Cool atmosphere open windows weather permitting. The peanut butter hot wings are great! The $1.50 pizza is exactly what you would expect, it's hot that's about all I can say. Overall the prices and specials are not too bad. Would return.
(4)
Phil H.
Man, people here are drinking the hater-ade when it comes to Pickles. The cover is dirt cheap, and the bathrooms are by far the cleanest you'll find in a downtown state college bar. The drinks are reasonable as long as you ask what's on special, and there are a bunch of TVs. The music is good, mostly classic rock, and the DJ will come down and take requests if you ring the doorbell by the stairs. Yes, there aren't a lot of tables, but the bar is pretty big and you can certainly have a good time standing. If you don't want to drink in a dank pit, give pickles a shot.
(4)
Benjamin M.
3.5 Stars. Hmmmm...what to do before heading out for a late dinner? Go to a sports bar during Happy Hour, you say? We have a winner! Wait, they still have Mad Elf on tap in early February and serve it in full-size pint glasses? We have another winner! Only $10 for two drafts, which we fans know really means 'four'!? Ding, ding, ding! Winner, winner, feeling good for dinner! Thanks, Bill.
(3)
Steve P.
I didn't eat here. Just drank some good drink specials. Bartenders were cool as hell.
(5)
Brendan D.
I'm a regular at Bill Pickles Tap Room and usually I'm respected like a regular customer. However lately I've been feeling harassed by the the staff. It might be because I'm a minority or because I don't spend ENOUGH money there. Basically I paid a 5 dollar cover and got kicked out 4 minutes later which I believe is fraud. If you believe I'm too drunk don't let me in in the first place. Just figured i would express my opinion. Hopefully a RESPONSIBLE manager will take a look at this message and change some of your employee ways. Thanks A concerned regular customer. Ps your bar isn't that fun. I rate it 10 out of 15 bars in state college LOVE YA PICKLES!!
(1)
bob t.
This is a funny place. It's named after a made up fictional character. It's run by the same people who run Zeno's (which is bizarre, these two places are very different in character and style, but share the same kitchen, space (it's interconnected to the servers with hallways, stairs and dumbwaiters) and liquor license as the corner room and the allen street grill and Chumley's (ok, perhaps they are just really market segmenting)). They have a nice open-ish to the street area. They have not much (real) beer choices, and it seems often crowded, which, given my take on it, this is surprising. it does not have live music or good beer. I clearly caters to a crowd I don't run with, but I had a colleague who would only eat at two places and this was one of them, and he theoretically and culturally really knew food (the other choice was not impressive either, however). But, if you believe in "crap chutes", $6 pitchers, and country music (not that I mean to denigrate country music ( brainyquote.com/quotes/q… ), or better yet, more space than Zeno's and open air dining, then this could be the place for you. I'd much rather be 'over the center of the world'. For ambiance, read, "tragically unhip". The 21 year old me would have loved the place, however.
(2)
Jared J.
This premier sports bar of State College. Pub food, appropriately priced drinks, places to sit. Their late night menu start early so if you want more of a selection lunch time is a much better option. Fried pickles are meh, but the pulled pork sandwich is yummy, the fries are pretty bangin' too. Beer is moderatly priced for a state college bar, and the place can get a bit sticky. Although the door guys keep them at capacity, they still let way too many people in to feel comfortable dining. Addtionally, they really need to hire more servers as mine was overwhelmed. PROTIP: Late night happies staring at 10
(3)
Gia M.
So this is the first bar I visited at State College last weekend and the first impressions I got were "Wow, EVERYONE gets carded here" and "Boy, is it crowded!" What a great place to watch a game... or more accurately, watch the college students do their thing. Prices are incredibly low here (craft pitchers for $7!) and the food was decent (my fried pickles were ~$6 and were a bit limp, but the sauce had a nice tang. My pulled pork was tasty and about $7, and the fries were great!). Our beers were cheap (I got a Black and Tan for ~$6) and we considered getting a pitcher, but then the night rush started and our server got very busy/hard to find. We decided to call it and continue to another bar. Make this a stop on your bar crawl, but go early before the line starts. Bonus: if you sit by the window, you get extra people-watching opportunities.
(3)
Rick S.
I have always enjoyed my time here. Never really had a problem with anyone. The bouncers do pick favorites and let people cut in line all the time. It kinds of irritates me but if I had that job, I would do the same thing so I get it. The blue moon pitcher is a great deal and when they have it get it! The prices are pretty good for everything else as well. The service is also great. Would recommend.
(4)
Charity S.
I would have rated Pickles four stars if it weren't for an incredibly rude bartender encountered. My friends and I were celebrating a girlfriend's birthday Friday evening (after driving up from NYC). We were having a blast and tipping well. That is until a male customer was extremely rude to my friends and I. When I confronted said customer, his own friends told him he was being rude and he apologized to me. After this situation was resolved, bartender, CODY, said that we/me should have told him or bouncers what happened rather than "yell" at this other patron. I reiterated that it was very busy and I didn't want to escalate the situation PLUS, the patron had apologized for his behavior. Instead of moving forward, he continued to berate me/our behavior stating we were females that should act more appropriately. While incredibly offended, I said that all I wanted was to buy my friend a drink as it was minutes from midnight and we wanted to cheers her birthday. He turned his back and took other orders. He FINALLY decided to ALLOW us to order just shy of midnight. It was an incredibly fun evening although dampened by CODY for no good reason. He insulted us as women and exacerbated a controlled situation. He should be embarrassed of himself and think twice before representing PSU in such a terrible manner to alums such as myself. Wait until the real world creeps up CODY...you're in for a huge shock with that awful attitude. Learn some respect.
(2)
Laure S.
Great bar for a beer, but the bartender-who shall remain nameless because his name tag is blank-continually put his bare hand into the ice to eat it, after eating lemons and a can of sardines.
(1)
kinetic m.
