Champs Sports Bar & Grill
1611 N Atherton St, State College, PA, 16803
Champs Sports Bar & Grill Menu
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Visit below restaurant in State College for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in State College for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
1611 N Atherton St
State College, PA, 16803 - Phone (814) 234-7700
- Website https://www.champssportsgrill.net/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 2:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : Yes
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner, Late Night
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Loud
Good For Dancing : No
Alcohol : Full Bar
Happy Hour : Yes
Best Nights : Fri, Sat
Coat Check : No
Smoking : Outdoor Area/ Patio Only
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : Yes
Dogs Allowed : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
Categories
Italian Cuisine
The immense popularity of Italian cuisine globally isn't unknown. You can find an Italian Pizzeria around every corner of almost every city in the United States. Not to forget that in every house, people enjoy mac and cheese as comfort food. But it would be wrong to believe that Italian food starts with pizza and ends with good pasta as this Mediterranean country has much more to offer other than these two dishes. In Italian Cuisine, there is a high use of fresh tomatoes, all kinds of herbs, great quality of cheese, all types of meat, seafood and fresh handmade pasta. Many find it hard to believe that Italians have been making noodles long back.
Italian and Greek cuisines are always mistaken to be same, but they are poles apart. The primary difference between the two cuisines is the use of cheese in most of the Italian dishes. Italians love to cultivate their own cheese and process them as per their food requirement. It is believed that some cheese is so expensive that cheese producers secure them in lockers.
If you are bored eating the same old pasta or pizza, you can try some of the authentic Italian dishes like Risotto, Polenta, Ribollita, Lasagna, Fiorentina Steak, Bottarga, Ossobuco, Carbonara, Focaccia, Arancini and Supplì. Another item which Italians love to relish every morning is a good cup of Italian Coffee. Once you taste a freshly brewed cup of Italian Coffee, you might not visit Starbucks ever again. Authentic Italian food is made with heart and soul, so go find a restaurant where you can relish Italian cuisine in your city.
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John M.
3/31/15 noon...great waitress French Dip,egg roll,pork sandwich ,fries all good Wife ,son and myself all enjoyed it No crowd at this time... Large cigar room downstairs and will check it out next time I visit son at PSU
(5)Andrew H.
Well, this is a pretty typical college town sports bar. Prices are too high, and service is slow. I had an under seasoned burger, a little salt and pepper goes a long way. My partner got the 'Benchwarmer' grilled cheese, which was served with canned tomato soup. We weren't expecting much, just went there because of the nice patio seating. If you want a good beer selection and overpriced, under seasoned, bar food, but outdoor seating away from downtown, then try Champs. On the service, we had to wait 5 minutes to order drinks and then15 minutes just for the server just to take our money after the meal. One final note, avoid the egg roll appetizer. Anything from the Asian section in Wal*Mart is more authentic.
(3)Rose G.
Great food and wonderful staff!! The place to be for all sporting events. The Cajun chicken cheesesteak is too die for, and the roast beef au jus is one of the best I ever had. Always have adequate seating and timely service. You won't be disappointed!
(5)Tracy T.
We were there on a Saturday afternoon. The waiter was attentive, sandwiches were good, fries were hot and crunchy just the way I like them. The college wasn't in session and there weren't really any sports games on the TVs so it was pretty quiet. I'd definitely go back again.
(4)Sam H.
My family and I were able to watch the final Elite Eight game. We ordered the Harlicky Wings. We also ordered the Sandy Koufax (eggplant sandwich), Eddie D-Licious (prime rib, ham, spinach sandwich), fettucine alfredo with sausage and Greek salad. The wings were very good. The hot and garlic sauce (harlicky) was not too hot and not too garlicky. It was excellent sauce with the wings. Order a dozen and you will enjoy them. The two sandwiches were terrific. The eggplant was grilled beautifully and well balanced with the goat cheese. My daughter's sandwich was also flavorful and more than enough to eat. My son thoroughly enjoyed his fettucine with sausage - it was plentiful and tasty. My Greek salad was also very good. The only complaint I had about it was many of my olives still had the pits. Thank goodness I was paying attention; otherwise it would have been a painful visit to the dentist. The service was prompt and not rushed. We were able to hang out, eat good food and watch the game.
(4)Tamela H.
My husband loves coming here: food is always good and we have never had an issue with the service: so I decided to have his retirement party at Champs. From the time we reserved the date until we walked out the door after the party: we were well taken care of. Everyone I came in contact with acted like it was a pleasure to accommodate me. I was able to pick the choices for our menu and the manager: Brandon (he is awesome and super attentive) personalized it with my husbands name and a personal message to our guests and then printed them all out! There was no charge for the room: imagine that!!! Everyone had a great time and I was super pleased! Side tip: wings are great: my husbands loves the Captain Lou sandwich and I think the Sandy Kofax is awesome! Blackened Salmon salad is also a hit
(5)Annette C.
Went here for a retirement party got the Sandy Koufax.... Yummy....everyone's food looked awesome and everyone was complimenting on how good it was from burgers to salads to fish all was enjoyed I only wish we had one closer to York Pa
(5)Sa K.
This is my opinion, as I always say, is not written in order of priorities: 1. Food: is good. My kids always order chicken wings and if not the best, one of the best ones in the city. I am attached to the Mexican salad. I highly recommend it. 2. Cleanliness: I keep going there even though the floors look greasy and theres a weird smell! 3. Waiting time: 15-20 mins 4. Decoration: sports all around! 5. Attention: good. Between 1 and 10 I would give an eight. 6. Additional info: its very noisy! If theres a game is crazy. If you decide to go there is because either you do not want to talk with your party or because you love to go to restaurants where everybody talks (screams) and the TVs are very loud too!
(3)Jamie W.
It's a great place to go for beer and sports, not so much for the food unless your getting a sandwich. Go for the sandwiches!! Everyone was pleased with what they had. Avoid the tuna salad, everything was fresh but no flavor. Service was very slow, on the kitchen side. There was 4 tables in there and it took 45 mins to get out stuff. Since now you have decide to go for beer and a sandwich, the sandwiches are large enough to share with someone especially the book maker!
(2)Chip B.
Very good atmosphere and good food. Took a while for someone to take my drink order and even longer for a food order. this place is a staple and a classic and I think you'll be pleasantly surprised with their menu items. the manager is personable and very accommodating, will make sure you have a good time. My only critique is that service lacks a little bit every now and then.
(3)Cindy L.
I used to come here all the time for the calamari (I loved the sauce with it) and their rib specials. Their ribs are so big. This is a good place if you want to watch games and get full on bar food. Good memories.
(4)Sophia H.
Great sports bar. Lots of tv around, including one HUGE plasma tv in a room adjacent to the bar area. Food is nothing special, IMO
(3)Matt S.
Pizza is below par, wings are great,and so are the fries! The overall experience is decent. The staff is hit or miss. Sometimes you feel taken care of other times you feel like they could care less about you. There is a pool hall downstairs that's filled with smokers. Unfortunetly there is no smoke free pool hall.
