional Creole sausage, was split lengthwise and blackened. It was served on a bed of grits and red beans. Collard greens and cornbread completed the plate. The spices used on the andouille were not overpowering and gave a good amount of body to the flavor without conflicting with the taste of the meat in the sausage. The grits were loose, but not runny, with a hint of cheese and butter. The collards were cooked slightly firm and sweet, and red beans had a hint of smokiness to them. The cornbread was slightly sweet with a strong corn flavor. My wife’s Catfish Ponchatrain, according to her, was perfect. Just as impressive as the quality of meals were the deceptively large servings. Both of our meals and sides were served on single plates, however we both left stuffed and waddling to the door. I had noticed prior to our meals arriving that my glass of water had a slight «food’ish» taste to it. I didn’t see any particles floating in the glass and everything appeared fine, so I disregarded it. For one Catfish Ponchatrain and one Andouille Creole Blue Plate, our order was $ 26.50. We only had water for drinks.
Make no mistake, this isn’t an uptight, snooty restaurant that serves great food, but a dank, bluecollar bar that also happens to serve great food. There is no pretentious atmosphere here, just good food and a lot of people letting their hair down and having a good time. This place is perfect for bringing a group of friends, share a couple pitchers of beer, and discussing the correct way of saying «andouille» or whatever happened to boobies 2005.

First and foremost, this is a bar that serves food, not a restaurant that serves alcohol. Had I known this, I may not have gone here. I blame myself for thinking I could get good food and service in a basement bar.
When we arrived at 7:30pm I never thought it would be 9pm before we would receive our food, especially since the place was nearly empty for 45 minutes of our visit. Then out of nowhere the place was packed with college students bent on becoming inebriated. This didn’t necessarily surprise me or bother me, as I had already accepted the fact that I was in a bar.
Our waitress tried, sort of, to do a good job, but it took a while for refills and she continually forgot things that we would ask for throughout our unexpected extended stay. I think that once the large crowd of students rolled in she really couldn’t keep up. I can’t totally blame her.
The food was typical bar food. If you think bar food is good, then by all means, this is the place for you. If you are looking for a decent meal after a long day of work, I’d move on or go upstairs, where apparently there is a nicer restaurant. I had the pulled pork French dip. It was alright, nothing special. I have had quite a few French dip sandwiches over the years. I won’t be remembering this one.

Love this place! Loved it as a college student and love it as an alumni. Food is surprisingly delicious– wings and French dip were on point and drink specials were great. Definitely recommend everyone try this place!

All American Rathskeller is not your typical dive bar and does not have your typical dive bar food. I was told by many that it’s a dive bar with good food. I was also warned that I should wear shoes I didn’t mind getting dirty.
After my visit, my official verdict is that the Skeller gave off a dive-​like feel, however was charming like a pub. I didn’t feel it was dirty, at least not during my happy hour visit. My regular boots did the trick.
My husband and I sat at the bar and had prompt service from the bartender our entire visit. We enjoyed happy hour beverages, and ordered a few sandwiches off the menu. They didn’t have an extensive or super crafty beer list, but I can’t complain about Troegs Perpetual IPA or Dogfishhead 60 Minute IPA for $ 3 a pop!
I was expecting miraculous bar food and while it was enjoyable, I still found it to be bar food. The menu was definitely more detailed and a little more upscale than standard bar food though. Between friends’ recommendations and other reviews, I think I was coming in with too high of expectations.
My husband and I split the Creole Prime Rib Dip and the Pesto-​Crusted Chicken sandwich. They were good but nothing phenomenal. Definitely different from traditional pub grub. In any case, we both went with the side of fresh fruit. The bartender had to go upstairs to get it and we were served huge chunks of pineapple and melon. I wonder how often the fresh fruit is ordered and why it wasn’t cut up. It was bizarre and a turnoff. I don’t even see fresh fruit going with sandwiches.
The happy hour scene was fun and there was good music playing on the juke box the entire time.
It’s not a super dive and the food is good but not super good, but I’m glad we went and it’s worth a visit.

So far I’ve only come here for drinks and nachos but it’s always been good. They have a decent beer list and the staff is super friendly. Only complaint is sometimes it takes a while to get a drink but you always see the servers running around, so you really can’t complain. The music is pretty awesome too and I like «dark basement bar» feel. I’ll definitely keep coming back and maybe try more food next time!