To call this a tap room is a joke, the only thing on tap is piss water domestic light beer. Go down stairs to Zeno's if you want a real beer. The location is excellent with great windows and super clean everything. A great change from most of the State College bars that are in basements. But the place is a frat boy meat market. Nice to go to if you enjoy looking at T&A and frat boys, not so great if you want to relax and talk to friends. This place is normally packed in the evening.
(2)
Jay D.
We stopped in after visiting Inferno down the street- we were looking for a different bar to try. There were three bouncers at the door, but only one took the time to check our ID's (the other two just sat around talking.) Bill Pickle's Tap Room wasn't super busy, with many tables open. We got two seats at the bar. A bartender came over to us fairly quickly, and their drink specials were great- $3 blue moon, $2 Yuengling. This was one of the places that has Guinness on tap, but it was the most expensive price I've ever seen for a pint of Guinness. There appeared to be somewhat of a place to meet other people, but again, it was pretty dead for a Saturday night. The music selection was interesting- there was some sort of DJ I guess. There was plenty of room for a live band, but that didn't seem to be the vibe old Bill Pickle wanted to give off. This could be a KILLER country bar if they got a live country band- a lot of the decor was countryish anyways.
(3)
Josh G.
Cute little waitress With wrist tattoos made up for Shitty atmosphere.
(3)
Ben E.
Service is a crap chute on busy nights unless you have nice breasts. However the lack of cover and great drink specials even on Friday-Saturday (3 dollar teas, $9 blue moon pitchers, and $2 drafts of yuengling) are great. GREAT MUSIC - journey, tom petty, black keys, etc. not all the top 40 BS most bars play on the weekend.
(4)
Michael B.
I stopped in here on a late Sunday afternoon and the place was pretty deserted but the appetizers were very good and the draft beer list is impressive as well. Looks like it would be a fun place to watch a game on TV.
(4)
Steve S.
I can't vouch for the food here because we got in the door at about 9pm on a Friday of a home game weekend. Place was full, and we had an absolute blast. Even with a packed house, the bartenders worked fast and I don't think I waited for more than a minute at the bar before I got someone's attention. Probably helped that I tossed the guy a five when I got out first round of beers. I will say that the crowd seemed a little older than some of the other bars, probably more alums here, but it was a nice mix of current and former students. It's is a great college bar and I will DEFINITELY return next year. Of all the places where we grabbed a drink while we were in town-Bill Pickle's was definitely the best. Keep up the great work guys!!!!
(4)
Danny B.
This bar isn't bad, but it isn't good or great. It fails to distinguish itself in any discernible way from other bars downtown. Drinks, at least the basic ones (Lager, Miller Lite, Blue Moon), are somewhat on the cheaper side. Service is mediocre on average. Some of the bartenders hustle, but many of them don't. Very noisy when crowded.
(3)
Lauren W.
Stopped in for a few drinks on a holiday weekend when town was quite empty. Bartender, Mark, was excellent, personable and good service. The fried pickles were so good, I don't think I'll have them anywhere else.
(4)
A C.
Came here for a bite to eat for lunch. Beer was cold, and a great selection of same. That rates a star. The service was poor. Sat at the bar, the bartender took at least 5 minutes to complete a personal conversation before acknowledging his new patron. Food was similar to airport food, basic sandwich and stale chips. Decor is bipolar, beautiful old time accents with fairly modern lighting and yard sale pictures. I'm sure it's decent on a Friday night, just don't expect decent service or food.
(1)
Flint W.
Ok place for a pint. Nice servers. Beer selection is ok. Probably better suited for the college crowd than adults.
(3)
Michael V.
This place has great drink specials. It's more for the college crowd, with really uncomfortable seating. The food was just "OK". Typical pub fare.
(3)
Michael W.
Dropped on over here for lunch the other day. Bill Pickle's is right next to campus, off of College, so it's quite accessible to students. The setting of this place is pretty much like any other pub. Old wood style with a full bar and bar food to munch on. Over here, they show all sports games, so if you want a place to watch games and get rowdy, Bill Pickle's is probably your spot. However, for lunch it seems mediocre to me. The menu is pretty much what you'd expect from a bar: sandwiches, salads, nachos, and anything fried. For myself, I decided to order the italian grinder. Each lunch entree comes with potato chips, and for a buck more, you can opt for french fries. If a grinder (warm sandwich) isn't your thing, they do have a Speedy Combo for $5.95. That includes either a soup/salad and half a sandwich. The grinders and other full sandwiches run about $8.50. The food itself was ok, but not awesome. What I got was basically an upgraded Italian BMT at Subway. More or less, it tasted pretty much the same. The fries....well, they were fries. Our waitress was nice, but a little slow and messed up on our check. Plus, when I grabbed my pen to sign the bill, I did not realize that she gave me an exploded pen. Thus, my hand looked like I dipped it in a vat of blue ink. Bill Pickle's isn't bad, but it wouldn't be my place of choice if I were only coming here to eat. Now when it comes to some night time drinking, it gets better. With a weird $1 cover charge, you can go inside and drink to your heart's content. Bill Pickle's a couple beers on tap, and the rest on bottles. Prices seem pretty comparable to all the other bars in State College. For a good $20, you can get liquored up pretty well. I believe its $6 a shot and around $3 a beer. Mixed crowd of old and young, and they have country nights too. This place is better at night, but still not my cup of tea.
(3)
Jeremia F.