(3)bob t.
meh. I get indigestion there, don't know why. The (new) beer list is excentric, with stuff that looks like it was chosen at random. At least it is wide. they have a tendency to have more specials than are current, do check with your server, we have walked out (or should have) on a sunday special that was not a sunday special as advertised, but only during games on sunday special. The portions are large, which is good, if you like the food. I saw a pizza one night that looked pretty good, and wished that I had gotten it. Tried a wing from a neighbor's plate, and it was ok. They do not do themselves any favors with their indulgent menu. Every wing flavor has a new name and you can't order a ham and cheese, it has to be some quirky name, which makes finding an item an adventure. The servers are sometimes good. about half the time it's ok, the other half, I get indigestion or feel taken advantage of by some special or ignored by a waitress. So, I eat here when I have to. I am genuinely surprised that people other than undergrads come here.
(2)Jaymie L.
Great atmosphere for watching a game! Food is good and service is great! Excellent selection of beer.
(4)Jenny C.
Great salads. Beer selection is diverse. Televisions are large and easy to see. Reasonably priced.
(4)Evan G.
Really enjoy Champs. They have some great food, and even though I go a few times a month for trivia with friends I am yet to get through everything that I want to try. I also really enjoy that they have so many different seating areas, so if you want something that isn't in the main room, you can go somewhere that is a little quieter. Also love the billiards in the basement. While they do allow smoking down there (clothes all immediately went into the wash) it is a fun time to get a few drinks, shoot a little pool, and play some shuffleboard.
(4)Nigel M.
The only reason I'm not giving this place one star is because they have a lot of televisions including personal ones at tables so it's very easy to watch a game. Drinks: I'm not a beer drinker so I can't speak to that...but I do drink mixed drinks and even though this place has a bar with several bartenders the drinks are watered down and mixed poorly. I tried to send my drinks back twice and after arguing with me about it the waiter did not comp the drinks I sent back. I even tried ordering a double and it came back just as tasteless and watered down. Food: Their food is under seasoned when it comes to most things. Their burgers, steaks, hoagies, pasta dishes....all bland and tasteless. Their wing sauce is just as terrible and their pizza was over salted so much so I couldn't get through a slice. Service: My waiter did check on us frequently which was good but I had to ask him at least 3 times for something as simple as water, not to mention we argued with me when I tried to send my drinks back. Overall...I would not go back to this place even though I live around the corner from it, nor would I recommend it.
(2)Angela H.
Waitress training is poor. We were disrespected by a waitress tonight after she couldn't find the tip we had left on the table. After my husband had went to the car she approached my husband as he was leaving the building and said "Was there something wrong with your service? My husband did no. She said "ugh well there is no tip on the table" and walked off. Usually we have eaten here and never had a problem but new staff needs more training on customer service and refining customers. The bull fight nachos are amazing. The alcohol is good. I usually order the blackened salmon but they have reduced menus on busy weekends. If your craving something certain, I suggest calling ahead to make sure it's on the menu.
(2)James B.
Admitting this off the top: Five stars is crazy for Champs. It's certainly not some culinary wonderland, but also feel like it's maybe the most underrated place in town. First of all, you need to go into it with the realization that it's a sports bar. To me, that means it needs three things: 1. A good sports viewing atmosphere, 2. Good beer, and 3. Good pub food. I think Champs knocks it out of the park on all three. I've never had a bad time watching sports there, particularly big playoff football games or fight nights (boxing, UFC, WWE). The TV coverage is ample, and the atmosphere is really fun. The beer selection is one of the best in town, with a shocking number of craft beers and imports on draft. And the food is good, in my opinion, particularly if you keep it basic. Not every item on the menu is incredible, but the wings and nachos are great, and a lot of the sandwiches are excellent. I have definitely heard people complain about the customer service here, but I've been there several times over the years and I can't think of one particularly bad experience I've had. (I feel like I've never seen the same waitress there more than once, though...it must not be fun working there.) Plus, unlike Otto's and it's sister restaurant American Ale House, Champs seems to always have tables open, which makes it a nice fallback option to whatever plans you have on the north side of town.
(5)Jim B.
Lou's Stick Room is a hidden jewl! Smoke'em if ya got'em!
(5)Leroy H.
Service was very attentive. The gentleman that helped us at the cash register explained the asinine law that PA has when I comes to buying beer in containers. Beer selection that can be purchased to go was small. However, the selection of beer on tap was plentiful. $13 for two very strong vodka Gimlets. Wings were .50 cents a piece on Thursday wing nights. The wings were a good size, but they tasted like they were fried in old oil that fish was fried in. Probably seemed too soggy because of the to go box they were placed in. Buffalo sauce was average. Lots of TVs and the crowd seemed very nice. Seems like a good place to hangout in this college town.
(3)Zi Ao Z.
Super shitty bar. There is no service at all. The manager is kick out customer with no reason just because he is unhappy
(1)Roni C.
You would think with a huge event in town that this establishment would have planned a little better with help. Made reservations, was seated immediately then it was all down hill. Had to go find someone to take our drink order. Still sitting over an hour and still no food! I'd give zero stars if I was able to. Would've been better off going to McDonalds.
(1)Vincent L.
The servers have super bad attitude, don't like this bar. I would never ever go there again...
(1)Dave K.
Monday is wing night, and a wing night, is a good night. You should be sure to ask about drink specials, which might include a metal bucket or tall glass of brew(s). Service is ehhhh, which is why the 5th star is lacking here.
(4)Philip A.
This place is a large sports bar. They have a large food menu with average food. I usually come for a beer once in awhile. They have stone enjoy by at the moment, but I don't think it's really enjoy by. It tastes like a totally different beer, and it's the wrong color. They do this wrong beer wrong tap handle all the time. They have many fruity, novelty type beers on tap.. Just one or two great ones. The back bar smells a bit like stale beer.
(2)Joe B.
The food is good, sometimes bland. But its the customer service that lacks the most here. Just had a really bad experience placing an order on the phone with what sounded like an older gentlemen. When I asked for the total so I knew how much money to have ready for the driver, he was extremely rude and seemed pretty angry that I would ask such a simple question! I am a consistent customer who orders 2-3x a week, NOT ANYMORE!
(2)Tim D.
Decided to give delivery from here one more chance. Ordered a salad and they didn't give me any dressing. Enough said
(1)Mitchell P.
Came in on a Sunday afternoon for a beverage and lunch. A little league group had reserved the private function room and took all but one of the waitresses. More children in the bar area, very noisy and not the atmosphere expected, more like a Chuck E Cheese. Good selection of beers, REALLY slow service. Food is ok.
(2)Robert H.
I stopped in mid afternoon on a Friday to order a late take out lunch. I went to the bar and it took about 10 minutes before the bartender came over. He handed me a menu and the beer list and then walked away (I was ready to order a beer but thought I would look over the list). He came back after several minutes and I ordered the beer I was originally planning to order and placed an order for the Tommy Lasorda (salami, cappicola, prosciutto, and provolone with lettuce, tomato, onions, mayo and Italian dressing on a hoagie roll). The food came up very quick and before I was finished with my beer. The sandwich was very good and even though the bartender was kind of slow serving me I would return for the food.