In Short: Exceptional food and service in an unsuspecting, yet deliberate, dive-​bar atmosphere.
The Food: (above average)
Here is the really awesome part. The Rathskeller and Spats Café are co-​owned by the same people (from what I here), and so the chiefs who prepare the delightful food for Spatz are also delivering some badass bar food for the basement-​dwelling Rathskeller. I ordered an Alligator Sausage Sandwich, and it was honestly a unique and delicious surprise. In my opinion, it tasted like a superbly-​cooked spicy italian sausage with just a little more bite, with respect to flavor and heat. I highly recommend this sandwich. The fries were great, as was my ice tea.
The Atmosphere: (average)
As you may have heard, The Rathskeller has a dive-​bar atmosphere. It is important to keep in mind that this is a deliberate choice, and it is actually quite charming and cozy. That being said, everything seemed cleaned and well maintained. I envision this being a great place to come alone or to bring a group that enjoy the bar and beer scene. Not necessarily a good first-​date spot or romantic night out… but hey, who am I too judge. The noise level was a refreshing low for a restaurant that was an escape from the noisy and busy State College area
The Price: (above average)
When I went to The Rathskeller for lunch on Friday, it was their Burgermania event. I got an awesome sandwich and fries for around $ 8. For something so unique (alligator sausage), I think the price was commendable.
The Service: (above average)
My waitress was attentive, pleasant, and had a hint of a personality, which is pretty uncommon these days. Great service!

Pros: didn’t expect it but GREAT food! Had a cheesesteak and it didn’t disappoint, as well as the yummy curly fries.
Cons: everytime I go there seems to be a cover, not cool. Also the bartenders can be real dicks. The guy there this past Friday needs to not be such an asshole :) also not a fan of any of their drink specials

Went here on the fourth of july before the fireworks, super cheap shots. Dive bar atmosphere.

Lunch visit. No booze. So, this is probably an outlier review — in terms of patron type. And, I’m probably shooting a little high with 5 stars. This is in the context of pub grub.
That said, my pot roast sandwich was awesome! Meat was cooked to perfection. Tender with the right amount of greasiness. The bun balanced it well, and the cheese and mushrooms complemented the combination for a great balance of flavor and texture. Not too big, either. The beer batter rings were perfect. My son enjoyed his burger and fries.
Waitress was great. Sarcastic and friendly and spot on with the recommendations. I could see her adjust to the various customers, rather well, and being a bar — the crowd was diverse.
Comfortable place to hang out … at least on a Saturday in the afternoon. I’d come back without hesitation.

The Rathskeller is the longest continuously open bar in the Commonwealth, having opened for business the day Prohibition was repealed in 1933.
It’s an establishment that seems to avoid some of the insane crowds with which other bars downtown are plagued. Drink prices are average to slightly high, and beer selection is increasingly below average as craft brews become more popular. The food is very good, prepared by the same kitchen that prepares the food for the upscale upstairs restaurant Spat’s Café, and is very reasonably priced (especially compared to upstairs).
There is often entertainment there on weekends, but that’s in a separate area, meaning that one can converse with friends.
Recommended.

The skeller is a classic college town bar. With memorabilia galore and a fantastic atmosphere, it’s hard to say no. Whether you bleed blue and white or are in town as a visitor, put this place on your list. With quality food coming from the restaurant upstairs (spats), and good drink specials, it makes for a fantastic place to kick back. If you frequent the state college/​penn state area, the skeller also has great entertainment such as trivia nights and music. All in all, this place is a must see.

Fun college dive bar with a plenty of drinks to choose from. Prices are cheap and its huge in here. Overall a great time but it can get a bit hot especially if you head towards the back this the place.

This is simply a great dive bar in a great college town. I love State College, I love visiting Penn State, and I love when I can hit the Rathskeller. Beers are cheap, mixed drinks are cheap, but as someone else said– don’t expect top shelf stuff. You never really know what the crowd is going to be like when you get here, but at some point it WILL be filled with the younger crowd… all having a blast.
Seriously, this is a great bar-​and anyone visiting Penn State needs to wait in line for a few minutes or get here early, because it’s a good time!