I agree with some of the other comments on here, to call this place a taproom is almost offensive. But in their defense they have a ton of bottled beer selections just not on draft. And if you feature Bud light as the drink special of the day more than 2 times a week you don't gain much respect from me. The service I experienced was awesome, but there was hardly anybody here at the time I was here. I would expect nothing but great service when I am one of three tables. The menu here was pretty typical for a college or sports bar mostly sandwiches. I ordered the Outrageous Reuben, Which is sort of my litmus test for the quality of a bar's food. Well unfortunately it irritated me a little bit that they considered their Reuben Outrageous. If you are going to call it outrageous, when that thing is placed in front of me I should think holy crap how am I going to finish this. When this arrived I thought to myself $9 for this? The majority of the sandwich was bread (3 slices to make it look fatter than it really was) minuscule amount of meat and sauerkraut. It tasted alright definitely not outrageous though. Chips out of a bag came on the side that I didn't touch. I'm not sure I would go back here with so much competition around here.
(3)
Chrissy C.
Country night = yes Alabama Slammers & John Dalys = yes Goldmine of hot State College men = yes I'm a fan :) PS - love how people are commenting on the presence of frat guys, Uggs and hot chicks. IT'S A COLLEGE BAR IN A COLLEGE TOWN.
(4)
Joe M.
Stopped here for lunch with the family while dropping two Staters off for their 2nd semester. Cool looking old style wooden bar in a single room with high ceilings. Lots of TVs for sporting events. I could imagine myself as a college student whiling away several hours in a joint like this. Now, I know it's a bar in the college town but carding my two kids, who were standing right next to my wife and me, was a bit much, especially since it was 1pm on a Sunday afternoon. I asked the doorman (who was younger than some pairs of socks I own) whether that was necessary since we were just having lunch, and he gruffly said to go ahead and find a table, like he was permitting us out of the goodness of his heart to eat there. He also said that this was OK as long as no one was drinking at the table, even young 52 year old me. I wondered what would have happened if I ordered a beer for myself. Bill O'Brien may have appeared out of nowhere to chew me out like I had missed a tackle or something. Nevertheless, our waitress Caitlyn was very pleasant, and we ordered and we waited...and we waited....She came back to apologize for the slowness, saying that they shared a kitchen with the more "upscale" (am I allowed to use that word in State College?) place next door, The Corner Room, and it sometimes gets backed up. I guess Pickle's takes second fiddle. I was about to suggest that maybe we should walk next door to the Corner Room for lunch instead, but that was when my wife kicked me under the table. Lunch finally came My wife's Reuben Outrageous looked good but I wouldn't classify it as outrageous. My cheeseburger, although tasty, was more the size of a slider. Certainly not enough to fill the belly of this eater. I was hungry enough after the mini-burger to order some of their famous peanut butter wings. These naked delights were indeed delightful. Big wings tossed in a BBQ sauce that has PB as a main ingredient. Almost made them taste like an Asian-type wing. Really good. Should've had the dozen in place of my puny burger. All in all, the "Meh, Ive experienced better" label is perfect for Bill Pickle's Tap Room. Would this have received a higher rating from a 21 year old me? Meh.
(2)
Cindy D.
Good prices. Decent food. Good atmosphere. Pub grub and fried pickles.
(3)
Michelle C.
I've gotta go with five stars here. My boyfriend and I walked into this bar thinking it looked good for a drink and ended up staying for hours. First, $3 Bud Light pitchers. THREE DOLLAR BUD LIGHT PITCHERS!!!!!! I don't know if I've ever had a pitcher that cheap. The specials got even better at ten o'clock-- the lights blinked, and suddenly there were $1 "teas" and $2 top-shelf mixed drinks. The entertainment factor from people-watching was high. I forgot what it was like to be in college with no money. One girl paid for her drinks in quarters, and many kids did not tip, which was bananas since the drinks were practically free. Married old guys surrounded pretty young things and bought their drinks all night. Comedy. After drinking for several hours, my boyfriend and I were ready to settle up. The bill was $11. Craziness. When the bartender saw his $15 tip, he literally turned around and shook both of our hands. Pickle's is awesome.
(5)
Emily W.
Since I visited Pickle's (I can't get over the name...) around Christmas when there wasn't a frat-boy in site, I can't comment on the crowd. I can comment on the food. It is, in my opinion, not good. Bleh. I almost went to Zola for a $10 sandwich (almost certainly would have been awesome) and ended up here for a $9 crabcake basket. It sucked. It basically had no flavor and looked like a potato pancake. The service was pretty good and I got a big pitcher of ginger ale, which made me happy. Hence the 2nd star. It seems that during normal State College time, this is a place for people watching and cheap beer. I made the mistake of eating there and suggest you do not do the same. Or at least, don't order the crab cakes.
(2)
Casey W.
#NAME?
(3)
Dale M.
false advertising, they serve beer not pickles
(4)
Sara P.
Food was good. Enjoyed my fried pickles! Felt my greek salad was over-priced. All in all I would probably eat there again if back in the area.
(3)
V. N.
She was right: the peanut butter hot wings are real tasty.
(4)
Jackie V.
Oh, Pickles. You and your (optional) $1 cover. Such a college bar. This was my first adventure with the State College bar scene after moving from Boston. I've been back a few times since, but still think my first impression pretty much sums things up: I remember walking in while Journey was playing, laughing at the attempt to charge a dollar for cover, seeing a sea of leggings, Ugg boots, and polo shirts and then paying under $10 for two rounds of drinks -- for THREE of us. It was almost culture shock after spending several years in Boston and DC. Since that day in March, every time I've gone I've experience some alternative version of the above. At least they're consistent.
(3)
Joshua N.
This was a nice place to chill on a Saturday evening. The drinks were a little pricey, but the bartenders were cool and kept coming around to make sure you were never without a drink. There was lots of open space to chill and enjoy yourself. Not a bad place to start the night or end it.
(3)
Brian B.
The Hotel State College rides the bus of failure again. Bill Pickles is the newest venture of the hotel, attempting to give an open air experience alongside cheap food and a casual style. Roughly translated the place is full of small families during the day, but swarms with frat and party students at night. Everything but specials are fairly pricey. You will probably not get a seat, let alone a new drink after the place gets full. Spend your money elsewhere.
(2)
Natalie D.