(3)Patrick P.
Your travel plans are in place! First - Travel to a Penn State Game (not my alma mater) in a 35 foot RV Second - Camp one night in the Walmart Parking Lot (yes Walmart allows this!) Third - Walk over to Champs Sports Grill Finally - Do not confuse this restaurant with the Champps chain (similar to Friday's) Food - I cannot tell you but it looked good and folks were eating. I will have to admit being in an RV for 5 hours - I was mainly there to quench my thirst. Atmsphere - Young and Fun. The crowd was younger and had a great vibe. There were televisions everywhere. The bar was in the center with seating to the outside. Service - Very friendly. I did not have an empty glass for long. It was very much appreciated! Overall - the next time I am up in the area - I will rinse and repeat this evening. I may even order some food.
(4)Tammy Z.
The food was wonderful for a sports bar. Bartender eh. Could have been more friendly. Probably would have spent more and stayed longer. Oh and it's not that busy. I guess they don't think that it's the older crowd that will tip more.
(4)Zach L.
Our go to place when we go out. Easy to sit at the bar, have a few good drafts, and consistent eats. During busy weekends, they downsize their menu and eliminate some of our favorites, but they always have nachos and the Colorado Rocky which are our favorite. The service is spotty, at times, but the kitchen is fast. Decent delivery service too. Good pizza when we are in the mood. Havent tried other location, Altoona, but want to.
(4)Rebecca B.
If I could give this place 0 stars I would. Here is a break down of my only visit to this "restaurant" I visited Champs with four of my friends. One of them forgot his ID at home, and because of this our waitress demanded that we sit at different tables, stating that it was the restaurants policy not to allow anyone without an ID to sit with people who are drinking. When we requested to speak with a manager and expressed our frustration with having to sit at different tables, she said because we were above the age of 25 we could all sit together. As if this was a favor she was granting us. We ordered two buckets of beer and 5 waters. It took her 10 minutes to deliver the beer and water. After 20 minutes passed, she came over to take our order. (now we've been at Champs for half and hour and all we've had are beers and water, and we've just placed our order). It was a Monday afternoon and the place was largely empty. After placing our order it took another 15 minutes for her to bring out salads, which were clearly pre-made and stored in a refrigerator (the bowls for the salad were made of glass and were fogged from being kept cold). Why it took 15 minutes to bring out pre-made salads is beyond my comprehension. After waiting for a while I asked our waitress if she knew when our food would arrive, as we were all quite hungry. She replied, in a foul and aggressive tone, "I don't have any control over the kitchen and I do not know when your order will come out. Do you still want me to check on it for you?" I replied yes. A few minutes later she returned to inform me that "I asked and they don't know when your order will come out." An hour after arriving to the restaurant we finally received our meals, which were greasy beyond recognition. My side salad consisted of approximately 5 pieces of shriveled lettuce doused in balsamic vinegrette dressing. My sandwich was cold, which I can only imagine had something to do with the slow service. There was a very long blonde hair in my food. After taking our plates, she walked away without asking if we would like the check or a dessert menu. 10 minutes later she returned to ask if we'd like our check. After paying and leaving a bare minimum tip, we looked at the clock to realize our time at Champs spanned 2 hours. I highly recommend steering clear of this spot, unless you would like to waste your time waiting for sub-par food and horrid service.
(1)Dan O.
Some of the better food in town, wait staff is usually pretty good, but occasionally aloof. Incredible TVs allow for great viewing everywhere, and the back bar is really awesome
(3)Michael W.
If you're looking for a sports bar here in State College, Champs is pretty much your only spot. Sure, there are other places that show games, but they don't have the 50+ TVs that Champs does. From normal games to PPV events, Champs will show them all. When it's a big event, make sure to come early because their parking lot fills up fast. I've seen people having to park on the next street over, or even on the grass. With their beers, they do have a decent selection of ones on draft. You can get the yard tap if you have a large party and it costs around $20-30 each. If you want to be cheap, then go with your MGD or Coors Light. Feeling a little classier? Then go with Sierra Nevada. Where this place falls short is their food. I know you can't expect much from a spots bar, but even Hooters has better food than Champs. The burgers are mediocre, the wings can't compare to Wings Over Happy Valley or Hooters. Even the pizza, which is your best bet from a quantity to price standpoint, tastes worse than your College or Canyon pizza. Don't plan to be amazed because you'll be sorely disappointed. Nonetheless, if you're trying to catch a game, this is the go to spot in the area. There's more seats and TVs here than any other place in State College. Just don't expect to please your taste buds with their food.
(3)Krissy K.
Good food, horrible staff. Up until now I've been able to overlook how bad the service was because I love the Palermo Chicken, but after my visit last night I won't be returning there again. The waitresses are always running around and seem like they're in a hurry whenever they take your order, overall they probably spend about 30 seconds at the table for your visit. They obviously don't care about the customers they're serving at all and they always come off as rude. The manager there should not be running a restaurant - he has no people skills at all. Once on a visit someone in my party's chair broke and the manager's way of apologizing was being a huge asshole and making it seem like we were wasting his time. I do like the food, but some people I've gone to Champs with would say otherwise. My friend ordered a sandwich that had prime rib in it and ended up finding a pretty big bone in her sandwich, which is completely unacceptable. There are so many places to eat in State College that have better service and better food than Champs, so I can't say that I'll miss going there.
(2)Shane O.
Ha, I saw a recent review "good food, horrible staff"... that says it all (well almost all). It's really a shame, this place used to be sooooo good but the staff is just soooo bad now I'm not going anymore. The food is good, actually very good, the beer selection is probably top 3 in State College but the staff are a bunch of dopes. It's the kind of folks that think its your privilege to be there instead of realizing it's their job to serve you. They will all end up with very sad and unsuccessful lives but in the mean time they are ruining this place. Best bet for the owner is to fire everyone and start from scratch, in the mean time I'm going to Zeno's... different vibe but just as good beer and one of the consistently best staff's I've seen in State College. Anyone reading this that works at Champs, please quit... please!!!!
(2)Kristin B.
The main reason we went there was due to their beer selection which is vast, but it seemed that the waitress wasn't too up to date with the different types nor what they were out of... We started with the Stanley meek wings. They were good.. Had a nice sweet but smoky flavor. I ordered the 'homemade' cheese ravioli (small).They were ok, but I think it needed some garlic and a more rich cheese filling. My partner ordered the shrimp and scallop pasta. She enjoyed it, but it was a massive size, enough for 3 people. The salad that came with our meal was not fresh and we found a few 'bad' pieces in the bowls. We both sent ours back w/ not wanting a replacement. Normally, a manager should follow up when something is sent back, but not here, which struck us as odd. I think if we go back, we'll just do wings and beer... And sit at the bar so we can talk to the bartender who hopefully has a better knowledge of the beer. For a quick bite and a few beers while watching football, this is a good stop.
(2)Daney J.
Good beer and wings but MANAGER needs to put on big boy pants. Wear a belt not a long shirt. Nobody wants to see your underwear or ass crack.
(3)Mike F.
Sports bar on steroids. Awesome amenities such as multiple pool tables, shuffle board, cigar room, 3 separate bars, fireplaces, and many many televisions. The beer selection is second to none with over 45 options on draft. But by far the best value, is the happy hour from 5-7 where all beers are half priced. The food is adequate, but could be improved. Good looking bartenders.
(4)Meghan C.
Is it totally weird that I almost want to give Champs 4 stars?! Maybe... It's a sports bar, so you don't expect much. Sandwiches, burgers, wings...but Champs is a little interesting in that its founders were Italian, so you'll find lots of Italian food on the menu, too. Italian food that is surprisingly not bad. Dare I say...the Italian food is pretty GOOD. It's not going to give you a foodgasm, but suffice it to say it's better than the Olive Garden. The pasta aglio olio (fettuccine nero with calamari, anchovies, mushrooms, tomatoes, capers, romano, garlic, and olive oil) is one of my faves. The gorgonzola tortellini and the classic ravioli are also good. Even the fried calamari is good! Let's be honest, it's pretty rare for a bar to serve edible pasta, let alone decent calamari. The best thing here: the spinach-artichoke dip. They call it the "Astroturf." Whatever. SO GOOD. Burgers are blah and sandwiches are okay and wings are okay. But for consistent bar food with an Italian edge, I'll keep coming back.
(3)Rodney S.
Good food, atmosphere, and prices. The super sized hotdogs are really good, as are their fries. It's definitely better than Ottos for picky eaters, with lots of finger foods. As the other reviews say, service is pretty meh. Once you get your food, you're on your own unless you speak up.
(4)Changsong G.
Been here a few times my overall rating is probably 3 stars, sometimes the food / service is a 5 star, and sometimes its a one star. I guess its about luck, sometimes i get great service and the food taste great, at other times i have been here some things like the macaroni, BBQ ribs are burnt to all hell. I still like coming here for a drink once in a while and the food on their specials nights are great, overall though clean environnent, i would recommend anyone to go here. Food in my mind is above average, but sometimes inconsistant.
(3)Jessie H.
8 years out of college, and this place is still my favorite sports bar to return to while in Happy Valley. AMAZING wings & sauce. I could drink their ranch dressing, it is so good. Nachos are still the best I ever had (lots of stuff all over them). Also, their bloody mary's are awesome. Great garnish on top. Do need to add your own spice, to give it kick. Staff can be a little overwhelmed at times but are always nice.
(5)Kory C.
Beer is not stored at right temperature on drafts, way too warm. Then they look dumbfounded when there's a ton of foam.
(1)Leif Rune E.
Killer happy hour from 5 to 7 every weekday. Can't go wrong with the mountain of Nachos they serve.
(5)Jessica I.
Here in Ohio we're used to the boring sports bar chain with a similar name, so I was skeptical of this Champs. As it turns out, that was totally unjustified and off-base (ha). True to the rest of our experience in State College, everyone was super-nice and their level of service is out of this world. We did not sample the food, but what was coming out of the kitchen around us looked pretty good. Had I not been full of Korean food, then Austrian food, the two times we came here, I would have been all over the pierogi. We did try plenty of their ample beer menu, however. While they were out of a few things we wanted, the selection was still pretty great, with lots of American microbrews, Germans, and Belgians to choose from. As this is off-campus, clientele skews a bit older and more mellow here, which suited us just fine.
(4)Rob P.
The food is pretty good. The only negative (and the reason why I didn't give 4 stars) is the inconsistencies in service. Sometimes we go and are served quickly, other times it turns into a two hour dining experience--meaning we wait forever for our food.
(3)Alicia G.
Champs feels like the type of place I'd go to on a Sunday afternoon to grab a pint and watch whatever sport was on that day. It's cheap, fun, casual and there's something for everyone on their menu! Their menu boasts a wide selection of typical greasy appetizers (think nachos, chicken fingers, calamari, fried mozzarella, etc.), sandwiches, salads, pastas and entrees. I feel like our group of 12 + 2 kids covered a good cross-section of the menu - so yeah, we got nachos, calamari and chicken fingers to start. I ended up with the "Bullpen" sandwich which was bbq sliced prime rib smothered with melted cheddar and coleslaw, held together by a fresh roll. My bbq was definitely smothered in sauce and cheddar, perhaps a bit too much. I don't think I was able to finish. It sure was tasty but about halfway through, I thought I was going into grease overload and just couldn't eat anymore. In retrospect, I wish I had gotten a salad, so I wouldn't have gotten eater's remorse! Don't expect to be wowed by the food here but for your standard sports bar foods, it's on the mark, A-OK!
(3)Steve S.
Fact: Champs Sports Bar and Grill have the best sandwiches in this town. If I may say so myself, to the chefs working in the kitchen: I want to shake your hand for developing such a diverse, simple, yet delicious menu. Kudos and god speed to your restaurant. I recommend the cajun chicken cheesesteak for dinner. Why? It will punch your tastebuds in the face (if they have one), and leave you wanting for more. All-in-all, great restaurant, great food, good service, and diverse menu.
(5)Alan Y.
My fam and I visited State College last month for my b-day and we stopped by Champs for lunch. After my meal, I regretted the fact that I never ate there during my time at Penn State in the early '00s. What a great spot for a reasonably priced meal and awesome sports-centric ambiance (did I really just use the word ambiance in a sports bar review?) The place is huge and has tables that are easily movable to accommodate any party size. As for the food, my burger was really tasty as were the hot wings. We enjoyed 5 NCAA basketball games during our meal which added to the fun. No one ordered beer at our table so I really can't talk about their drink selection but the waitress kept our sodas full. Great job, Champs!
(4)Danny B.
I go here pretty much every Tuesday (and have since summer 2012) with a bunch of friends to play team pub trivia. It's certainly a sports bar. The service is mostly pretty good though there are always a few waitresses (and it's a transient bunch -- most of them are students) who leave something to be desired in this area. For a sports bar, the food is actually very good to excellent, even if a bit pricey, with the caveat that they have a habit of skimping on portion sizes for certain sides, like fries. I often order the 'bullfight nachos', which is a heaping pile that's hard for most people to finish. They offer a fairly extensive list of craft beers, with a focus on Pennsylvania-brewed products.
(4)Amanda L.
My coworkers and I used to order lunch from Champs all the time. Their salads are my favorite - you wouldn't expect a sports bar to have great salads, but they are always very fresh and I appreciate the creative salads they have there. I've tried just about all of them, and quite a few of the sandwiches as well. We've always got plenty of food, even though the price was pretty high for some of the items. I also particularly like their Rolly Fingers and the ranch dressing that comes with it seems to be homemade, and my coworkers are all in love with their Mac & Cheese ordered with a side of marinara (though I personally think the Mac & Cheese is just okay). Unfortunately, despite how good their food is, it almost always upsets my stomach or gives me heartburn/acid reflux, even the salads. And I am not someone who typically has any stomach issues at all. I'm not sure what it is, but the stomach issues their food tends to give me deters me from ordering from there too often anymore.