I visited twice during a weekend stay visiting someone at Penn State, and I have to say it was enjoyable. Even though at the time I was a college undergrad (just graduated this May - woo!), I found the people watching to be hilarious. I'm used to the big city, and it was like watching a bunch of country bumpkins try to act cool. The married men flanking the naive freshman girls was hilarious as well. I do have to give the staff here credit, though, which is why I bumped it up to four stars. My friend and I were just talking to some guys standing next to us when one of their friends who was also visiting passed out from too much alcohol. I was on crutches in a huge walking boot, and as fate would have it, he passed out directly on me as I sat on one of those high bar chairs. The chair toppled and I flew to the ground trapped under him. I yelled in surprise as my friend literally screamed bloody murder for someone to help me, since she was stuck on the other side of the table with no way to get by. Within seconds the bouncers threw the kid out and had me safe and sound set up on two chairs, elevating my now-throbbing leg and foot. The girls working the beer tub things immediately made me a makeshift ice pack, and a male bartender who'd seen the whole thing kept bringing me over glasses of cold water to calm me down (needless to say, I was pretty shaken up, and the searing pain in my knee wasn't helping matters). It seemed like everyone who worked there came over to apologize and make sure I was okay, and even helped clear a way for me to leave when I had the energy. It was a pretty chill place to have some cheap drinks and people watch, catch the Phillies game along with some Pittsburgh sports, and hang out. The consideration and care of the staff was really awesome, and highly appreciated. If I'm ever in the area again I'll most likely swing by.
(4)
Chip E.
Had a glass of wine and a crabcake dinner with my daughter here. Busy night with lots of parents in town. Service was a bit slow but not too bad. Beautiful and attentive server (Terry?). Food was tasty and served warm. Price was reasonable but no deal. Fun and interesting atmosphere. Overall a good experience. Parking is a pain around here.
(4)
danielle p.
Eh, not that great of a place, rude staff...
(1)
Kristopher P.
We stopped in for on a Tuesday night during the summer and there were about 8 of us. We got seated right away and the atmosphere was good. The interior was mostly wooden (seats, floors, bar, etc.) and gave nice appearance. That was about it from there. The food was okay and nothing that great. The biggest problem we had was the service. As we were there, the college crowd starting to come in (not a big deal being that most of us were in our early-mid 30's). As soon as the crowd rolled in, our waitress disappeared. I found out later it wasn't because of it being busy, but because she was always over at the same table talking with people I assume she knew. There were many times when I had to go up to the bar to get our table drinks and after waiting for several minutes, she would see me, tap me on the shoulder, and ask "Can I get you something?" This happened several times throughout the night and she even handed me a broken glass at one point that was split down the side. Not sure how she missed that one, but she didn't seem to have a clue. We had other problems with the staff as well, but nothing major worth noting. Overall, it was an interesting experience that could have been better if the service were better. Had the service been better, I would have considered a 3-4 star rating, but that really ruined the night for me.
(2)
Brent G.
Met up with my fellow classmates here after summer break. I hadn't eaten yet so I ordered a bison burger. Pretty good but messy and I had to request napkins 3 times before they actually brought it out. On that note the service was sub par, it took a few requests for water as well. Decent beer selection but pretty small. Overall, a decent experience but don't rely too much on the wait staff.
(3)
Olivia L.
Late on a Tuesday night, lured by the bright lights and high ceiling and wood paneling, I stumbled in to Mr. Pickle's for the first time and found a Guitar Hero guitar slung above the bar and a large crowd of fun loving kids slamming back Lynchburg Lemonades (Jack and lemonade) for $2 a hit. Caveat emptor -- there's a big bouncer checking IDs and a lot of the guys don't look like they're in college any more. Let's just say that I've never been to a real college town that was quite as much fun as State College. A large proportion of the guys looked like Abercrombie models and the girls were wearing skirts short enough to pass for belts. Only later did I discover that the Guitar Hero guitars were not in fact for decoration -- Mr Pickle's has a PS2 and extra TVs so you can bring your own. If only I had known sooner. I can't really say anything about the food, but I can tell you that the $5 pitchers are tasty and really popular. Drop by and watch America's youth in action, or getting action, or like whatever.
(4)
Joe G.
My one and only experience here sucked. Came back as an alum and just to note this place was not in exsistence until the year after I graduated. I went in with a bunch of other people one year removed from Penn State. We were all minding our own business and some group of Preppy Frat boys decided it would be cool to pick a fight with one of the people I was with. They spilled beer on two of the girls I was with and just acted very immature. The atmosphere was very uptight and nothing that I enjoyed. If I had to compare it to a bar that was around when I was at Penn State I'd say G-Man however this was worse. Wouldn't go back, the specials I remembers weren't all that great but then again I'm not a domestic beer guy. Way too many other great places to go in State College to waste any time here.
(2)
Stephanie H.
By far my favorite bar in State College, and I've spent enough time here to check the majority of them out. The staff is very friendly (So long as you're not a jerk to them), and after only a few visits they remember everything from your name to your drink (To the extent of which, my father and I came here one weekend when he was in town, and he walked in first, so the doorman was about to charge him cover until he saw me behind him. He then asked, "Sir, are you Stephanie's Dad?" and shook his hand and refused to charge him cover after finding this fact out--Too funny, but that's the atmosphere here, very friendly and a tight-knit group once you get to know them). I'm particularly attached to Country Night, myself being a huge Country music fan, but the specials are great every night, and the bartenders make some awesome and creative drinks if asked.
(5)
Lark P.
The crowd is a mix of frat-types and middle aged people reliving the college experience. The bar staff isn't particularly eager, and often only responds to women; I've often had to stand at the bar for my male friends here. Often crowded, but with a pushy and noisy rather than chummy crowd. Every bar in State College has cheap drink specials, I prefer somewhere with more genuine character.