(3)Sam M.
Do not ever go here. The service is bad, the manager yelled at me, (can you believe that) all because I said the pizza was horrible. The food is no good, and it's a terrible place to go. Just forget this place altogether. There are plenty of other options in town to go to. Any one going here is just desperate for a place to go.
(1)Mercedes M.
Specials every day of the week = heaven for a college kid. I'm there twice a week! Tuesday is $1 nachos with the purchase of a fountain drink. If you're a water person, they'll charge you another $1 for it, but it's still cheaper than soda for $1.99. The nachos are so tasty! When I first heard about them, I thought they were going to come out with tortilla chips and nacho cheese, and I was completely wrong. A huge plate of tortilla chips with lettuce, tomato, salsa, taco meat, cheese, sour cream, and guacamole was put in front of me. To put it into perspective, I would probably pay $6 to $8 for these - that's how good they are! Mondays and Thursdays are 35 cent wing night. The wings are pretty good but the flavor selection is slim and confusing. Meek, arrogant, obnoxious, southwestern and chipotle are the names of the flavors, which isn't too helpful when trying to decide, and there aren't descriptions listed on the menu either. I've had something that tastes like original buffalo wing sauce (not sure which flavor it would be) and the southwestern, which wasn't for me. It tasted like Mexican seasoning mixed with a sweet and sassy sauce. I've also had the BBQ, which I'm assuming was chipotle. It was okay, but nothing to write home about. The environment is nice. Televisions everywhere and it is always packed if a game is on. There's a billiard room and cigar bar in the basement. The food is usually quick and the waitresses are cute and friendly. I usually stick to eating whatever is on special that day because some of the regular menu items seem pricey. I have had the pierogies though and they were good. Overall, Champs is a great place!
(4)Ashley B.
One of my favorite places to eat in State College! Awesome bar food and fantastic atmosphere during any sporting event. Their arrogant wings are one of the best I've ever had and they do NOT mess around when you ask for toppings on your pizza. Their craft beers are one of the best selection in State College and I recommend this to anyone whenever they come to visit the area!
(5)Allison E.
For a sports bar, the food isn't that bad. The first visit here, the salad was bad and I mean terrible, however the second time around, the salad was excellent and they have THE best bleu cheese dressing. Homemade and fabulous. They'd make serious money if they canned and sold that stuff! My fiance also raves about the stromboli (which he typically doesn't like or order off a menu) so I'm assuming that it's pretty awesome! I'd watch the time of day that you go though, because we can't stand the rowdy college kids so during games and what not, I'd avoid this place, unless that's your thing.
(4)Val L.
We waited a good 5 minutes for someone to show up to greet us and take us to a table. The host was unapologetic about the inexplicably long wait. We have dined here several times over the last year and would come back hoping the bad experience was the anomaly but it seems it is the other way around: a good experience was the rare occasion. Service is extremely spotty and the rotating cast of often inexperienced servers must be encouraged to dress like they work at Hooters. Some of the food was OK but it is just not worth going here with such inconsistent service and sometimes rude treatment.
(1)Eileen S.
Our recent visit was a disappointment. We came here for a late lunch on Friday, the place was buzzing with early happy hour goers. I usually like this place. Nothing spectacular, your average sports bar with tv screens everywhere. Some booths have their own TVs. Great atmosphere on game days. Pool tables with bar and food service in the lower level. Good place for large groups. The food here is average. Lately meh. I used to think the spicy wings were 'obnoxiously' yummy ;) But sadly the food quality has deteriorated. Overcooked food. The food is overpriced for what you get. Disappointed with the food quality 3 times out of our last 5 visits here. Hit or miss. Not sure when we will be back...
(2)raquel s.
I am reviewing Champs on the collection of experiences I have had over the past year and a half. Because their kitchen is open to 1am, I have dined there more times out of necessity than preference. The kitchen is pretty easy to negotiate with in terms of swapping a bread, cheese or a sauce. I'm a fan of the pulled pork sandwich topped with coleslaw. Everyting made has pretty strong flavors. Its hard to describe the menu because I don't want to call the ingredients trendy or nonstandard, but there certainly seems to be more variety than you would get at your typical sports bar. They do a nice flash fried calamari, and always a decent crowd. I can't remember ever having bad service, but I'd give anyone who works there a decent tip anyway, just for putting up with the owner. He is by far one of the worst people to work for-- anyone will tell you that.
(2)Cindy D.
The "arrogant bastard" wings rock! Wing night on Mondays is jumping. Great beer selection. Waitresses are usually pretty good. The male bartender is not very talkative or friendly. Other than that I love it.
(4)Marissa B.
Great place to watch sports! Love there happy hour! They have a huge selection of beer! By far the Best Wings in town!! Highly recommend!!
(5)Alex V.
Champs would normally be a 3 star establishment, but their wings are just too good. Seriously, you must get a dozen of Stanley's Wonder Wings. Get it at the "obnoxious" spice level. It sounds hot, but its really not that bad. I'm not a huge wing person, but Champs wings rank right up there with the best I've ever had. The other menu items are ok. I've always been partial to the cajun chicken cheesesteak. The beer selection has improved dramatically since I lived in State College. The service we had was actually pretty good, but it seems to be a consistent compliant.
(4)Rob H.
A great sports bar, and everything you'd probably want in a sports bar, including 45 beers on tap. Champs has a rather extensive menu, a gigantic bar, numerous smaller and big-screen TVs, daily specials, and...did I mention 45 beers of tap? They have a pretty good selection of "favorites" dishes, which includes a collection of homemade pasta dishes and their specialty-- the veal parmagiana. I ordered a plate of calamari as an appetizer...the portion was not only massive, but it was nice and tender (read: not chewy) and included two sauces...a tomato vodka sauce and a delicious, buttery provencal sauce. I also ordered their butcher's ragout, which was a combination of prosciutto, bison, and panchetta amidst a collection of finely chopped celery, carrots, and red pepper in a tomato cream sauce on a very generous portion of pasta. Divine. I am a big foodie with a bigger appetite and I couldn't finish it, even after sitting and watching most of the Eagles-Cardinals game. The service was quite good and the servers friendly. I can't understand why there are some negative reviews on the service. Of the three times that I had service here, all of the servers were attentive and very welcoming. One of my servers even knew a thing or two about beers and we had a nice conversation about the beer choices and what we both liked. What I did find disappointing was the "watered-down" version of the regular menu on Sundays, and the disconnected NTN trivia on a Sunday afternoon, but hell, you've gotta expect that on Sundays I guess. Football is king, and they cater to the fans. The atmosphere is loud, but again, it's a sports bar...what do you expect? It's a great time, and although I live about 3 hours away from this little gem on N. Atherton Street, I hope to be back some day. After all, they've got 45 beers on tap. But you knew that, right?
(4)Doug M.
Worst service I have ever had, even for state college!!!
(1)Channa P.
Go to this place for the 100 oz beer juggernaut towers served every night and for the $1.00 nachos served each Tuesday after ten. There are lots of menu options and most look pretty standard. I got the shrimp po-boy that was nicely not stingy with the shrimp. For the side I paid extra for the mac and cheese, and it was definitely worth it. Probably the best dish on my table.
(3)Kyle M.
Champs consists of snobby and fake waitresses, and a manager that was handed the job by his father which he shows with his lack of care towards the customers' satisfaction. On one occasion a chair broke from underneath my father and the servers were only able to come up with "cut him off" when it was clear it was the cheap plastic chairs they have outside that was at fault. I have also found large bones in my food on several instances. Terrible service, mediocre cooks and highly questionable management. Steer clear!
(1)Carl V.
I have read a ton of reviews about how bad the service is there but you are about to read the worst story of all. Two bartenders followed me home from Champs to beat me up one night. I left late, we were the last customers downstairs in the pool hall. My wife, my brother and I made it about half way across the parking lot when an SUV came flying around the corner into the entrance headed right at us with the pedal to the floor. It swerved out around us at the last second, missing my wife by about 3 feet after I had already pulled her out of the way. I told him to learn how to drive less politely than that and we continued walking. I didn't think he could even here me but I was wrong. The SUV stopped and one of the bartenders, let's call him Tony, got out and started shouting at me to come back and fight him. In my line of work they do background checks and I'm not 10 years old so I laughed at him and kept walking. Truthfully I didn't want any trouble. But it didn't end there. Tony and another bartender followed us home, taunting and threatening as they started to catch up to us. They were still following us when we got to my apartment so I had to stop walking confront him, I didn't want him knowing which apartment was mine. It had been dark most of the way, so he didn't get a good look at me until I stopped under the street light. As soon as I did he realized that I am a foot taller than him and he changed his tune and told me that he was going to have me kicked out if I ever came back, which is so dumb. I told him to do what he came to do or leave and he wouldn't do either, he just stood there shouting about my life time ban from Champs, which I guess he is given the authority to assign. Then the manager (who I believe is the owners son) showed up... remember we were basically on my doorstep, on the sidewalk in front of my apartment... and he tried to intervene, but to my amazement on Tony's behalf! He just lined up next to Tony ready to jump in and fight me and started yelling at me! I told him what the stupid argument was all about and he, in all of his wisdom decided that they should leave. After sending Tony away, he told me to leave. I explained to him that he hasn't been the manager of anything for about a quarter mile and that I had already walked as far as I could despite being taunted the whole way home. It actually seemed like he was more pissed at me than at Tony, even though I had done everything I could to walk away from an incident that could have been really bad for his restaurant. How crazy is it that the guy who had been drinking, the paying customer, is the only person being remotely rational in this situation? Honestly I think Tony may have been drunk. Anyway, Tony still works there, which makes me think that this manager is the key to all of the problems there. He is the chapter president of the Champs fraternity and he doesn't care about anyone who isn't a member, which means the customers, so the staff doesn't have to either. I don't know what on earth they are thinking but if I had done that when I waited tables I would be looking for a new job and with a bad reference. Obviously, I will never go to this place again, not even to inventory how many of the rude and arrogant college drop outs are still tending bar and running the establishment like the frat house they never got to join. The truth is I am not missing much. All the other complaints I have read about the staff are consistent with my experience before that night. They are soooo rude and unpleasant and make it clear they don't want to wait on you the second you sit down even if you are polite and a good tipper. The food is mostly garbage, the wings for example which they are so proud of are the worst you can find in State College short of the baked wings at pizza places. They are not very meaty, dry yet greasy and drenched in sugary, syrupy sauce. Even the hottest sauce they offer is more sweet than hot. The rest of the food isn't much better. Spend your money elsewhere.
(1)Katie B.
My boyfriend and I eat here fairly often, despite the fact that its a sports bar and neither of us watch sports or enjoy loud restaurants. The food is always good to excellent and there's quite a lot of selection. The nachos are a deal any day of the week and if you can grab a seat in the side/back bar (it is to the left when you walk in) you get much less of a "sports bar" feel and quick access to some tasty beer. In general the manager(s) and hostess(es) are pretty rude, but the serving staff are excellent. One of the few places in SC that can accommodate larger parties.
(4)Nick H.
Ooooh my does this bring back memories. I'm admittedly not a big sports fan, but I see no reason not to give this establishment 5 stars. Great food, friendly waitresses, and lots of classic rock on the jukebox. Let me get the negatives out of the way first. It can get crowded. Very crowded. Especially on nacho night - make that dollar nacho night. But hey, it is a college town with a huge sports following so that's to be expected. Anyway, when I lived next door at the Pointe, my friends and I came here pretty regularly - at first mainly for nacho night then later for pool and wing night. The dollar nachos were a fair deal; you're lucky if you get some meat and a few jalapeños but they were tasty otherwise. Good for a nighttime snack. And some might think I'm crazy but the wings here are phenomenal. The ones with the medium hot sauce are my all time favorite. Wing night is a good deal too. I wanna say they're 25 cents but you have to get at least 6. I've tried a lot of other stuff on the menu but the real stand out is the Roethlisberger. It included a 4 or 8oz beef patty, all the nomal fixin's plus fries ON the burger (Pittsburgh style) as well as thousand island dressing. If you love burgers then this is for you. Also of note are the many pool tables on the bottom floor. It's kind of expensive but worth it. The tables are pretty big and there's a bar down there so you can order food, drink and play pool making it very convenient.
(5)Paul H.
Consistently bad service, and decent food, that is until they took the #21 sandwich off the menu. There was no reason to do this, so I'll be going elsewhere for a while, or until this gets corrected. I can put up with the bad service as long as the food is good.
(1)Jackie V.
Oh, Champs...you're totally Ale House's little bro: sportier, cheaper, and slightly more amusing. After doing "drinks-only" several times, we finally stopped in for an actual meal which makes me think it's high time for a review. Drinks-wise, there's nothing special. Though it is a sports bar in a college town, they don't have any drink specials. The beer selection is what I would consider to be pretty average, as far as real drinks go, don't expect to have your socks blown off (you'll be lucky for consistency!). I'd say the most notable (and head-scratch-worthy) thing about the bar is that there seems to be a higher than normal constituent of people consuming mudslides and other creamy frozen drinks, which is just strange. Next time you go, just keep a count of how many times they fire up the blender...when there is SNOW on the ground... Food-wise, the selection is actually pretty decent (for a sports bar). Don't get me wrong, no one should walk in here expecting to be wowed by a gourmet plate, but they do seem to have "something for everyone". There are multiple vegetarian options, and were even accommodating of our request to make an off-menu food-allergy approved meal (that didn't involve steaming vegetables, rice, and a piece of chicken). Thumbs up for that. Waitstaff can be hit or miss....there is definitely a small group of really good servers (those who don't write down orders but still manage to correctly bring everything, including all the special requests), but there are also the super-done group of ladies who confuse "Captain" with "Jack", forget waters or other meal components, etc. At least they look the part. Entertainment-wise, like any good sports bar, almost every seat has a good view of the (or at least a) game. Even with high ceilings and decor that's on the sportier side of industrial, it's doesn't get super super loud in there, which is nice. For those of us who hail from the non-smoking East Coast, you can play smoke-free pool upstairs; for everyone else, there is a billiards room (complete with my most favorite bar game ever: QUATES!!) downstairs that reminds me of the pre-NY-smoking-ban bars. Don't wear anything you can't wash ;) Overall, I think Yelp's 3-star designation of "A-OK" is pretty suiting for Champs. If anything, it's a nice break from the clamor of downtown, and there is always plenty of parking.