(1)
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Address :106 South Allen St
State College, PA, 16801
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Specialities
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Very Loud Music : DJ Good For Dancing : No Alcohol : Full Bar Happy Hour : Yes Best Nights : Thu, Fri, Sat Coat Check : No Smoking : No Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Scott C.
Cool atmosphere open windows weather permitting. The peanut butter hot wings are great! The $1.50 pizza is exactly what you would expect, it's hot that's about all I can say. Overall the prices and specials are not too bad. Would return.
(4)Phil H.
Man, people here are drinking the hater-ade when it comes to Pickles. The cover is dirt cheap, and the bathrooms are by far the cleanest you'll find in a downtown state college bar. The drinks are reasonable as long as you ask what's on special, and there are a bunch of TVs. The music is good, mostly classic rock, and the DJ will come down and take requests if you ring the doorbell by the stairs. Yes, there aren't a lot of tables, but the bar is pretty big and you can certainly have a good time standing. If you don't want to drink in a dank pit, give pickles a shot.
(4)Benjamin M.
3.5 Stars. Hmmmm...what to do before heading out for a late dinner? Go to a sports bar during Happy Hour, you say? We have a winner! Wait, they still have Mad Elf on tap in early February and serve it in full-size pint glasses? We have another winner! Only $10 for two drafts, which we fans know really means 'four'!? Ding, ding, ding! Winner, winner, feeling good for dinner! Thanks, Bill.
(3)Steve P.
I didn't eat here. Just drank some good drink specials. Bartenders were cool as hell.
(5)Brendan D.
I'm a regular at Bill Pickles Tap Room and usually I'm respected like a regular customer. However lately I've been feeling harassed by the the staff. It might be because I'm a minority or because I don't spend ENOUGH money there. Basically I paid a 5 dollar cover and got kicked out 4 minutes later which I believe is fraud. If you believe I'm too drunk don't let me in in the first place. Just figured i would express my opinion. Hopefully a RESPONSIBLE manager will take a look at this message and change some of your employee ways. Thanks A concerned regular customer. Ps your bar isn't that fun. I rate it 10 out of 15 bars in state college LOVE YA PICKLES!!
(1)bob t.
This is a funny place. It's named after a made up fictional character. It's run by the same people who run Zeno's (which is bizarre, these two places are very different in character and style, but share the same kitchen, space (it's interconnected to the servers with hallways, stairs and dumbwaiters) and liquor license as the corner room and the allen street grill and Chumley's (ok, perhaps they are just really market segmenting)). They have a nice open-ish to the street area. They have not much (real) beer choices, and it seems often crowded, which, given my take on it, this is surprising. it does not have live music or good beer. I clearly caters to a crowd I don't run with, but I had a colleague who would only eat at two places and this was one of them, and he theoretically and culturally really knew food (the other choice was not impressive either, however). But, if you believe in "crap chutes", $6 pitchers, and country music (not that I mean to denigrate country music ( brainyquote.com/quotes/q… ), or better yet, more space than Zeno's and open air dining, then this could be the place for you. I'd much rather be 'over the center of the world'. For ambiance, read, "tragically unhip". The 21 year old me would have loved the place, however.
(2)Jared J.
This premier sports bar of State College. Pub food, appropriately priced drinks, places to sit. Their late night menu start early so if you want more of a selection lunch time is a much better option. Fried pickles are meh, but the pulled pork sandwich is yummy, the fries are pretty bangin' too. Beer is moderatly priced for a state college bar, and the place can get a bit sticky. Although the door guys keep them at capacity, they still let way too many people in to feel comfortable dining. Addtionally, they really need to hire more servers as mine was overwhelmed. PROTIP: Late night happies staring at 10
(3)Gia M.
So this is the first bar I visited at State College last weekend and the first impressions I got were "Wow, EVERYONE gets carded here" and "Boy, is it crowded!" What a great place to watch a game... or more accurately, watch the college students do their thing. Prices are incredibly low here (craft pitchers for $7!) and the food was decent (my fried pickles were ~$6 and were a bit limp, but the sauce had a nice tang. My pulled pork was tasty and about $7, and the fries were great!). Our beers were cheap (I got a Black and Tan for ~$6) and we considered getting a pitcher, but then the night rush started and our server got very busy/hard to find. We decided to call it and continue to another bar. Make this a stop on your bar crawl, but go early before the line starts. Bonus: if you sit by the window, you get extra people-watching opportunities.
(3)Rick S.
I have always enjoyed my time here. Never really had a problem with anyone. The bouncers do pick favorites and let people cut in line all the time. It kinds of irritates me but if I had that job, I would do the same thing so I get it. The blue moon pitcher is a great deal and when they have it get it! The prices are pretty good for everything else as well. The service is also great. Would recommend.
(4)Charity S.
I would have rated Pickles four stars if it weren't for an incredibly rude bartender encountered. My friends and I were celebrating a girlfriend's birthday Friday evening (after driving up from NYC). We were having a blast and tipping well. That is until a male customer was extremely rude to my friends and I. When I confronted said customer, his own friends told him he was being rude and he apologized to me. After this situation was resolved, bartender, CODY, said that we/me should have told him or bouncers what happened rather than "yell" at this other patron. I reiterated that it was very busy and I didn't want to escalate the situation PLUS, the patron had apologized for his behavior. Instead of moving forward, he continued to berate me/our behavior stating we were females that should act more appropriately. While incredibly offended, I said that all I wanted was to buy my friend a drink as it was minutes from midnight and we wanted to cheers her birthday. He turned his back and took other orders. He FINALLY decided to ALLOW us to order just shy of midnight. It was an incredibly fun evening although dampened by CODY for no good reason. He insulted us as women and exacerbated a controlled situation. He should be embarrassed of himself and think twice before representing PSU in such a terrible manner to alums such as myself. Wait until the real world creeps up CODY...you're in for a huge shock with that awful attitude. Learn some respect.
(2)Laure S.