(3)Bunny B.
Excellent freaking wings, indeed. I'd go so far as to say Champs has the best damn wings in all of State College. They are a good size, super-crispy, and the sauce is fantastic: with a nice kick (obnoxious even, if you so desire) and a really special flavor... I detect a hint of 'cue - a bit of tang, a bit of sweetness. The stick room aka the only place in town with *real* pool tables is another reason to visit, as well as the many beers on draught. The only drawback, perhaps, is the pest that is the cigar lounge, located right across from the pool hall. Be prepared to strip naked once you get home, for your clothes will stink like they've been kept in your grandpa's ashtray for the last 20 years or so, and will have to be decontaminated - not even the most generous shower with Febreze will do. It's laundry time. Bummer. But the wings & fries can almost make up for the stink fest that is the stick room. Or shall I say stink room?
(4)David R.
During the school year, this place would probably aggravate me beyond tolerability limits. It exudes an aggressively dumb-jock sports-bar mentality which belies the extensive menu and decent food. Thankfully, my family and I came for Saturday lunch in early August. My folks chose this place because of its size and the fact that there would be something for everyone. My sister's a vegetarian, my brother's a bit picky, and we also had my three-year-old nephew with us. Good call, because the menu is immense. They give a sports-themed name to every dish, so it's not possible to skim through the menu: you have to stop and read every description. That's a bit annoying. I LOVED their chili--some of the best I've ever had at a restaurant. It has chunks, not bits, of ground beef, three types of beans, tomatoes, onions, peppers, and is topped with raw scallions. It was seasoned almost perfectly, and everything balanced and combined well together. A+. I also got the #21 (the Cuban) sandwich. I've been ordering this sandwich at different restaurants pretty regularly since I discovered it last year. This one was pretty good, let's say a solid B+. How about one or two more pickle slices in there? I sampled the macaroni and cheese, which we got for my nephew. It had a nice creamy texture, but the flavor was sort of bland. C-. The draft beer selection was surprisingly diverse for this type of place, although the prices were higher than other bars in the area. We're talking $3.75-$4.50 per pint (although they have pitchers too). Of course, that's still way cheaper than I'm used to in Chicago. You can also buy six-packs from their "store," which also sells their hot wing sauce. Service was nothing to write home about, but satisfactory.
(3)Gamaliel S.
WINGS= good Beer selection= recently upgraded (VERY GOOD) Great place to meet up w/ a group! I have used the pick up service and the delivery... both very quick and easy to deal with!
(4)Chris L.
This is your average sports bar, decent food (the appetizers nachos/wings are decent) and I think more places should adopt the "table topper" idea. Very friendly service. Played team trivia here a couple times and its a great place to hangout. They have a high waitress turnover, so you may get stuck with someone who doesn't know what they are doing (go easy on them). But, on several occasions have waited around an hour for attentive service while the servers are socializing. Overall good food, nice atmosphere, friendly staff, SLOWEST service I've yet to encounter.
(3)Brent G.
Champs is the recessionary option to the Ale House. Still good food and a bit cheaper than the Ale House. They primarily serve the same beer with maybe a few differences. The place is huge! Tons of TV's and a pool hall below the main dining area. It practically doesn't matter where you sit, you will have a view of the games. My recommedations for food: The bookmaker - A pizza sandwich, how can you go wrong! Colorado Rockie - Essentially a French Dip. I'm always a fan of Prime Rib in a sandwich The downside is that the food is pretty generic for what you would typically get at a sports bar but their food tastes better than what you would get at a sports bar.
(4)Jon D.
Okay food, HORRIBLE service. Consistently takes forever to have someone check on our table at the back bar. Our empty plates sat in front of us for over 40 minutes as we waited to get our check and a to go box. The bartender even acknowledged he was slacking and made a joke about it. I would've complained to the manager but they were in the front buried in their laptop and phone.
(1)Brian L.
Sports bar. Really nothing special or great about it. Your typical sports bar. If that's your thing then this is a fine place. Cool atmosphere and obviously tons of TVs. During football season we'd come here to chill at the bar since we could watch the Giants and Ravens games at the same time. Food seems good. I only ever got the Cheesesteak and Burgers, but they were good and everything seemed to be as well. Never heard any complaints about it. The tower of beer is a staple here. Can be very crowded and have heard people complain it's slow and rude service. I've never had any issues. Good drinks as well. Fine sports bar
(3)Mike T.
I really like Champs. I've been going there for years. Its a great sports bar and offers a really large menu featuring quite a variety of food. Great portion sizes, you get what you pay for at Champs. I've read that some things are not as good as other places in State College, but no one restaurant can have the best of everything or there would only be one restaurant. I LOVE their wings, great sauces, good sized wings that come out fast. Over the years I have enjoyed their steaks, pasta, salads, and the wonderful selection of sandwiches. I don't care for their pizza all that much, and I believe their beer prices are too high. But they are in line with what the national chains charge here for beer, I don't drink alcohol at the local bars. If I really want a cold beer I will have it at home and not have to drive anywhere. Once you determine what foods they have that you enjoy, you can have a great time watching sports. Something like 50 TV's on the main floor. An outside deck, plus a cigar-pool room down stairs where smoking is permitted. Give Champs a try.
(4)Brian B.
There's only one reason a person should ever go to Champs, and that reason is Nacho Night. Dollar nacho platters with a beer start the week off well. That being said, there's not much else. It's an average sports bar, crowded on peak sports nights and food specials, dead otherwise. Trivia can entertain otherwise. Beyond the specials, everything is overpriced for what you get. Don't go out of your way to get here, but if you can make it on a good special night it's not bad.
(3)Bryant Y.
I like champs. Their wings are really good. Some people complain about the water down blue cheese, but i am actually a fan of that. If you are eating in the restaurant, beware of their policy that everyone at the table has to be 21 for anyone to order alcohol (unless there is a 25 or older person there). i've ordered delivery from them multiple times, and with one exception, they have always been very fast. it actually surprises me most of the times by how fast their delivery service is. Overall, get the wings, and i also love their cheese fries.