Great bar for a beer, but the bartender-who shall remain nameless because his name tag is blank-continually put his bare hand into the ice to eat it, after eating lemons and a can of sardines.
(1)kinetic m.
To call this a tap room is a joke, the only thing on tap is piss water domestic light beer. Go down stairs to Zeno's if you want a real beer. The location is excellent with great windows and super clean everything. A great change from most of the State College bars that are in basements. But the place is a frat boy meat market. Nice to go to if you enjoy looking at T&A and frat boys, not so great if you want to relax and talk to friends. This place is normally packed in the evening.
(2)Jay D.
We stopped in after visiting Inferno down the street- we were looking for a different bar to try. There were three bouncers at the door, but only one took the time to check our ID's (the other two just sat around talking.) Bill Pickle's Tap Room wasn't super busy, with many tables open. We got two seats at the bar. A bartender came over to us fairly quickly, and their drink specials were great- $3 blue moon, $2 Yuengling. This was one of the places that has Guinness on tap, but it was the most expensive price I've ever seen for a pint of Guinness. There appeared to be somewhat of a place to meet other people, but again, it was pretty dead for a Saturday night. The music selection was interesting- there was some sort of DJ I guess. There was plenty of room for a live band, but that didn't seem to be the vibe old Bill Pickle wanted to give off. This could be a KILLER country bar if they got a live country band- a lot of the decor was countryish anyways.
(3)Josh G.
Cute little waitress With wrist tattoos made up for Shitty atmosphere.
(3)Ben E.
Service is a crap chute on busy nights unless you have nice breasts. However the lack of cover and great drink specials even on Friday-Saturday (3 dollar teas, $9 blue moon pitchers, and $2 drafts of yuengling) are great. GREAT MUSIC - journey, tom petty, black keys, etc. not all the top 40 BS most bars play on the weekend.
(4)Michael B.
I stopped in here on a late Sunday afternoon and the place was pretty deserted but the appetizers were very good and the draft beer list is impressive as well. Looks like it would be a fun place to watch a game on TV.
(4)Steve S.
I can't vouch for the food here because we got in the door at about 9pm on a Friday of a home game weekend. Place was full, and we had an absolute blast. Even with a packed house, the bartenders worked fast and I don't think I waited for more than a minute at the bar before I got someone's attention. Probably helped that I tossed the guy a five when I got out first round of beers. I will say that the crowd seemed a little older than some of the other bars, probably more alums here, but it was a nice mix of current and former students. It's is a great college bar and I will DEFINITELY return next year. Of all the places where we grabbed a drink while we were in town-Bill Pickle's was definitely the best. Keep up the great work guys!!!!
(4)Danny B.
This bar isn't bad, but it isn't good or great. It fails to distinguish itself in any discernible way from other bars downtown. Drinks, at least the basic ones (Lager, Miller Lite, Blue Moon), are somewhat on the cheaper side. Service is mediocre on average. Some of the bartenders hustle, but many of them don't. Very noisy when crowded.
(3)Lauren W.
Stopped in for a few drinks on a holiday weekend when town was quite empty. Bartender, Mark, was excellent, personable and good service. The fried pickles were so good, I don't think I'll have them anywhere else.
(4)A C.
Came here for a bite to eat for lunch. Beer was cold, and a great selection of same. That rates a star. The service was poor. Sat at the bar, the bartender took at least 5 minutes to complete a personal conversation before acknowledging his new patron. Food was similar to airport food, basic sandwich and stale chips. Decor is bipolar, beautiful old time accents with fairly modern lighting and yard sale pictures. I'm sure it's decent on a Friday night, just don't expect decent service or food.
(1)Flint W.
Ok place for a pint. Nice servers. Beer selection is ok. Probably better suited for the college crowd than adults.
(3)Michael V.
This place has great drink specials. It's more for the college crowd, with really uncomfortable seating. The food was just "OK". Typical pub fare.
(3)Michael W.
Dropped on over here for lunch the other day. Bill Pickle's is right next to campus, off of College, so it's quite accessible to students. The setting of this place is pretty much like any other pub. Old wood style with a full bar and bar food to munch on. Over here, they show all sports games, so if you want a place to watch games and get rowdy, Bill Pickle's is probably your spot. However, for lunch it seems mediocre to me. The menu is pretty much what you'd expect from a bar: sandwiches, salads, nachos, and anything fried. For myself, I decided to order the italian grinder. Each lunch entree comes with potato chips, and for a buck more, you can opt for french fries. If a grinder (warm sandwich) isn't your thing, they do have a Speedy Combo for $5.95. That includes either a soup/salad and half a sandwich. The grinders and other full sandwiches run about $8.50. The food itself was ok, but not awesome. What I got was basically an upgraded Italian BMT at Subway. More or less, it tasted pretty much the same. The fries....well, they were fries. Our waitress was nice, but a little slow and messed up on our check. Plus, when I grabbed my pen to sign the bill, I did not realize that she gave me an exploded pen. Thus, my hand looked like I dipped it in a vat of blue ink. Bill Pickle's isn't bad, but it wouldn't be my place of choice if I were only coming here to eat. Now when it comes to some night time drinking, it gets better. With a weird $1 cover charge, you can go inside and drink to your heart's content. Bill Pickle's a couple beers on tap, and the rest on bottles. Prices seem pretty comparable to all the other bars in State College. For a good $20, you can get liquored up pretty well. I believe its $6 a shot and around $3 a beer. Mixed crowd of old and young, and they have country nights too. This place is better at night, but still not my cup of tea.
(3)Jeremia F.