(4)Keith F.
30 cent wings on Monday night after 8:30. Don't bother ordering them - they're not that good - they've got this sweet barbeque flavor as they've been soaked with to hide the greasy taste that they've been laying precooked somewhere in the kitchen. They're small, they're sticky, they're lousy. Even worse is the bleu cheese dressing that's been watered down so much that it won't stick to the celery sticks. Ask for a fork if you want to fish any hunks of cheese from the bottom of the cup. The celery was good though - green, crisp, fresh and ripe. The place still reeks of smoke even though the place has gone smokeless, which is unusual since its an open air restaurant with huge doors opened to the weather. Smoke smell clings to floors, walls and chairs. They didn't have the first two brands of draft beers we asked for, even though they are commonly found in other area bars. The waitresses are professional and very charming. The male bartending staff and bar management are arrogant and pompous and could take some lessons in careing for customers. Was that a hint of a New York City attitude we got when they changed the TVs channel on us, while a small group of Philly fans and I enjoyed seeing the Mets getting pounded once again in the late season? I think it was. Suffice to say, we won't be gracing the doorways of Champs again. Of which we got the reply "Oh what a shame" . Yes, a shameful way to treat customers who help pay your salary. Go to Damon's or the Arena they're happy to let you sit back and enjoy the Phillies stomping the Mets. The Arena will even hand you a remote control for your individual TV located at your table Sports Bar alternatives, Damens, Arena (nearby) or Home Delivery in State College, Zachs in Altoona. Local Wings and ratings (from best to worst) Co-brh's (Altoona) Zachs (Altoona) Ottos (State College) GMan (State College) Deli* (State College)* Duffy's Tavern (Boalsburg) Home Delivery * (State College & Bellefonte) better than they used to be Bonfattos (Bellefonte) Green Gables* (Lewistown) Wings (over happy valley) (State College) Kelly's (Boalsburg) J. P. Edwards (Burnham) Prospectors (State College) Arena (State College) Hofbrau (Bellefonte) Damons (State College) ......... Champs (State College) * most recent My Champs Rating is 0, Zero, nada, zilch, not worth your time, you'll find better elsewhere, almost anywhere. Switch off our Phillies will ya. How dare you.
(1)Howard H.
I'm a fan. Champs has decent food, a good beer selection, and tons of TVs. It's even got a pool room. The calamari with marinara sauce appetizer is pretty good. Don't get steaks here. They're on the pricey side and aren't that impressive. Rather spend the same amount at an Outback or Texas Roadhouse. Raviolis are tasty, as are the burgers. The Rampage Jackson burger is my favorite. The blackened flat iron steak pasta is also really good. Magic Hat beer on tap is a plus!
(3)Jon L.
Ok, maybe I'm being a bit rough on this review. I generally like Champs for two reasons. They have a pretty good draft selection and their sandwiches are a bit different and nicely portioned. Last night though, they were off, and two stars are for our waitress. Our appetizer, the AstroTurf, spinach and cheese with chips and pita points, was served luke warm and the pita points were almost uneatable, they were so salty. Our sandwiches also arrived just barely warm, although advertised as coming off the broiler/grill. Our waitress, while really busy, stayed in contact just often enough to be pleasantly attentive. Need a replacement for Champs.....I'm looking.
(2)Megan K.
Champs has excellent food. Unfortunately they have horrible service. Sometimes you get lucky and the wait staff is on their game but more often than not, they are slow. This is a great place for big groups. It seems like the bigger the group the better the service. They also have fun nights like Nacho night, again, don't expect great service but if you can get your order in and the drinks flowing is makes a good night.
(3)Lark P.
Do NOT think of it as a sports bar. The draft selection is limited and no great specials. The food is mediocre, doesn't taste horrible but always makes my friends and I feel sick, so we never eat there after giving it multiple tries. It is a nice place, my thought is it is just poorly run. If you want a sports bar, the best experiences I've had in State College to watch a particular game is actually Damon's. One occasion I went with a group of 5 or so friends to watch a particular game, and upon telling the hostess we were put at a booth with a small TV that didn't get the channel with our game. When pointing it out our waitress assured us our game would be put on one of the bigger TVs, but it wasn't. We were eventually moved to the main room, where our new waitress assured us she would tell the bartender to put it on one of the central TV's. A half hour later, still didn't. We asked the bartender and he said he would put the game on. After reminding him another 15 minutes later, we were able to watch the end of our game on a small TV. It was really embarrassing for a place that calls themselves a sports bar, and a potentially fun night turned into one big irritation. Others have had the same experience.
(1)Gaurav S.
For some reason, we've only gone to Champs when the weather is good enough to sit outside. The sandwiches are excellent. My suggestion is to get everything on the baguette. I particularly love this one duck sandwich called "Wabbit season" I think. Wings were okay. Beer selection, pretty decent. Service slightly slow, but friendly.
(4)Chris F.
It's rare anymore to go to a town and find a place that isn't the same old tired franchise restaurant. ChAMPS has a unique and creative decor and tremendous food. Skip the Olive garden, red lobster, or applebees. Champs is one of the areas original eating establishments. The menu is diverse. I never ordered something there that wasn't terrific. And you can find lots of exotic beers. The whole experience is so much richer than you find in most other places especially the franchise chains.
(5)Joshua A.
Being a Boston transplant, I like to go here to watch the games. I'm usually met by a good crowd. I order out from here once in a while as well and they usually deliver really fast. The prices are a little bit high for the food quality, but the food is generally tasty.
(4)Michelle R.
One room has tvs at each booth which is nice for keeping the kids happy for awhile! The menu is extensive, but maybe too extensive...tried a blue cheese blackened burger and it was gross...their "cheese" fries had icky nacho type cheese spread all over...kids all enjoyed their food, pizza and pasta...the plus, the beer/ale/cider menu...worth the trip alone especially in a small town like State College!
(3)Kristopher P.
Great beer selection. Decent food. A 4 star rating for the beer selections. There were lots of people there for a Sunday night and they have outdoor and indoor seating, including a large room where they hosted many fans of WWE. We were outside on the patio and it was a nice night.
(4)Steve W.
Service is slooooowwwww. Food is average. Atmosphere is definitely a plus though.
(2)Wes F.
A decent sports bar just outside downtown state college. They have decent menu with a variety of sandwiches, entrees, deserts, drinks, etc. They are all pretty good. Nothing to go crazy for, but all around exactly what I look for in a sports bar. They have a nice selection of beer and specials pretty consistent with a college town, competent and friendly service, and reasonable prices. I have no complaints about the place, but it is a bit far for the average student to get to, making it a special trip to go out to eat, and not as nice as some of the nearby chain restaurants.
(3)Joe M.
Typical chain sports bar. Food was acceptable. Beer was cold. Don't set yourself up for a gourmet meal.
(3)Jane A.
Great food, BEST CHEESE FRIES!! in my opinion :) I like them crispy. The wings were okay. It is often crowded and sometimes the food is slow but still fun place to go with friends or family!
(4)