I agree with some of the other comments on here, to call this place a taproom is almost offensive. But in their defense they have a ton of bottled beer selections just not on draft. And if you feature Bud light as the drink special of the day more than 2 times a week you don't gain much respect from me. The service I experienced was awesome, but there was hardly anybody here at the time I was here. I would expect nothing but great service when I am one of three tables. The menu here was pretty typical for a college or sports bar mostly sandwiches. I ordered the Outrageous Reuben, Which is sort of my litmus test for the quality of a bar's food. Well unfortunately it irritated me a little bit that they considered their Reuben Outrageous. If you are going to call it outrageous, when that thing is placed in front of me I should think holy crap how am I going to finish this. When this arrived I thought to myself $9 for this? The majority of the sandwich was bread (3 slices to make it look fatter than it really was) minuscule amount of meat and sauerkraut. It tasted alright definitely not outrageous though. Chips out of a bag came on the side that I didn't touch. I'm not sure I would go back here with so much competition around here.
(3)Chrissy C.
Country night = yes Alabama Slammers & John Dalys = yes Goldmine of hot State College men = yes I'm a fan :) PS - love how people are commenting on the presence of frat guys, Uggs and hot chicks. IT'S A COLLEGE BAR IN A COLLEGE TOWN.
(4)Joe M.
Stopped here for lunch with the family while dropping two Staters off for their 2nd semester. Cool looking old style wooden bar in a single room with high ceilings. Lots of TVs for sporting events. I could imagine myself as a college student whiling away several hours in a joint like this. Now, I know it's a bar in the college town but carding my two kids, who were standing right next to my wife and me, was a bit much, especially since it was 1pm on a Sunday afternoon. I asked the doorman (who was younger than some pairs of socks I own) whether that was necessary since we were just having lunch, and he gruffly said to go ahead and find a table, like he was permitting us out of the goodness of his heart to eat there. He also said that this was OK as long as no one was drinking at the table, even young 52 year old me. I wondered what would have happened if I ordered a beer for myself. Bill O'Brien may have appeared out of nowhere to chew me out like I had missed a tackle or something. Nevertheless, our waitress Caitlyn was very pleasant, and we ordered and we waited...and we waited....She came back to apologize for the slowness, saying that they shared a kitchen with the more "upscale" (am I allowed to use that word in State College?) place next door, The Corner Room, and it sometimes gets backed up. I guess Pickle's takes second fiddle. I was about to suggest that maybe we should walk next door to the Corner Room for lunch instead, but that was when my wife kicked me under the table. Lunch finally came My wife's Reuben Outrageous looked good but I wouldn't classify it as outrageous. My cheeseburger, although tasty, was more the size of a slider. Certainly not enough to fill the belly of this eater. I was hungry enough after the mini-burger to order some of their famous peanut butter wings. These naked delights were indeed delightful. Big wings tossed in a BBQ sauce that has PB as a main ingredient. Almost made them taste like an Asian-type wing. Really good. Should've had the dozen in place of my puny burger. All in all, the "Meh, Ive experienced better" label is perfect for Bill Pickle's Tap Room. Would this have received a higher rating from a 21 year old me? Meh.
(2)Cindy D.
Good prices. Decent food. Good atmosphere. Pub grub and fried pickles.
(3)Michelle C.
I've gotta go with five stars here. My boyfriend and I walked into this bar thinking it looked good for a drink and ended up staying for hours. First, $3 Bud Light pitchers. THREE DOLLAR BUD LIGHT PITCHERS!!!!!! I don't know if I've ever had a pitcher that cheap. The specials got even better at ten o'clock-- the lights blinked, and suddenly there were $1 "teas" and $2 top-shelf mixed drinks. The entertainment factor from people-watching was high. I forgot what it was like to be in college with no money. One girl paid for her drinks in quarters, and many kids did not tip, which was bananas since the drinks were practically free. Married old guys surrounded pretty young things and bought their drinks all night. Comedy. After drinking for several hours, my boyfriend and I were ready to settle up. The bill was $11. Craziness. When the bartender saw his $15 tip, he literally turned around and shook both of our hands. Pickle's is awesome.
(5)Emily W.
Since I visited Pickle's (I can't get over the name...) around Christmas when there wasn't a frat-boy in site, I can't comment on the crowd. I can comment on the food. It is, in my opinion, not good. Bleh. I almost went to Zola for a $10 sandwich (almost certainly would have been awesome) and ended up here for a $9 crabcake basket. It sucked. It basically had no flavor and looked like a potato pancake. The service was pretty good and I got a big pitcher of ginger ale, which made me happy. Hence the 2nd star. It seems that during normal State College time, this is a place for people watching and cheap beer. I made the mistake of eating there and suggest you do not do the same. Or at least, don't order the crab cakes.
(2)Casey W.
#NAME?
(3)Dale M.
false advertising, they serve beer not pickles
(4)Sara P.
Food was good. Enjoyed my fried pickles! Felt my greek salad was over-priced. All in all I would probably eat there again if back in the area.
(3)V. N.
She was right: the peanut butter hot wings are real tasty.
(4)Jackie V.
Oh, Pickles. You and your (optional) $1 cover. Such a college bar. This was my first adventure with the State College bar scene after moving from Boston. I've been back a few times since, but still think my first impression pretty much sums things up: I remember walking in while Journey was playing, laughing at the attempt to charge a dollar for cover, seeing a sea of leggings, Ugg boots, and polo shirts and then paying under $10 for two rounds of drinks -- for THREE of us. It was almost culture shock after spending several years in Boston and DC. Since that day in March, every time I've gone I've experience some alternative version of the above. At least they're consistent.
(3)Joshua N.
This was a nice place to chill on a Saturday evening. The drinks were a little pricey, but the bartenders were cool and kept coming around to make sure you were never without a drink. There was lots of open space to chill and enjoy yourself. Not a bad place to start the night or end it.
(3)Brian B.
The Hotel State College rides the bus of failure again. Bill Pickles is the newest venture of the hotel, attempting to give an open air experience alongside cheap food and a casual style. Roughly translated the place is full of small families during the day, but swarms with frat and party students at night. Everything but specials are fairly pricey. You will probably not get a seat, let alone a new drink after the place gets full. Spend your money elsewhere.
(2)Natalie D.
I visited twice during a weekend stay visiting someone at Penn State, and I have to say it was enjoyable. Even though at the time I was a college undergrad (just graduated this May - woo!), I found the people watching to be hilarious. I'm used to the big city, and it was like watching a bunch of country bumpkins try to act cool. The married men flanking the naive freshman girls was hilarious as well. I do have to give the staff here credit, though, which is why I bumped it up to four stars. My friend and I were just talking to some guys standing next to us when one of their friends who was also visiting passed out from too much alcohol. I was on crutches in a huge walking boot, and as fate would have it, he passed out directly on me as I sat on one of those high bar chairs. The chair toppled and I flew to the ground trapped under him. I yelled in surprise as my friend literally screamed bloody murder for someone to help me, since she was stuck on the other side of the table with no way to get by. Within seconds the bouncers threw the kid out and had me safe and sound set up on two chairs, elevating my now-throbbing leg and foot. The girls working the beer tub things immediately made me a makeshift ice pack, and a male bartender who'd seen the whole thing kept bringing me over glasses of cold water to calm me down (needless to say, I was pretty shaken up, and the searing pain in my knee wasn't helping matters). It seemed like everyone who worked there came over to apologize and make sure I was okay, and even helped clear a way for me to leave when I had the energy. It was a pretty chill place to have some cheap drinks and people watch, catch the Phillies game along with some Pittsburgh sports, and hang out. The consideration and care of the staff was really awesome, and highly appreciated. If I'm ever in the area again I'll most likely swing by.
(4)Chip E.
Had a glass of wine and a crabcake dinner with my daughter here. Busy night with lots of parents in town. Service was a bit slow but not too bad. Beautiful and attentive server (Terry?). Food was tasty and served warm. Price was reasonable but no deal. Fun and interesting atmosphere. Overall a good experience. Parking is a pain around here.
(4)danielle p.
Eh, not that great of a place, rude staff...
(1)Kristopher P.
We stopped in for on a Tuesday night during the summer and there were about 8 of us. We got seated right away and the atmosphere was good. The interior was mostly wooden (seats, floors, bar, etc.) and gave nice appearance. That was about it from there. The food was okay and nothing that great. The biggest problem we had was the service. As we were there, the college crowd starting to come in (not a big deal being that most of us were in our early-mid 30's). As soon as the crowd rolled in, our waitress disappeared. I found out later it wasn't because of it being busy, but because she was always over at the same table talking with people I assume she knew. There were many times when I had to go up to the bar to get our table drinks and after waiting for several minutes, she would see me, tap me on the shoulder, and ask "Can I get you something?" This happened several times throughout the night and she even handed me a broken glass at one point that was split down the side. Not sure how she missed that one, but she didn't seem to have a clue. We had other problems with the staff as well, but nothing major worth noting. Overall, it was an interesting experience that could have been better if the service were better. Had the service been better, I would have considered a 3-4 star rating, but that really ruined the night for me.
(2)Brent G.
Met up with my fellow classmates here after summer break. I hadn't eaten yet so I ordered a bison burger. Pretty good but messy and I had to request napkins 3 times before they actually brought it out. On that note the service was sub par, it took a few requests for water as well. Decent beer selection but pretty small. Overall, a decent experience but don't rely too much on the wait staff.
(3)Olivia L.
Late on a Tuesday night, lured by the bright lights and high ceiling and wood paneling, I stumbled in to Mr. Pickle's for the first time and found a Guitar Hero guitar slung above the bar and a large crowd of fun loving kids slamming back Lynchburg Lemonades (Jack and lemonade) for $2 a hit. Caveat emptor -- there's a big bouncer checking IDs and a lot of the guys don't look like they're in college any more. Let's just say that I've never been to a real college town that was quite as much fun as State College. A large proportion of the guys looked like Abercrombie models and the girls were wearing skirts short enough to pass for belts. Only later did I discover that the Guitar Hero guitars were not in fact for decoration -- Mr Pickle's has a PS2 and extra TVs so you can bring your own. If only I had known sooner. I can't really say anything about the food, but I can tell you that the $5 pitchers are tasty and really popular. Drop by and watch America's youth in action, or getting action, or like whatever.
(4)Joe G.
My one and only experience here sucked. Came back as an alum and just to note this place was not in exsistence until the year after I graduated. I went in with a bunch of other people one year removed from Penn State. We were all minding our own business and some group of Preppy Frat boys decided it would be cool to pick a fight with one of the people I was with. They spilled beer on two of the girls I was with and just acted very immature. The atmosphere was very uptight and nothing that I enjoyed. If I had to compare it to a bar that was around when I was at Penn State I'd say G-Man however this was worse. Wouldn't go back, the specials I remembers weren't all that great but then again I'm not a domestic beer guy. Way too many other great places to go in State College to waste any time here.
(2)Stephanie H.
By far my favorite bar in State College, and I've spent enough time here to check the majority of them out. The staff is very friendly (So long as you're not a jerk to them), and after only a few visits they remember everything from your name to your drink (To the extent of which, my father and I came here one weekend when he was in town, and he walked in first, so the doorman was about to charge him cover until he saw me behind him. He then asked, "Sir, are you Stephanie's Dad?" and shook his hand and refused to charge him cover after finding this fact out--Too funny, but that's the atmosphere here, very friendly and a tight-knit group once you get to know them). I'm particularly attached to Country Night, myself being a huge Country music fan, but the specials are great every night, and the bartenders make some awesome and creative drinks if asked.
(5)Lark P.
The crowd is a mix of frat-types and middle aged people reliving the college experience. The bar staff isn't particularly eager, and often only responds to women; I've often had to stand at the bar for my male friends here. Often crowded, but with a pushy and noisy rather than chummy crowd. Every bar in State College has cheap drink specials, I prefer somewhere with more genuine character.
(1)